Cary's translation--begun in 1796, but not published as a whole till 1814--had met with a sudden and remarkable success. "The work, which had been published four years, but had remained in utter obscurity, was at once eagerly sought after. About a thousand copies of the first edition, that remained on hand, were immediately disposed of; in less than three months a new edition was called for." Moreover, the _Quarterly_ and _Edinburgh Reviews_ were loud in its praises (_Memoir of H. F. Cary_, 1847, ii. 28). Byron seems to have thought that a fragment of the _Inferno_, "versed like the original," would challenge comparison with Cary's rendering in blank verse, and would lend an additional interest to the "Pulci Translations, and the Dante Imitation." _Dîs aliter visum_, and Byron's translation of the episode of _Francesca of Rimini_, remained unpublished till it appeared in the pages of _The Letters and Journals of Lord Byron_, 1830, ii. 309-311. (For separate translations of the episode, see _Stories of the Italian Poets_, by Leigh Hunt, 1846, i. 393-395, and for a rendering in blank verse by Lord [John] Russell, see _Literary Souvenir_, 1830, pp. 285-287.) FRANCESCA DA RIMINI. FRANCESCA OF RIMINI[348] FROM THE INFERNO OF DANTE. CANTO THE FIFTH. "The Land where I was born[349] sits by the Seas Upon that shore to which the Po descends, With all his followers, in search of peace. Love, which the gentle heart soon apprehends, Seized him for the fair person which was ta'en From me[350], and me even yet the mode offends. Love, who to none beloved to love again Remits, seized me with wish to please, so strong[351], That, as thou see'st, yet, yet it doth remain. Love to one death conducted us along, 10 But Caina[352] waits for him our life who ended:" These were the accents uttered by her tongue.-- Since I first listened to these Souls offended, I bowed my visage, and so kept it till-- 'What think'st thou?' said the bard[353]; when I unbended, And recommenced: 'Alas! unto such ill How many sweet thoughts, what strong ecstacies, Led these their evil fortune to fulfill!' And then I turned unto their side my eyes, And said, 'Francesca, thy sad destinies 20 Have made me sorrow till the tears arise. But tell me, in the Season of sweet sighs, By what and how thy Love to Passion rose, So as his dim desires to recognize?' Then she to me: 'The greatest of all woes Is to remind us of our happy days[co][354] In misery, and that thy teacher knows. But if to learn our Passion's first root preys Upon thy spirit with such Sympathy, I will do even as he who weeps and says.[cp][355] 30 We read one day for pastime, seated nigh,