"Brother! those leaves with hues more smiling shine Touched by the pencil of the Bolognese Franco, whose whole fame was but partly mine. Haply in life such courteous words as these I had not spoken, so my heart was set All others to excel. For such poor pride Here I must pay the penalty; nor yet Should I be here, but that before I died I turned to God, still having power to sin. O thou vain-glory of man's boasted powers! How little while thy summit keeps its green, Unless gross ages come that yield no flowers! Once Cimabuè thought to keep the crown In painting's field; now all cry Giotto best, So that the former hath but dim renown: Thus could one Guido from the other wrest The glory of language, and perchance is born He that shall drive out either from his nest. Naught is the world's voice but a breath of morn Coming this way and that, and changing name Even as it shifteth side: what more shalt thou, If old thou cast thy flesh, enjoy of fame Than if death's hand had touched thy baby brow Whilst thou wert babbling, ere a thousand years Have past? which unto God's eternity A space more insignificant appears Than would the twinkle of an eyelid be To the least rapid of the heavenly spheres. Yon soul before me, moving on so slow, Once through all Tuscany was noised for great, Now scarce Sienna breathes his name, although He was her sovereign, when the infuriate Spirit of Florence met such overthrow; For she, now vile, swelled then in proud estate. Men's reputation is the fleeting hue Of grass, that comes and goes! even that whereby Fresh from the soil its tender verdure grew, The sun, discolors it and leaveth dry." ANTE. And I: "Thy truthful words teach me to seek Goodness in humbleness, and quell my pride. But who is he of whom thou just didst speak?" ODERISI. "That's Provenzan Salvani," he replied; "And he goes here because he so presumed In bringing all Sienna 'neath his sway: Thus ever since he died hath he been doomed, Without repose, to walk his weary way. _Who dares too much there in such coin pays back._" DANTE. I then: "If every soul who doth delay Repentance till the limit of life's track, Must wait below, nor be up here received Unless good prayers assist him on his road, Before as much time pass as he hath lived, How comes this largess upon him bestowed?" ODERISI.