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DANTE'S    PURGATORY 

(PURGATORIO   I-XXVII) 
C.  L.  SHAD  WELL 


THE 

PURGATORY 

OF 

DANTE    ALIGHIERI 

(PURGATORIO   I-XXVII) 

AN  EXPERIMENT  IN 
LITERAL    VERSE   TRANSLATION 

BY 

CHARLES  LANCELOT  SHADWELL,  M.A.,  B.C.L. 

FELLOW  OF  ORIEL  COLLEGE,  OXFORD 

WITH    AN    INTRODUCTION 

BY 

WALTER   PATER,  M.A. 

FELLOW  OF  BRASENOSE  COLLEGE,  OXFORD. 


LONDON 

MAC  MILL  AN    AND    CO. 

AND    NEW    YORK 
1892 


©jforb 


HORACE    HART,    PRINTER   TO   THE   UNIVERSITY 


7' 


9  3  4  54  2 


PREFACE 


The  difficulty,  or  rather  the  impossibility,  of 
adequately  reproducing  in  any  language  the  poetry 
of  another,  is  one  of  the  commonplaces  of  criticism, 
and  it  has  by  no  one  been  more  forcibly  stated 
than  by  Dante  himself.  "  Nulla  cosa,"  he  says, 
"  per  legame  musaico  armonizzata  si  puo  della 
"sua  loquela  in  altra  trasmutare  sanza  rompere 
"  tutta  sua  dolcezzae  armonia"  (Convito,  i.  7).  The 
sweetness  and  music  of  a  poem  depend  upon  the 
conditions  of  its  language ;  they  cannot  be  trans- 
ferred by  mere  imitation  of  the  form  of  the  original ; 
they  can  only  be  reproduced,  if  at  all,  by  being 
conformed  to  the  requirements  of  the  new  medium. 
The  least  literal  of  translations  is  that  which 
follows  closest  to  the  order  of  the  words,  the 
structure  of  the  sentence,  the  arrangement  of  the 
period.  The  least  harmonious  of  verse  trans- 
lations is  that  which  is  set  to  a  foreign  and  un- 
familiar metre. 

In  a  prose  translation  the  task  of  representing 
the  music  of  the  original  poem  is  not  attempted, 

b 


Vl  PREFACE. 

and  the  only  problem  is  to  give  an  exact  equivalent 
for  the  matter  and  the  language  of  the  original. 
Translations  of  the  Commedia  of  this  kind  have 
been  published  b}'  Dr.  Carlyle,  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Butler, 
and  Mr.  C.  E.  Norton.  In  these,  if  an  opinion  may 
be  offered,  Dr.  Carlyle's  version  may  claim  to  be 
the  more  literal,  because  of  its  greater  boldness  in 
substituting  for  modes  of  expression  natural  to  the 
Italian  language  their  appropriate  English  equiva- 
lents. But  prose  translation,  even  at  its  best, 
leaves  half  the  problem  unattempted ;  the  music, 
the  cadences,  of  the  poem  are  lost.  Blank  verse, 
such  as  Cary  and  Longfellow  have  given,  is  little 
better.  No  attempt  is  made  to  satisfy  the  ear  with 
any  effect  corresponding  to  that  produced  by 
Dante's  recurring  rimes ;  and  in  those  parts  of 
the  poem  where  the  matter  is  less  elevated,  and 
where  the  diction  is  simple,  the  absence  of  rime 
makes  the  translation  tedious.  To  overcome  this 
defect,  and  to  reproduce  for  the  English  reader 
the  form  as  well  as  the  matter  of  the  Commedia, 
Dante's  own  metre,  the  terza  rima,  has  been 
adopted  by  Mr.  Cay  ley,  by  Dr.  Plumptre,  and, 
less  exactly,  by  Mr.  Ichabod  Wright.  But  the 
terza  rima  in  English,  though  it  succeeds  in  re- 
producing the  rime,  fails  in  two  ways.  In  the 
first  place,  it  is  not  an  English  metre :  it  has 
never  been  used  by  any  English  poet  for  original 


PREFACE.  vn 

composition ;  its  structure  is  unfamiliar ;  and  the 
ear  does  not  expect,  and  is  not  gratified  by  meeting 
with,  the  recurrent  rimes.  Secondly,  the  difficulty, 
always  great,  of  finding  three  rimes  suitable  to  the 
meaning,  becomes  much  greater  in  translation ; 
and  it  must  frequently  happen  that  the  words 
which  best  reproduce  the  meaning  have  to  be 
discarded  in  favour  of  weaker  ones  which  fulfil 
the  condition  of  the  triple  ending.  The  same 
causes  necessitate  the  use  of  various  forms  of 
"  padding,"  of  violent  inversions  and  complications 
of  grammatical  structure,  and  of  archaic  and  un- 
couth expressions  employed  without  any  justifica- 
tion in  the  original. 

If  English  terza  rima,  which  makes  the  closest 
attempt  to  reproduce  both  the  matter  and  the  form 
of  the  Commedia,  is  therefore  unsuccessful,  is  any 
other  form  of  rimed  verse  possible  ?  In  the  trans- 
lation here  published,  the  metre  chosen  is  that 
used  by  Andrew  Marvell  in  his  well-known 
Horatian  Ode  to  Cromwell.  This  Ode  is  composed 
in  stanzas,  each  stanza  consisting  of  one  pair  of 
iambic  eight-syllabled  lines,  and  one  pair  of  six- 
syllabled  lines,  thus : — 

He  nothing  common  did  or  mean 
Upon  that  memorable  scene, 

But  with  his  keener  eye 

The  axe's  edge  did  try ; 
b2 


viii  PREFACE. 

Nor  called  the  gods  with  vulgar  spite 
To  vindicate  his  helpless  right, 

But  bowed  his  comely  head 

Down  as  upon  a  bed. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  considerations 
which  suggested  the  employment  of  Marvell's 
poem  as  a  model  for  an  English  version  of  the 
Commedia. 

(i)  Next  to  the  triple  rime,  perhaps  the  most 
important  characteristic  of  Dante's  verse  is  the 
arrangement  into  stanzas.  Each  terzina  is,  as  a 
general  rule,  complete  in  itself,  and  forms  one 
paragraph  or  period.  Occasionally,  but  rarely,  the 
sentence  runs  on  into  the  next  terzina.  Nothing 
could  be  more  unlike  the  Commedia  than  the 
versification  of  Byron's  Prophecy  of  Dante,  pro- 
fessing to  be  written  in  terza  rima,  but  allowing 
the  break  between  the  sentences  to  occur  at  ran- 
dom, at  any  part  of  any  verse.  Now,  the  division 
into  stanzas,  on  which  Marvell's  metre  is  based, 
is,  like  Dante's,  generally  coincident  with  a 
pause  in  the  sense;  while  it  allows,  at  the 
same  time,  of  a  continuation  of  the  sentence, 
where  necessary,  from  one  stanza  into  another. 
In  taking  Marvell's  poem  as  a  model,  the  trans- 
lator finds  a  common  principle  of  structure  which 
more  than  compensates  for  the  change  of  metre. 
The  terzine  of  Dante  fall  naturally  into  the  compass 


PREFACE.  ix 

of  the  English  stanza.  It  is  not  like  breaking 
up  the  Odyssey  into  the  stanzas  of  the  Faery 
Queen,  or  the  Aeneid  into  the  ballad  metre  of 
Marmion. 

(2)  The  capacity  of  the  two  stanzas  is  nearly 
equal.  Marvell's  four  lines  are  slightly  less  in 
space  than  Dante's  three,  twent}^-eight  syllables 
to  thirty-three ;  but  making  allowance  for  the 
greater  number  of  monosyllabic  nouns  and  verbs 
in  English,  the  room  for  expressing  the  same 
quantity  of  thought  is  about  the  same.  And,  if 
the  whole  English  stanza  can  be  put  in  the  place 
of  the  Italian  terzina,  the  translator  has  the  great 
advantage  of  being  able,  where  necessary,  to  re- 
arrange the  matter  of  the  paragraph  within  the 
limits  of  the  stanza,  instead  of  being  obliged,  as 
the  translator  into  blank  verse  or  terza  rima  gener- 
ally finds  himself,  to  give  an  equivalent  for  the 
original  line  by  line. 

(3)  The  change  in  Marvell's  stanza  from  the 
eight-syllable  to  the  six-syllable  couplet  is  pecu- 
liarly well  adapted  for  introducing  a  subordinate 
clause,  a  reflexion,  a  simile,  an  illustration,  a 
parenthetic  statement  of  any  kind,  which  depends 
on  the  preceding  principal  sentence  but  which 
can  be  detached  from  it  without  injury.  Such 
is  frequently  the  use  to  which  Dante  puts  the 
last  line  of  a  terzina.      In  the  eighth  canto  of  the 


x  PREFACE. 

Purgatorio  this  is  the  case  in  six  out  of  the  first 
nine  terzine : — 

Lo  dl  ch'  han  detto  ai  dolci  amici  addio. 
Che  paia  il  giorno  pianger  che  si  muore. 
Come  dicesse  a  Dio  :  D'  altro  non  calme. 
Avendo  gli  occhi  alle  superne  ruote. 
Quasi  aspettando  pallido  ed  umile. 
Tronche  e  private  delle  punte  sue. 

Compare  Marvell : — 

Removing  from  the  wall 
The  corslet  of  the  hall. 

As  if  his  highest  plot 
To  plant  the  bergamot. 

(4)  Lastly,  there  is  a  resemblance  between  the 
language  of  the  two  poets.  Marvell,  like  Dante, 
can  produce  great  effects  by  the  use  of  very  simple 
and  homely  words.     Compare  the  lines  : — 

But  bowed  his  comely  head 

Down  as  upon  a  bed  ; 
or 

While  round  the  armed  bands 
Did  clap  their  bloody  hands  ; 

with  the  following : — 

Ma  noi  sem  peregrin  come  voi  siete. 
A  guisa  di  leon  quando  si  posa. 

On  the  other  hand,  they  are  alike  in  their  employ- 


PREFACE.  xi 

ment,  on  occasion,  of  expressions  outside  the 
ordinary  poetical  vocabulary,  as  well  as  of  images 
and  ideas  which  belong  to  learning  and  science. 
There  are  many  passages  in  the  Commedia  which 
may  be  compared  with  the  following:  — 

Nature  that  hateth  emptiness 

Allows  of  penetration  less, 

And  therefore  must  make  room 
Where  greater  spirits  come. 

or  again  with  : — 

And  to  all  states  not  free 
Shall  climacteric  be. 

An  apology  ought  perhaps  to  be  offered,  apart 
from  the  impatience  of  the  translator  to  finish  his 
task,  for  closing  the  present  experiment  at  the 
end  of  the  twenty-seventh  canto  of  the  Purgaiorio. 
The  concluding  six  cantos  of  the  second  Cantica 
constitute,  from  several  points  of  view,  a  distinct 
section  of  the  poem.  They  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  general  allegory,  the  moral  experience 
of  the  human  soul,  the  process  by  which  it  can 
rise  from  earth  to  heaven.  They  do  not  even 
belong  to  the  imaginary  course  of  the  purified 
soul  after  death.  The  earthly  Paradise  is  a  scene 
which  is  concerned  solely  with  Dante's  personal 
story.  Virgil  disappears  without  a  farewell.  Statius 
is  there,  but  only  in  name  :    he   takes  no  part  in 


xii  PREFACE. 

the  action.  No  other  souls  are  met  with  in  their 
passage  heavenward.  The  reconciliation  of  Dante 
with  Beatrice,  and  the  great  pageant,  revealing 
what  was  in  store  for  the  Church  and  the  Empire, 
interrupt  the  course  of  the  allegory  ;  they  form 
a  personal  episode,  full  of  beauties  of  its  own,  but 
as  distinct  in  thought  and  tone  from  the  Purgatory 
proper,  as  that  is  from  either  of  the  two  other 
divisions  of  the  poem. 

The  translator  owes  his  thanks  to  many  friends, 
mostly  members  of  the  Oxford  Dante  Society, 
for  help  in  various  ways  :  to  the  late  Dean  of 
St.  Paul's,  to  Dr.  Liddon,  and  Dr.  Moore :  to 
Mr.  E.  Poste,  Mr.  James  Bryce,  Mr.  H.  F.  Tozer, 
and  Mr.  Earle,  for  constant  assistance  and  advice: 
above  all,  to  Mr.  Walter  Pater,  whose  contribution 
to  this  volume  is  only  the  last  of  many  acts  of 
kindness  and  encouragement  without  which  the 
work  would  never  have  been  completed. 

C.  L.  S. 

Frewin  Hall,  Oxford. 
9  Sept.  1892. 


INTRODUCTION 


"  Sa  reputation  s'affermira  toujours  parcequ'on 
"  ne  le  lit  guere l,"  says  Voltaire  of  Dante  :  and  just 
there  certainly  he  would  seem  to  have  overpassed 
the  limit  of  his  critical  method,  its  capacity  for 
dealing  with  great  matters.  Yet  Voltaire  did  but 
reflect  the  general  unfitness  of  the  last  century 
in  regard  to  the  Middle  Age,  of  whose  spirit 
Dante  is  the  central  embodiment ;  for,  late  in  that 
century,  the  "  universal-minded "  Goethe  himself 
explains,  much  to  the  surprise  of  the  reader  of 
to-day,  why,  passing  through  Assisi,  he  inspected 
carefully  an  average  specimen  of  old  Roman  archi- 
tecture, but  was  careful  not  to  inspect  the  frescoes 
of  Giotto   in  the  church  of  Saint  Francis,  work, 

1  Didionnaire  Philosophique.     Art.  Dante. 


xiv  INTRODUCTION. 

done,  it  has  been  thought,  under  Dante's  immediate 
influence  *. 

We  have  certainly  "  changed  all  that ; "  and  the 
unaffected  interest  of  our  own  generation  in  the 
Divina  Commedia  is  more  than  a  mere  element  of 
the  medievalism  which  marks  the  later  half  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  The  causes  of  this  medie- 
valism, which  has  at  least  secured  for  posterity 
what  three  careless  centuries  had  left  us  of  the 
art  of  the  Middle  Age,  would  probably  reduce 
themselves  in  the  main  to  the  influence  of  reaction. 
That  poetic  period,  poetic  as  we  see  it,  perhaps 
a  little  illusively,  has  been  a  refuge  from  the  mere 
prose  of  our  own  day  as  we  see  it,  most  of  all  in 
England.  But  there  seems  to  be  something  more 
than  just  this,  something  more  positive  in  character, 
and  in  closer  alliance  with  the  genius  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  itself,  in  the  interest  which  Dante 
commands  among  us, —  his  popularity  with  the 
many,  his  sufficiency  for  the  devotion  of  a  select 
number  of  admirable  scholars,  whose  fault  assuredly 
it  will  not  be  if  the  minutest  point  about  him  or 
his  work  remains  obscure. 

By  way  of  explaining  such  devotion  in  contrast 
to  the  indifference  of  preceding  centuries  it  would 
of  course  be  enough  to  say  that  Dante  was  a  great 

1  Ital.  Reise.     Letter  from  Perugia,  25  Oct.  1786. 


INTRODUCTION.  xv 

poet,  one  of  the  greatest  of  poets,  and  that  in  our 
own  age,  sympathetic,  eclectic,  cosmopolitan,  full 
of  curiosity  and  abounding  in  the  "  historic  sense," 
certain  barriers  to  a  right  appreciation  of  him  have 
been  removed.  He  has  handled  on  a  grand  scale 
the  grandest  of  subjects,  in  a  way  which  after  all 
fair  comparison  must  be  declared  unique,  and  so 
as  to  make  it  his  own — that  immense  intellectual 
deposit  of  thirteen  believing  centuries— with  a 
generous  outlay  of  himself,  of  his  own  richly 
endowed  and  richly  cultivated  personality,  of  what 
is  most  intimate  and  peculiar  in  it.  On  scrupulous 
orthodoxy  he  has  impressed  a  deep  personal 
originality,  after  a  manner  to  which  we  may  well 
think  one  only  in  the  course  of  many  generations 
could  have  been  equal.  The  religious  ideal  of  that 
age,  the  theoretic  construction  which  Catholicism 
puts  on  the  facts  of  nature  and  history,  is  for  him, 
in  spite  of  an  invading  rationalism  already  at  work 
about  him,  itself  also  still  an  authentic  fact. 
Devoutly  assuming  the  reality  of  that  ideal,  he 
goes  boldly  through  the  world  in  all  its  variety  of 
good  and  evil,  with  powers  of  insight  everywhere 
adequate  to  its  wonder,  its  beauty  and  sorrow,  the 
awful  experiences  of  the  saved,  the  tried,  the  lost. 
His  subject,  like  the  course  of  his  own  life  which 
had  brought  it  home  so  close  to  him,  has  its  harsh 
episodes ;  but  he  did  not  forget  that  his  design  was 


xvi  INTRODUCTION. 

after  all  to  treat  it  as  a  literary  artist,  to  charm  his 
readers ;  and  with  no  disloyalty  therefore  to  its 
essential  character,  he  has  displayed  in  his  work 
a  wonderful  urbanity  and  composure,  the  craftiest 
interweaving  of  its  parts,  a  deliberate  evenness  of 
execution,  a  sense  of  unity  and  proportion,  yet  also 
a  command  of  every  sort  of  minute  literary  beauty, 
an  expressiveness,  a  care  for  style  and  rhythm  at 
every  point,  the  evidence  of  which  increases  upon 
the  critical  reader  as  his  attention  becomes  micro- 
scopic. No  one  anywhere  near  him  in  time  had 
united  powers  and  acquirements  so  varied,  in  a 
literary  monument  so  consistently  realised.  Con- 
sider, for  instance,  the  philosophic  power  of  Canto 
XXV  of  the  Purgatory,  side  by  side  with  the 
moral  power  of  Canto  XVII.  91-139,  with  the  moral 
delicacy  of  Canto  III,  in  the  matter  of  Manfred 
especially,  and  with  the  various  descriptive  effects 
of  Canto  II.  Yes,  Dante  is  in  very  deed  a  great 
poet,  great  enough  to  be  independent  of  the  mere 
mental  habits  of  one  age  or  another.  Yet  he  too 
had  to  pass  through  ages  with  no  natural  ear  for 
him  ;  while  it  is  only  the  good  fortune  of  the  present 
generation  that  its  turn  for  eclecticism,  removing 
prejudice,  has  fitted  it  for  a  really  intelligent  and 
critical  stud}7  of  Dante's  work,  encouraged  for  its 
reward  therein  by  certain  special  aspects  of  Dante's 
genius  which  are  in  close  kinship  with  its  own.    The 


INTRODUCTION.  xvil 

artistic  and  literary  work  of  the  Middle  Age, 
the  art  of  Dante's  friend  Giotto  for  example,  we 
value  in  large  measure  for  its  very  strangeness, 
its  unlikeness  to  what  is  nearer  in  date  to  our- 
selves. But  Dante,  remote  and  strange  as  he 
may  be,  in  sentiment,  in  his  politics,  and  for 
many  by  his  religious  faith,  is  nevertheless  found 
to  meet  certain  tendencies,  actually  in  us,  half- 
way ;  and  by  expressing  does  but  further  promote 
them. 

One  of  the  points  then,  a  point  of  manner,  so  to 
speak,  at  which  Dante  repelled  the  last  century 
while  he  directly  attracts  our  own,  is  the  minute- 
ness of  his  handiwork,  of  his  habits  of  observation, 
and  of  the  equivalent  expression,  or  fine  shade 
of  expression.  Such  care  for  the  elaboration  of 
detail  in  Dante's  work  had  something  in  common 
with  the  art  of  that  day,  with  what  must  be  called 
its  naivete,  as  we  feel  it  when  Dante  writes  : 

As  birds  that  seek  to  Nilus  warm 
In  winter,  now  in  squadron  form, 

Now  swifter  flight  design 

And  lengthen  into  line : 

XXIV.  64-66. 


or 


Folk  beneath  its  branches  there 
Crying  I  know  not  what  there  were, 

With  hands  uplifted  all, 

As  eager  children  call 


xvm  INTRODUCTION. 

To  one  who  grants  not  their  request  : 
But  still  to  give  their  longing  zest 
Upholds  aloft  the  prize 
Nor  hides  it  from  their  eyes : 

XXIV.  106-111. 

and  again  in  the  so  circumstantial  note  he  takes 
of  the  fact  that  Dante's  still  mortal  body  casts  a 
shadow  among  the  shadowless  people  of  the  other 
world  : — 

That  very  flesh  is  this 
Whereof  his  body  is. 

V-33 

In  Dante's  minuteness  of  touch  there  was  in  fact 
something  of  that  art  of  miniature  painting, 

Ch'  alluminare  e  chiamata  in  Paris/. 

Our  own  delight  in  it,  the  welcome  we  give 
to  minute  detail  of  that  kind,  uncompromising 
"realists"  as  we  must  needs  be,  connects  itself 
with  the  empirical  character  of  our  science,  our 
philosophic  faith  in  the  concrete,  the  particular. 
To  the  age  of  Johnson  abstraction,  generalisation, 
seemed  to  be  of  the  essence  of  art  and  poetry,  a 
principle  which  the  taste  of  the  nineteenth  century 
has  inverted  in  favour  of  that  circumstantial  manner 
of  which  every  Canto  of  the  Divina  Corn-media 
would  afford  illustration. 

But  the  modern  artist,  the  modern  student  of  art, 


INTRODUCTION.  xix 

of  Dante's  art,  while  he  demands  it  in  any  record  of 
the  external  world,  will  value  this  minuteness,  this 
minute  perfection,  even  more  perhaps  in  the  treat- 
ment of  mental  phenomena,  when  the  intelligence 
which  touched  so  finely  the  niceties  of  visible  colour 
and  outline  turns  to  the  invisible  world,  noting  there 
also  with  a  like  subtlety  the  intimacies  of  the  soul. 
The  modern,  as  such,  is  undeniably  a  somewhat 
skilful  psychologist. — We  have  lived  so  long  with 
ourselves  !  And  just  here  surely  we  find  another 
link  between  the  peculiarities  of  Dante's  genius  and 
the  "  subjectivities  "  of  the  characteristic  student  of 
to-day.  Amid  the  larger  outlooks  of  the  Divina 
Commedia  we  are  again  and  again  reminded  that 
its  author  is  also  the  poet  of  the  Vita  Nuova. 
His  own  sensibility,  already  so  strongly  in  evidence 
there,  makes  him  now  an  equally  delicate  inter- 
preter of  the  mental  or  spiritual  ways  of  others. 

And  in  the  hour,  before  the  morn, 
When  wakes  the  swallow's  note  forlorn, 

Haply  amid  her  singing 

Her  woes  to  memory  bringing, 

The  hour  when  loosed  from  thought  our  mind 
Leaves  pilgrim-like  her  flesh  behind, 

And  borne  along  in  dreams 

Almost  a  prophet  seems, 

Even  then  to  me  was  vision  given  : 

IX.   13-19. 


XX  INTRODUCTION. 

And  in  accordance  with  what  we  might  have 
expected,  the  sensibility,  the  fineness  of  touch, 
there  indicated,  is  at  its  height  in  the  placid  and 
temperate  regions  of  the  Purgatorio — a  realm 
of  gray  but  clear  light: — it  is  there  that  the 
delicacies,  alike  of  the  visible  and  the  invisible 
world,  really  tell. 

And  there  is  another  reason  why  for  the 
modern  student  the  Purgatorio  should  be  the 
favourite  section  of  the  Divina  Commedia.  An 
age  of  faith,  if  such  there  ever  were,  our  age 
certainly  is  not :  an  age  of  love,  all  its  pity  and 
self-pity  notwithstanding,  who  shall  say  ? — in  its 
religious  scepticism,  however,  especially  as  com- 
pared with  the  last  century  in  its  religious 
scepticism,  an  age  of  hope,  we  may  safely  call  it, 
of  a  development  of  religious  hope  or  hopeful- 
ness, similar  in  tendency  to  the  development  of 
the  doctrine  of  Purgatory  in  the  church  of  the 
Middle  Age  :— 

quel  secondo  regno 
Ove  V  umano  spirito  si  purga  : — 

a  world  of  merciful  second  thoughts  on  one 
side,  of  fresh  opportunities  on  the  other,  useful, 
serviceable,  endurable,  in  contrast  alike  with  that 
mar  si  crudele  of  the  Inferno,  and  the  blinding 
radiancy  of   Paradise.     In   our   own  century  pro- 


INTRODUCTION.  xxi 

testantism  itself  would  seem  to  have  become 
conscious  of  a  certain  want  in  regard  to  the 
"  hope  of  immortality  " :  conscious  that  it  has  lost 
something  in  passing  from  the  doctrinal  symmetry 
and  completeness  of  Dante's  position ;  from  his 
assurance  that  nothing  can 

hinder  Love's  eternal  will 

So  long  as  hope  is  seen 

To  wear  a  shred  of  green. 

HI.  134-5- 

that 

boundless  grace 

Hath  arms  of  such  a  large  embrace, 

That  they  will  straight  admit 

Whatever  turns  to  It. 

III.  122-3. 

It  would  take  too  much  space  to  follow  out  the 
sentiment  here  suggested.  The  reader  of  this 
translation  may  be  interested  in  doing  that  for 
himself,  in  connexion  with  the  belief  in  a  con- 
stant, helpful,  beneficent  interaction  between  the 
souls  of  the  living  and  the  dead,  in  the  im- 
mense grace  still  obtainable  for  the  departed  by 
prayer  here. 

If  for  our  weal  their  word  be  said, 
Were  it  not  ours  to  lend  them  aid 
By  deed,  by  speech,  the  fruit 
That  comes  of  kindly  root? 
c 


N". 

re  with  helpful  love 
r  earthly  blemish  to  remove, 
That  light  and  clean  from  stain 
The  star-set  spheres  they  gain. 

XI.  31-36. 

And   the   breadth  of  Dante's  theological  horizon 
connects    its  :h    that    generous    eel 

which  finds  in  "  the  house  of  many  mansions," 
due  place  for  Virgil  and  other  sublime  spirits  of 
the  Pagan  world  amid  the  infants  unbaptised  of 
the  dispensation  of  Christ ;  as  also  with  a  cer- 
tain mundane  sense,  throughout  his  great  work. 
:.nd  scholarship,  of  classic  or  pagan 
poesy  holding  its  own  beside  the  poetry  o: 
spiration,  as  the  Empire  subsists  side  by  side 
with  the  Church. — 

La  morta  poesi  risu 

ike  dead  Poesy  and  inspire 
The  servant  of  the  Muses'  choir. 

Like    his   persuasion   that    earthly  and    personal 
11    not  ir  charm   and  purpose   in 

another   life.   that.  "  though   we    know    not  v. 
shall  be."  Casella  will  still  exercise  there  his 
ted  musical  skill  *,  Dante's  large-minded  treat- 

w  ye  not  we  are  but  the  worm 
Born  the  angelic  moth  to  for: 

M   5 


INTRODUCTION.  xxiii 

ment  of  all  forms  of  classic  power  and  achieve- 
ment marks  a  stage  of  progress,  from  the  nar- 
rower sentiment  of  the  Middle  Age,  towards 
"  humanism,"  towards  the  mental  attitude  of  the 
Renaissance  and  of  the  modern  world. 

A  minute  sense  of  the  external  world  and  its 
beauties,  a  minute  sense  of  the  phenomena  of 
the  mind,  of  what  is  beautiful  and  of  interest 
there,  a  demand  for  wide  and  cheering  outlooks 
in  religion,  for  a  largeness  oi  spirit  in  its  ap- 
plication to  life : — these  are  the  special  points  of 
contact  between  Dante  and  the  genius  of  our 
own  century.  And  withal  Dante  is  a  great  poet, 
one  of  the  greatest  of  poets,  great  like  Sophocles 
and  Shakespeare  by  a  certain  universality  in  his 
appeal  to  men's  minds,  and  independent  the 
fore  of  the  special  sensibilities  of  a  particular 
age.  If  the  characteristic  minds  of  the  las:  cen- 
tury, for  instance,  were  apt  to  undervalue  him, 
that  was  because  they  were  themselves  of  an 
age  not  of  cosmopolitan  genius,  but  of  singular!} 
limited  gifts,  gifts  temporary  and  local,  so  to 
speak,  the  products  of  which  survive,  for  the 
most  part,  onhy  indirectly  by  efforts  of  hist-, 
rehabilitation.  And  as  Dante  is  not  only  popular 
but  has  intelligible  reasons  for  his  popularity 
with  us,  there  have  been  in  our  day  translate  - 
of   him    excellent    in    various   way.-.      With    ; 


xxiv  INTRODUCTION. 

exception  however  of  some  portions  of  Long- 
fellow's, and  in  considerable  degree  of  Cayley's, 
they  fail  in  the  "  mysticity "  which  is  so  charac- 
teristic of  the  original,  a  quality  in  which  Rossetti 
would  have  done  justice  to  the  Divina  Commedta, 
if  we  may  judge  by  his  version  of  the  Vita 
Ntwva,  so  studiously  close  yet  so  spontaneous, 
so  much  the  converse  of  second-hand  in  its  effect 
upon  us. 

The  writer  of  the  translation  here  presented  to 
English  readers,  having  allowed  me  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  his  work  from  time  to  time  during  its 
growth,  has  now  asked  me  to  say  a  few  candid 
words  by  way  of  preface.  His  reproduction  of 
a  poem  full  certainly  of  "  the  patience  of  genius  " 
is  itself  a  work  of  rare  patience  and  scholarship, 
conspicuously  free  from 

the  haste 
By  which  all  action  is  disgraced. 

la  fretta 
Che  1'  onestade  ad  ogni  atto  dismaga. 

III.  ii. 

I  speak  of  his  version  however  as  but  a  general 
reader,  having  no  special  knowledge  of  Dante 
such  as  his.  Still,  interesting  as  I  know  his 
has  been  and  will  be  to  scholars,  it  is  for  the 
general  reader  after  all  that  translations  are  made. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxv 

Such  general  readers  then  will,  I  believe,  find 
here  a  translation  made  in  the  sense  of  what 
I  have  tried  to  indicate  as  characteristic  of  the 
Divina  Commedia,  a  version  singular  in  its  union 
of  minute  and  sensitive  fidelity  almost  to  the 
very  syllables  of  the  original,  with  that  general 
sense  of  composure  and  breadth  of  effect  which 
gives  to  the  great  medieval  poem  the  air  of  a 
"  classic."  It  is  this  note  which  the  metre  of 
Marvell's  Ode  itself  strikes,  the  note  of  a 
dignified  plain-song,  capable  however  on  de- 
mand of  a  high  degree  of  expressiveness.  The 
translator  has  explained  in  detail  his  reasons  for 
adopting  it;  its  essential  equivalence  to  Dante's 
terza  rima.  With  a  writer  whose  vocabulary 
is  so  significant  and  searched  through  as  that 
of  Dante,  whose  words  withal  are  so  sensitive 
and  picturesque,  there  can  be  no  fidelity  which 
does  not  include  a  certain  literal  exactness. 
Partly  because  he  is  so  minute  a  "  realist,"  he 
is  one  of  those  artists  whose  general  effect  largely 
depends  on  vocabulary,  on  the  minute  particles 
of  which  his  work  is  wrought,  on  the  colour  and 
outline  of  single  words  and  phrases,  and  this 
must  obviously  be  lost  in  anything  like  free  or 
haphazard  translation.  It  seems  obvious  that 
to  convey  the  impression  of  such  work  into 
another   language,   translation    must    be    true    in 


xxvi  INTRODUCTION. 

detail,  and  supposing  rhythm  and  vernacular 
effect  secured,  the  more  literal  it  is  the  better. 
The  translator's  business  with  Dante,  then,  may 
be  likened  to  the  copying  of  a  drawing  or 
other  design  upon  transparent  tracing-paper. 
Let  the  eye  be  true,  the  hand  steady,  the  pencil 
fine,  and,  making  sure  of  the  fidelity  of  its 
movement  from  point  to  point,  the  translator, 
hardly  less  than  his  reader,  will  be  surprised 
at  the  large  and  general  faithfulness  of  the  re- 
production thus  assured.  In  such  way  the  reader 
of  this  translation  will,  I  think,  from  time  to  time 
have  a  pleasant  sense  of  the  reproductive  capacity 
of  our  language,  as  he  compares  the  opposite 
pages  of  the  Cantos  which  follow.  Let  him 
turn  for  instance  to  Canto  V.  52-57,  XII.  16-69 
and  XIV.  97-123. 

So  far  as  I  know,  nothing  quite  like  this  has 
yet  been  done  for  presenting  Dante  to  English 
readers,  in  union  with  the  attractiveness  of  metri- 
cal form,  and  a  scholarly  care  for  English  style. 
Out  of  the  very  literality  here  maintained  has 
come  an  evenness,  a  dignity  of  manner,  a  poetic 
effect,  wholly  unarchaic,  and  true  to  what  must 
be  called  the  un-provincial  or  cosmopolitan  air 
of  the  Divina  Commcdia—  cosmopolitan,  though 
Dante's  work  be  nevertheless  the  peculiar  and 
perfect   flower   of  the    Middle   Age.      Dante   has 


INTRODUCTION.  xxvn 

his  varieties  of  power  and  appeal  to  the  reader; 
some  readers  may  think  that  he  rises  and  falls 1  ; 
he  argues,  narrates,  pauses,  surprises  us  with 
sudden  heats  of  feeling,  as  in  the  grand  outburst 
against  Italy,  drawn  from  him  at  the  sight  of  Sor- 
dello's  generous  welcome  of  Virgil :  he  has  his 
patient  moods,  he  permits  himself  much  harsh- 
ness of  imagery  and  vocabulary,  though  this 
too  is  subdued  by  the  repose  natural  to  the 
width  and  greatness  of  his  theme.  His  translator 
following  him,  with  humble  scholarly  purpose, 
has  really  trod  in  his  steps ;  rising  and  falling 
with  him,  if  so  it  be  ;  and  he  has  been  perhaps 
not  least  successful  in  the  speculative  or  philo- 
sophic passages  (Canto  IV.  1-12,  for  example,  and 
XVIII.  19-75),  so  difficult,  yet  so  fascinating  to 
the  modern  student  of  earlier  modes  of  thought 
than  our  own. 

The  true  test  of  a  work  of  imagination,  and 
therefore  of  any  veritable  presentment  of  it  in 
the  way  of  translation,  is  that  it  should  enfold 
one,  so  to  speak,  in  its  own  atmosphere,  that 
one   should   feel   able   to   breathe   in   it.     I   have 


1  Thou  seest,  my  Reader,  how  I  raise 
My  theme,  nor  should  it  thee  amaze 
If  greater  art  sustain 
The  matter  of  my  strain. 

IX.  70-72. 


xxviii  INTRODUCTION. 

had  such  a  feeling  in  reading  what  follows.  The 
translator  has  explained  why  he  left  off  with 
a  sense  of  completeness  at  the  end  of  the  twenty- 
seventh  Canto,  but  studious  readers  will,  I  think, 
regret  with  me  that  he  found  reason  so  to  do. 

W.  P. 


PURGATORIO. 


CANTO    PRIMO. 

Per  correr  migliori  acque  alza  le  vele 
Omai  la  navicella  del  mio  ingegno, 
Che  lascia  dietro  a  se  mar  si  crudele. 

4    E  cantero  di  quel  secondo  regno, 
Ove  1'  umano  spirito  si  purga, 
E  di  salire  al  Ciel  diventa  degno. 

7    Ma  qui  la  morta  poesl  risurga, 

O  sante  Muse,  poiche  vostro  sono, 
E  qui  Calliope  alquanto  surga, 

io    Seguitando  il  mio  canto  con  quel  suono 
Di  cui  le  Piche  misere  sentiro 
Lo  colpo  tal,  che  disperar  perdono. 

13    Dolce  color  d'  oriental  zaffiro, 

Che  s'  accoglieva  nel  sereno  aspetto 
Dell'  aer  puro  infino  al  primo  giro, 


CANTO    I. 

O'er  fairer  flood,  with  sail  on  high, 
My  fancy's  bark  her  way  doth  ply, 

That  cruel  sea  unkind 

For  ever  left  behind. 
With  that  next  realm  my  song  begins, 
Where  human  souls  are  purged  from  sins. 

And,  all  their  guilt  forgiven, 

Grow  fit  to  mount  to  Heaven. 
Awake,  dead  Poesy,  and  inspire 
The  servant  of  the  Muses'  choir : 

And  let  Calliope 

Arise  and  sing  with  me, 
And  aid  my  chant  with  voice,  whose  tone 
Made  the  vain  jays  their  deathblow  own, 

And  find  in  their  despair 

No  pardon  anywhere. 
Sweet  hue  of  eastern  sapphire  sheen 
Was  gathering  in  the  face  serene 

Of  the  pure  air  around, 

To  the  first  circle's  bound : 
B  2 


4  PURGATORIO.  [  Canto  I. 

1 6     Agli  occhi  miei  ricomincio  diletto, 

Tosto  ch'  i'  uscii  fuor  dell'  aura  morta, 
Che  m'  avea  contristati  gli  occhi  e  il  petto. 

19     Lo  bel  pianeta  che  ad  amar  conforta, 
Faceva  tutto  rider  1'  oriente, 
Velando  i  Pesci  ch'  erano  in  sua  scorta. 

22     lo  mi  volsi  a  man  destra,  e  posi  mente 
All'  altro  polo,  e  vidi  quattro  stelle, 
Non  viste  mai  fuor  che  alia  prima  gente. 

25     Goder  pareva  il  ciel  di  lor  fiammelle. 
O  settentrional  vedovo  sito, 
Poiche  privato  sei  di  mirar  quelle ! 

28     Com'  io  dal  loro  sguardo  fui  partito, 

Un  poco  me  volgendo  all'  altro  polo, 
La  onde  il  Carro  gia  era  sparito; 

31     Vidi  presso  di  me  un  veglio  solo, 

Degno  di  tanta  riverenza  in  vista, 

Che  piu  non  dee  a  padre  alcun  figliuolo. 

34     Lunga  la  barba  e  di  pel  bianco  mista 
Portava,  a'  suoi  capegli  simigliante, 
De'  quai  cadeva  al  petto  doppia  lista. 


Canto  I.]  PURGATORY. 

Whence  in  my  eyes  delight  was  bred, 
Forth  issued  from  the  vapour  dead, 
That  both  my  eyes  and  breast 
So  sorely  had  distressed. 
The  planet  fair  that  love  doth  aid 
The  Orient  all  smiling  made, 
Veiling  the  Fishes  twain 
That  followed  in  her  train. 
To  the  right  hand  my  gaze  I  turned, 
To  the  other  pole,  where  four  stars  burned, 
Not  seen  by  human  ken, 
Save  by  the  first  of  men. 
Seemed  heaven  was  in  their  fiamelets  glad  : 
Ah  !    how  their  absence  doth  make  sad 
The  widowed  northern  sky, 
Where  none  may  these  descry  ! 
When  of  their  sight  my  gaze  was  spent, 
Back  to  the  other  pole  I  bent, 
Wherein  the  northern  Bear 
No  longer  did  appear. 
Close  by  an  ancient  showed,  whose  face 
Seemed  worthy  of  such  reverent  grace, 
As  son  to  any  sire 
Could  never  render  higher. 
Long  was  his  beard,  of  blended  gray 
Like  to  his  locks,  that  fell  away, 
And  on  his  breast  were  shed, 
In  two-fold  measure  spread. 


5  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  I. 

37    Li  raggi  delle  quattro  luci  sante 

Fregiavan  si  la  sua  faccia  di  lume, 

Ch'  io  '1  vedea  come  il  Sol  fosse  davante. 

40    Chi  siete  voi,  che  contro  al  cieco  flume 
Fuggito  avete  la  prigione  eterna  ? 
Diss'  ei,  movendo  quell'  oneste  piume. 

43     Chi  v1  ha  guidati  ?  o  chi  vi  fu  lucerna, 
Uscendo  fuor  della  profonda  notte, 
Che  sempre  nera  fa  la  valle  inferna  ? 

46    Son  le  leggi  d'  abisso  cosi  rotte? 

O  e  mutato  in  Ciel  nuovo  consiglio, 
Che  dannati  venite  alle  mie  grotte? 

49    Lo  Duca  mio  allor  mi  die  di  piglio, 

E  con  parole  e  con  mano  e  con  cenni, 
Riverenti  mi  fe'  le  gambe  e  il  ciglio. 

52    Poscia  rispose  lui :  Da  me  non  venni ; 

Donna  scese  del  Ciel,  per  li  cui  preghi 
Delia  mia  compagnia  costui  sovvenni. 

5=    Ma  da  ch'  e  tuo  voler  che  piu  si  spieghi 
Di  nostra  condizion,  com'  ella  e  vera, 
Esser  non  puote  il  mio  che  a  te  si  nieghi. 


Canto  I.]  PURGATORY. 

Of  those  four  holy  lights  the  rays 
Adorned  his  face  with  such  a  blaze, 

As  if  the  very  Sun 

My  eyes  were  looking  on. 
"  And  who  are  ye  have  hither  fled," 
Waving  those  comely  plumes,  he  said, 

"  From  the  eternal  prison 

"  Against  the  blind  stream  risen  ? 
"  Who  was  your  guide  ?  or  who  your  light, 
"  Through  the  profundity  of  night, 

"  That  doth  in  blackness  sit 

"  O'er  the  infernal  pit  ? 
"Are  all  the  laws  of  Chaos'broke? 
"  Or  doth  high  Heaven  its  will  revoke, 

"That  from  the  curse  of  Hell 

''•  Ye  venture  to  my  cell  ?  " 
Thereat  my  Leader  with  his  hand, 
With  voice,  with  gesture,  gave  command, 

And  bent  my  brow  and  knee 

In  reverent  courtesy. 
Then  answer  made  to  him  :  "  I  come 
"  Not  of  myself:  from  Heaven,  her  home, 

';  A  dame  came  down,  whose  prayer 

"  Bade  me  this  journey  share. 
"  But  since  it  is  thy  will  to  hear 
"  Our  present  state  unfolded  clear, 

"  It  cannot  be  that  mine 

"  Should  aught  deny  to  thine. 


8  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  I. 

58    Questi  non  vide  mai  1'  ultima  sera  ; 

Ma  per  la  sua  follia  le  fu  si  presso, 
Che  molto  poco  tempo  a  volger  era. 

61    SI  come  io  dissi,  fui  mandato  ad  esso. 

Per  lui  campare,  e  non  v'  era  altra  via 
Che  questa  per  la  quale  io  mi  son  messo. 

64    Mostrato  ho  lui  tutta  la  gente  ria  ; 

Ed  ora  intendo  mostrar  quegli  spirti 
Che  purgan  se  sotto  la  tua  balia. 

67    Come  io  1'  ho  tratto,  saria  lungo  a  dirti  : 
Dell'  alto  scende  virtu  che  m'  aiuta 
Conducerlo  a  vederti  ed  a  udirti. 

70    Or  ti  piaccia  gradir  la  sua  venuta  : 
Liberia  va  cercando,  che  e  si  cara, 
Come  sa  chi  per  lei  vita  rifiuta. 

73    Tu  il  sai  ;  che  non  ti  fu  per  lei  amara 
In  Utica  la  morte,  ove  lasciasti 
La  veste  che  al  gran  di  sara  si  chiara. 

76    Non  son  gli  editti  eterni  per  noi  guasti : 
Che  questi  vive,  e  Minos  me  non  lega ; 
Ma  son  del  cerchio,  ove  son  gli  occhi  casti 


Canto  I.]  PURGATORY. 

"This  one  not  yet  sees  evening  die: 
"His  folly  brought  him  yet  so  nigh, 
"There  was  short  time  to  run 
"Ere  he  were  quite  undone. 
"  So.  as  it  hath  been  told,  this  road 
"  For  his  salvation  have  I  trod  : 
"  He  might  no  other  prove 
"'°han  this  by  which  I  move. 
"Seen  are  the  guilty  folk  below: 
"And  now  those  spirits  I  would  show, 
"Who  'neath  thy  charge  begin 
-)  cleanse  themselves  from  sin. 
'  'Twe    i  long  to  tell  the  journey  made  : 
"  Poa     •  from  on  high  comes  to  my  aid, 
Conducting  him  where  he 
May  thee  both  hear  and  see. 
"  On  !    look  with   favour  on  his  quest : 
"  He  comes  with  freedom  to  be  blest ; 
"How  dear  a  boon  he  knows, 
"Who  therefor  life  forgoes. 
"  Thou  knowest  too :  for  'twas  no  pain 
"In   Utica  thy  death  to  gain, 
"And  put  thy  robe  away 
"To  shine  at  Judgment  Day. 
"  The  eternal  statutes  break  we  not : 
"  For  this  one  lives ;  nor  am  I  got 
"  From  Minos'  bond  ;  my  place 
"Is  in  that  circle's  space, 


IO  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  I. 

79    Di  Marzia  tua,  che  in  vista  ancor  ti  prega, 
O  santo  petto,  che  per  tua  la  tegni : 
Per  lo  suo  amore  adunque  a  noi  ti  pisga. 

s_>    Lasciane  andar  per  li  tuoi  sette  regni : 
Grazie  riportero  di  te  a  lei, 
Se  d'  esser  mentovato  laggiu  de<  ni. 

85    Marzia  piacque  tanto  agli  occhi  miei, 

Mentre  ch'  io  fui  di  la,  diss'  egli  allora, 
Che  quante  grazie  volse  da  me      i. 

ss    Or  che  di  la  dal  mal  fiume  dimora 

Piu  muover  non  mi  puo,  per  quel      legge 
Che  fatta  fu  quando  me  n'  uscii  fi    ra. 

91  Ma  se  Donna  del  Ciel  ti  muove  e  regge 
Come  tu  di',  non  c'  e  mestier  lusinghe : 
Bastiti  ben  che  per  lei  mi  richegge. 

94    Va  dunque,  e  fa  che  tu  costui  ricinghe 

D'  un  giunco  schietto,  e  che  gli  lavi  il  viso, 
Si  che  ogni  sucidume  quindi  stinghe : 

97    Che  non  si  converria  1'  occhio  sorpriso 

D'  alcuna  nebbia  andar  dinanzi  al  primo 
Ministro,  ch'  e  di  quei  di  Paradiso. 


Canto  I.]  PURGATORY.  11 

"  Wherein  thy  Marcia's  chaste  eyes  sue, 
"  Blest  heart,  that  thou  wouldst  hold  her  true  : 
"  For  her  dear  love  do  thou 
"  Vouchsafe  to  aid  us  now. 
"  Let  us  pass  through  thy  kingdoms  seven  ; 
guerdon  shall  to  her  be  given, 
If  but  thou  deign  to  be 
/Tentioned  below  of  me." 
true,  while  yonder  yet  I  stayed, 
i  so  pleased  my  eyes,"  he  said, 
nat  I  would  straight  pursue 
11  that  she  bade  me  do. 
.-forth  she  cannot  move  me  ever, 
ling  beyond  the  evil  river, 
Under  the  law  decreed 
;When  I  from  thence  was  freed. 
"  If  Heavenly  Lady  moves  and  leads, 
"  E'en  as  thou  sayst,  no  glozing  needs  : 
"  Enough  that  in  her  name 
"Thou  dost  my  favour  claim. 
"  Go  then,  and  see  that  he  be  bound 
"  With  a  smooth  rush  his  body  round, 
"  And  wash  his  visage  clean, 
"  That  there  no  smirch  be  seen  : 
"  For  'twould  not  seemly  be  to  come, 
•'With  sight  possessed  by  film  of  gloom, 
"  To  that  first  servant's  eyes, 
"  Who  is  of  Paradise. 


12  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  I. 

ioo    Ouesta  isoletta  intorno  ad  imo  ad  imo, 
Laggiu  cola  dove  la  batte  1'  onda, 
Porta  de'  giunchi  sovra  il  molle  limo. 

103     Null'  altra  pianta  che  facesse  fronda, 
O  indurasse,  vi  puote  aver  vita, 
Perocche  alle  percosse  non  secon 

106    Poscia  non  sia  di  qua  vostra  reddit 
Lo  Sol  vi  mostrera,  che  surge  c 
Prender  lo  monte  a  piu  lieve  sa 

109    Cosl  sparl ;   ed  io  su  mi  levai 

Senza  parlare,  e  tutto  mi  ritrassi 

Al  Duca  mio,  e  gli  occhi  a  lui  drJ    ai. 

112     Ei  comincio :    Figliuol,  segui  i  miei  passi: 
Volgiamci  indietro,  che  di  qua  dichina 
Questa  pianura  a'  suoi  termini  bassi. 

115    L'  alba  vinceva  1'  ora  mattutina 

Che  fuggia  innanzi,  si  che  di  lontano 
Conobbi  il  tremolar  della  marina. 

]i8     Noi  andavam  per  lo  solingo  piano, 

Com'  uom  che  torna  alia  perduta  strada, 
Che  infino  ad  essa  gli  par  ire  in  vano. 


Canto  I.]  PURGATORY.  13 

"  This  islet  at  its  lowest  foot, 
"  Where  beats  the  wave  about  its  root, 
"  There  doth  it  rushes  bear 
"  Upon  the  slimy  mere. 
"  No  other  plant,  that  leaves  puts  out, 
"  Thy  }ne  that  hardeneth  about, 
"  4ay  live  upon  that  field, 
"  j  xcept  to  blows  it  yield. 
'  'Tis  1e  be  not  your  returning  hither : 
'■  Marc  -ing  Sun  shall  show  you  whither 
.  may  find  easiest  way 
\e  mountain  to  essay." 
•'  Her    th  he  disappeared :    and  I, 
"  Dv      myself  all  silently, 

;k  to  my  Leader  drew, 
».nd  on  him  bent  my  view. 
Then  he  began :    "  Turn  we,  my  son, 
"  And  see  my  steps  thou  follow  on, 
"  For  here  the  plain  doth  bend 
"  Downward  unto  its  end." 
Already  dawn's  o'ermastering  power 
Before  it  drove  the  morning  hour, 
And  far  off  showed  to  me 
The  trembling  of  the  sea. 
O'er  the  lone  plain  our  way  we  made, 
As  one  who  from  his  road  has  strayed, 
And  thinks  his  travel  vain, 
Till  that  be  found  a^ain. 


14  PURGATORIO.  [  Canto  1. 

121     Quando  noi  fummo  dove  la  rugiada 

Pugna  col  Sole,  e  per  essere  in  parte 

Ove  adorezza,  poco  si  dirada ; 
124    Ambo  le  mani  in  sull'  erbetta  sparte 

Soavemente  il  mio  Maestro  pose ; 

Ond'  io  che  fui  accorto  di  sua  ai ', 

127    Porsi  ver  lui  le  guance  lagrimose : 

a  j 

Ouivi  mi  fece  tutto  discoverto 

^  iai, 

Quel  color  che  1'   Inferno  mi  nas 

:a. 
130    Venimmo  poi  in  sul  lito  diserto, 

Che  mai  non  vide  navicar  sue  act 

Uomo,  che  di  tornar  sia  poscia  es 

133    Quivi  mi  cinse  si  come  altrui  piacqut 
O  maraviglia !  che  qual  egli  scelse 
L'  umile  pianta,  cotal  si  rinacque 

136    Subitamente  la  onde  la  svelse. 


Canto  I.]  PURGATORY.  1.5 

When  we  were  come  where  the  dew  lies 
Contending  with  the  Sun,  and  dries 

But  slowly  on  the  ground, 

Where  still  some  shade  is  found, 
Be  LJh  hands  upon  the  herbage  wet 
"Nor  ('^er^y  my  Master  set: 

ufd  I,  who  could  divine 

u  i  at  was  in  his  design, 
.£  Thencr  n^m  my  cheeks  with  tears  done  over  : 

"The  r       ^e  ^ne^r  true  nue  discover, 

u,     hat  there  was  revealed 

(i  ni  it  Hell  had  erst  concealed. 

„.  me  we  on  the  desert  shore, 

there 


Lifti 


.ver  yet  hath  seen  the  oar 
any  that  might  learn 
^reafter  to  return. 
There  girt  he  me,  as  pleased  That  Other. 
Oh  marvel  strange !    for  lo !   another 
Such  lowly  plant  forth  grew 
There  whence  the  first  he  drew. 


CANTO    SECONDO. 

GlA  era  il  Sole  all'  orizzonte  giunto, 
Lo  cui  meridian  cerchio  coverch    . 
Gerusalem  col  suo  piu  alto  purr!    : 

4     E  la  notte  che  opposita  a  lui  cere,    i, 
Uscla  di  Gange  fuor  colle  bilance 
Che  le  caggion  di  man  quando,s^'      'chia; 

7    Si  che  le  bianche  e  le  vermiglie  guance, 
La  dove  io  era,  della  bella  Aurora, 
Per  troppa  etate  divenivan  ranee. 

10    Noi  eravam  lunghesso  il  mare  ancora, 

Come  gente  che  pensa  a  suo  cammino, 
Che  va  col  cuore,  e  col  corpo  dimora : 

13  Ed  ecco  qual,  sul  presso  del  mattino, 
Per  li  grossi  vapor  Marte  rosseggia 
Giu  nel  ponente  sovra  il  suol  marino ; 


CANTO   II. 

Now  had  the  Sun  the  horizon  met, 
Round  that  meridian  circle  set, 

Beneath  whose  summit  high 

Jerusalem  doth  lie : 
And  Night,  that  opposite  him  wheels  ever, 
Was  ir   nng  forth  from  Ganges  river, 

/        in  her  hand  the  Scales, 
fall  when  she  prevails. 
Before  me  fair  Aurora's  face, 
Where  white  and  crimson  late  had  place, 

As  she  was  older  growing, 

An  orange  hue  was  showing. 
Beside  the  sea  did  we  delay, 
As  those  who  ponder  on  their  way, 

And,  though  they  move  in  mind, 

In  body  stay  behind. 
And  lo !    as  oft,  when  dawn  is  nigh, 
Through  vapours  thick  in  western  sky 

Mars  glows  a  fiery  red, 

Down  o'er  the  ocean  bed, 
C 


1 8  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  II. 

1 6    Cotal  m'  apparve  (s'  io  ancor  lo  veggia !) 
Un  lume  per  lo  mar  venir  si  ratto, 
Che  il  muover  suo  nessun  volar  pan  ?g\a  ; 

19    Dal  qual  com5  io  un  poco  ebbi  ritracto 
L'  occhio  per  dimandar  lo  Duca   mio, 
Rividil  piu  lucente  e  maggior  fsitto. 

22    Poi  d'  ogni  lato  ad  esso  m'  appano 

Un  non  sapeva  che  bianco,  e  dii  sotto 
A  poco  a  poco  un  altro  a  lui  usclo. 

25    Lo  mio  Maestro  ancor  non  fece  motto 

Mentre  che  i  primi  bianchi  app      er  ali : 
Allor  che  ben  conobbe  il  gal^' 

28    Grido :  Fa,  fa  che  le  ginocchia  cali ; 

Ecco  1'  Angel  di  Dio :  piega  le  mani  : 
Omai  vedrai  di  s)  fatti  offiziali. 

31  Vedi  che  sdegna  gli  argomenti  umani, 
Si  che  remo  non  vuol,  ne  altro  velo 
Che  1'  ale  sue,  tra  liti  si  lontani. 

34    Vedi  come  1'  ha  dritte  verso  il  cielo, 

Trattando  1'  aere  con  1'  eterne  penne, 
Che  non  si  mutan  come  mortal  pelo. 


Canto  II.]  PURGATORY.  19 

So  saw  I  (would  I  may  again  !) 
A  light  come  swiftly  o'er  the  main, 

Of  motion  past  compare 
c        With  aught  that  flies  in  air. 
1n«_nce  was  my  eye  scarce  turned  aside 
A  moment,  questioning  my  Guide : 

When  I  looked  back,  that  light 

Shone  fuller  and  more  bright. 
Next  upon  either  side  was  seen 
A  something  white  to  gleam,  and  then 

Below  another  too 

LiU      by  little  grew. 
My  Mr     2r  spake  not,  till  as  wings 
Clearly      ipeared  those  first  white  things : 

T         when  his  eyes  could  well 
helmsman's  semblance  tell, 
"  Bend,  bend  thy  knee,"  he  gave  commands  ; 
"  Behold  God's  Angel  :  fold  thy  hands  : 

"  Henceforward  thou  shalt  know 

"  His  servants  fashioned  so. 
"  See  how  arts  human  he  refuseth  ; 
"  Nor  oar  nor  any  sail  he  chooseth 

"  Save  his  own  wings,  whereby 

"  'Twixt  those  far  shores  to  ply. 
"  See  how  they  point  to  the  supernal, 
"  Stirring  the  air  with  plumes  eternal, 

"  That  moult  not,  nor  are  made 

"  As  mortal  hair  to  fade." 
C  2 


20  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  II. 

37    Poi  come  piu  e  piu  verso  noi  venne 

L'  uccel  divino,  piu  chiaro  appariva  ; 
Per  che  1'  occhio  da  presso  nol  soste      » : 

40    Ma  chinai  1'  giuso  ;  e  quei  sen  venne  a  riva 
Con  un  vasello  snelletto  e  leggiero, 
Tanto  che  1'  acqua  nulla  ne  inghiottiva. 

43    Da  poppa  stava  il  celestial  nocchiero, 
Tal  che  parea  beato  per  iscritto  ; 
E  piu  di  cento  spirti  entro  sec"  <*o. 

