续劝人为恶者。罗马的状况；圭多将军。
现在那团火直竖起来，终止说话，得到善良诗人的许可以后。他离开我们走了。当时另有一个随即着前来，于是我们的目光又转向着他的尖顶，因为有含糊的语音从那里传了出来。好像西西里的公牛，他第一次的吼声来自制造者的呼声这是极公平的处理，他虽然是铜制做的，却似乎能发出痛苦的哀鸣；这里的灵魂，最初他的声音在火团里面找不着一个出口，因此他的语句和火光一同闪烁。
后来他们从尖顶上找到了出路，那尖顶像舌头一样颤动，于是我们听见他说：“你呀，我是对你说话呀！你刚才用伦巴第语音说：“去罢，我不再问你了。”我虽然迟到了一点，但是仍然要请你多停留一刻，跟我说几句话；我虽然被火烧着，我还有耐心呢。假如你是新从甜美的拉丁地方我就在那里犯了罪恶堕落到这个盲目的世界，那末请你告诉我罗马地方的人民是在和平，还是在战争。因为我就是生长在那里的，在乌尔比诺和台伯河源之间的山上。”
那时我低头俯视下面，我的引路人摸着我的臂膀他说：“你说话吧。这是一个拉丁人。”于是我绝不迟慢，因为我的答话已经在嘴边了，我说：“哦，躲在下面的灵魂呀！你的罗马在他一群暴主的心中从未停止过战争；不过，在我离开那里的时候，公开的宣战却没有。腊万纳多年以来没有变化，仍在波伦培的鹰翼下面伏着，还有切尔维亚也附从了他。那个经历漫长战争的城，堆积着血肉模糊的法兰西人，现在又沦落到绿爪统治之下了。维卢乔的老狗和小狗，残酷地处死了蒙塔，仍是咬着他们向来咬惯的人。拉摩内和桑特尔诺的两个城里藏着那狮儿的巢穴，他从夏到冬更换他的党羽。那萨维奥河浸湿的城，他或许生活在自由之下，或在暴君之手，他好似处在平原和山岭之间一样，……现在我也要请你告诉我你是谁；不要像别人那样难说话，这样你的名字便可以永久地留在世上。”
稍后，那火焰闪动了一下，他的尖顶忽前忽后，于是他的语句出来了：“假如我的回话是向着一个可以回到阳世的人，那末我的火苗不再摇动了；但是，没有一个人可以从这里再走出去的假使这句话是真的，那末我就是回答了你也没什么可怕的。我原是一个军人，后来做了束绳的教士，希望忏悔以前的罪恶，如果不是那大祭司我诅咒他！把我引向旧罪恶，那末我的希望是不难实现的。这是怎么一回事呢？我希望你听我说。
“当我的母亲给了我血肉之身体，我的行为不是狮子的，而是狐狸的。欺诈和虚伪我是无所不会；我的手段高超，海角天涯无不知晓。当我上了年纪，这时任何一个人都要卷帆收纤了，于是我才悔恨那些曾经使我欢喜的事情；于是我深深忏悔、走进了修道院。唉！假如我能够坚持到底，这个对于我不是无益处的。
“新法利赛人的王子在拉泰兰附近挑起战争，这不是对付阿拉伯人，也不是对付犹太人，因为他的敌人都是那教徒，他们并没有一同去征服阿克，也没有与苏丹通商。他不重视他自己崇高的官爵和他自己神圣的权职，也不重视我卑下的绳子，这绳子以前曾经使拥缚着的人消瘦了身躯。他却和君士但丁把席尔维斯特罗从希拉提寻回来，替他医好了癞病一样，他把我找了去，要我替他把骄横的热病医好。他征求我的意见我却静默无声，因为我看他的话语很像醉汉说痴。最后他对我说：“你心里不要怀疑；无论如何，我可以预先赦免你，只要你教给我怎样能把佩内斯特里诺打倒在地。你知道我是可以开关天门的：因为有两把钥匙我的前任不知珍惜，都已交在我的手里了。”我听了这样严重的话，我觉得再不开口便是失策于是我说：“教父呀！你使我洗刷了罪恶，现在又使我堕落在里面了：允诺的很多，守约的很少，这样可以使你在高座获得胜利。”
“当我死了以后，圣方济各来接引我了，但是有一个黑天使对他说：“不能带他走，请你不要使我委屈呀！他是应当入地狱，做我的奴隶，因为他曾经献了欺诈的脆计，因此我要揪住他的头发。一个人不忏悔，就不能给予赦免；一方面忏悔，一方面又作恶，这也是不能允许的矛盾。”唉，我真是不幸呀！当他捉住我的时候，我觉悟了，他又对我说：“你不会把我当做一个逻辑家罢！”
“黑天使把我带到米诺斯那里，米诺斯把他的尾巴在坚硬的背上绕了八圈，于是发怒着咬他自己，他说：“把这一个罪人送到遮盖着的火里！’于是我和你所见到了此地，裹在火团里面，一边走着，一边悲泣着。”
当他说完以后，那团火摇晃着他的尖顶悲泣着走了。我和我的引路人赶我们的路程，从崎岖险恶的岩石上面，走到另一座的桥顶，在桥下面的沟里，搬弄是非和散布流言蜚语之辈永远地在偿还他们的重债。
To speak no more, and now pass'd on with leave
From the mild poet gain'd, when following came
Another, from whose top a sound confus'd,
Forth issuing, drew our eyes that way to look.
