And then he said: 'Although my wrath arise, Fear not, for I to victory will pursue, Howe'er within they plot, the enterprise. This arrogance of theirs is nothing new; They showed it[330] once at a less secret door Which stands unbolted since. Thou didst it view, And saw the dark-writ legend which it bore. Thence, even now, is one who hastens down Through all the circles, guideless, to this shore, And he shall win us entrance to the town.' 130 FOOTNOTES: [312] _Continuing_: The account of the Fifth Circle, begun in the preceding Canto, is continued in this. It is impossible to adopt Boccaccio's story of how the first seven Cantos were found among a heap of other papers, years after Dante's exile began; and that 'continuing' marks the resumption of his work. The word most probably suggested the invention of the incident, or at least led to the identification of some manuscript that may have been sent to Dante, with the opening pages of the _Comedy_. If the tale were true, not only must Ciacco's prophecy (_Inf._ vi.) have been interpolated, but we should be obliged to hold that Dante began the poem while he was a prosperous citizen.--Boccaccio himself in his Comment on the _Comedy_ points out the difficulty of reconciling the story with Ciacco's prophecy. [313] _Two flames_: Denoting the number of passengers who are to be conveyed across the Stygian pool. It is a signal for the ferryman, and is answered by a light hung out on the battlements of the city of Dis. [314] _Guilty sprite_: Only one is addressed; whether Virgil or Dante is not clear. [315] _Phlegyas_: Who burnt the temple of Apollo at Delphi in revenge for the violation of his daughter by the god. [316] _Deeper, etc._: Because used to carry only shades. [317] _Ere thy period_: The curiosity of the shade is excited by the sinking of the boat in the water. He assumes that Dante will one day be condemned to Inferno. Neither Francesca nor Ciacco made a like mistake. [318] _One who weeps_: He is ashamed to tell his name, and hopes in his vile disguise to remain unknown by Dante, whose Florentine speech and dress, and perhaps whose features, he has now recognised. [319] _Soul disdainful_: Dante has been found guilty of here glorying in the same sin which he so severely reprobates in others. But, without question, of set purpose he here contrasts righteous indignation with the ignoble rage punished in this circle. With his quick temper and zeal so often kindling into flame, he may have felt a special personal need of emphasising the distinction. [320] _Names o'erwhelmed, etc._: 'Horrible reproaches.'