Данте Алигьери – The Divine Comedy / Божественная комедия (страница 53)

When there appeared to us two figures mingled

Into one face, wherein the two were lost.

Of the four lists were fashioned the two arms,

The thighs and legs, the belly and the chest

75 Members became that never yet were seen.

Every original aspect there was cancelled;

Two and yet none did the perverted image

Appear, and such departed with slow pace.

Even as a lizard, under the great scourge

80 Of days canicular, exchanging hedge,

Lightning appeareth if the road it cross;

Thus did appear, coming towards the bellies

Of the two others, a small fiery serpent,

Livid and black as is a peppercorn.

85 And in that part whereat is first received

Our aliment, it one of them transfixed;

Then downward fell in front of him extended.

The one transfixed looked at it, but said naught;

Nay, rather with feet motionless he yawned,

90 Just as if sleep or fever had assailed him.

He at the serpent gazed, and it at him;

One through the wound, the other through the mouth

Smoked violently, and the smoke commingled.

Henceforth be silent Lucan, where he mentions

95 Wretched Sabellus and Nassidius,

And wait to hear what now shall be shot forth.

Be silent Ovid, of Cadmus and Arethusa;

For if him to a snake, her to fountain,

Converts he fabling, that I grudge him not;

100 Because two natures never front to front

Has he transmuted, so that both the forms

To interchange their matter ready were.

Together they responded in such wise,

That to a fork the serpent cleft his tail,

105 And eke the wounded drew his feet together.

The legs together with the thighs themselves

Adhered so, that in little time the juncture

No sign whatever made that was apparent.

He with the cloven tail assumed the figure

110 The other one was losing, and his skin

Became elastic, and the other's hard.

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