第十五篇现在我们走在这边一条堤岸上，河流上面一团团蒸气，遮蔽了在上和在旁的火球。好比在佛兰德尔的海边，因为要防御潮水的浸袭，造了坚固的堤岸；又好比在帕多瓦的勃伦塔河边，因为要防御卡伦齐亚山顶的雪水使河水泛滥，做了防御的工程；这里的堤岸，不问他是谁建筑的，虽不那么高，不那么厚，但他的功用都是一样的。
我们离开树林已经较远了，回头一望模糊不清。那时我们遇见一群灵魂，沿着堤岸走来；他们每个都望着我们，如在月光之下望人一般；他们走近的时候，又注视着我们，如年老缝工穿针一般。就在这样的注视之下，我被一个人认出了，他拉住我的衣角，叫道：“奇怪极了！”在他伸手的时候，我定睛望着他枯焦的面孔，我竟认不出他是什么人；因此我弯着腰，低下头去看他，突然我想起他了，我说：“勃鲁内托先生，你在这里么？”他说：“我的孩子呀！假使勃鲁内托离开他的队伍，走来接近你片刻，你讨厌吗？”我说：“我是真心欢迎你的；假使你要我停下来谈谈，这也可以，只要那一位允许，因为我是跟着他走的。”他说：“我的孩子呀！你不知道：在这一队里面，不论是谁，要是他停止下来，他就要受罚躺下来火烧一百年。所以，我们同行罢，我拉住你的衣角；稍后，我再归队，在那里万古千年受灾。”
我不敢从堤岸上降下去和他同行，我只低着头向前走，像一个行敬礼的人。他开始说；“在你未到末日之前，你便走到此地，究竟是什么机会？什么命运？那位引路的是谁？”我回答道：“在地上的时候，我还在清明的生活之中，我迷途在一个山谷里了，那时我的年纪还没有达到壮年。昨天早晨，我走出山谷；在我遭到危险进退两难的时候，他忽然出现在我前面，就是他指引我经过这里，走向归家的路。”
于是他对我说：“假使你跟着你的灯塔，你不会达不到那光荣的归宿处，只要我在世的预言是确实；而且，假使我不死得太前，看见天对于你这样恩惠，那末我对于你的工作一定加以赞誉。不过，这些人们是负心的，凶恶的；他们是古菲埃佐勒的后代他们仍旧保留着山岩的野性；他们对于你的善行，必然加以反对，视若仇敌、这是当然之理，因为在荆棘之中，决不容无花果树结实的。古代传说中，说他们是盲目的，是贪鄙，嫉妒，傲慢的民族；你切勿与他们同流合污。你的命运替你保留着荣誉，使此党彼党都为着你而饥饿；幸而青草离开山羊远了。听菲埃佐勒的走兽自相吞食罢，只要他们不损害植物，假使在这污秽的地上，可以长出一株来。因此，在这万恶之窟，可以使罗马人遗留的种子复活。”
我回答道：“假使上帝接受我的祈祷，你决不会给人类所抛弃的。因为在我的头脑里，即刻着你亲爱的、和善的、父母一般的面貌，这种印象现在都涌到我心头。你在世的时候，多次训导我怎样做一个不朽的人物；因此我很感谢你，我活着的时候，应当宣扬你的功德。方才你所说关于我未来的话，我要铭记在心。和别人的一番话同在一个女人面前得着解释，假使我能够到她那里。我所要使你相信的是：我只要于心无愧，命运对于我无论怎样都好，我早已有预备了。像你这种预言，我耳朵里听了不止一次了；所以，听命运随心所欲地旋转他的轮盘，和听农夫使用他的锄头一样罢。”
当时我的引路人回转头来望我，他说：“善听者铭于心。”于是我和勃鲁内托边行边谈，我问他谁是他最有名的伴侣。他对我说：“其中有几个值得知道，其他的可以不说，因为时间太短不能多说。简言之，他们大概是牧师，学者，和知名之士；他们在地上的时候，都犯了同样的罪。普利珊和阿科尔索都在这个队伍里面；假使你希望多看一点，那末这个人也在里面，他给众仆之仆从阿尔诺迁到巴奇利奥内，在那里他放纵他的脑筋。”我还想多说一点，但是已经没有工夫了；因为我看见前面尘土飞扬，我的队伍已经来了。我的著作《宝库全书》，是我精神的寄托，我介绍给你。我一无所求了。”
于是他掉转头去，急归队伍，他的速度和赛跑获得锦标者没有两样。
Envelop'd in the mist, that from the stream
Arising, hovers o'er, and saves from fire
Both piers and water. As the Flemings rear
Their mound, 'twixt Ghent and Bruges, to chase back
The ocean, fearing his tumultuous tide
That drives toward them, or the Paduans theirs
Along the Brenta, to defend their towns
And castles, ere the genial warmth be felt
On Chiarentana's top; such were the mounds,
So fram'd, though not in height or bulk to these
Made equal, by the master, whosoe'er
He was, that rais'd them here. We from the wood
Were not so far remov'd, that turning round
I might not have discern'd it, when we met
A troop of spirits, who came beside the pier.