46    In  exitu  Israel  de  Egitto 

Cantavan  tutti  insieme  ad  una         e, 

Con  quanto  di  quel  salmo  e  p  scritto. 

49    Poi  fece  il  segno  lor  di  santa  croce  ; 

Ond'  ei  si  gittar  tutti  in  sulla  piaggia, 
Ed  ei  sen  gl,  come  venne,  veloce. 

52    La  turba  che  rimase  11,  selvaggia 

Parea  del  loco,  rimirando  intorno, 
Come  colui  che  nuove  cose  assaggia. 

55    Da  tutte  parti  saettava  il  giorno 

Lo  Sol,  ch'  avea  colle  saette  conte 

Di  mezzo  il  ciel  cacciato  il  Capricorno, 


Canto  II.]  PURGATORY.  .21 

Then  as  came  nearer  and  more  near 
The  Bird  divine,  it  shone  more  clear, 

Until  my  blinded  sight 

Could  not  endure  that  light. 
I  lowered  my  eyes  :  and  he  was  nearing 
The  bank,  a  little  vessel  steering, 

So  swift,  so  light  of  draught, 

The  wave  engulfed  it  naught. 
On  poop  the  heavenly  pilot  stood, 
Acknowledged  by  sure  sign  for  good ; 

And  spirits  seated  there 

Mo      than  a  hundred  were. 
';  Whei      ut  of  Egypt  Israel  came  " 
They         nted  all  with  one  acclaim, 

/  that  psalm  is  writ, 

./        all  that  follows  it. 
He  signed  the  holy  cross  for  each  : 
Whereat  they  threw  them  on  the  beach  ; 

He,  as  he  came,  alone, 

Passed  swiftly  and  was  gone. 
The  crowd  remained  behind  amazed 
At  the  strange  place,  and  round  them  gazed, 

As  they  do  who  intend 

New  things  to  comprehend. 
On  every  side  the  day  was  driven 
Forth  by  the  Sun,  who  from  mid-heaven 

Had  with  his  arrows  bright 

Put  Capricorn  to  flight : 


Z2  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  II. 

58    Quando  la  nuova  gente  alzo  la  fronte 

Ver  noi,  dicendo  a  noi :  Se  voi  sapete, 
Mostratene  la  via  di  gire  al  monte. 

6x     E  Virgilio  rispose  :  Voi  credete 

Forse  che  siamo  esperti  d'  esto  loco ; 
Ma  noi  siam  peregrin,  come  vci  sietc. 

64  Dianzi  venimmo  innanzi  a  voi  un  poco, 
Per  altra  via,  che  fu  si  aspra  e  forte, 
Che  lo  salire  omai  ne  parra  g'voco. 

67    L'  anime  che  si  fur  di  me  accort 

Per  lo  spirare,  ch'  io  era  ancoj         o, 
Maravigliando  diventaro  smen 

70    E  come  a  messaggier,  che  porta  olivo, 
Tragge  la  gente  per  udir  novelle, 
E  di  calcar  nessun  si  mostra  schivo ; 

73    Cos!  al  viso  mio  s'  affissar  quelle 
Anime  fortunate  tutte  e  quante, 
Quasi  obbliando  d'  ire  a  farsi  belle. 

76    Io  vidi  una  di  lor  trarsi  davante 

Per  abbracciarmi  con  si  grande  affetto, 
Che  mosse  me  a  far  lo  simigliante. 


canto  II.]  PURGATORY.  23 

When  that  new  people  raised  their  brow 
Towards  us,  saying  "  If  ye  know, 

"  Show  unto  us  the  way 

"  The  mountain  to  essay." 
And  Virgil  answered  "  Ye  believe 
"  We  have  experience  to  give 

"  Of  this  new  place,  but  we 

<f  Are  pilgrims  even  as  ye. 
••  But  just  before  you  came  we  here 
'  By  other  road,  so  rough,  so  drear, 

''  Upward  henceforth  to  mount 

"  We  shall  but  pastime  count." 
The  souls,  to  whom  my  breath  did  give 
Warnir       hat  I  was  yet  alive, 

T  native  colour  spent, 

pale  with  wonderment. 
As  messenger  that  olive  weareth 
Draws  folk  to  hear  the  news  he  beareth, 

Round  him  they  press,  nor  spare 

For  all  the  trampling  there  ; 
So  one  and  all  those  souls  of  grace 
Fastened  themselves  upon  my  face, 

Forgetting  to  be  gone, 

And  put  their  beauty  on. 
Thereout  I  saw  one  forward  move 
To  clasp  me,  with  such  look  of  love, 

That  with  like  action  too 

I  to  embrace  him  drew. 


24  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  II. 

79    O  ombre  vane,  fuor  che  nell'  aspetto  ! 

Tre  volte  dietro  a  lei  le  mani  avvinsi, 
E  tante  mi  tornai  con  esse  al  petto. 

82     Di  maraviglia,  credo,  mi  dipinsi  ; 

Per  che  1'  ombra  sorrise  e  si  ritrasse, 
Ed  io,  seguendo  lei,  oltre  mi  pinsi. 

85    Soavemente  disse  ch'  io  posasse  : 

Allor  conobbi  chi  era,  e  '1  pregai 

Che  per  parlarmi  un  poco  s'  arrestasse. 

88    Risposemi :    Cosl  com'  io  t'  amai 

Nel  mortal  corpo,  cosi  t'  amc        ^<lta  ; 
Pero  m'  arresto :   ma  tu  percl 

91     Casella  mio,  per  tornare  altra  volta 
La  dove  son,  fo  io  questo  viaggio, 
Diss'  io  ;  ma  a  te  com'  e  tanta  ora  tolta  ? 

94    Ed  egli  a  me:    Nessun  m'  e  fatto  oltraggio, 
Se  quei,  che  leva  e  quando  e  cui  gli  piace, 
Piu  volte  m'  ha  negato  esto  passaggio  ; 

97     Che  di  giusto  voler  lo  suo  si  face. 

Veramente  da  tre  mesi  egli  ha  tolto 
Chi  ha  voluto  entrar  con  tutta  pace. 


Canto  II.]  PURGATORY.  25 

Vain  shadows,  save  to  sight  alone  ! 
Thrice  were  my  hands  behind  him  thrown  ; 

As  often  were  they  pressed 

Back  empty  to  my  breast. 
Surprise,  I  deem,  my  colour  showed  : 
For  with  a  smile  he  backward  strode  : 

I  followed  him,  and  made 

Forward  to  reach  his  shade. 
With  gentle  words  he  stayed  me,  when 
I  knew  him  who  he  was,  and  then 

I  prayed  of  him  that  he 

Would  pause  and  speak  to  me. 
And  he  replied  :  "  The  love  I  bore, 
"  While  still  my  mortal  flesh  I  wore, 

"  Released  I  bear  thee  now, 

"  And  pause  :  but  why  goest  thou  ?  " 
"  Casella  mine,  that  here  I  may 
"Return  again,  I  take  this  way: 

"  But  whence,"  I  said,  "  the  power 

"  Thus  to  delay  thy  hour  ?  " 
He  answered  :    "  None  hath  wrongly  used  me, 
"If  oft  this  passage  was  refused  me 

"  Of  Him,  who  raiseth  still 

'f  Whom,  aye,  and  when  he  will  ; 
"  Whose  will  is  in  just  will  contained : 
"  Nathless  for  three  months  hath  he  deigned, 

"  That  whoso  would  come  in 

"  Should  peaceful  entrance  win. 


26  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  II. 

ioo    Ond'  io  che  era  ora  alia  marina  volto, 
Dove  1'  acqua  di  Tevere  s'  insala, 
Benignamente  fui  da  lui  ricolto. 

103    A  quella  foce  ha  egli  or  dritta  1'  ala  : 
Perocche  sempre  quivi  si  ricoglie, 
Qual  verso  d'  Acheronte  non  si  cala. 

106  Ed  io  :  Se  nuova  legge  non  ti  toglie 
Memoria  o  uso  all'  amoroso  canto, 
Che  mi  solea  quetar  tutte  mie  voglie, 

109    Di  cio  ti  piaccia  consolare  alquanto 

L'  anima  mia,  che  con  la  sua  persona 
Venendo  qui,  e  affannata  tanto. 

112    Amor  che  nella  mente  mi  ragiona, 

Comincio  egli  allor  si  dolcemente, 

Che  la  dolcezza  ancor  dentro  mi  suona. 

115    Lo  mio  Maestro,  ed  io,  e  quella  gente 
Ch'  eran  con  lui,  parevan  si  contenti, 
Come  a  nessun  toccasse  altro  la  mente. 

118    Noi  eravam  tutti  fissi  ed  attenti 

Alle  sue  note ;  ed  ecco  il  veglio  onesto, 
Gridando :  Che  e  cio,  spiriti  lenti  ? 


Canto  II.]  PURGATORY.  27 

"  Beside  the  sea  I  had  made  halt, 
"  Where  Tiber's  water  tastes  the  salt, 

"  And  there  by  him  was  I 

"  Ingathered  graciously. 
"See  to  that  mouth  his  wing  inclined, 
';  The  gathering  place  for  all  assigned, 

"  Save  those  who  must  be  gone 

'•  Downward  to  Acheron." 
And  I  :  "If  new  law  lets  remain 
"  Memory  and  skill  for  love's  sweet  strain, 

"  Such  strain  as  could  erewhile 

"All  my  desires  beguile, 
"  Oh  !  let  it  consolation  give 
"  And  bid  my  weary  soul  revive, 

"  Faint  with  its  journey   here, 

"  Clothed   in   the  form  I  wear." 
"Love  that  within  my  mind  is  pleading" 
Sweetly  was  from  his  mouth  proceeding, 

Whose  dulcet  music  still 

Doth  in  my  memory  thrill. 
I  and  my  Master  and  that  crowd, 
That  with  him  were,  contentment  showed, 

As  if  beside  were  nought 

Had  power  to  touch  our  thought. 
Upon  his  notes  were  all  intent, 
When  lo !  that  noble  ancient 

Crying   "  What  meaneth  this, 

"  Ye  spirits  so  remiss  ? 


28  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  II. 

121     Oual  negligenza,  quale  stare  e  questo? 

Correte  al  monte  a  spogliarvi  lo  scoglio, 
Ch'  esser  non  lascia  a  voi  Dio  manifesto. 

124    Come  quando,  cogliendo  biado  o  loglio, 
Gli   colombi  adunati  alia  pastura, 
Queti  senza  mostrar  1'  usato  orgoglio, 

127    Se  cosa  appare  ond'  elli  abbian  paura, 
Subitamente  lasciano  star  1'  esca, 
Perche  assaliti  son  da  maggior  cura ; 

j  30    Cosl  vid'  io  quella  masnada  fresca 

Lasciar  lo  canto,  e  gire  in  ver  la  costa, 
Come  uom  die  va,  ne  sa  dove  riesca : 

133    Ne  la  nostra  partita  fu  men  tosta. 


Canto  II.]  PURGATORY.  2g 

"Wherefore  this  sloth,  or  this  delay? 
"  Haste  to  the  mount,  to  put  away 

"  The  scale  that  comes  between, 

c;  And  lets  not  God  be  seen." 
And  as  when  pigeons  met  to  feed 
Together,  gleaning  tares  or  seed, 

In  quiet,  laid  aside 

All  their  accustomed  pride, 
If  haply  aught  of  fear  they  spy, 
Sudden  they  put  their  feeding  by, 

Seeing  it  nought  avails 

When  greater  care  assails ; 
Even  in  such  wise  saw  I  turn 
That  mesny  of  the  newly  born, 

Leaving  in  their  affright 

The  song  that  did  delight. 
And  make,  by  sudden  terror  chased, 
For  the  hill-side,  as  those  who  haste 

They  know  not  whither  bent  : 

And  we  as  swiftly  went. 


CANTO   TERZO. 

AvvEGNACHnfc  la  subitana  fuga 

Dispergesse  color  per  la  campagna, 
Rivolti  al  monte  ove  ragion  ne  fruga  ; 

4  Io  mi  ristrinsi  alia  fida  compagna  : 
E  come  sare'  io  senza  lui  corso  ? 
Chi  m'  avria  tratto  su  per  la  montagna? 

7    Ei  mi  parea  da  se  stesso  rimorso : 
O  dignitosa  coscienza  e  netta, 
Come  t'  e  picciol  fallo  amaro  morso ! 

io    Ouando  li  piedi  suoi  lasciar  la  fretta, 

Che  1'  onestade  ad  ogni  atto  dismaga, 
La  mente  mia,  che  prima  era  ristretta, 

13    Lo  intento  rallargo,  si  come  vaga, 

E  diedi  il  viso  mio  incontro  al  poggio, 
Che  inverso  il  ciel  piu  alto  si  dislaga. 


CANTO    III. 

THOUGH  o'er  the  champaign  every  one 
Scattered  in  sudden  flight  were  gone, 
Back  turned  the  mount  to  view 
That  reason  goads  us  to : 
Close  drew  I  to  my  escort  tried, 
How  could  I  speed  but  by  his  side? 
Who  would  have  drawn  me  up 
Unto  the  mountain's  top? 
Remorse,  I  saw,  himself  had  pained  : 
Oh  !    conscience  noble  and  unstained  ! 
How  bitter  is  the  sense 
Of  even  the  least  offence  ! 
Soon  as  his  feet  had  left  the  haste 
By  which  all  action  is  disgraced, 
Straightway  again  my  mind, 
That  was  before  confined, 
Widened  its  view,  in  eager  wise, 
And  to  the  steep  I  turned  my  eyes, 
Where  it  ascends  most  sheer 
Heavenward  from  the  mere. 


32  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  III. 

1 6    Lo  Sol,  die  dietro  fiammeggiava  roggio, 
Rotto  m'  era  dinanzi,  alia  figura 
Ch'  aveva  in  me  de'  suoi  raggi  1'  appoggio. 

19    lo  mi  volsi  dallato  con  paura 

D'  esser  abbandonato,  quand'  io  vidi 
Solo  dinanzi  a  me  la  terra  oscura. 

22    E  il  mio  Conforto  :    Perche  pur  diffidi? 
A  dir  mi  comincio  tutto  rivolto  ; 
Non  credi  tu  me  teco,  e  ch'  io  ti  guidi  ? 

25    Vespero  e  gia  cola,  dov'  e  sepolto 

Lo  corpo,  dentro  al  quale  io  facea  ombra : 
Napoli  1'  ha,  e  da  Brandizio  e  tolto. 

28    Ora,  se  innanzi  a  me  nulla  s'  adombra, 
Non  ti  maravigliar  piu  che  de'  cieli, 
Che  l'uno  all'  altro  raggio  non  ingombra 

31    A  sofferir  tormenti,  e  caldi  e  gieli, 
Simili  corpi  la  virtu  dispone, 
Che,  come  fa,  non  vuol  che  a  noi  si  sveli. 

34    Matto  e  chi  spera  che  nostra  ragione 
Possa  trascorrer  la  infinita  via, 
Che  tiene  una  sustanzia  in  tre  persone. 


Canto  III.]  PURGATORY.  33 

Red  at  my  back  the  Sun  did  blaze: 
But  broken  were  in  front  his  rays, 

Barred  by  my  outward  shape, 

Which  let  them  not  escape. 
In  fear,  lest  I  abandoned  were, 
I  bent  me  to  my  side,  and  there 

Knew  darkness  on  the  ground 

Before  me  only  found. 
And  he  who  was  my  comfort  said, 
All  turned  to  me;    "Art  still  afraid? 

"  Art  thou  not  still  with  me  ? 

"Am  not  I  guiding  thee? 
"Tis  evening  there,  where  finds  its  grave 
"  The  body,  which  my  shadow  gave ; 

"  From  Brindisi  'twas  torn, 

"And  unto  Naples  borne. 
"  And,  if  in  front  no  shade  I  throw, 
"  Marvel  thou  not,  for  even  so, 

"  The  heavenly  spheres,  none  may 

"  Impede  another's  ray. 
"  Bodies  like  this  doth  Power  divine 
"  To  suffer  heat  and  cold  design ; 

"  But  wills  not  we  should  scan 

"  The  secret  of  his  plan. 
"  Fool,  who  by  reason  would  pretend 
"  The  boundless  way  to  comprehend, 

"  Which  the  one  Substance  holds, 

"  Three  Persons  that  enfolds ! 
D 


34  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  III. 

37    State  contenti,  umana  gente,  al  quia, 
Che,  se  potuto  aveste  veder  tutto 
Mestier  non  era  partorir  Maria. 

40    E  disiar  vedeste  senza  frutto 

Tai,  che  sarebbe  lor  disio  quetato, 
Ch'  eternalmente  e  dato  lor  per  lutto. 

43    Io  dico  d'  Aristotele  e  di  Plato, 

E  di  molti  altri.     E  qui  chino  la  fronte  ; 
E  piu  non  disse,  e  rimase  turbato. 

46    Noi  divenimmo  intanto  al  pie  del  monte : 
Ouivi  trovammo  la  roccia  si  erta, 
Che  indarno  vi  sarien  le  gambe  pronte. 

49    Tra  Lerici  e  Turbia,  la  piu  diserta, 
La  piu  romita  via  e  una  scala, 
Verso  di  quella,  agevole  ed  aperta. 

52    Or  chi  sa  da  qual  man  la  costa  cala, 

Disse  il  Maestro  mio,  fermando  il  passo, 
SI  che  possa  salir  chi  va  senz'  ala  ? 

55    E  mentre  che,  tenendo  il  viso  basso, 
Esaminava  del  cammin  la  mente, 
Ed  io  mirava  suso  intorno  al  sasso, 


Canto  III.]  PURGATORY.  $5 

"  Content  ye,  mortals,  that  'tis  so : 

"  Had  it  been  yours  the  whole  to  know, 

"  No  need  there  were  on  earth 

"  For  Mary  to  give  birth. 
"  Such  saw  ye  fruitlessly  aspire, 
"  Who  else  had  rest  from  their  desire, 

"  Desire  that  for  their  pain 

"  Eternal  doth  remain. 
"  Plato  and  Aristoteles, 
"  I  mean,  and  many  more  like  these." 

He  ceased,  and  brow  he  bent, 

And  rested  ill  content. 
Now  had  we  reached  the  mountain's  base : 
There  found  we  rock  so  steep  of  face, 

Upward  thereby  to  climb 

Would  baffle  readiest  limb. 
The  roughest,  most  deserted  ground 
'Twixt  Lerici  and  Turbla  found, 

Compared  with  this,  a  stair 

Open  and  easy  were. 
"  Knows  any "  (and  his  steps  he  stayed) 
"Where  the  side  slopes?"  my  Master  said. 

li  How  may  one  mount  above 

"  Who  without  wings  doth  move  ?  " 
While  he  with  face  bent  low  would  turn. 
The  fashion  of  the  road  to  learn, 

I  to  the  rock  upraising 

My  eyes  around  was  gazing, 
D   3 


36  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  III. 

58    Da  man  sinistra  m'  appar\  una  gente 
D'  anime,  che  movieno  i  pie  ver  noi, 
E  non  parevan,  si  venivan  lente. 

61    Leva,  dissi  al  Maestro,  gli  occhi  tuoi: 
Ecco  di  qua  chi  ne  dara  consiglio, 
Se  tu  da  te  medesmo  aver  nol  puoi. 

64    Guard6  a  loro,  e  con  libero  piglio 

Rispose  :  Andiamo  in  la,  ch'  ei  vegnon  piano ; 
E  tu  ferma  la  speme,  dolce  figlio. 

67    Ancora  era  quel  popol  di  lontano, 
Io  dico,  dopo  i  nostri  mille  passi, 
Quanto  un  buon  gittator  trarria  con  mano, 

70    Quando  si  strinser  tutti  ai  duri  massi 

Dell'  alta  ripa,  e  stetter  fermi  e  stretti, 
Come  a  guardar,  chi  va  dubbiando,  stassi. 

73     O  ben  finiti,  o  gia  spiriti  eletti, 

Virgilio  incominci6,  per  quella  pace 
Ch'  io  credo  che  per  voi  tutti  si  aspetti, 

76    Ditene  dove  la  montagna  giace, 

SI  che  possibil  sia  1'  andare  in  suso  ; 
Che  perder  tempo  a  chi  piu  sa  piu  spiace. 


Canto  III.]  PURGATORY.  37 

Upon  the  left  hand  there  appeared 

A  band  of  souls,  that  towards  us  neared, 

But  their  approach  scarce  showing, 

So  gently  were  they  going. 
And  to  the  Master  spake  I :  "  Lift 
"  Thine  eyes  ;  behold  one  from  whose  gift 

"  Some  counsel  may  be  got, 

"  If  such  thyself  have  not." 
He  looked  and  with  frank  carriage  spake : 
"  Let  us  to  them :  slow  way  they  make  ; 

"  Only  hold  firm,  sweet  son, 

"  Thy  hope,  as  'tis  begun." 
A  thousand  paces  had  we  stept, 
And  still  that  people  from  us  kept 

As  far  as  might  a  stone 

By  slinger's  hand  be  thrown  : 
When  they  drew  up  and  ranged  them  all 
By  the  high  bank's  unyielding  wall, 

As  one  who  goes  in  doubt 

Standeth  to  look  about. 
Virgil  began  ;  "  O  well  perfect, 
"  O  spirits  even  now  elect, 

"  By  that  same  peace  that  ye 

"  Await  assuredly, 
"  I  pray  you,  tell  us  where  doth  bend 
"  The  mountain,  that  we  may  ascend  ; 

"  For  he  that  knoweth  most, 

"  Most  plains  if  time  be  lost." 


38  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  III 

79    Come  le  pecorelle  escon  del  chiuso 

Ad  una,  a  due,  a  tre,  e  1'  altre  stanno 
Timidette  atterrando  1'  occhio  e  il  muso  ; 

82     E  cio  che  fa  la  prima,  e  1'  altre  fanno, 
Addossandosi  a  lei  s'  ella  s'  arresta, 
Semplici  e  quete,  e  lo  'mperche  non  sanno  : 

85    SI  vid'  io  muovere  a  venir  la  testa 

Di  quella  mandria  fortunata  allotta, 
Pudica  in  faccia,  e  nell'  andare  onesta. 

88    Come  color  dinanzi  vider  rotta 

La  luce  in  terra  dal  mio  destro  canto, 
SI  che  1'  ombra  era  da  me  alia  grotta, 

91    Restaro,  e  trasser  se  indietro  alquanto, 
E  tutti  gli  altri  che  venieno  appresso, 
Non  sapendo  il  perche,  fenno  altrettanto. 

94    Senza  vostra  dimanda  io  vi  confesso, 

Che  questo  &  corpo  uman  che  voi  vedete, 
Per  che  il  lume  del  sole  in  terra  e  fesso. 

97    Non  vi  maravigliate  ;  ma  credete, 

Che  non  senza  virtu  che  dal  Ciel  vegna 
Cerchi  di  soverchiar  questa  parete. 


Canto  III.] 


PURGATORY.  39 


As  from  the  pen  forth  issuing  creep 
One,  two,  and  three,  the  timid  sheep  ; 
With  eyes  and  muzzle  pressed 

To  earthward  stand  the  rest ; 
As  doth  the  first,  the  others  do; 
And  if  one  pauseth,  they  pause  too, 

Huddling,  they  know  not  why, 

In  mute  simplicity. 
So  coming  forth  did  I  behold 
The  leaders  of  that  blessed  fold, 

Their  movement  clothed  with  grace, 

With  modesty  their  face. 
And  when  the  foremost  saw  the  light 
Barred  on  the  ground  upon  my  right, 

Making  my  shadow  fall 

Against  the  rocky  wall, 
Halting,  they  drew  a  little  back  ; 
And  those  that  followed  on  their  track 

Did  even  the  like,  although 

The  wherefore  none  could  know. 
"Without  your  asking,  know  of  me, 
"  A  human  body  'tis  ye  see  ; 

"And  thereby  doth  he  make 

"On  earth  the  sunlight  break. 
"Marvel  not  therefore,  but  believe 
"He  comes  with  power  that  Heaven  doth  give 
"  None  else  may  him  avail, 
"  Seeking  this  wall  to  scale." 


40  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  III. 

joo    Cosi  il  Maestro:  e  quella  gente  degna, 
Tornate,  disse,  intrate  innanzi  dunque, 
Coi  dossi  delle  man  facendo  insegna. 

103  Ed  un  di  loro  incomincio :  Chiunque 
Tu  se',  cosi  andando  volgi  il  viso, 
Pon  mente,  se  di  la  mi  vedesti  unque. 

106    Io  mi  volsi  ver  lui,  e  guardail  fiso  : 

Biondo  era  e  bello,  e  di  gentile  aspetto  ; 
Ma  1'  un  de'  cigli  un  colpo  avea  diviso. 

109    Ouand'  io  mi  fui  umilmente  disdetto 

D'  averlo  visto  mai,  ei  disse  :  Or  vedi : 

E  mostrommi  una  piaga  a  sommo  il  petto. 

112     Poi  sorridendo  disse:  Io  son  Manfredi, 
Nepote  di  Constanza  Imperadrice : 
Ond'  io  ti  prego  che  quando  tu  riedi, 

115    Vadi  a  mia  bella  figlia,  genitrice 

Dell'  onor  di  Cicilia  e  d'  Aragona, 
E  dichi  il  vero  a  lei,  s'  altro  si  dice  : 

j  18    Poscia  ch'  i'  ebbi  rotta  la  persona 

Di  due  punte  mortali,  io  mi  rendei 
Piangendo  a  Quei  che  volentier  perdona. 


Canto  III.l  PURGATORY.  4* 

The  Master  thus.     That  gracious  band 
Replied  with  waving  of  the  hand : 

"  Turn  ye  and  go  before  : 

"There  shall  ye  find  the  door." 
"  Then  one  of  them  began  :   "  Whoe'er 
"  Thou  art,  look  round,  and  make  thee  ware, 

"  If  thou  in  yonder  place 

"  Hast  ever  seen  my  face." 
I  turned,  and  looked  with  eyesight  keen  : 
Comely,  and  blond,  and  fair  of  mien 

He  showed,  save  where  a  scar 

Did  all  one  temple  mar. 
Humbly  I  pleaded  that  I  had 
Beheld  him  never :   "  Look,"  he  said, 

And  pointed  where  a  blow 

Above  his  breast  did  show. 
Then  smiling  spake  :    "  I  Manfred  am  ; 
"  Of  Empress  Constance'  line  I  came, 

"  Her  grandson  ;  and  I  pray, 

"  When  back  thou  take  thy  way, 
"  Go  to  my  daughter  fair,  whose  sons 
"  Are  Sicily's  pride  and  Arragon's, 

"  To  her  the  truth  unfold, 

"  Though  other  tale  be  told. 
"  After  my  form  was  riven  through 
"  With  these  two  mortal  thrusts,  I  drew 

"Weeping  to  Him  from  whom 

"  Doth  willing  pardon  come. 


42  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  III. 

121     Orribil  furon  li  peccati  miei ; 

Ma  la  bonta  infinita  ha  si  gran  braccia, 
Che  prende  cio  che  si  rivolge  a  lei. 

124  Se  il  pastor  di  Cosenza,  che  alia  caccia 
Di  me  fu  messo  per  Clemente,  allora 
Avesse  in  Dio  ben  letta  questa  faccia, 

127    L'  ossa  del  corpo  mio  sarieno  ancora 
In  co'  del  ponte  presso  a  Benevento, 
Sotto  la  guardia  della  grave  mora. 

130     Or  le  bagna  la  pioggia  e  muove  il  vento, 
Di  fuor  del  Regno,  quasi  lungo  il  Verde, 
Dov'  ei  le  trasmuto  a  lume  spento. 

133    Per  lor  maledizion  si  non  si  perde, 

Che  non  possa  tornar  1'  eterno  amore, 
Mentre  che  la  speranza  ha  fior  del  verde. 

136    Ver  e  che  quale  in  contumacia  muore 

Di  santa  Chiesa,  ancor  che  al  fin  si  penta, 
Star  gli  convien  da  questa  ripa  in  fuore 


Canto  III.] 


PURGATORY.  43 


"  Foul  were  my  sins :    but  boundless  grace 
"  Hath  arms  of  such  a  large  embrace, 

"That  they  will  straight  admit 

"Whatever  turns  to  It. 
"  And  if  Cosenza's  shepherd  could 
-  In  God  that  page  have  understood, 

"Before  by  Clement  sent 

"  In  chase  of  me  he  went, 
"  My  body's  bones  would  still  be  found 
"  Sheltered  beneath  the  ponderous  mound, 

"  Near  Benevento  laid, 

"  Upon  the  bridge's  head. 
"  Now  falls  the  rain,  now  drives  the  blast 
"About  them,  forth  the  Kingdom  cast, 

"  To  Verde's  margin  brought 

"  With  candles  all  put  out. 
"It  may  not  be  their  curse  should  kill, 
"  Or  hinder  Love's  eternal  will 

"  So  long  as  hope  is  seen 

"  To  wear  a  shred  of  green. 
"  True,  who  in  contumacy  dies, 
"  And  dares  the  Holy  Church  despise, 

"  E'en  though  before  his  end 

"  In  penitence  he  bend, 
"Still  must  it  be  he  stand  without 
"This  bank,  that  circles  round  about, 

"  Nor  hope  above  to  climb, 

"  Until  for  all  the  time 


44  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  III. 

139    Per  ogni  tempo,  ch'  egli  e  stato,  trenta, 
In  sua  presunzion,  se  tal  decreto 
Piu  corto  per  buon  preghi  non  diventa. 

j  42    Vedi  oramai  se  tu  mi  puoi  far  lieto, 

Rivelando  alia  mia  buona  Constanza 
Come  m'  hai  visto,  ed  anco  esto  divieto  ; 

145    Che  qui  per  quei  di  la  molto  s'  avanza. 


Canto  III.]  PURGATORY.  45 

"  That  his  presumption  there  did  last, 
"  Full  thirty  times  be  gone  and  past, 

"  Save  only  that  decree 

"  By  good  prayers  shortened  be. 
"  See  then  henceforth  thou  aid  my  healing, 
"  To  my  good  Constance  all  revealing 

"  My  sentence  here  which  they 

"  Yonder  may  do  away." 


CANTO   QUARTO. 

OUANDO  per  dilettanze  ovver  per  doglie, 
Che  alcuna  virtu  nostra  comprenda, 
L'  anima  bene  ad  essa  si  raccoglie, 

4    Par  che  a  nulla  potenza  piu  intenda  ; 

E  questo  e  contra  quello  error,  che  crede 
Che  un'  anima  sovr'  altra  in  noi  s'  accenda. 

7    E  pero,  quando  s'  ode  cosa  o  vede, 
Che  tenga  forte  a  se  1'  anima  volta, 
Vassene  il  tempo,  e  1'  uom  non  se  n'  avvede 

io    Ch'  altra  potenza  e  quella  che  1'  ascolta, 
Ed  altra  quella  che  ha  1'  anima  intera : 
Questa  e  quasi  legata,  e  quella  e  sciolta. 

13    Di  cio  ebb'  io  esperienza  vera, 

Udendo  quello  spirto  ed  ammirando : 
Che  ben  cinquanta  gradi  salito  era 


CANTO    IV. 

When  pleasure  or  when  pain  doth  all 
One  faculty  of  ours  enthrall, 
So  that  the  soul's  respect 
Doth  wholly  there  collect, 
She  seems  to  heed  that  power  alone  : 
And  thereby  is  his  error  shown, 
Who  within  us  believes 
Soul  upon  soul  there  lives. 
Thus,  when  aught  rouseth  ear  or  eye, 
And  the  rapt  soul  holds  fast  thereby, 
Time  passes  on,  and  yet 
The  man  recks  naught  of  it. 
For  'tis  one  power  that  sense  enjoys, 
And  one  the  soul  entire  employs  : 
And  here  the  last  is  chained, 
The  other  unrestrained. 
Thereof  experience  true  I  had, 
Listening  in  wonder  to  that  shade  : 
For,  and  I  marked  it  not, 
The  mounting  Sun  was  got 


4-8  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IV. 

1 6    Lo  Sole,  ed  io  non  m'  era  accorto,  quando 
Venimmo  dove  quell'  anime  ad  una 
Gridaro  a  noi  :    Qui  e  vostro  dimando. 

[9    Maggiore  aperta  molte  volte  impruna, 
Con  una  forcatella  di  sue  spine, 
L'  uom  della  villa,  quando  1'  uva  imbruna, 

22    Che  non  era  la  calla,  onde  saline 

Lo  Duca  mio  ed  io  appresso  soli, 
Come  da  noi  la  schiera  si  partine. 

25    Vassi  in  Sanleo,  e  discendesi  in  Noli  : 
Montasi  su  Bismantova  in  cacume 
Con  esso  i  pie  ;  ma  qui  convien  ch'  uom  voli ; 

28    Dico  con  1'  ali  snelle  e  con  le  piume 

Del  gran  disio,  diretro  a  quel  Condotto, 
Che  speranza  mi  dava,  e  facea  lume. 

31     Noi  salivam  per  entro  il  sasso  rotto, 

E  d'  ogni  lato  ne  stringea  lo  stremo, 
E  piedi  e  man  voleva  il  suol  di  sotto. 

34    Poiche  noi  fummo  in  sull'  orlo  supremo 
Dell'  alta  ripa,  alia  scoverta  piaggia  : 
Maestro  mio,  diss'  io,  che  via  faremo? 


Canto  IV.]  PURGATORY.  49 

Degrees  full  fifty,  when  we  came, 
Where  from  those  spirits  one  acclaim 

Sounded  upon  our  ear, 

"  Lo !  what  ye  ask  is  here." 
A  greater  gap  in  hedge-row  will 
With  one  fork-load  of  brambles  fill 

The  hind  from  country  town, 

When  grows  the  grape  to  brown, 
Than  was  that  passage,  where  my  Guide, 
He  and  I  only,  turned  aside, 

Leaving  the  troop  below, 

Upon  their  way  to  go. 
Sanleo's  height,  and  Noli's  steep, 
Bismantova's  high  towering  keep, 

Our  feet  suffice  to  try  : 

But  here  was  need  to  fly ; 
Fly,  yea,  on  wings  tipped  with  desire, 
Following  him  who  did  inspire 

With  hope,  and  forward  going 

Light  on  my  path  was  showing. 
We  climbed  the  broken  rock  within, 
Grazed  by  its  sides  that  hemmed  us  in  ; 

While  did  the  floor  demand 

Use  both  of  feet  and  hand. 
When  we  were  on  the  open  ledge 
Around  the  high  bank's  upper  edge, 

Then   "  Master  mine,"  I  spake, 

"  What  pathway  shall  we  make  ?  " 
E 


50  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IV. 

37    Ed  egli  a  me  :  Nessun  tuo  passo  caggia  ; 
Pur  su  al  monte  dietro  a  me  acquista, 
Fin  che  n'  appaia  alcuna  scorta  saggia. 

40    Lo  sommo  er'  alto  che  vincea  la  vista, 
E  la  costa  superba  piu  assai, 
Che  da  mezzo  quadrante  a  centro  lista. 

43    lo  era  lasso,  quando  cominciai : 
O  dolce  padre,  volgiti,  e  rimira 
Com'  io  rimango  sol,  se  non  ristai. 

46  Figliuol  mio,  disse,  infin  quivi  ti  tira, 
Additandomi  un  balzo  poco  in  sue, 
Che  da  quel  lato  il  poggio  tutto  gira. 

49     Si  mi  spronaron  le  parole  sue, 

Ch'  io  mi  sforzai,  carpando  appresso  lui, 
Tanto  che  il  cinghio  sotto  i  pie  mi  fue. 

52    A  seder  ci  ponemmo  ivi  ambedui 

Volti  a  levante,  ond'  eravam  saliti, 
Che  suole  a  riguardar  giovare  altrui. 

55     Gli  occhi  prima  drizzai  a'  bassi  liti ; 

Poscia  gli  alzai  al  Sole,  ed  ammirava 
Che  da  sinistra  n'  eravam  feriti. 


Canto  IV.]  PURGATORY.  51 

He  answered:  "Turn  thou  downward  never: 
"  But  let  thy  steps  be  mounting  ever, 

"  Even  as  I  go,  till  we 

"  Some  escort  sage  may  see." 
That  summit  high  our  sight  outvied, 
And  steeper  was  the  mountain  side 

Than  line  from  centre  starting 

And  middle  quadrant  parting. 
All  wearied  I  began  to  say  : 
"  Sweet  father,  turn  and  look,  I  pray, 

"  How,  if  thou  goest  on, 

"  I  shall  remain  alone." 
"  My  son,"  he  said,  "  but  draw  thee  yet 
"  Till  thou  to  yonder  terrace  get " 

Pointing  where  such  was  found, 

Girdling  the  steep  around. 
Spurred  by  his  words,  I  gathered  up 
My  strength  and  clambered  to  the  top 

With  him,  till  I  could  bring 

My  feet  above  that  ring. 
Together  there  we  sat,  to  look 
To  eastward,  whence  our  course  we  took  : 

For  aye  doth  it  delight 

Back  to  direct  the  sight. 
On  the  low  shores  my  eyes  first  gazed  : 
Then  upward  to  the  Sun  were  raised  : 

There  marvelled   I  his  heat 

On  our  left  side  did  beat. 
E  2 


52  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IV. 

58    Ben  s'  avvide  il  Poeta,  che  io  stava 
Stupido  tutto  al  carro  della  luce, 
Ove  tra  noi  ed  Aquilone  intrava. 

61     Ond'  egli  a  me :  Se  Castore  e  Polluce 

Fossero  in  compagnia  di  quello  specchio, 
Che  su  e  giu  del  suo  lume  conduce, 

64    Tu  vederesti  il  Zodiaco  rubecchio 

Ancora  all'  Orse  piii  stretto  rotare, 

Se  non  uscisse  fuor  del  cammin  vecchio. 

67    Come  ci6  sia,  se  il  vuoi  poter  pensare, 
Dentro  raccolto  immagina  Sion 
Con  questo  monte  in  sulla  terra  stare 

70    SI,  che  ambedue  hanno  un  solo  orizzon, 
E  diversi  emisperi ;  onde  la  strada, 
Che  mal  non  seppe  carreggiar  Feton, 

73    Vedrai  come  a  costui  convien  che  vada 

Dall'  un,  quando  a  colui  dall'  altro   fianco, 
Se  1'  intelletto  tuo  ben  chiaro  bada. 

76  Certo,  Maestro  mio,  diss'  io,  unquanco 
Non  vidi  chiaro  si,  com'  io  discerno, 
La  dove  mio  ingegno  parea  manco  : 


Canto  IV.]  PURGATORY.  5$ 

Right  well  the  Poet  marked  me  where 
Before  that  light  I  stayed  to  stare, 

As  'twixt  us  and  the  North 

His  chariot  travelled  forth. 
Then  he  :  "If  Leda's  children  twain 
"  Were  moving  in  that  mirror's  train, 

"  That  sends  its  light  to  glow 

"  Above  and  eke  below, 
"The  ruddy  Zodiac  thou'ldst  perceive 
"  Towards  the  Bears  still  closer  drive, 

"  Except  it  went  abroad 

"  Out  of  its  ancient  road. 
"  How  this  may  be,  if  thou  wouldst  find, 
"Let  fancy  picture  to  thy  mind 

"This  mount,  on  which  thou  art, 

"  Is  Sion's  counterpart : 
"  Both  girt  by  one  horizon  stand, 
"  But  diverse  hemispheres  command  : 

"  So  that  the  road,  whereon 

"  The  skill-less  Phaethon 
"  To  his  mishap  to  drive  forgot, 
"  Thou  'It  see,  if  reason  fail  thee  not, 

"  Passes  on  one  side  here, 

"  And  on  the  other  there." 
"  Certes,  my  Master,  in  my  thought 
"  More  clearly  ne'er  discerned  I  aught, 

"  Than  now,  where  failed  of  late 

"  My  wit,  I  contemplate 


54  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IV. 

79    Che  il  mezzo  cerchio  del  moto  superno, 
Che  si  chiama  Equatore  in  alcun'  arte, 
E  che  sempre  riman  tra  il  sole  e  il  verno, 

82  Per  la  ragion  che  di',  quinci  si  parte 
Verso  settentrion,  quanto  gli  Ebrei 
Vedevan  lui  verso  la  calda  parte. 

85     Ma  se  a  te  piace,  volentier  saprei 

Quanto  avemo  ad  andar,  che  il  poggio  sale 
Piu  che  salir  non  posson  gli  occhi  miei. 

88    Ed  egli  a  me  :  Ouesta  montagna  e  tale, 

Che  sempre  al  cominciar  di  sotto  e  grave, 
E  quanto  uom  piu  va  su,  e  men  fa  male. 

91    Pero  quand'  ella  ti  parra  soave 

Tanto,  che  il  su  andar  ti  fia  leggiero, 
Come  a  seconda  giuso  andar  per  nave  ; 

94    Allor  sarai  al  fin  d'  esto  sentiero : 

Ouivi  di  riposar  1'  affanno  aspetta. 

Piu  non  rispondo  :  e  questo  so  per  vero. 

9;    E,  com'  egli  ebbe  sua  parola  detta, 
Una  voce  di  presso  sono  :  Forse 
Che  di  sedere  in  prima  avrai  distretta. 


Canto  IV.  |  PURGATORY.  5$ 

"  The  arc,  that  heavenly  motion  guides, 
"  And  winter  from  the  Sun  divides, 

"  The  same  that  scholars  all 

"  Do  the  Equator  call, 
"  How,  even  as  thou  sayest,  betwixt 
"  This  mountain  and  the  North  'tis  fixed, 

"  While  Jewry  saw  it  stand 

"  Towards  the  warmer  land. 
"  But,  if  thou  wilt,  I  fain  would  know 
"  Forward  how  much  we  have  to  go, 

"  For  far  above  my  sight 

"  Rises  the  mountain  height." 
"  Whoever  upward  here  would  tread, 
"  Finds  the  beginning  hard  ;  "  he  said  ; 

"  The  higher  he  ascends, 

"  The  less  his  toil  offends. 
"And  when  this  seems  so  smooth  to  thee, 
"That  to  go  up  shall  easier  be 

"  Than  down  on  ship  to  glide, 

"  Sped  by  a  favouring  tide, 
"  Then  hast  thou  reached  this  pathway's  close : 
"  There  hope  thy  faintness  to  repose  : 

"  No  further  answer  seek  : 

"  It  is  the  truth  I  speak." 
And  scarcely  had  he  said  his  word, 
When  close  to  us  a  voice  we  heard, 

"  Mayhap  thou'lt  want  to  sit, 

<:  Before  thou  come  to  it." 


56  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IV. 

100    Al  suon  di  lei  ciascun  di  noi  si  torse, 

E  vedemmo  a  mancina  un  gran  petrone, 
Del  qual  ne  io  ne  ei  prima  s'  accorse. 
103    La  ci  traemmo;  ed  ivi  eran  persone 

Che  si  stavano  all'  ombra  dietro  al  sasso, 
Com'  uom  per  negligenza  a  star  si  pone. 
106    Ed  un  di  lor  che  mi  sembrava  lasso, 
Sedeva  ed  abbracciava  le  ginocchia, 
Tenendo  il  viso  giu  tra  esse  basso. 
109    O  dolce  Signor  mio,  diss'  io,  adocchia 
Colui  che  mostra  se  piu  negligente, 
Che  se  pigrizia  fosse  sua  sirocchia. 
112    Allor  si  volse  a  noi,  e  pose  mente, 

Movendo  il  viso  pur  su  per  la  coscia, 
E  disse  :  Or  va  su  tu,  che  se'  valente. 
115    Conobbi  allor  chi  era;  e  quell'  angoscia, 

Che  m'  avacciava  un  poco  ancor  la  lena, 
Non  m'  impedl  1'  andare  a  lui ;  e  poscia 
118    Che  a  lui  fui  giunto,  alzo  la  testa  appena, 
Dicendo:  Hai  ben  veduto,  come  il  sole 
Dall'  omero  sinistro  il  carro  mena? 


Canto  IV.]  PURGATORY.  57 

At  sound  thereof  we  both  were  turned, 
And  on  the  left  hand  we  discerned, 

Where  lay  a  mighty  stone, 

Before  we  had  not  known. 
We  thither  drew,  and  found  a  folk 
Within  the  shadow  of  that  rock, 

Standing  like  those  who  rest 

By  slothfulness  oppressed. 
And  there  beheld  I  one  of  these, 
Who  clasped  his  hands  about  his  knees, 

And  bowed  his  head  between, 

Sitting  with  weary  mien. 
"  O  my  sweet  Lord,"  I  said,  "  direct 
"Thine  eyes  on  him  who  doth  affect 

"  More  negligent  an  air, 

"Than  sloth  his  sister  were." 
He  turned  and  gave  us  heed,  his  face 
Scarce  lifting  from  his  thigh's  embrace  : 

And  said,  "  Go  upward  thou, 

"  For  thou  hast  strength  enow." 
I  knew  him  then,  and  though  for  haste 
My  struggling  breath  beat  somewhat  fast, 

My  going  stayed  it  not  ; 

And  when  to  him  I  got, 
But  hardly  raising  up  his  head, 
"Art  sure  that  thou  hast  learnt,"  he  said, 

"  How  'tis  the  Sun  doth  guide 

"  His  car  by  thy  left  side?" 


58  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IV. 

i2i     Gli  atti  suoi  pigri,  e  le  corte  parole 

Mosson  le  labbra  mie  un  poco  a  riso  ; 
Poi  cominciai :  Belacqua,  a  me  non  duole 

1:24    Di  te  omai  ;  ma  dimmi,  perche  assiso 
Ouiritta  sei  ?  attendi  tu  iscorta, 
O  pur  lo  modo  usato  t'  ha  ripriso  ? 

127     Ed  ei :  Frate,  1'  andare  in  su  che  porta? 
Che  non  mi  lascerebbe  ire  ai  martiri 
L'  uscier  di  Dio  che  siede  in  sulla  porta. 

130    Prima  convien  che  tanto  il  Ciel  m'  aggiri 
Di  fuor  da  essa,  quanto  fece  in  vita, 
Perch'  io  indugiai  al  fine  i  buon  sospiri  ; 

133     Se  orazione  in  prima  non  m'  aita, 

Che  surga  su  di  cuor  che  in  grazia  viva  : 
L'  altra  che  val,  che  in  Ciel  non  e  udita  ? 

136    E  gia  il  Poeta  innanzi  mi  saliva, 

E    dicea  :  Vienne  omai,  vedi  ch'  e  tocco 
Meridian  dal  Sole,  e  dalla  riva 

139    Cuopre  la  notte  gia  col  pie  Morrocco. 


Canto  IV.]  PURGATORY.  59 

The  words,  the  action  of  the  man, 
Moved  me  to  smile  :  and  I  began, 

"  Belacqua,  now  no  more 

"  Thy  fate  I  need  deplore ; 
"  But  tell  me,  wherefore  here  so  late 
•'Thou  sittest?  dost  thou  escort  wait? 

"  Or  has  thy  wont  of  old 

"O'er  thee  regained  its  hold?" 
Then  :  "  Brother,  wherefore  should  I  choose 
"  To  climb  ?     God's  porter  would  refuse 

"  To  ope  the  gate,  wherein 

"  My  penance  should  begin. 
"  Needs  must  that  Heaven  first  wheel  about 
"  My  lifetime's  space,  while  I  without 

"  Wait,  for  that  till    I  ended 

"  My  good  sighs  I  suspended  ; 
"  Except  some  prayer  may  bring  me  aid, 
"  Which  heart  that  lives  in  grace  hath  said  : 

"  None  else  may  comfort  bear, 

"  Save  those  that  Heaven  will  hear." 
Already  was  the  Poet  gone, 
Upward  before  me  mounting  on, 

And  saying,  "  Come  away  : 

"  Behold  the  King  of  Day 
"  Right  over  the  meridian  wheeling, 
"While  Night  forth  from  the  River  stealing 

"  Hath  o'er  Morocco  set 

"  The  covering  of  her  feet." 


CANTO   QUINTO. 

Io  era  gia  da  quell'  ombre  partito, 
E  seguitava  Y  orme  del  mio  Duca, 
Quando  diretro  a  me,  drizzando  il  dito, 
4    Una  grido :  Ve',  che  non  par  che  luca 
Lo  raggio  da  sinistra  a  quel  di  sotto, 
E  come  vivo  par  che  si  conduca. 
7    Gli  occhi  rivolsi  al  suon  di  questo  motto, 
E  vidile  guardar  per  maraviglia 
Pur  me,  pur  me,  e  il  lume  ch'  era  rotto. 

io    Perche  Is  animo  tuo  tanto  s'  impiglia, 

Disse  il  Maestro,  che  1'  andare  allenti? 
Che  ti  fa  cio  che  quivi  si  pispiglia  ? 

13  Vien  dietro  a  me,  e  lascia  dir  le  genti ; 
Sta  come  torre  ferma,  che  non  crolla 
Giammai  la  cima  per  soffiar  de'  venti. 


CANTO   V. 

When  from  those  spirits  I  had  passed 
To  my  Guide's  footprints  holding  fast, 

Behind  there  cried  a  shade, 

And  sign  with  finger  made ; 
"  See  how  no  ray  of  light  doth  show 
"  On  left  of  him  who  goes  below  ; 

"  See  how  he  doth  contrive 

"  To  move  as  one  alive." 
At  that  word's  sound  I  turned  my  eyes 
And  saw  them  bending  in  surprise 

On  me,  on  me  their  sight, 

And  on  the  broken  light. 
"  Why  wilt  thou  thus  engage  thy  mind," 
My  Master  said,  "  and  fall  behind  ? 

"  What  matters  it  to  thee, 

"Whate'er  their  whispering  be? 
"  Come  on  and  leave  their  talk  alone  : 
"  Stand  like  a  tower  firm,  whose  crown 

"  Its  summit  never  vails 

"  For  all  the  whistling  gales. 


62  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  V 

1 6    Che  sempre  1'  uomo,  in  cui  pensier  rampolla 
Sovra  pensier,  da  se  dilunga  il  segno, 
Perche  la  foga  1'  un  dell'  altro  insolla. 

19     Che  poteva  io  ridir,  se  non  :   Io  vegno  ? 
Dissilo,  alquanto  del  color  consperso 
Che  fa  1'  uom  di  perdon  tal  volta  degno. 

22    E  intanto  per  la  costa  da  traverso 

Venivan  genti  innanzi  a  noi  un  poco, 
Cantando  Miserere  a  verso  a  verso. 

25    Quando  s'  accorser  ch'  io  non  dava  loco. 
Per  lo  mio  corpo,  al  trapassar  de'  raggi, 
Mutar  lor  canto  in  un  O  lungo  e  roco  ; 

2S    E  due  di  loro  in  forma  di  messaggi 

Corsero  incontro  a  noi,  e  dimandarne : 
Di  vostra  condizion  fatene  saggi. 

31     E  il  mio  Maestro :  Voi  potete  andarne, 
E  ritrarre  a  color  che  vi  mandaro, 
Che  il  corpo  di  costui  e  vera  carne. 

34    Se  per  veder  la  sua  ombra  restaro, 

Com'  io  avviso,  assai  e  lor  risposto  : 
Facciangli  onore,  ed  esser  puo  lor  caro. 


Canto  V.]  PURGATORY.  63 

"  For  aye,  when  thought  on  thought  upstarteth, 
"  Far  from  the  mark  the  eye  departeth  ; 

"Before  the  new  affray 

"The  old  thought  faints  away." 
What  other  answer  could  I  make, 
Except  '  I  come '  ?     That  word  I  spake, 

The  colour  on  my  face 

That  ofttime  findeth  grace. 
Meanwhile  across  the  hill-side  road 
Short  space  in  front  there  came  a  crowd, 

Their  Miserere  chanting, 

And  verse  by  verse  descanting. 
When  marked  they,  for  my  body's  mass 
How  I  forbade  the  rays  to  pass, 

Their  chanting  changed  its  course 

To  O  prolonged  and  hoarse. 
.And  twain  ran  forward  from  that  band, 
As  messengers,  and  made  demand  : 

"  Of  your  condition  tell 

"  That  we  may  know  it  well." 
My  Master  then  :  "  Ye  may  return 
"To  those  who  sent,  and  let  them  learn 

"  That  very  flesh  is  this 

"  Whereof  his  body  is. 
"  And  if  his  shadow  to  behold 
;'  They  stayed,  enough,  I  wot,  is  told  : 

"  Here  let  him  honour  find, 

"That  he  to  them  be  kind." 


64  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  V. 

37    Vapori  accesi  non  vid'  io  si  tosto 

Di  prima  notte  mai  fender  sereno, 
Ne,  sol  calando,  nuvole  d'  agosto, 

40    Che  color  non  tornasser  suso  in  meno, 

E  giunti  la,  con  gli  altri  a  noi  dier  volta, 
Come  schiera  che  corre  senza  freno. 

43     Questa  gente,  che  preme  a  noi,  e  molta, 
E  vengonti  a  pregar,  disse  il  Poeta  ; 
Per6  pur  va,  ed  in  andando  ascolta. 

46    O  anima,  che  vai  per  esser  lieta 

Con  quelle  membra,  con  le  quai  nascesti, 
Venian  gridando,  un  poco  il  passo  queta. 

49    Guarda,  se  alcun  di  noi  unque  vedesti, 
SI  che  di  lui  di  la  novelle  porti : 
Deh  perche  vai  ?  deh  perche  non  t'  arresti  ? 

52     Noi  fummo  gia  tutti  per  forza  morti, 
E  peccatori  infino  all'  ultim'  ora  : 
Quivi  lume  del  Ciel  ne  fece  accorti 

55    Si,  che,  pentendo  e  perdonando,  fuora 
Di  vita  uscimmo  a  Dio  pacificati, 
Che  del  disio  di  se  veder  n'  accuora. 


Canto  V.]  PURGATORY.  65 

Swiftly  the  kindled  vapours  cleave 
The  sky  serene  at  early  eve, 

Or  clouds  in  August  weather 

At  set  of  sun  that  gather : 
But  these  far  swifter  upward  shot, 
And  when  unto  the  rest  they  got, 

Towards  us  all  wheeled,  as  train 

That  rides  with  loosened  rein. 
"  Right  many  these,"  the  Poet  said, 
"  That  press  on  us  and  ask  thy  aid  : 

"Wherefore  go  onward  so, 

"  And  listen  as  thou  go." 
"  O  soul,  that  blissward  bearest  all 
"  The  limbs  that  thou  wast  born  withal," 

('Twas  thus  they  did  entreat) 

"A  little  stay  thy  feet. 
"  Look  if  thou  knowest  any  here, 
"  That  tidings  yonder  thou  mayst  bear : 

"  And  wherefore  goest  thou  free  ? 

"  Why  art  not  stayed  as  we  ? 
"All  we  by  violence  came  to  die, 
"  Sinners  to  life's  extremity  : 

"  But  there,  when  on  our  sight 

"  Was  opened  Heaven's  light, 
"  Repenting,  pardoning,  at  last 
"  At  peace  with  God  from  life  we  passed, 

"At  peace  with  Him  whose  grace 

"  Moves  us  to  seek  His  face." 
F 


66  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  V. 

58     Ed  io  :  Perche  ne'  vostri  visi  guati, 

Non  riconosco  alcun  ;  ma  se  a  voi  piace, 
Cosa  ch'  io  possa,  spiriti  ben  nati, 

61    Voi  dite;  ed  io  faro  per  quella  pace, 

Che,  dietro  ai  piedi  di  si  fatta  guida, 
Di  mondo  in  mondo  cercar  mi  si  face. 

64    Ed  uno  incomincio  :  Ciascun  si  fida 
Del  beneficio  tuo  senza  giurarlo, 
Pur  che  il  voler  nonpossa  non  ricida. 

67    Ond'  io,  che  solo  innanzi  agli  altri  parlo, 
Ti  prego,  se  mai  vedi  quel  paese 
Che  siede  tra  Romagna  e  quel  di  Carlo, 

70    Che  tu  mi  sie  de'  tuoi  preghi  cortese 
In  Fano  si,  che  ben  per  me  s'  adori, 
Perch'  io  possa  purgar  le  gravi  offese. 

73    Quindi  fu'  io;  ma  li  profondi  fori, 

Onde  uscl  il  sangue,  in  sul  qual  io  sedea, 
Fatti  mi  furo  in  grembo  agli  Antenori, 

76    La  dov'  io  piu  sicuro  esser  credea  : 

Quel  da  Esti  il  fe'  far,  che  m'  avea  in  ira 
Assai  piu  la  che  il  dritto  non  volea. 


Canto  V.]  PURGATORY.  67 

A.nd  I,  "For  all  I  fix  my  eyes, 
Not  any  can  I  recognise  : 

"  But  tell,  and  if  on  earth, 

"  O  souls  of  happy  birth, 
"  Aught  that  may  please  you  I  can  do, 
"  I  will,  yea,  by  that  peace,  whereto 

"  I  seek,  this  Guide  attending, 

"  From  world  to  world  ascending." 
And  one  began  :  "  Without  thine  oath, 
"  In  thy  good  office  all  have  troth, 

"  So  want  of  power  shall  never 

"  Thy  kindly  will  dissever. 
"And  therefore  I,  who  foremost  speak, 
"Pray  thee,  if  e'er  that  land  thou  seek, 

"  Betwixt  Romagna  found 

"And  royal  Charles's  ground, 
"  In  Fano  lend  thy  gracious  aid 
"  That  supplication  there  be  made ; 

"  My  deep  offences  may 

"  Thereby  be  purged  away. 
"  Thence  sprang  I,  but  not  there  was  shed 
"The  blood  whereon  my  seat  was  spread  ; 

"  Where  those  deep  wounds  were  dealt, 

"  Antenor's  children  dwelt, 
"  'Mongst  whom  I  thought  myself  most  sure  ; 
"My  death  did  Este's  lord  procure, 

"With  fiercer  anger  filled 

"  Than  justice  ever  willed. 
F  a 


68  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  V. 

