44 GIORDANO BRUNO PART 



and how much, they rested the bow on the last step of 

 the bridge. Then one of the two, that appeared like 

 the ancient boatman of the Tartarean world, gave his 

 hand to the Nolan, while the other, who I think was 

 his son, although his years were five and sixty or so, 

 received the rest of us. Although there was no 

 Hercules or Aeneas or Rhadamanth, king of Sarza, still 



. . . Gemuit sub pondere cimba 

 Sutilis, et multam accepit limosa paludem. . . 



" The sweet harmony (of its creaking and whistling) 

 like love, invited us to forget our misfortunes, the 

 times and the seasons, and to accompany the sounds 

 with song. Florio (recalling his days of love) sang 

 Dove senza me dolce mia vifa, and the Nolan replied 

 with Saracin doknte or Femenil ingegno, and the like ; 

 and so little by little we advanced as the barque 

 permitted. Although worms and age had reduced it to 

 something like cork, it seemed from its festina lente 

 all of lead, and the arms of the two ancients worn 

 out. So with much time we made little way, and 

 before we had covered a third of the distance a 

 little beyond the place they call the Temple our 

 old fathers, instead of hurrying, ran their prow along- 

 side the shore. To the Nolan asking if they wished 

 a little breathing time, they answered that they were 

 not going any further, for this was their stance. 

 In conclusion, they would not budge for us, and when 

 we had paid them and thanked them (there is nothing 

 else to do when you suffer a wrong from one of 

 these canaille], they showed us the direct road for 

 getting on to the street. Now, oh for your help, 

 Maphelina, muse of Merlin ! That was a road which 

 commenced in a black mud, from which there was 