They each one ey'd us, as at eventide
One eyes another under a new moon,
And toward us sharpen'd their sight as keen,
As an old tailor at his needle's eye.
Thus narrowly explor'd by all the tribe,
I was agniz'd of one, who by the skirt
Caught me, and cried, "What wonder have we here!"
And I, when he to me outstretch'd his arm,
Intently fix'd my ken on his parch'd looks,
That although smirch'd with fire, they hinder'd not
But I remember'd him; and towards his face
My hand inclining, answer'd: "Sir! Brunetto!
"And art thou here?" He thus to me: "My son!
Oh let it not displease thee, if Brunetto
Latini but a little space with thee
Turn back, and leave his fellows to proceed."
I thus to him replied: "Much as I can,
I thereto pray thee; and if thou be willing,
That I here seat me with thee, I consent;
His leave, with whom I journey, first obtain'd."
"O son!" said he, "whoever of this throng
One instant stops, lies then a hundred years,
No fan to ventilate him, when the fire
Smites sorest. Pass thou therefore on. I close
Will at thy garments walk, and then rejoin
My troop, who go mourning their endless doom."
I dar'd not from the path descend to tread
On equal ground with him, but held my head
Bent down, as one who walks in reverent guise.
"What chance or destiny," thus he began,
"Ere the last day conducts thee here below?
And who is this, that shows to thee the way?"
"There up aloft," I answer'd, "in the life
Serene, I wander'd in a valley lost,
Before mine age had to its fullness reach'd.
But yester-morn I left it: then once more
Into that vale returning, him I met;
And by this path homeward he leads me back."
"If thou," he answer'd, "follow but thy star,
Thou canst not miss at last a glorious haven:
Unless in fairer days my judgment err'd.
And if my fate so early had not chanc'd,
Seeing the heav'ns thus bounteous to thee, I
Had gladly giv'n thee comfort in thy work.
But that ungrateful and malignant race,
Who in old times came down from Fesole,
Ay and still smack of their rough mountain-flint,
Will for thy good deeds shew thee enmity.
Nor wonder; for amongst ill-savour'd crabs
It suits not the sweet fig-tree lay her fruit.
Old fame reports them in the world for blind,
Covetous, envious, proud. Look to it well:
Take heed thou cleanse thee of their ways. For thee
Thy fortune hath such honour in reserve,
That thou by either party shalt be crav'd
With hunger keen: but be the fresh herb far
From the goat's tooth. The herd of Fesole
May of themselves make litter, not touch the plant,
If any such yet spring on their rank bed,
In which the holy seed revives, transmitted
From those true Romans, who still there remain'd,
When it was made the nest of so much ill."
"Were all my wish fulfill'd," I straight replied,
"Thou from the confines of man's nature yet
Hadst not been driven forth; for in my mind
Is fix'd, and now strikes full upon my heart
The dear, benign, paternal image, such
As thine was, when so lately thou didst teach me
The way for man to win eternity;
And how I priz'd the lesson, it behooves,
That, long as life endures, my tongue should speak,
What of my fate thou tell'st, that write I down:
And with another text to comment on
For her I keep it, the celestial dame,
Who will know all, if I to her arrive.
This only would I have thee clearly note:
That so my conscience have no plea against me;
Do fortune as she list, I stand prepar'd.
Not new or strange such earnest to mine ear.
Speed fortune then her wheel, as likes her best,
The clown his mattock; all things have their course."
Thereat my sapient guide upon his right
Turn'd himself back, then look'd at me and spake:
"He listens to good purpose who takes note."
I not the less still on my way proceed,
Discoursing with Brunetto, and inquire
Who are most known and chief among his tribe.
"To know of some is well;" thus he replied,
"But of the rest silence may best beseem.
Time would not serve us for report so long.
In brief I tell thee, that all these were clerks,
Men of great learning and no less renown,
By one same sin polluted in the world.
With them is Priscian, and Accorso's son
Francesco herds among that wretched throng:
And, if the wish of so impure a blotch
Possess'd thee, him thou also might'st have seen,
Who by the servants' servant was transferr'd
From Arno's seat to Bacchiglione, where
His ill-strain'd nerves he left. I more would add,
But must from farther speech and onward way
Alike desist, for yonder I behold
A mist new-risen on the sandy plain.
A company, with whom I may not sort,
Approaches. I commend my TREASURE to thee,
Wherein I yet survive; my sole request."
This said he turn'd, and seem'd as one of those,
Who o'er Verona's champain try their speed
For the green mantle, and of them he seem'd,
Not he who loses but who gains the prize.