79    Ma  s'  io  fossi  fuggito  inver  la  Mira, 

Ouando  fui  sovraggiunto  ad  Oriaco, 

Ancor  sarei  di  la  dove  si  spira 
82    Corsi  al  palude,  e  le  cannucce  e  il  braco 

M'  impigliar  si,  ch'  io  caddi,  e  11  vid'  io 

Delle  mie  vene  farsi  in  terra  laco. 
Poi  disse  un  altro  :  Deh,  se  quel  disio 

Si  compia  che  ti  tragge  all'  alto  monte. 

Con  buona  pietate  aiuta  il  mio. 
88     Io  fui  di  Montefeltro,  io  son  Buonconte  : 

Giovanna,  o  altri  non  ha  di  me  cura  ; 

Perch'  io  vo  tra  costor  con  bassa  fronte. 
91     Ed  io  a  lui :  Qual  forza,  o  qual  ventura 

Ti  travio  si  fuor  di  Campaldino^ 

Che  non  si  seppe  mai  tua  sepoltura  ? 
94    Oh,  rispos'  egli,  appie  del  Casentino 

Traversa  un'  acqua  che  ha  nome  1'  Archiano, 

Che  sovra  1'  Ermo  nasce  in  Apennino. 
97    Dove  il  vocabol  suo  diventa  vano 

Arriva'  io  forato  nella  gola, 

Fuggendo  a  piede  e  sanguinando  il  piano. 


Canto  V.]  PURGATORY.  69 

"  Had  I  La  Mira  sought  to  gain, 
"  Nor  been  at  Oriaco  ta'en, 

"  Then  yonder  yet  I  were 

"  With  those  who  breathe  the  air. 
"  Unto  the  swamp  I  strove  to  win : 
"  There,  caught  the  canes  and  mire  within, 

"  I  fell,  and  saw  my  blood 

"  Pour  on  the  ground  in  flood." 
Another  then :  "  So  may  the  hope 
"  That  draws  thee  to  this  mountain  top 

"Be  all  fulfilled  above, 

"  Aid  mine  with  kindly  love. 
"  I  was  of  Montefeltro  ;  now 
"  Buonconte  still,  with  downcast  brow 

"  I  pace,  for  how  I  fare 

"  Nor  Joan  nor  any  care." 
Then  to  him  I :  "  What  chance  or  might 
"  Bore  thee  from  Campaldino's  fight 

"  So  far,  not  any  one 

"Thy  burying-place  hath  known?'1 
"  Oh  !  but  at  Casentino's  foot 
"Across  doth  Archiano  shoot, 

"  From  Apennine  forthwelling 

"  Above  the  hermit's  dwelling. 
"  And  where  it  bears  that  name  no  more, 
"  Pierced  in  the  throat  and  bleeding  sore, 

"  Upon  my  feet  I  fled, 

"  Staining  the  plain  with  red. 


7o  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  V. 

too    Quivi  perdei  la  vista,  e  la  parola 
Nel  nome  di  Maria  finii,  e  quivi 
Caddi,  e  rimase  la  mia  carne  sola. 

103    Io  diro  il  vero,  e  tu  il  ridi'  tra  i  vivi ; 

L'  Angel  di  Dio  mi  prese,  e  quel  d'  Inferno 
Gridava  :  O  tu  del  Ciel,  perche  mi  privi  ? 

106    Tu  te  ne  porti  di  costui  1'  eterno 

Per  una  lagrimetta  che   il  mi  toglie ; 
Ma  io  far6  dell'  altro  altro  governo. 

109    Ben  sai  come  nell'  aere  si  raccoglie 

Quell'  umido  vapor  che  in  acqua  riede, 
Tosto  che  sale  dove  il  freddo  il  coglie. 

112    Giunse  quel  mal  voler,  che  pur  mal  chiede, 

Con  1'  intelletto,  e  mosse  il  fumo  e  il  vento 
Per  la  virtu,  che  sua  natura  diede. 

115    Indi  la  valle,  come  il  dl  fu  spento, 

Da  Pratomagno  al  gran  giogo  coperse 
Di  nebbia,  e  il  ciel  di  sovra  fece  intento 

us    Si,  che  il  pregno  aere  in  acqua  si  converse: 
La  pioggia  cadde,  ed  ai  fossati  venne 
Di  lei  cio  che  la  terra  non  sofferse  : 


Canto  V.]  PURGATORY.  71 

"  Sight  failed,  and  as  my  ending  came, 
"  My  latest  word  was  Mary's  name : 

"  Then  down  I  fell  and  left 

"  My  flesh  of  me  bereft. 
"  The  truth  among  the  living  tell : 
"  God's  Angel  took  me :  one  from  Hell 

"  Cried,  '  This  to  me  was  given  ; 

" '  Why  robb'st  me,   child   of  Heaven  ? 
" '  One  little  tear  hath  ta'en  from  me 
"  '  His  part  eternal,  claimed  by  thee  : 

"'But  with  the  other  I 

"  '  Another  way  will  try.' 
"Well  know'st  thou  how  the  mists  that  rise 
"  In  exhalation  to  the  skies 

"Return  to  water  there, 

"  Condensed  in  colder  air. 
"  Came  that  ill  will  that  ill  intendeth, 
"  Fraught  with  the  power  his  nature  lendeth, 

"The  wind  and  vapour  moving, 

"And  all  his  cunning  proving. 
"  Then,  when  the  light  of  day  was  paled, 
"  The  valley  all  with  clouds  he  veiled, 

"To  the  great  ridge's  head 

"  From  Pratomagno  spread  : 
'"'And  bade  the  heavens  above  to  frown, 
"  Whence  the  big  air  in  rain  came  down  ; 

"  Then  to  the  trenches  rolled 

"  What  the  earth  could  not  hold  : 


72  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  V. 

i2i     E   come  a'  rivi  grandi  si  convenne, 
Ver  lo  fiume  real  tanto  veloce 
Si  ruino,  che  nulla  la  ritenne. 

124    Lo  corpo  mio  gelato  in  sulla  foce 

Trovo  1'  Archian  rubesto  ;  e  quel  sospinse 
Nell'  Arno,  e  sciolse  al  mio  petto  la  croce, 

127    Ch'  io  fei  di  me  quando  il  dolor  mi  vinse  : 
Voltommi  per  le  ripe  e  per  lo  fondo, 
Poi  di  sua  preda  mi  coperse  e  cinse. 

130    Deh,  quando  tu  sarai  tomato  al  mondo, 
E  riposato  della  lunga  via, 
Seguito  il  terzo  spirito  al  secondo, 
133    Ricorditi  di  me,  che  son  la  Pia  : 

Siena  mi  fe',  disfecemi  Maremma  : 
Salsi  colui  che  innanellata  pria 
136    Disposata  m'  avea  con  la  sua  gemma. 


Canto  V.]  PURGATORY.  73 

"  And  in  the  greater  streams  collected 
"  So  swift  its  rushing  course  directed 

"  Towards  the  royal  river, 

"  That  nought  could  stay  it  ever. 
"  My  frozen  body  on  that  ground 
"  The  swelling  Archiano  found, 

"And,  all  that  cross  undone 

"  I  made  my  breast  upon 
t;  In  my  last  pains,  to  Arno  hurled  me, 
"  About  the  banks  and  bottom  whirled  me  ; 

"  Then  underneath  his  prey 

"  Buried  and  bound  I  lay." 
':  When  to  the  world  thou  left'st  behind 
"  Thou  shalt  return  and  rest  shalt  find 

"  From  the  long  journey  made," 

(Following  the  second  shade 
Thus  from  the  third  a  voice  there  came,) 
"  Remember  me  that  Pia  am  : 

"  My  birth  Siena  gave  : 

"  Maremma  was  my  grave. 
"  Well  is  that  known  to  him,  I  wis, 
"  Who  in  espousal  made  me  his, 

"  And  gave  the  gem  he  wore, 

"  Though  ring  I   had  before." 


CANTO   SESTO. 

OUANDO  si  parte  il  giuoco  della  zara. 
Colui  che  perde  si  riman  dolente, 
Ripetendo  le  volte,  e  tristo  impara : 
4    Con  1'  altro  se  ne  va  tutta  la  gente : 

Qual  va  dinanzi,  e  qual  diretro  il  prende, 
E  qual  da  lato  gli  si  reca  a  mente. 
7    Ei  non  s'  arresta,  e  questo  e  quello  intende ; 
A  cui  porge  la  man  piu  non  fa  pressa ; 
E  cosi  dalla  calca  si  difende. 

10    Tal  era  io  in  quella  turba  spessa, 

Volgendo  a  loro  e  qua  e  la.  la  faccia, 
E  promettendo  mi  sciogliea  da  essa. 

13    Quivi  era  1'  Aretin,  che  dalle  braccia 

Fiere  di  Ghin  di  Tacco  ebbe  la  morte, 
E  1'  altro  che  anne^o  correndo  in  caccia. 


CANTO   VI. 

AFTER  a  game  of  hazard  done. 
The  loser  stays  behind  alone, 
And  tries  again  the  turns, 
And  sad  experience  learns  : 
But  with  the  other  goes  the  rout  : 
In  front,  behind,  and  all  about 
They  crowd  to  win  his  eye, 
And  recognition  buy. 
He  grants  his  favours  here  and  there  : 
Who  touch  his  hand  no  longer  care 
To  press  :  so  passes  he, 
And  from  the  throng  goes  free. 
So  was  I  in  that  crowded  place  : 
This  way  and  that  I  turned  my  face, 
My  promises  bestowing, 
And  hardly  thence  was  going. 
There  was  that  Aretine,  laid  low 
By  Ghin  di  Tacco's  furious  blow : 
His  fellow  too  I  found 
Who  in  pursuit  was  drowned. 


j6  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VI. 

1 6    Ouivi  pregava  con  le  mani  sporte 
Federico  Novello,  e  quel  da  Pisa 
Che  fe'  parer  lo  buon  Marzucco  forte. 

19    Vidi  Cont'  Orso,  e  1'  anima  divisa 

Dal  corpo  suo  per  astio  e  per  inveggia, 
Come  dicea,  non  per  colpa  commisa ; 

22    Pier  dalla  Broccia  dico  :   e  qui  provveggia, 
Mentr'  e  di  qua,  la  donna  di  Brabante, 
Si  che  pero  non  sia  di  peggior  greggia. 

25    Come  libero  fui  da  tutte  quante 

Quell'  ombre  che  pregar  pur  ch'  altri  preghi. 
Si  che  s'  avacci  il  lor  divenir  sante, 

28    lo  cominciai :  E'  par  che  tu  mi  nieghi, 
O  luce  mia,  espresso  in  alcun  testo, 
Che  decreto  del  Cielo  orazion  pieghi  ; 

31  E  questa  gente  prega  pur  di  questo. 
Sarebbe  dunque  loro  speme  vana  ? 
O  non  m'  e  il  detto  tuo  ben  manifesto  ? 

34    Ed  egli  a  me:  La  mia  scrittura  e  piana, 

E  la  speranza  di  costor  non  falla, 
Se  ben  si  guarda  con  la  mente  sana. 


Canto  VI.]  PURGATORY.  77 

And  there  with  outspread  hands  the  shade 
Of  Frederick  Novello  prayed  : 

And  Pisa's  son,  who  proved 

How  good  Marzucco  loved. 
Count  Orso  there,  that  spirit  too 
I   saw,  that,  so  his  tale  be  true, 

No  crime  from  flesh  divided, 

But  malice,  envy  guided. 
Of  Pier  la  Broccia  'tis  I  speak  : 
Let  Brabant's  dame  amendment  seek, 

While  yonder  she  abide, 

Lest  a  worse  fate  betide. 
When  from  all  those  I  came  away, 
Whose  prayer  is  but  that  others  pray, 

That  speedier  so  they  come 

Unto  their  blessed  home, 
Then   I  began  :  "  O  thou  my  light, 
"  Seems,  if  thy  text  I  read  aright, 

"  Decree  of  Heaven  may  never 

"  Bend  to  our  prayers'  endeavour. 
"  Yet  doth  this  folk  nought  else  require  : 
"  Must  then  in  vain  be  their  desire  ? 

"  Or  what  thy  speech  expressed, 

"Is  it  not  manifest?" 
He  answered  :  "  What  I  wrote  is  plain  : 
"  And  yet  their  hope  is  not  in  vain, 

"  If  with  sound  mind  thou  turn, 

"  The  truth  hereof  to  learn. 


7°'  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VI. 

37    Che  cima  di  giudizio  non  s'  avvalla, 

Perche  fuoco  d'  amor  compia  in  un  punto 
Cio  che  dee  soddisfar  chi  qui  s'  astalla. 

40    E  la  dov'  io  fermai  cotesto  punto, 

Non  si  ammendava,  per  pregar,  difetto, 
Perche  il  prego  da  Dio  era  disgiunto. 

43    Veramente  a  cosi  alto  sospetto 

Non  ti  fermar,  se  quella  nol  ti  dice, 
Che  lume  fia  tra  il  vero  e  1'  intelletto. 

46    Non  so  se  intendi ;  io  dico  di  Beatrice : 
Tu  la  vedrai  di  sopra,  in  sulla  vetta 
Di  questo  monte,  ridere  felice. 

49    Ed  io :  Signore,  andiamo  a  maggior  fretta  ; 
Che  gia  non  m'  affatico  come  dianzi ; 
E  vedi  omai  che  il  poggio  1'  ombra  getta. 

52    Noi  anderem  con  questo  giorno  innanzi, 
Rispose,  ouanto  piu  potremo  omai  ; 
Ma  il  fatto  e  d'  altra  forma  che  non  stanzi. 

55    Prima  che  sii  lassu,  tornar  vedrai 

Colui  che  gia  si  cuopre  della  costa, 
Si  che  i  suoi  raggi  tu  romper  non  fai. 


Canto  VI.]  PURGATORY.  79 

"Judgment's  high  crest  is  ne'er  abased, 

"  Though  all  their  debt,  that  here  are  placed,. 

"  By  love's  consuming  aid 

"  Be  in  an  instant  paid. 
"  And  in  the  case  my  verse  intended. 
"  Fault  could  not  be  by  prayer  amended  : 

"  Prayer  none  from  pains  delivered, 

"  While  'twas  from  God  dissevered. 
"  Yet,  for  this  doubt  so  high  doth  reach, 
"  Rest  not  content,  till  thou  have  speech 

"With  her  that  light  shall  be 

"  Betwixt  the  truth  and  thee. 
"  Perchance  thou  mark'st  not  what  is  told  : 
"'Tis  Beatrice  thou  shalt  behold, 

"  Smiling  in  bliss,  the  crown 

"  Even  of  this  mount  upon." 
Then  :  "  Let  us  speedier  onward  go, 
"  My  Lord,  I  am  not  weary  now  : 

"  See  from  the  mountain  wall 

"  The  shade  begins  to  fall." 
"  We  will  go  on,  while  'tis  to-day," 
He  answered,  "  with  what  speed  we  may : 

"  Yet  shalt  thou  find  our  case 

"Weareth  another  face. 
"  For,  ere  thou  comest  to  the  top, 
"  He  shall  return,  whom  now  the  slope 

"  Hath  hid,  so  that  thou  make 

"No  more  his  rays  to  break. 


<So  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VI. 

58    Ma  vedi  la  un'  anima,  che  posta 
Sola  soletta  verso  noi  riguarda ; 
Quella  ne  insegnera  la  via  piu  tosta. 

61     Venimmo  a  lei :  O  anima  Lombarda, 
Come  ti  stavi  altera  e  disdegnosa, 
E  nel  muover  degli  occhi  onesta  e  tarda ! 

64     Ella  non  ci  diceva  alcuna  cosa  ; 

Ma  lasciavane  gir,  solo  sguardando 
A  guisa  di  leon  quando  si  posa. 

G7     Pur  Virgilio  si  trasse  a  lei,  pregando 
Che  ne  mostrasse  la  miglior  salita  ; 
E  quella  non  rispose  al  suo  dimando  : 

70     Ma  di  nostro  paese  e  della  vita 

C  inchiese.     E  il  dolce  Duca  incominciava  : 
Mantova.  ..El'  ombra,,  tutta   in  se  romita, 

73    Surse  ver  lui  del  loco  ove  pria  stava, 

Dicendo  :  O  Mantovano,  io  son  Sordello 
Della  tua  terra.     E  1'  un  1'  altro  abbracciava. 


Canto  VI.]  PURGATORY. 

"  But  see,  where  posted  all  alone 
"  A  soul  our  coming  gazes  on  : 

"There  haply  shall  be  showed 

"  What  is  our  quickest  road." 
We  came.     O  spirit,  Lombard  born, 
What  pride  was  there,  what  look  of  scorn  ! 

In  movement  of  thine  eye 

What  stately  gravity ! 
Never  a  word   he  deigned  to  say  : 
But  let  us  pass  upon  our  way, 

Watching  us  in  such  guise 

As  lion  couched  that  lies. 
Howbeit  towards  him  Virgil  went, 
And  prayed  him  show  where  for  ascent 

Best  pathway  might  be  got : 

Thereto  he  answered  not : 
But  that  we  tell  him  of  our  land 
And  of  our  life  was  his  demand : 

Began  my  gracious  Lord 

His  answer  with  the  word 
"  Mantua  "  :  and  though  till  then  the  shade 
Self-cloistered  all  alone  had  stayed. 

Forth  from  the  place  he  stepped 

His  feet  before  had  kept, 
And  cried,  "  I  too  am  Mantuan  ; 
"  Sordello  I,  thy  countryman." 

Then  forward  both  did  reach 

And  clasped  them  each  to  each. 
G 


?>2  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VI. 

76    Ahi  serva  Italia,  di  dolore  ostello, 

Nave  senza  nocchiero  in  gran  tempesta, 
Non  donna  di  provincie,  ma  bordello  ! 

79    Quell'  anima  gentil  fu  cosl  presta, 

Sol  per  lo  dolce  suon  della  sua  terra, 
Di  fare  al  cittadin  suo  quivi  festa  ; 

82  Ed  ora  in  te  non  stanno  senza  guerra 
Li  vivi  tuoi,  e  Y  un  1'  altro  si  rode 
Di  quei  che  un  muro  ed  una  fossa  serra. 

85     Cerca,  misera,  intorno  dalle  prode 

Le  tue  marine,  e  poi  ti  guarda  in  seno. 
Se  alcuna  parte  in  te  di  pace  gode. 

88    Che  val,  perche  ti  racconciasse  il  freno 
Giustiniano,  se  la  sella  e  vota  ? 
Senz'  esso  fora  la  vergogna  meno. 

91     Ahi  gente,  che  dovresti  esser  devota, 
E  lasciar  seder  Cesar  nella  sella, 
Se  bene  intendi  cio  che  Dio  ti  nota, 

94    Guarda  com'  esta  fiera  e  fatta  fella, 
Per  non  esser  corretta  dagli  sproni, 
Poi  che  ponesti  mano  alia  predella. 


Canto  VI.]  PURGATORY.  83 

Enslaved  Italia,  haunt  of  woes, 
Pilotless  ship  while  tempest  blows, 

Of  provinces   no  queen 

But  brothel-house  unclean ! 
Here  when  he  heard  his  country's  name 
That  eager  soul  was  all  aflame, 

His  citizen  to  greet 

And  show  him  welcome  meet. 
Thy  living  sons  from  war  cease  never, 
But  each  the  other  gnaweth  ever, 

E'en  where  one  ditch,  one  wall, 

Doth  circumscribe  them  all. 
Search,  hapless  one,  thy  sea-board  through, 
Thy  ports,  and  eke  thy  centre  too, 

If  within  all  their  bound 

Peace  anywhere  be  found. 
What  though  Justinian  trim  thy  rein, 
If  void  the  saddle  still  remain ! 

If  with  him  were  the  blame, 

Then  less  had  been  thy  shame. 
Ah !  ye  who  should  to  prayer  be  cleaving, 
For  Caesar's  seat  the  saddle  leaving, 

If  but  your  mind  can  reach 

To  that  which  God  would  teach, 
Mark  ye  how  fierce  that  beast  hath  grown, 
Since  no  correcting  spur  she  own, 

Now  ye  have  set  your  hand 

Upon  her  bridle  band  ! 
G  2 


&1-  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VI. 

97    O  Alberto  Tedesco,  che  abbandoni 

Costei  ch'  e  fatta  indomita  e  selvaggia, 
E  dovresti  inforcar  li  suoi  arcioni, 

ioo    Giusto  giudizio  dalle  stelle  caggia 

Sovra  il  tuo  sangue,  e  sia  nuovo  ed  aperto, 
Tal  che  il  tuo  successor  temenza  n'  aggia  : 

103    Che  avete  tu  e  il  tuo  padre  sofferto, 
Per  cupidigia  di  costa  distretti, 
Che  il  giardin  dell'  imperio  sia  diserto. 

106    Vieni  a  veder  Montecchi  e  Cappelletti, 

Monaldi  e  Filippeschi,  uom  senza  cura  : 
Color  gia  tristi,  e  costor  con  sospetti. 

109    Vien,  crudel,  vieni,  e  vedi  la  pressura 
De'  tuoi  gentili,  e  cura  lor  magagne, 
E  vedrai  Santafior  com'  e  sicura. 

112    Vieni  a  veder  la  tua  Roma  che  piagne, 
Vedova,  sola,  e  di  e  notte  chiama  : 
Cesare  mio,  perche  non  m'  accompagne  ? 

1 1 5    Vieni  a  veder  la  gente  quanto  s'  ama  ; 
E  se  nulla  di  noi  pieta  ti  muove, 
A  vergognar  ti  vien  della  tua  fama. 


Canto  VI.]  PURGATORY.  85 

O  German  Albert,  thou  that  hast 
That  untamed  savage  from  thee  cast, 

On  whom  'twas  thine  to  ride, 

Her  saddle-bows  astride, 
Oh!  from  the  stars  may  judgment  light 
Upon  thy  blood  in  all  men's  sight, 

Some  signal  doom  and  clear, 

That  thy  successor  fear : 
For  that  thy  father,  aye  and  thou, 
Could,  drawn  abroad  by  greed,  allow 

That  of  this  empery 

The  garden  desert  be. 
Come,  see,  thou  man  that  show'st  no  care, 
Monaldi,  Filippeschi  there, 

Montagues,  Capulets, 

Whom  grief  or  doubt  besets. 
Come,  cruel  one,  where  rank  oppresses; 
Come  and  bring  cure  for  their  distresses : 

See  with  what  sort  of  rest 

Is  Santafiore  blest. 
Come,  see  thy  Rome,  that  plaineth  aye, 
Widowed,  alone,  by  night,  by  day, 

Crying,  '  O  Caesar  mine, 

'  Why  wilt  not  make  me  thine  ?  ' 
Come,  see  thy  people  show  their  love  : 
Or,  if  for  us  no  pity  move, 

Think  upon  thy  renown, 

If  there  no  shame  thou  own. 


?  "." .-   -   .  -  [C  unm  vl 

E   e  Be  to   m    £    d  aotnmo    ~-  .    . 
Che 

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.-  preparazioii,  die  nelT  abtsso 
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Ma  fl  popot  tuo  F  1  — 

'  '  .  ;     -       :    '  ■.".'.     -.:.: 

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;  -  ;a :  Io  mi  aobbar ; 
",  -  I     !a      la     .    b  tn  hai  bea 
7  -    ticca,  to  con.  pace,  tn  con  senno. 
.    .  - .   -  ascotide. 


Canto  VI.]  PURGATORY.  87 

Thou  that  for  us,  O  Jove  supreme, 
Wast  crucified,  Oh !  dare  I  deem 

Thy  just  eyes  othcrwhither 

Are  turned  from  looking  thither? 
Or  dost  thou  in  thy  counsels  deep 
For  good  some  preparation  keep, 

So  far  cut  off,  our  sight 

It  may  not  reach  aright? 
Italia's  towns  do  tyrants  all 
Possess :  and  we  Marcellus  call 

Every  common  man 

That  plays  the  partisan. 
Rejoice,  my  Florence,  in  thy  lot, 
That  this  digression  touchcth  not : 

Thy  people  thank  therefor, 

That  have  such  sense  in  store. 
Many  have  justice  in  their  heart, 
But  counsel  want  the  bow  to  start : 

Thy  people  wait  not  long  : 

They  have  it  on  their  tongue. 
Many  the  common  load  refuse, 
That  eagerly  thy  people  choose  : 

They  come  ere  any  ask 

And  cry  '  Be  mine  the  task.' 
Now  joy  with  joy  that  comes  from  thence  : 
Riches  thou  hast  and  peace  and  sense  : 

If  'tis  the  truth   I  speak, 

Proof  is  not  far  to  seek. 


88  PURGATORIO-  [Canto  VI. 

139    Atene  e  Lacedemone,  che  fenno 

Le  antiche  leggi,  e  furon  si  civili, 
Fecero  al  viver  bene  un  picciol  cenno 

142    Verso  di  te,  che  fai  tanto  sottili 

Provvedimenti,  che  a  mezzo  novembre 
Non  giunge  quel  che  tu  d'  ottobre  fili. 

145    Quante  volte  del  tempo  che  rimembre, 
Legge,  moneta,  offizio,  e  costume 
Hai  tu  mutato,  e  rinnovato  membre ! 

148    E  se  ben  ti  ricordi,  e  vedi  lume, 

Vedrai  te  simigliante  a  quella  inferma, 
Che  non  puo  trovar  posa  in  sulle  piume, 

151     Ma  con  dar  volta  suo  dolore  scherma. 


Canto  VI.]  PURGATORY.  89 

For  Athens,  aye,  and  Sparta's  state, 
That  were  in  policy  so  great, 

And  framed  the  laws  of  old, 

How  small  a  place  they  hold, 
How  poor  their  art  of  noble  living 
Shows  by  thy  delicate  contriving, 

Where  what  October  spun 

November  sees  outrun  ! 
Think  in  the  time  thou  canst  recall, 
Laws,  money,  customs,  places  all, 

How  thou  hast  rearranged, 

How  oft  thy  members  changed ! 
Could'st  thou  but  see  thyself  aright, 
And  turn  thy  vision  to  the  light, 

Thy  likeness  thou  would'st  find 

In  some  sick  man  reclined  ; 
On  couch  of  down  though  he  be  pressed. 
He  seeks  and  finds  not  any  rest, 

But  turns  and  turns  again, 

To  ease  him  of  his  pain. 


CANTO   SETTIMO. 

POSCIACH^  l1  accoglienze  oneste  e  liete 
Furo  iterate  tre  e  quattro  volte, 
Sordel  si  trasse,  e  disse :  Voi  chi  siete  ? 

4    Prima  che  a  questo  monte  fosser  volte 
L'  anime  degne  di  salire  a  Dio, 
Fur  1'  ossa  mie  per  Ottavian  sepolte. 

7    Io  son  Virgilio  ;  e  per  null'  altro  rio 
Lo  Ciel  perdei,  che  per  non  aver  fe  : 
Cos!  rispose  allora  il   Duca  mio. 
io    Qual  e  colui  che  cosa  innanzi  a  se 
Subita  vede,  ond'  ei  si  maraviglia, 
Che  crede  e  no,  dicendo  :  Ell'  e,  non  e  ; 

13    Tal  parve  quegli,  e  poi  chino  le  ciglia, 
Ed  umilmente  ritorno  ver  lui, 
Ed  abbracciollo  ove  il  minor  s'  appiglia. 


CAXTO    VII. 

Thrice  and  four  times  those  greetings  fair. 
Those  greetings  glad,  repeated  were, 

When  back  Sordello  drew, 

And   "Who."  he  said   :;  are  you2" 
"  Or  ever  to  this  mount  could  bend 
'•  Souls  worthy  God  ward  to  ascend, 

t:  My  bones  to  rest  were  laid 

<:  In  grave  Octavian  bade  : 
"Virgil  am  I:  the  Heaven  I  lost 
"  No  fault  but  want  of  faith  hath  cost." 

'Twas  even  thus  my  Guide 

To  his  demand  replied. 
As  who  some  wondrous  thing  perceives, 
That  he  believes  not.  yet  believes  : 

And  betwixt  doubt  and  faith 

•  It  is,  'tis  not,'  he  saith  ; 
So  seemed  that  shade:  his  brow  he  drooped, 
And  turning  back  again  he  stooped. 

And  humbly  there  did  clasp 

Where  child  would  elder  grasp. 


92  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VII. 

1 6    O  gloria  de'  Latin,  disse,  per  cui 

Mostro  cio  che  potea  la  lingua  nostra, 
O  pregio  eterno  del  loco  ond'  io  fui, 

19    Qual  merito,  o  qual  grazia  mi  ti  mostra  ? 
S'  io  son  d'  udir  le  tue  parole  degno, 
Dimmi  se  vien  d'  inferno,  e  di  qual  chiostra. 

22    Per  tutti  i  cerchi  del  dolente  regno, 
Rispose  lui,  son  io  di  qua  venuto  : 
Virtu  del  Ciel  mi  mosse,  e  con  lei  vegno. 

25    Non  per  far,  ma  per  non  far  ho  perduto 
Di  veder  1'  alto  Sol  che  tu  disiri, 
E  che  fu  tardi  da  me  conosciuto. 

28  Loco  e  laggiu  non  tristo  da  martiri, 
Ma  di  tenebre  solo,  ove  i  lamenti 
Non  suonan  come  guai,  ma  son  sospiri. 

31     Quivi  sto  io  coi  parvoli  innocenti, 

Dai  denti  morsi  della  morte,  avante 
Che  fosser  dall'  umana  colpa  esenti. 

34    Ouivi  sto  io  con  quei  che  le  tre  sante 
Virtu  non  si  vestiro,  e  senza  vizio 
Conobber  1'  altre,  e  seguir  tutte  quante. 


Canto  VII.]  PURGATORY.  93 

"  O  thou,  the  Latins'  pride,  whose  song 
"  Showed  all  the  powers  of  our  tongue, 
"  Thou  the  eternal  grace 
"  Of  my  own  native  place, 
"  What  boon,  what  merit  sets  me  near  thee  ? 
"  Oh  !  if  I  worthy  be  to  hear  thee, 
"  Say  if  from  Hell  thou  come, 
"  And  where  thy  appointed  room." 
"  The  circles  of  the  kingdom  cursed  " 
He  answered.      "  I  have  all  traversed  : 

"  'Twas  Power  from  high  that  sought  me, 
"  And  to  this  place  hath  brought  me. 
"Not  what  I  did,  but  what  I  left 
"  Undone,  hath  from  my  vision  reft 
"  That  Sun  I  knew  too  late, 
"  That  Sun  thy  hopes  await. 
"  There  is  a  place  beneath  where  pains 
"  Vex  not,  but  darkness  only  reigns : 
"  The  sound  of  its  lament 
"  In  sighs,  not  groans,  is  spent. 
"  There  am  I  set,  with  those  new-born, 
"  Those  innocents  death's  teeth  have  torn, 
"  Ere  yet   from  human  sin 
"  They  were  made  clean  within. 
"  There  am  I  set,  and  there  with   me 
"  Are  those,  the  holy  virtues  three 
"  That  put  not  on,  but  knew 
"  The  rest,  and  kept  them  true. 


94  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VII. 

37    Ma  se  tu  sai   e  puoi,  alcuno  indizio 

Da  noi,  perche  venir  possiam  piu  tosto 
La  dove  Purgatorio  ha  dritto  inizio. 

40  Rispose  :  Loco  certo  non  c'  e  posto  : 
Licito  m'  e  andar  suso  ed  intorno : 
Per  quanto  ir  posso,  a  guida  mi  t'  accosto. 

43    Ma  vedi  gia  come  dichina  il  giorno, 
Ed  andar  su  di  notte  non  si  puote ; 
Pero  e  buon  pensar  di  bel  soggiorno. 

46    Anime  sono  a  destra  qua  rimote  : 

Se  mi  consenti,  io  ti  merrd  ad  esse, 
E  non  senza  diletto  ti  fien  note. 

49    Com'  e  cio  ?  fu  risposto :  chi  volesse 
Salir  di  notte,  fora  egli  impedito 
D'  altrui  ?  O  non  sarria  che  non  potesse  ? 

52     E  il  buon  Sordello  in  terra  freg6  il  dito, 
Dicendo :  Vedi,  sola  questa  riga 
Non  varcheresti  dopo  il  Sol  partito  : 

55     Non  pero  che  altra  cosa  desse  briga, 
Che  la  notturna  tenebra,  ad  ir  suso  : 
Quella  col  non  poter  la  voglia  intriga. 


Canto  VII.]  PURGATORY.  95 

"  But  if  thou  canst  and  if  thou  know, 
"Vouchsafe  some  guidance  to  bestow, 

"  Some  sign  to  lead  us  straight 

"  To  Purgatory's  gate." 
"  Not  fixed  our  station :  I  may  move 
"Around,"  he  answered  "and  above: 

"  Far  as  I  may,  thy  side 

"  I'll  keep  and  be  thy  guide. 
"  But  see  already  daylight  fail  : 
••  Upward  by  night  may  none  prevail : 

"  Behoves  our  thought  to  turn 

"  Some  sojourn  fair  to  learn. 
"  Apart  on  right  are  souls  that  stay  : 
"  There  will  I  bring  thee  if  I  may : 

"  So  it  will  be  their  sight 

"  Shall  surely  give  delight." 
"  How  may  this  be  ?  "  'twas  answered  him  : 
"  By  night  if  one  would  upward  climb. 

"  Would  any  turn  him  back  ? 

"  Or  would  he  power  lack  ?  " 
The  good  Sordello  on  the  ground 
His  finger  drew :  "  Beyond  this  bound," 

He  said  '•  thou  shalt  not  get 

"  After  the  Sun  is  set. 
"  Darkness  of  night,  no  other  cause, 
"  Shall  give  thy  upward  mounting  pause  : 

"  There  want  of  power  doth  still 

"  Fetter  the  eager  will. 


96  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VII. 

58    Ben  si  porfa  con  lei  tornare  in  giuso, 

E  passeggiar  la  costa  intorno  errando, 
Mentre  che  1'  orizzonte  il  dl  tien  chiuso. 

61     Allora  il  mio  Signor,  quasi  ammirando  : 
Menane  dunque,  disse,  la  ove  dici 
Che  aver  si  pud  diletto  dimorando. 

64    Poco  allungati  c'  eravam  di  lici, 

Quand'  io  m'  accorsi  che  il  monte  era  scemo, 
A  guisa  che  i  vallon  li  sceman  quici. 

67    Cola,  disse  quell'  ombra,  n'  anderemo 
Dove  la  costa  face  di  se  grembo, 
E  quivi  il  nuovo  giorno  attenderemo. 

70    Tra  erto  e  piano  era  un  sentiero  sghembo, 
Che  ne  condusse  in  fianco  della  lacca, 
La  dove  piu  che  a  mezzo  muore  il  lembo. 

73    Oro  ed  argento  fino,  cocco  e  biacca, 
Indico  legno  lucido  e  sereno, 
Fresco  smeraldo  in  1'  ora  che  si  fiacca, 

76    Dall'  erba  e  dalli  fior  dentro  a  quel  seno 
Posti,  ciascun  saria  di  color  vinto, 
Come  dal  suo  maggiore  e  vinto  il  meno. 


Canto  VII.]  PURGATORY.  97 

"Yet  might  one  take  the  downward  road, 
"And  round  the  hill-side  wind  abroad, 

"  While  'neath  the  horizon  put 

"The  light  of  day  is  shut." 
Then,  as  in  wonder,  said  my  Lord : 
"Lead  us  according  to  thy  word, 

"  Where  we  delight  may  find 

"  While  we  remain  behind." 
Not  far  we  went,  when  I  descried 
A  hollow  in  the  mountain  side, 

And  saw  it  fashioned  there 

Like  our  own  valleys  here. 
"  We  will  go  thither,"  said  that  shade, 
"  To  yonder  combe  in  hill-side  made  : 

"  There  will  we  wait  withdrawn 

"  Until  the  new  day  dawn." 
Part  steep,  part  smooth,  the  winding  bank 
That  led  us  to  that  basin's  flank, 

Where  dies  away  the  tressure 

By  more  than  half  its  measure. 
Gold,  silver,  ivory,  scarlet  grain, 
Bright  indigo  of  purest  vein, 

The  flash  from  emerald  given 

When  it  is  freshly  riven, 
Would  each  and  all  before  the  power 
Was  there  displayed  by  herb  and  flower 

Their  fainter  colour  lose, 

Quenched  by  those  stronger  hues. 
H 


98  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VII 

79    Non  avea  pur  natura  ivi  dipinto, 
Ma  di  soavita  di  mille  odori 
Vi  facea  un  incognito  e  indistinto. 

82    Salve,  Rcgina,  in  sul  verde  e  in  su  i  fiori 
Quivi  seder  cantando  anime  vidi, 
Che  per  la  valle  non  parean  di  fuori  : 

85    Prima  che  il  poco  Sole  omai  s'  annidi, 

Comincio  il  Mantovan  che  ci  avea  volti, 
Tra  costor  non  vogliate  ch'  io  vi  guidi. 

88     Di  questo  balzo  meglio  gli  atti  e  i  volti 
Conoscerete  voi  di  tutti  quanti, 
Che  nella  lama  giu  tra  essi  accolti. 

91     Colui  che  piu  sied'  alto,  e  fa  sembianti 
D'  aver  negletto  cio  che  far  dovea, 
E  che  non  muove  bocca  agli  altrui  canti, 

94    Ridolfo  imperador  fu,  che  potea 

Sanar  le  piaghe  ch'  hanno  Italia  morta. 
Si  che  tardi  per  altri  si  ricrea. 

97     L'  altro,  che  nella  vista  lui  conforta, 
Resse  la  terra  dove  1'  acqua  nasce, 
Che  Multa  in  Albia,  ed  Albia  in  mar  ne  porta: 


Canto  VII.]  PURGATORY.  99 

And  not  alone  the  painter's  art 
Had  nature  shown,  but  every  part 

One  sweet  strange  fragrance  filled, 

From  thousand  scents  distilled. 
"Hail,  Queen  and  Mother!"  was  the  song 
That  rose  the  grass  and  flowers  among 

From  souls  without  not  seen, 

Hid  in  the  vale  between. 
"  Ere  yon  brief  Sun  shall  sink  to  bed," 
The  Mantuan,  who  had  brought  us,  said 

"  Desire  not  I  should  guide  thee, 

"And  set  those  souls  beside  thee. 
"  'Twere  better  from  this  terrace  wall 
'■  Their  movements  and  their  faces  all 

"  To  scan,  than  when  below 

"  Into  the  dell  we  go. 
'■  The  highest  there,  that  seems  dejected, 
"  As  though  his  task  he  had  neglected. 

"  Nor  moves  his  lips  in  time 

"  To  join  the  others'  chime, 
'•  Was  Rodolph  Emperor,  who  could 
"  Have  healed  Italia's  wounds,  whence  flowed 

"  Her  life,  scarce  any  more 

'f  Another  may  restore. 
"  The  next,  his  comforter  who  seems, 
"  Ruled  o'er  the  land  where  rise  the  streams. 

"  From  Moldau  Elbe  receiveth 

"  And  to  the  ocean  giveth. 
H  % 


lOO  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VII. 

ic3    Ottachero  ebbe  nome,  e  nelle  fasce 

Fu  meglio  assai,  che  Vincislao  suo  figlio 
Barbuto,  cui  lussuria  ed  ozio  pasce. 

103    E  quel  nasetto,  che  stretto  a  consiglio 

Par  con  colui  ch'  ha  si  benigno  aspetto, 
Mori  fuggendo  e  disfiorando  il  giglio : 

106    Guardate  la,  come  si  batte  il  petto  : 

L'  altro  vedete  ch'  ha  fatto  alia  guancia 
Delia  sua  palma,  sospirando,  letto. 

109    Padre  e  suocero  son  del  mal  di  Francia : 
Sanno  la  vita  sua  viziata  e  lorda, 
E  quindi  viene  il  duol  che  si  li  lancia. 

112    Quel  che  par  si  membruto,  e  che  s'  accorda 
Cantando  con  colui  del  maschio  naso, 
D'  ogni  valor  porto  cinta  la  corda. 

115    E  se  re  dopo  lui  fosse  rimaso 

Lo  giovinetto  che  retro  a  lui  siede, 
Bene  andava  il  valor  di  vaso  in  vaso  ; 

i iy  Che  non  si  puote  dir  dell'  altre  rede. 
Jacomo  e  Federico  hanno  i  reami  : 
Del  retaggio  miglior  nessun  possiede. 


Canto  VII.]  PURGATORY.  lOI 

"  He  was  called  Ottocar :  more  sage 
"  His  childhood  than  the  bearded  age, 

"  His  Wenzel  lets  be  passed 

"  In  wantonness  and  waste. 
"  He,  who  with  stunted  nose  is  seen 
"Counselling  one  of  gentle  mien, 

"Died  as  he  fled  the  fight, 

"  Shaming  the  lilies  white. 
"  Behold  him  how  he  smites  his  breast  ; 
"  Look  too  on  one  with  sighs  oppressed. 

"  Who  makes  his  hand  a  bed 

"  Whereon  to  rest  his  head. 
"  Father  and  bel-sire  of  the  woe 
"  Of  France  are  they  :  right  well  they  know 

"  His  life  debased  and  foul  : 

"  5Tis  that  doth  prick   their  soul. 
"  That  stalwart  frame,  whose  chanting  goes 
"In  time  with  his  of  manly  nose, 

"The  cord  of  virtues  all 

"  Was  girt  about  withal. 
"  Had  with  that  youth  the   kingdom  stayed, 
••  Who  sits  behind  his  father's  shade, 

"Well  had  the  worth  been  stored 

"  From  bowl  to  bowl  that  poured. 
"  Not  of  the  rest  may  this  be  told  : 
"  Frederick  and  James  the  realms  may  hold  ; 

"  The  better  heirship  none 

"  Hath  in  possession. 


J02  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VII. 

121     Rade  volte  risurge  per  li  rami 

L'  umana  probitate :  e  questo  vuole 
Quei  che  la  da,  perche  da  lui  si  chiami. 

124    Anche  al  Nasuto  vanno  mie  parole, 

Non  men  ch'  all'  altro,  Pier,  che  con  lui  canta, 
Onde  Puglia  e  Provenza  gia  si  duole. 

127    Tant'  e  del  seme  suo  minor  la  pianta, 

Quanto  piu  che  Beatrice  e  Margherita, 
Constanza  di  marito  ancor  si  vanta. 

j  30    Vedete  il  re  della  semplice  vita 

Seder  la  solo,  Arrigo  d'  Inghilterra: 
Questi  ha  ne'  rami  suoi  migliore  uscita. 

133    Quel  che  piu  basso  tra  costor  s'  atterra, 

Guardando  in  suso,  e  Guglielmo  Marchese, 
Per  cui  Alessandria  e  la  sua  guerra 

136    Fa  pianger  Monferrato  e  il  Canavese. 


Canto  vil.]  PURGATORY.  103 

"  Seldom  again  doth  human  worth 
"  Among  the  branches  issue  forth  : 

"  He  wills  from  Him  we  claim 

"  His  gift  of  whom  it  came. 
"  That  large-nosed  man  this  lesson  bringeth : 
'•  Not  Pierre  alone,  who  with  him  singeth  : 

•"  Such  change  doth  Provence  rue, 

"  Aye,  and  Apulia  too. 
"•  So  shines  its  seed  the  plant  above, 
••  As  good  Constantia's  wedded  love 

"  In  fortune  far  outvies 

•;  Margaret  and  Beatris. 
••  And  he  who  sits  without  that  ring 
"  Is  England's  Henry,  guileless  king : 

'•  The  branches  of  his  root 

"  In  nobler  issue  shoot. 
41  In  him,  that  lower  down  doth  rest, 
"  Upon  the  ground  his  body  pressed, 

"And  upward  turns  his  brow, 

"  The  Marquess  William   know, 
'•  Lord  of  the   Canavese,  who  brought 
'The  warfare  Alessandria  wrought: 

"  Whose  moaning  still  resounds 

"  Through  all  Montferrat's  bounds." 


CANTO   OTTAVO. 

Era  gia  1'  ora  che  volge  il  disio 
Ai  naviganti,  e  intenerisce  il  cuore 
Lo  dl  che  han  detto  ai  dolci  amici  addio 
4     E  che  lo  nuovo  peregrin  d'  amore 
Punge,  se  ode  squilla  di  lontano, 
Che  paia  il  giorno  pianger  che  si  muore  : 

7    Quand'  io  incominciai  a  render  vano 
L'  udire,  ed  a  mirare  una  dell'  alme 
Surta,  che  1'  ascoltar  chiedea  con  mano. 

io    Ella  giunse  e  levo  ambo  le  palme, 
Ficcando  gli  occhi  verso  1'  oriente, 
Come  dicesse  a  Dio  :   D'  altro  non  calme. 

13     Te  lucis  ante  si  devotamente 

Le  uscl  di  bocca,  e  con  si  dolci  note, 
Che  fece  me  a  me  uscir  di  mente. 


CANTO   VIII. 

THE  hour  was  come  that  on  the  sea 
Softens  the  heart  with  memory, 

The  day  on  voyage  sped 

Farewell  to  friends  was  said  ; 
Then,  if  he  hear  the  distant  bell, 
That  seems  the  dying  day  to  knell, 

Its  sound  hath  power  to  move 

The  new-bound  pilgrim's  love. 
Began  I  then  my  ears  to  close, 
And  look  upon  a  soul  that  rose, 

And  seemed  with  outstretched  hand 

My  notice  to  demand. 
Both  palms  he  joined  and  upward  raised, 
And  to  the  East  he  steadfast  gazed, 

As  though  to  God  he  cried, 

'  I  care  for  nought  beside.' 
"  Before  the  closing  of  the  day  " 
With  lips  devout  I  heard  him  pray  : 

His  notes  so  sweetly  flowed, 

My  soul  went  all  abroad. 


106  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VIII. 

irt    E  1'  altre  poi  dolcemente  e  devote 

Seguitar  lei  per  tutto  1'  inno  intero, 
Avendo  gli  occhi  alle  superne  ruote. 

19    Aguzza  qui,  Lettor,  ben  gli  occhi  al  vero, 
Che  il  velo  e  ora  ben  tanto  sottile, 
Certo  che  il  trapassar  dentro  e  leggiero. 

ii     lo  vidi  quello  esercito  gentile 

Tacito  poscia  riguardare  in  sue, 
Quasi  aspettando  pallido  ed  umile  : 

2-,  E  vidi  uscir  dell'  alto,  e  scender  giue 
Due  angeli  con  due  spade  affocate, 
Tronche  e  private  delle  punte  sue. 

2S    Verdi,  come  fogliette  pur  mo  nate, 

Erano  in  veste,  che  da  verdi  penne 
Percosse  traean  dietro  e  ventilate. 

31     L'  un  poco  sovra  noi  a  star  si  venne, 
E  1'  altro  scese  in  1'  opposita  sponda, 
SI  che  la  gente  in  mezzo  si  contenne. 

34  Ben  discerneva  in  lor  la  testa  bionda ; 
Ma  nelle  faccie  1'  occhio  si  smarria, 
Come  virtu  che  al  troppo  si  confonda. 


canto  VIII.]  PURGATORY.  107 

The  others  of  that  sweet-voiced  choir 
Followed  him  through  the  hymn  entire, 

Their  eyes  devoutly  given 

Unto  the  wheels  of  heaven. 
Turn  here,  my  Reader,  turn  thy  sight 
Upon  the  veil,  so  fine,  so  slight, 

'Twere  easy  now  to  win 

The  secret  hid  within. 
I  saw  that  noble  army  raise 
In  silence  to  the  skies  their  gaze, 

Waiting  what  should  befall, 

Pallid  and  humble  all. 
And  angels  twain  I  saw,  that  came 
Out  of  the  height  with  swords  aflame, 

Swords  that  had  been  truncated, 

And  of  their  points  abated. 
Green,  as  of  leaflets  newly  born, 
The  plumage  for  their  raiment  worn, 

Drawn  after  in  the  wind 

Of  their  green  wings  behind. 
One  just  above  us  took  his  rank  : 
One  lighted  on  the  other  bank  : 

Between  them  guarded  were 

The  people  gathered  there. 
Their  fair-haired  foreheads  I  could  trace, 
But  in  the  brightness  of  their  face 

Was  baffled  all  my  sight, 

Quelled  by  excess  of  light. 


lo8  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VIII. 

37     Ambo  vegnon  del  grembo  di  Maria, 

Disse  Sordello,  a  guardia  della  valle; 
Per  lo  serpente  che  verra  via  via. 

40    Ond'  io  che  non  sapeva  per  qual  calle, 
Mi  volsi  intorno,  e  stretto  m'  accostai 
Tutto  gelato  alle  fidate  spalle. 

43     E  Sordello  anco  :  Ora  avvalliamo  omai 

Tra  le  grandi  ombre,  e  parleremo  ad  esse  : 
Grazioso  fia  lor  vedervi  assai. 

46    Solo  tre  passi  credo  ch'  io  scendesse, 
E  fui  di  sotto,  e  vidi  un  che  mirava 
Pur  me,  come  conoscer  mi  volesse. 

49    Tempo  era  gia  che  1'  aer  s'  annerava, 

Ma  non  si,  che  tra  gli  occhi  suoi  e  i  miei 
Non  dichiarisse  cio  che  pria  serrava. 

52     Ver  me  si  fece,  ed  io  ver  lui  mi  fei : 

Giudice  Nin  gentil,  quanto  mi  piacque, 
Ouando  ti  vidi  non  esser  tra  i  rei ! 

55     Nullo  bel  salutar  tra  noi  si  tacque  : 

Poi  dimando  :  Quant'  e,  che  tu  venisti 
Appie  del  monte  per  le  lontane  acque  ? 


Canto  VIII.]  PURGATORY.  109 

■'  From  Mary's  bosom  both  are  sped 
"  To  guard  the  vale,"  Sordello  said 

"  And  foil  that  serpent's  guile 

"  That  shall  be  here  erewhile." 
Not  knowing  where  he  should  appear, 
I  turned  aside,  all  chilled  with  fear, 

To  those  sure  arms,  that  still 

Could  shelter  me  from  ill. 
Once  more  Sordello  :  "  Let  us  go 
"  Among  the  mighty  shades  below, 

"  And  speak  with  them  :  'twere  grace 

';  If  they  behold  thy  face." 
But  paces  three  I  deem  I  took 
And  reached  the  foot,  where  one  did  look 

On  me,  as  though  methought 

To  know  my  face  he  sought. 
Dark  grew  the  air  :  but  yet  between 
His  eyes  and  mine  there  could  be  seen 

What  late  had  been  concealed, 

But  now  was  all  revealed. 
Towards  me  he  made  and  towards  him  I  : 
Ah  !  noble  Judge,  how  joyfully 

Then,  Nino,  could  I  know 

Thou  wast  not  lost  below  ! 
There  lacked  no  salutation  sweet 
Betwixt  us  :  then  did  he  entreat : 

"  When  earnest  thou  to  this  coast, 

"  Those  distant  waters  crossed  ?  " 


HO  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VI11. 

58  O,  diss'  io  lui,  per  entro  i  luoghi  tristi 
Venni  stamane,  e  sono  in  prima  vita, 
Ancor  che  1'  altra  si  andando  acquisti. 

61     E  come  fu  la  mia  risposta  udita, 

Sordello  ed  egli  indietro  si  raccolse, 
Come  gente  di  subito  smarrita. 

64    L'  uno  a  Virgilio,  e  l'altro  ad  un  si  volse 
Che  sedea  li,  gridando  :    Su,  Corrado, 
Vieni  a  veder  che  Dio  per  grazia  volse. 

67     Poi  volto  a  me  :  Per  quel  singular  grado. 
Che  tu  dei  a  colui,  che  si  nasconde 
Lo  suo  primo  perche,  che  non  gli  e  guado, 

70    Ouando  sarai  di  la  dalle  larghe  onde, 

Di'  a  Giovanna  mia,  che  per  me  chiami 
La  dove  agl'  innocenti  si  risponde. 

73  Non  credo  che  la  sua  madre  piu  m'  ami, 
Poscia  che  trasmuto  le  bianche  bende, 
Le  quai  convien  che  misera  ancor  brami. 

76    Per  lei  assai  di  lieve  si  comprende, 

Quanto  in  femmina  fuoco  d'  amor  dura, 
Se  1'  occhio  o  il  tatto  spesso  nol  raccende. 


canto  VIII.]  PURGATORY.  i  i  i 

"  Oh  ! "  said  I  :  ;'  Through  the  place  of  gloom 
"  Hither  this  morning  have  I  come, 

"  My  second  life  to  gain, 

"  Ere  yet  the  first  be  ta'en." 
And,  soon  as  they  my  answer  knew, 
He  and  Sordello  backward  drew, 

As  turn  in  disarray 

Whom  sudden  fears  dismay. 
One  Virgil  sought :  the  other  cried 
Unto  a  soul  that  sate  beside  ; 

"  Up !  Conrad,  from  thy  place, 

"  Come  and  behold  God's  grace." 
Then  to  me  turning :  "  If  from  Heaven 
"  This  privilege  to  thee  be  given 

"  Of  Him,  who  hides  from  man 

4i  His  all-unfathomed  plan, 
"  O'er  the  broad  sea  when  thou  art  sped, 
"  Bid  my  Joanna's  prayer  be  said 

"  For  me,  where  grace  is  lent 

'•  To  pleading  innocent. 
"  Her  mother  loves  me  not,  I  ween, 
"  Since  changed  her  wimple  white  hath  been : 

"  Poor  soul,  that  shall  be  fain 

"  Those  weeds  to  wear  again ! 
"  Right  well  may  her  example  prove 
"  How  brief  the  flame  of  woman's  love, 

"  Except  by  touch  or  sight 

"  It  often  be  relit. 


U2  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VIII. 

79    Non  le  fara  si  bella  sepoltura 

La  vipera  che  il  Milanese  accampa, 
Com'  avria  fatto  il  gallo  di  Gallura. 

82    Cosl  dicea,  segnato  della  stampa 

Nel  suo  aspetto  di  quel  dritto  zelo, 
Che  misuratamente  in  cuore  avvampa. 

85    Gli  occhi  miei  ghiotti  andavan  pure  al  cielo, 
Pur  la  dove  le  stelle  son  piu  tarde, 
SI  come  ruota  piu  presso  alio  stelo. 

88    E  il  Duca  mio  :   Figliuol,  che  lassu  guarde  ? 
Ed  io  a  lui  :   A  quelle  tre  facelle, 
Di  che  il  polo  di  qua  tutto  quanto  arde. 

9 1     Ed  egli  a  me  :  Le  quattro  chiare  stelle 
Che  vedevi  staman,  son  di  la  basse, 
E  queste  son  salite  ov'  eran  quelle. 

94    Com'  ei  parlava,  e  Sordello  a  se  il  trasse 
Dicendo :   Vedi  la  il  nostro  avversaro  ; 
E  drizzo  il  dito,  perche  in  la  guardasse. 

97    Da  quella  parte,  onde  non  ha  riparo 
La  picciola  vallea,  era  una  biscia, 
Forse  qual  diede  ad  Eva  il  cibo  amaro. 


Canto  VIII.]  PURGATORY.  L13 

"  The  viper  on  the  Milan  shield 
"So  brave  a  burial  shall  not  yield, 

"As  had  been  hers,  in  ground 

"Gallura's  cock  had  found." 
'Twas  thus  he  spake :  and  righteous  zeal 
Upon  his  front  had  set  its  seal, 

The  measured  fervour  showing 

Within  his  bosom  glowing. 
My  greedy  eyes  to  heaven  were  turned, 
Where  stars  of  slowest  motion  burned, 

As  wheel  doth  slower  roll 

Nearer  the  axle  bole. 
Then  spake  my  Guide,  "  What  is 't,  my  son, 
"  Thou  lookest  for  there  ?  "    and  I,  "  Upon 

"  Those  torches  three  I  gaze, 

"  That  by  yon  pole-star  blaze  " 
"  Those  stars  thou  sawest,  those  shining  four, 
"  Since  morn  have  sunk  'neath  ocean's  floor : 

"  And  these  are  mounted  there 

"  Where  late  the  others  were." 
And,  even  as  that  word  was  said, 
His  arms  Sordello  round  him  laid, 

With  warning  finger,  "  See ! 

"  There  comes  our  enemy." 
Upon  the  dell's  unguarded  side 
I  looked  and  saw  a  serpent  glide  : 

Haply  from  such  did  Eve 

That  bitter  meat  receive. 
1 


"4  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VIII. 

100  Tra  1'  erba  e  i  fior  venia  la  mala  striscia, 
Volgendo  ad  or  ad  or  la  testa  al  dosso, 
Leccando  come  bestia  che  si  liscia. 

103    Io  nol  vidi,  e  pero  dicer  nol  posso, 
Come  mosser  gli  astor  celestiali, 
Ma  vidi  bene  1'  uno  e  1'  altro  mosso. 