As the Sicilian bull, that rightfully
His cries first echoed, who had shap'd its mould,
Did so rebellow, with the voice of him
Tormented, that the brazen monster seem'd
Pierc'd through with pain; thus while no way they found
Nor avenue immediate through the flame,
Into its language turn'd the dismal words:
But soon as they had won their passage forth,
Up from the point, which vibrating obey'd
Their motion at the tongue, these sounds we heard:
"O thou! to whom I now direct my voice!
That lately didst exclaim in Lombard phrase,
'Depart thou, I solicit thee no more,'
Though somewhat tardy I perchance arrive
Let it not irk thee here to pause awhile,
And with me parley: lo! it irks not me
And yet I burn. If but e'en now thou fall
into this blind world, from that pleasant land
Of Latium, whence I draw my sum of guilt,
Tell me if those, who in Romagna dwell,
Have peace or war. For of the mountains there
Was I, betwixt Urbino and the height,
Whence Tyber first unlocks his mighty flood."
Leaning I listen'd yet with heedful ear,
When, as he touch'd my side, the leader thus:
"Speak thou: he is a Latian." My reply
Was ready, and I spake without delay:
"O spirit! who art hidden here below!
Never was thy Romagna without war
In her proud tyrants' bosoms, nor is now:
But open war there left I none. The state,
Ravenna hath maintain'd this many a year,
Is steadfast. There Polenta's eagle broods,
And in his broad circumference of plume
O'ershadows Cervia. The green talons grasp
The land, that stood erewhile the proof so long,
And pil'd in bloody heap the host of France.
"The' old mastiff of Verruchio and the young,
That tore Montagna in their wrath, still make,
Where they are wont, an augre of their fangs.
"Lamone's city and Santerno's range
Under the lion of the snowy lair.
Inconstant partisan! that changeth sides,
Or ever summer yields to winter's frost.
And she, whose flank is wash'd of Savio's wave,
As 'twixt the level and the steep she lies,
Lives so 'twixt tyrant power and liberty.
"Now tell us, I entreat thee, who art thou?
Be not more hard than others. In the world,
So may thy name still rear its forehead high."
Then roar'd awhile the fire, its sharpen'd point
On either side wav'd, and thus breath'd at last:
"If I did think, my answer were to one,
Who ever could return unto the world,
This flame should rest unshaken. But since ne'er,
If true be told me, any from this depth
Has found his upward way, I answer thee,
Nor fear lest infamy record the words.
"A man of arms at first, I cloth'd me then
In good Saint Francis' girdle, hoping so
T' have made amends. And certainly my hope
Had fail'd not, but that he, whom curses light on,
The' high priest again seduc'd me into sin.
And how and wherefore listen while I tell.
Long as this spirit mov'd the bones and pulp
My mother gave me, less my deeds bespake
The nature of the lion than the fox.
All ways of winding subtlety I knew,
And with such art conducted, that the sound
Reach'd the world's limit. Soon as to that part
Of life I found me come, when each behoves
To lower sails and gather in the lines;
That which before had pleased me then I rued,
And to repentance and confession turn'd;
Wretch that I was! and well it had bested me!
