第七圈，第三环续：三个佛罗伦萨的著名人士。怪物格吕翁。
我们已经走近听到河水降入别的圈子的地方，河水发出有点像蜂巢旁边嗡嗡的声音；那时有三个影子，脱离受火雨打击的队伍向着我们跑来。他们喊道：“你站下来。看你的衣服，准是从我们混乱的国土上来的。”可怜呀！我看见他们身上，新伤旧痕，都是被火烧的。我现在一想起来我心里就很难过。我的老师听见了他们的呼喊，他掉转头来对我说：“等一下罢！我们应当对于他们表示些敬意；假使他们那里没有火球下降，我说还是你应当向着他们跑去呢。”
我们站住之后，他们又开始他们的悲呼叹息；在接近我们的时候，他们三个牵着手旋转，不停止地运动。好像角力的武士们，裸着，涂着油，在交手以前，想找出他们的攻击点。影子们也是这样，一方面旋转着，一方面用眼睛看着我，因此他们头的运动常和脚的运动相反。其中有一个开始说：“假使我们的不幸，派在这块松土上面，焦头烂额，引起你对于我们的轻视，至少，我们在世的声名也许足以使你告诉我：你是谁，能用平稳的脚步经过这里？在我前面的一个，虽然他体无完肤，他的名声地位却高于你所相信的：他是有善行的郭尔德拉达之孙，名字叫做圭多*贵拉；他在世之时，以头脑和刀剑闻名。 在我后面的一个叫做台嘉佑，他的忠言应当为世人所接受。至于我自己呢，我叫做卢斯蒂库奇；当然，我的泼妇害我甚于别人。”
假使我能够避开那火球，我也许走下堤岸，冲进他们的队伍，我相信我的老师不会阻止我的。但是，我恐怕烫伤，走上前去拥抱他们的心愿不得不勉强压制下来。于是我开始说：“决计不是轻蔑，只有悲伤之不暇。你们给我的印象，将深入我的心中，当我的引路人对我说了那几句话，我就感觉着会有你们这样的人到了。我是你们的同乡，我常常听见人家说到你们光荣的名字，说起你们的行为，听到这些我肃然起敬。我现在离开烦恼，去寻求我有德行的引路人所允许我的甜果；但是在达到目的之前，我必须走过地球的中心点。”
于是他回答道：“但愿你的灵魂长久存于你的肉体，而且你的声名百世流芳！请你告诉我们：礼貌和勇敢是否住在我们的城里，照例应当如此的，还是已经逃离那里？因为最近我们这里来了一个名叫波西厄尔的，他的一番话使我们大大的伤悲。”那时我抬头叫道：“一个暴发户的突然富有，佛罗伦萨呀！使你的城里生出放荡和骄傲，因此早已使你落泪了。”那三个影子，懂得这个就是我的回答；他们面面相视，和一个人知道了实情以后的神气一样。他们共同回答道；“假使在别的时候，你也可以痛痛快快，三言两语，满意地答覆了人家的话，那末你可以开心了！假使你走出了这昏暗的地方，再见那光明的世界，当你说到：“我曾经走过……”的时候，请你向人类提起我们的名字。”说罢，他们放手逃去，像脚上生着翅膀，连“阿们”二字都没有说完，就早已不见了。
我的老师催我，我们该走了。我们走了一小段路，听见水声已经十分接近我们，我们简直不能再谈话了。好比从蒙维佐山流出的水——流在亚平宁山的左方；在流到福尔里之前，他的名字叫做阿夸凯塔在下游，有一个圣贝内戴托大寺，可作一千人的避难；这里的赤水也是那样，下泻的声浪，震耳欲聋。
在我的腰部有一条绳子，有时候我想用他来缚住那五色斑斓的豹。我把他解下来，绕在手里，送给我的引路人，这是他吩咐我的。他站在深渊边缘，身子向右倾，把绳子投到下面去。
我心里想：“这一种新的信号，一定有新的答覆；我的引路人似乎注视着呢。”
一个人和智者站在一起真要小心谨慎呀！他不仅看清楚你的外表行为，就是你内心的思想他也能看清楚呢。他对我说：“我所希望的马上要来了；你所思的马上要出现在你面前了。”
对于一种外表上似乎是伪造的真理、一个人最好是闭口不说；因为他虽然没有罪过、他要被人家看作说诳的人呢。但是我在这里不能保持静默，假使他有永久的价值，我要以我的喜剧向读者诸君发誓，我看见：在昏暗浓厚的空气中，有一个东西游动着，就是再胆大的人看了也要吓呆；那东西有点像没入海水中去拔锚的，锚每有固着在暗礁上的时候，在拔起之后，张开他的上肢，紧缩他的两脚，游向水面。
As down it fell into the other round,
Resounding like the hum of swarming bees:
When forth together issu'd from a troop,
That pass'd beneath the fierce tormenting storm,
Three spirits, running swift. They towards us came,
And each one cried aloud, "Oh do thou stay!