/06    Sentendo  fender  1'  aere  alle  verdi  ali, 

Fuggi  il  serpente,  e  gli  angeli  dier  volta 
Suso  alle  poste  rivolando  eguali. 

109    L'  ombra  che  s'  era  al  Giudice  raccolta, 
Quando  chiamo,  per  tutto  quell'  assalto 
Punto  non  fu  da  me  guardare  sciolta. 

j  12    Se  la  lucerna  che  ti  mena  in  alto 

Truovi  nel  tuo  arbitrio  tanta  cera, 

Quant'  e  mestiero  infino  al  sommo  smalto, 

115    Comincio  ella :   Se  novella  vera 

Di  Valdimagra,  o  di  parte  vicina 

Sai,  dilla  a  me,  che  gia  grande  la  era. 

118     Chiamato  fui  Corrado  Malaspina  : 

Non  son  1'  antico,  ma  di  lui  discesi  : 
A'  miei  portai  1'  amor  che  qui  raffina. 


Canto  VIII.]  PURGATORY.  I  i.r 

The  evil  snake  his  way  was  wending, 
His  head  about  his  body  bending, 

The  grass  and  flowers  among, 

Like  beast  with  slavering  tongue. 
Then  in  an  instant  from  above 
I  saw  those  hawks  celestial  move : 

But  in  what  wise  they  fell 

I  saw  not,  nor  can  tell. 
And  as  by  their  green  wings  the  air 
Was  cleft,  the  serpent  fled  ascare  : 

With  even  flight  the  twain 

Turned  to  their  posts  again. 
The  shade,  who  at  the  Judge's  call 
Had  joined  him,  through  that  onslaught  all 

Swerved  not  a  moment's  space 

From  looking  on  my  face. 
And  he  began :   "  So   may  thy  will 
"With  ample  wax  that  candle  fill 

"Which  lights  thee,  till  thou  stand 

"  On  the  enamelled  strand, 
"  That  crowns  the  mount,  Oh  !    let  thy  speech 
"  Some  news  of  Valdimagra  teach, 

"  And  tell  me  of  her  state, 

"  For  there  I  once  was  great. 
"  There  Conrad  Malaspina's  name, 
"  That  ancient  one's,  of  whom  I  came, 

"  I  bore  :   the  love  for  mine 

"Was  showed  I  here  refine." 
I  2 


Il6  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  VIII. 

i2i     O,  diss'  io  lui,  per  li  vostri  paesi 

Giammai  non  fui ;  ma  dove  si  dimora 
Per  tutta  Europa,  ch'  ei  non  sien  palesi  ? 

1 24    La  fama  che  la  vostra  casa  onora, 

Grida  i  signori,  e  grida  la  contrada, 
SI  che  ne  sa  chi  non  vi  fu  ancora. 

127    Ed  io  vi  giuro,  s'  io  di  sopra  vada, 

Che  vostra  gente  onrata  non  si  sfregia 
Del  pregio  della  borsa  e  della  spada. 

130     Uso  e  natura  si  la  privilegia, 

Che,  perche  il  capo  reo  lo  mondo  torca, 
Sola  va  dritta,  e  il  mal  cammin  dispregia. 

133    Ed  egli :   Or  va,  che  il  Sol  non  si  ricorca 
Sette  volte  nel  letto  che  il  Montone 
Con  tutti  e  quattro  i  pie  cuopre  ed  inforca, 

136    Che  cotesta  cortese  opinione 

Ti  fia  chiavata  in  mezzo  della  testa 

Con  maggior  chiovi  che  d'  altrui  sermone, 

139    Se  corso  di  giudizio  non  s'  arresta. 


Canto  VIII.]  PURGATORY.  117 

"  Oh !    though  your  lands,"  I  said  "  by  me 
"  Were  never  seen,  yet  none  there  be, 

"  In  Europe's  bounds  that  dwell, 

"  Their  fame  that  know  not  well. 
"  The  glory  of  your  house  of  worth, 
"  Its  lords,  its  country,  trumpets   forth 

"  In  tones  to  reach  the  ear 

"  Of  those  were  never  there. 
"  I  swear  (so  may  I  reach  the  skies) 
"  Your  noble  race  still  bears  the  prize 

"  Of  all  that  purse  or  sword 

"  To  honour  can  afford. 
"  Though  that  false  chief  the  world  misdrive, 
"  Nature  and  wont  such  privilege  give 

"  To  thine,  they  may  not  stray 

"  Out  of  the  perfect  way." 
"  Farewell,"  he  said  "  but  in  that  bed 
"  Times  seven  the  Sun  shall  not  be  laid, 

"  The  bed  by  Aries  hidden, 

"  With  his  four  feet  bestridden, 
"  Ere  this  fair  thought  by  stouter  nails 
"  Than  aught  that  comes  of  others'  tales 

"  Be  fastened  in  thy  brain, 

"So  judgment's  course  remain." 


CANTO    NONO. 

La  concubina  di  Titone  antico 

Gia  s'  imbiancava  al  balzo  d'  oriente, 
Fuor  delle  braccia  del  suo  dolce  amico  : 

4  Di  gemme  la  sua  fronte  era  lucente, 
Poste  in  figura  del  freddo  animale, 
Che  con  la  coda  percuote  la  gente  : 

7    E  la  notte  de'  passi,  con  che  sale, 

Fatti  avea  due  nel  loco  ov'  eravamo, 
E  il  terzo  gia  chinava  in  giuso  1'  ale  ; 

io    Ouand'  io  che  meco  avea  di  quel  d'  Adamo, 
Vinto  dal  sonno,  in  sull'  erba  inchinai 
La  dove  tutti  e  cinque  sedevamo. 

t3    Nell'  ora  che  comincia  i  tristi  lai 

La  rondinella  presso  alia  mattina, 
Forse  a  memoria  de'  suoi  primi  guai, 


CANTO    IX. 

The  leman  of  Tithonus  old, 
Loosed  from  her  love's  embracing  fold, 
In  pearly  white  had   dressed 
The  rampart  of  the  East. 
With  jewels  was  her  forehead  graced, 
In  shape  of  that  cold  creature  placed, 
Who  dealeth  deadly  harm 
With  sting  that  tail  doth  arm. 
And  Night,  where  then  we  were,  had  trod 
Two  paces  on   her  upward  road; 
And  now  with  pinions  drooping 
Downward  the  third  was  stooping  : 
When,  for  that  Adam's  load  I  kept, 
Fatigue  o'ercame  me  and  I  slept, 
And  on  the  grass  I  lay 
Where  all  we  five  did  stay. 
And  in  the   hour,  before  the  morn, 
When  wakes  the  swallow's  note  forlorn, 
Haply  amid  her  singing 
Her  woes  to  memory  bringing, 


120  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IX. 

ifi    E  che  la  mente  nostra  peregrina 

Piu  dalla  carne,  e  men  da'  pensier  presa, 
Alle  sue  vision  quasi  e  divina ; 

19     In  sogno  mi  parea  veder  sospesa 

Un'  aquila  nel  ciel  con  penne  d'  oro, 
Con  1'  ali  aperte,  ed  a  calare  intesa : 

22     Ed  esser  mi  parea  la  dove  foro 

Abbandonati  i  suoi  da  Ganimede, 
Quando  fu  ratto  al  sommo  consistoro. 

25    Fra  me  pensava :  Forse  questa  fiede 

Pur  qui  per  uso,  e  forse  d'  altro  loco 
Disdegna  di  portarne  suso  in  piede. 

28  Poi  mi  parea  che  roteata  un  poco, 
Terribil  come  folgor  discendesse, 
E  me  rapisse  suso  infino  al  fuoco. 

31     Ivi  pareva  ch'  ella  ed  io  ardesse, 

E  si  1'  incendio  immaginato  cosse, 

Che  convenne  che  il  sonno  si  rompesse. 

34     Non  altrimenti  Achille  si  riscosse, 

Gli  occhi  svegliati  rivolgendo  in  giro, 
E  non  sappiendo  la  dove  si  fosse, 


Canto  IX.]  PURGATORY.  121 

The  hour,  when  loosed  from  thought  our  mind 
Leaves  pilgrim-like  her  flesh  behind, 

And  borne  along  in  dreams 

Almost  a  prophet  seems, 
Even  then  to  me  was  vision  given  : 
I  saw  an  eagle  poised  in  heaven, 

His  pinions  gold-bedight, 

Spread  out  for  downward  flight. 
Meseemed  upon  the  place  to  look 
Of  those  whom  Ganymede  forsook, 

Snatched  to  the  upper  sky, 

To  council-room  on  high. 
'  Perchance  '  I  thought  '  'tis  only  here 
'  His  feet  are  wont  to  strike  :  elsewhere 

'  He  deigneth  not  his  prey 

'  To  clutch  and  bear  away.' 
He  wheeled  a  space  :  that  wheeling  ended, 
Fearful  as  lightning  he  descended  : 

Then  from  my  place  he  tore  me, 

And  to  the  fire  upbore  me. 
There  seemed  to  burn  both  he  and  I 
In  furnace  of  my  phantasy  : 

Whence  glowed  such  heat  that  broke 

My  slumber,  and   I  woke. 
'Twas  even  in  such  startled  wise 
Achilles  round  him  turned  his  eyes  : 

Nor  knew  with  wonder  shaken 

Whither  he  had  been  taken, 


122  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IX. 

37    Quando  la  madre  da  Chiron  a  Schiro 

Trafugo  lui  dormendo,  in  le  sue  braccia, 
La  onde  poi  li  Greci  il  dipartiro  ; 

40    Che  mi  scoss'  io,  si  come  dalla  faccia 
Mi  fuggl  il  sonno,  e  diventai  smorto, 
Come  fa  1'  uom  che  spaventato  agghiaccia. 

43    Dallato  m'  era  solo  il  mio  Conforto, 

E  il  Sole  er'  alto  gia  piu  che  due  ore, 
E  il  viso  m'  era  alia  marina  torto. 

46    Non  aver  tema,  disse  il  mio  Signore : 

Fatti  sicur,  che  noi  siamo  a  buon  punto  : 
Non  stringer,  ma  rallarga  ogni  vigore. 

49    Tu  se'  omai  al  Purgatorio  giunto  : 

Vedi  la  il  balzo  che  il  chiude  d'  intorno  ; 
Vedi  1'  entrata  la  've  par  disgiunto. 

52    Dianzi,  nell'  alba  che  precede  al  giorno, 
Quando  1'  anima  tua  dentro  dormia 
Sovra  li  fiori,  onde  laggiu  e  adorno, 

55    Venne  una  donna,  e  disse  :  Io  son  Lucia  : 
Lasciatemi  pigliar  costui  che  dorme, 
Si  1'  agevolero  per  la  sua  via. 


Canto  IX.]  PURGATORY.  12; 

What  time  by  stealth  from  Chiron's  keeping 
His  mother's  arms  had  borne  him  sleeping 

To  Scyros,  whence  again 

He  by  the  Greeks  was  ta'en. 
I  shook  myself,  and  slumber  fled 
My  face,  and  I  became  as  dead, 

Or  as  when  terrors  fill 

The  heart  with  icy  chill. 
My  Comfort  was  beside  alone  : 
Two  hours  above  the  Sun  was  gone  : 

And  to  the  sea  without 

My  face  was  turned  about. 
Then  said  my  Lord  "  Be  not  afraid  : 
"  Be  sure  good  progress  we  have  made : 

"  Contract  not  then  thy  force, 

"  But  give  it  larger  course. 
i£  Now  art  thou  come  unto  the  bound 
•;  Of  Purgatory,  girdled  round 

"  Thou  seest  by  parapet, 

"  With  door  at  parting  set. 
"  At  early  dawn  before  the  day, 
"  While  slumber  still  about  thee  lay 

"  Upon  the  flowers  at  rest, 

"  Wherewith  below  'tis  dressed, 
"  A  lady  came  to  me  and  spake 
" '  I  Lucia  am  :  Oh !  let  me  take 

" '  This  sleeper  up  with  me, 

" '  That  eased  his  path  may  be.' 


124  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IX. 

58  Sordel  rimase,  e  1'  altre  gentil  forme  : 
Ella  ti  tolse,  e  come  il  di  fu  chiaro, 
Sen  venne  suso,  ed  io  per  le  sue  orme. 

61     Qui  ti  poso :  e  pria  mi  dimostraro 

Gli  occhi  suoi  belli  quell'  entrata  aperta; 
Poi  ella  e  il  sonno  ad  una  se  n'  andaro. 

64    A  guisa  d'  uom  che  in  dubbio  si  raccerta, 
E  che  muta  in  conforto  sua  paura, 
Poi  che  la  verita  gli  e  discoverta, 

67    Mi  cambia'  io  :  e  come  senza  cura 

Videmi  il  Duca  mio,  su  per  lo  balzo 
Si  mosse,  ed  io  diretro  inver  1'  altura. 

70    Lettor,  tu  vedi  ben  com'  io  innalzo 

La  mia  materia,  e  pero  con  piu  arte 
Non  ti  maravigliar  s'  io  la  rincalzo. 

73    Noi  ci  appressammo,  ed  eravamo  in  parte, 
Che  la,  dove  pareami  prima  un  rotto, 
Pur  come  un  fesso  che  muro  diparte, 

76    Vidi  una  porta,  e  tre  gradi  di  sotto, 
Per  gire  ad  essa,  di  color  diversi, 
Ed  un  portier  che  ancor  non  facea  motto. 


Canto  IX.]  PURGATORY.  125 

"  Sordello  and  those  gentles  there 

"  Remained  :  and  when  the  day  was  clear, 

"  She  carried  thee  above  : 

"  I  in  her  steps  did  move. 
"  Here  laid  she  thee  :  but  first  she  showed 
"  With  her  fair  eyes  that  open  road  : 

"  Then  she  and  sleep  at  last 

"Away  together  passed." 
As  one  by  doubts  perplexed,  by  fears, 
When  the  unfolded  truth  appears, 

His  doubts  to  surety  turn, 

His  fears  consolement  learn  : 
Such  change  was  mine  :  my  Leader  knew 
My  cares  removed,  and  forward  drew 

Along  the  ledge,  and   I 

Behind  him  went  on  high. 
Thou  seest,  my  Reader,  how  I  raise 
My  theme:  nor  should  it  thee  amaze, 

If  greater  art  sustain 

The  matter  of  my  strain. 
We  drew  us  nigh,  and  reached  a  point 
Where  broken  was  that  circle's  joint  ; 

There,  in  what  seemed  a  rift, 

Whereby  a  wall  is  cleft, 
A  gate  I  saw,  three  steps  upon, 
Three  steps  of  diverse  hue  each  one  : 

And  porter  there,  who  yet 

Spake  never  word,  was  set. 


126  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IX. 

79  E  come  1'  occhio  piu  e  piu  v'  apersi, 
Vidil  seder  sovra  il  grado  soprano, 
Tal  nella  faccia,  ch'  io  non  lo  soffersi  : 

82    Ed  una  spada  nuda  aveva  in  mano, 
Che  rifletteva  i  raggi  si  ver  noi, 
Ch'  io  dirizzava  spesso  il  viso  in  vano. 

85    Dite  costinci,  che  volete  voi? 

Comincio  egli  a  dire  :  ov'  e  la  scorta  ? 
Guardate  che  il  venir  su  non  vi  noi ! 

88     Donna  del  Ciel,  di  queste  cose  accorta, 

Rispose  il  mio  Maestro  a  lui,  pur  dianzi 
Ne  disse  :  Andate  la,  quivi  e  la  porta. 

91     Ed  ella  i  passi  vostri  in  bene  avanzi, 
Ricomincio  il  cortese  portinaio : 
Venite  dunque  a'  nostri  gradi  innanzi. 

94    La  ne  venimmo  ;  e  lo  scaglion  primaio, 
Bianco  marmo  era  si  pulito  e  terso, 
Ch'  io  mi  specchiai  in  esso  quale  io  paio. 

97  Era  il  secondo,  tinto  piu  che  perso, 
D'  una  petrina  ruvida  ed  arsiccia, 
Crepata  per  lo  lungo  e  per  tra verso. 


Canto  IX.]  PURGATORY.  127 

As  more  and  more  my  eyes  dilated, 
On  topmost  stair  I  saw  him  seated, 

His  face  so  dazzling  bright 

As  baffled  all  my  sight. 
A  naked  sword  his  hand  directed, 
Whence  the  Sun's  rays  were  so  reflected 

Towards  us,  I  might  not  brook 

Thither  to  turn  my  look. 
;<  Stay  where  ye  are,  and  thence "  he  said 
"  Your  purpose  tell,  and  who  hath  led 

"  You  hither,  and  beware 

"  Your  climbing  cost  not  dear." 
My  Master  answered  :  "  Even  now 
"  A  Heavenly  dame,  that  well  might  know, 

"  Spake  to  us  :  '  Go  before  : 

"  '  Lo  !  yonder  is  the  door.'  " 
"  Her  blessing  on  your  footsteps  wait : " 
(That  courteous  warden  of  the  gate 

Made  answer)  "  come  and  set 

"  Upon  our  stair  your  feet." 
We  thither  came  :  the  lowest  pace 
Was  marble  white,  of  polished  face 

So  smooth  it  did  reflect 

In  mirror  my  aspect. 
The  next  of  deepest  perse  was  stained, 
Of  furrowed  rock  and  fire-ingrained  ; 

But  cracked  throughout  with  scar, 

That  length  and  breadth  did  mar. 


128  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IX. 

ioo    Lo  terzo,  che  di  sopra  s'  ammassiccia, 
Porfido  mi  parea  si  fiammeggiante, 
Come  sangue  che  fuor  di  vena  spiccia. 

103    Sopra  questo  teneva  ambo  le  piante 

L'  Angel  di  Dio,  sedendo  in  sulla  soglia, 
Che  mi  sembiava  pietra  di  diamante. 

106    Per  li  tre  gradi  su  di  buona  voglia 

Mi  trasse  il  Duca  mio,  dicendo  :  Chiedi 
Umilemente  che  il  serrame  scioglia. 

109     Divoto  mi  gittai  a'  santi  piedi  : 

Misericordia  chiesi  e  che  m'  aprisse  : 
Ma  pria  nel  petto  tre  fiate  mi  diedi. 

112    Sette  P  nella  fronte  mi  descrisse 

Col  punton  della  spada,  e :   Fa  che  lavi, 
Ouando  sei  dentro,  queste  piaghe,   disse. 

115    Cenere  o  terra  che  secca  si  cavi, 

D'  un  color  fora  col  suo  vestimento, 
E  di  sotto  da  quel  trasse  due  chiavi. 

us  L'  una  era  d'  oro  e  Is  altra  era  d'  argento  : 
Pria  con  la  bianca,  e  poscia  con  la  gialla 
Fece  alia  porta  si  ch'  io  fui  contento. 


Canto  IX.]  PURGATORY.  129 

The  third,  that  over  all  was  spread, 
Was  porphyry,  as  flaming  red 

As  blood  that  bursts  amain 

Forth  from  an  opened  vein. 
Resting  his  feet  that  stair  upon, 
God's  Angel  sate  the  threshold  on, 

Threshold  that  seemed  a  block 

Of  adamantine  rock. 
Up  the  three  stairs  my  Leader  drew  me 
With  sweet  goodwill,  and  said  unto  me 

"  There  humbly  make  thy  plea 

"  That  he  unlock  to  thee." 
I  fell  before  his  blessed  feet : 
And  thrice  upon  my  breast  I  beat : 

Then  grace  did  I  implore, 

And  that  he  ope  the  door. 
Upon  my  brow  with  point  of  sword 
Seven  '  P's  he  wrote,  and  spake  this  word 

"  See  when  thou  art  within 

"  To  wash  them  thou  begin." 
Ashes,  or  earth   that  splits  with  drought, 
The  hue  whereof  his  robe  was  wrought : 

Two  keys  he  thence  forthdid 

Which  had  beneath  been  hid. 
Of  silver  one,  of  gold  his  fellow  : 
First  with  the  white,  then  with  the  yellow 
About  the  door  he  dealt, 

That  I  contentment  felt. 
K 


130  PURGATORIO.  [Canto    X. 

121     Quandunque  1'  una  d'  este  chiavi  falla, 
Che  non  si  volga  dritta  per  la  toppa, 
Diss'  egli  a  noi,  non  s'  apre  questa  calla. 

124  Piu  cara  e  1'  una  ;  ma  1'  altra  vuol  troppa 
D'  arte  e  d'  ingegno  avanti  che  disserri, 
Perch'  ell'  e  quella  che  il  nodo  disgroppa. 

127    Da  Pier  le  tengo;   e  dissemi,  ch'  io  erri 
Anzi  ad  aprir,  che  a  tenerla  serrata, 
Pur  che  la  gente  a'  piedi  mi  s'  atterri. 

130    Poi  pinse  1'  uscio  alia  porta  sacrata, 

Dicendo  :  Entrate  ;  ma  facciovi  accorti 
Che  di  fuor  torna  chi  indietro  si  guata. 

133    E  quando  fur  ne'  cardini  distorti 

Gli  spigoli  di  quella  regge  sacra, 
Che  di  metallo  son  sonanti  e  forti, 

136  Non  rugghio  si,  ne  si  mostro  si  acra 
Tarpeia,  come  tolto  le  fu  il  buono 
Metello,  per  che  poi  rimase  macra. 

139    Io  mi  rivolsi  attento  al  primo  tuono, 
E,  Te  Deum  laudamns,  mi  parea 
Udir  in  voce  mista  al  dolce  suono. 


Canto  IX.]  PURGATORY.  131 

"  When  of  these  keys  one  goes  awry, 
"  And  will  not  in  the  keyhole  ply, 

"  This  pass  "  he  said  "  to  none 

"May  ever  be  undone. 
"  That  cost  more  dear :  but  this  doth  still 
"  Need  greater  wit  and  greater  skill, 

"  The  secret  ere  it  learn 

"  Within  the  wards  to  turn. 
"  These  Peter  gave :  and  bade  me  choose 
"  Rather  to  ope  than  to  refuse, 

"  So  but  to  earthward  all 

"  Before  my  footstool  fall." 
The  hallowed  door  he  pushed  ajar, 
And  said  "  Go  in,  but  be  ye  ware, 

"  Whose  gaze  is  backward  given 

"  Shall  straightway  be  forthdriven." 
As  on  their  hinges  turned  them  slowly 
The  spindles  of  that  portal  holy, 

With  deep  resounding  clang 

The  solid  metal  rang. 
Louder  that  sound,  more  harsh  that  roar. 
Than  echoed  from  Tarpeia's  door, 

When  bare  her  hoard  was  left, 

From  good  Metellus  reft. 
I  turned  away,  my  ears  intent 
On  the  first  tone  from  voices  sent, 

That  with  sweet  music  meeting 

Te  Deum  seemed  repeating. 
K  % 


132  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  IX. 

142    Tale  immagine  appunto  mi  rendea 

Cio  ch'  io  udiva,  qual  prender  si  suole 
Quando  a  cantar  con  organi  si  stea : 

145    Che  or  si  or  no  s'  intendon  le  parole. 


Canto  IX.]  PURGATORY.  133 

I  listened  even  as  one  attending, 

When  organ  pipes  with  chant  are  blending, 

And  now  the  words  are  plain, 

And  now  are  lost  again. 


CANTO    DECIMO. 

Foi  fummo  dentro  al  soglio  della  porta 
Che  il  malo  amor  dell'  anime  disusa, 
Perche  fa  parer  dritta  la  via  torta, 

4    Suonando  la  sentii  esser  richiusa : 

E  s'  io  avessi  gli  occhi  volti  ad  essa, 
Qual  fora  stata  al  fallo  degna  scusa? 

7    Noi  salivam  per  una  pietra  fessa, 

Che  si  moveva  d'  una  e  d'  altra  parte, 
Si  come  1'  onda  che  fugge  e  s'  appressa. 

io  Qui  si  convien  usare  un  poco  d'  arte, 
Comincio  il  Duca  mio,  in  accostarsi 
Or  quinci,  or  quindi  al  lato  che  si  parte. 

13    E  cio  fece  li  nostri  passi  scarsi 

Tanto,  che  pria  lo  scemo  della  luna 
Rigiunsc  al  letto  suo  per  ricorcarsi, 


CANTO    X. 

When  we  were  come  within  the  gate, 
Disused  of  souls  that  leave  the  straight 
To  seek  the  crooked  way, 
By  ill  love  led  astray, 
I  heard  the  sound  that  told  it  fast ; 
Had  then  my  eyes  been  backward  cast, 
What  pleading  could  I  use, 
How  such  a  fault  excuse? 
Through  a  cleft  rock  we   made  ascent, 
Now  hither  and  now  thither  bent, 
As  curves  the  wavelet's  track, 
Now  forward  and  now  back. 
"  Some  little  art "   began  my  Guide 
"  Needs  here  we  use,  to  keep  the  side 
"  Whereto  the  passage  tends 
"  As  to  and  fro  it  bends." 
Our  steps  that  labour  made  so  few, 
The  needle's  eye  we  came  not  through, 
Ere  on  her  couch  again 
The  dwindled  moon  had  lain. 


136  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  X. 

16  Che  noi  fossimo  fuor  di  quella  cruna. 
Ma  quando  fummo  liberi  ed  aperti 
Su,  dove  il  monte  indietro  si  rauna, 

19    Io  stancato,  ed  ambedue  incerti 

Di  nostra  via,  ristemmo  su  in  un  piano 
Solingo  piu  che  strade  per  diserti. 

22    Dalla  sua  sponda,  ove  confina  il  vano, 
Al  pie  dell'  alta  ripa,  che  pur  sale, 
Misurrebbe  in  tre  volte  un  corpo  umano, 

25  E  quanto  1'  occhio  mio  potea  trar  d'  ale 
Or  dal  sinistro  ed  or  dal  destro  fianco, 
Questa  cornice  mi  parea  cotale. 

28  Lassu  non  eran  mossi  i  pie  nostri  anco, 
Quand'  io  conobbi  quella  ripa  intorno, 
Che  dritta  di  salita  aveva  manco, 

31     Esser  di  marmo  candido,  ed  adorno 
D'  intagli  si,  che  non  pur  Policleto, 
Ma  la  natura  11  avrebbe  scorno. 

34    L'  Angel  che  venne  in  terra  col  decreto 
Delia  molt'  anni  lagrimata  pace, 
Che  aperse  il  Ciel  dal  suo  lungo  divieto, 


Canto  X.]  PURGATORY.  1^1 

When  we  were  issued  forth,  and  stood 
Unhindered  on  the  open  road, 

About  the  mountain's  brink, 

That  there  doth  inward  shrink, 
All  wearied  I,  and  both  at  fault 
What  way  to  take,  we  made  our  halt 

On  plain  more  lonely  far 

Than  roads  in  desert  are. 
From  where  the  edge  confines  the  clear 
To  the  high  bank  that  rises  sheer, 

The  measure  of  a  man 

Thrice  told  its  breadth  would  span. 
And  far  as  eye  could  wing  its  flight, 
On  either  hand,  to  left,  to  right, 

That  girdling  terrace  line 

Seemed  all  of  like  design. 
We  had  not  moved  upon  that  ground, 
When  looking  on  the  bank  around, 

Whose  cliff  so  steep  was  made 

As  all  ascent  forbade, 
I  knew  it  of  white  marble,  decked 
With  sculpture  fair,  in  whose  respect 

Not  Polyclete  alone, 

But  Nature  was  outshone. 
I  saw  the  Angel  there,  who  came 
The  peace  long  wept  for  to  proclaim, 

And  to  unclose  the  door 

Of  Heaven  denied  before : 


138  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  X. 

37    Dinanzi  a  noi  pareva  si  verace 

Quivi  intagliato  in  un  atto  soave, 
Che  non  sembiava  immagine  che  tace. 

40    Giurato  si  saria  ch'  ei  dicesse :  Ave ; 
Perocche  ivi  era  immaginata  Quella, 
Che  ad  aprir  1'  alto  amor  volse  la  chiave. 

43    Ed  avea  in  atto  impressa  esta  favella, 
Ecce  ancilla  Dei,  propriamente 
Come  figura  in  cera  si  suggella. 

46    Non  tener  pure  ad  un   luogo  la  mente, 
Disse  il  dolce  Maestro,  che  m'  avea 
Da  quella  parte,  onde  il  cuore  ha  la  gente  : 

49  Perch'  io  mi  mossi  col  viso,  e  vedea 
Diretro  da  Maria,  per  quella  costa, 
Onde  m'  era  colui  che  mi  movea, 

52    Un'  altra  storia  nella  roccia  imposta  : 

Perch'  io  varcai  Virgilio,  e  femmi  presso, 
Acciocche  fosse  agli  occhi  miei  disposta. 

55    Era  intagliato  11  nel  marmo  stesso 

Lo  carro  e  i  buoi  traendo  1'  area  santa, 
Per  che  si  teme  offizio  non  commesso. 


Canto  X.]  PURGATORY.  139 

And  as  before  that  form  we  stood, 
Engraved  in  gracious  attitude, 
So  true  his  image  seemed, 
He  could  not  mute  be  deemed. 
One  would  have  sworn  that  '  Hail !  '  he  said, 
For  by  his  side  was  She  portrayed, 
Even  She  who  turned  the  key, 
That  Heavenly  love  set  free. 
Her  lips  were  fashioned  to  the  word 
'  Behold  the  handmaid  of  the  Lord  ! ', 
As  true  as  wax  revealing 
The  impress  of  its  sealing. 
"  Let  not  thine  eyes  there  only  stay  " 
1  heard  my  gracious  Master  say 
(And  I  was  near  that  part 
Where  beats  the  human  heart) : 
Wherefore  I  turned  about  my  face, 
And  looked  beyond  him  past  the  place 
Where  Mary  was  designed  : 
There  on  the  rock  behind 
I  saw  another  tale  embossed  : 
Whereto  by  Virgil's  side  I  crossed, 
That  so  that  panel  might 
Be  nearer  to  my  sight. 
God's  Ark  in  very  marble  wrought, 
On  ox-car  drawn,  the  lesson  taught 
That  task  to  have  in  fear 
We  be  not  called  to  bear. 


140  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  X. 

58    Dinanzi  parea  gente ;  e  tutta  quanta, 

Partita  in  sette  cori,  a'  due  miei  sensi 
Faceva  dir  1'  un  No,  1'  altro  Si  canta. 

61     Similemente  al  fummo  degl'  incensi 

Che  v'  era  immaginato,  gli  occhi  e  il  naso 
Ed  al  SI  ed  al  No  discordi  fensi. 

64    Li  precedeva  al  benedetto  vaso, 

Trescando  alzato,  1'  umile  Salmista, 
E  piu  e  men  che  re  era  in  quel  caso. 

67     Di  contra  effigiata  ad  una  vista 

D'  un  gran  palazzo  Micol  ammirava, 
Si  come  donna  dispettosa  e  trista. 

70    Io  mossi  i  pie  del  loco  dov'  io  stava, 
Per  avvisar  da  presso  un'  altra  storia 
Che  diretro  a  Micol  mi  biancheggiava. 

73    Ouivi  era  storiata  1'  alta  gloria 

Del  Roman  principato,  il  cui  valore 
Mosse  Gregorio  alia  sua  gran  vittoria : 

76    Io  dico  di  Traiano  Imperadore ; 

Ed  una  vedovella  gli  era  al  freno, 
Di  lagrime  atteggiata  e  di  dolore. 


Canto  X.]  PURGATORY.  14* 

In  front  moved  seven  bands,  from  whence 
Confusion  fell  on  me,  my  sense 

A  double  answer  bringing, 

'  They  are,  they  are  not  singing.' 
The  incense  steam  with  like  surprise 
Bewildered  both  my  nose  and  eyes, 

Discordant  message  sending, 

For  Aye  and  No  contending. 
The  Psalmist  meek,  in  ephod  dressed, 
Danced  on  before  that  vessel  blest, 

And  more  and  less  than  king 

Seemed  in  his  worshipping. 
And  Michal  too  was  sculptured  there, 
At  casement  set  of  palace  fair, 

Whence  on  her  lord  she  gazed, 

Like  haughty  dame  displeased. 
Then  behind  Michal,  gleaming  white, 
Another  history  met  my  sight, 

Wherefore  I  moved  me  on 

That  place  to  look  upon. 
Lo !  there  was  sculptured  all  the  story 
Of  the  imperial  Roman's  glory, 

That  upon  Gregory  wrought 

And  his  great  triumph  brought. 
Of  Trajan  Emperor  'tis  told : 
And  widow  there  did   I  behold, 

That  to  his  bridle  pressed, 

Weeping  and  sore  distressed. 


142  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  X. 

79    Intorno  a  lui  parea  calcato  e  pieno 
Di  cavalieri,  e  1'  aquile  nell'  oro 
Sovr'  esso  in  vista  al  vento  si  movieno. 

82    La  miserella  intra  tutti   costoro 

Parea  dicer :  Signor,  fammi  vendetta 

Di  mio  flgliuol  ch'  e  morto,  ond  io  m'  accoro. 

85    Ed  egli  a  lei  rispondere  :  Ora  aspetta 

Tanto  ch'  io  torni.     E  quella :  Signor  mio, 
Come  persona  in  cui  dolor  s'  affretta, 

88    Se  tu  non  torni  ?  Ed  ei  :  Chi  fia  dov'  io 
La  ti  fara.     E  quella  :  L'  altrui  bene 
A  te  che  fia,  se  il  tuo  metti  in  obblio  ? 

91     Ond'  egli  :  Or  ti  conforta,  che  conviene 

Ch'  io  solva  il  mio  dovere,  anzi  ch'  io  muova : 
Giustizia  vuole  e  pieta.  mi  ritiene. 

94    Colui,  che  mai  non  vide  cosa  nuova, 
Produsse  esto  visibile  parlare, 
Novello  a  noi,  perche  qui  non  si  truova. 

97    Mentr'  io  mi  dilettava  di  guardare 
Le  immagini  di  tante  umilitadi, 
E  per  lo  fabbro  loro  a  veder  care ; 


Canto  X.]  PURGATORY.  143 

Filled  was  the  place  with  trampling  crowd 
Of  horsemen,  that  about  her  rode : 

The  eagles  gold-outspread 

Waved  o'er  the  prince's  head. 
Amongst  them  all  she  seemed  to  plain 
'  Lord,  do  me  vengeance  for  the  slain : 

'  My  son  is  dead,  and  I 

'  Am  all  in  misery.' 
He  answered  '  Let  thy  pleading  stay 
'  Till  I  come  back  upon  my  way  : ' 

And  she,  as  one  whom  grief 

Spurs  on  to  seek  relief, 
'  Lord,  if  thou  come  not  ? '     '  Then,'  he  said 
'  Who  follows  me  shall  give  thee  aid.' 

'  Nay,  thine  own  good  forgot, 

'  Another's  helps  thee  not.' 
'  Be  comforted  :  I  needs  must  do 
'  My  duty  even  before  I  go : 

'  So  justice  doth  command, 

'  And  pity  rules  my  hand.' 
'Twas  He,  whose  sight  nought  new  may  find, 
This  visible  discourse  designed, 

New  but  to  us,  for  we 

Its  like  here  may  not  see. 
While  with  delight  my  eyes  surveyed 
Those  fair  humilities  displayed, 

More  dear,  more  fair  that  were 

For  their  artificer, 


144  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  X. 

100  Ecco  di  qua,  ma  fanno  i  passi  radi, 
Mormorava  il  Poeta,  molte  genti : 
Questi  ne  invieranno  agli  alti  gradi. 

103    Gli  occhi  miei  ch'  a  mirar  eran  intend, 
Per  veder  novitadi,  onde  son  vaghi, 
Volgendosi  ver  lui,  non  furon  lenti. 

106    Non  vo'  pero,  Lettor,  che  tu  ti  smaghi 
Di  buon  proponimento,  per  udire 
Come  Dio  vuol  che  il  debito  si  paghi. 

109    Non  attender  la  forma  del  martire : 

Pensa  la  succession  ;  pensa  che,  al  peggio, 
Oltre  la  gran  sentenza  non  puo  ire. 

112    Io  cominciai :  Maestro,  quei  ch'  io  veggio 
Muover  a  noi,  non  mi  sembran  persone, 
E  non  so  che,  si  nel  veder  vaneggio. 

115    Ed  egli  a  me:  La  grave  condizione 

Di  lor  tormento  a  terra  li  rannicchia 

Si,  che  i  miei  occhi  pria  n'  ebber  tenzone. 

11S    Ma  guarda  fiso  la,  e  disviticchia 

Col  viso  quel  che  vien  sotto  a  quei  sassi  : 
Gia  scorger  puoi  come  ciascun  si  picchia. 


Canto  X.]  PURGATORY.  145 

The  Poet  murmured  :  "  See  below 
"  A  people  come  with  paces  slow : 

"They  shall  the  pathway  teach 

"  To  the  high  stairs  to  reach." 
And  I  who  was  intent  to  find 
New  things  whereon  to  feast  my  mind, 

Unto  his  call  gave  heed, 

And  turned  to  him  with  speed. 
Reader,  believe  I  would  not  stay  thee, 
Nor  from  thy  purpose  fair  dismay  thee, 

Telling  what  God  hath  set 

For  payment  of  the  debt : 
Mark  not  the  fashion  of  their  pains, 
But  think  on  what  behind  remains  : 

Think  how  at  worst  must  come 

An  end  at  day  of  doom. 
Began  I :  "  Master,  those  I  see 
"  Move  towards  us  seem  not  men  to  be, 

"But  what,  my  wavering  sight 

"  Cannot  discern  aright." 
And  he  to  me  :  "  Their  grievous  state, 
"  Crushed  and  bent  down   'neath  heavy  weight, 

"  At  first  forbade  my  eyes 

"  Their  shape  to  recognise. 
"  But  let  thy  sight  its  way  divide, 
"  And  pierce  to  what  yon  masses  hide  : 

"  Already  shalt  thou  know 

"  The  toil  they  undergo." 
L 


'46  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  X. 

i2x     O  superbi  Cristian,  miseri  lassi, 

Che,  della  vista  della  mente  infermi, 
Fidanza  avete  ne'  ritrosi  passi  ; 

124    Non  v'  accorgete  voi,  che  noi  siam  vermi 
Nati  a  formar  1'  angelica  farfalla, 
Che  vola  alia  giustizia  senza  schermi  ? 

127  Di  che  1'  animo  vostro  in  alto  galla? 
Voi  siete  quasi  entomata  in  difetto, 
Si  come  verme,  in  cui  formazion  falla. 

130  Come  per  sostentar  solaio  o  tetto, 
Per  mensola  talvolta  una  figura 
Si  vede  giunger  le  ginocchia  al  petto, 

133    La  qual  fa  del  non  ver  vera  rancura 
Nascere  a  chi  la  vede  ;  cosi  fatti 
Vid'  io  color,  quando  posi  ben  cura. 

136    Ver  e  che  piu  e  meno  eran  contratti, 

Secondo  ch'  avean  piu  e  meno  addosso : 
E  qual  piu  pazienza  avea  negli  atti 

139    Piangendo  parea  dicer:  Piu  non  posso. 


Canto  X.]  PURGATORY.  14; 

O  scornful  Christians,  weary,  worn, 
Of  vision  your  sick  mind  forlorn, 

Who  trust  for  your  endeavour 

To  feet  backsliding  ever! 
Know  ye  not  we  are  but  the  worm, 
Born  the  angelic  moth  to  form, 

That  puts  away  disguise, 

And  straight  to  judgment  flies? 
Why  soar  ye  so  presumptuously? 
But  insects  incomplete  are  ye : 

But  worms,  delaying  still 

Your  nature  to  fulfil. 
As  upon  corbel-table  set 
To  carry  floor  or  parapet 

Oft  shows  a  figure  pressed, 

With  knee  close  drawn  to  breast : 
From  that  untruth  true  pain  doth  grow 
In  him  who  sees  it :  even  so 

Was  fashioned  every  one 

I  bent  my  gaze  upon. 
In  sooth  were  some  more  bowed,  some  less, 
As  less  or  more  their  load  did  press  : 

Seemed  he,  the  worst  that  bore, 

To  groan  '  I  can  no  more.' 


L    2 


CANTO   DECIMOPRIMO. 

O  padre  nostro,  che  nei  cieli  stai, 
Non  circonscritto,  ma  per  piu  amore, 
Che  ai  primi  effetti  di  lassu  tu  hai, 

4    Laudato  sia  il  tuo  nome  e  il  tuo  valore 
Da  ogni  creatura,  com'  e  degno 
Di  render  grazie  al  tuo  dolce  vapore. 
7    Vegna  ver  noi  la  pace  del  tuo  regno, 
Che  noi  ad  essa  non  potem  da  noi, 
S'  ella  non  vien,  con  tutto  nostro  ingegno. 

10    Come  del  suo  voler  gli  angeli  tuoi 

Fan  sacrificio  a  te,  cantando  Osanna, 
Cosi  facciano  gli  uomini  de'  suoi. 

13    Da  oggi  a  noi  la  cotidiana  manna, 

Senza  la  qual  per  questo  aspro  diserto 
A  retro  va  chi  piu  di  gir  s'  affanna. 


CANTO    XI. 

"  OUR  Father,  thou  which  art  in  Heaven, 
"  Not  that  aught  else  thy  bounds  hath  given, 

"  But  for  thy  greater  love 

"  To  thy  first  works  above, 
"  Hallowed  and  lauded  be  thy  name  ; 
"  Let  creatures  all  thy  power  proclaim  : 

"  Tis  meet  our  thanks  alway 

"  To  thy  sweet  breath  we  pay. 
"  Thy  kingdom's  peace  vouchsafe  to  give  : 
"  Except  it  come  to  us,  we  strive 

"  In  vain  :   for  all  our  wit 

"  We  ne'er  can  compass  it. 
"  And  even  as  do  the  angels,  bending 
"  Before  thee,  their  Hosannas  sending, 

"  Let  man  his  will  resign 

"  In  sacrifice  to  thine. 
'  This  day  with  daily  manna  bless, 
"  Our  strength  in  this  rough  wilderness  : 

"  Except  that  meat  we  find, 

"  Our  toiling  lags  behind. 


15©  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XI. 

16    E  come  noi  lo  mal  che  avem  sofferto 
Perdoniamo  a  ciascuno,  e  tu  perdona, 
Benigno,  e  non  guardar  lo  nostro  merto. 

19    Nostra  virtu,  che  di  leggier  s'  adona, 

Non  spermentar  con  1'  antico  avversaro, 
Ma  libera  da  lui,  che  si  la  sprona. 

12    Quest'  ultima  preghiera,  Signor  caro, 

Gia  non  si  fa  per  noi,  che  non  bisogna, 
Ma  per  color,  che  dietro  a  noi  restaro. 

^5     Cost  a  se  e  noi  buona  ramogna 

Quell'  ombre  orando,  andavan  sotto  il  pondo, 
Simile  a  quel  che  talvolta  si  sogna, 

28    Disparmente  angosciate  tutte  a  tondo, 
E  lasse  su  per  la  prima  cornice, 
Purgando  le  caligini  del  mondo. 

31     Se  di  la  sempre  ben  per  noi  si  dice, 

Di  qua  che  dire  e  far  per  lor  si  puote 
Da  quei,  ch'  hanno  al  voler  buona  radice  ? 

34    Ben  si  dee  loro  aitar  lavar  le  note, 

Che  portar  quinci,  si  che  mondi  e  lievi 
Possano  uscire  alle  stellate  ruote. 


Canto  XI.]  PURGATORY.  151 

(i  And  like  as  we  his  trespass  will 
"  Forgive  to  him  who  did  us  ill, 

"  Our  merit  weigh  not  thou, 

"  But  pardon  free  bestow. 
"  Let  not  our  ancient  foe  assail, 
"  Nor  put  to  test  our  virtue  frail  : 

"  But  from  his  guile  deliver 

"  To  evil  prompting  ever. 
"  This  last  petition,  Lord,  we  make 
':  Not  for  ourselves,  but  for  their  sake 

"  Whom  we  have  gone  before  : 

"  We  need  it  now  no  more." 
So  moved  those  souls  along,  their  prayer 
For  us,  for  them,  a  speeding  fair, 

Bowed  'neath  such  weight  as  seems 

To  press  on  us  in  dreams ; 
So,  but  not  equal  torment  knowing, 
Clean  from  the  world's  foul  darkness  growing, 

Round  the  first  ledge  went  they 

Up  on  their  weary  way. 
If  for  our  weal  their  word  be  said, 
Were  it  not  ours  to  lend  them  aid 

By  deed,  by  speech,  the  fruit 

That  comes  of  kindly  root  ? 
Yea,  well  it  were  with  helpful  love 
Their  earthly  blemish  to  remove, 

That  light  and  clean  from  stain 

The  star-set  spheres  they  gain. 


152  TURGATORIO.  [Canto  XI. 

37    Deh !  se  giustizia  e  pieta  vi  disgrevi 
Tosto,  s\  che  possiate  muover  1'  ala, 
Che  secondo  il  disio  vostro  vi  levi, 

4o    Mostrate  da  qual  mano  in  ver  la  scala 

Si  va  piu  corto  ;  e  se  c'  e  piu  d'  un  varco, 
Quel  ne  insegnate  che  men  erto  cala : 

43    Che  questi  che  vien  meco,  per  1'  incarco 
Delia  carne  d'  Adamo,  ond'  ei  si  veste, 
Al  montar  su,  contra  sua  voglia,  e  parco. 

46    Le  lor  parole,  che  rendero  a  queste, 
Che  dette  avea  colui  cu'  io  seguiva, 
Non  fur  da  cui  venisser  manifeste  ; 

49    Ma  fu  detto :  A  man  destra  per  la  riva 
Con  noi  venite,  e  troverete  il  passo 
Possibile  a  salir  persona  viva. 

52  E  s'  io  non  fossi  impedito  dal  sasso, 
Che  la  cervice  mia  superba  doma, 
Onde  portar  convienmi  il  viso  basso, 

55    Cotesti  che  ancor  vive,  e  non  si  noma, 

Guardare'  io,  per  veder  s'  io  '1  conosco, 
E  per  farlo  pietoso  a  questa  soma. 


Canto  XI.]  PURGATORY.  153 

"  Oh  !  speedily  may  justice  raise  you, 
"And  pity  lift  the  load  that  stays  you, 

"  So  after  your  desire 

"Your  wings  may  bear  you  higher, 
"Please  you  to  show  where  turns  the  stair, 
"  Which  path  to  take  to  lead  us  there  ; 

"If  more  than  one  ye  know, 

"  The  easiest  deign  to  show. 
"  He  with  me  comes  who  for  his  wearing 
"The  load  of  Adam's  flesh  is  bearing- : 

"  His  will  may  scarce  avail 

"  The  steeper  way  to  scale." 
So  spake  he  in  whose  steps  I  went  ; 
But  whence  the  words  that  then  were  sent 

Answering  that  request, 

Was  never  manifest  : 
Only  I  heard  "The  right  hand  keep, 
"  And  with  us  wind  about  the  steep  ; 

"  Ye  shall  to  pass  be  led 

"That  living  man  may  tread. 
"And  were  there  not,  my  will  to  check, 
"This  stone  that  curbs  my  haughty  neck, 

"  Wherefore  with  downcast  brow 

"  Along  the  road   I  go, 
"  Fain  would  I  on  that  living  wight 
"  Whose  name  ye  tell  not  turn  my  sight : 

"There  if  I  knew  his  face, 

"My  load  might  plead  for  grace. 


154  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XI. 

58    Io  fui  Latino,  e  nato  d'  un  gran  Tosco  : 
Guglielmo  Aldobrandesco  fu  mio  padre: 
Non  so  se  il  nome  suo  giammai  fu  vosco. 

61    L'  antico  sangue  e  1'  opere  leggiadre 

De'  miei  maggior  mi  fer  si  arrogante, 
Che  non  pensando  alia  comune  madre, 

64    Ogni  uomo  ebbi  in  dispetto  tanto  avante 
Ch'  io  ne  mori1 ;  come  i  Sanesi  sanno, 
E  sallo  in  Campagnatico  ogni  fante. 

67    Io  sono  Omberto :  e  non  pure  a  me  danno 
Superbia  fa,  che  tutti  i  miei  consorti 
Ha  ella  tratti  seco  nel  malanno. 

70    E  qui  convien  ch'  io  questo  peso  porti 
Per  lei,  tanto  che  a  Dio  si  soddisfaccia, 
Poi  ch'  io  nol  fei  tra'  vivi,  qui  tra'  morti. 

73    Ascoltando,  chinai  in  giu  la  faccia  ; 

Ed  un  di  lor,  non  questi  che  parlava, 
Si  torse  sotto  il  peso  che  lo  impaccia  : 

76    E  videmi  e  conobbemi  e  chiamava, 
Tenendo  gli  occhi  con  fatica  fisi 
A  me,  che  tutto  chin  con  lui  andava. 


Canto  XI.]  PURGATORY.  155 

"  Latin  was  I  :  for  sire  I  claim 
"  William,  of  noble  Tuscan  name, 

"  Aldobrandeschi :  say 

"If  still  his  memory  stay. 
"  The  deeds  that  my  forefathers  did, 
"  Their  ancient  blood,  so  swelled  my  pride, 

"  I  thought  not  on  the  womb 

"  From  whence  we  all  are  come, 
"  But  scorned  my  fellow  men  :  right  well, 
"  How  from  that  scorn  my  death  befell, 

"  Sienna's  people  know 

"  And  Campagnatico. 
"  Humbert  am  I  :  nor  here  alone 
"  Am  I  of  those  by  pride  fordone  ; 

"  But  all  who  with  me  are 

"  Like  punishment  must  share. 
"Therefore  needs  must  I  bear  this  load, 
"  And  satisfaction  make  to  God  : 

"  The  debt  in  life  delayed 

"  Must  with  the  dead  be  paid." 
I  bowed  my  face,  his  words  to  hear : 
And  one,  not  he  was  speaking  there, 

Upwrithing  'neath  the  pack, 

That  cumbered  all  his  back, 
Saw  me  and  knew  and  called,  his  eyes 
Fastened  on  me  in  weary  guise, 

As  with  my  body  bent 

Along  with  them  I  went. 


156  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XI. 

79    O,  dissi  lui,  non  sei  tu  Oderisi, 

L'  onor  d'  Agobbio,  e  1'  onor  di  quell'  arte 
Che  alluminare  chiamata  e  in  Parisi  ? 

82     Frate,  diss'  egli,  piu  ridon  le  carte 

Che  pennelleggia  Franco  Bolognese  : 
L'  onore  e  tutto  or  suo,  e  mio  in  parte. 

85    Ben  non  sare'  io  stato  si  cortese 

Mentre  ch'  io  vissi,  per  lo  gran  disio 
Dell'  eccellenza,  ove  mio  cuore  intese. 

88    Di  tal  superbia  qui  si  paga  il  fio ; 

Ed  ancor  non  sarei  qui,  se  non  fosse, 
Che,  possendo  peccar,  mi  volsi  a  Dio. 

91     O  vana  gloria  dell'  umane  posse, 

Com  poco  verde  in  sulla  cima  dura, 
Se  non  e  giunta  dall'  etati  grosse ! 

94    Credette  Cimabue  nella  pittura 

Tener  lo  campo,  ed  ora  ha  Giotto  il  grido, 
Si  che  la  fama  di  colui  e  oscura. 

97    Cos!  ha  tolto  1'  uno  all'  altro  Guido 

La  gloria  della  lingua ;  e  forse  e  nato 
Chi  1'  uno  e  1'  altro  caccera  di  nido. 


Canto  XL]  PURGATORY.  1.57 

"  Art  not  thou  Oderis,"  I  cried 

"  Of  Gubbio  and  that  school  the  pride, 

"  Which  they  of  Paris  all 

"  The  limners'  mystery  call  ?  " 
"  Brother,  more  bright  the  pages  shine 
"  Bologna's  Franco  did  design  : 

"  Now  his  is  all  the  fame, 

"  'Less  I  some  part  may  claim. 
"  Such  courtesy  I  had  not  shown 
"Whiles  that  I  lived  the  earth  upon  : 

"  Then  all  my  longing  sense 

"  Did  covet  excellence. 
"  Here  pride  its  forfeit  pays :  nor  yet 
"  Within  this  place  should  I  be  set, 

"  Had  I  not  sin  unlearned, 

"  And  unto  God  returned. 
"  O  glory  vain  of  human  power ! 
"  Of  thy  green  top  how  short  the  hour, 

"  Except  it  chance  to  find 

"A  duller  age  behind! 
"  So  Cimabue  deemed  the  field 
"  Of  painting  his,  but  now  doth  yield 

"  To  Giotto  his  renown, 

"And  all  obscure  hath  grown. 
"  So  Guido  hath  from  Guido  ta'en 
"The  glory  of  the  poet's  strain, 

"  And  haply  one  doth  live 

"  Both  from  their  nest  shall  drive. 


158  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XI. 

100    Non  e  il  mondan  romore  altro  che  un  fiato 

Di  vento,  che  or  vien  quinci  ed  or  vien  quindi, 
E  muta  nome,  perche  muta  lato. 

103    Che  fama  avrai  tu  piu,  se  vecchia  scindi 
Da  te  la  carne,  che  se  fossi  morto 
Innanzi  che  lasciassi  il  pappo  e  il  dindi, 

106    Pria  che  passin  mill'  anni  ?  ch'  e  piu  corto 

Spazio  all'  eterno,  che  un  muover  di  ciglia, 
Al  cerchio  che  piu  tardi  in  cielo  e  torto. 

109  Colui,  che  del  cammin  si  poco  piglia 
Dinanzi  a  me,  Toscana  sono  tutta, 
Ed  ora  a  pena  in  Siena  sen  pispiglia, 

112     Ond'  era  sire,  quando  fu  distrutta 
La  rabbia  fiorentina,  che  superba 
Fu  a  quel  tempo,  si  com'  ora  e  putta. 

115  La  vostra  nominanza  e  color  d'  erba, 
Che  viene  e  va,  e  quei  la  discolora, 
Per  cui  ell'  esce  della  terra  acerba. 


Canto  XL]  PURGATORY.  159 

"  Nought  else  the  praise  the  world  bestows 
"  Than  breath  of  wind  that  comes  and  goes, 

"  From  side  to  side  that  ranging 

"  Its  name  is  ever  changing. 
"  What  if  from  thee  thy  flesh  thou  shed, 
"  Outworn  with  length  of  days,  instead 

"  Of  dying  a  child,  before 

"  Thy  baby  prattle  o'er : 
':  Will  any  fame  be  thine  at  last, 
"  After  a  thousand  years  are  past  ? 

"  A  thousand  years,  how  small 

"  A  space  when  matched  with  all 
"  The  period  of  eternity  ! 
"  'Tis  but  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 

"  To  orb  that  tardiest  rolls 

"About  the  heavenly  poles. 
"  His  fame,  in  front  who  moves  so  slowly, 
"  Through  Tuscany  resounded  wholly : 

"  Now  scarce  'tis  breathed  by  one 

"  In  all  Sienna's  town  ; 
"Yet  was  he  once  their  lord  :  his  blow 
"  The  frenzy  Florentine  laid  low, 

"  So  haughty  in  that  hour, 

"  But  now  so  vile  and  poor. 
"  Your  name  is  but  the  hue  upon 
"  The  grass,  that  now  is  come,  now  gone  : 

"  The  same  by  Whom  it  grew 

"  Its  colour  will  undo." 


160  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XI. 

118    Ed  io  a  lui  :  Lo  tuo  ver  dir  m'  incuora 

Buona  umilta,  e  gran  tumor  m'  appiani : 
Ma  chi  e  quei  di  cui  tu  parlavi  ora  ? 

121     Quegli  e,  rispose,  Provenzan  Salvani  ; 
Ed  e  qui,  perche  fu  presuntuoso 
A  recar  Siena  tutta  alle  sue  mani. 

124    Ito  e  cosi,  e  va  senza  riposo, 

Poi  che  mori :  cotal  moneta  rende 
A  soddisfar  chi  e  di  la  tropp'  oso. 

127    Ed  io  :  Se  quello  spirito  che  attende, 
Pria  che  si  penta,  1'  orlo  della  vita, 
Laggiu  dimora,  e  quassu  non  ascende, 

130    Se  buona  orazion  lui  non  aita, 

Prima  che  passi  tempo,  quanto  visse, 
Come  fu  la  venuta  a  lui  largita  ? 

133    Quando  vivea  piu  glorioso,  disse, 

Liberamente  nel  campo  di  Siena, 
Ogni  vergogna  deposta,  s'  affisse : 

136    E  11,  per  trar  1'  amico  suo  di  pena, 

Che  sostenea  nella  prigion  di  Carlo, 
Si  condusse  a  tremar  per  ogni  vena. 


Canto  XI.]  PURGATORY.  161 

"  From  thy  true  word  my  heart "  I  said 
"  Learns  humbleness,  and  low  is  laid 

"  My  pride  :  but  deign  to  teach 

"  His  name,  that  fills  thy  speech." 
"  Here  Provenzan  Salvani  see, 
"  For  that  he  so  presumptuously 

"  Sienna  sought  to  bring 

"  Under  his  governing. 
"So,  since  he  came  among  the  dead, 
"  This  road  unresting  doth  he  tread  : 

"  No  other  mintage  may 

"  For  such  high  daring  pay." 
"  If  spirit  that  thinks  not  to  repent 
"  Until  his  round  of  life  be  spent, 

"  Must  down  below  attend, 

"  Nor  hitherward  ascend, 
"  Before  a  life-time's  term  be  gone, 
':  Except  good  prayer  shall  speed  him  on, 

"Whence  came"  I  said  "the  grace 

"That  brings  him  to  this  place?" 
"  When  highest  room  he  might  command. 
"  Of  his  free  will  he  chose  to  stand 

"  Within  Sienna's  square, 

"  A  beggar's  shame  to  bear : 
'•  In  every  vein  there  would  he  quiver, 
"  That  so  he  might  his  friend  deliver 

"  From  his  sore  languishment 

"  In  Charles'  prison  pent. 
M 


l6a  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XI. 

