Guide to the canto Where we are We remain in the Heaven of the Fixed Stars, before the cross of Mars. Dante asks his great-great-grandfather for precise information: how many citizens there were, who were the families worthy of the foremost seats, and what Florence looked like. Cacciaguida agrees to answer and alludes to a smile of Beatrice, who approves the beginning of the account.
Whom we meet Cacciaguida is the guiding voice of the canto: he names the ancient houses, the Ughi, the Catellini, the Filippi, the Greci, the Ormanni, the Alberichi, the Soldanieri, the Ardinghi, the Bostichi, the Ravignani, the Calfucci, the Sizii, the Arrigucci, the Caponsacco and others still. He also recalls Buondelmonte, whose death at the hands of the Amidei, marked by the stone near the bridge, is often read as the beginning of Florentine civil strife. Beatrice appears only with a smile, without speaking.
What to expect After the survey of the families will come the personal warning. Cacciaguida will prepare Dante for the truth about his future: the mission of poet, exile, and false friendships. The lost Florence serves as backdrop to an uncomfortable truth, and the poet will understand that future glory passes through suffering.
O thou our poor nobility of blood,
1 If thou dost make the people glory in thee
2 Down here where our affection languishes,
3 A marvellous thing it ne'er will be to me;
4 For there where appetite is not perverted,
5 I say in Heaven, of thee I made a boast!
6 Truly thou art a cloak that quickly shortens,
7 So that unless we piece thee day by day
8 Time goeth round about thee with his shears!
9 How little our nobility of blood is worth, if right here where our desire grows faint it makes you so proud! It will never seem a miracle to me, because there where appetite does not twist itself, that is, in heaven, I myself gloried in it. You are like a cloak that quickly grows short: if something is not added to it day by day, time circles round and cuts you down with its shears. · Verses 1-9
With 'You,' which Rome was first to tolerate,
10 (Wherein her family less perseveres,)
11 Yet once again my words beginning made;
12 Whence Beatrice, who stood somewhat apart,
13 Smiling, appeared like unto her who coughed
14 At the first failing writ of Guenever.
15 After that 'you' which first offered itself to Rome, where his family now little persists, I resumed speaking; and Beatrice, who had stepped a little aside, smiling, seemed like the lady who coughed at the first sin written by Guinevere. · Verses 10-15
And I began: "You are my ancestor,
16 You give to me all hardihood to speak,
17 You lift me so that I am more than I.
18 So many rivulets with gladness fill
19 My mind, that of itself it makes a joy
20 Because it can endure this and not burst.
21 Then tell me, my beloved root ancestral,
22 Who were your ancestors, and what the years
23 That in your boyhood chronicled themselves?
24 Tell me about the sheepfold of Saint John,
25 How large it was, and who the people were
26 Within it worthy of the highest seats."
27 "Tell me then, my dear first-fruit, who your ancestors were and which were the years marked in your childhood; tell me how large the parish of San Giovanni was then, and which families among them were worthy of the highest seats." · Verses 22-27
As at the blowing of the winds a coal
28 Quickens to flame, so I beheld that light
29 Become resplendent at my blandishments.
30 And as unto mine eyes it grew more fair,
31 With voice more sweet and tender, but not in
32 This modern dialect, it said to me:
33 Just as a coal comes to life at the breath of the winds, so I saw that light shine brighter at my coaxing words; and as it became more beautiful to my eyes, so, with a sweeter and gentler voice, though not in this modern tongue, it was about to answer me. · Verses 28-33
"From uttering of the 'Ave,' till the birth
34 In which my mother, who is now a saint,
35 Of me was lightened who had been her burden,
36 Unto its Lion had this fire returned
37 Five hundred fifty times and thirty more,
38 To reinflame itself beneath his paw.
39 My ancestors and I our birthplace had
40 Where first is found the last ward of the city
41 By him who runneth in your annual game.
42 It said to me: "From the day when 'Ave' was spoken until the birth in which my mother, who is now a saint, was relieved of me, her burden, five hundred and fifty and thirty times that fire returned to rekindle itself beneath its lion's plant. My ancestors and I were born in the place where the beginning of the last sixth is found for him who runs your yearly game." · Verses 34-42
Suffice it of my elders to hear this;
