THE SPEAR OF ACHILLES
“Cosl od' io, che soleva la lancia
D' Achille e del suo padre esser cagione
Prima di trista, e poi di buona mancia.”
Inf. xxxi., 3–6.
He whom the spear of great Achilles tore
Lingered and pined in anguish from the wound.
One remedy in all the world was found,
Rust from the mighty spear which stung so sore.
Such mystic might the barb heroic bore,
That he who balmed with it the wound around
Rose in a week with body whole and sound,
A better warrior than he was before.
So thou beneath whose piercing word I pine,
Thou whose unkindness, keen as thrust of spear,
Has giv'n me hopeless nights and weary days,
Let me find leechdom in thy smile divine,
And love for lingering hate and iron fear,
Then I shall strongly rise to sound thy praise.