139    Piu  non  diro,  e  scuro  so  che  parlo  ; 

Ma  poco  tempo  andra  che  i  tuoi  vicini 
Faranno  si,  che  tu  potrai  chiosarlo. 

142    Quest'  opera  gli  tolse  quei  confini. 


Canto  XL]  PURGATORY.  1 63 

"  Dark  is  my  speech :   the  secret  thou 
"  At  thine  own  neighbours'  hands  shalt  know 
"  Ere  long :  the  love  he  proved 
"  Those  barriers  hath  removed." 


M   2 


CANTO    DECIMOSECONDO. 

Dl  pari,  come  buoi  die  vanno  a  giogo, 
M'  andava  io  con  quella  anima  carca, 
Fin  che  il  sofferse  il  dolce  pedagogo. 

4    Ma  quando  disse  :  Lascia  lui,  e  varca, 

Che  qui  e  buon  con  la  vela  e  coi  remi, 
Ouantunque  pu6  ciascun,  pinger  sua  barca  ; 

7     Dritto  si,  come  andar  vuolsi,  rife'  mi 

Con  la  persona,  avvegna  che  i  pensieri 
Mi  rimanessero  e  chinati  e  scemi. 

io    Io  m'  era  mosso,  e  seguia  volentieri 

Del  mio  Maestro  i  passi,  ed  ambedue 
Gia.  mostravam  come  eravam  leggieri, 

13    Quando  mi  disse:  Volgi  gli  occhi  in  giue : 
Buon  ti  sara,  per  tranquillar  la  via, 
Veder  lo  letto  delle  piante  tue. 


CANTO    XII. 

As  oxen  twain  that  draw  the  pole, 

Went  I  beside  that  burdened  soul, 
Far  as  along  the  road 
My  Tutor  sweet  allowed  ; 

But  when  he  said :  "  Now  move  thou  on  ; 

"With  oar,  with  sail,  needs  here  each  one 
"  With  all  the  strength  he  may 
"  To  urge  his  vessel's  way." 

Erect,  as  who  would  onward  go, 

I  made  myself  again,  although 

My  thoughts  the  while  remained 
All  humbled  and  enchained. 

I  moved  me  on  with  willing  mind, 

Following  my  Master's  steps  behind  : 
And  both  of  us  were  showing 
How  lightly  we  were  going. 

When  he  began :  "  Turn  down  thy  eyes  ; 

"  'Twere  well,  thy  way  to  tranquillise, 
"To  look  upon  the  bed 
"  Whereon  thy  footsoles  tread." 


166  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XII. 

1 6    Come,  perche  di  lor  memoria  sia, 
Sovra  i  sepolti  le  tombe  terragne 
Portan  segnato  quel  ch'  elli  eran  pria : 

19    (Onde  11  molte  volte  se  ne  piagne 

Per  la  puntura  della  rimembranza, 
Che  solo  ai  pii  da  delle  calcagne)  : 

22    Si  vid'  io  li,  ma  di  miglior  sembianza, 
Secondo  1'  artificio,  figurato 
Quanto  per  via  di  fuor  dal  monte  avanza. 

25    Vedea  colui  che  fu  nobil  creato 

Piu  ch'  altra  creatura,  giu  dal  Cielo 
Folgoreggiando  scender  da  un  lato. 

28    Vedeva  Briareo,  fitto  dal  telo 

Celestial,  giacer  dall'  altra  parte, 
Grave  alia  terra  per  lo  mortal  gelo. 

31  Vedea  Timbreo,  vedea  Pallade  e  Marte, 
Armati  ancora,  intorno  al  padre  loro, 
Mirar  le  membra  de'  Giganti  sparte. 

34    Vedea  Nembrot  appie  del  gran  lavoro, 
Quasi  smarrito,  e  riguardar  le  genti 
Che  in  Sennaar  con  lui  superbi  foro. 


Canto  XII.]  PURGATORY.  167 

Even  as,  their  memory  to  save, 
Over  those  buried  in  the  grave 

The  tombs  a  figure  bear 

To  show  what  once  they  were, 
(There  oftentimes  the  tear  will  start, 
When  fond  remembrance  pricks  the  heart, 

Its  spur  that  never  gives 

Except  where  pity  lives  :) 
So  saw  I  all  the  pathway's  floor 
Around  the  mountain  figured  o'er, 

But  by  his  skill  that  wrought 

To  fairer  semblance  brought. 
I  saw  the  noblest  there  of  all 
Beings  created  downward  fall 

On  one  side  out  of  Heaven, 

In  flash  of  fiery  levin. 
I  saw  upon  the  other  hand 
Briareus  lie,  by  heavenly  brand 

Pierced,  and  to  earth  beneath 

Weighed  down  by  chill  of  death. 
I  saw  Thymbraeus,  Pallas,  Mars, 
Still  armoured  for  their  father's  wars, 

Marvelling  where  lay  the  dead, 

Their  giant  limbs  outspread. 
I  saw  where  Nimrod  all  amazed 
Before  his  work  stupendous  gazed, 

By  that  proud  host  surrounded 

On  Shinar's  plain  confounded. 


l68  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XII. 

37    O  Niobe,  con  che  occhi  dolenti 

Vedeva  io  te  segnata  in  sulla  strada 
Tra  sette  e  sette  tuoi  figliuoli  spenti ! 

40    O  Saul,  come  in  sulla  propria  spada 
Quivi  parevi  morto  in  Gelboe, 
Che  poi  non  sentl  pioggia  ne  rugiada ! 

43    O  folle  Aragne,  si  vedea  io  te 

Gia  mezza  aragna,  trista  in  su  gli  stracci 
Dell'  opera  che  mal  per  te  si  fe\ 

46    O  Roboam,  gia  non  par  che  minacci 

Quivi  il  tuo  segno ;  ma  pien  di  spavento 
Nel  porta  un  carro  prima  che  altri  il  cacci. 

49    Mostrava  ancor  lo  duro  pavimento 

Come  Almeone  a  sua  madre  fe'  caro 
Parer  lo  sventurato  adornamento. 

£2    Mostrava  come  i  figli  si  gittaro 

Sovra  Sennacherib  dentro  dal  tempio, 
E  come,  morto  lui,  quivi  il  lasciaro. 

55    Mostrava  la  ruina  e  il  crudo  scempio 

Che  fe'  Tamiri,  quando  disse  a  Ciro  : 
Sangue  sitisti,  ed  io  di  sangue  t'  empio. 


Canto  XII.]  PURGATORY.  169 

0  Niobe,  with  eyes  how  sad 

1  saw  thee  on  that  road  portrayed, 

On  either  side  thee  lying 

Seven  of  thy  children  dying ! 
O  Saul,  how  there,  thy  sword  thrust  through  thee, 
Upon  Gilboa's  hills  I  knew  thee, 

Where  never  shall  again 

Fall  dew  nor  any  rain ! 
O  vain  Arachne,  there  wast  shown, 
Already  half  a  spider  grown, 

Thy  rent  work  sadly  viewing, 

That  cost  thee  thy  undoing. 
O  Rehoboam,  now  no  more 
Thy  image  threateneth  :  frighted  sore 

In  chariot  dost  thou  haste, 

By  thy  pursuers  chased. 
Showed  yet  again  that  paven  strand 
How  at  her  own  Alcmeon's  hand 

His  mother  dearly  bought 

The  necklace  evil-fraught. 
Showed  too  within  his  temple  hall 
Sennacherib's  sons  upon  him  fall ; 

And  showed  how  thence  they  fled 

And  left  him  lying  dead. 
Showed  all  the  carnage  and  the  shame, 
From  Tomyris  on  Cyrus  came  ; 

'  Blood  didst  thou  crave '  she  cried 

'  With  blood  be  satisfied.' 


17°  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XII. 

58    Mostrava  come  in  rotta  si  fuggiro 

Gli  Assiri,  poi  che  fu  morto  Oloferne, 
Ed  anche  le  reliquie  del  martiro. 

61    Vedeva  Troia  in  cenere  e  in  caverne : 
O  Ilion,  come  te  basso  e  vile 
Mostrava  il  segno  che  li  si  discerne ! 

64    Qual  di  pennel  fu  maestro,  o  di  stile, 

Che  ritraesse  1'  ombre  e  i  tratti,  ch'  ivi 
Mirar  farieno  ogn'  ingegno  sottile  ? 

67    Morti  li  morti,  e  i  vivi  parean  vivi. 

Non  vide  me'  di  me  chi  vide  il  vero, 
Quant'  io  calcai  fin  che  chinato  givi. 

70    Or  superbite,  e  via  col  viso  altiero, 

Figliuoli  d'  Eva,  e  non  chinate  il  volto, 
SI  che  veggiate  il  vostro  mal  sentiero. 

73    Piu  era  gia  per  noi  del  monte  volto, 

E  del  cammin  del  Sole  assai  piu  speso, 
Che  non  stimava  1'  animo  non  sciolto : 

76    Quando  colui  che  sempre  innanzi  atteso 
M'  andava,  incomincio :  Drizza  la  testa ; 
Non  e  piu  tempo  da  gir  si  sospeso. 


Canto  XII.]  PURGATORY.  1 71 

Showed  Asshur  fleeing  o'er  the  plain, 
Their  captain  Holofernes  slain  : 
Yea,  and  upon  the  sward 
Was  all  that  vengeance  spared. 
I  saw  in  ashes  Troy  laid  waste : 
O  Ilion,  how  low  abased 

Showed  thee  the  pictured  stone 
Which  there  I  gazed  upon  ! 
What  work  of  masters  pencil  e'er 
Could  with  those  shades,  those  lines  compare, 
Which  graven  on  that  ground 
Would  subtlest  sense  confound  ? 
Alive  the  living,  dead  the  dead, 
Seemed  as  I  trod  with  lowered  head : 
E'en  truth  itself  could  shew 
No  more  than  there  I  knew. 
Now  vaunt  yourselves,  ye  sons  of  Eve, 
Stoop  not,  lest  so  ye  might  perceive 
The  evil  path  ye  trace, 
But  raise  aloft  your  face. 
Far  on  his  way  the  Sun  had  clomb, 
Far  round  the  mountain  had  we  come, 
And  knew  it  not,  our  mind 
To  other  thoughts  confined. 
When  he  began  that  went  before 
Attentive  ever,  "  Now  no  more 

"  Bowed  down  should'st  thou  remain  : 
"  Lift  up  thy  head  again. 


I72  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XII. 

79    Vedi  cola  un  Angel  che  s'  appresta 

Per  venir  verso  noi  :  vedi  che  torna 
Dal  servigio  del  dl  1'  ancella  sesta. 
82    Di  riverenza  gli  atti  e  il  viso  adorna, 
Si  che  i  diletti  lo  inviarci  in  suso  : 
Pensa  che  questo  di  mai  non  raggiorna. 

85    lo  era  ben  del  suo  ammonir  uso, 

Pur  di  non  perder  tempo,  si  che  in  quella 
Materia  non  potea  parlarmi  chiuso. 

ss    A  noi  venia  la  creatura  bella, 

Bianco  vestita,  e  nella  faccia  quale 
Par  tremolando  mattutina  stella. 

91  Le  braccia  aperse,  ed  indi  aperse  1'  ale  : 
Disse :  Venite ;  qui  son  presso  i  gradi, 
Ed  agevolemente  omai  si  sale. 

94    A  questo  invito  vengon  molto  radi. 
O  gente  umana,  per  volar  su  nata, 
Perche  a  poco  vento  cosl  cadi  ? 

97    Menocci  ove  la  roccia  era  tagliata  : 
Ouivi  mi  batteo  1'  ali  per  la  fronte, 
Poi  mi  promise  sicura  1'  andata. 


Canto  XII.]  PURGATORY.  173 

"  See  where  God's  Angel  doth  prepare 
"  To  meet  us  :  the  sixth  handmaid  there 

"  See  turning  on  her  way 

"  From  service  of  the  day. 
"  Adorn  thyself  with  reverence  meet  : 
"  So  shall  he  upward  guide  our  feet : 

"  Remember,  once  'tis  o'er, 

"  This  day  returns  no  more." 
Such  warning  often  would  he  use, 
Bidding  that  time  we  should  not  lose : 

Whence  his  speech  could  not  be 

In  aught  obscure  to  me. 
That  creature  fair,  all  clothed  in  white, 
Came  towards  us  ;  on  his  face  the  light, 

That  trembling  from  afar 

Beams  in  the  morning  star. 
His  arms,  his  wings  he  opened  wide  : 
"Come,  for  the  stairs  are  nigh"  he  cried  : 

"  Henceforward  shall  it  prove 

"  Easy  to  mount  above." 
Few  to  this  summons  draw  them  nio-h  : 
Man,  that  art   upward  born  to  fly, 

Why  wilt  thou  sink  behind 

Before  a  little  wind  ? 
To  a  cleft  rock  he  did  us  bring, 
And  smote  my  forehead  with   his  wing  : 
And  then  with  promise  sure 

My  journey  made  secure. 


174  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XII. 

ioo    Come  a  man  destra,  per  salire  al  monte, 
Dove  siede  la  Chiesa  che  soggioga 
La  ben  guidata  sovra  Rubaconte, 

103  Si  rompe  del  montar  1'  ardita  foga, 
Per  le  scalee  che  si  fero  ad  etade 
Ch'  era  sicuro  il  quaderno  e  la  doga  ; 

106    Cos!  s'  allenta  la  ripa  che  cade 

Quivi  ben  ratta  dall'  altro  girone  : 
Ma  quinci  e  quindi  1'  alta  pietra  rade. 

109    Noi  volgendo  ivi  le  nostre  persone, 
Bcati  panperes  spiritu,  voci 
Cantaron  si  che  nol  diria  sermone. 

112    Ahi !  quanto  son  diverse  quelle  foci 
Dalle  infernali ;  che  quivi  per  canti 
S'  entra,  e  laggiu  per  lamenti  feroci. 

115    Gia  montavam  su  per  li  scaglion  santi, 
Ed  esser  mi  parea  troppo  piu  lieve, 
Che  per  lo  pian  non  mi  parea  davanti  : 

118    Ond'  io  :  Maestro,  di',  qual  cosa  greve 
Levata  s'  e  da  me,  che  nulla  quasi 
Per  me  fatica  andando  si  riceve? 


Canto  XII.]  PURGATORY.  175 

As  on  the  right,  to  climb  the  ridge, 
Where  above  Rubaconte's  bridge 

High  placed  the  church  looks  down 

On  the  well-ordered  town, 
Are  stairs,  the  steep  ascent  to  break, 
Such  as  aforetime  would  they  make, 

While  still  were  guarded  whole 

The  measure  and  the  scroll, 
So  gently  runs  the  bank  that  falls 
From  the  next  circle's  lofty  walls, 

But  closed  in  rocky  strait 

On  this  side  and  on  that. 
As  turned  we  by  those  barriers  bounded, 
"  Blest  are  the  poor  in  spirit "  sounded 

The  chant  of  voice  so  sweet 

No  speech  can  e'er  repeat. 
Ah  me!   from  Hell's  how  different  far 
The  gates  that  here  we  enter  are  ! 

Here  chanting  sweet  invites  : 

There  fierce  lament  affrights. 
As  up  the  holy  stairs  went  we, 
Lighter  my  body  seemed  to  be, 

Than  late  had  been  its  load 

Upon  the  level  road. 
And  I  began  :  "  My  Master,  say 
"  What  weight  is  this  is  ta'en  away, 

"  So  that  as  on  I  go 

"  No  weariness  I  know  ?  " 


i7<5  :;gatorio. 

i2i     Rispose:  Quando  i  P.  che  son  rirr. 

Ancor  nel  volto  tuo  presso  che  stinti, 

Saraimo,  come  1'  un,  del  tutto  rasi, 
-..     Fien  li  tuoi  pie  dal  buor. 

Che  non  pur  non  fatica  sentiranno. 

Ma  fia  diletto  loro  esser  su  pinti. 
Allor  fee'  io  come  color  che  vanno 

Con  cosa  in  capo  non  da  lor  sapu: 

non  che  i  cenni  altrui  sospicar  fanno ; 
130    Per  che  la  mano  ad  ac:  :a, 

E  cerca  e  trova,  e  quell'  offizio  adempie 

Che  non  si  puo  fornir  per  la  vedu: 
133    E  con  le  dita  della  destra  scempie 

Trovai  pur  sei  le  lettere,  che  in 

_el  dalle  chia^  a  me  sovra  le  tempie : 
136    A  che  guardando  il  mio  Duca  soiri- 


Canto  XII.]  PURGATORY.  177 

He  answered:   "When  the  '  P  's  which  now 
"  Press  yet  but  faintly  on  thy  brow 

•  Shall,  even  as  this  one, 

"  Be  all  erased  and  gone, 
"  Goodwill  thy  feet  shall   so  possess, 
••  That  they  shall  feel  no  weariness, 

••  Yea,  but  shall  find  delight 

"  Even  as  they  climb  the  height." 
Then,  like  to  one  who  unawares 
He  knows  not  what  on  forehead  bears, 

Save  that  misdoubts  awake 

From  signs  his  fellows  make  ; 
His  hand  must  aid  for  his  assuring, 
And  seek  and  find,  the   task  enduring 

That  sight  can  ne'er  supply  : 

Even  in  such  case  was  I : 
I   raised   my  right  hand  to  my  face  : 
But  six  my  fingers  there  could  trace 

The  letters  graven  erewhile  : 

I  saw  my  Leader  smile. 


S 


CANTO    DECIMOTERZO. 

Noi  eravamo  al  sommo  della  scala, 

Ove  secondamente  si  risega 

Lo  monte,  che  salendo  altrui  dismala : 
4    Ivi  cosl  una  cornice  lega 

Dintorno  il  poggio,  come  la  primaia, 

Se  non  che  1'  arco  suo  piu  tosto  piega. 
7    Ombra  non  11  e,  ne  segno  che  si  paia  ; 

Par  si  la  ripa,  e  par  si  la  via  schietta 

Col  livido  color  della  petraia. 
io    Se  qui  per  dimandar  gente  s'  aspetta, 

Ragionava  il  Poeta,  io  temo  forse 

Che  troppo  avra  d'  indugio  nostra  eletta. 
13    Poi  fisamente  al  Sole  gli  occhi  porse  ; 

Fece  del  destro  lato  al  muover  centro. 

E  la  sinistra  parte  di  se  torse. 


CANTO    XIII. 

We  were  upon  the  stairway's  head, 
Where  once  again  is  minished 

The  mount  whose  climbing  will 

Deliver  each    from  ill. 
And  here  again  the  steep  is  bound 
By  gallery,  like  the  first,  around, 

Save  that  its  arc  without 

Is  sooner  bent  about. 
Picture  or  image  none  is  there  : 
Bare  seems  the  bank,  the  pathway  bare 

One  sullen  hue  the  stone 

That  they  were  built  upon. 
"  If  here  "  the  Poet  taught  "  we  stay 
"  For  folk  to  question  of  our  way, 

"  Long  time  may  we  abide 

"  Ere  we  be  satisfied." 
Upon  the  Sun  his  eyes  he  stayed  : 
Then  of  his  right  his  centre  made, 

And  wheeled  himself  about, 

His  left  side  turned  without. 
N    2 


180  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIII. 

ifi    O  dolce  lume,  a  cui  fidanza  i'  entro 

Per  lo  nuovo  cammin,  tu  ne  conduci, 
Dicea,  come  condur  si  vuol  quinc'  entro : 
19    Tu  scaldi  il  mondo,  tu  sovr'  esso  luci  ; 

S'  altra  ragione  in  contrario  non  pronta, 
Esser  den  sempre  li  tuoi  raggi  duci. 
21    Ouanto  di  qua  per  un  migliaio  si  conta, 
Tanto  di  la  eravam  noi  gia  iti, 
Con  poco  tempo,  per  la  voglia  pronta. 
25    E  verso  noi  volar  furon  sentiti, 
Non  pero  visti,  spirit!,  parlando 
Alia  mensa  d'  amor  cortesi  inviti. 
28    La  prima  voce  che  passo  volando, 

Vinum  non  habcnt,  altamente  disse, 
E  retro  a  noi  1'  ando  reiterando. 
31     E  prima  che  del  tutto  non  s'  udisse 

Per  allungarsi,  un'  altra :    lo  sono  Oreste, 
Passo  gridando,  ed  anco  non  s'  affisse. 
34     O,  diss'  io,  Padre,  che  voci  son  queste  ? 
E  com'  io  dimandava,  ecco  la  terza 
Dicendo :    Amate  da  cui  male  aveste. 


Canto  XIII.]  PURGATORY.  I  Hi 

"  Sweet  light,  in  whom  I  trust,"  he  said, 
"  As  upon  this  new  path  I  tread, 

"  Guide  thou  us,  even  as  we 

"  Within  would  guided  be. 
"Thou  the  world's  warmth,  and  thou  its  light: 
"  Thy  rays  should  ever  guide  us  right, 

"  If  other  reason  may 

"  Turn  not  our  feet  away." 
Now  had  we  come  along  the  mount 
As  far  as  here  a  mile  we  count, 

Yet  short  the  time  we  spent, 

By  goodwill  forward  sent. 
And  towards  us  flying  through  the  air 
Spirits  not  seen  but  felt  were  there 

With  courteous  speech  that  all 

Would  to  Love's  table  call. 
"  They  have  no  wine,"  the  ringing  cry 
From  the  first  voice,  that  floated  by, 

And  then  behind  retreating 

Passed  on  that  verse  repeating. 
And  ere  that  sound  in  distance  died 
Away,  another  came  that  cried 

"  /  am  Orestes  "  :    then 

That  too  was  gone  again. 
"  Father,"  I  said  "  those  cries  we  heard, 
"  What  are  they  ?  "     Lo !    and  then  the  third, 

Even  as  I  asked,  went  by 

"  Love  ye  yonr  enemy" 


1 82  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIII. 

37    E  T  buon  Maestro:    Questo  cinghio  sferza 
La  colpa  della  invidia,  e  per6  sono 
Tratte  d'  amor  le  corde  della  ferza. 

40    Lo  fren  vuol  esser  del  contrario  suono; 
Credo  che  1'  udirai,  per  mio  avviso, 
Prima  che  giunghi  al  passo  del  perdono. 

43     Ma  ficca  gli  occhi  per  1'  aer  ben  fiso, 
E  vedrai  gente  innanzi  a  noi  sedersi, 
E  ciascun  e  lungo  la  grotta  assiso. 

46    Allora  piu  che  prima  gli  occhi  apersi ; 

Guarda'mi  innanzi,  e  vidi  ombre  con  manti 
Al  color  della  pietra  non  diversi. 

49    E  poi  che  fummo  un  poco  piu  avanti, 
Udi'  gridar  :    Maria,  ora  per  noi, 
Gridar:    Michele,  e  Pietro,  e  tutti  i  Santi. 

52     Non  credo  che  per  terra  vada  ancoi 
Uomo  si  duro,  che  non  fosse  punto 
Per  compassion  di  quel  ch'  io  vidi  poi  : 

55    Che  quand'  io  fui  si  presso  di  lor  giunto, 
Che  gli  atti  loro  a  me  venivan  certi, 
Per  gli  occhi  fui  di  grave  dolor  munto. 


Canto  Kill.]  PURGATORY.  183 

And  my  good  Master,  "  Here  the  sin 
"  Of  envy  smarts  this  ring  within  : 

"Wherefore  from  love  they  take 

"  The  cords  its  lash  to  make. 
"  Of  counter  note  its  rein  must  be  : 
"  Its  sound  shall  surely  come  to  thee, 

"  I  trow,  before  thy  feet 

"  The  pass  of  pardon  meet. 
"  But  fix  thine  eyes  across  the  air, 
"  And  thou  shalt  see  a  people  there, 

"Before  us,  seated  all 

"Along  the  rocky  wall." 
Then  wider  still  my  eyes  I  made, 
And  shades  I  saw  in  mantles  clad, 

To  the  same  colour  dyed 

That  was  the  rock  beside. 
We  heard  them  cry,  as  we  drew  near, 
"  Pray  for  us,  Mary,  mother  dear, 

"  Michael  and  Peter  pray, 

"  And  saints  in  Heaven  alway." 
I  think  there  lives  not  one  of  heart 
So  hard,  he  would  not  feel  the  smart 

Of  pity  at  the  sight 

Whereon  my  eyes  did  light. 
For  when  I  drew  me  near  to  view 
Their  movements  all  unfolded  true, 

With  tears  my  eyes  were  filled 

By  bitter  grief  distilled. 


184  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIII. 

58    Di  vil  cilicio  mi  parean  coperti, 

E  1'  un  sofferia  1'  altro  con  la  spalla, 
E  tutti  dalla  ripa  eran  sofferti. 

61     Cosl  li  ciechi,  a  cui  la  roba  falla, 

Stanno  ai  perdoni  a  chieder  lor  bisogna, 
E  1'  uno  il  capo  sovra  1'  altro  avvalla, 

64  Perche  in  altrui  pieta  tosto  si  pogna, 
Non  pur  per  lo  sonar  delle  parole, 
Ma  per  la  vista  che  non  meno  agogna : 

67  E  come  agli  orbi  non  approda  il  Sole, 
Cosl  all'  ombre,  dov'  io  parlav'  ora, 
Luce  del  Ciel  di  se  largir  non  vuole  ; 

70     Che  a  tutte  un  fil  di  ferro  il  ciglio  fora, 
E  cuce  si,  come  a  sparvier  selvaggio 
Si  fa,  per6  che  queto  non  dimora. 

73    A  me  pareva  andando  fare  oltraggio, 
Vedendo  altrui,  non  essendo  veduto  : 
Perch'  io  mi  volsi  al  mio  consiglio  saggio. 

76    Ben  sapev'  ei,  che  volea  dir  lo  muto  ; 
E  per6  non  attese  mia  dimanda ; 
Ma  disse:    Parla,  e  sii  breve  ed  argute 


Canto  XIII.]  PURGATORY.  1 85 

In  vilest  haircloth  were  they  dressed, 

Each  'gainst  his  neighbour's  shoulder  pressed, 

And  all  alike  reclined 

Against  the  bank  behind. 
So,  where  the  sightless  beggars  stand 
At  the  Church  doors  and  alms  demand, 

And  one  his  head  has  dropped, 

Against  his  fellow  propped  ; 
Then  others  feel  compassion  there, 
Not  only  for  the  words  they  hear, 

But  for  the  yearning  face 

That  pleads  no  less  for  grace. 
There  of  the  sunlight  none  partake  : 
So,  in  the  place  whereof  I  spake, 

The  gracious  light  of  Heaven 

Ne'er  to  those  shades  is  given. 
A  thread  of  steel  their  eyelids  all 
Were  pierced  and  stitched  about  withal, 

Like  to  the  merlin  wild, 

That  may  not  else  be  stilled. 
Meseemed  to  do  them  wrong,  as  I 
Unseen,  yet  seeing,  passed  them  by  : 

Wherefore  I  bent  me  o'er 

To  my  sage  counsellor. 
My  mute  request  he  well  could  read  : 
He  waited  not  to  hear  me  plead : 

"  Speak,"  said  he  "  but  have  care 

"Thy  words  be  few  and  clear." 


l86  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIII 

79    Virgilio  mi  venia  da  quella  banda 

Delia  cornice,  onde  cader  si  puote, 
Perche  da  nulla  sponda  s'  inghirlanda : 

82    Dair  altra  parte  m'  eran  le  devote 
Ombre,  che  per  1'  orribile  costura 
Premevan  si,  che  bagnavan  le  gote. 

85  Volsimi  a  loro,  ed  :  O  gente  sicura, 
Incominciai,  di  veder  1'  alto  lume 
Che  il  disio  vostro  solo  ha  in  sua  cura  ; 

S8    Se  tosto  grazia  risolva  le  schiume 
Di  vostra  coscienza,  si  che  chiaro 
Per  essa  scenda  della  mente  il  fiume, 

91     Ditemi  (che  mi  fia  grazioso  e  caro) 

S'  anima  e  qui  tra  voi,  che  sia  Latina ; 
E  forse  a  lei  sara  buon,  s'  io  Y  apparo. 

94    O  frate  mio,  ciascuna  e  cittadina 

D'  una  vera  citta  ;    ma  tu  vuoi  dire, 
Che  vivesse  in  Italia  peregrina. 
97    Questo  mi  parve  per  risposta  udire 

Piu  innanzi  alquanto,  che  la  dov'  io  stava  ; 
Ond'  io  mi  feci  ancor  piu  la  sentire. 


Canto  XIII.]  PURGATORY.  187 

Virgil  was  by  the  outer  edge, 

Where  runs  no  barrier  round  the  ledge  : 

Well  might  one  fall  below 

Who  on  that  side  would  go. 
Upon  my  other  side  were  set 
Those  shades  devout,  whose  cheeks  were  wet 

With  tears  that  down  were  streaming, 

Forced  through  that  cruel  seaming. 
I  turned  and  spake  :    "O  ye  to  whom 
"  The  light  above  shall  surely  come, 

"  That  light  whose  beaming  will 

"  All  your  desire  fulfil, 
"  Oh  !    soon  may  grace  the  scum  outroll 
"  That  doth  your  consciences  befoul, 

"  So  in  unsullied  tide 

"  Shall  memory's  current  glide, 
"  Tell  me,  and  I  will  hold  it  dear, 
"  Is  any  Latin  'mongst  you  here  ? 

"  Haply  his  name  revealing 

"  Shall  aid  him  for  his  healing." 
"  My  brother,  each  is  here  of  one 
"  True  city  citizen  alone  ; 

"  Did  any,  thou  would'st  say, 

"Pilgrim  in  Italy  stay?" 
Such  answer  'twas  I  seemed  to  get 
Somewhat  beyond  where  I  was  set  : 

Wherefore  I  made  my  speech 

A  little  further  reach. 


J  88  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIII. 

ioo    Tra  1'  altre  vidi  un'  ombra  die  aspettava 
In  vista  ;  e  se  volesse  alcun  dir  :  Come  ? 
Lo  mento,  a  guisa  d'  orbo,  in  su  levava. 

103    Spirto,  diss'  io,  che  per  salir  ti  dome, 
Se  tu  se'  quelli  che  mi  rispondesti, 
Fammiti  conto  o  per  loco  o  per  nome. 

106    I'  fui  Sanese,  rispose,  e  con  questi 
Altri  rimondo  qui  la  vita  ria, 
Lagrimando  a  Colui,  che  se  ne  presti. 

109    Savia  non  fui,  avvegna  che  Sapia 

Fossi  chiamata,  e  fui  degli  altrui  danni 
Piu  lieta  assai,  che  di  ventura  mia. 

112    E  perche  tu  non  creda  ch'  io  t'  inganni, 
Odi  se  fui,  com'  io  ti  dico,  folle. 
Gia  discendendo  1'  arco  de'  miei  anni, 

115    Eran  li  cittadin  miei  presso  a  Colle 
In  campo  giunti  coi  loro  avversari, 
Ed  io  pregava  Dio  di  quel  ch'  ei  voile. 

118    Rotti  fur  quivi,  e  volti  negli  amari 

Passi  di  fuga,  e  veggendo  la  caccia, 
Letizia  presi  a  ogni  altra  dispari : 


Canto  XIII.]  PURGATORY.  l8y 

Amongst  those  shades  I  saw  one  show 
Expectant :  would  one  ask  me  '  How  ? ' 

'Twas  as  by  lifted  chin 

The  blind  regard  would  win. 
"Spirit,"  I  said  "that  upward  strivest, 
"  If  thou  it  be  that  answer  givest, 

"Thy  name  or  place  impart 

"To  tell  me  who  thou  art." 
"  Siennese  was  I :  with  these  along 
"  My  life  misspent  I  cleanse  from  wrong, 

"My  tears  to  Him  outpouring 

"Who  visits  our  imploring. 
"  Sage  I  was  not,  albeit  I  had 
"  Sapience  for  name  :   I  was  more  glad 

"When  others  ill  befell, 

"Than  when  with  me  'twas  well. 
"Think  not  I  tell  thee  false,  but  hear 
"  If  less  my  foolishness  appear  : 

"  Downward  my  years  were  bending 

"  From  height  of  arch  descending, 
"When  'gainst  their  foes  by  Colle's  town 
"  My  countrymen  in  fight  came  on  ; 

"  Then  was  to  God  my  prayer 

"  For  what  He  would  prepare. 
"  There  were  they  routed  ;  there  were  they 
"  Sent  flying  down  the  bitter  way : 

"And  in  their  flight  I  found 

"  A  joy  all  joys  beyond. 


19°  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIII 

121     Tanto  ch'  io  volsi  in  su  1'  ardita  faccia, 

Gridando  a  Dio :  Omai  piu  non  ti  temo ; 
Come  fa  il  merlo  per  poca  bonaccia. 
124    Pace  volli  con  Dio  in  sulf  estremo 

Delia  mia  vita  ;  ed  ancor  non  sarebbe 
Lo  mio  dover  per  penitenza  scemo, 
127     Se  cio  non  fosse,  che  a  memoria  m'  ebbe 
Pier  Pettinagno  in  sue  sante  orazioni, 
A  cui  di  me  per  caritate  increbbe. 
130     Ma  tu  chi  se',  che  nostre  condizioni 

Vai  dimandando,  e  porti  gli  occhi  sciolti, 
Si  come  io  credo,  e  spirando  ragioni  ? 
133    Gli  occhi,  diss'  io,  mi  fieno  ancor  qui  tolti, 
Ma  picciol  tempo ;  che  poca  e  1'  offesa 
Fatta  per  esser  con  invidia  volti. 
136    Troppa  e  piu  la  paura,  ond'  e  sospesa 
L'  anima  mia,  del  tormento  di  sotto, 
Che  gia  lo  incarco  di  laggiu  mi  pesa. 
139    Ed  ella  a  me :  Chi  t'  ha  dunque  condotto 
Quassu  tra  noi,  se  giu  ritornar  credi  ? 
Ed  io  :  Costui  ch'  e  meco,  e  non  fa  motto : 


Canto  XIII.]  PURGATORY.  191 

"  I  lifted  up  my  face  of  pride  ; 

" '  No  more  I  fear  thee,  God,'  I  cried, 

"  Even  as  the  merle  will  sing 

"  In  an  untimely  spring. 
"  At  life's  extremity  I  sought 
"  For  peace  with  God  :  but  scarcely  aught 

"  By  penance  had  been  yet 

"Abated  of  my  debt, 
"  Had  I  not  found  remembrance  there 
"  In  Peter  Pettinagno's  prayer : 

"  Whose  love  for  me  begot 

"  Compassion  for  my  lot. 
"  But  who  art  thou  our  fate  would'st  learn, 
"And,  if  aright  I  may  discern, 

"  With  eyes  unclosed  dost  walk, 

"And  breathest  while  thou  talk?" 
"  My  eyes "  I  said  "  shall  in  this  place 
"  Be  closed  but  for  a  little  space : 

"  Small  the  offence  they  wrought, 

"  Mis-turned  by  envious  thought. 
"  Far  worse  the  fear  my  soul  distresses 
"  Of  torment  that  below  oppresses : 

"  The  heavy  load  beneath 

"  Already  pens  my  breath." 
"  Who  then"  she  said  "hath  brought  thee  hither, 
"  That  think'st  again  to  travel  thither  ?  " 

"Here"  said  I  "is  my  guide 

"  All  silent  by  my  side. 


192  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIII. 

142    E  vivo  sono  ;  e  per6  mi  richiedi, 

Spirito  eletto,  se  tu  vuoi  ch'  io  muova 
Di  la  per  te  ancor  li  mortai  piedi. 

145    O  questa  e  ad  udir  si  cosa  nuova, 

Rispose,  che  gran  segno  e  che  Dio  t'  ami ; 
Pero  col  prego  tuo  talor  mi  giova. 

148     E  chieggioti  per  quel  che  tu  piu  brami, 
Se  mai  calchi  la  terra  di  Toscana, 
Che  a'  miei  propinqui  tu  ben  mi  rinfami. 

151     Tu  li  vedrai  tra  quella  gente  vana 

Che  spera  in  Talamone,  e  perderagli 
Piu  di  speranza,  che  a  trovar  la  Diana  ; 

154    Ma  piu  vi  metteranno  gli  ammiragli. 


Canto  XIII.]  PURGATORY.  193 

"  Alive  am  I :  do  thou  entreat 
''That  I  may  move  my  mortal  feet, 

"  Spirit  elect,  for  thee 

"  When  yonder  I  shall  be." 
"  Thy  message  strange  "  she  said  "  doth  prove 
"  A  token  of  God's  wondrous  love  : 

"  Wherefore  vouchsafe  thy  prayer 

"  To  lend  when  thou  art  there. 
"  By  all  thou  holdest  dear  I  plead, 
"  If  e'er  on  Tuscan  land  thou  tread, 

"  Thou  wilt  my  fame  once  more 

"  Amongst  my  kin  restore. 
"  Seek  them  among  that  people  vain, 
"  Who  Talamone  hope  to  gain, 

"  And  in  that  fruitless  end 

"  Shall  greater  treasure  spend, 
'"'  Than  even  had  they  set  their  mind 
"Diana's  hidden  spring  to  find: 

"Yea,  worse  the  loss  befalls 

"  Their  luckless  admirals." 


CANTO    DECIMOQUARTO. 

Chi  e  costui  che  il  nostro  monte  cerchia, 
Prima  che  morte  gli  abbia  dato  il  volo, 
Ed  apre  gli  occhi  a  sua  voglia  e  coperchia? 

4    Non  so  chi  sia  ;  ma  so  ch'  ei  non  e  solo  : 
Dimandal  tu  che  piu  gli  t'  avvicini, 
E  dolcemente,  si  che  parli,  acco'lo. 

7    Cos!  due  spirti,  1'  uno  all'  altro  chini, 
Ragionavan  di  me  ivi  a  man  dritta ; 
Poi  fer  li  visi,  per  dirmi,  supini  : 

io     E  disse  1'  uno  :  O  anima,  che  fitta 

Nel  corpo  ancora,  in  ver  lo  Ciel  ten  vai. 
Per  carita  ne  consola,  e  ne  ditta 

13    Onde  vieni,  e  chi  sei ;  che  tu  ne  fai 
Tanto  maravigliar  della  tua  grazia, 
Ouanto  vuol  cosa,  che  non  fu  piu  mai. 


CANTO    XIV. 

"  Who  is  it  walks  our  hill  around 

"  Ere  death  hath  yet  his  wings  unbound. 

"Whose  eyes  at  will  may  choose 

"  To  open  and  to  close  ? " 
"  I  know  him  not :  but  this  I  know 
"  He  cometh  not  alone :  do  thou, 

"  That  art  the  nearest,  speak 

"  And  gentle  answer  seek." 
So  on  the  right  two  spirits  there, 
One  'gainst  his  neighbour  leaning,  were. 

That  talked  of  me,  and  then 

Upturned  their  face  again  : 
And  one  began,  "  O  soul,  that  yet 
"Within  thy  mortal  body  set 

"Mountest  to  Heaven  above, 

"  Console  us  in  thy  love, 
"  And  tell  us  who  thou  art,  and  whence 
"Thou  comest,  seeing  that  to  our  sense 

"  Such  wondrous  grace  is  shown 

"As  yet  was  never  known." 
O   2 


I96  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIV. 

1 6  Ed  io  :  Per  mezza  Toscana  si  spazia 
Un  flumicel  che  nasce  in  Falterona, 
E  cento  miglia  di  corso  nol  sazia. 

19    Di  sovr'  esso  rech'  io  questa  persona  : 

Dirvi  ch'  io  sia,  saria  parlare  indarno  ; 
Che  il  nome  mio  ancor  molto  non  suona. 

22    Se  ben  lo  intendimento  tuo  accarno 
Con  lo  intelletto,  allora  mi  rispose 
Ouei  che  diceva  pria,  tu  parli  d'  Arno. 

z$     E  1'  altro  disse  a  lui  :  Perche  nascose 
Questi  il  vocabol  di  quella  riviera, 
Pur  com'  uom  fa  dell'  orribili  cose  ? 

2-8  E  1'  ombra  che  di  ci6  dimandata  era, 
Si  sdebito  cosl :  Non  so,  ma  degno 
Ben  e  che  il  nome  di  tal  valle  pera : 

31     Che  dal  principio  suo  (dov'  e  si  pregno 

L'  alpestro  monte,  ond'  e  tronco  Peloro, 
Che  in  pochi  luoghi  passa  oltra  quel  segno) 

34    Infin  la,  've  si  rende  per  ristoro 

Di  quel  che  il  ciel  della  marina  asciuga, 
Ond'  hanno  i  fiumi  ci6  che  va  con  loro, 


Canto  XIV.]  PURGATORY.  1 97 

"  Through  Tuscany  there  runs  "  I  said, 
"A  brook  in  Falterona  bred, 

"  A  hundred  miles  that  flows, 

"  And  yet  no  flagging  knows : 
"  'Twas  from  his  banks  my  body  came : 
"  Idle  it  were  to  tell  my  name : 

"  The  sound  whereof  doth  still 

"  But  little  compass  fill." 
"  If  to  the  secret  of  thy  plan " 
(Thus  answered  he  that  first  began) 

"  My  wit  can  enter  well, 

"  Of  Arno  thou  dost  tell." 
And  then  the  next :   "  Why  will  he  ever 
"  Conceal  the  title  of  that  river, 

"  Even  as  though  he  tried 

';  Some  hideous  thing  to  hide  ?" 
"  I  know  not ;   but  'twere  well  should  fail 
"  The  name  of  that  accursed  vale  ; " 

('Twas  thus  the  questioned  shade 

His  debt  of  answer  paid) 
"  For  from  its  source,  in  mountain  born, 
"  From  whence  Pelorum's  mass  is  torn, 

"There  to  such  hugeness  swelling, 

"  All  other  bounds  excelling, 
■'  To  where  at  last  it  pays  again 
"What  heaven  has  sucked   from  out  the  main. 

':  To  feed  the  rivers'  flow, 

"  As  each  doth  downward  go, 


198  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIV 

37    Virtu  cosi  per  nimica  si  fuga 

Da  tutti,  come  biscia,  o  per  sventura 
Del  luogo,  o  per  mal  uso  che  li  fruga  : 

40  Ond'  hanno  si  mutata  lor  natura, 
Gli  abitator  della  misera  valle, 
Che  par  che  Circe  gli  avesse  in  pastura. 

43    Tra  brutti  porci,  piu  degni  di  galle, 

Che  d'  altro  cibo  fatto  in  uman  uso, 
Dirizza  prima  il  suo  povero  calle. 

46    Botoli  truova  poi,  venendo  giuso, 

Ringhiosi  piu  che  non  chiede  lor  possa, 
Ed  a  lor,  disdegnosa,  torce  il  muso. 

49    Vassi  caggendo,  e  quanto  ella  piu  ingrossa, 
Tanto  piu  trova  di  can  farsi  lupi 
La  maledetta  e  sventurata  fossa. 

52    Discesa  poi  per  piu  pelaghi  cupi, 
Truova  le  volpi  si  piene  di  froda, 
Che  non  temono  ingegno  che  le  occupi. 

55    Ne  lascero  di  dir,  perch'  altri  m'  oda : 

E  buon  sara  a  costui,  se  ancor  s'  ammenta 
Di  ci6,  che  vero  spirto  mi  disnoda. 


Canto  XIV.]  PURGATORY.  1 99 

"  All  flee  from  virtue  in  such  wise 
"  As  one  from  deadly  serpent  flies, 

"  O'erpowered  by  native  curse, 

"  Or  habitude  perverse  : 
"  Wherefore  their  nature  so  they  change 
"  Who  through  that  hapless  valley  range, 

"  That  one  would  deem  their  food 

"  From  Circe  was  bestowed. 
"  At  first  'mongst  hogs,  more  fitly  fed 
"  On  gall-nuts  than  on  any  bread 

"  For  human  use  designed, 

;'  Its  scanty  waters  wind. 
"  Next  on  its  downward  course  'twill  light 
"  On  snarling  curs  that  may  not  bite, 

"  Whereat  it  turns  its  snout 

"Disdainfully  about. 
"  Lower  it  falls,  and  waxing  gross, 
"  Down  that  ill-starred,  accursed  fosse, 

"  It  finds  the  dogs  begin 

"  To  turn  to  wolves  therein. 
"  Thence  spreading  out  in  basins  broad, 
';  Foxes  it  finds  so  full  of  fraud, 

"  No  cunning  trapper  there 

"  May  ever  put  in  fear. 
"  Still  will  I  speak,  although  there  be 
"  One  nigh  that  hears :   'twere  well  if  he 

"  Hearken  while  I  unfold 

"  What  spirit  true  hath  told. 


200  PURGATORIO.  [  Canto  XIV. 

5$    Io  veggio  tuo  nepote,  che  diventa 

Cacciator  di  quei  lupi,  in  sulla  riva 
Del  fiero  fiume,  e  tutti  gli  sgomenta. 

61    Vende  la  carne  loro,  essendo  viva  ; 

Poscia  gli  ancide  come  antica  belva : 
Molti  di  vita,  e  se  di  pregio  priva. 

64    Sanguinoso  esce  della  trista  selva ; 

Lasciala  tal,  che  di  qui  a  mill'  anni 
JVL1Y0  aJato  primal  ..v1  o*;  nhseiva. 

67    Come  all'  annunzio  de'  dogliosi  danni 
Si  turba  il  viso  di  colui  che  ascolta, 
Da  qualche  parte  il  periglio  lo  assanni ; 

70    Cos!  vid'  io  1'  altr'  anima,  che  volta 
Stava  ad  udir,  turbarsi  e  farsi  trista, 
Poi  ch'  ebbe  la  parola  a  se  raccolta. 

73    Lo  dir  dell'  una,  e  dell'  altra  la  vista 
Mi  fe'  voglioso  di  saper  lor  nomi, 
E  dimanda  ne  fei  con  prieghi  mista. 

76    Per  che  lo  spirto,  che  di  pria  parlomi, 
Ricomincio :  Tu  vuoi  ch'  io  mi  deduca 
Nel  fare  a  te  cio,  che  tu  far  non  vuo'  mi  ; 


Canto  XIV.]  PURGATORY.  201 

"  I  see  thy  grandchild  come  to  chase 

"  Those  wxves  in  their  own  dwelling-place, 

"  On  that  proud  river's  shore 

"  Hunted  and  harassed  sore. 
"  He  sells  their  flesh  alive,  and  then, 
"  Like  beast  grown  old,  he  slaughters  men  : 

"  Many  of  life  he  spoils, 

"  And  his  own  honour  soils. 
"  He  issues  forth,  all  stained  with  blood, 
"  Leaving  behind  that  doleful  wood  ; 

i£A  thousand  years  may  ne'er 

"  Its  ancient  state  repair/' 
Then  as  with  one  to  news  attending 
Of  danger  whencesoeer  impending 

The  sense  of  coming  ills 

His  face  with  trouble  fills  ; 
Even  so  that  other  soul,  who  turned 
And  stood  to  listen,  when  he  learned 

The  answer  that  was  made, 

Was  troubled  all  and  sad. 
The  look,  the  words  from  each  that  came, 
Made  me  desire  to  know  their  name ; 

Wherefore  I  made  request 

With  humble  prayer  addressed. 
Began  that  spirit  once  again 
Who  first  had  spoken  :   "  Must  I  then 

"  The  boon  vouchsafe  to  thee 

"  Thou  dost  deny  to  me  ? 


202  PURGATORIO.  [  Canto  XIV. 

79    Ma  da  che  Dio  in  te  vuol  che  traluca 
Tanta  sua  grazia,  non  ti  saro  scarso  : 
Pero  sappi  ch'  io  son  Guido  del  Duca. 

82     Fu  il  sangue  mio  d'  invidia  si  riarso, 
Che  se  veduto  avessi  uom  farsi  lieto, 
Visto  m'  avresti  di  livore  sparse 

85    Di  mia  semente  cotal  paglia  mieto. 

O  gente  umana.  perche  poni  il  cuore 
La  V  e  mestier  di  consorto  divieto  ? 

88    Questi  e  Rinier  ;  quest'  e  il  pregio  e  1'  onore 
Delia  casa  da  Calboli,  ove  nullo 
Fatto  s'  e  reda  poi  del  suo  valore. 

91     E  non  pur  lo  suo  sangue  e  fatto  brullo 

Tra  il  Po  e  il  monte,  e  la  marina  e  il  Reno, 
Del  ben  richiesto  al  vero  ed  al  trastullo  ; 
94    Che  dentro  a  questi  termini  e  ripieno 
Di  venenosi  sterpi,  si  che  tardi 
Per  coltivare  omai  verrebber  meno. 
97    Ov'  e  il  buon  Lizio,  ed  Arrigo  Mainardi, 
Pier  Traversaro,  e  Guido  di  Carpigna  ? 
O  Romagnuoli  tornati  in  bastardi ! 


Canto  XIV.]  PURGATORY.  203 

"  Yet,  since  God  wills  his  grace  should  shine 
"  In  thee  abundant,  be  it  mine 

"  Ungrudging  to  reply  : 

"  Guido  del  Duca  I. 
"  Envy  my  blood  did  so  infect, 
"  That  jaundiced  was  my  whole  aspect, 

"When  I  beheld  the  face 

"  Of  one  in  happy  case. 
"  Such  harvest  from  my  seed  I  reap  : 
"  O  sons  of  men,  why  will  ye  keep 

"  Your  heart  where  ye  must  choose 

"  Partnership  to  refuse  ? 
"  This  is  Rinier  :  of  Calboli 
"The  glory  and  the  pride  was  he; 

"Whence  none  now  issues  forth 

"  Heir  to  that  house  of  worth. 
"Nor  his  alone  of  all  that  dwell 
"  'Tvvixt  Rene  and  Po,  'twixt  sea  and  fell, 

"  Who  hold  that  good  for  nought, 

"  For  truth,  for  pastime  sought. 
"Within  the  borders  of  their  land 
"  The  poisonous  plants  so  thickly  stand, 

"  Not  soon  by  husbandry 

"  The  stock  may  minishcd  be. 
"  Where  is  the  noble  Lizio  ?     Where 
"  Carpigna,  Maynard,  Traversare  ? 

"  Why  doth  Romagna's  line 

"To  bastards  all  decline? 


204  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIV. 

100    Ouando  in  Bologna  un  Fabbro  si  ralligna  ? 
Ouando  in  Faenza  un  Bernardin  di  Fosco, 
Verga  gentil  di  picciola  gramigna  ? 

103     Non  ti  maravigliar,  s'  io  piango,  Tosco, 
Ouando  rimembro  con  Guido  da  Prata 
Ugolin  d'  Azzo,  che  vivette  nosco ; 

>o6    Federigo  Tignoso  e  sua  brigata, 

La  casa  Traversara,  e  gli  Anastagi 
(E  1'  una  gente  e  1'  altra  e  diretata), 

109    Le  donne  e  i  cavalier,  gli  afifanni  e  gli  agi, 
Che  ne  invogliava  amore  e  cortesia, 
La  dove  i  cuor  son  fatti  si  malvagi. 

;  1  j.    O  Brettinoro,  che  non  fuggi  via, 

Poiche  gita  se  n'  e  la  tua  famiglia, 
E  molta  gente  per  non  esser  ria  ? 

115    Ben  fa  Bagnacaval,  che  non  rifiglia, 

E  mal  fa  Castrocaro,  e  peggio  Conio, 
Che  di  figliar  tai  conti  piu  s'  impiglia : 


canto  XIV.]  PURGATORY.  20. 

"  When  shall  a  Fabbro  once  again 
"  Be  honoured  in  Bologna  ?     When 

"  A  Bernardin  be  born 

"  Faenza  to  adorn, 
"  As  once  from  Fosco,  lowliest  root, 
"  Could  plant  of  gentlest  virtue  shoot  ? 

"  Marvel  not,  Tuscan  soul, 

"  If  down  the  teardrop  roll, 
"  When  there  come  back  my  mind  within 
"  Guido  da  Prata,   Ugolin 

"  Of  Azzo,  aye  and  more, 

"  Who  lived  with  us  of  yore  : 
"  Frederick  Tignoso's  brave  array, 
"  The  Anastagi's  house,  and  they 

"Of  Traversare,  now  left 

"  Aiike  of  heirs  bereft : 
"  The  ladies  and  the  knights,  whose  love, 
"Whose  courtesy,  our  will  could  move, 

"  In  ease,  in  toil,  where  now 

"All  hearts  to  evil  grow. 
"  Why,  Brettinoro,  art  not  sped  ? 
"  Why,  when  to  shun  that  guilt  are  fled 

"Thy  kin  and  more  beside, 

"  Still  wilt  thou  there  abide  ? 
"  Bagnacaval  'tis  well  withal, 
"  Who  bears  no  sons :  but  Conio  shall 

"  And  Castrocaro  rue, 

"Their  counts  that  they  renew. 


206  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIV. 

118    Ben  faranno  i  Pagan,  dacche  il  Demonio 
Lor  sen  gira  ;  ma  non  per6  che  puro 
Giammai  rimanga  d'  essi  testimonio. 

121    O  Ugolin  de'  Fantolin,  sicuro 

E  il  nome  tuo,  da  che  piu  non  s'  aspetta 
Chi  far  lo  possa  tralignando  oscuro. 

124    Ma  va  via,  Tosco,  omai,  ch'  or  mi  diletta 
Troppo  di  pianger  piu  che  di  parlare, 
SI  m'  ha  nostra  ragion  la  mente  stretta. 

127  Noi  sapevam  che  quell'  anime  care 
Ci  sentivano  andar  :  per6  tacendo 
Facevan  noi  del  cammin  confidare. 

130    Poi  fummo  fatti  soli  procedendo, 

Folgore  parve,  quando  1'  aer  fende, 
Voce  che  giunse  di  contra,  dicendo : 

133  Anciderammi  qualunque  m'  apprende ; 
E  fuggio,  come  tuon  che  si  dilegua, 
Se  subito  la  nuvola  scoscende. 

136  Come  da  lei  1'  udir  nostro  ebbe  tregua, 
Ed  ecco  1'  altra  con  si  gran  fracasso, 
Che  somiglio  tuonar  che  tosto  segua : 


Canto  XIV.]  PURGATORY.  207 

"With  the  Pagani  well  'twill  be, 

"  When  from  their  Devil  they  are  free  : 

"  Yet  shall  not  so  endure 

"  Their  after  record  pure. 
"  Ugo  de'  Fantolin,  thy  name 
"  Henceforth  is  guarded  safe  from  shame : 

"None  cometh  in  thy  place 

"  Thy  lineage  to  disgrace. 
"  But  now,  thou  Tuscan,  forward  go  ; 
"  For  our  discourse  hath  touched  me  so, 

"  That  I  would  rather  weep 

"Than  further  parley  keep." 
We  knew  that  those  dear  spirits  well 
Of  our  departing  thence  could  tell : 

So  by  their  silence  they 

Assured  us  of  our  way. 
Then  forward  as  alone  we  went, 
It  seemed  in  front  the  air  was  rent, 

As  by  the  lightning  stroke, 

And  voice  there  came  that  spoke, 
"  Who  findeth  me  shall  slay  me  there  " : 
Then  fled,  as  thunder  melts  in  air, 

When  suddenly  hath  burst 

The  cloud  wherein  'twas  nursed. 
Scarce  could  our  hearing  respite  claim, 
Before  another  voice  there  came, 

With  crash  as  loud  as  though 

Pealed  thunder  blow  on  blow. 


208  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIV. 

139    To  sono  Aglauro,  che  divenni  sasso. 
Ed  allor  per  ristringermi  al  Poeta, 
Indietro  feci  e  non  innanzi  il  passo. 
142    Gia  era  1'  aura  d'  ogni  parte  queta, 

Ed  ei  mi  disse  :  Quel  fu  il  duro  camo, 
Che  dovria  1'  uom  tener  dentro  a  sua  meta. 
145    Ma  voi  prendete  1'  esca,  si  che  1'  amo 
Dell'  antico  avversario  a  se  vi  tira  ; 
E  pero  poco  val  freno  o  richiamo. 
148    Chiamavi  il  Cielo,  e  intorno  vi  si  gira, 
Mostrandovi  le  sue  bellezze  eterne, 
E  1'  occhio  vostro  pure  a  terra  mira ; 
151     Onde  vi  batte  chi  tutto  discerne. 


Canto  XIV.]  PURGATORY.  209 

"/  am  Aglauros?  was  its  cry 

"  To  stone  that  turned"  :  then  trembling  I 

Close  to  the  Poet  kept, 

And  back  not  forward  stepped. 
On  every  side  the  air  was  laid 
To  stillness :  "  Mark  thou  there  "  he  said 

"  The  bit  that  man  should  bind 

"Within  his  bound  confined. 
"  But  ye  will  seize  the  baited  hook, 
"  And  by  your  ancient  foe  be  took  : 

"  No  call  will  serve,  nor  rein, 

"  To  draw  you  back  again. 
"  About  you  move  the  Heavens  supernal 
"  And  show  their  loveliness  eternal : 

"Yet  as  they  wheel  around, 

"Your  eyes  upon  the  ground 
"  Ye  fix,  nor  hearken  to  their  call : 
"  Whence  'tis  that  He  who  seeth  all 

"  Chastiseth  you  below 

"With  buffet  and  with  blow." 