Whom by the fashion of thy garb we deem
To be some inmate of our evil land."
Ah me! what wounds I mark'd upon their limbs,
Recent and old, inflicted by the flames!
E'en the remembrance of them grieves me yet.
Attentive to their cry my teacher paus'd,
And turn'd to me his visage, and then spake;
"Wait now! our courtesy these merit well:
And were 't not for the nature of the place,
Whence glide the fiery darts, I should have said,
That haste had better suited thee than them."
They, when we stopp'd, resum'd their ancient wail,
And soon as they had reach'd us, all the three
Whirl'd round together in one restless wheel.
As naked champions, smear'd with slippery oil,
Are wont intent to watch their place of hold
And vantage, ere in closer strife they meet;
Thus each one, as he wheel'd, his countenance
At me directed, so that opposite
The neck mov'd ever to the twinkling feet.
"If misery of this drear wilderness,"
Thus one began, "added to our sad cheer
And destitute, do call forth scorn on us
And our entreaties, let our great renown
Incline thee to inform us who thou art,
That dost imprint with living feet unharm'd
The soil of Hell. He, in whose track thou see'st
My steps pursuing, naked though he be
And reft of all, was of more high estate
Than thou believest; grandchild of the chaste
Gualdrada, him they Guidoguerra call'd,
Who in his lifetime many a noble act
Achiev'd, both by his wisdom and his sword.
The other, next to me that beats the sand,
Is Aldobrandi, name deserving well,
In the' upper world, of honour; and myself
Who in this torment do partake with them,
Am Rusticucci, whom, past doubt, my wife
Of savage temper, more than aught beside
Hath to this evil brought." If from the fire
I had been shelter'd, down amidst them straight
I then had cast me, nor my guide, I deem,
Would have restrain'd my going; but that fear
Of the dire burning vanquish'd the desire,
Which made me eager of their wish'd embrace.
I then began: "Not scorn, but grief much more,
Such as long time alone can cure, your doom
Fix'd deep within me, soon as this my lord
Spake words, whose tenour taught me to expect
That such a race, as ye are, was at hand.
I am a countryman of yours, who still
Affectionate have utter'd, and have heard
Your deeds and names renown'd. Leaving the gall
For the sweet fruit I go, that a sure guide
Hath promis'd to me. But behooves, that far
As to the centre first I downward tend."
"So may long space thy spirit guide thy limbs,"
He answer straight return'd; "and so thy fame
Shine bright, when thou art gone; as thou shalt tell,
If courtesy and valour, as they wont,
Dwell in our city, or have vanish'd clean?
For one amidst us late condemn'd to wail,
Borsiere, yonder walking with his peers,
Grieves us no little by the news he brings."
"An upstart multitude and sudden gains,
Pride and excess, O Florence! have in thee
Engender'd, so that now in tears thou mourn'st!"
Thus cried I with my face uprais'd, and they
All three, who for an answer took my words,
Look'd at each other, as men look when truth
Comes to their ear. "If thou at other times,"
They all at once rejoin'd, "so easily
Satisfy those, who question, happy thou,
Gifted with words, so apt to speak thy thought!
Wherefore if thou escape this darksome clime,
Returning to behold the radiant stars,
When thou with pleasure shalt retrace the past,
See that of us thou speak among mankind."
