第五篇我已离开那些灵魂，跟随着他的足迹，其中忽有一个指着我叫道：“看呀！后面那个似乎能遮断阳光，而且他的步伐像活人。”听见这叫声，我便转回身，看见他们用惊奇的眼光注视着我和我的影子。
那时我的老师说：“你的精神为什么分散？为什么迟慢你的脚步？别人的窃窃私语与你何干？你应随我，让别人去说长道短！要像一座屹立的塔，不可因为暴风而倾歪。人常常由这个思想引起那个思想，因而远离了他所追求的正鹄，而第二个思想往往减少了第一个的活力呀。”听了这番教训，除了“我来了！”三字以外，我当然无言可对。我那时脸上浮着微微的赤色，这副神气是可以邀人原谅的。
不久，在经过山路的时候，我们前面又来了一群灵魂，他们唱着“怜恤我”的歌，且一首一首轮流地唱着。当他们忽然发现我的身体不透光的时候，他们的歌声马上变成一个长长的“嗄！”声。他们中有两个，似乎是做为代表的模样，跑过来说：“没告诉我们你们的情形，”我的老师回道：“你们可以回去告诉他们：这位的身体，是真正血肉之躯。如果他们来看看他的影子：我想是可以满足他们的愿望的。叫他们来罢，也许他可以有助于你们的。”
我从未看见过流星分裂的夜空，或闪电劈开日落时的秋云，有如这些灵魂去得那么快；他们带了别的灵魂过来衔枚如同疾走的队伍。诗人说：“拥着前来的灵魂为数很多，他们都是有求于你的；我们可以一面走，一面听。”
那队灵魂走近时，放慢了速度。他们说道：“带着肉身走向欢乐的灵魂呀！你看看我们，是否有你认识的人，可以替他带个消息到世间呢？你为什么还不停下来？我们都是暴死的，都是度着罪恶的岁月直到最后一刻；那时只有一线天光照亮我们，使我们忏悔并原谅别人，我们与世长辞，与上帝和好，都抱着一见天颜的愿望，”
我说：“就是看了你们的脸也是枉然，我一个都不认识；但是，假使我可以替你们做些什么事，那末，福祐的灵魂们，请你们说罢；我会尽力而为，因为我是求心之安宁，跟着高贵的引导人从一个世界到一个世界的。”
其中一个开始说：“我们每一个，不用你发誓，都信任你，只要你有能力，你是不会忘记诺言的，因此我就先说。我请求你，假使你到了罗马和查理所统御的人中间，叫法诺的居民为我祈祷，如此我可以洗涤我重大的过犯。我生长在那里的；但那流血这是精神之所寄的创口却是在安特诺尔所建之邑造就的。我相信那里平安，可是埃斯提族里的一个人竟干下这样的事，远过于我所应得的。如果，当我到达欧利亚科时，便向着拉密拉逃走，那末我还是呼吸在那里呢。我跑到一个沼泽里面，芦苇和污泥绊住我，我跌倒了，看见我的血在地上流成了一个湖。”
另一个说：“唉！你的愿望一定实现，升到山顶；你的好心肠能够帮助我的愿望！我是蒙泰菲尔特罗人，我名叫波恩康持。乔方娜既不当心我，也没有别人，所以我在队伍之中脸总朝着地。”我对他说：“到底是什么力量，或是什么机缘，把你引得离开堪帕尔迪诺这么远，使人寻不着你的遗体呢？”他答道：“说起这个呀！在卡森提诺的脚下，流淌着名叫阿尔齐亚诺的溪水，他是发源于亚平宁山中一个修道院之侧的。当我到了那条溪水失去名字的地方，我的喉咙已经洞穿，而我两脚还是奔跑着，滴了一路的血。那时我的眼光暗淡，我最后的一句话是祈求马利亚；在那里我倒在了地上，肉体和灵魂分离了。我告诉你这个事实，希望你转告人间。那时天使来引领我，地狱中魔鬼喊道：“恶！你是天上来的，为什么夺我的俘虏？就因为一点儿眼泪，便把他的灵魂带走，而无视我的权利！那么好，他还有剩下来的东西，让我来做另外的工作罢！””你知道空中积聚湿气，上升与高处的冷气相接触，便要下降为水的。魔鬼的恶念，始终要做恶事，加上他的知识，于是他鼓动暴风去吹湿气，依仗他的神通。不久，天傍晚的时候，普拉托玛纽山和大山脉所成的山谷里，积聚着厚厚地乌云，天空负担不起的时候，便成了雨点下降，地面容纳不下的水都泄成沟渠，沟渠结合流入溪中，溪水流入大河，河水浩大，没有什么东西可以阻碍他。那涨满的阿尔齐亚诺河，看见了我冰冷的身体躺在他岸旁。便把我卷入阿尔诺河中，推开我胸前的十字，这是我在痛苦至极时用双臂组成的。大河把我的身体时而推近岸，时而又推到了底。最后他用带着走的泥沙掩盖了我。”
第二个刚说完，第三个灵魂说：“呵！当你重回到人间，作长途旅行以后的休息时，请你务必记起我：我是毕娅！锡那纳塑造了我，玛雷玛毁了我；以前和我结婚，把一个宝石指环套在我手指上的人，他是明白这件事情的！”
The steps of my Conductor, when beheld
Pointing the finger at me one exclaim'd:
"See how it seems as if the light not shone
From the left hand of him beneath, and he,
As living, seems to be led on." Mine eyes
I at that sound reverting, saw them gaze
Through wonder first at me, and then at me
And the light broken underneath, by turns.