CANTO   DECIMOQUINTO. 

QUANTO  tra  1'  ultimar  dell'  ora  terza, 
E  il  principio  del  di  par  della  spera, 
Che  sempre  a  guisa  di  fanciullo  scherza, 

4    Tanto  pareva  gia  in  ver  la  sera 

Essere  al  Sol  del  suo  corso  rimaso  ; 
Vespero  la,  e  qui  mezza  notte  era. 

7    E  i  raggi  ne  ferian  per  mezzo  il  naso, 
Perche  per  noi  girato  era  si  il  monte, 
Che  gia  dritti  andavamo  in  ver  1'  occaso  ; 

io    Quand'  io  senti'  a  me  gravar  la  fronte 
Alio  splendore  assai  piu  che  di  prima, 
E  stupor  m'  eran  le  cose  non  conte  : 

13    Ond'  io  levai  le  mani  in  ver  la  cima 

Delle  mie  ciglia,  e  fecimi  il  solecchio, 
Che  del  sovcrchio  visibile  lima. 


CANTO    XV. 

The  sphere  that  childlike  sporteth  aye 
Would  from  the  dawning  of  the  day 

Till  the  third  hour  were  gone 

As  long  a  course  have  run, 
As  of  his  journey  yet  remained 
Before  the  Sun  his  rest  had  gained  : 

At  evensong  we  were, 

And  it  was  midnight  here. 
Full  on  mid  nose  we  felt  his  rays, 
For  westward  straight  was  turned  our  gaze 

So  far  our  way  had  wound 

Circling  the  mount  around. 
His  splendour  on  my  forehead  bore 
With  force  I  had  not  known  before  : 

And  dazzled  was  my  sight 

With  unaccustomed  light. 
I  lifted  up  my  hands  and  made 
Above  my  eyebrows'  crown  a  shade, 

To  minish  the  excess 

That  doth  on  vision  press. 
P  2 


2  12  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XV. 

1 6    Come  quando  dall'  acqua  o  dallo  specchio 
Salta  lo  raggio  all'  opposita  parte, 
Salendo  su  per  lo  modo  parecchio 

19    A  quel  che  scende,  e  tanto  si  diparte 
Dal  cader  della  pietra  in  egual  tratta, 
SI  come  mostra  esperienza  ed  arte ; 

22    Cosl  mi  parve  da  luce  rifratta 

Ivi  dinanzi  a  me  esser  percosso, 
Perche  a  fuggir  la  mia  vista  fu  ratta. 

25    Che  e  quel,  dolce  Padre,  a  che  non  posso 
Schermar  lo  viso  tanto,  che  mi  vaglia, 
Diss'  io,  e  pare  in  ver  noi  esser  mosso  ? 

2S    Non  ti  maravigliar,  se  ancor  t'  abbaglia 
La  famiglia  del  Cielo,  a  me  rispose: 
Messo  e,  che  viene  ad  invitar  ch'  uom  saglia. 

31  Tosto  sara  che  a  veder  queste  cose 
Non  ti  fia  grave,  ma  fiati  diletto, 
Quanto  natura  a  sentir  ti  dispose. 

34  Poi  giunti  fummo  all'  Angel  benedetto, 
Con  lieta  voce  disse :  Entrate  quinci 
Ad  un  scaleo  vie  men  che  gli  altn  eretto. 


Canto  XV.]  PURGATORY.  213 

As  rays  from  mirror's  face  reflected, 
Or  water,  upward  are  directed, 

And  in  like  measure  dart 

Towards  the  other  part, 
Their  course  from  line  by  plummet  guided 
In  equal  distances  divided, 

Even  as  science  shows, 

And  all  experience  knows  : 
So  in  that  place  I  felt  the  stroke 
Of  light  in  front  that  on  me  broke : 

Wherefore  I  turned  aside 

In  haste  my  face  to  hide. 
"  Sweet  Father,  whence  this  dazzling  sheen 
"  No  power  of  mine  avails  to  screen, 

"  Whose  movement  seems  "  I  said 

"  Ever  towards  us  sped  ?  " 
He  answered  "  Let  not  this  astound  thee 
"  If  still  Heaven's  retinue  confound  thee : 

Ci  'Tis  messenger  doth  move 

"To  summon  us  above. 
"  A  little  while,  and  no  annoy 
"  These  sights  shall  bring,  but  rather  joy, 

"  That  nature  will  dispense 

"  Unto  thy  ordered  sense." 
We  reached  that  blessed  Angel's  side  : 
With  gladsome  voice  "  Come  on  "  he  cried 

"To  stairs  that  easier  far 

"Than  those  ye  mounted  are." 


214  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XV. 

37    Noi  montavamo,  gia  partiti  linci, 
E,  Beati  misericordes,  fue 
Cantato  retro,  e  :    Godi  tu  che  vinci. 

40    Lo  mio  Maestro  ed  10  soli  ambedue 

Suso  andavamo,  ed  io  pensai,  andando, 
Prode  acquistar  nelle  parole  sue  ; 

43    E  dirizza'  mi  a  lui  si   dimandando  : 

Che  voile  dir  lo  spirto  di  Romagna, 
E  divieto  e  consorto  menzionando  ? 

46    Perch'  egli  a  me :    Di  sua  maggior  magagna 
Conosce  il  danno  ;    e  pero  non  s'  ammiri 
Se  ne  riprende,  perche  men  sen  piagna. 

49    Perche  s'  appuntan  li  vostri  disiri, 

Dove  per  compagnia  parte  si  scema, 
Invidia  rnuove  il  mantaco  ai  sospiri. 

52    Ma  se  1'  amor  della  spera  suprema 
Torcesse  in  suso  il  desiderio  vostro, 
Non  vi  sarebbe  al  petto  quella  tema ; 

55    Che  per  quanti  si  dice  piu  li  nostro, 
Tanto  possiede  piu  di  ben  ciascuno, 
E  piu  di  caritate  arde  in  quel  chiostro. 


Canto  XV.]  PURGATORY.  215 

As  on  those  steps  our  feet  we  planted, 
"Blest  are  the  merciful"  was  chanted 

Behind  us,  and  once  more 

"  Rejoice  thou  conqueror  !  " 
Together  as  we  mounted  on, 
My  Master,  he  and  I,  alone, 

I  pondered  how  to  reach 

Some  profit  from  his  speech. 
And  towards  him  questioning  I  bent, 
"  What  was  it  Romagna's  spirit  meant, 

"  When  that  dark  word  he  used 

"  Of  partnership  refused  ?  " 
He  answered  "  Well  the  harm  he  knows 
"  From  his  besetting  fault  that  flows  : 

"  Wherefore  so  chideth  he, 

"  That  less  your  pains  may  be. 
"  For  ye  have  fixed  your  longing,  where 
"  Each  less  receives,  the  more  that  share  : 

"And  envy  fans  the  fire 

"  That  burns  in  your  desire. 
■'  Yet  if  the  highest  circle's  love 
"  Could  your  affections  draw  above, 

"  With  fear  like  this  your  breast 

"Would  never  be  oppressed. 
"  For  there  the  more  there  are  that  own, 
"  The  more  the  portion  of  each  one  : 

"  And  love  doth  brighter  shine 

"  That  cloister-house  within." 


21 6  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XV. 

58    Io  son  d'  esser  contento  piu  digiuno, 
Diss'  io,  che  se  mi  fossi  pria  taciuto, 
E  piu  di  dubbio  nella  mente  aduno. 

61    Com'  esser  puote  che  un  ben  distributo 
I  piu  posseditor  faccia  piu  ricchi 
Di  se,  che  se  da  pochi  e  posseduto  ? 

64  Ed  egli  a  me  :  Perocche  tu  rificchi 
La  mente  pure  alle  cose  terrene, 
Di  vera  luce  tenebre  dispicchi. 

67    Quello  infinito  ed  ineffabil  bene 

Che  e  lassu,  cosi  corre  ad  amore, 
Come  a  lucido  corpo  raggio  viene. 

70  Tanto  si  da,  quanto  truova  d'  ardore: 
Si  che  quantunque  carita  si  stende, 
Cresce  sovr'  essa  1'  eterno  valore. 

73    E  quanta  gente  piu  lassu  s'  intende, 

Piu  v'  e  da  bene  amare,  e  piu  vi  s'  ama, 
E  come  specchio  1'  uno  all'  altro  rende. 

76    E  se  la  mia  ragion  non  ti  disfama, 
Vedrai  Beatrice,  ed  ella  pienamente 
Ti  torra  questa  e  ciascun'  altra  brama. 


Canto  XV.]  PURGATORY.  217 

"  Far  greater  now "  I  said  "  my  thirst 
"  Than  had  I  held  my  peace  at  first : 

"  And  greater  is  the  doubt 

"  That  wraps  my  mind  about. 
"  How  can  it  be  one  good  provided 
"  For  many  shall  be  so  divided, 

"As  richer  each  to  make, 

"  Than  if  but  few  partake  ?  " 
"  Because  your  apprehension  clings 
"Only"  he  said  "to  earthly  things, 

"  From  true  light  your  endeavour 

"  Will  gather  darkness  ever. 
"  The  untold,  unbounded  good  above 
"  Runs  to  combine  itself  with  love, 

"  Even  as  the  sunbeam's  light 

"  Is  drawn  to  bodies  bright. 
"  It  renders  warmth  for  warmth,  whereby 
"The  fervour  of  our  charity 

"  Is  to  its  fullest  measure 

"  Increased  from  heavenly  treasure. 
"  For  all  the  love  that  springs  below, 
"More  love,  more  perfect  love  doth  grow, 

"As  glass  to  glass  returns 

"  The  light  thereon  that  burns. 
"And  if  my  teaching  may  not  sate  thee, 
"  The  eyes  of  Beatrice  await  thee  : 

"  This  thirst  and  more  beside 

"  Shall  there  be  satisfied. 


2l8  PURGATORIO.  [canto  XV. 

79  Procaccia  pur,  che  tosto  sieno  spente, 

Come  son  gia  le  due,  le  cinque  piaghe, 
Che  si  richiudon  per  esser  dolente. 

82    Com'  io  voleva  dicer  :  Tu  m'  appaghe : 
Vidimi  giunto  in  sull'  altro  girone, 
Si  che  tacer  mi  fer  le  luci  vaghe. 

85    Ivi  mi  parve  in  una  visione 

Estatica  di  subito  esser  tratto, 

E  vedere  in  un  tempio  piu  persone : 

88  Ed  una  donna  in  sull'  entrar  con  atto 
Dolce  di  madre  dicer :  Figliuol  mio, 
Perche  hai  tu  cosl  verso  noi  fatto? 

91    Ecco  dolenti  lo  tuo  padre  ed  io 

Ti  cercavamo.     E  come  qui  si  tacque, 
Ci6,  che  pareva  prima,  disparlo. 

94    Indi  m'  apparve  un'  altra  con  quelle  acque 
Giu  per  le  gote,  che  il  dolor  distilla, 
Quando  di  gran  dispetto  in  altrui  nacque ; 

97    E  dir  :   Se  tu  se'  sire  della  villa, 

Del  cui  nome  ne'   Dei  fu  tanta  lite, 
Ed  onde  ogni  scienza  disfavilla, 


Canto  XV.]  PURGATORY.  219 

"Only  make  haste  those  wounds  to  heal, 
"  Those  other  five  thou  still  dost  feel, 

"  That  like  the  former  twain 

"  Sorrow  shall  close  again." 
Ere  I  could  say  "My  questioning 
"  Thou  hast  appeased,"  to  the  other  ring 

I  saw  that  I  was  come, 

And  gazing  I  was  dumb. 
A  sudden  vision  seemed  to  rise, 
And  before  my  entranced  eyes 

A  temple  showed,  and  there 

Much  people  gathered  were : 
And  in  the  doorway  one,  her  bearing 
A  mother's  sweetest  semblance  wearing  : 

'  My  son,  and  wherefore  thus 

8  Wouldest  thou  deal  with  us  ? 
'  Behold  thy  father  and  I '  she  said 
'  Have  sought  thee  sorrowing.'     Then  fled 

The  vision  from  its  place 

Even  as  she  held  her  peace. 
Next  one  appeared  whose  cheeks  were  all 
Wet  with  the  tears  that  downward  fall, 

By  bitter  grief  distilled 

From  heart  with  anger  filled  : 
Then  said  she,  '  If  that  town  thou  rule, 
'  Of  science  all  the  shining  school, 

'  That  town  whose  name  to  give 

'The  rival  gods  did  strive, 


320  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XV. 

too    Vendica  te  di  quelle  braccia  ardite 

Che  abbracciar  nostra  figlia,  o  Pisistrato. 
E  il  signor  mi  parea,  benigno  e  mite, 

103    Risponder  lei  con  viso  temperato : 

Che  farem  noi  a  chi  mal  ne  disira, 

Se  quei,  che  ci  ama,  e  per  noi  condannato  ? 

106    Poi  vidi  genti  accese  in  fuoco  d'  ira, 

Con  pietre  un  giovinetto  ancider,  forte 
Gridando  a  se  pur :    Martira,  martira : 

109    E  lui  vedea  chinarsi  per  la  morte, 

Che  1'  a  gravava  gia,  in  ver  la  terra, 

Ma  degli  occhi  facea  sempre  al  Ciel  porte  ; 

1 1 2  Orando  all'  alto  Sire  in  tanta  guerra, 
Che  perdonasse  a'  suoi  persecutori, 
Con  quell'  aspetto  che  pieta.  disserra. 

115    Ouando  1'  anima  mia  torno  di  fuori 
Alle  cose,  che  son  fuor  di  lei  vere, 
lo  riconobbi  i  miei  non  falsi  errori. 

lis    Lo  Duca  mio,  che  mi  potea  vedere 

Far  si  com'  uom  che  dal  sonno  si  slega, 
Disse  :    Che  hai,  che  non  ti  puoi  tenere  ? 


Canto  XV.]  PURGATORY.  221 

'  Avenge  thou  that  embracing  bold, 
'  Pisistratus,  that  dared  enfold 

'  Our  daughter.'     To  that  word 

Meseemed  her  gentle  lord 
Replied  with  aspect  temperate  : 
'  How  shall  we  punish  those  who  hate, 

c  If  they  who  only  love 

'Our  condemnation  move?' 
And  then  I  saw  an  angry  crowd 
Gathered  about  a  youth,  that  loud 

Were  crying  '  Slay  him,  slay,' 

And  stoned  him  as  he  lay. 
I  saw  him  overborne  by  death, 
That  bowed  him  to  the  earth  beneath; 

Only  he  made  his  eyes 

Gates  to  behold  the  skies, 
To  his  high  Lord  his  prayer  outpouring, 
Forgiveness  for  his  foes  imploring  : 

Even  in  that  pass  his  face 

For  pity  making  place. 
And  when  my  mind  was  turned  about 
To  the  realities  without, 

My  errors  then   I  knew, 

That  were  not  all  untrue. 
And  then  my  Leader  who  beheld  me 
Strive  to  shake  off  the  sleep  that  quelled  rat, 

"  Why  "  said  he  "  in  such  plight 

"Thou  canst  not  walk  aright? 


222  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XV. 

121    Ma  se'  venuto  piu  che  mezza  lega 

Velando  gli  occhi,  e  con  le  gambe  avvolte 
A  guisa  di  cui  vino  o  sonno  piega  ? 

124    O  dolce  Padre  mio,  se  tu  m'  ascolte, 

Io  ti  diro,  diss'  io,  cio  che  mi  apparve 
Quando  le  gambe  mi  furon  si  tolte. 

127    Ed  ei:   Se  tu  avessi  cento  larve 

Sovra  la  faccia,  non  mi  sarien  chiuse 
Le  tue  cogitazion,  quantunque  parve. 

130    Cio  che  vedesti  fu,  perche  non  scuse 

D'  aprir  lo  cuore  all'  acque  della  pace 
Che  dall'  eterno  fonte  son  diffuse. 

133    Non  dimandai  :  Che  hai,  per  quel  che  face 

Chi  guarda  pur  con  1'  occhio,  che  non  vede, 
Quando  disanimato  il  corpo  giace ; 

136    Ma  dimandai  per  darti  forza  al  piede : 
Cos!  frugar  conviensi  i  pigri,  lenti 
Ad  usar  lor  vigilia  quando  riede. 

139    Noi  andavam  per  lo  vespero  attenti 

Oltre,  quanto  potean  gli  occhi  allungarsi, 
Contra  i  raggi  serotini  e  lucenti : 


Canto  XV.]  PURGATORY.  223 

"Full  half  a  league  thou  hast  advanced, 
"With  fettered  limbs,  with  eyes  entranced, 
"  As  when  or  wine  or  slumber 
"  Our  movement  doth  encumber." 
"  O  my  sweet  Father,  I  will  tell, 
"  If  thou  wilt  hearken,  what  befell 
''  My  vision,  when  my  feet 
"  This  stumbling  seemed  to  meet." 
':  Nay,  though  a  hundred  masks  were  laid 
"  Upon  thy  face,  the  least "  he  said 
"  Of  all  thy  fancy's  weaving 
"  Should  'scape  not  my  perceiving. 
"  That  vision  came  to  bid  thee  haste 
"  And  ope  thy  heart  that  peace  to  taste, 
"  Whose  stream  abroad  is  spread, 
"  From  fount  eternal  shed. 
"  Nor,  when  I  asked  '  Why  in  this  plight  ?  ' 
"  Was  it  as  he  would  ask  whose  sight 
"  Can  only  know  surprise, 
"  When  body  lifeless  lies  : 
"  I  sought  thereby  thy  feet  to  quicken  : 
•'  For  so  the  tardy  should  be  stricken, 
fl  That  soon  as  they  awa  e 
"  Right  use  thereof  they  make." 
Attentive  through  the  evensong 
With  eyes  far-stretched  we  went  along, 
'Gainst  those  late  rays  whose  beaming 
Full  in  our  face  was  streaming. 


224  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XV. 

142    Ed  ecco  a  poco  a  poco  un  fummo  farsi 
Verso  di  noi,  come  la  notte,  oscuro, 
Ne  da  quello  era  luogo  da  cansarsi : 

145    Ouesto  ne  tolse  gli  occhi  e  1'  aer  puro. 


Canto  XV.]  PURGATORY.  225 

And  lo !   our  way  as  on  we  took, 
Little  by  little  grew  a  smoke, 

That  gathered  all  about  us, 

Like  blackest  night  without  us. 
There  was  no  place  to  turn  to  there, 
Or  seek  for  shelter  anywhere  : 

Failed  the  pure  air,  and  failed 

Our  eyes,  in  darkness  veiled. 


CANTO   DECIMOSESTO. 

BuiO  d'  inferno,  e  di  notte  privata 
D'  ogni  pianeta  sotto  pover  cielo, 
Quant'  esser  puo  di  nuvol  tenebrata, 
4    Non  fece  al  viso  mio  si  grosso  velo, 
Come  quel  fummo  ch'  ivi  ci  coperse, 
Ne  a  sentir  di  cosl  aspro  pelo ; 
7    Che  1'  occhio  stare  aperto  non  sofferse  : 
Onde  la  Scorta  mia  saputa  e  fida 
Mi  s'  accosto,  e  1'  omero  m'  offerse. 

to    SI  come  cieco  va  dietro  a  sua  guida 

Per  non  smarrirsi,  e  per  non  dar  di  cozzo 
In  cosa  che  il  molesti,  o  forse  ancida  ; 

i3     M'  andava  io  per  1'  aere  amaro  e  sozzo, 
Ascoltando  il  mio  Duca  che  diceva 
Pur:  Guarda,  che  da  me  tu  non  sie  mozzo. 


CANTO    XVI. 

The  gloom  of  hell,  or  night  beclouded 
'Neath  beggared  sky,  where  all  is  shrouded 

By  pall  that  hides  from  sight 

Every  planet's  light, 
Had  made  not  veil  so  thick  around  us, 
Nor  in  so  coarse  a  cloak  had  wound  us, 

As  by  that  smoke  we  were 

Blinded  and  smothered  there. 
With  eyes  unshut  I  could  not  bide  : 
Wherefore  my  Escort  sage  and  tried 

Came  to  my  side  to  aid  me, 

And  with  his  shoulder  stayed  me. 
Even  as  the  blind  man  takes  his  way 
Behind  his  leader,  lest  he  stray, 

Or  'gainst  some  mischief  fall 

Or  meet  his  death  withal : 
So  to  my  Leader's  word  attent 
Through  the  foul  bitter  air  I  went, 

Who  spake  but  only  "  See 

"  Thou  sever  not  from  me." 
Q  2 


228  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVI. 

1 6     Io  sentia  voci,  e  ciascuna  pareva 

Pregar,  per  pace  e  per  misericordia, 
L'  Agnel  di  Dio,  che  le  peccata  leva. 

19    Pure  Agnus  Dei  eran  le  loro  esordia  : 
Una  parola  in  tutte  era,  ed  un  modo, 
Si  che  parea  tra  esse  ogni  concordia. 

22    Quei  sono  spirti,  Maestro,  ch'  i'  odo  ? 

Diss'  io.     Ed  egli  a  me :  Tu  vero  apprendi, 
E  d'  iracondia  van  solvendo  il  nodo. 

25    Or  tu  chi  se',  che  il  nostro  fummo  fendi, 
E  di  noi  parli  pur,  come  se  tue 
Partissi  ancor  lo  tempo  per  calendi  ? 

28    Cos!  per  una  voce  detto  fue. 

Onde  il  Maestro  mio  disse  :  Rispondi, 
E  dimanda  se  quinci  si  va  sue. 

31     Ed  io  :  O  creatura,  che  ti  mondi, 

Per  tornar  bella  a  Colui  che  ti  fece, 
Maraviglia  udirai  se  mi  secondi. 

34    Io  ti  seguitero  quanto  mi  lece, 

Rispose ;  e  se  veder  fummo  non  lascia, 
U  udir  ci  terra  giunti  in  quella  vece. 


Canto  XVI.]  PURGATORY.  229 

And  voices  then  I  heard,  that  each 
For  peace,  for  mercy,  did  beseech 

The  Lamb-  of  God,  that  aye 

Taketh  our  sins  away. 
"  O  Lamb  of  God"  was  all  their  strain  : 
One  word,  one  measure  seemed  to  reign 

Amongst  them  all,  their  sound 

In  perfect  concord  bound. 
"  And  are  these  spirits,  Master,  tell : " 
I  said  :  and  he :  "  Thou  judgest  well  : 

"'Tis  thus  they  go,  the  noose 

"  Of  anger  to  unloose." 
"  Now  who  art  thou,  our  smoke  that  breakest, 
"  And  that  of  our  condition  speakest, 

"  As  though  thou  still  wert  wont 

"  By  calends  time  to  count  ?  " 
So  of  those  voices  one  there  spake  : 
And  then  my  Master :    "  Answer  make  ; 

"And  ask  that  we  may  know 

"  If  upward  hence  we  go." 
"  Creature,"  I  said  "  that  dost  prepare 
"  To  meet  thy  Maker  clean  and  fair, 

"A  marvel   shalt  thou  learn 

"  If  with  me  thou  wilt  turn." 
"Far  as  I  may,  with  thee  I'll  tread; 
"  And  if  our  sight  the  smoke "  he  said 

"  Forbid,  yet  hearing  will 

"  Keep  us  together  still." 


230  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVI. 

37    Allora  incominciai  :  Con  quella  fascia, 
Che  la  morte  dissolve,  men  vo  suso, 
E  venni  qui  per  la  infernale  ambascia  ; 

40    E,  se  Dio  m'  ha  in  sua  grazia  richiuso 

Tanto,  che  vuol  ch'  io  veggia  la  sua  corte 
Per  modo  tutto  fuor  del  modern'  uso, 

43     Non  mi  celar  chi  fosti  anzi  la  morte, 

Ma  dilmi,  e  dimmi  s'  io  vo  bene  al  varco  ; 
E  tue  parole  fien  le  nostre  scorte. 

46    Lombardo  fui,  e  fui  chiamato  Marco  : 
Del  mondo  seppi,  e  quel  valore  amai, 
Al  quale  ha  or  ciascun  disteso  1'  arco  : 

49    Per  montar  su  dirittamente  vai. 

Cosi  rispose  ;  e  soggiunse  :  Io  ti  prego 
Che  per  me  preghi,  quando  su  sarai. 

52    Ed  io  a  lui  :  Per  fede  mi  ti  lego 

Di  far  cio  che  mi  chiedi  ;  ma  io  scoppio 
Dentro  a  un  dubbio,  s'  io  non  me  ne  spiego. 

55    Prima  era  scempio,  ed  ora  e  fatto  doppio 
Nella  sentenza  tua,  che  mi  fa  certo 
Qui  ed  altrove,  quello  ov'  io  1'  accoppio, 


Canto  XVI.]  PURGATORY.  23 1 

Again  I  spake :    "  Enswathed  I  come 

"  In  bands  that  death  shall  loose  us  from 

"  'Tis  through  Hell's  toiling  passed 

"  I  mount  above  at  last. 
"  And  if  admitted  to  God's  grace 
"  He  calls  me  upward  to  His  place, 

"  And  bids  me  see  His  court 

"  In  unaccustomed  sort, 
"Oh!  hide  it  not  from  me,  but  tell, 
"  Who  once  thou  wast  ere  death  befel ; 

"And  guide  us  with  thy  speech 

"  The  pass  above  to  reach." 
"  Marco  was  I,  of  Lombard  birth  : 
"  I  knew  the  world  and  loved  the  worth 

"  Of  virtue,  whither  now 

"  All  have  unbent  their  bow : 
"  Thou  goest  straight "  he  said  "  on  high." 
Then  added  this  to  his  reply  : 

"  I  pray  thee  with  thy  prayer 

"Aid  me  when  thou  art  there." 
And  I  to  him  :  "  I  pledge  me  true 
"  For  that  thou  wouldest  have  me  do : 

"  Yet  strained  with  doubt  I  travail, 

"  That  I  must  needs  unravel. 
"That  doubt,  once  single,  by  thy  word 
"  Now  doubled,  surety  doth  afford 

"  To  truth  therewith  I  hold, 

"  Here  and  elsewhere  retold. 


232  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVI. 

58    Lo  mondo  e  ben  cosi  tutto  diserto 
D'  ogni  virtute,  come  tu  mi  suone, 
E  di  malizia  gravido  e  coperto  : 

61    Ma  prego  che  m'  additi  la  cagione, 

Si  ch'  io  la  veggia,  e  ch'  io  la  mostri  altrui ; 
Che  nel  cielo  uno,  ed  un  quaggiu  la  pone. 

64    Alto  sospir,  che  duolo  strinse  in  hui, 

Mise  fuor  prima,  e  poi  comincio  :  Frate, 
Lo  mondo  e  cieco,  e  tu  vien  ben  da  lui. 

67    Voi  che  vivete  ogni  cagion  recate 

Pur  suso  al  ciel,  cosi  come  se  tutto 
Movesse  seco  di  necessitate. 

70    Se  cosi  fosse,  in  voi  fora  distrutto 

Libero  arbitrio,  e  non  fora  giustizia, 
Per  ben  letizia,  e  per  male  aver  lutto. 

73    Lo  cielo  i  vostri  movimenti  inizia, 

Non  dico  tutti :  ma,  posto  ch'  io  il  dica, 
Lume  v'  e  dato  a  bene  ed  a  malizia, 

76    E  libero  voler,  che,  se  fatica 

Nelle  prime  battaglie  col  ciel  dura, 
Poi  vince  tutto,  se  ben  si  nutrica. 


Canto  XVI.]  PURGATORY.  233 

"  Thou  sayest  sooth :  the  world  is  all 
"  Of  virtue  desert,  and  withal 

"  Of  malice  filled  about 

"  Within  and  eke  without. 
"  But  now,  I  pray,  the  cause  make  plain, 
"That  I  may  see  and  tell  again, 

"  What  some  to  us  assign, 

"Some  to  the  stars  malign." 
Deep  sigh  he  drew  that  turned  to  'Ai!\ 
By  grief  compressed  ;  then  did  he  say : 

"  Brother,  the  world  behind 

"  Is,  even  as  thou  art,  blind. 
"  Ye  that  are  living  think  ye  know 
"  Heaven  the  cause  of  all,  as  though 

"  It  carried  all  by  strong 

fi  Necessity  along. 
'•  If  it  were  so,  from  you  were  thrust 
"  Free  will  aside,  nor  were  it  just 

"  Good  to  requite  with  joy, 

"  And  evil  with  annoy. 
"  In  heaven  your  movements  are  begot 
"  (Grant  all,  although  I  say  it  not)  : 

"Yet  is  light  yours  to  guide 
"  And  good  from  ill  divide  : 
•'Yours  is  free  will;  if  'gainst  the  stars 
"  Ye  faint  not  in  your  primal  wars, 
"  At  last  ye  conquer  all, 
"  Good  nurture  braced  withal. 


234  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVI. 

79    A  maggior  forza  ed  a  miglior  natura 
Liberi  soggiacete,  e  quella  cria 
La  mente  in  voi,  che  il  ciel  non  ha  in  sua  cura 

82    Pero,  se  il  mondo  presente  disvia, 

In  voi  e  la  cagione,  in  voi  si  cheggia, 
Ed  io  te  ne  saro  or  vera  spia. 

85    Esce  di  mano  a  Lui,  che  la  vagheggia 
Prima  che  sia,  a  guisa  di  fanciulla, 
Che  piangendo  e  ridendo  pargoleggia, 

88  L'  anima  semplicetta,  che  sa  nulla, 
Salvo  che,  mossa  da  lieto  fattore, 
Volentier  torna  a  cio  che  la  trastulla. 

91    Di  picciol  bene  in  pria  sente  sapore  ; 

Quivi  s'  inganna,  e  dietro  ad  esso  corre, 
Se  guida  o  fren  non  torce  suo  amore. 

94    Onde  convenne  legge  per  fren  porre  ; 
Convenne  rege  aver,  che  discernesse 
Delia  vera  cittade  almen  la  torre. 

97    Le  leggi  son,  ma  chi  pon  mano  ad  esse  ? 
Nullo ;  perocche  il  pastor  che  precede 
Ruminar  puo,  ma  non  ha  1'  unghie  fesse. 


Canto  XVI.] 


PURGATORY.  ^35 


"Unto  a  higher  power  are  ye, 
"To  better  nature,  subjects  free. 

"Thence  'tis  your  mind  is  given, 
'*  Unrecked  of  by  the  heaven. 
"And  if  the  present  world  go  wrong, 
••  Seek  ye  the  cause,  where  it  doth  belong, 
"  Even  in  yourselves  ;  and  I 
"Will  be  your  faithful  spy. 
-  The  simple  soul,  that  knoweth  nought, 
"Save  that  by  blithe  Creator  wrought 
"  She  ever  is  inclined 
"  Where  pastime  she  may  find, 
"  Speeds  from  His  hand  in  girlish  glee, 
"That  loved  her  ere  she  came  to  be, 
"  And  sports  her  like  a  child, 
"By  tears,  by  smiles  beguiled. 
"  Some  trifling  good  at  first  she  tastes  : 
"Cozened  whereby  she  thither  hastes, 
"  Except  some  guide  or  rein 
"Her  lightsome  love  restrain. 
"That  rein  must  be  by  laws  provided, 
"  And  by  a  king  must  ye  be  guided, 
"Who  the  true  city's  tower 
"  Hath  set  his  eyes  before. 
"The  laws  are  there,  but  none  that  will 
"  Uphold  them  :  your  chief  pastor  still 
"  Can  chew  the  cud,  but  yet 
"  His  hoof  hath  never  split. 


236  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVI. 

joo    Perche  la  gente,  che  sua  guida  vede 

Pure  a  quel  ben  ferire  ond'  ell'  e  ghiotta. 
Di  quel  si  pasce,  e  piu  oltre  non  chiede. 

103    Ben  puoi  veder  che  la  mala  condotta 

E  la  cagion  che  il  mondo  ha  fatto  reo 
E  non  natura  che  in  voi  sia  corrotta. 

« 06    Soleva  Roma,  che  il  buon  mondo  feo, 

Due  Soli  aver,  che  1'  una  e  1'  altra  strada 
Facean  vedere,  e  del  mondo  e  di  Deo. 

rop    L'  un  1'  altro  ha  spento  ;  ed  e  giunta  la  spada 
Col  pastorale,  e  1'  un  con  1'  altro  insieme 
Per  viva  forza  mal  convien  che  vada ; 

112     Perocche,  giunti,  1'  un  1'  altro  non  teme. 
Se  non  mi  credi,  pon  mente  alia  spiga, 
Ch'  ogni  erba  si  conosce  per  lo  seme. 

115  In  sul  paese  ch'  Adige  e  Po  riga 
Solea  valore  e  cortesia  trovarsi, 
Prima  che  Federico  avesse  bri^a  : 


Canto  XVI.]  PURGATORY.  237 

"And  they  who  see  their  leader  turn, 

"  And  clutch  but  that  for  which  they  burn, 

"  Fill  themselves  with  that  food, 

"  Nor  seek  for  other  good. 
"  Well  seest  thou  this  world's  guilty  living 
"  Flows  from  their  leader's  ill  contriving, 

"  And  not  from  any  sin 

"  Your  nature  wrought  within, 
"  Rome,  that  the  world  so  well  bestowed, 
"  Two  Suns  was  wont  to  guard,  that  showed 

"  Both  paths  that  should  be  trod, 

"  Through  the  world  and  to  God. 
"  Now  are  there  twain  no  more,  for  one 
"  The  other's  shining  hath  undone : 

"And  in  one  hand  combined 

"  The  sword  and  crook  are  joined. 
"  And  when  they  come  together  there, 
"  No  more  may  each  the  other  fear  : 

"  Wherefore  they  stray  perforce, 

"  Nor  keep  the  even  course. 
"  If  thou  believest  not  my  speech, 
'f  Then  let  the  fruit  the  lesson  teach  : 

"  Remember,  in  its  seed 

"  May  every  herb  be  read. 
'•  Where  Po,  where  Adige  wash  the  ground, 
"  Could  worth,  could  courtesy  be  found, 

"  Ere  Frederick  was  yet 

"  By  strife  of  arms  beset : 


238  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVI. 

118     Or  pu6  sicuramente  indi  passarsi 

Per  qualunque  lasciasse,  per  vergogna, 
Di  ragionar  coi  buoni,  o  d'  appressarsi. 

121     Ben  v'  en  tre  vecchi  ancora,  in  cui  rampogna 
L'  antica  eta  la  nuova,  e  par  lor  tardo 
Che  Dio  a  miglior  vita  li  ripogna ; 

124     Corrado  da  Palazzo,  e  il  buon  Gherardo, 
E  Guido  da  Castel,  che  me'  si  noma 
Francescamente  il  semplice  Lombardo. 

127    Di'  oggimai  che  la  Chiesa  di  Roma, 

Per  confondere  in  se  due  reggimenti, 
Cade  nel  fango,  e  se  brutta  e  la  soma. 

130    O  Marco  mio,  diss'  io,  bene  argomenti  ; 
Ed  or  discerno,  perche  dal  retaggio 
Li  figli  di  Levi  furono  esenti : 

133     Ma  qual  Gherardo  e  quel  che  tu  per  saggio 
Di'  ch'  e  rimaso  della  gente  spenta, 
In  rimproverio  del  secol  selvaggio? 

136    O  tuo  parlar  m'  inganna  o  e'  mi  tenta, 
Rispose  a  me ;  che,  parlandomi  Tosco, 
Par  che  del  buon  Gherardo  nulla  senta. 


Canto  XVI.]  PURGATORY.  239 

"  Now  passage  free  may  there  be  given 
"  To  all  that  erst  by  shame  were  driven 

"  Forth  from  the  neighbourhood, 

"  And  converse  of  the  good. 
"  Still  three  are  left,  of  ancient  name, 
"  To  put  the  newer  age  to  shame  : 

"  Seems  long  to  them  ere  they 

"  By  God  are  called  away. 
"  Of  the  good  Gerard  'tis  I  tell, 
"  Conrad,  and  Guido  of  Castel, 

"  Whom  Frenchmen  better  style 

"  The  Lombard  without  guile. 
"  Henceforward  say,  the  Church  of  Rome, 
"  To  double  empire  that  hath  come, 

"  Sinks  in  the  miry  road, 

"  Befouled  with  all  her  load." 
"  My  Marco,  well  thy  rede  I  learn  ; 
"And  well"  I  said  "can  I  discern 

"  Why  Levi's  children  ne'er 

"  The  heritage  might  share. 
"  But  who  this  Gerard,  left  alone, 
"  Thy  pattern  of  a  world  bygone, 

"  Who  yonder  doth  abide, 

"  This  savage  age  to  chide  ?  " 
"  Deceiv'st  thou  me,  or  thinkest  how 
"  To  try  me,"  he  replied  "  that  thou 

"  In  speech  of  Tuscany 

"  Good  Gerard  would'st  deny  ? 


24-0  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVI. 

139    Per  altro  soprannome  io  nol  conosco, 

S'  io  nol  togliessi  da  sua  figlia  Gaia. 

Dio  sia  con  voi,  che  piu  non  vegno  vosco. 
142    Vedi  I'  albor,  che  per  lo  fummo  raia, 

Gia  biancheggiare,  e  me  convien  partirmi, 

L'  Angelo  e  ivi,  prima  ch'  io  gli  appaia. 
145    Cos!  torno,  e  piu  non  voile  udirmi. 


Canto  XVI.]  PURGATORY.  241 

"  No  other  surname  can  I  use, 

"  His  daughter  Gaia's  save  I  choose  : 

"  God  be  with  you,  for  now 

"  I  may  no  further  go. 
"  Behold  in  front  the  radiance  brighten, 
"  And  through  the  smoke  already  whiten ! 

"  It  is  the  Angel  there  ; 

"  And  ere  he  shall  appear, 
"  I  must  be  gone,  nor  see  his  face." 
Therewith  he  turned  him  from  his  place, 

Even  as  he  spake,  nor  bore 

To  hear  me  any  more. 


CANTO   DECIMOSETTIMO. 

RlCORDlTl,  lettor,  se  mai  nell'  alpe 
Ti  colse  nebbia,  per  la  qual  vedessi 
Non  altrimenti,  die  per  pelle  talpe  ; 
4    Come,  quando  i  vapori  umidi  e  spessi 
A  diradar  cominciansi,  la  spera 
Del  Sol  debilemente  entra  per  essi  ; 

7    E  fia  la  tua  immagine  leggiera 

In  giugnere  a  veder,  com'  io  rividi 

Lo  Sole  in  pria,  che  gia  nel  corcare  era. 

io    Si,  pareggiando  i  miei  co'  passi  fidi 

Del  mio  Maestro,  uscii  fuor  di  tal  nube 
Ai  raggi,  morti  gia  nei  bassi  lidi. 

13     O  immaginativa,  che  ne  rube 

Tal  volta  si  di  fuor,  ch'  uom  non  s'  accorge, 
Perche  d'  intorno  suonin  mille  tube, 


CANTO    XVII. 

Reader,  if  e'er  on  Alpine  height 
A  cloud  of  mist  hath  dimmed  thy  sight, 
Shrouding  thee  Jike  the  blind 
Mole  by  his  skin  confined, 
Bethink  thee,  when  the  humid  mass 
Of  vapour  first  away  will  pass, 
How  feebly  the  Sun's  sphere 
Therethrough  begins  to  peer : 
And  nimbly  will  thy  fancy  rise 
To  comprehending  in  what  wise 
I  saw  the  Sun  again 
On  couch  already  lain. 
So  as  I  left  that  cloud's  confine, 
My  Master's  paces  matched  with  mine, 
Shone  forth  those  rays,  by  death 
Already  quenched  beneath. 
O  thou,  imagination  strong, 
That  canst  our  senses  bear  along 
Deaf  to  aught  else,  although 
A  thousand  trumpets  blow, 

R    2 


244  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVI I. 

16  Chi  muove  te,  se  il  senso  non  ti  porge? 
Muoveti  lume,  che  nel  Ciel  s'  informa 
Per  se,  o  per  voler  che  giu  lo  scorge. 

19    Dell'  empiezza  di  lei,  che  muto  forma 
Nell'  uccel  che  a  cantar  piu  si  diletta, 
Nell'  immagine  mia  apparve  1'  orma  : 

22    E  qui  fu  la  mia  mente  si  ristretta 

Dentro  da  se,  che  di  fuor  non  venia 
Cosa  che  fosse  allor  da  lei  recetta. 

25    Poi  piovve  dentro  all'  alta  fantasia 
Un  crocifisso  dispettoso  e  fiero 
Nella  sua  vista,  e  cotal  si  moria. 

28    Intorno  ad  esso  era  il  grande  Assuero, 

Ester  sua  sposa  e  il  giusto  Mardocheo, 
Che  fu  al  dire  ed  al  far  cosi  intero. 

31     E  come  questa  immagine  rompeo 

Se  per  se  stessa,  a  guisa  d'  una  bulla 
Cui  manca  1'  acqua  sotto  qual  si  feo ; 

34    Surse  in  mia  visione  una  fanciulla, 

Piangendo  forte,  e  diceva  :  O  regina, 
Perche  per  ira  hai  voluto  esser  nulla  ? 


Canto  XVII.]  PURGATORY.  245 

Thy  motion  whence,  that  is  not  given 

From  sense  without  ?     Tis  light  from  Heaven 

That  moves  thee,  self-inclined 

Or  by  high  will  designed. 
Then  was  there  imaged  in  my  thought 
The  shadow  of  that  horror  wrought 

By  her,  that  turned  to  be 

Bird  of  sweet  melody. 
And  there  my  mind  was  held  so  fast, 
That  never  aught  that  outward  passed 

Unto  my  sense  within 

Could  any  entrance  win. 
Next  on  my  fancy  high  descended 
The  form  of  one  on  cross  suspended, 

His  look  all  scorn  and  pride 

Even  until  he  died. 
Beside  did  Assuerus  stay, 
Esther  and  righteous  Mordecai, 

That  ever  was  found  true 

In  word,  in  action  too. 
And  as  again  that  image  burst, 
Even  of  its  own  self  dispersed, 

As  bubble  breaks,  when  fails  it 

The  water  that  enveils  it, 
There  rose  the  vision  of  a  maid, 
Sore  weeping,  and  '  O  queen '  she  said 

'  Why  in  thy  rage  distraught 

'  Wouldst  bring  thyself  to  nought  ? 


246  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVII. 

$5     Ancisa  t'  hai  per  non  perder  Lavina  ; 

Or  m'  hai  perduta  ;  io  son  essa  che  lutto, 
Madre,  alia  tua  pria  ch'  all'  altrui  ruina. 

40    Come  si  frange  il  sonno,  ore  di  butto 
Xuova  luce  percuote  il  viso  chiuso, 
Che  fratto  guizza  pria  che  muoia  tutto  ; 

43     Cosi  T  immaginar  mio  cadde  giuso, 

Tosto  ch'  un  lume  il  volto  mi  percosse. 
Maggiore  assai,  che  quel  ch'  e  in  nostr'  uso. 

46    Io  mi  volgea  per  vedere  ov'  io  fosse. 

Ouand'  una  voce  disse  :  Qui  si  monta  : 
Che  da  ogni  altro  intento  mi  rimosse  ; 

49     E  fece  la  mia  voglia  tanto  pronta 
Di  riguardar  chi  era  che  parlava, 
Che  mai  non  posa,  se  non  si  raffronta. 

52     Ma  come  al  Sol.  che  nostra  vista  grava, 
E  per  soverchio  sua  figura  vela, 
Cosi  la  mia  virtu  quivi  mancava. 
55     Questi   e  divino  spirito.  che  ne  la 

Via  d'andar  su  ne  drizza  senza  prego, 
E  col  suo  lume  se  medesmo  cela. 


Canto  XVII.]  PURGATORY.  247 

'Thyself  hast  slain,  that  wouldst  thereby 
'  Lavinia  save  ;  yet  lost  am  I, 

'Who  grieve  for  thee,  my  mother, 

'  More  than  for  any  other.' 
As  when  on  eyelids  closed  there  breaks 
The  flash  of  some  new  light,  and  shakes 

Our  sleep,  that  quickly  flies, 

But  quivers  ere  it  dies, 
So  fell  my  fancy  from  its  place, 
Shattered  by  light  that  on  my  face 

Smote  with  a  stronger  blow 

Than  ever  here  we  know. 
I  turned  about  that  I  might  tell 
Where  I  was  come,  when  voice  there  fell, 

"  Here  may  ye  mount "  that  cried, 

And  drove  all  else  aside. 
Thereat  did  my  desire  awake 
So  keen  to  see  who  'twas  that  spake, 

No  staying  could  it  brook, 

But  face  to  face  must  look. 
Yet  on  our  sight  as  Sun  doth  press 
Hiding  him  in  his  own  excess, 

So  fainted  all  my  gaze 

Before  those  shining  rays. 
"  'Tis  spirit  divine,  without  our  prayer 
"  That  guides  us  to  the  mounting  stair, 

"  And  veils  him  from  our  sight 

"  In  his  own  proper  light. 


248  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVII. 

58    Si  fa  con  noi,  come  1'  uom  si  fa  sego  ; 

Che  quale  aspetta  prego,  e  1'  uopo  vede, 
Malignamente  gia  si  mette  al  nego. 

61  Ora  accordiamo  a  tanto  invito  il  piede : 
Procacciam  di  salir  pria  che  s'  abbui, 
Che  poi  non  si  porfa,  se  il  dl  non  riede. 

64    Cosl  disse  il  mio  Duca,  ed  io  con  lui 

Volgemmo  i  nostri  passi  ad  una  scala; 
E  tosto  ch'  io  al  primo  grado  fui, 

67     Senti'mi  presso  quasi  un  muover  d'  ala, 
E  ventarmi  nel  viso,  e  dir :  Beaii 
Pacifici,  che  son  senza  ira  mala. 

70    Gia  eran  sovra  noi  tanto  levati 

Gli  ultimi  raggi  che  la  notte  segue, 
Che  le  stelle  apparivan  da  piu  lati. 
73    O  virtu  mia,  perche  si  ti  dilegue? 

Fra  me  stesso  dicea,  che  mi  sentiva 
La  possa  delle  gambe  posta  in  tregue. 


Canto  XVII.]  PURGATORY.  249 

"  He  doth  by  us  as  we  would  do 
"  By  our  own  selves :  for  even  so, 

"  Who  sees  his  brother's  need 

"And  takes  thereof  no  heed, 
"  But  waits  to  give  the  boon  he  ought, 
"  Until  with  prayer  he  be  besought, 

"  Already  doth  he  choose 

"  Unkindly  to  refuse. 
"  Let  our  feet  answer  to  his  call  : 
"  Haste  we  to  mount,  ere  darkness  fall  : 

"  Then  must  our  power  delay 

"Till  the  return  of  day." 
My  Leader  thus :  with  him  I  went, 
Bending  our  steps  to  the  ascent ; 

And  soon  as  I  had  set 

On  the  first  stair  my  feet, 
I  felt  the  fanning  of  a  wing 
About  my  face,  and  heard  one  sing 

"  Peacemaker S)  blest  are  ye, 

"  From  evil  wrath  kept  free." 
Far  were  uprisen  o'er  our  heads 
Those  latest  rays,  that  night  succeeds, 

And  now  on  every  side 

The  stars  were  multiplied. 
Then  as  I  felt  my  limbs  unloose, 
As  though  their  power  were  laid  to  truce, 

'  Why,  O  my  strength,'  I  asked, 

'  Faintest  thou  overtasked  ? ' 


250  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVII. 

76    Noi  eravam  dove  piu  non  saliva 
La  scala  su,  ed  eravamo  affissi, 
Pur  come  nave  ch'  alia  piaggia  arriva  : 

79    Ed  io  attesi  un  poco  s'  io  udissi 
Alcuna  cosa  nel  nuovo  girone 
Poi  mi  volsi  al  Maestro  mio,  e  dissi : 

82    Dolce  mio  Padre,  di',  quale  offensione 
Si  purga  qui  nel  giro,  dove  semo? 
Se  i  pie  si  stanno,  non  stea  tuo  sermone. 

S5    Ed  egli  a  me :   L'  amor  del  bene,  scemo 
Di  suo  dover,  quiritto  si  ristora, 
Qui  si  ribatte  il  mal  tardato  remo  : 

88    Ma  perche  piu  aperto  intendi  ancora, 
Volgi  la  mente  a  me,  e  prenderai 
Alcun  buon  frutto  di  nostra  dimora. 

91    Ne  creator,  ne  creatura  mai, 

Comincio  ei,  figliuol,  fu  senza  amore, 
O  naturale,  o  d'  animo  ;    e  tu  il  sai. 

94    Lo  natural  e  sempre  senza  errore ; 

Ma  1'  altro  puote  errar  per  malo  obbietto, 
O  per  poco,  o  per  troppo  di  vigore, 


Canto  XVII.]  PURGATORY.  251 

The  summit  of  the  stairway's  round 

We  gained  ;   and  there  our  feet  were  bound, 

As  ship  that  shore  doth  reach 

And  grounds  upon  the  beach. 
I  listened  for  a  while,  if  aught 
In  that  new  ring  my  hearing  caught : 

Unto  my  Master  then 

I  turned  and  spake  again. 
"  O  my  sweet  Father,  tell  what  sin 
"  Is  purged  this  circle  here  within  ; 

"  Nor  though  our  feet  delay, 

"  Let  thy  discoursing  stay." 
And  he  to  me:    "The  love  too  weak, 
"As  duty  bids  us,  good  to  seek, 

"  This  circle  will  restore, 

"  And  rouse  the  slackened  oar. 
"  But  bend  thy  mind  to  me,  and  learn 
"  The  truth  more  clearly  to  discern, 

"  That  here  while  we  remain 

"  Some  profit  thou  mayest  gain. 
"  Creator,"  he  began  "  my  son, 
"  Nor  creature,  well  thou  knowest,  was  none 

"  But  was  to  love  inclined, 

"  In  nature  or  in  mind. 
"  Love  natural  is  from  error  free : 
"  The  other  fails,  or  in  degree, 

"  As  less  or  more  his  flame, 

"  Or  if  perverse  his  aim. 


252  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVII. 

97     Mentre  ch'  egli  e  ne'  primi  ben  diretto, 
E  ne'  secondi  se  stesso  misura, 
Esser  non  puo  cagion  di  mal  diletto ; 
ioo    Ma,  quando  al  mal  si  torce,  o  con  piu  cura, 
O  con  men  che  non  dee,  corre  nel  bene, 
Contra  il  Fattore  adovra  sua  fattura. 
103    Ouinci  comp render  puoi  ch'  esser  conviene 
Amor  sementa  in  voi  d'  ogni  virtute, 
E  d'  ogni  operazion  che  merta  pene. 
106    Or  perche  mai  non  puo  dalla  salute 
Amor  del  suo  suggetto  torcer  viso, 
Dall'  odio  proprio  son  le  cose  tute  : 
109    E  perche  intender  non  si  puo  diviso, 

E  per  se  stante,  alcuno  esser  dal  primo, 
Da  quello  odiare  ogni  affetto  e  deciso. 
112     Resta,  se  dividendo  bene  estimo, 

Che  il  mal  che  s'  ama  e  del  prossimo,  ed  esso 
Amor  nasce  in  tre  modi  in  vostro  limo. 


Canto  XVII.]  PURGATORY.  1^ 

"  Yet  while  aright  he  keep  his  course, 
"  And  in  due  measure  spend  his  force, 

"  Evil  delight  can  never 

"  Be  born  of  his  endeavour. 
"  But  if  he  go  aside  to  ill, 
"  Or  with  unregulated  will 

"Of  good  pursue  the  track, 

"Too  forward  or  too  slack, 
"  Against  Creator  works  his  creature  : 
"  Now  canst  thou  see  that  in  your  nature 

"Tis  love  that  sows  the  seed 

"  Of  good  or  evil  deed. 
"Now,  being  that  the  eyes  of  love 
"  Ne'er  from  their  subject's  weal  may  move, 

"  All  things  secure  and  free 

"Must  from  self-hatred  be. 
"Again,  as  nought  can  stand  aside, 
"  Nor  from  its  primal  cause  divide, 

"That  too  is  cut  away, 

"  Nor  can  to  hate  be  prey. 
"  If  my  division  holdeth  good, 
"Remains  therefrom  that  we  conclude, 

"Love  misdirected  will 

"  Pursue  its  neighbour's  ill. 
1  'Tis  from  a  single  source  it  springs 
"  But  fruit  of  three-fold  fashion  brings, 

"As  in  your  clay  'tis  bred 

"  And  there  is  nourished. 


254  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVII. 

115    E  chi,  per  esser  suo  vicin  soppresso, 

Spera  eccellenza,  e  sol  per  questo  brama 
Ch'  el  sia  di  sua  grandezza  in  basso  messo. 

118    E  chi  podere,  grazia,  onore,  e  fama 

Teme  di  perder  perch'  altri  sormonti, 
Onde  s'  attrista  si,  che  il  contrario  ama  ; 

121     Ed  e  chi  per  ingiuria  par  ch'  adonti 
SI,  che  si  fa  della  vendetta  ghiotto  ; 
E  tal  convien,  che  il  male  altrui  impronti. 

124    Questo  triforme  amor  quaggiu  disotto 

Si  piange  ;    or  vo'  che  tu  dell'  altro  intende, 
Che  corre  al  ben  con  ordine  corrotto. 

127    Ciascun  confusamente  un  bene  apprende, 
Nel  qual  si  queti  1'  animo,  e  desira : 
Perche  di  giugner  lui  ciascun  contende. 

130  Se  lento  amore  in  lui  veder  vi  tira, 
O  a  lui  acquistar,  questa  cornice, 
Dopo  giusto  penter,  ve  ne  martira. 

133    Altro  ben  e  che  non  fa  1'  uom  felice ; 
Non  e  felicita,  non  e  la  buona 
Essenza,  d'  ogni  ben  frutto  e  radice. 


Canto  XVII.J  PURGATORY.  255 

"There  is  who  hopes  for  highest  place, 
"  If  but  his  neighbour  he  abase, 

"And  greatness  only  so 

"  Desireth  to  bring  low. 
"There  is  who  power  and  fame  and  prize 
"  Feareth  to  lose  if  others  rise  : 

"  So  longs  he,  grieving  sore, 

"  For  some  reverse  in  store. 
"  And  there  is  one  that  wronged  hath  been, 
"  And  would  with  vengeance  sate  his  spleen ; 

"  Fain  is  he  to  requite 

"  With  ill  another's  spite. 
"  This  triple  love  below  is  punished  : 
"  Now  of  the  other  be  thou  monished, 

"  That  unto  good  will  haste 

"With  eagerness  misplaced. 
"All  long  to  rest  their  mind  on  good, 
"  But  indistinctly  understood  : 

"  So  the  desire  of  each 

"  Striveth  thereto  to  reach. 
"  Ye  who  were  drawn  with  love  too  cold 
"  That  good  to  compass  and  behold, 

"  If  duly  ye  repented, 

"  Are  on  this  ledge  tormented. 
"  Yet  is  there  good  that  cannot  bless 
"  Nor  issue  to  true  happiness, 

"  That  essence  fair,  the  root 

"  Of  goodness  and  its  fruit. 


256  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVII. 

136    L'  amor,  ch'  ad  esso  troppo  s'  abbandona, 
Di  sovra  noi  si  piange  per  tre  cerchi ; 
Ma  come  tripartito  si  ragiona, 

139    Tacciolo,  acciocche  tu  per  te  ne  cerchi. 


Canto  XVII.]  PURGATORY.  %^ 

"The  love  that  to  such  good  gives  heed, 
"And  follows  with  unmeasured  speed, 

"Above  us  thou  shalt  see 

"  Lament  in  circles  three. 
"  But  by  what  rule  of  reason  guided 
"  It  is  in  triple  sort  divided, 

"  I  will  forbear  to  speak  : 

"  Thyself  the  cause  shalt  seek." 


CANTO   DECIMOTTAVO. 

POSTO  avea  fine  al  suo  ragionamento 
L'  alto  Dottore,  ed  attento  guardava 
Nella  mia  vista,  s*  io  parea  contento : 

4    Ed  io,  cui  nuova  sete  ancor  frugava, 

Di  fuor  taceva,  e  dentro  dicea :  Forse 
Lo  troppo  dimandar,  ch'  io  fo,  gli  grava. 
7    Ma  quel  padre  verace,  che  s'  accorse 
Del  timido  voler  che  non  s'  apriva, 
Parlando,  di  parlare  ardir  mi  porse. 

io  Ond'  io :  Maestro,  il  mio  veder  s'  avviva 
Si  nel  tuo  lume,  ch'  io  discerno  chiaro 
Quanto  la  tua  ragion  porti  o  descriva : 

13    Pero  ti  prego,  dolce  Padre  caro, 

Che  mi  dimostri  amore,  a  cui  riduci 
Ogni  buono  operare  e  il  suo  contraro. 


CANTO    XVIII. 

