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simple suits of buff And with the spindle and the flax their dames。
O fortunate women！ and each one was certain Of her own burial…place；
and none as yet For sake of France was in her bed deserted。
One o'er the cradle kept her studious watch； And in her lullaby the
language used That first delights the fathers and the mothers；
Another； drawing tresses from her distaff； Told o'er among her family
the tales Of Trojans and of Fesole and Rome。
As great a marvel then would have been held A Lapo Salterello； a
Cianghella； As Cincinnatus or Cornelia now。
To such a quiet； such a beautiful Life of the citizen； to such a safe
Community； and to so sweet an inn；
Did Mary give me； with loud cries invoked； And in your ancient
Baptistery at once Christian and Cacciaguida I became。
Moronto was my brother； and Eliseo； From Val di Pado came to me
my wife； And from that place thy surname was derived。
I followed afterward the Emperor Conrad； And he begirt me of his
chivalry； So much I pleased him with my noble deeds。
I followed in his train against that law's Iniquity； whose people doth
usurp Your just possession； through your Pastor's fault。
There by that execrable race was I Released from bonds of the
fallacious world； The love of which defileth many souls；
And came from martyrdom unto this peace。〃
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Paradiso： Canto XVI
O thou our poor nobility of blood； If thou dost make the people glory
in thee Down here where our affection languishes；
A marvellous thing it ne'er will be to me； For there where appetite is
not perverted； I say in Heaven； of thee I made a boast！
Truly thou art a cloak that quickly shortens； So that unless we piece
thee day by day Time goeth round about thee with his shears！
With 'You；' which Rome was first to tolerate； （Wherein her family less
perseveres；） Yet once again my words beginning made；
Whence Beatrice； who stood somewhat apart； Smiling； appeared like
unto her who coughed At the first failing writ of Guenever。
And I began： 〃You are my ancestor； You give to me all hardihood to
speak； You lift me so that I am more than I。
So many rivulets with gladness fill My mind； that of itself it makes a
joy Because it can endure this and not burst。
Then tell me； my beloved root ancestral； Who were your ancestors；
and what the years That in your boyhood chronicled themselves？
Tell me about the sheepfold of Saint John； How large it was； and who
the people were Within it worthy of the highest seats。〃
As at the blowing of the winds a coal Quickens to flame； so I beheld
that light Become resplendent at my blandishments。
And as unto mine eyes it grew more fair； With voice more sweet and
tender； but not in This modern dialect； it said to me：
〃From uttering of the 'Ave；' till the birth In which my mother； who is
now a saint； Of me was lightened who had been her burden；
Unto its Lion had this fire returned Five hundred fifty times and thirty
more； To reinflame itself beneath his paw。
My ancestors and I our birthplace had Where first is found the last
ward of the city By him who runneth in your annual game。
Suffice it of my elders to hear this； But who they were； and whence
they thither came； Silence is more considerate than speech。
All those who at that time were there between Mars and the Baptist； fit
for bearing arms； Were a fifth part of those who now are living；
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But the community； that now is mixed With Campi and Certaldo and
Figghine； Pure in the lowest artisan was seen。
O how much better 'twere to have as neighbours The folk of whom I
speak； and at Galluzzo And at Trespiano have your boundary；
Than have them in the town； and bear the stench Of Aguglione's churl；
and him of Signa Who has sharp eyes for trickery already。
Had not the folk； which most of all the world Degenerates； been a
step…dame unto Caesar； But as a mother to her son benignant；
Some who turn Florentines； and trade and discount； Would have gone
back again to Simifonte There where their grandsires went about as
beggars。
At Montemurlo still would be the Counts； The Cerchi in the parish of
Acone； Perhaps in Valdigrieve the Buondelmonti。
Ever the intermingling of the people Has been the source of malady in
cities； As in the body food it surfeits on；
And a blind bull more headlong plunges down Than a blind lamb； and
very often cuts Better and more a single sword than five。
If Luni thou regard； and Urbisaglia； How they have passed away； and
how are passing Chiusi and Sinigaglia after them；
To hear how races waste themselves away； Will seem to thee no novel
thing nor hard； Seeing that even cities have an end。
All things of yours have their mortality； Even as yourselves； but it is
hidden in some That a long while endure； and lives are short；
And as the turning of the lunar heaven Covers and bares the shores
without a pause； In the like manner fortune does with Florence。
Therefore should not appear a marvellous thing What I shall say of the
great Florentines Of whom the fame is hidden in the Past。
I saw the Ughi； saw the Catellini； Filippi； Greci； Ormanni； and
Alberichi； Even in their fall illustrious citizens；
And saw； as mighty as they ancient were； With him of La Sannella him
of Arca； And Soldanier； Ardinghi； and Bostichi。
Near to the gate that is at present laden With a new felony of so much
weight That soon it shall be jetsam from the bark；
The Ravignani were； from whom descended The County Guido； and
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whoe'er the name Of the great Bellincione since hath taken。
He of La Pressa knew the art of ruling Already； and already Galigajo
Had hilt and pommel gilded in his house。
Mighty already was the Column Vair； Sacchetti； Giuochi； Fifant； and
Barucci； And Galli； and they who for the bushel blush。
The stock from which were the Calfucci born Was great already； and
already chosen To curule chairs the Sizii and Arrigucci。
O how beheld I those who are undone By their own pride！ and how the
Balls of Gold Florence enflowered in all their mighty deeds！
So likewise did the ancestors of those Who evermore； when vacant is
your church； Fatten by staying in consistory。
The insolent race； that like a dragon follows Whoever flees； and unto
him that shows His teeth or purse is gentle as a lamb；
Already rising was； but from low people； So that it pleased not Ubertin
Donato That his wife's father should make him their kin。
Already had Caponsacco to the Market From Fesole descended； and
already Giuda and Infangato were good burghers。
I'll tell a thing incredible； but true； One entered the small circuit by a
gate Which from the Della Pera took its name！
Each one that bears the beautiful escutcheon Of the great baron whose
renown and name The festival of Thomas keepeth fresh；
Knighthood and privilege from him received； Though with the
populace unites himself To…day the man who binds it with a border。
Already were Gualterotti and Importuni； And still more quiet would
the Borgo be If with new neighbours it remained unfed。
The house from which is born your lamentation； Through just disdain
that death among you brought And put an end unto your joyous life；
Was honoured in itself and its companions。 O Buondelmonte； how in
evil hour Thou fled'st the bridal at another's promptings！
Many would be rejoicing who are sad； If God had thee surrendered to
the Ema The first time that thou camest to the city。
But it behoved the mutilated stone Which guards the bridge； that
Florence should provide A victim in her latest hour of peace。
With all these families； and others with them； Florence beheld I in so
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great repose； That no occasion had she whence to weep；
With all these families beheld so just