The chief of the new Pharisees meantime,
Waging his warfare near the Lateran,
Not with the Saracens or Jews (his foes
All Christians were, nor against Acre one
Had fought, nor traffic'd in the Soldan's land),
He his great charge nor sacred ministry
In himself, rev'renc'd, nor in me that cord,
Which us'd to mark with leanness whom it girded.
As in Socrate, Constantine besought
To cure his leprosy Sylvester's aid,
So me to cure the fever of his pride
This man besought: my counsel to that end
He ask'd: and I was silent: for his words
Seem'd drunken: but forthwith he thus resum'd:
"From thy heart banish fear: of all offence
I hitherto absolve thee. In return,
Teach me my purpose so to execute,
That Penestrino cumber earth no more.
Heav'n, as thou knowest, I have power to shut
And open: and the keys are therefore twain,
The which my predecessor meanly priz'd."
Then, yielding to the forceful arguments,
Of silence as more perilous I deem'd,
And answer'd: "Father! since thou washest me
Clear of that guilt wherein I now must fall,
Large promise with performance scant, be sure,
Shall make thee triumph in thy lofty seat."
"When I was number'd with the dead, then came
Saint Francis for me; but a cherub dark
He met, who cried: "'Wrong me not; he is mine,
And must below to join the wretched crew,
For the deceitful counsel which he gave.
E'er since I watch'd him, hov'ring at his hair,
No power can the impenitent absolve;
Nor to repent and will at once consist,
By contradiction absolute forbid."
Oh mis'ry! how I shook myself, when he
Seiz'd me, and cried, "Thou haply thought'st me not
A disputant in logic so exact."
To Minos down he bore me, and the judge
Twin'd eight times round his callous back the tail,
Which biting with excess of rage, he spake:
'This is a guilty soul, that in the fire
Must vanish.' Hence perdition-doom'd I rove
A prey to rankling sorrow in this garb."
When he had thus fulfill'd his words, the flame
In dolour parted, beating to and fro,
And writhing its sharp horn. We onward went,
I and my leader, up along the rock,
Far as another arch, that overhangs
The foss, wherein the penalty is paid
Of those, who load them with committed sin.
现在那团火直竖起来，终止说话，得到善良诗人的许可以后。他离开我们走了。当时另有一个随即着前来，于是我们的目光又转向着他的尖顶，因为有含糊的语音从那里传了出来。好像西西里的公牛，他第一次的吼声来自制造者的呼声这是极公平的处理，他虽然是铜制做的，却似乎能发出痛苦的哀鸣；这里的灵魂，最初他的声音在火团里面找不着一个出口，因此他的语句和火光一同闪烁。
后来他们从尖顶上找到了出路，那尖顶像舌头一样颤动，于是我们听见他说：“你呀，我是对你说话呀！你刚才用伦巴第语音说：“去罢，我不再问你了。”我虽然迟到了一点，但是仍然要请你多停留一刻，跟我说几句话；我虽然被火烧着，我还有耐心呢。假如你是新从甜美的拉丁地方我就在那里犯了罪恶堕落到这个盲目的世界，那末请你告诉我罗马地方的人民是在和平，还是在战争。因为我就是生长在那里的，在乌尔比诺和台伯河源之间的山上。”