My  Teacher  sage  an  end  had  made 
Of  his  discourse  profound,  and  stayed 

To  look  upon  my  face, 

If  there  content  had  place. 
And  I  by  thirst  anew  o'erwrought 
Kept  silence,  but  within  I  thought 

'  Haply  his  grace  'twill  task 

'  If  overmuch  I  ask.' 
But  he  my  Father  true,  that  well 
My  undisclosed  desire  could  tell, 

Upraised  my  courage  weak 

And  speaking  bade  me  speak. 
Then  "  Master,"  I  began  "  my  sight 
"  So  well  is  quickened  in  thy  light, 

"  That  clearly  I  can  reach 

"  The  import  of  thy  speech. 
"Ipray  thee  then,  sweet  Father  dear, 
"  That  love  thou  wouldst  discover,  where 

"Thou  findest  all  the  source 

"  Of  good  or  evil  course." 

S    2 


260  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVIII. 

1 6    Drizza,  disse,  ver  me  1'  acute  luci 
Dello  intelletto,  e  fieti  manifesto 
L'  error  dei  ciechi  che  si  fanno  duci. 

19    L'  animo,  ch'  e  creato  ad  amar  presto, 
Ad  ogni  cosa  e  mobile  che  piace, 
Tosto  che  dal  piacere  in  atto  e  desto. 

22    Vostra  apprensiva  da  esser  verace 

Tragge  intenzione,  e  dentro  a  voi  la  spiega, 
SI  che  1'  animo  ad  essa  volger  face. 

25    E  se,  rivolto,  in  ver  di  lei  si  piega, 

Quel  piegare  e  amor,  quello  e  natura, 

Che  per  piacer  di  nuovo  in  voi  si  lega. 
2S    Poi  come  il  fuoco  muovesi  in  altura, 

Per  la  sua  forma  ch'  e  nata  a  salire 

La  dove  piu  in  sua  materia  dura ; 

31     Cosl  1'  animo  preso  entra  in  disire, 

Ch'  e  moto  spiritale,  e  mai  non  posa 
Fin  che  la  cosa  amata  il  fa  gioire. 

34    Or  ti  puote  apparer  quant'  e  nascosa 
La  veritade  alia  gente  ch'  avvera 
Ciascuno  amore  in  se  laudabil  cosa ; 


Canto  XVIII.]  PURGATORY.  261 

"  Direct  "  he  said,  "  direct  to  me 
"  Thy  keen  intelligence,  and  see 

"  Into  what  error  fall 

"  Your  blinded  leaders  all. 
"The  mind,  created  apt  for  love, 
'•  To  pleasant  things  will  quickly  move, 

"  Soon  as  by  pleasure  led 

"  To  action  it  is  sped. 
"  Your  apprehension  shows  in  you 
"  The  idea  it  draws  from  Being  true, 

"And  straightway  is  the  mind 

"  To  turn  thereto  inclined  : 
'•Thither  it  bends,  and  in  that  bending 
"  Is  love,  is  Nature's  own  intending, 

"  Which  following  pleasure's  train 

"  In  you  is  bound  again. 
"  And  as  the  flame  will  upward  mount, 
"  Drawn  by  its  form  to  seek  its  fount, 

"  Of  its  own  matter  there 

"  In  fuller  meed  to  share, 
"  So  doth  the  enraptured  soul  acquire 
"  That  spirit  motion,  that  desire, 

"  Which  rests  not  till  it  proves 

"Joy  in  the  thing  it  loves. 
"  Now  mayest  thou  gather  how  the  truth 
"  Is  hid  from  those  who  hold  it  sooth 

"  That  love  howe'er  bestowed 

"  Must  aye  be  counted  good : 


262  PURGATORIO.  [  Canto  XVIII. 

37    Perocche  forse  appar  la  sua  matera 

Sempr'  esser  buona ;  ma  non  ciascun  segno 
E  buono,  ancor  che  buona  sia  la  cera. 

40  Le  tue  parole  e  il  mio  seguace  ingegno, 
Risposi  lui,  m'  hanno  amor  discoverto  ; 
Ma  cio  m'  ha  fatto  di  dubbiar  piu  pregno ; 

43  Che  s'  amore  e  di  fuori  a  noi  offerto, 
E  1'  anima  non  va  con  altro  piede, 
Se  dritta  o  torta  va,  non  e  suo  merto. 

46    Ed  egli  a  me  :  Quanto  ragion  qui  vede 
Dirti  poss'  io ;  da  indi  in  la  t'  aspetta 
Pure  a  Beatrice ;  ch'  e  opra  di  fede. 

49    Ogni  forma  sustanzial,  che  setta 

E  da  materia,  ed  e  con  lei  unita, 
Specifica  virtu  ha  in  se  colletta, 

52    La  qual  senza  operar  non  e  sentita, 
Ne  si  dimostra,  ma'  che  per  effetto, 
Come  per  verdi  fronde  in  pianta  vita, 

55     Pero,  la  onde  vegna  lo  intelletto 

Delle  prime  notizi?,  uomo  non  sape3 
Ne  de'  primi  appetibili  1'  affetto, 


Canto  XVIII.] 


PURGATORY.  263 


"Haply  because  they  think  they  know 

"  That  from  good  matter  good  must  grow : 
"  Yet  is  the  seal  not  sure 
''Although  the  wax  be  pure." 

"  Now  by  thy  words  is  love "  I  said 

"  To  my  obedient  wit  displayed  ; 

"Yet  greater  doubt  from  thence 
"  Grows  in  my  labouring  sense. 

"  If  love  be  from  external  source, 

"And  that  alone  direct  our  course, 
"'Tis  not  the  soul's  deserving, 
"  Its  following  or  its  swerving." 

"All  that  in  reason  lies  I  show: 

"  Henceforward  wait "  he  said  "  till  thou 
"  By  Beatrice  be  taught 
"What  can  by  faith  be  wrought. 

"  Every  substantial  form,  not  tied 

"To  matter  but  thereto  allied, 
"Hath  to  itself  assigned 
"The  virtue  of  its  kind: 

"Which  is  not  save  by  working  known, 

"And  only  in  effect  is  shown, 
"  As  life  in  plants,  not  seen 
"  Save  in  their  foliage  green. 

"Wherefore  man  knows  not  whence  deriven 

"  The  understanding  that  receives 
"  The  firstlings  of  our  sight, 
"  No,  nor  our  appetite  : 


264  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVIII. 

58    Che  sono  in  voi,  si  come  studio  in  ape 
Di  far  lo  mele ;  e  questa  prima  voglia 
Merto  di  lode  o  di  biasmo  non  cape. 

61    Or,  perche  a  questa  ogni  altra  si  raccoglia, 
Innata  v'  e  la  virtu  che  consiglia, 
Che  dell'  assenso  de'  tener  la  soglia. 

64    Quest'  e  il  principio,  la  onde  si  piglia 
Cagion  di  meritare  in  voi,  secondo 
Che  buoni  e  rei  amori  accoglie  e  viglia. 

67    Color  che  ragionando  andaro  al  fondo, 
S'  accorser  d'  esta  innata  libertate, 
Pero  moralita  lasciaro  al  mondo. 

70    Onde  pognam  che  di  necessitate 

Surga  ogni  amor  che  dentro  a  voi  s'  accende, 
Di  ritenerlo  e  in  voi  la  potestate. 

73    La  nobile  virtu  Beatrice  intende 

Per  lo  libero  arbitrio,  e  pero  guarda 

Che  1'  abbi  a  mente,  s'  a  parlar  ten  prende. 

76    La  luna,  quasi  a  mezza  notte  tarda, 
Facea  le  stelle  a  noi  parer  piu  rade, 
Fatta  com'  un  secchione  che  tutto  arda ; 


Canto  XVIII.]  PURGATORY.  265 

"  These  are  in  you  by  instinct  born, 
"  As  bees  to  make  their  honey  turn  : 

"  This  primal  will  can  ne'er 

"  In  praise  or  blame  have  share. 
"  Now,  since  on  this  all  others  wait, 
"Yours  is  the  faculty  innate, 

"That  stands  at  judgment's  door 

"  To  be  your  counsellor. 
"  This  is  the  principle,  whereto 
"  Occasion  of  desert  in  you 

"  Is  coupled,  good  that  choose 

"  And  evil  love  refuse. 
"  And  they  who  reason's  depths  could  sound 
"  That  innate  liberty  have  found, 

"  And  to  the  world  thereby 

"  Have  left  morality. 
"  Conclude  we  so,  when  love  inspires  you, 
"  'Tis  of  necessity  it  fires  you  ; 

"Yet  still  the  power  ye  hold 

"Whereby  it  is  controlled. 
"  This  noble  virtue  by  the  name 
"  Free-will  shall  Beatrice  proclaim  ; 

"  Bear  this  in  mind  if  she 

"  Thereof  shall  speak  with  thee." 
The  latened  Moon,  to  midnight  growing, 
Thinned  all  the  stars  were  round  us  showing, 

The  fashion  of  her  light 

As  pitcher  burning  bright. 


266  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVIII. 

79    E  correa  contra  il  ciel  per  quelle  strade 

Che  il  Sole  infiamma  allor,  che  quel  da  Roma 
Tra  i  Sardi  e  i  Corsi  il  vede  quando  cade ; 

82    E  quell'  ombra  gentil,  per  cui  si  noma 
Pietola  piu  che  villa  Mantovana, 
Del  mio  carcar  deposto  avea  la  soma : 

85    Perch'  io,  che  la  ragione  aperta  e  piana 
Sovra  le  mie  questioni  avea  ricolta, 
Stava  com'  uom  che  sonnolento  vana. 

88    Ma  questa  sonnolenza  mi  fu  tolta 
Subitamente  da  gente,  che  dopo 
Le  nostre  spalle  a  noi  era  gia  volta. 

91     E  quale  Ismeno  gia  vide  ed  Asopo, 
Lungo  di  se  di  notte  furia  e  calca, 
Pur  che  i  Teban  di  Bacco  avesser  uopo  ; 

94    Cotal  per  quel  giron  suo  passo  falca, 

Per  quel  ch'  io  vidi  di  color,  venendo, 
Cui  buon  volere  e  giusto  amor  cavalca. 

97    Tosto  fur  sovra  noi,  perche,  correndo, 
Si  movea  tutta  quella  turba  magna  ; 
E  due  dinanzi  gridavan  piangendo : 


Canto  XVIII.]  PURGATORY.  267 

Against  the  course  of  heaven  she  sped, 
Along  the  road  that  flames  with  red, 

When  Sol  to  Roman  eyes 

'Twixt  Corse  and  Sardia  dies. 
That  gentle  shade,  whose  high  renown 
Sets  Pietola  'bove  Mantua's  town, 

Had  lifted  from  my  breast 

The  load  that  had  oppressed  : 
And,  for  my  questioning  was  all 
Clear  open  answer  matched  withal, 

With  sight  confused  I  stood, 

As  one  in  drowsy  mood  : 
When  suddenly  upon  us  burst, 
And  all  that  drowsiness  dispersed, 

A  troop  that  drew  them  near 

Hurrying  in  our  rear. 
And  like  the  trampling  and  the  throng 
By  night  Ismenus'  banks  along, 

What  time  the  Theban  rout 

For  aid  to  Bacchus  sought : 
So  saw  I  there  a  crowd  that  kept 
Their  course,  and  round  the  circle  swept, 

Spirits  whom  righteous  love 

And  good  will  onward  drove. 
Upon  us  soon  they  were,  for  fast 
Was  running  all  that  concourse  vast : 

And  twain  that  went  before 

Cried  in  their  weeping  sore 


268  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVIII. 

ioo    Maria  corse  con  fretta  alia  montagna ; 
E  Cesare,  per  soggiogare  Ilerda, 
Punse  Marsilia,  e  poi  corse  in  Ispagna. 

103    Ratto,  ratto,  che  il  tempo  non  si  perda 

Per  poco  amor,  gridavan  gli  altri  appresso  ; 
Che  studio  di  ben  far  grazia  rinverda. 

106    O  gente,  in  cui  fervore  acuto  adesso 

Ricompie  forse  negligenza  e  indugio, 
Da  voi  per  tiepidezza  in  ben  far  messo, 

109    Questi  che  vive  (e  certo  io  non  vi  bugio) 
Vuole  andar  su,  purche  il  Sol  ne  riluca ; 
Pero  ne  dite  ov'  e  presso  il  pertugio. 

312    Parole  furon  queste  del  mio  Duca  : 

Ed  un  di  quegli  spirti  disse :  Vieni 
Diretro  a  noi,  e  troverai  la  buca. 

115  Noi  siam  di  voglia  a  muoverci  si  pieni, 
Che  ristar  non  potem  ;  pero  perdona, 
Se  villania  nostra  giustizia  tieni. 

118    Io  fui  Abate  in  san  Zeno  a  Verona, 

Sotto  lo  imperio  del  buon  Barbarossa, 
Di  cui  dolente  ancor  Melan  ragiona. 


Canto  XVIII.]  PURGATORY.  269 

"  Mary  made  haste  to  reach  the  hills :  " 
And  "  Caesar  smote  upon  Marseilles, 

"  Then  hurried  into  Spain, 

"  Ilerda's  town  to  gain." 
"  Fast,  fast "  the  others  cried,  that  close 
Were  pressing,  "  lest  the  time  ye  lose 

"  Through  lack  of  love,  for  grace 

"  By  good  zeal  grows  apace." 
"  O  ye  whose  fervour  of  to-day 
"  Quits  past  neglect  and  past  delay, 

"When  but  lukewarm  your  mind 

"  Was  to  good  deed  inclined, 
"  This  man  yet  lives  (I  do  not  gloze), 
"  And  upward  with  the  Sunlight  goes  : 

"  Wherefore  declare  to  me 

"  How  near  the  passage  be." 
Such  was  the  question  of  my  Guide  : 
And  of  those  spirits  one  replied : 

"  Come  after  as  we  go 

"  And  thou  the  gap  shalt  know. 
"  So  charged  with  eager  haste  our  will, 
"  We  may  not  stop.     Count  it  not  ill, 

"  But  pardon  our  offence, 

"  If  justice  call  us  hence. 
"San  Zeno's  Abbey  once  I  schooled 
"  While  the  good  Barbarossa  ruled, 

"  His  rule  whom  never  yet 

"Can  sad  Milan  forget. 


370  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVIII. 

121    E  tale  ha  gia  1'  un  pie  dentro  la  fossa, 
Che  tosto  piangera  quel  monistero, 
E  tristo  fia  d'  avervi  avuto  possa  ; 

124    Perche  suo  figlio,  mal  del  corpo  intero, 

E  della  mente  peggio,  e  che  mal  nacque, 
Ha  posto  in  luogo  di  suo  pastor  vero. 

127    Io  non  so  se  piu  disse,  o  s'  ei  si  tacque, 
Tant'  era  gia  di  la  da  noi  trascorso ; 
Ma  questo  intesi,  e  ritener  mi  piacque. 

130    E  quei,  che  m'  era  ad  ogni  uopo  soccorso, 
Disse :  Volgiti  in  qua,  vedine  due 
Venire,  dando  all'  accidia  di  morso. 

133    Diretro  a  tutti  dicean :  Prima  fue 

Morta  la  gente,  a  cui  il  mar  s'  aperse, 
Che  vedesse  Giordan  le  rede  sue ; 

136    E  quella,  che  1'  affanno  non  sofferse 

Fino  alia  fine  col  figliuol  d'  Anchise, 
Se  stessa  a  vita  senza  gloria  offerse. 


Canto  XVIII.]  PURGATORY.  271 

"  Now  hath  he  foot  in  grave,  who  soon 
"  Shall  for  that  monastery  moan, 

"  And  rue  that  there  his  hand 

"  Had  ever  held  command  : 
"  For  that  in  their  true  pastor's  stead 
"  He  set  his  son,  of  bastard  breed, 

"  Crippled  in  limb,  and  worse 

"  Crossed  in  his  mind  perverse." 
I  know  not  whether  more  he  said 
Or  held  his  peace,  so  far  he  sped  : 

But  this  I  heard  aright 

And  kept  for  my  delight. 
And  he,  my  help  in  every  need, 
Said  :'  Turn  thou  hither,  see  where  speed 

"Two  souls,  intent  to  sting 

"  Their  slothful  dallying." 
Behind  they  shouted  "  Dead  were  they, 
"  For  whom  the  sea  made  open  way, 

"  Ere  yet  to  Jordan's  shores 

"  Came  his  inheritors. 
"  And  they,  who  with  Anchises'  son 
"  Endured  not  till  the  end  was  won, 

"Shrank  from  the  toil  and  strife, 

"  To  choose  inglorious  life." 


272  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XVIIl. 

139    Poi  quando  fur  da  noi  tanto  divise 

Quell'  ombre,  che  veder  piu  non  potersi, 
Nuovo  pensiero  dentro  a  me  si  mise, 

1 42    Del  qual  piu  altri  nacquero  e  diversi ; 
E  tanto  d'  uno  in  altro  vaneggiai, 
Che  gli  occhi  per  vaghezza  ricopersi, 

145    E  il  pensamento  in  sogno  trasmutai. 


Canto  XVIII.]  PURGATORY.  273 

When  from  our  sight  those  shades  were  parted, 
Within  me  then  fresh  thoughts  upstarted, 

And  others  from  them  grew 

Diverse  and  ever  new : 
Idly  from  each  to  each  I  passed  : 
And  when  my  eyes  were  closed  at  last, 

Onward  my  fancy  ranged, 

Until  to  dream  it  changed. 


CANTO   DECIMONONO. 

Nell'  ora  die  non  puo  il  calor  diurno 
Intiepidar  piu  il  freddo  della  Luna, 
Vinto  da  Terra  o  talor  da  Saturno  ; 
4    Ouando  i  geomanti  lor  Maggior  Fortuna 
Veggiono  in  oriente,  innanzi  all'  alba, 
Surger  per  via  che  poco  le  sta  bruna ; 
7    Mi  venne  in  sogno  una  femmina  balba, 

Negli  occhi  guercia,  e  sovra  i  pie  distorta, 
Con  le  man  monche,  e  di  colore  scialba. 

10    Io  la  mirava  ;   e,  come  il  Sol  conforta 

Le  fredde  membra  che  la  notte  aggrava, 
Cosi  lo  sguardo  mio  le  facea  scorta 

13    La  lingua,  e  poscia  tutta  la  drizzava 
In  poco  d'  ora,  e  lo  smarrito  volto, 
Come  amor  vuol,  cosi  lo  colorava. 


CANTO    XIX. 

THE  hour  was  come  when  faints  away 
'Neath  the  Moon's  chill  the  heat  of  day, 

Or  by  the  Earth  controlled, 

Or  now  by  Saturn  cold  ; 
When  geomants  in  eastern  sky 
Their  Greater  Fortune  can  descry, 

Its  darksome  road  upon 

Before  the  dawn  hath  shone  : 
Then  to  my  dreams  a  woman  came, 
Blear-eyed  and  stammering  and  lame. 

Her  hands  deformed  and  weak, 

And  sickly  pale  her  cheek. 
I  gazed  on  her  :  and  as  the  Sun 
Cheers  the  chilled  limbs  by  night  fordone. 

So  quickened  in  my  look 

Her  tongue  fresh  impulse  took  : 
And  thereat  in  a  little  space 
She  grew  erect,  and  her  wan  face 

Was  with  the  colour  dressed 

That  comes  at  love's  behest. 
T  2 


Z-/6  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIX. 

16  Poi  ch'  ell'  avea  il  parlar  cosl  disciolto, 
Cominciava  a  cantar  si,  che  con  pena 
Da  lei  avrei  mio  intento  rivolto. 

19     Io  son,  cantava,  io  son  dolce  Sirena, 

Che  i  marinari  in  mezzo  mar  dismago  ; 
Tanto  son  di  piacere  a  sentir  piena. 

21     Io  volsi  Ulisse  del  suo  cammin  vago 
Col  canto  mio  ;    e  qual  meco  si  ausa 
Rado  sen  parte,  si  tutto  1'  appago. 

25    Ancor  non  era  sua  bocca  richiusa, 

Quando  una  donna  apparve  santa  e  presta 
Lunghesso  me,  per  far  colei  confusa. 

28  O  Virgilio,  Virgilio,  chi  e  questa  ? 
Fieramente  diceva  ;  ed  ei  veniva 
Con  gli  occhi  fitti  pure  in  quella  onesta. 

31     L'  altra  prendeva,  e  dinanzi  1'  apriva 

Fendendo  i  drappi,  e  mostravami  il  ventre ; 
Quel  mi  sveglio  col  puzzo  che  n'  usciva. 

34    Io  volsi  gli  occhi,  e  il  buon  Virgilio  :   Almen  trc 
Voci  t'  ho  messe,  dicea  :  surgi  e  vieni, 
Troviam  1'  aperta  per  la  qual  tu  entre. 


Canto  XIX.]  PURGATORY.  277 

And  when  her  speech  was  thus  set  free. 
Then  she  began  to  sing  to  me, 

That  hardly  could  I  ever 

My  gaze  from  her  dissever. 
'I  am'  she  sang  'the  Siren  sweet, 
'  Who    on  mid  sea  the  mariners  meet, 

'  And  charm  them  with  my  measure, 

'  That  fills  them  all  with  pleasure  : 
'  Ulysses  from  his  wandering  track 
'  I  drew :   right  seldom  turns  he  back, 

'  Who  once  with  me  will  dwell, 

'So  potent  is  my  spell.' 
Her  mouth  had  closed  not,  when  I  saw 
A  holy  dame  beside  me  draw, 

Alert  of  mien,  as  bound 

That  other  to  confound. 
'  O  Virgil,  Virgil,  who  is  here  ? ' 
Proudly  she  said,  and  he  drew  near. 

Fastening  his  eyes  upon 

That  honourable  one. 
He  seized  the  other  and  unripped 
Her  raiment  and  her  belly  stripped : 

The  stench  therefrom  that  broke 

My  slumber  all  awoke. 
I  turned,  and  my  good  Virgil  said  : 
"  Thrice  have  I  called  thee :  leave  thy  bed. 

"And  come  the  gate  to  win 

"  Where  thou  shalt  enter  in." 


278  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIX. 

;7    Su  mi  levai,  e  tutti  eran  gia  pieni 

Dell'  alto  di  i  giron  del  sacro  monte, 
Ed  andavam  col  Sol  nuovo  alle  reni. 

40    Seguendo  lui,  portava  ia  mia  fronte 

Come  colui  che  1'  ha  di  pensier  carca, 
Che  fa  di  se  un  mezzo  arco  di  ponte ; 

43    Quand'  io  udi'  :  Venite,  qui  si  varca, 
Parlare  in  modo  soave  e  benigno, 
Oual  non  si  sente  in  questa  mortal  marca. 

46  Con  1'  ali  aperte  che  parean  di  cigno, 
Volseci  in  su  colui  che  si  parlonne, 
Tra'  due  pareti  del  duro  macigno. 

49    Mosse  le  penne  poi  e  ventilonne, 

Qui  lugent  affermando  esser  beati, 
Ch'  avran  di  consolar  1'  anime  donne. 

52    Che  hai,  che  pure  in  ver  la  terra  guati  ? 
La  Guida  mia  incomincio  a  dirmi, 
Poco  ambedue  dall'  Angel  sormontati. 

55  Ed  io :  Con  tanta  suspizion  fa  irmi 
Novella  vision  ch'  a  se  mi  piega, 
Si  ch'  io  non  posso  dal  pensar  partirmi. 


Canto  XIX.]  PURGATORY.  279 

I  rose,  and  saw  the  high  day  fill 
The  circles  of  that  holy  hill  : 

And  onward  did  we  wind 

With  the  new  Sun  behind. 
Following  I  went,  as  one  who  bears 
Upon  his  front  the  load  of  cares, 

His  body  bent,  as  though 

To  half  an  arch  'twould  grow, 
When  "  Come"  I  heard  "  the  pass  to  meet." 
Uttered  in  tone  so  kindly  sweet, 

We  may  not  know  such  sound 

Within  this  mortal  bound. 
With  wings,  that  seemed  a  swan's,  outspread, 
He  turned  us,  he  that  word  who  said, 

And  'twixt  two  walls  we  passed, 

Of  hardest  flint  made  fast. 
The  fanning  of  his  plumes  we  caught, 
And  "Blest  are  they  who  mourn;"  he  taught 

"Yea,  blest  are  they  whose  soul 

"  Shall  comfort  all  control." 
We  parted  from  that  Angel's  side, 
And  both  were  mounting,  when  my  Guide : 

"What  aileth  thee,  that  stays 

"Upon  the  ground  thy  gaze?" 
And  I :   "  The  vision  that  I  met 
■•  Such  strange  suspicion  doth  beget, 

"  That  still  within  my  heart 

"Abides  nor  will  depart." 


--S°  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIX. 

58    Vedesti,  disse,  quella  antica  strega, 

Che  sola  sovra  noi  omai  si  piagne? 
Vedesti  come  1'  uom  da  lei  si  slega? 

61     Bastiti,  e  batti  a  terra  le  calcagne ; 

Gli  occhi  rivolgi  al  logoro,  che  gira 
Lo  Rege  eterno  con  le  ruote  magne. 

64    Quale  il  falcon  che  prima  ai  pie  si  mira, 
Indi  si  volge  al  grido,  e  si  protende 
Per  lo  disio  del  pasto  che  la  il  tira  ; 

67    Tal  mi  fee'  io,  e  tal,  quanto  si  fende 
La  roccia  per  dar  via  a  chi  va  suso, 
N'  andai  infino  ove  il  cerchiar  si  prende. 

70    Com'  io  nel  quinto  giro  fui  dischiuso, 
Vidi  gente  per  esso  che  piangea, 
Giacendo  a  terra  tutta  volta  in  giuso. 

73     Adhaesit  pavimento  anima  vica, 
Senti'  dir  lor  con  si  alti  sospiri, 
Che  la  parola  appena  s'  intendea. 

76    O  eletti  di  Dio,  li  cui  soffriri 

E  giustizia  e  speranza  fan  men  duri, 
Drizzate  noi  verso  crli  alti  saliri. 


Canto  XIX.]  PURGATORY.  38l 

"  Hast  seen  that  ancient  witch  that  will 
"  Above  "  he  said  "  be  grieving  still  ? 

"  Hast  seen,  how  from  her  chain 

"  Man  may  be  loosed  again  ? 
"  Let  be,  and  groundward  press  thy  heels  : 
"  Look  thou  upon  the  lure  that  wheels, 

"  Swung  in  wide  circling  ring 

"By  the  Eternal  King." 
As  falcon  then,  at  first  that  eyes 
His  feet,  but  at  the  call  will  rise, 

And  spreads  himself,  and  moves 

Towards  the  meat  he  loves : 
So  turned  I,  so  above  I  went, 
Where  parts  the  rock  for  the  ascent, 

Until  the  road  I  found 

Whereby  to  travel  round. 
So  was  I  loosed  again,  and  there 
In  the  fifth  circle  I  was  ware 

Of  those  were  weeping  sore, 

Stretched  prone  upon  the  floor. 
"  Upon  the  dust  my  soul  is  lying" 
I  heard  them  say,  so  deeply  sighing, 

That  hardly  could  I  reach 

The  import  of  their  speech. 
"  Elect  of  God,  whose  sore  distress 
"  Justice  and  hope  can  render  less, 

"  Oh  !    grant  us  guidance  right 

"To  climb  the  lofty  height." 


2§2  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIX. 

79    Se  voi  venite  dal  giacer  sicuri, 

E  volete  trovar  la  via  piu  tosto, 
Le  vostre  destre  sien  sempre  di  furi. 

S2     Cosi  prego  il  Poeta,  e  si  risposto 

Poco  dinanzi  a  noi  ne  fu ;  perch'  io 
Nel  parlare  avvisai  1'  altro  nascosto  ; 

85  E  volsi  gli  occhi  allora  al  Signor  mio: 
Ond'  egli  m'  assent!  con  lieto  cenno 
Cio  che  chiedea  la  vista  del  disio. 

88    Poi  ch'  io  potei  di  me  fare  a  mio  senno, 
Trassimi  sovra  quella  creatura, 
Le  cui  parole  pria  notar  mi  fenno, 

91     Dicendo :  Spirto,  in  cui  pianger  matura 

Quel  senza  il  quale  a  Dio  tornar  non  puossi, 
Sosta  un  poco  per  me  tua  maggior  cura. 

94    Chi  fosti,  e  perche  volti  avete  i  dossi 

Al  su,  mi  di',  e  se  vuoi  ch'  io  t'  impetri 
Cosa  di  la  ond'  io  vivendo  mossi. 

97    Ed  egli  a  me  :  Perche  i  nostri  diretri 

Rivolga  il  cielo  a  se,  saprai  :  ma  prima, 
Scias  quod  ego  fui  successor  Petri. 


Canto  XIX.]  PURGATORY.  2«3 

"  If  here  to  lie  ye  have  no  need, 
"  And  only  seek  above  to  speed, 

"  Your  right  hands  ever  keep 

"  Without  you  round  the  steep." 
So  prayed  the  Poet,  so  reply 
Short  space  in  front  there  came,  and  I 

Turned  as  they  spake  to  know 

Who  'twas  lay  hid  below. 
Then  on  my  Lord  my  eyes  I  bent : 
And  he  with  sign  of  glad  assent 

Granted  me  the  request 

My  longing  face  'expressed. 
When  thus  my  thought  I  might  pursue, 
Above  that  creature  then  I  drew, 

From  whence  the  words  that  came 

My  notice  first  did  ciaim. 
"  Spirit,"  I  said  "  whose  tears  will  learn  thee 
"  To  ripen  what  to  God  can  turn  thee, 

"  Let  thy  great  cares  give  place, 

"  And  bide  with  me  a  space. 
"Tell  who  thou  wast,  and  why  your  backs 
';  Are  upward  turned,  and  if  there  lacks 

"  Aught  thou  would'st  ask  therefrom 

"  Whence  living  I  have  come/' 
And  he  to  me  :  "  Thou  shalt  be  told 
"  Wherefore  the  skies  our  backs  behold ; 

"But  first  of  this  be  ware, 

"  /  sat  in  Peter  s  chair. 


284  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIX. 

100    Intra  Siestri  e  Chiaveri  si  adima 

Una  fiumana  bella,  e  del  suo  nome 
Lo  titol  del  mio  sangue  fa  sua  cima. 

103    Un  mese  e  poco  piu  prova'  io  come 

Pesa  il  gran  manto  a  chi  dal  fango  il  guarda, 
Che  piuma  sembran  tutte  1'  altre  some. 

106    La  mia  conversione,  ome!  fu  tarda; 
Ma,  come  fatto  fui  Roman  Pastore, 
Cos!  scopersi  la  vita  bugiarda. 

j  09    Vidi  che  li  non  si  quetava  il  cuore, 
Ne  piu  salir  poteasi  in  quella  vita ; 
Per  che  di  questa  in  me  s'  accese  amore. 

112    Fino  a  quel  punto  misera  e  partita 

Da  Dio  anima  fui,  del  tutto  avara: 
Or,  come  vedi,  qui  ne  son  punita. 

j  15    Quel  ch'  avarizia  fa,  qui  si  dichiara 
In  purgazion  dell'  anime  converse, 
E  nulla  pena  il  monte  ha  piu  amara. 

us    Si  come  1'  occhio  nostro  non  s'  aderse 
In  alto,  fisso  alle  cose  terrene, 
Cosi  giustizia  qui  a  terra  il  merse. 


Canto  XIX.] 


PURGATORY.  «&5 


•'  'Twixt  Chiavari  and  Sestri  flows 
"  A  river  fair,  whose  name  bestows 

"  Upon  my  blood  its  crown, 

"  And  title  of  renown. 
"  A  month,  scarce  more,  I  proved  how  hard 
"  "Tis  the  great  mantle  clean  to  guard  : 

"  All  other  burden  less 

"  Than  lightest  down  would  press. 
"  Came  my  conversion  ah !  how  late : 
"But  when  I  took  Rome's  pastorate, 

"Then  was  unfolded  plain 

"  Our  life  how  false  and  vain. 
"  There  the  heart  rests  it  not,  nor  higher, 
"  I  saw,  can  in  that  life  aspire : 

"Then  kindled  was  my  love 

"  Unto  this  life  above. 
-  Till  then,  to  avarice  wholly  given, 
"  My  hapless  soul  from  God  was  riven  : 

"  Now  seest  thou  how  my  sin 

"  Is  punished  here  within. 
"  What  comes  of  avarice  is  here 
"  By  these  converted  souls  made  clear, 

"In  their  purgation  shown: 

"  In  all  this  mount  are  none 
"  More  bitter  penalty  that  know : 
"  Our  eyes,  because  we  kept  them  low, 

"  Fixed  upon  earthly  things, 

"Here  justice  earthward  brings. 


286  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIX. 

i2i     Come  avarizia  spense  a  ciascun  bene 

Lo  nostro  amore,  onde  operar  perdesi, 
Cos!  giustizia  qui  stretti  ne  tiene 

124    Ne'  piedi  e  nelle  man  legati  e  presi ; 
E  quanto  fia  piacer  del  giusto  Sire, 
Tanto  staremo  immobili  e  distesi. 

127    lo  m    era  inginocchiato,  e  volea  dire; 

Ma  com'  io  cominciai,  ed  ei  s'  accorse, 
Solo  ascoltando,  del  mio  riverire : 

130    Qual  cagion,  disse,  in  giu  cosi  ti  torse? 
Ed  io  a  lui :  Per  vostra  dignitate 
Mia  coscienza  dritto  mi  rimorse. 

133    Drizza  le  gambe,  levati  su,  frate, 

Rispose  :  non  errar,  conservo  sono 
Teco  e  con  gli  altri  ad  una  potestate. 

136  Se  mai  quel  santo  evangelico  suono, 
Che  dice  Neque  nubent,  intendesti 
Ben  puoi  veder  perch'  io  cosi  ragiono. 

139  Vattene  omai ;  non  vo'  che  piu  t'  arresti, 
Che  la  tua  stanza  mio  pianger  disagia, 
Col  qual  maturo  cio  che  tu  dicesti. 


Canto  XIX.]  PURGATORY.  287 

"  As  avarice  our  love  will  spoil 

"  For  every  good,  and  waste  our  toil, 

"  So  justice  here  again 

"  Will  fetter  and  enchain 
"  Our  hands  and  feet,  and  hold  us  fast : 
"And  while  our  just  Lord's  pleasure  last, 

"  So  long  here  must  we  lie 

"  Outstretched  immoveably." 
I  turned  to  speak,  my  knees  down  bending: 
And  he  was  ware  of  my  intending, 

Though  but  his  hearing's  sense 

Told  of  my  reverence. 
"What  cause"  he  said  "doth  downward  bow  thee?" 
And  I:  "The  worship  that  I  owe  thee: 

"  For  as  I  stood,  the  smart 

"  Of  conscience  pricked  my  heart." 
"  Brother,  rise  up,"  he  said  "  and  see 
"  Thou  err  not :  with  the  rest  and  thee 

"  Thy  fellow-servant  I 

"  Obey  one  majesty. 
"  And  if  that  holy  Gospel  word, 
" '  They  marry  not]  thou  e'er  hast   heard, 

"  Well  canst  thou  understand 

"  The  truth  of  my  command. 
"  Go  now  :  I  would  not  have  thee  stay, 
"  For  while  thou  stand,  my  tears  delay, 

"  Nor  ripen  that  wherefrom 

"  What  thou  hast  told  shall  come. 


288  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XIX. 

142    Nepote  ho  io  di  la  ch'  ha  nome  Alagia, 
Buona  da  se,  pur  che  la  nostra  casa 
Non  faccia  lei  per  esemplo  malvagia  ; 

145    E  questa  sola  di  la  m'  e  rimasa. 


Canto  XIX.]  PURGATORY.  2 89 

"Alagia  my  good  niece  is  still 
"Yonder,  so  turn  she  not  to  ill 

"  After  our  evil  line  : 

"  And  she  is  all  of  mine." 


CANTO   VENTESIMO. 

CONTRA  miglior  voler  voler  mal  pugna  ; 
Onde  contra  il  piacer  mio,  per  piacerli, 
Trassi  dell'  acqua  non  sazia  la  spugna. 

4    Mossimi  ;  e  il  Duca  mio  si  mosse  per  li 
Lochi  spediti  pur  lungo  la  roccia, 
Come  si  va  per  muro  stretto  ai  merli  ; 
;    Che  la  gente,  che  fonde  a  goccia  a  goccia 

Per  gli  occhi  il  mal  che  tutto  il  mondo  occupa, 
Dall'  altra  parte  in  fuor  troppo  s'   approccia. 

10     Maladetta  sie  tu,  antica  lupa, 

Che  piu  che  tutte  1'  altre  bestie  hai  preda, 
Per  la  tua  fame  senza  fine  cupa ! 

13    O  ciel,  nel  cui  girar  par  che  si  creda 
Le  condizion  di  quaggiu  trasmutarsi, 
Ouando  verra  per  cui  questa  disceda? 


CANTO    XX. 

Will,  matched  'gainst  better  will,  is  weak 
So  'gainst  my  pleasure  his  to  seek 

I  laid  the  sponge  aside, 

Albeit  unsatisfied. 
I  moved  :  my  Guide  was  passing  where 
Along  the  rock  the  road  was  clear, 

As  though  on  wall  he  went 

Close  to  the  battlement. 
For  they  who  drop  by  drop  the  ill 
That  clogs  the  world  in  tears  distil 

Are  ranged  along  the  ledge 

Near  to  the  outer  edge. 
Thou  ancient  wolf,  be  thou  accurst, 
Thou  of  all  beasts  of  prey  the  worst, 

Whose  hunger  is  not  sated, 

Nor  e'er  thy  greed  abated  ! 
Ye  heavens,  with  whose  revolving  range 
The  world's  condition  seems  to  change. 

When  shall  he  come,  whose  might 

That  beast  will  put  to  flight  ? 

U    2 


*93  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XX. 

i(>    Noi  andavam  con  passi  lenti  e  scarsi, 
Ed  io  attento  all'  ombre  ch'  io  sentia 
Pietosamente  piangere  e  lagnarsi : 

j 9    E  per  ventura  udi' :  Dolce  Maria  : 

Dinanzi  a  noi  chiamar  cos!  nel  pianto, 
Come  fa  donna  che  in  partorir  sia  ; 

22    E  seguitar  :  Povera  fosti  tanto, 

Quanto  veder  si  puo  per  quell'  ospizio, 
Ove  sponesti  il  tuo  portato  santo. 

25  Seguentemente  intesi :  O  buon  Fabbrizio, 
Con  poverta  volesti  anzi  virtute, 
Che  gran  ricchezza  posseder  con  vizio. 

28    Oueste  parole  m'  eran  si  piaciute, 

Ch'  io  mi  trassi  oltre  per  aver  contezza 
Di  quello  spirto,  onde  parean  venute. 

31    Esso  parlava  ancor  della  larghezza 
Che  fece  Niccolao  alle  pulcelle, 
Per  condurre  ad  onor  lor  giovinezza. 

34    O  anima  chc  tanto  ben  favelle, 

Dimmi  chi  fosti,  dissi,  e  perche  sola 
Tu  queste  degne  lode  rinnovelle  ? 


Canto  XX.]  PURGATORY.  293 

With  paces  few  and  slow  we  went : 
And  I  was  on  those  shades  intent, 

Whose  weeping  and  whose  cries 

I  heard  in  piteous  wise. 
When  "  Mary  sweet "  I  heard  one  call 
In  front  of  us,  such  wail  withal 

As  when  a  woman  plains 

Taken  in  labour-pains  : 
The  voice  went  on  :  "  How  poor  wert  thou, 
•'  We  by  that  hostelry  may  know, 

"  Whereto  thou  didst  consign 

"That  holy  load  of  thine." 
"  O  good  Fabricius,"  followed  close 
••  Who  poverty  with  virtue  chose, 

"  Rather  than  store  of  gold 

"With  infamy  to  hold!" 
Those  words  to  me  brought  such  delight. 
I  drew  me  further,  that  I  might 

The  spirit  know  from  whom 

That  utterance  seemed  to  come. 
And  still  of  that  largess  he  taught, 
Nicholas  to  those  maidens  brought, 

To  guard  their  honour  sure, 

And  keep  them  virgin  pure. 
"  O  soul,  that  dost  discourse  so  well, 
"  Tell  who  thou  wast,"  I  said,  "  and  tell 

"  Wherefore  these  praises  meet 

"  Thou  only  dost  repeat. 


294  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XX. 

37    Non  fia  senza  merce  la  tua  parola, 

S'  io  ritorni  a  compier  lo  cammin  corto 
Di  quella  vita  che  al  termine  vola. 

40    Ed  egli :  Io  ti  diro,  non  per  conforto 

Ch'  io  attenda  di  la,  ma  perche  tanta 
Grazia  in  te  luce  prima  che  sie  morto. 

43    Io  fui  radice  della  mala  pianta, 

Che  la  terra  cristiana  tutta  aduggia 

Si,  che  buon  frutto  rado  se  ne  schianta. 

46    Ma,  se  Doagio,  Lilla,  Guanto,  e  Bruggia 
Potesser,  tosto  ne  saria  vendetta ; 
Ed  io  la  cheggio  a  lui  che  tutto  giuggia. 

49     Chiamato  fui  di  la  Ugo  Ciapetta  : 

Di  me  son  nati  i  Filippi  e  i  Luigi, 
Per  cui  novellamente  e  Francia  retta. 

52     Figliuol  fui  d'  un  beccaio  di  Parigi. 

Quando  li  regi  antichi  venner  meno 
Tutti,  fuor  ch'  un,  renduto  in  panni  bigi, 

55    Trovaimi  stretto  nelle  mani  il  freno 

Del  governo  del  regno,  e  tanta  possa 
Di  nuovo  acquisto,  e  si  d'  amici  pieno, 


Canto  XX.]  PURGATORY.  295 

"  Thy  answer  shall  not  guerdon  lack, 
"  If  to  the  road  I  travel  back, 

"  Where  I  shall  end  at  last 

"That  life  that  flies  so  fast." 
"  And  I  will  tell,"  he  said  "  but  not 
"  For  comfort  that  may  thence  be  got, 

"  But  for  the  grace  in  thee 

''That  shines  ere  dead  thou  be. 
"  I  was  of  that  ill  plant  the  root, 
"Which  Christendom  so  spreads  about, 

"  That  scarcely  may  it  bear 

"Good  fruitage  anywhere. 
;-  If  Douay,  Bruges,  Lille  and  Ghent, 
"  Could  order,  soon  were  vengeance  sent  r 

"  And  for  that  doom  I  call 

"To  him  who  judgeth  all. 
"  Hugh  Capet  I  was  called  :  and  mine 
"  The  Lewises'  and  Philips'  line, 

"Who  in  this  modern  day 

"The  realm  of  Francia  sway. 
':  A  Paris  butcher's  son  was   I  : 
•When  dwindled  were  and  all  gone  by 

"The  ancient  kings,  save  one, 

"  That  weeds  of  grey  put  on, 
"  I  found  my  hands  so  firmly  hold 
"The  reins  their  kingdom  that  controlled, 

"  I  had  of  friends  such  store, 
"  And  such  new-gathered  power, 


296  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XX. 

58    Ch'  alia  corona  vedova  promossa 

La  testa  di  mio  figlio  fu,  dal  quale 
Cominciar  di  costor  le  sacrate  ossa. 
61     Mentre  che  la  gran  dote  Provenzale 

Al  sangue  mio  non  tolse  la  vergogna, 
Poco  valea,  ma  pur  non  facea  male. 
64    Li  comincio  con  forza  e  con  menzogna 

La  sua  rapina  ;  e  poscia,  per  ammenda, 
Ponti  e  Normandia  prese,  e  Guascogna. 
67    Carlo  venne  in  Italia,  e,  per  ammenda, 
Vittima  fe'  di  Curradino  ;  e  poi 
Ripinse  al  Ciel  Tommaso,  per  ammenda. 
70    Tempo  vegg'  io,  non  molto  dopo  ancoi, 

Che  tragge  un  altro  Carlo  fuor  di  Francia. 
Per  far  conoscer  meglio  e  se  e  i  suoi. 
73    Senz'  arme  n'  esce  solo,  e  con  la  lancia 

Con  la  qual  giostro  Giuda  ;  e  quella  ponta 
Si,  ch'  a  Fiorenza  fa  scoppiar  la  pancia. 


canto  XX.]  PURGATORY.  297 

"That  to  the  widowed  crown  my  heir 
•'  Uplifted  was  on  head  to  wear  ; 

"  With  him  the  line  began 

"  In  bones  anoint  that  ran. 
"  Till  the  rich  dower  of  Provence  came 
"  And  in  my  blood  extinguished  shame, 

"  Small  was  their  worth,  but  still 

':  They  wrought  but  little  ill. 
"  Began  their  rapine's  course  from  thence 
"  With  falsehood  and  with  violence, 

"  Following  their  evil  ends  ; 

"And  then  to  make  amends, 
''  Gascoigne  they  took,  and  took  Ponthieu 
"  And  Normandy  ;  their  Carlo  too 

"  On  Italy  descends  : 

"And  then  to  make  amends, 
"  Seizes  Conradin  for  his  prize, 
"  And  makes  of  him  a  sacrifice  : 

"  And  then  to  make  amends, 

"  Thomas  to  Heaven  he  sends. 
"  Soon  can  I  see  the  time  advance, 
"  To  draw  another  Charles  from  France, 

';  That  better  known  may  be 

"  He  and  his  company. 
"  Unarmed  he  comes,  and  but  the  spear 
"  Of  Judas'  jousting  will  he  bear  : 

"  Therewith  he  drives  to  make 

"  The  paunch  of  Florence  break. 


298  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XX. 

76  Ouindi  non  terra,  ma  peccato  ed  onta 
Guadagnera,  per  se  tanto  piu  grave, 
Ouanto  piu  lieve  simil  danno  conta. 

79    L'  altro,  che  gia  uscl  preso  di  nave, 

Veggio  vender  sua  figlia,  e  patteggiarne, 
Come  fanno  i  corsar  dell'  altre  schiave. 

S2     O  avarizia,  che  puoi  tu  piu  fame, 

Poscia  ch'  hai  lo  mio  sangue  a  te  si  tratto, 
Che  non  si  cura  della  propria  carne  ? 

85    Perche  men  paia  il  mal  futuro  e  il  fatto, 
Veggio  in  Alagna  entrar  lo  fiordaliso, 
E  nel  Vicario  suo  Cristo  esser  catto. 

8S  Vegg iolo  un'  altra  volta  esser  deriso  ; 
Veggio  rinnovellar  1'  aceto  e  il  fele, 
E  tra  vivi  ladroni  esser  anciso. 

91     Veggio  il  nuovo  Pilato  si  crudele, 

Che  cio  nol  sazia,  ma,  senza  decreto, 
Porta  nel  tempio  le  cupide  vele. 

94    O  Signor  mio,  quando  saro  io  lieto 
A  vedcr  la   vendetta,  che,  nascosa, 
Fa  dolce  1'  ira  tua  nel  tuo  segreto? 


Canto  XX.J 


PURGATORY.  299 


"No  territory  may  he  win 
"Thereby,  but  only  shame  and  sin, 
"  That  worse  on  him  will  light 
"  Who  counts  such  loss  but  slight. 
"One  more  I  see.  from  ship-board  ta'en, 
"His  daughter  bartering  for  gain, 
"  As  corsairs  traffic  make 
"  Of  the  slave  maids  they  take. 
"O  avarice,  what  more  canst  do, 
"My  blood  that  hast  perverted  so. 
"  They  of  their  flesh  devise 
"  To  make  their  "merchandise  ? 
"  I  see,  to  cover  all  their  sin, 
"  The  fleur-de-lis  Alagna  win, 
"  And  in  his  Vicar  there 
"Christ  made  a  prisoner. 
"I  see  him  mocked  and  ill  entreated, 
"  The  vinegar  and  gall  repeated, 
"While  at  his  slaying  stand 
"Live  thieves  on  either  hand. 
"  I  see  that  Pilate,  nothing  sated, 
"Nor  lawful  sentence  e'er  awaited, 
"Into  the  Temple  strive 
"  His  greedy  flag  to  drive. 
"  When,  O  my  Lord,  shall   I  be  blest, 
"  Seeing  the  vengeance  manifest, 
"Which  in  thy  secret  stays, 
"  And  thy  just  wrath  allays  ? 


300  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XX. 

97     Cio  ch'  io  dicea  di  quell'  unica  sposa 
Dello  Spirito  Santo,  e  che  ti  fece 
Verso  me  volger  per  alcuna  chiosa, 

ioo    Tanto  e  risposta  a  tutte  nostre  prece, 

Ouanto  il  dl  dura ;   ma,  quand'  e'  s'  annotta, 
Contrario  suon  prendemo  in  quella  vece. 

103    Noi  ripetiam  Plgmalion  allotta, 

Cui  traditore  e  ladro  e  patricida 
Fece  la  voglia  sua  dell'  oro  ghiotta ; 

ioc>    E  la  miseria  dell'  avaro  Mida, 

Che  segui  alia  sua  dimanda  ingorda, 
Per  la  qual  sempre  convien  che  si  rida. 

109    Del  folle  Acam  ciascun  poi  si  ricorda, 
Come  furo  le  spoglie,  si  che  1'  ira 
Di  Josue  qui  par  ch'  ancor  lo  morda. 

m    Indi  accusiam  col  marito  Safira : 

Lodiamo  i  calci  ch'  ebbe  Eliodoro ; 
Ed  in  infamia  tutto  il  monte  gira 


Canto  XX.]  PURGATORY.  3C1 

"  For  what  in  praise  of  her  I  cried, 
"  The  Holy  Spirit's  only  bride, 

"  When  towards  me  thou  didst  turn 
"And  would'st  my  meaning  learn, 
"  'Tis  the  response  our  prayers  alway 
"  Are  closed  withal,  while  lasts  the  day  : 
"  When  falls  the  night,  we  choose 
"  The  counter  sound  to  use. 
"  Then  is  Pygmalion's  story  told, 
"  How  in  his  hungry  lust  for  gold 
"A  thief,  a  traitor,  he, 
"  A  murderer  came  to  be. 
"  Then  we  recall  the  misery  wrought 
"  By  gift  that  greedy  Midas  sought : 
"  Still  must  his  laughter  flow 
"  Who  of  that  tale  shall  know. 
"  Then  Achan's  folly  is  our  theme, 
"  Who  stole  the  spoil  :   and  still  we  seem 
"  Upon  the  righteous  stroke 
"  Of  Joshua's  wrath  to  look. 
"  Sapphira's  and  her  husband's  fraud 
"  We  execrate :  and  we  applaud 

"  The  kicks  and  scourging  sore 
"  That  Heliodorus  bore. 


3°2  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XX. 

115    Polinestor  ch'  ancise  Polidoro: 

Ultimamente  ci  si  grida  :  Crasso, 

Dicci,  che  il  sai,  di  che  sapore  e  1'  oro? 

us    Talor  parla  1'  un  alto,  e  1'  altro  basso, 

Secondo  1'  affezion  ch'  ad  ir  ci  sprona, 
Ora  a  maggiore,  ed  ora  a  minor  passo  ; 

1 -'i     Pero  al  ben  che  il  di  ci  si  ragiona, 

Dianzi  non  er'  io  sol  ;   ma  qui  da  presso 
Non  alzava  la  voce  altra  persona. 

124    Noi  eravam  partiti  gia  da  esso, 

E  brigavam  di  soverchiar  la  strada 
Tanto,  quanto  al  poter  n'  era  permesso  ; 

127    Ouand'  io  scnti',  come  cosa  che  cada, 

Tremar  lo  monte :  onde  mi  prese  un  gielo, 
Oual  prender  suol  colui  che  a  mortc  vada. 

130     Certo  non  si  scotea  si  forte  Delo, 

Pria  che  Latona  in  lei  facesse  il  nido, 
A  partorir  li  due  occhi  del  cielo. 


Canto  XX.]  PURGATORY.  303 

"  Then  Polymnestor  we  recall 

"  That  murdered  Polydore  :   and  all 

"  The  mountain  with  one  shout 

"  Of  shame  is  girt  about. 
"  And  last  of  all,  to  make  an  end, 
" '  Tell,   Crassus,  tell,'  our  cry  we  send, 

" '  How  doth  gold  taste,  for  thou 

"'Its  savour  well  should'st  know?'' 
"  Sometimes  one  loud,  one  low,  we  speak, 
"  As  our  affection,  strong  or  weak, 

"  Impels  our  forward  course 

"  With  swift  or  gentle  force  ; 
"  And  though  our  daily  tale  of  praise 
"  None  else  was  nigh  aloud  to  raise. 

"  Yet  not  alone  was  I 

"  Of  good  to  testify." 
Now  had  we  left  that  soul  behind, 
And  up  the  mountain  did  we  wind, 

Striving  to  climb  the  road 

Far  as  our  power  allowed  : 
When,  like  a  falling  thing,  the  hill 
Trembled  and  shook  ;   and  sudden  chill 

Seized  me,  as  one  who  knows 

That  to  his  death  he  goes. 
Certes,  did  Delos  ne'er  so  shake, 
Before  Latona  came  to  make 

The  nest,  wherefrom  were  given 

Those  twin-born  eyes  of  heaven. 


304  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XX. 

133     Poi  comincio  da  tutte  parti  un  grido 

Tal,  che  il  Maestro  inver  di  me  si  feo, 
Dicendo  :    Non  dubbiar,  mentr'  io  ti  guido. 

136     Gloria  in  exec/sis,  tutti,  Deo 

Dicean,  per  quel  ch'  io  da  vicin  compresi, 
Onde  intender  lo  grido  si  poteo. 

139    Noi  stavamo  immobili  e  sospesi, 

Come  i  pastor  che  prima  udir  quel  canto, 
Fin  che  il  tremar  cesso,  ed  ei  compiesi. 

142     Poi  ripigliammo  nostro  cammin  santo : 

Guardando  1'  ombre  che  giacean  per  terra, 
Tornate  gia  in  sull'  usato  pianto. 

145    Nulla  ignoranza  mai  con  tanta  guerra 
Mi  fe'  desideroso  di  sapere, 
Se  la  memoria  mia  in  cio  non  erra, 

148  Quanta  pareami  allor  pensando  avere: 
Ne  per  la  fretta  dimandare  er'  oso, 
Ne  per  me  11  potea  cosa  vedere : 

151     Cos!  m'  andava  timido  e  pensoso. 


canto  XX.]  PURGATORY.  305 

Then  from  all  quarters  such  a  shout 
Began,  my  Master  turned  about, 

And  "  Fear  not  thou  "  he  cried 

"While  I  am  still  thy  guide." 
Then  "  Glory  in  the  highest"  all 
"Glory  to  God!''''    I  heard  them  call: 

For  so  I  caught  the  sound 

From  those  were  near  around. 
Motionless  stayed  we  and  suspended, 
Till  with  the  hymn  that  trembling  ended, 

Like  to  the  shepherd  throng, 

The  first  who  heard  that  song. 
Our  holy  road  again  we  took, 
And  on  those  shades  we  bent  our  look, 

To  earthward  turned  again, 

After  their  wont  to  plain. 
Never,  except  my  memory  tire, 
Did  ignorance  with  such  desire 

For  knowledge  charge  my  mind, 

As  there  I  seemed  to  find : 
I  dared  not  ask,  so  hasted  we. 
Nor  of  myself  aught  could  I  see  : 

So  on  my  way  I  went 

In  timorous  wonderment. 


X 


CANTO   VENTESIMOPRIMO. 

La  sete  natural  che  mai  non  sazia, 

Se  non  con  1'  acqua  onde  la  femminetta 

Sammaritana  dimando  la  grazia, 
4    Mi  travagliava,  e  pungeami  la  fretta 

Per  la  impacciata  via  retro  al  mio  Duca. 

E  condoleami  alia  giusta  vendetta. 
7    Ed  ecco,  si  come  ne  scrive  Luca, 

Che  Cristo  apparve  ai  due  ch'  erano  in  via. 

Gia  surto  fuor  della  sepulcral  buca, 
io    Ci  apparve  un'  ombra,  e  retro  a  noi  venia 

Da  pie  guardando  la  turba  che  giace  ; 

Ne  ci  addemmo  di  lei,  si  parlo  pria, 
13    Dicendo  :  Frati  miei,  Dio  vi  dea  pace. 

Noi  ci  volgemmo  subito    e  Virgilio 

Rende'  gli  il  cenno  ch'  a  cio  si  conface. 


CANTO    XXI. 

THE  natural  thirst  that  is  not  stilled, 
Save  by  that  water  it  be  filled, 

That  grace,  whose  healing  aid 

She  of  Samaria  prayed, 
Within  me  wrought,  and  haste  impelled 
My  course  along  the  cumbered  field, 

To  my  Guide's  footsteps  cleaving, 

For  the  just  torment  grieving. 
And  lo  !    even  as  by  Luke  'tis  writ, 
How  twain  were  on  their  journey  met 

Of  Christ,  but  newly  risen 

From  his  sepulchral  prison, 
So  there  appeared  a  shade  behind, 
Eyeing  the  crowd  that  lay  reclined : 

And,  for  no  heed  we  took, 

He  was  the  first  that  spoke. 
"Brethren,"  he  said  "God  give  you  peace": 
Then  straight  we  turned  us  from  our  place, 

And  Virgil  made  the  sign 

Meet  for  that  word  benign; 
x  a 


3°8  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXI. 

i6    Poi  comincio  :   Nel  beato  concilio 
Ti  ponga  in  pace  la  verace  corte, 
Che  me  rilega  nell'  eterno  esilio. 