This said, they broke the circle, and so swift
Fled, that as pinions seem'd their nimble feet.
Not in so short a time might one have said
"Amen," as they had vanish'd. Straight my guide
Pursu'd his track. I follow'd; and small space
Had we pass'd onward, when the water's sound
Was now so near at hand, that we had scarce
Heard one another's speech for the loud din.
E'en as the river, that holds on its course
Unmingled, from the mount of Vesulo,
On the left side of Apennine, toward
The east, which Acquacheta higher up
They call, ere it descend into the vale,
At Forli by that name no longer known,
Rebellows o'er Saint Benedict, roll'd on
From the' Alpine summit down a precipice,
Where space enough to lodge a thousand spreads;
Thus downward from a craggy steep we found,
That this dark wave resounded, roaring loud,
So that the ear its clamour soon had stunn'd.
I had a cord that brac'd my girdle round,
Wherewith I erst had thought fast bound to take
The painted leopard. This when I had all
Unloosen'd from me (so my master bade)
I gather'd up, and stretch'd it forth to him.
Then to the right he turn'd, and from the brink
Standing few paces distant, cast it down
Into the deep abyss. "And somewhat strange,"
Thus to myself I spake, "signal so strange
Betokens, which my guide with earnest eye
Thus follows." Ah! what caution must men use
With those who look not at the deed alone,
But spy into the thoughts with subtle skill!
"Quickly shall come," he said, "what I expect,
Thine eye discover quickly, that whereof
Thy thought is dreaming." Ever to that truth,
Which but the semblance of a falsehood wears,
A man, if possible, should bar his lip;
Since, although blameless, he incurs reproach.
But silence here were vain; and by these notes
Which now I sing, reader! I swear to thee,
So may they favour find to latest times!
That through the gross and murky air I spied
A shape come swimming up, that might have quell'd
The stoutest heart with wonder, in such guise
As one returns, who hath been down to loose
An anchor grappled fast against some rock,
Or to aught else that in the salt wave lies,
Who upward springing close draws in his feet.
我们已经走近听到河水降入别的圈子的地方，河水发出有点像蜂巢旁边嗡嗡的声音；那时有三个影子，脱离受火雨打击的队伍向着我们跑来。他们喊道：“你站下来。看你的衣服，准是从我们混乱的国土上来的。”可怜呀！我看见他们身上，新伤旧痕，都是被火烧的。我现在一想起来我心里就很难过。我的老师听见了他们的呼喊，他掉转头来对我说：“等一下罢！我们应当对于他们表示些敬意；假使他们那里没有火球下降，我说还是你应当向着他们跑去呢。”
我们站住之后，他们又开始他们的悲呼叹息；在接近我们的时候，他们三个牵着手旋转，不停止地运动。好像角力的武士们，裸着，涂着油，在交手以前，想找出他们的攻击点。影子们也是这样，一方面旋转着，一方面用眼睛看着我，因此他们头的运动常和脚的运动相反。其中有一个开始说：“假使我们的不幸，派在这块松土上面，焦头烂额，引起你对于我们的轻视，至少，我们在世的声名也许足以使你告诉我：你是谁，能用平稳的脚步经过这里？在我前面的一个，虽然他体无完肤，他的名声地位却高于你所相信的：他是有善行的郭尔德拉达之孙，名字叫做圭多*贵拉；他在世之时，以头脑和刀剑闻名。 在我后面的一个叫做台嘉佑，他的忠言应当为世人所接受。至于我自己呢，我叫做卢斯蒂库奇；当然，我的泼妇害我甚于别人。”