43 But who they were, and whence they thither came,
44 Silence is more considerate than speech.
45 All those who at that time were there between
46 Mars and the Baptist, fit for bearing arms,
47 Were a fifth part of those who now are living;
48 But the community, that now is mixed
49 With Campi and Certaldo and Figghine,
50 Pure in the lowest artisan was seen.
51 Then he added: "About my ancestors let this be enough: who they were and where they came from there, it is more proper to be silent than to speak of it. All those who at that time were there of an age to bear arms, between Mars and the Baptist, were the fifth of those who are alive today. But the citizenry, which is now mixed with Campi, Certaldo, and Fighine, was seen pure even in the humblest craftsman." · Verses 43-51
O how much better 'twere to have as neighbours
52 The folk of whom I speak, and at Galluzzo
53 And at Trespiano have your boundary,
54 Than have them in the town, and bear the stench
55 Of Aguglione's churl, and him of Signa
56 Who has sharp eyes for trickery already.
57 Had not the folk, which most of all the world
58 Degenerates, been a step-dame unto Caesar,
59 But as a mother to her son benignant,
60 "Oh, how much better it would have been if those people I speak of were still your neighbors, and if your boundary ran at the Galluzzo and at Trespiano, rather than having them within and having to endure the stench of the peasant from Aguglione and of the one from Signa, who already has a sharp eye for scheming! If the people who degenerate most in the world had not been a stepmother to Caesar, but kind to him like a mother with her son." · Verses 52-60
Some who turn Florentines, and trade and discount,
61 Would have gone back again to Simifonte
62 There where their grandsires went about as beggars.
63 At Montemurlo still would be the Counts,
64 The Cerchi in the parish of Acone,
65 Perhaps in Valdigrieve the Buondelmonti.
66 He continued: "this sort of thing is Florentine, and it shifts and trades, and it would have turned toward Simifonti, there where its grandfather went begging for bread; Montemurlo would still belong to the Conti; the Cerchi would be in the parish of Acone, and the Buondelmonti perhaps in Valdigrieve." · Verses 61-66
Ever the intermingling of the people
67 Has been the source of malady in cities,
68 As in the body food it surfeits on;
69 And a blind bull more headlong plunges down
70 Than a blind lamb; and very often cuts
71 Better and more a single sword than five.
72 If Luni thou regard, and Urbisaglia,
73 How they have passed away, and how are passing
74 Chiusi and Sinigaglia after them,
75 To hear how races waste themselves away,
76 Will seem to thee no novel thing nor hard,
77 Seeing that even cities have an end.
78 All things of yours have their mortality,
79 Even as yourselves; but it is hidden in some
80 That a long while endure, and lives are short;
81 Then he added: "If you look at Luni and Orbisaglia and how they have gone, and how behind them Chiusi and Sinigaglia are also going, hearing how lineages fall apart will not seem new or hard to you, since cities have their end. All your things have their death, as you do; but in some it is hidden, because it lasts a long time, while lives are short." · Verses 73-81
And as the turning of the lunar heaven
82 Covers and bares the shores without a pause,
83 In the like manner fortune does with Florence.
84 Therefore should not appear a marvellous thing
85 What I shall say of the great Florentines
86 Of whom the fame is hidden in the Past.
87 "And as the turning of the moon's heaven covers and uncovers the shores without pause, so Fortune does with Florence: therefore what I shall say about the noble Florentine families, whose fame is lost in time, must not seem miraculous." · Verses 82-87
I saw the Ughi, saw the Catellini,
88 Filippi, Greci, Ormanni, and Alberichi,
89 Even in their fall illustrious citizens;
90 And saw, as mighty as they ancient were,
91 With him of La Sannella him of Arca,
92 And Soldanier, Ardinghi, and Bostichi.
93 Near to the gate that is at present laden
94 With a new felony of so much weight
95 That soon it shall be jetsam from the bark,
96 Then he said: "I saw the Ughi and I saw the Catellini, the Filippi, the Greci, the Ormanni, and the Alberichi, already declining, once illustrious citizens; and I saw, as great as they were ancient, the lord of the Sannella, the one of the Arca, and the Soldanieri and the Ardinghi and the Bostichi. Upon the gate that is now weighed down by a new felony of such weight that soon it will be the ruin of the bark." · Verses 88-96