那时我低头俯视下面，我的引路人摸着我的臂膀他说：“你说话吧。这是一个拉丁人。”于是我绝不迟慢，因为我的答话已经在嘴边了，我说：“哦，躲在下面的灵魂呀！你的罗马在他一群暴主的心中从未停止过战争；不过，在我离开那里的时候，公开的宣战却没有。腊万纳多年以来没有变化，仍在波伦培的鹰翼下面伏着，还有切尔维亚也附从了他。那个经历漫长战争的城，堆积着血肉模糊的法兰西人，现在又沦落到绿爪统治之下了。维卢乔的老狗和小狗，残酷地处死了蒙塔，仍是咬着他们向来咬惯的人。拉摩内和桑特尔诺的两个城里藏着那狮儿的巢穴，他从夏到冬更换他的党羽。那萨维奥河浸湿的城，他或许生活在自由之下，或在暴君之手，他好似处在平原和山岭之间一样，……现在我也要请你告诉我你是谁；不要像别人那样难说话，这样你的名字便可以永久地留在世上。”
稍后，那火焰闪动了一下，他的尖顶忽前忽后，于是他的语句出来了：“假如我的回话是向着一个可以回到阳世的人，那末我的火苗不再摇动了；但是，没有一个人可以从这里再走出去的假使这句话是真的，那末我就是回答了你也没什么可怕的。我原是一个军人，后来做了束绳的教士，希望忏悔以前的罪恶，如果不是那大祭司我诅咒他！把我引向旧罪恶，那末我的希望是不难实现的。这是怎么一回事呢？我希望你听我说。
“当我的母亲给了我血肉之身体，我的行为不是狮子的，而是狐狸的。欺诈和虚伪我是无所不会；我的手段高超，海角天涯无不知晓。当我上了年纪，这时任何一个人都要卷帆收纤了，于是我才悔恨那些曾经使我欢喜的事情；于是我深深忏悔、走进了修道院。唉！假如我能够坚持到底，这个对于我不是无益处的。
“新法利赛人的王子在拉泰兰附近挑起战争，这不是对付阿拉伯人，也不是对付犹太人，因为他的敌人都是那教徒，他们并没有一同去征服阿克，也没有与苏丹通商。他不重视他自己崇高的官爵和他自己神圣的权职，也不重视我卑下的绳子，这绳子以前曾经使拥缚着的人消瘦了身躯。他却和君士但丁把席尔维斯特罗从希拉提寻回来，替他医好了癞病一样，他把我找了去，要我替他把骄横的热病医好。他征求我的意见我却静默无声，因为我看他的话语很像醉汉说痴。最后他对我说：“你心里不要怀疑；无论如何，我可以预先赦免你，只要你教给我怎样能把佩内斯特里诺打倒在地。你知道我是可以开关天门的：因为有两把钥匙我的前任不知珍惜，都已交在我的手里了。”我听了这样严重的话，我觉得再不开口便是失策于是我说：“教父呀！你使我洗刷了罪恶，现在又使我堕落在里面了：允诺的很多，守约的很少，这样可以使你在高座获得胜利。”
“当我死了以后，圣方济各来接引我了，但是有一个黑天使对他说：“不能带他走，请你不要使我委屈呀！他是应当入地狱，做我的奴隶，因为他曾经献了欺诈的脆计，因此我要揪住他的头发。一个人不忏悔，就不能给予赦免；一方面忏悔，一方面又作恶，这也是不能允许的矛盾。”唉，我真是不幸呀！当他捉住我的时候，我觉悟了，他又对我说：“你不会把我当做一个逻辑家罢！”
“黑天使把我带到米诺斯那里，米诺斯把他的尾巴在坚硬的背上绕了八圈，于是发怒着咬他自己，他说：“把这一个罪人送到遮盖着的火里！’于是我和你所见到了此地，裹在火团里面，一边走着，一边悲泣着。”
当他说完以后，那团火摇晃着他的尖顶悲泣着走了。我和我的引路人赶我们的路程，从崎岖险恶的岩石上面，走到另一座的桥顶，在桥下面的沟里，搬弄是非和散布流言蜚语之辈永远地在偿还他们的重债。
To speak no more, and now pass'd on with leave
From the mild poet gain'd, when following came
Another, from whose top a sound confus'd,
Forth issuing, drew our eyes that way to look.
As the Sicilian bull, that rightfully
His cries first echoed, who had shap'd its mould,
Did so rebellow, with the voice of him
Tormented, that the brazen monster seem'd
Pierc'd through with pain; thus while no way they found
Nor avenue immediate through the flame,
Into its language turn'd the dismal words:
But soon as they had won their passage forth,
Up from the point, which vibrating obey'd
Their motion at the tongue, these sounds we heard:
"O thou! to whom I now direct my voice!
That lately didst exclaim in Lombard phrase,
'Depart thou, I solicit thee no more,'
Though somewhat tardy I perchance arrive
Let it not irk thee here to pause awhile,
And with me parley: lo! it irks not me
And yet I burn. If but e'en now thou fall
into this blind world, from that pleasant land
Of Latium, whence I draw my sum of guilt,
Tell me if those, who in Romagna dwell,
Have peace or war. For of the mountains there
Was I, betwixt Urbino and the height,
Whence Tyber first unlocks his mighty flood."