假使我能够避开那火球，我也许走下堤岸，冲进他们的队伍，我相信我的老师不会阻止我的。但是，我恐怕烫伤，走上前去拥抱他们的心愿不得不勉强压制下来。于是我开始说：“决计不是轻蔑，只有悲伤之不暇。你们给我的印象，将深入我的心中，当我的引路人对我说了那几句话，我就感觉着会有你们这样的人到了。我是你们的同乡，我常常听见人家说到你们光荣的名字，说起你们的行为，听到这些我肃然起敬。我现在离开烦恼，去寻求我有德行的引路人所允许我的甜果；但是在达到目的之前，我必须走过地球的中心点。”
于是他回答道：“但愿你的灵魂长久存于你的肉体，而且你的声名百世流芳！请你告诉我们：礼貌和勇敢是否住在我们的城里，照例应当如此的，还是已经逃离那里？因为最近我们这里来了一个名叫波西厄尔的，他的一番话使我们大大的伤悲。”那时我抬头叫道：“一个暴发户的突然富有，佛罗伦萨呀！使你的城里生出放荡和骄傲，因此早已使你落泪了。”那三个影子，懂得这个就是我的回答；他们面面相视，和一个人知道了实情以后的神气一样。他们共同回答道；“假使在别的时候，你也可以痛痛快快，三言两语，满意地答覆了人家的话，那末你可以开心了！假使你走出了这昏暗的地方，再见那光明的世界，当你说到：“我曾经走过……”的时候，请你向人类提起我们的名字。”说罢，他们放手逃去，像脚上生着翅膀，连“阿们”二字都没有说完，就早已不见了。
我的老师催我，我们该走了。我们走了一小段路，听见水声已经十分接近我们，我们简直不能再谈话了。好比从蒙维佐山流出的水——流在亚平宁山的左方；在流到福尔里之前，他的名字叫做阿夸凯塔在下游，有一个圣贝内戴托大寺，可作一千人的避难；这里的赤水也是那样，下泻的声浪，震耳欲聋。
在我的腰部有一条绳子，有时候我想用他来缚住那五色斑斓的豹。我把他解下来，绕在手里，送给我的引路人，这是他吩咐我的。他站在深渊边缘，身子向右倾，把绳子投到下面去。
我心里想：“这一种新的信号，一定有新的答覆；我的引路人似乎注视着呢。”
一个人和智者站在一起真要小心谨慎呀！他不仅看清楚你的外表行为，就是你内心的思想他也能看清楚呢。他对我说：“我所希望的马上要来了；你所思的马上要出现在你面前了。”
对于一种外表上似乎是伪造的真理、一个人最好是闭口不说；因为他虽然没有罪过、他要被人家看作说诳的人呢。但是我在这里不能保持静默，假使他有永久的价值，我要以我的喜剧向读者诸君发誓，我看见：在昏暗浓厚的空气中，有一个东西游动着，就是再胆大的人看了也要吓呆；那东西有点像没入海水中去拔锚的，锚每有固着在暗礁上的时候，在拔起之后，张开他的上肢，紧缩他的两脚，游向水面。
As down it fell into the other round,
Resounding like the hum of swarming bees:
When forth together issu'd from a troop,
That pass'd beneath the fierce tormenting storm,
Three spirits, running swift. They towards us came,
And each one cried aloud, "Oh do thou stay!
Whom by the fashion of thy garb we deem
To be some inmate of our evil land."
Ah me! what wounds I mark'd upon their limbs,
Recent and old, inflicted by the flames!
E'en the remembrance of them grieves me yet.
Attentive to their cry my teacher paus'd,
And turn'd to me his visage, and then spake;
"Wait now! our courtesy these merit well:
And were 't not for the nature of the place,
Whence glide the fiery darts, I should have said,
That haste had better suited thee than them."
They, when we stopp'd, resum'd their ancient wail,
And soon as they had reach'd us, all the three
Whirl'd round together in one restless wheel.
As naked champions, smear'd with slippery oil,
Are wont intent to watch their place of hold
And vantage, ere in closer strife they meet;
Thus each one, as he wheel'd, his countenance
At me directed, so that opposite
The neck mov'd ever to the twinkling feet.
"If misery of this drear wilderness,"
Thus one began, "added to our sad cheer
And destitute, do call forth scorn on us
And our entreaties, let our great renown
Incline thee to inform us who thou art,
That dost imprint with living feet unharm'd
The soil of Hell. He, in whose track thou see'st
My steps pursuing, naked though he be
And reft of all, was of more high estate
Than thou believest; grandchild of the chaste
Gualdrada, him they Guidoguerra call'd,
Who in his lifetime many a noble act
Achiev'd, both by his wisdom and his sword.