The Ravignani were, from whom descended
97 The County Guido, and whoe'er the name
98 Of the great Bellincione since hath taken.
99 He of La Pressa knew the art of ruling
100 Already, and already Galigajo
101 Had hilt and pommel gilded in his house.
102 Mighty already was the Column Vair,
103 Sacchetti, Giuochi, Fifant, and Barucci,
104 And Galli, and they who for the bushel blush.
105 He continued: "stood the Ravignani, from whom descended Count Guido and whoever afterward took the name of the high Bellincione. He of the Pressa already knew how one should govern, and Galigaio already had the hilt and pommel gilded in his house. Already great was the column of the Vaio, the Sacchetti, the Giuochi, the Fifanti, and the Barucci, and the Galli and those who blush for the staio." · Verses 97-105
The stock from which were the Calfucci born
106 Was great already, and already chosen
107 To curule chairs the Sizii and Arrigucci.
108 O how beheld I those who are undone
109 By their own pride! and how the Balls of Gold
110 Florence enflowered in all their mighty deeds!
111 So likewise did the ancestors of those
112 Who evermore, when vacant is your church,
113 Fatten by staying in consistory.
114 Then he added: "The stock from which the Calfucci were born was already great, and the Sizii and Arrigucci had already been drawn to the curule chairs. Oh, how many I saw who have been destroyed by their pride! And the golden balls made Florence flourish in all her great deeds. So did the fathers of those who, every time your church is vacant, grow fat sitting in consistory." · Verses 106-114
The insolent race, that like a dragon follows
115 Whoever flees, and unto him that shows
116 His teeth or purse is gentle as a lamb,
117 Already rising was, but from low people;
118 So that it pleased not Ubertin Donato
119 That his wife's father should make him their kin.
120 Already had Caponsacco to the Market
121 From Fesole descended, and already
122 Giuda and Infangato were good burghers.
123 He continued: "The overweening line that turns fierce against the one who flees, and to the one who shows tooth or purse grows gentle as a lamb, was already rising, but from people of little account; so it did not please Ubertino Donato that afterward his father-in-law made them kinsmen. Already the Caponsacco had come down into the market from Fiesole, and already Giuda and Infangato were good citizens." · Verses 115-123
I'll tell a thing incredible, but true;
124 One entered the small circuit by a gate
125 Which from the Della Pera took its name!
126 Each one that bears the beautiful escutcheon
127 Of the great baron whose renown and name
128 The festival of Thomas keepeth fresh,
129 Knighthood and privilege from him received;
130 Though with the populace unites himself
131 To-day the man who binds it with a border.
132 Already were Gualterotti and Importuni;
133 And still more quiet would the Borgo be
134 If with new neighbours it remained unfed.
135 The house from which is born your lamentation,
136 Through just disdain that death among you brought
137 And put an end unto your joyous life,
138 Was honoured in itself and its companions.
139 O Buondelmonte, how in evil hour
140 Thou fled'st the bridal at another's promptings!
141 He continued: "The Gualterotti and the Importuni were already there; and the Borgo would still be more peaceful, if it were not hungry for new neighbors. The house from which your weeping was born, through the just disdain that has killed you and put an end to your joyful living, was honored, it and its kinsfolk: o Buondelmonte, how badly you fled her wedding at others' urging!" · Verses 133-141
Many would be rejoicing who are sad,
142 If God had thee surrendered to the Ema
143 The first time that thou camest to the city.
144 But it behoved the mutilated stone
145 Which guards the bridge, that Florence should provide
146 A victim in her latest hour of peace.
147 With all these families, and others with them,
148 Florence beheld I in so great repose,
149 That no occasion had she whence to weep;
150 Then he added: "Many would be glad, who are now sorrowful, if God had granted you to Ema the first time you came to the city. But it was fitting that that maimed stone that guards the bridge should make Florence a victim in her last peace. With these people, and with others together with them, I saw Florence in such repose that she had no cause to weep." · Verses 142-150
With all these families beheld so just
151 And glorious her people, that the lily
152 Never upon the spear was placed reversed,
153 Nor by division was vermilion made."
154 The list of places is under editorial review.
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