"Why are thy thoughts thus riveted?" my guide
Exclaim'd, "that thou hast slack'd thy pace? or how
Imports it thee, what thing is whisper'd here?
Come after me, and to their babblings leave
The crowd. Be as a tower, that, firmly set,
Shakes not its top for any blast that blows!
He, in whose bosom thought on thought shoots out,
Still of his aim is wide, in that the one
Sicklies and wastes to nought the other's strength."
What other could I answer save "I come?"
I said it, somewhat with that colour ting'd
Which ofttimes pardon meriteth for man.
Meanwhile traverse along the hill there came,
A little way before us, some who sang
The "Miserere" in responsive Strains.
When they perceiv'd that through my body I
Gave way not for the rays to pass, their song
Straight to a long and hoarse exclaim they chang'd;
And two of them, in guise of messengers,
Ran on to meet us, and inquiring ask'd:
"Of your condition we would gladly learn."
To them my guide. "Ye may return, and bear
Tidings to them who sent you, that his frame
Is real flesh. If, as I deem, to view
His shade they paus'd, enough is answer'd them.
Him let them honour, they may prize him well."
Ne'er saw I fiery vapours with such speed
Cut through the serene air at fall of night,
Nor August's clouds athwart the setting sun,
That upward these did not in shorter space
Return; and, there arriving, with the rest
Wheel back on us, as with loose rein a troop.
"Many," exclaim'd the bard, "are these, who throng
Around us: to petition thee they come.
Go therefore on, and listen as thou go'st."
"O spirit! who go'st on to blessedness
With the same limbs, that clad thee at thy birth."
Shouting they came, "a little rest thy step.
Look if thou any one amongst our tribe
Hast e'er beheld, that tidings of him there
Thou mayst report. Ah, wherefore go'st thou on?
Ah wherefore tarriest thou not? We all
By violence died, and to our latest hour
Were sinners, but then warn'd by light from heav'n,
So that, repenting and forgiving, we
Did issue out of life at peace with God,
Who with desire to see him fills our heart."
Then I: "The visages of all I scan
Yet none of ye remember. But if aught,
That I can do, may please you, gentle spirits!
Speak; and I will perform it, by that peace,
Which on the steps of guide so excellent
Following from world to world intent I seek."
In answer he began: "None here distrusts
Thy kindness, though not promis'd with an oath;
So as the will fail not for want of power.
Whence I, who sole before the others speak,
Entreat thee, if thou ever see that land,
Which lies between Romagna and the realm
Of Charles, that of thy courtesy thou pray
Those who inhabit Fano, that for me
Their adorations duly be put up,
By which I may purge off my grievous sins.
From thence I came. But the deep passages,
Whence issued out the blood wherein I dwelt,
Upon my bosom in Antenor's land
Were made, where to be more secure I thought.
The author of the deed was Este's prince,
Who, more than right could warrant, with his wrath
Pursued me. Had I towards Mira fled,
When overta'en at Oriaco, still
Might I have breath'd. But to the marsh I sped,
And in the mire and rushes tangled there
Fell, and beheld my life-blood float the plain."
Then said another: "Ah! so may the wish,
That takes thee o'er the mountain, be fulfill'd,
As thou shalt graciously give aid to mine.
Of Montefeltro I; Buonconte I:
Giovanna nor none else have care for me,
Sorrowing with these I therefore go." I thus:
"From Campaldino's field what force or chance
Drew thee, that ne'er thy sepulture was known?"
"Oh!" answer'd he, "at Casentino's foot
A stream there courseth, nam'd Archiano, sprung
In Apennine above the Hermit's seat.
E'en where its name is cancel'd, there came I,
Pierc'd in the heart, fleeing away on foot,
And bloodying the plain. Here sight and speech
Fail'd me, and finishing with Mary's name
I fell, and tenantless my flesh remain'd.
I will report the truth; which thou again
Tell to the living. Me God's angel took,
Whilst he of hell exclaim'd: "O thou from heav'n!
Say wherefore hast thou robb'd me? Thou of him
Th' eternal portion bear'st with thee away
For one poor tear that he deprives me of.
But of the other, other rule I make."
"Thou knowest how in the atmosphere collects
That vapour dank, returning into water,
Soon as it mounts where cold condenses it.
That evil will, which in his intellect
Still follows evil, came, and rais'd the wind
And smoky mist, by virtue of the power
Given by his nature. Thence the valley, soon
As day was spent, he cover'd o'er with cloud
From Pratomagno to the mountain range,
And stretch'd the sky above, so that the air
Impregnate chang'd to water. Fell the rain,
And to the fosses came all that the land
Contain'd not; and, as mightiest streams are wont,
To the great river with such headlong sweep
Rush'd, that nought stay'd its course. My stiffen'd frame
Laid at his mouth the fell Archiano found,
And dash'd it into Arno, from my breast
Loos'ning the cross, that of myself I made
When overcome with pain. He hurl'd me on,
Along the banks and bottom of his course;
Then in his muddy spoils encircling wrapt."
"Ah! when thou to the world shalt be return'd,
And rested after thy long road," so spake
Next the third spirit; "then remember me.
I once was Pia. Sienna gave me life,
Maremma took it from me. That he knows,
Who me with jewell'd ring had first espous'd."