The other, next to me that beats the sand,
Is Aldobrandi, name deserving well,
In the' upper world, of honour; and myself
Who in this torment do partake with them,
Am Rusticucci, whom, past doubt, my wife
Of savage temper, more than aught beside
Hath to this evil brought." If from the fire
I had been shelter'd, down amidst them straight
I then had cast me, nor my guide, I deem,
Would have restrain'd my going; but that fear
Of the dire burning vanquish'd the desire,
Which made me eager of their wish'd embrace.
I then began: "Not scorn, but grief much more,
Such as long time alone can cure, your doom
Fix'd deep within me, soon as this my lord
Spake words, whose tenour taught me to expect
That such a race, as ye are, was at hand.
I am a countryman of yours, who still
Affectionate have utter'd, and have heard
Your deeds and names renown'd. Leaving the gall
For the sweet fruit I go, that a sure guide
Hath promis'd to me. But behooves, that far
As to the centre first I downward tend."
"So may long space thy spirit guide thy limbs,"
He answer straight return'd; "and so thy fame
Shine bright, when thou art gone; as thou shalt tell,
If courtesy and valour, as they wont,
Dwell in our city, or have vanish'd clean?
For one amidst us late condemn'd to wail,
Borsiere, yonder walking with his peers,
Grieves us no little by the news he brings."
"An upstart multitude and sudden gains,
Pride and excess, O Florence! have in thee
Engender'd, so that now in tears thou mourn'st!"
Thus cried I with my face uprais'd, and they
All three, who for an answer took my words,
Look'd at each other, as men look when truth
Comes to their ear. "If thou at other times,"
They all at once rejoin'd, "so easily
Satisfy those, who question, happy thou,
Gifted with words, so apt to speak thy thought!
Wherefore if thou escape this darksome clime,
Returning to behold the radiant stars,
When thou with pleasure shalt retrace the past,
See that of us thou speak among mankind."
This said, they broke the circle, and so swift
Fled, that as pinions seem'd their nimble feet.
Not in so short a time might one have said
"Amen," as they had vanish'd. Straight my guide
Pursu'd his track. I follow'd; and small space
Had we pass'd onward, when the water's sound
Was now so near at hand, that we had scarce
Heard one another's speech for the loud din.
E'en as the river, that holds on its course
Unmingled, from the mount of Vesulo,
On the left side of Apennine, toward
The east, which Acquacheta higher up
They call, ere it descend into the vale,
At Forli by that name no longer known,
Rebellows o'er Saint Benedict, roll'd on
From the' Alpine summit down a precipice,
Where space enough to lodge a thousand spreads;
Thus downward from a craggy steep we found,
That this dark wave resounded, roaring loud,
So that the ear its clamour soon had stunn'd.
I had a cord that brac'd my girdle round,
Wherewith I erst had thought fast bound to take
The painted leopard. This when I had all
Unloosen'd from me (so my master bade)
I gather'd up, and stretch'd it forth to him.
Then to the right he turn'd, and from the brink
Standing few paces distant, cast it down
Into the deep abyss. "And somewhat strange,"
Thus to myself I spake, "signal so strange
Betokens, which my guide with earnest eye
Thus follows." Ah! what caution must men use
With those who look not at the deed alone,
But spy into the thoughts with subtle skill!
"Quickly shall come," he said, "what I expect,
Thine eye discover quickly, that whereof
Thy thought is dreaming." Ever to that truth,
Which but the semblance of a falsehood wears,
A man, if possible, should bar his lip;
Since, although blameless, he incurs reproach.
But silence here were vain; and by these notes
Which now I sing, reader! I swear to thee,
So may they favour find to latest times!
That through the gross and murky air I spied
A shape come swimming up, that might have quell'd
The stoutest heart with wonder, in such guise
As one returns, who hath been down to loose
An anchor grappled fast against some rock,
Or to aught else that in the salt wave lies,
Who upward springing close draws in his feet.