She is Semiramis, of whom we read

       That she succeeded Ninus, and was his spouse;

       She held the land which now the Sultan rules.

      The next is she who killed herself for love,

       And broke faith with the ashes of Sichaeus;

       Then Cleopatra the voluptuous."

      Helen I saw, for whom so many ruthless

       Seasons revolved; and saw the great Achilles,

       Who at the last hour combated with Love.

      Paris I saw, Tristan; and more than a thousand

       Shades did he name and point out with his finger,

       Whom Love had separated from our life.

      After that I had listened to my Teacher,

       Naming the dames of eld and cavaliers,

       Pity prevailed, and I was nigh bewildered.

      And I began: "O Poet, willingly

       Speak would I to those two, who go together,

       And seem upon the wind to be so light."

      And, he to me: "Thou'lt mark, when they shall be

       Nearer to us; and then do thou implore them

       By love which leadeth them, and they will come."

      Soon as the wind in our direction sways them,

       My voice uplift I: "O ye weary souls!

       Come speak to us, if no one interdicts it."

      As turtle-doves, called onward by desire,

       With open and steady wings to the sweet nest

       Fly through the air by their volition borne,

      So came they from the band where Dido is,

       Approaching us athwart the air malign,

       So strong was the affectionate appeal.

      "O living creature gracious and benignant,

       Who visiting goest through the purple air

       Us, who have stained the world incarnadine,

      If were the King of the Universe our friend,

       We would pray unto him to give thee peace,

       Since thou hast pity on our woe perverse.

      Of what it pleases thee to hear and speak,

       That will we hear, and we will speak to you,

       While silent is the wind, as it is now.

      Sitteth the city, wherein I was born,

       Upon the sea-shore where the Po descends

       To rest in peace with all his retinue.

      Love, that on gentle heart doth swiftly seize,

       Seized this man for the person beautiful

       That was ta'en from me, and still the mode offends me.

      Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving,

       Seized me with pleasure of this man so strongly,

       That, as thou seest, it doth not yet desert me;

      Love has conducted us unto one death;

       Caina waiteth him who quenched our life!"

       These words were borne along from them to us.

      As soon as I had heard those souls tormented,

       I bowed my face, and so long held it down

       Until the Poet said to me: "What thinkest?"

      When I made answer, I began: "Alas!

       How many pleasant thoughts, how much desire,

       Conducted these unto the dolorous pass!"

      Then unto them I turned me, and I spake,

       And I began: "Thine agonies, Francesca,

       Sad and compassionate to weeping make me.

      But tell me, at the time of those sweet sighs,

       By what and in what manner Love conceded,

       That you should know your dubious desires?"

      And she to me: "There is no greater sorrow

       Than to be mindful of the happy time

       In misery, and that thy Teacher knows.

      But, if to recognise the earliest root

       Of love in us thou hast so great desire,

       I will do even as he who weeps and speaks.

      One day we reading were for our delight

       Of Launcelot, how Love did him enthral.

       Alone we were and without any fear.

      Full many a time our eyes together drew

       That reading, and drove the colour from our faces;

       But one point only was it that o'ercame us.

      When as we read of the much-longed-for smile

       Being by such a noble lover kissed,

       This one, who ne'er from me shall be divided,

      Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating.

       Galeotto was the book and he who wrote it.

       That day no farther did we read therein."

      And all the while one spirit uttered this,