Leaning I listen'd yet with heedful ear,
When, as he touch'd my side, the leader thus:
"Speak thou: he is a Latian." My reply
Was ready, and I spake without delay:
"O spirit! who art hidden here below!
Never was thy Romagna without war
In her proud tyrants' bosoms, nor is now:
But open war there left I none. The state,
Ravenna hath maintain'd this many a year,
Is steadfast. There Polenta's eagle broods,
And in his broad circumference of plume
O'ershadows Cervia. The green talons grasp
The land, that stood erewhile the proof so long,
And pil'd in bloody heap the host of France.
"The' old mastiff of Verruchio and the young,
That tore Montagna in their wrath, still make,
Where they are wont, an augre of their fangs.
"Lamone's city and Santerno's range
Under the lion of the snowy lair.
Inconstant partisan! that changeth sides,
Or ever summer yields to winter's frost.
And she, whose flank is wash'd of Savio's wave,
As 'twixt the level and the steep she lies,
Lives so 'twixt tyrant power and liberty.
"Now tell us, I entreat thee, who art thou?
Be not more hard than others. In the world,
So may thy name still rear its forehead high."
Then roar'd awhile the fire, its sharpen'd point
On either side wav'd, and thus breath'd at last:
"If I did think, my answer were to one,
Who ever could return unto the world,
This flame should rest unshaken. But since ne'er,
If true be told me, any from this depth
Has found his upward way, I answer thee,
Nor fear lest infamy record the words.
"A man of arms at first, I cloth'd me then
In good Saint Francis' girdle, hoping so
T' have made amends. And certainly my hope
Had fail'd not, but that he, whom curses light on,
The' high priest again seduc'd me into sin.
And how and wherefore listen while I tell.
Long as this spirit mov'd the bones and pulp
My mother gave me, less my deeds bespake
The nature of the lion than the fox.
All ways of winding subtlety I knew,
And with such art conducted, that the sound
Reach'd the world's limit. Soon as to that part
Of life I found me come, when each behoves
To lower sails and gather in the lines;
That which before had pleased me then I rued,
And to repentance and confession turn'd;
Wretch that I was! and well it had bested me!
The chief of the new Pharisees meantime,
Waging his warfare near the Lateran,
Not with the Saracens or Jews (his foes
All Christians were, nor against Acre one
Had fought, nor traffic'd in the Soldan's land),
He his great charge nor sacred ministry
In himself, rev'renc'd, nor in me that cord,
Which us'd to mark with leanness whom it girded.
As in Socrate, Constantine besought
To cure his leprosy Sylvester's aid,
So me to cure the fever of his pride
This man besought: my counsel to that end
He ask'd: and I was silent: for his words
Seem'd drunken: but forthwith he thus resum'd:
"From thy heart banish fear: of all offence
I hitherto absolve thee. In return,
Teach me my purpose so to execute,
That Penestrino cumber earth no more.
Heav'n, as thou knowest, I have power to shut
And open: and the keys are therefore twain,
The which my predecessor meanly priz'd."
Then, yielding to the forceful arguments,
Of silence as more perilous I deem'd,
And answer'd: "Father! since thou washest me
Clear of that guilt wherein I now must fall,
Large promise with performance scant, be sure,
Shall make thee triumph in thy lofty seat."
"When I was number'd with the dead, then came
Saint Francis for me; but a cherub dark
He met, who cried: "'Wrong me not; he is mine,
And must below to join the wretched crew,
For the deceitful counsel which he gave.
E'er since I watch'd him, hov'ring at his hair,
No power can the impenitent absolve;
Nor to repent and will at once consist,
By contradiction absolute forbid."
Oh mis'ry! how I shook myself, when he
Seiz'd me, and cried, "Thou haply thought'st me not
A disputant in logic so exact."
To Minos down he bore me, and the judge
Twin'd eight times round his callous back the tail,
Which biting with excess of rage, he spake:
'This is a guilty soul, that in the fire
Must vanish.' Hence perdition-doom'd I rove
A prey to rankling sorrow in this garb."
When he had thus fulfill'd his words, the flame
In dolour parted, beating to and fro,
And writhing its sharp horn. We onward went,
I and my leader, up along the rock,
Far as another arch, that overhangs
The foss, wherein the penalty is paid
Of those, who load them with committed sin.