19    Come,  diss'  egli,  e  parte  andavam  forte, 

Se  voi  siete  ombre  che  Dio  su  non  degni, 
Chi  v'  ha  per  la  sua  scala  tanto  scorte? 

22    E  il  Dottor  mio  :  Se  tu  riguardi  i  segni 

Che  questi  porta  e  che  1'  Angel  profila, 
Ben  vedrai  che  coi  buon  convien  ch'  ei  regni. 

25    Ma  perche  lei  che  dl  e  notte  fila, 

Non  gli  avea  tratta  ancora  la  conocchia, 
Che  Cloto  impone  a  ciascuno  e  compila, 

28     L'  anima  sua,  ch'  e  tua  e  mia  sirocchia, 
Venendo  su,  non  potea  venir  sola  ; 
Perocch'  al  nostro  modo  non  adocchia. 

31     Ond'  io  fui  tratto  fuor  dell'  ampia  gola 

D'  inferno,  per  mostrargli,  e  mostrerolli 
Oltre,  quanto  il  potra  menar  mia  scuola. 

34    Ma  dinne,  se  tu  sai,  perche  tai  crolli 

Die  dianzi  il  monte,  e  perche  tutti  ad  una 
Parver  gridare  infino  ai  suoi  pie  molli  ? 


Canto  XXL] 


PURGATORY.  3°9 


And  then  "  Of  peace  in  council  blest 
"Be  thou  by  that  true  court  possessed, 

"  Whence  into  exile  I 

"  Am  sent  eternally." 
Then,  (and  our  march  the  while  was  stout) 
"  If  ye  be  shades  from  God  shut  out, 

"  By  whom  have  ye  been  led 

"  His  stair  so  far  to  tread  ?  " 
"  Mark  thou  "  my  Teacher  answered  "  where 
"  His  brows  the  Angel's  token  bear, 

"  That  well  his  pass  may  prove 

"  To  the  blest  realm  above. 
"  But,  for  not  yet  his  skein  allotted, 
"  For  each  by  Clotho  packed  and  knotted, 

"  Is  gathered  by  the  fay 

"  That  spinneth  night  and  day, 
"  His  soul,  my  sister  and  thine  own, 
"  Upward  could  never  come  alone, 

"Whose  eyesight  may  not  brook 

"After  our  wont  to  look. 
"Wherefore  from  Hell's  wide  gullet  brought 
"  His  passage  hither  have  I  taught ; 

"  Yea,  and  I  still  will  teach, 

"  Far  as  my  school  may  reach. 
"  But  tell,  I  pray,  whence  came  the  throes 
"  That  shook  the  mount,  and  whence  arose 

"  The  cry  that  filled  the  place 

"  Down  to  its  watery  base." 


310  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXI. 

37    Si  mi  die'  dimandando  per  la  cruna 

Del  mio  disio,  che  pur  con  la  speranza 
Si  fece  la  mia  sete  men  digiuna. 

40    Quei  cominci6 :   Cosa  non  e  che  sanza 
Ordine  senta  la  religione 
Delia  montagna,  o  che  sia  fuor  d'  usanza. 

43    Libero  e  qui  da  ogni  alterazione ; 

Di  quel  che  il  Ciel  da  se  in  se  riceve 
Esserci  puote,  e  non  d'  altro,  cagione : 

46    Perche  non  pioggia,  non  grando,  non  neve, 
Non  rugiada,  non  brina  piu  su  cade, 
Che  la  scaletta  dei  tre  gradi  breve. 

49    Nuvole  spesse  non  paion,  ne  rade, 

Ne  corruscar,  ne  figlia  di  Taumante, 
Che  di  la  cangia  sovente  contrade. 

52    Secco  vapor  non  surge  piu  avante 

Ch'  al  sommo  dei  tre  gradi  ch'  io  parlai, 
Ov'  ha  il  Vicario  di  Pietro  le  piante. 

55    Trema  forse  piu  giu  poco  od  assai ; 

Ma,  per  vento  che  in  terra  si  nasconda 
Non  so  come,  quassu  non  tremo  mai : 


Canto  XXI.] 


PURGATORY.  31 1 


The  needle's  eye  his  question  pierced 

Of  my  desiring,  and  the  thirst 
That  late  I  felt  was  stayed, 
Though  but  by  hope  allayed. 

That  other  then  began  :    "  This  mound 

"Such  holy  rule  doth  compass  round, 
"Nought  can  it  feel,  but  will 
"  Keep  wont  and  order  still. 

-  Here  'tis  from  alteration  free  : 

"  No  movement  ever  can  there  be, 
"  Save  from  one  cause  alone, 
"  When  Heaven  receives  its  own. 

"  Here  falls  nor  rain,  nor  snow,  nor  hail ; 

"  Frost,  nay,  nor  dew  can  ne'er  prevail 
"  'Bove  the  three  steps  that  lead 
"  To  the  short  stairway's  head. 

"  No  cloud,  or  dense  or  rare,  may  show  ; 

"Nor  lightning  flash,  nor  painted  bow, 
"  By  Iris  wrought,  whose  range 
"  So  oft  on  earth  doth  change. 

"  E'en  vapour  dry  may  ne'er  attain 

"Above  that  triple  stair,  nor  gain 
"  The  threshold  where  his  feet 
"Hath  Peter's  Vicar  set. 
••  Haply  the  wind  in  earth  that  lies, 
-'•  Hidden  we  know  not  how,  will  rise, 
"And  there  some  trembling  make, 
"  But  here  'twill  never  shake. 


312  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXI. 

58    Tremaci  quando  alcuna  anima  monda 

Sentesi,  si  che  surga,  o  che  si  muova 
Per  salir  su,  e  tal  grido  seconda. 

61     Delia  mondizia  sol  voler  fa  prova, 

Che,  tutta  libera  a  mutar  convento, 
L'  alma  sorprende,  e  di  voler  le  giova. 

64    Prima  vuol  ben ;    ma  non  lascia  il  talento, 
Che  divina  giustizia  contra  voglia, 
Come  fu  al  peccar,  pone  al  tormento. 

67    Ed  io  che  son  giaciuto  a  questa  doglia 
Cinquecento  anni  e  piu,  pur  mo  sentii 
Libera  volonta  di  miglior  soglia. 

70    Pero  sentisti  il  tremoto,  e  li  pii 

Spiriti  per  lo  monte  render  lode 

A  quel  Signor,  che  tosto  su  gl'  invii. 

73    Cosl  ne  disse ;   e  pero  ch'  ei  si  gode 

Tanto  del  ber  quant'  e  grande  la  sete, 
Non  saprei  dir  quant'  ei  mi  fece  prode. 

76    E  il  savio  Duca :    Omai  veggio  la  rete 
Che  qui  vi  piglia,  e  come  si  scalappia, 
Per  che  ci  trema,  e  di  che  congaudete. 


canto  XXL]  PURGATORY.  Sl3 

"  'Tis  when  some  soul  its  cleansing  ends, 
"And  lifts  itself,  or  heavenward  bends, 

"  Then  trembles  all  our  bed, 

"  And  with  that  cry  'tis  sped. 
"This  cleansing  from  its  will  it  learns; 
"  And  gladdened  by  that  will  it  turns, 

"  Thenceforth  abroad  to  range, 

"  Free  its  abode  to  change. 
"  Such  will  it  felt  at  first :  but  stayed 
•'  Its  choice,  by  heavenly  justice  swayed, 

"  To  sin  erewhile  that  leant, 

';  But  now  to  punishment. 
"  And  I  that  here  have  lain  in  woe 
"  Five  hundred  years  and  more,  but  now 

"  Have  felt  my  will  was  freed 

"  To  fairer  place  to  speed. 
"  Thence  came  the  trembling,  thence  the  sound 
"  Of  praise  that  ran  the  mount  around, 

"  Poured  from  those  spirits  of  love : 

"  God  guide  them  soon  above." 
'Twas  thus  he  spake:   I  may  not  tell 
What  gladness  from  his  speech  befell: 

As  when  our  thirst  is  greatest, 

Then  is  our  drink  the  sweetest. 
And  my  sage  Leader:  "By  this  token 
"  I  see  the  net  and  how  'tis  broken, 

"Why  the  mount  shakes,  and  why 

"  Mingles  your  joyous  cry. 


3I4  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXI. 

79    Ora  chi  fosti  piacciati  ch'  io  sappia, 
E,  perche  tanti  secoli  giaciuto 
Qui  sei,  nelle  parole  tue  mi  cappia. 
8a    Nel  tempo  che  il  buon  Tito  con  1'  aiuto 
Del  sommo  Rege  vendico  le  fora, 
Ond'  uscl  il  sangue  per  Giuda  venduto, 

85  Col  nome  che  piu  dura  e  piu  onora 
Era  io  di  la,  rispose  quello  spirto, 
Famoso  assai,  ma  non  con  fede  ancora. 

88    Tanto  fu  dolce  mio  vocale  spirto, 

Che,  Tolosano,  a  se  mi  trasse  Roma, 
Dove  mertai  le  tempie  ornar  di  mirto. 

91    Stazio  la  gente  ancor  di  la  mi  noma: 

Cantai  di  Tebe,  e  poi  del  grande  Achille, 
Ma  caddi  in  via  con  la  seconda  soma. 

94    Al  mio  ardor  fur  seme  le  faville, 

Che  mi  scaldar,  della  divina  fiamma, 
Onde  sono  allumati  piu  di  mille ; 

97    Dell'  Eneida  dico,  la  qual  mamma 

Fummi,  e  fummi  nutrice  poetando  : 
Senz'  essa  non  fermai  peso  di  dramma. 


Canto  XXI.]  PURGATORY.  315 

•'  Now  please  thee  who  thou  wast  unfold, 
"  And  by  thy  speech  may  I  be  told, 

"  Why  on  this  bed  of  pain 

"  These  ages  thou  hast  lain." 
"When  the  good  Titus,  with  the  aid 
"  Of  the  most  mighty  King,"  he  said 

"Avenged  the  wounds  whence  blood 

"  Of  Judas'  selling  flowed, 
"Then  was  I  yonder,  then  with  name 
"  Of  best  and  most  enduring  fame 

"  Right  well  was  I  renowned  ; 

"Yet  faith  I  had  not  found. 
"  Then  my  sweet  verse  was  of  such  worth, 
"  That  from  Toulouse  Rome  drew  me  forth, 

"  And  myrtle  crown  I  won 

"  To  bind   my  brows  upon. 
"  Statius  men  call  me  still :   I  told 
•'  Of  Thebes  and  of  Achilles  bold, 

"But  fainted  in  the  road 

"Beneath  my  second  load. 
"My  ardour  from  those  embers  burst, 
"Which  by  the  flame  divine  were  nursed, 

"  That  flame  abroad  which  shed 

"  A  thousand  lights  hath  fed. 
"  'Tis  the  Aeneid  was  to  me 
"  Mother  and  nurse  in  poesy : 

"  Without  that  kindly  aid 

"A  drachm  I  scarce  had  weighed. 


316  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXI. 

100  E,  per  esser  vivuto  di  la,  quando 
Visse  Virgilio,  assentirei  un  sole 
Piu  che  non  deggio  al  mio  uscir  di  bando. 

103    Volser  Virgilio  a  me  queste  parole 

Con  viso  che,  tacendo,  disse  :  Taci  : 
Ma  non  pu6  tutto  la  virtu  che  vuole  ; 

106    Che  riso  e  pianto  son  tanto  seguaci 

Alia  passion  da  che  ciascun  si  spicca, 
Che  men  seguon  voler  nei  piu  veraci. 

109    Io  pur  sorrisi,  come  1'  uom  ch'  ammicca ; 

Perche  1'  ombra  si  tacque,  e  riguardommi 
Negli  occhi,  ove  il  sembiante  piu  si  ficca. 

n2  E,  se  tanto  lavoro  in  bene  assommi, 
Disse,  perche  la  tua  faccia  testeso 
Un  lampeggiar  di  riso  dimostrommi  ? 

115    Or  son  io  d'  una  parte  e  d'  altra  preso  ; 
L'  una  mi  fa  tacer,  1'  altra  scongiura 
Ch'  io  dica :  ond'  io  sospiro,  e  sono  inteso. 

118    Di',  il  mio  Maestro,  e  non  aver  paura, 
Mi  disse,  di  parlar ;  ma  parla,  e  digli 
Quel  ch'  ei  dimanda  con  cotanta  cura. 


Canto  XXL]  PURGATORY.  317 

"  And,  so  it  had  been  mine  to  live 
"  With  Virgil  yonder,   I  would  give 

"  Consent  to  lie  in  bond 

"A  year  my  debt  beyond." 
Then  at  that  word  was  Virgil  turned ; 
In  his  mute  face  'Be  mute'  I  learned: 

Yet  doth  not  power  alway 

Our  will's  behest  obey. 
For  laughter  and  for  tears  are  all 
Quick  to  attend  at  passion's  call  ; 

And  these  in  truthful  soul 

Our  will  can  least  control. 
So  o'er  my  face  a  smile  there  broke, 
A  sign  whereat  he  paused  to  look 

Into  my  eyes,  for  there 

My  thought  would  most  appear. 
And  "  So  mayest  thou  fulfil "  he  said 
"All  the  great  task  upon  thee  laid. 

"  Tell  me  what  wrought  the  ? 

"  That  lit  thy  face  erewhile 
Now  am  I  held  on  either  si' 
For  of  those  souls  one  ba 

And  one  for  answe* 

I  sigh  and  stand 
Then  said  my  Mas* 
"  All  fear  of  spe? 

"What  h- 

"And  ' 


31**  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXI. 

121    Ond'  io  :  Forse  che  tu  ti  maravigli, 
Antico  spirto,  del  rider  ch'  io  fei ; 
Ma  piu  d'  ammirazion  vo'  che  ti  pigli. 
124     Questi,  che  guida  in  alto  gli  occhi  miei, 
£  quel  Virgilio,  dal  qual  tu  togliesti 
Forza  a  cantar  degli  uomini  e  de'  Dei. 
127    Se  cagione  altra  al  mio  rider  credesti, 
Lasciala  per  non  vera  esser,  e  credi 
Quelle  parole  che  di  lui  dicesti. 
Gia  si  chinava  ad  abbracciar  li  piedi 
\\  mio  Dottor ;  ma  e'  gli  disse :  Frate, 
1  far,  che  tu  se'  ombra,  ed  ombra  vedi. 
agendo :  Or  puoi  la  quantitate 

r  dell'  amor  ch'  a  te  mi  scalda, 
to  nostra  vanitate, 
ome  cosa  salda. 


Canto  XXI.]  PURGATORY.  319 

Then  I  :  "  Perchance  thy  wonder  grew, 
"  Spirit  of  eld,  my  smile  to  view  : 

"  But  greater  marvel  yet 

"  My  answer  shall  beget. 
"  He  who  on  high  my  eyes  doth  lift 
"  Is  that  same  Virgil,  of  whose  gift 

"  Thy  song  had  strength  so  well 

"  Of  gods  and  men  to  tell. 
':  If  any  other  cause  thy  thought 
"  Found  for  my  laughter,  deem  it  nought  : 

"  Henceforth  the  reason  own 

"  Was  in  thy  words  alone." 
Downward  already,  as  intent 
To  clasp  my  Teacher's  feet,  he  bent ; 

Yet  as  he  stooped,  my  Lord 

Had  stayed  him  with  this  word  : 
"  My  brother,  do  it  not  :  in  me 
"  A  shade  thyself  a  shade  dost  see." 

Thereat  he  rose,  and  "  Now 

"  The  love  wherewith  I  glow 
"  Thou  in  full  quantity  mayest  weigh, 
"  When  our  impalpability 

"  I  doubt,  and  seek  to  clasp 

"  Shadow  in  solid  grasp." 


CANTO   VENTESIMOSECONDO. 

Gik  era  1'  Angel  retro  a  noi  rimaso, 

L'  Angel  che  n'  avea  volti  al  sesto  giro, 
Avendomi  dal  viso  un  colpo  raso  : 

4    E  quei  ch'  hanno  a  giustizia  lor  disiro 
Detto  n'  avea  Beati,  e  le  sue  voci 
Con  sitiunt,  senz'  altro,  cio  forniro. 

7    Ed  io,  piu  lieve  che  per  V  altre  foci, 

M'  andava  si,  che  senza  alcun  labore 
Seguiva  in  su  gli  spiriti  veloci : 

io    Ouando  Virgilio  comincio :    Amore, 

Acceso  di  virtu,  sempre  altro  accese, 
Pur  che  la  fiamma  sua  paresse  fuore. 

13    Onde,  dall'  ora  che  tra  noi  discese 
Nel  limbo  dello  inferno  Giovenale, 
Che  la  tua  affezion  mi  fe'  palese, 


CANTO   XXII. 

Now  the  sixth  circle  we  had  gained  : 
Our  Angel  guide  behind  remained  : 
Yet  ere  he  went,  a  stroke 
From  off  my  face  he  took. 
And  we  had  heard  his  utterance  bless 
Those  who  desire  for  righteousness  ; 
Yet  stayed  he  at  the  word 
"  They  thirst "  :    no  more  we  heard. 
Along  the  upward  pass  I  bore 
With  lighter  step  than  e'er  before, 
And  without  toil  I  sped 
Where  those  swift  spirits  led. 
Virgil  began  "  Love  set  on  fire 
"  By  worth  will  others'  love  inspire, 
"  If  only  outward  shows 
"The  flame  within  that  glows. 
"  So,  since  to  Limbo  of  our  Hell 
"  Descended  Juvenal  to  tell 

"  The  love  that  in  thy  breast 
"  For  me  was  manifest, 
Y 


322  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXII. 

1 6    Mia  benvoglienza  inverso  te  fu  quale 
Piu  strinse  mai  di  non  vista  persona. 
Si  ch'  or  mi  parran  corte  queste  scale. 

19    Ma  dimmi,  e  come  amico  mi  perdona 
Se  troppa  sicurta  m'  allarga  il  freno. 
E  come  amico  omai  meco  ragiona : 

22    Come  poteo  trovar  dentro  al  tuo  seno 
Luogo  avarizia,  tra  cotanto  senno 
Di  quanto  per  tua  cura  fosti  pieno  ? 

25     Queste  parole  Stazio  muover  fenno 

Un  poco  a  riso  pria  ;    poscia  rispose  : 
Ogni  tuo  dir  d'  amor  m'  e  caro  cenno. 

js    Veramente  piu  volte  appaion  cose, 
Che  danno  a  dubitar  falsa  matera, 
Per  le  vere  ragion  che  sono  ascose. 

31     La  tua  dimanda  tuo  creder  m'  avvera 

Esser,  ch'  io  fossi  avaro  in  V  altra  vita, 
Forse  per  quella  cerchia  dov'  io  era : 

34    Or  sappi  ch'  avarizia  fu  partita 

Troppo  da  me,  e  questa  dismisura 
Migliaia  di  lunari  hanno  punita. 


Canto  XXII.]  PURGATORY.  323 

"  Grew  my  good-will  towards  thee  more  keen 
"  Than  e'er  was  felt  for  one  unseen, 

"  So  that  e'en  now  this  stair 

"  To  me  will  short  appear. 
"  But  tell,  and  as  a  friend  forgive 
"  If  overbold  my  course  I  drive, 

"And  speak  in  kindly  wise, 

"  As  friend  to  friend  replies : 
"  How  was  it  avarice  could  find 
"  A  lodging  place  within  thy  mind, 

"  Where  thou  didst  so  endeavour 

"To  store  up  wisdom  ever?" 
This  speech  at  first  had  Statius  made 
To  smile  a  little :    then  he  said : 

"  Every  word  of  thine 

"  Is  of  thy  love  the  sign. 
"  Truly  ofttimes  will  things  appear 
"  That  from  false  matter  doubt  will  rear, 

"Yet  by  true  cause  begot, 

"  Although  we  see  it  not. 
"  For  in  thy  question  I  can  read 
"  Thou  thinkest  'twas  because  to  greed 

"  I  was  in  life  a  prey, 

"  That  in  that  ring  I   lay. 
"  Know  then  I  failed  in  my  respect 
"  For  avarice :    and  this  defect 

"  By  penance  to  atone 

"  Thousands  of  moons  have  gone. 
Y  2 


[\IA  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXII. 

37    E,  se  non  fosse  ch'  io  drizzai  mia  cura, 
Quand'  io  intesi  la  dove  tu  esclame, 
Crucciato  quasi  all'  umana  natura  : 

40    Perche  non  reggi  tu,  o  sacra  fame 
Dell'  oro,  1'  appetito  dei  mortali  ? 
Voltando  sentirei  le  giostre  grame. 

4:,    Allor  m'  accorsi  che  troppo  aprir  1'  ah 
Potean  le  mani  a  spendere,  e  pentemi 
Cosl  di  quel  come  degli  altri  mali. 

46    Ouanti  risurgeran  coi  crini  scemi, 

Per  ignoranza,  che  di  questa  pecca 
Toglie  il  penter  vivendo,  e  negli  estremi ! 

49    E  sappi  che  la  colpa,  che  rimbecca 

Per  dritta  opposizione  alcun  peccato, 
Con  esso  insieme  qui  suo  verde  secca. 

52    Per6,  s'  io  son  tra  quella  gente  stato 
Che  piange  1'  avarizia,  per  purgarmi, 
Per  lo  contrario  suo  m'  e  incontrato. 
55     Or  quando  tu  cantasti  le  crude  armi 
Delia  doppia  tristizia  di  Giocasta, 
Disse  il  Cantor  dc'  bucolici  carmi, 


Canto  XXII.]  PURGATORY.  325 

"And  had  I  not  my  fault  amended, 
"  And  to  that  verse  of  thine  attended, 

"  Where  moved  by  anger  sore 

"  Man's  nature  to  deplore, 
'• '  Wherefore  '  thou  saidst  '  O  fasting  just, 
"  '  From  gold  restrain' st  not  mortal  lust  ?  ' 

"  Below  I  had  been  found 

C(  Urged  in  grim  tourney  round. 
"  Then  knew  I  how  our  hand  offends, 
"  When  overlavishly  it  spends, 

"  And  from  that  sin  I  turned, 

"  And  others  too  unlearned. 
"  Many  with  wasted  hair  will  wake, 
"  Who  for  that  sin  forgot  to  make 

"  Repentance  in  the  past, 

"  In  life  and  at  the  last. 
"  Know  too,  the  fault  that  would  correct 
"By  opposition  one  defect 

"  Must  here  in  common  doom 

"  Its  verdure  all  consume. 
"  So,  if  I  purge  me  in  the  pale 
"  Of  those  that  avarice  bewail, 

"  'Twas  for  the  counter  sin 

"  That  I  was  set  therein." 
"  Yet  when  thy  verse  the  warfare  taught 
"Jocasta's  two-fold  sorrow  wrought," 

(Thus  answered  he  that  erst 
Bucolic  lays  rehearsed) 


326  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXII. 

58    Per  quello  che  Clio  teco  11  tasta, 

Non  par  che  ti  facesse  ancor  fedele 
La  fe,  senza  la  qual  ben  far  non  bast  a. 

61  Se  cos!  e,  qual  sole  o  quai  candele 
Ti  stenebraron  si,  che  tu  drizzasti 
Poscia  diretro  al  Pescator  le  vele? 

fi4    Ed  egli  a  lui :    Tu  prima  m'  inviasti 

Verso  Parnaso  a  ber  nelle  sue  grotte, 
E  poi,  appresso  Dio,  m'  alluminasti. 

67    Facesti  come  quei  che  va  di  notte, 

Che  porta  il  lume  retro,  e  se  non  giova, 
Ma  dopo  se  fa  le  persone  dotte, 

70     Quando  dicesti :    Secol  si  rinnuova  ; 

Torna  giustizia,  e  primo  tempo  umano, 
E  progenie  discende  dal  ciel  nuova. 

73    Per  te  poeta  fui,  per  te  cristiano  ; 

Ma  perche  veggi  me'  cio  ch'  io  disegno, 
A  colorare  stendero  la  mano. 

76    Gia  era  il  mondo  tutto  e  quanto  pregno 
Delia  vera  credenza,  seminata 
Per  li  messaggi  dell'  eterno  regno ; 


Canto  XXII.]  PURGATORY.  327 

"  And  when  thy  Clio  touched  the  string, 
"  Thou  seemedst  not  to  the  faith  to  cling, 
"  That  faith,  without  whose  might 
"  Good  works  are  counted  light. 
"  If  so,  what  sun,  what  candle  led  thee 
"  To  pierce  the  darkness  through,  and  sped  thee, 
"  Where  in  the  Fisher's  wake 
"  Thy  sails  their  way  should  take  ? " 
"  Thou  showedst  me  first "  he  answered  "  where 
"  To  taste  Parnassus'  fountains  fair  : 
"  Afterward  on  the  road 
"  Didst  light  that  leads  to  God. 
''  'Twas  thine  to  be  as  one  at  night, 
"  Behind  his  back  that  bears  a  light, 
"  Whence  others  may  be  taught 
"  Though  him  it  profit  nought. 
"  So  didst  thou  sing  the  world's  new  birth, 
':  And  justice  lighting  on  the  earth, 
"  And  a  new  progeny 
"  Descending  from  the  sky. 
"  And  understand  that  by  thy  aid 
"  Poet  was  I  and  Christian  made  : 
"  And  now  the  outline  faint 
"  My  hand  shall  reach  to  paint. 
"  Then  was  the  world  impregnate  all 
"  The  seed  of  true  belief  withal, 
"  The  seed  by  message  sown 
"  From  the  eternal  throne. 


3^8  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXII. 

79     E  la  parola  tua  sopra  toccata 

Si  consonava  ai  nuovi  predicanti, 
Ond'  io  a  visitarli  presi  usata. 

82    Vennermi  poi  parendo  tanto  santi, 

Che,  quando  Domizian  li  perseguette, 
Senza  mio  lagrimar  non  fur  lor  pianti. 

85     E  mentre  che  di  la  per  me  si  stette, 
Io  gli  sowenni,  e  lor  dritti  costumi 
Fer  dispregiare  a  me  tutte  altre  sette  ; 

ss  E  pria  ch'  io  conducessi  i  Greci  ai  fiumi 
Di  Tebe,  poetando,  ebb'  io  battesmo  ; 
Ma  per  paura  chiuso  cristian  fu'mi, 

9 1     Lungamente  mostrando  paganesmo  ; 

E  questa  tiepidezza  il  quarto  cerchio 
Cerchiar  mi  fe'  piu  ch'  al  quarto  centesmo. 

94    Tu  dunque,  che  levato  hai  il  coperchio 

Che  m'  ascondeva  quanto  bene  io  dico, 
Mentre  che  del  salire  avem  soverchio; 

97    Dimmi  dov'  e  Terenzio  nostro  antico, 
Cecilio,  Plauto  e  Varro,  se  lo  sai, 
Dimmi  se  son  dannati,  ed  in  qual  vico. 


Canto  XXII.]  PURGATORY.  3*9 

"  So  well  thy  late-repeated  word 

"  Did  with  the  preachers  new  accord, 

"That  oft  I  made  resort 

"  To  hear  of  their  report. 
"  So  holy  grew  to  me  their  band, 
"That,  when  Domitian  reached  his  hand 

"  To  persecute,  my  tears 

"  Flowed  to  unite  with  theirs. 
"  And  yonder  while  I  yet  remained, 
"  I  lent  them  aid,  and  I  attained 

"  Their  customs  just  to  prize, 

"  And  other  sects  despise. 
';  And  ere  my  verse  to  Thebes  had  brought 
"The  Greeks,  to  baptism  I  had  sought, 

"  But  stayed  for  fear  of  ill 

"  A  hidden  Christian  still, 
;-  A  Pagan  long  in  outward  guise : 
"And  this  lukewarmness  to  chastise, 

"  In  the  fourth  circle  placed 

"  Four  centuries  I  paced. 
"  But  thou,  who  didst  the  veil  uplift 
"Which  hid  from  me  so  great  a  gift, 

"  While  yet  remains  the  time 

"That  we  must  upward  climb, 
"  Of  ancient  Terence  let  me  hear, 
"  Caecilius,  Plautus,  Varro,  where 

"  They  lie,  and  show  to  me 

"  Their  place,  if  damned  they  be." 


33°  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXII. 

100     Costoro,  e  Persio,  ed  io,  ed  altri  assai, 

Rispose  il  Duca  mio,  siam  con  quel  Greco 
Che  le  Muse  lattar  piu  ch'  altro  mai, 

103    Nel  primo  cinghio  del  carcere  cieco. 
Spesse  fiate  ragioniam  del  monte, 
Che  sempre  ha  le  nutrici  nostre  seco. 

106    Euripide  v'  e  nosco,  ed  Antifonte, 
Simonide,  Agatone  ed  altri  piue 
Greci  che  gia  di  lauro  ornar  la  fronte. 

109    Ouivi  si  veggion  delle  genti  tue 
Antigone,  Deifile  ed  Argia, 
Ed  Ismene  si  trista  come  fue. 

112  Vedesi  quella  che  mostro  Langia  ; 
Evvi  la  figlia  di  Tiresia  e  Teti, 
E  con  le  suore  sue  Deidamia. 

115    Tacevansi  ambedue  gia  li  poeti, 

Di  nuovo  attenti  a  riguardare  intorno, 
Liberi  dal  salire  e  dai  pareti  ; 

118     E  gia  le  quattro  ancelle  eran  del  giorno 

Rimase  addietro,  e  la  quinta  era  al  temo, 
Drizzando  pure  in  su  1'  ardente  corno  ; 


Canto  XXII.]  PURGATORY.  33 1 

"  Persius,  and  they  and  I,"  replied 
My  Leader  "  are  that  Greek  beside, 

"  Who  from  the  Muses'  breast 

"  More  milk  than  any  pressed, 
"In  the  dark  pit's  first  ring  confined  : 
"  Oft  in  our  talk  we  bring  to  mind 

"  The  mount  wherein  alway 

"  Our  nursing  mothers  stay. 
"  Euripides  and  Antiphon 
"  Are  with  us  there,  and  Agathon, 

"  Simonides,  and  more 

"  Whose  brows  the  laurel  wore. 
c;  And  there  is  seen  Antigone, 
"  Argeia  too,  Deiphile, 

"  Ismene  mourning  still, 

"  And  more  thy  verse  that  fill. 
"  There  she  who  showed  Langia's  water, 
"  Thetis  and  old  Tiresias'  daughter, 

"  Deidamia  there 

"  With  all  her  sisters  fair." 
Now  silent  were  the  Poets  twain, 
Turning  with  eager  gaze  again 

Round  them,  their  climbing  o'er, 

By  walls  enclosed  no  more. 
Four  handmaids  of  the  day  were  gone, 
And  now  the  fifth  was  set  alone 

At  the  car's  pole,  where  blazed 

The  torch  aloft  upraised  ; 


332  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXII. 

121     Quando  il  mio  Duca  :  Io  credo  ch'  alio  estremo 
Le  destre  spalle  volger  ci  convegna, 
Girando  il  monte  come  far  solemo. 

124    Cosl  1'  usanza  fu  li  nostra  insegna, 

E  prendemmo  la  via  con  men  sospetto 
Per  1'  assentir  di  quell'  anima  degna. 

j  27    Elli  givan  dinanzi,  ed  io  soletto 

Diretro,  ed  ascoltava  i  lor  sermoni 
Ch'  a  poetar  mi  davano  intelletto. 

r;,o     Ma  tosto  ruppe  le  dolci  ragioni 

Un  arbor  che  trovammo  in  mezza  strada, 
Con  pomi  ad  odorar  soavi  e  buoni. 

133    E  come  abete  in  alto  si  digrada 

Di  ramo  in  ramo,  cosi  quello  in  giuso, 
Cred'  io  perche  persona  su  non  vada. 

136    Dal  lato,  onde  il  cammin  nostro  era  chiuso. 
Cadea  dell'  alta  roccia  un  liquor  chiaro, 
E  si  spandeva  per  le  foglie  suso. 

139     Li  due  poeti  all'  arbor  s'  appressaro ; 
Ed  una  voce  per  entro  le  fronde 
Grido  :   Di  questo  cibo  avrete  caro. 


Canto  XXII. J  PURGATORY.  333 

When  thus  my  Leader  "  Round  this  ledge 
"  Turn  we  right  shoulder  to  the  edge, 

"  Circling  about  the  mount 

"  Even  as  we  are  wont." 
So  took  we  custom  for  our  guide, 
And  onward  with  less  doubt  we  hied, 

For  that  to  us  was  lent 

That  noble  soul's  assent. 
In  front  they  moved,  and  I  behind, 
Mateless,  to  their  discourse  inclined, 

To  my  poetic  sense 

That  gave  intelligence. 
But  soon  was  their  sweet  talk  o'erset, 
When  in  mid-road  a  tree  we  met, 

And  goodly  apples  there 

Of  sweetest  scent  and  fair ; 
And  as  the  fir  from  bough  to  bough 
Grows  less  above,  so  this  below : 

'Twas  fashioned  thus,  that  none, 

I  deem,  should  mount  thereon. 
Upon  the  side  which  closed  our  road 
Out  of  the  lofty  rock  there  flowed 

A  liquor  clear  forth  shed, 

Over  the  foliage  spread. 
The  Poets  to  the  tree  drew  nigh: 
And  from  within  the  leaves  a  cry 

Came  forth  "  This  meat  to  have 

'•  With  longing  shall  ye  crave." 


334  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXII. 

142  Poi  disse :  Piu  pensava  Maria,  onde 
Fosser  le  nozze  orrevoli  ed  intere, 
Ch'  alia  sua  bocca,  ch'  or  per  voi  risponde. 

145    E  le  Romane  antiche  per  lor  bere 

Contente  furon  d'  acqua,  e  Danielio 
Dispregio  cibo,  ed  acquisto  sapere. 

148  Lo  secol  primo  quant'  oro  fu  bello, 
Fe'  savorose  con  fame  le  ghiande, 
E  nettare  con  sete  ogni  ruscello. 

151     Mele  e  locuste  furon  le  vivande, 

Che  nutriro  il  Batista  nel  diserto ; 
Perch'  egli  e  glorioso,  e  tanto  grande 

154    Ouanto  per  1'  Evangelio  v'  e  aperto. 


canto  XXII.]  PURGATORY.  $$$ 

Then  followed :   "  Mary  save  her  care 
"  To  make  the  feast  complete  and  rare, 

"  Nor  of  her  mouth  took  heed, 

"  Which  now  for  you  doth  plead. 
"  Rome's  ancient  women  were  content 
"  With  water  for  their  nourishment  : 

"  And  Daniel  meat  despised, 

"  And  only  wisdom  prized. 
"  The  primal  age  was  golden  bright : 
'•  Hunger  in  acorns  found  delight, 

"And  thirst  made  every  stream 

"  Like  richest  nectar  seem. 
"  Locusts  and  honey  the  repast 
"  That  fed  the  Baptist  in  the  waste, 

"  Thence  to  such  greatness  grown 

"  As  is  in  Gospel  shown." 


CANTO   VENTESIMOTERZO. 

Mentre  che  gli  occhi  per  la  fronda  verde 
Ficcava  io  cosi,  come  far  suole 
Chi  dietro  agli  uccellin  sua  vita  perde, 

4    Lo  piu  che  Padre  mi  dicea :  Figliuole, 

Vienne  oramai,  che  il  tempo  che  c'  e  imposto 
Piu  utilmente  compartir  si  vuole  ; 

7    Io  volsi  il  viso,  e  il  passo  non  men  tosto 
Appresso  ai  savi,  che  parlavan  sie, 
Che  1'  andar  mi  facean  di  nullo  costo. 

io    Ed  ecco  piangere  e  cantar  s'  udie  : 
Labia  me  a,  Domine,  per  modo 
Tal  che  diletto  e  doglia  parturie. 

13    O  dolce  Padre,  che  e  quel  ch'  i'  odo? 

Comincia'   io  ;  ed  egli  :  Ombre  che  vanno, 
Forse  di  lor  dover  solvendo  il  nodo. 


CANTO    XXIII. 

While  on  the  foliage  green  my  eyes 
I  fastened  even  in  such  wise, 

As  one  that  in  the  prey 

Of  birds  throws  life  away, 
My  more  than  father  said,  "  My  son, 
"  Come,  for  the  time  that  is  to  run 

"  A  better  use  must  find, 

"To  other  work  assigned." 
My  face,  my  feet,  as  swift  I  turned 
After  those  sages,  where  I  learned 

Discourse,  my  toil  that  paid, 

And  all  the  cost  outweighed. 
And  lo !  midst  weeping  came  this  word 
Chanted,  "  Unclose  my  lips,  O  Lord" 

And  from  that  strain  there  grew 

Delight  and  sadness  too. 
Then  I  began  "My  Father  sweet, 
"  What  sound  is  this  that  here  we  meet  ? " 

"'Tis  shades  who  pass,  the  net 

"  Unloosing  of  their  debt." 
z 


338  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIII. 

1 6    Si  come  i  peregrin  pensosi  fanno, 

Giugnendo  per  cammin  gente  non  nota, 
Che  si  volgono  ad  essa  e  non  ristanno  ; 

19    Cosl  diretro  a  noi,  piu  tosto  mota, 

Venendo  e  trapassando,  ci  ammirava 
D'  anime  turba  tacita  e  devota. 

22    Negli  occhi  era  ciascuna  oscura  e  cava, 
Pallida  nella  faccia,  e  tanto  scema, 
Che  dall'  ossa  la  pelle  s'  informava. 

25    Non  credo  che  cosl  a  buccia  estrema 
Eresiton  se  fosse  fatto  secco, 
Per  digiunar,  quando  piu  n'  ebbe  tema. 

28    Io  dicea  fra  me  stesso  pensando  :  Ecco 
La  gente  che  perde  Gerusalemme, 
Quando  Maria  nel  figlio  die'  di  becco. 

31  Parean  1'  occhiaie  anella  senza  gemme. 
Chi  nel  viso  degli  uomini  legge  omo, 
Ben  avria  quivi  conosciuto  1'  emme. 

34    Chi  crederebbe  che  1'  odor  d'  un  porno 
Si  governasse,  generando  brama, 
E  quel  d'  un'  acqua,  non  sapendo  como  ? 


Canto  XXIII.]  PURGATORY.  339 

Like  as  when  pilgrims  pensive  go, 

And  meet  with  those  they  do  not  know, 

They  turn  about  to  look, 

But  will  no  staying  brook : 
So  came  behind  us,  speeding  fast, 
A  troop  of  souls,  that  as  they  passed 

Wondering  turned  about, 

All  silent  and  devout. 
Hollow  their  eyes  and  sunk  in  gloom, 
Their  face  with  pallor  overcome, 

And  wasted  so,  their  skin 

Showed  all  the  bones  within. 
Ne'er  so  was  Erysichthon's  hide, 
I  deem,  by  hunger  parched  and  dried, 

When  famine  most  he  feared, 

As  theirs  that  here  appeared. 
In  thought  I  said,  '  Behold  the  host 
'  Of  whom  Jerusalem  was  lost, 

'  When  Mary  took  her  son 

'  To  fix  her  teeth  upon.' 
Seemed  gemless  rings  their  eye-holes'  place : 
There  he  that  in  the  human  face 

Can  OMO  written  learn 

The  M  could  well  discern. 
Could  any  have  believed  the  force 
Of  scented  fruit,  or  water's  course, 

Such  craving  had  begot, 

The  reason  knowing  not? 
z  2 


34°  PURGATORIO.  [  Canto  XXIII. 

37  Gia  era  in  ammirar  che  si  gli  affama, 
Per  la  cagione  ancor  non  manifesta 
Di  lor  magrezza  e  di  lor  trista  squama ; 

40    Ed  ecco  del  profondo  della  testa 

Volse  a  me  gli  occhi  un'  ombra,  e  guardo  fiso, 
Poi  grid6  forte :  Qual  grazia  m'  e  questa  ? 

43    Mai  non  1'  avrei  riconosciuto  al  viso ; 
Ma  nella  voce  sua  mi  fu  palese 
Ci6  che  1'  aspetto  in  se  avea  conquiso. 

46    Questa  favilla  tutta  mi  raccese 

Mia  conoscenza  alia  cambiata  labbia, 
E  ravvisai  la  faccia  di  Forese. 

49    Deh  non  contendere  all'  asciutta  scabbia, 
Che  mi  scolora,  pregava,  la  pelle, 
Ne  a  difetto  di  came  ch'  io  abbia ; 

52    Ma  dimmi  il  ver  di  te,  e  chi  son  quelle 
Due  anime  che  la  ti  fanno  scorta  : 
Non  rimaner  che  tu  non  mi  favelle. 

55    La  faccia  tua,  ch'  io  lagrimai  gia  morta, 
Mi  da  di  pianger  mo  non  minor  doglia, 
Rispos'  io  lui,  veggendola  si  torta. 


Canto  xxill.]  PURGATORY.  341 

I  marvelled  whence  their  hunger  grew, 
For  that  not  yet  was  clear  to  view 
The  cause  which  made  them  lean, 
And  bred  their  scurf  unclean  : 
And  lo  !   from  hollow  of  his  head 
A  shade  looked  forth,  and  fastened 
His  eyes  upon  my  face, 
And  cried  "Whence  came  this  grace? 
By  visage  ne'er  had  he  been  known : 
But  in  his  voice  to  me  was  shown 
All  that  his  changed  aspect 
Had  overborne  and  wrecked. 
Rekindled  by  that  spark  I  knew 
What  his  marred  lips  had  hid  from  view, 
And  I  beheld  again 
Forese's  visage  plain. 
"  Oh  !    fix  not  thou  "  he  prayed  "  thy  mind 
"  On  my  blotched  skin,  my  scabby  rind, 
"  Nor  on  the  leanness  gaze 
"  My  wasted  flesh  displays  ; 
"  But  tell  me  truly  of  thy  state, 
"  And  who  these  twain  that  on  thee  wait : 
"Delay  not  thou,  nor  fail 
"To  let  me  hear  thy  tale." 
"Thy  face,  that  as  already  dead 
"  Of  late  I  mourned  for,  now  "  I  said 
"  Sorrow  no  less  hath  wrought, 
"  Seeing  it  so  distraught. 


34^  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIII. 

58    Pero  mi  di',  per  Dio,  che  si  vi  sfoglia  ; 

Non  mi  far  dir  mentr'  io  mi  maraviglio, 
Che  mal  puo  dir  chi  e  pien  d'  altra  voglia. 

6t     Ed  egli  a  me  :  Dell'  eterno  consiglio 

Cade  virtu  nell'  acqua,  e  nella  pianta 
Rimasa  a  dietro  ond'  io  si  m'  assottiglio. 

64    Tutta  esta  gente  che  piangendo  canta, 
Per  seguitar  la  gola  oltra  misura, 
In  fame  e  in  sete  qui  si  rifa  santa. 

67     Di  bere  e  di  mangiar  n'  accende  cura 

L'  odor  ch'  esce  del  porno,  e  dello  sprazzo 
Che  si  distende  su  per  la  verdura. 

70    E  non  pure  una  volta,  questo  spazzo 
Girando,  si  rinfresca  nostra  pena  ; 
Io  dico  pena,  e  dovrei  dir  sollazzo  ; 

73    Che  quella  voglia  all'  arbore  ci  mena, 
Che  meno  Cristo  lieto  a  dire :  Eli, 
Quando  ne  libero  con  la  sua  vena. 

76    Ed  io  a  lui :  Forese,  da  quel  dl 

Nel  qual  mutasti  mondo  a  miglior  vita, 
Cinqu'  anni  non  son  volti  infino  a  qui. 


Canto  XXIII.]  PURGATORY.  343 

"Tell,  for  God's  sake,  what  strips  thy  frame, 
"  Nor,  while  I  marvel,  answer  claim  : 

"  For  he  can  speak  but  ill 

"  Whom  other  care  doth  fill." 
He  answered,  "  By  eterne  decree 
"  The  virtue  shed  on  stream  and  tree, 

"  That  late  ye  left  behind, 

"  My  grossness  hath  refined  : 
"  And  all  this  folk  that  chant  and  weep, 
"  Whose  appetite  no  bound  would  keep, 

"  Hunger  and  thirst  endure, 

"Thereby  to  make  them  pure. 
■•  The  scent  that  from  the  fruit  is  shed, 
"  The  spray  that  o'er  the  leaves  is  spread, 

"  Within  us  the  desire 

"  Of  meat  and  drink  will  fire. 
"  Nor,  as  around  this  floor  we  drive, 
"  Once  only  doth  our  pain  revive  ; 

"  Pain  do  I  say,  that  might 

"  Solace  be  named  aright  : 
"  For  that  same  will  whose  dictate  high 
"  Led  Christ  with  joy  to  say  '  Eli,: 

"When  with  His  blood  He  freed  us, 

"  Unto  the  tree  will  lead  us." 
And  I :  "  Forese,  from  the  day 
"  That  changed  thy  world,  and  sped  thy  way. 

"  The  better  life  to  taste, 

"  Five  years  have  scarcely  passed. 


344  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIII. 

79    Se  prima  fu  la  possa  in  te  finita 

Di  peccar  piu,  che  sorvenisse  1'  ora 
Del  buon  dolor  ch'  a  Dio  ne  rimarita, 

S2  Come  se'  tu  quassu  venuto  ?  Ancora 
Io  ti  credea  trovar  laggiu  di  sotto, 
Dove  tempo  per  tempo  si  ristora. 

8?    Ond'  egli  a  me  :   SI  tosto  m'  ha  condotto 
A  ber  lo  dolce  assenzio  de'  martiri 
La  Nella  mia  col  suo  pianger  dirotto. 

88    Con  suoi  prieghi  devoti  e  con  sospiri 

Tratto  m'  ha  della  costa  ove  s'  aspetta, 
E  liberato  m'  ha  degli  altri  giri. 

91  Tant'  e  a  Dio  piu  cara  e  piu  diletta 
La  vedovella  mia,  che  molto  amai, 
Quanto  in  bene  operare  e  piu  soletta ; 

94  Che  la  Barbagia  di  Sardigna  assai 
Nelle  femmine  sue  e  piu  pudica, 
Che  la  Barbagia  dov'  io  la  lasciai. 

97    O  dolce  frate,  che  vuoi  tu  ch'  io  dica? 
Tempo  futuro  m'  e  gia  nel  cospetto, 
Cui  non  sara  quest'  ora  molto  antica, 


canto  XXIII.]  PURGATORY.  345 

"  If  power  to  sin  in  thee  was  ended, 
"Before  the  gracious  hour  descended, 

"  That  to  sweet  sorrow  given 

"  Remarries  us  to  Heaven, 
"  How  hast  thou  come  to  mount  the  hill 
"So  far?    I  thought  to  find  thee  still, 

"Where  time  must  needs  restore 

"  The  time  misspent  before." 
And  he:    "My  Nella's  tears  have  flowed 
"  So  far  to  speed  me  on  my  road, 

"My  punishment  to  meet, 

"And  taste  its  wormwood  sweet. 
"  Her  prayers  devout,  her  sighs,  had  grace 
"To  draw  me  from  the  waiting-place, 

"  And  free  me  from  the  task 

"  The  other  circles  ask. 
"  More  dear,  more  precious  in  God's  sight 
"Is  she,  my  widow,  my  delight, 

"For  that  in  lonelihood 

"  She  travaileth  for  good. 
"  Now  may  Sardinia's  Barbary  coast 
"  Of  modest  women  make  its  boast, 

"That  Barbary  beside, 

"Where  left  I  her  to  bide. 
"  What  would'st  thou,  brother  sweet,  be  told  ? 
"  A  coming  time  I  can  behold, 
"  Whereto  this  present  day 
"  Shall  seem  not  far  away, 


346  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIII. 

ioo    Nel  qual  sara  in  pergamo  interdetto 
Alle  sfacciate  donne  Fiorentine 
L'  andar  mostrando  con  le  poppe  il  petto. 

103  Quai  Barbare  fur  mai,  quai  Saracine, 
Cui  bisognasse,  per  farle  ir  coverte, 
O  spiritali  o  altre  discipline  ? 

106    Ma  se  le  svergognate  fosser  certe 

Di  quel  che  il  ciel  veloce  loro  ammanna, 
Gia  per  urlare  avrian  le  bocche  aperte. 

109  Che,  se  1'  antiveder  qui  non  m'  inganna, 
Prima  fien  triste,  che  le  guance  impeli 
Colui  che  mo  si  consola  con  nanna. 

112  Deh,  frate,  or  fa  che  piu  non  mi  ti  cell  ; 
Vedi  che  non  pur  io,  ma  questa  gente 
Tutta  rimira  la  dove  il  Sol  veli. 

115    Perch'  io  a  lui  :  Se  ti  riduci  a  mente 
Qual  fosti  meco  e  quale  io  teco  fui, 
Ancor  fia  grave  il  menorar  presente. 

118    Di  quella  vita  mi  volse  costui 

Che  mi  va  innanzi,  1'  altr'  ier,  quando  tonda 
Vi  si  mostro  la  suora  di  colui ; 


Canto  XXIII.]  PURGATORY.  347 

"  When  pulpit  shall  the  ban  proclaim 

"  'Gainst  every  shamefaced  Florence  dame, 

"  Henceforth  abroad  that  dare 

"  Her  paps  and  breast  to  bare. 
':  What  Saracen,  what  Barbary  quean, 
••  Abroad  uncovered  would  be  seen, 

"  Or  must  be  taught  by  rule, 

"  Or  spiritual  school  ? 
"  But  if  those  shameless  ones  were  ware 
:;  Of  what  the  rapid  heavens  prepare, 

"  Their  open  mouths  were  fain 

"  To  howl  and  howl  again. 
"  If  fails  me  not  the  future's  store, 
i:  Sorrow  shall  come  on  them  before 

"  His  cheeks  with  down  are  clad, 

"  Whom  lullaby  makes  glad. 
';  Brother,  thyself  no  longer  hide  : 
"  Not  I  alone,  but  these  beside 

"  All  marvel  at  the  sight 

"  Of  the  Sun's  thwarted  light." 
Wherefore  I  said  :    "  If  thou  canst  reach 
"  Back  to  our  converse,  each  with  each, 

"  Memory  will  again 

"  Fill  thee  with  present  pain. 
"  He  turned  me  from  that  life  away, 
"  He  who  now  leads,  that  yesterday, 

"  When "  (and  I  showed  the  Sun) 

"  Yon  bright  one's  sister  shone 


348  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIII. 

121     E  il  Sol  mostrai.     Costui  per  la  profonda 
Notte  menato  m'  ha  da'  veri  morti, 
Con  questa  vera  carne  che  il  seconda. 

124    Indi  m'  han  tratto  su  li  suoi  conforti, 
Salendo  e  rigirando  la  montagna 
Che  drizza  voi  che  il  mondo  fece  torti. 

127  Tanto  dice  di  farmi  sua  compagna, 
Ch'  io  saro  la  dove  fia  Beatrice  ; 
Quivi  convien  che  senza  lui  rimagna. 

130    Virgilio  e  questi  che  cosi  mi  dice, 

E  addita'  lo,  e  quest'  altro  e  quell'  ombra 
Per  cui  scosse  dianzi  ogni  pendice 
133    Lo  vostro  regno  che  da  se  lo  sgombra. 


Canto  XXIII.]  PURGATORY.  349 

"  Rounded  and  full.     Tis  he  hath  led 
"  Through  deep  night  of  the  very  dead 

"  This  living  flesh  of  mine, 

"  That  follows  in  his  line. 
"  Thence  hath  he  holpen  me  to  rise 
"  About  the  mount  in  circling  wise, 

"  The  mount  that  will  correct 

"  In  you  the  world's  defect. 
'•  His  company  he  voucheth  me, 
"  Until  with  Beatrice  I  be  : 

"  There  must  he  turn  away, 

"  And  I  without  him  stay. 
"Virgil  is  he  this  word  that  said, 
"Yonder  he  goes"  (and  sign  I  made 

With  pointing  of  my  hand) : 

"  The  other  of  our  band 
"  Is  that  same  shade  for  whom  but  now 
"  Your  kingdom  all,  above,  below, 

"  Through  every  shelving  nook 

"  At  his  releasing  shook." 


CANTO   VENTESIMOQUARTO. 

N£  il  dir  1'  andar,  ne  1'  andar  lui  piu  lento 
Facea,  ma  ragionando  andavam  forte, 
SI  come  nave  pinta  da  buon  vento. 

4    E  1'  ombre,  che  parean  cose  rimorte. 
Per  le  fosse  degli  occhi  ammirazione 
Traean  di  me,  di  mio  vivere  accorte. 
7     Ed  io,  continuando  il  mio  sermone, 

Dissi :  Ella  sen  va  su  forse  piu  tarda 
Che  non  farebbe,  per  Y  altrui  cagione. 

io    Ma  dimmi,  se  tu  sai,  dov'  e  Piccarda; 
Dimmi  s'   io  veggio  da  notar  persona 
Tra  questa  gente  che  si  mi  riguarda. 

13  La  mia  sorella,  che  tra  bella  e  buona 
Non  so  qual  fosse  piu,  trionfa  lieta 
Nell'  alto  Olimpo  gia  di  sua  corona. 


CANTO    XXIV. 

OUR  speech  no  whit  our  going  stayed, 
Nor  was  it  yet  thereby  delayed  : 
Talking  we  went,  as  sail 

Before  a  favouring  gale. 
Through  the  deep  pits  that  were  their  eyes 
Those  seeming  twice-dead  shades  surprise 

Drank  inward,  when  they  knew 

That  living  breath  I  drew. 
And  my  discourse  went  on :    "  Perchance 
"More  swiftly  would  that  shade  advance, 

"But  that  he  bates  his  speed 

'•To  serve  another's  need. 
•'  But,  if  thou  knowest,  tell  me  where 
'•  Is  thy  Piccarda,  and  declare 

"  Whoso  of  note  there  be 

"  'Mongst  these  who  gaze  on  me." 
:iMy  sister,  erst  most  fair,  most  pure, 
"  In  high  Olympus  dwells  secure, 

"  Rejoicing  in  her  crown, 

"  The  prize  of  victory  won." 


352  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIV. 

16    SI  disse  prima,  e  poi :    Qui  non  si  vieta 
Di  nominar  ciascun,  da  ch'  e  si  munta 
Nostra  sembianza  via  per  la  dieta. 

19  Questi,  e  mostro  col  dito,  e  Bonagiunta, 
Bonagiunta  da  Lucca ;  e  quella  faccia 
Di  la  da  lui,  piu  che  1'  altre  trapunta, 

22    Ebbe  la  santa  Chiesa  in  le  sue  braccia  : 
Dal  Torso  fu,  e  purga  per  digiuno 
L'  anguille  di  Bolsena  e  la  vernaccia. 

25  Molti  altri  mi  norao  ad  uno  ad  uno  ; 
E  del  nomar  parean  tutti  contenti, 
SI  ch'  io  pero  non  vidi  un  atto  bruno. 

28    Vidi  per  fame  a  voto  usar  li  denti 
Ubaldin  dalla  Pila,  e  Bonifazio 
Che  pasture-  col  rocco  molte  genti. 

31     Vidi  messer  Marchese,  ch'  ebbe  spazio 

Gia  di  bere  a  Fori!  con  men  secchezza, 
E  si  fu  tal  che  non  si  sent!  sazio. 

34    Ma,  come  fa  chi  guarda,  e  poi  fa  prezza 

Piu  d'  un  che  d'  altro,  fe'  io  a  quel  da  Lucca, 
Che  piu  parea  di  me  voler  contezza. 


canto  XXIV.]  PURGATORY.  353 

So  first ;    and  then  :    "  It  is  no  blame, 
"  If  here  "  he  said  "  each  shade  we  name, 

"  For  that  our  daily  waste 

"  Our  likeness  hath  effaced. 
"  This "  (and  he  pointed  with  his  hand) 
';  Is  Bonagiunta,  from  the  land 

"  Of  Lucca  ;    and  that  shade 

"  Beyond,  with  face  most  frayed, 
"  Did  once  the  Holy  Church  enfold : 
"  From  Tours  he  came  :  now  fasting  cold 

"  Purgeth  his  wine  away, 

"  And  eels  of  Bolsena." 
And  more  he  named  me  one  by  one  : 
On  every  brow  contentment  shone, 

Yea,  and  I  could  not  trace 

Black  look  on  any  face. 
There  saw  I  Ubaldino  try 
On  emptiness  his  teeth  to  ply, 

And  Boniface,  whose  stock 

Once  ruled  his  ample  flock. 
There  the  Lord  Marquess  too,  that  erst 
With  room  to  slake  a  lesser  thirst 

Was  at  Forli  supplied, 

Nor  yet  was  satisfied. 
As  he,  the  crowd  around  that  views, 
Will  one  before  another  choose, 

So  did  more  notice  claim 

He  that  from  Lucca  came. 
A  a 


354  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIV. 

37    Ei  mormorava,  e  non  so  che  Gentucca 
Sentiva  io  la  ov'  ei  sentia  la  piaga 
Delia  giustizia  che  si  gli  pilucca. 

4o    O  anima,  diss'  io,  che  par  si  vaga 

Di  parlar  meco,  fa  si  ch'  io  t'  intenda, 
E  te  e  me  col  tuo  parlare  appaga. 

43    Femmina  e  nata,  e  non  porta  ancor  benda, 
Comincio  ei,  che  ti  fara  piacere 
La  mia  citta,  come  ch'  uom  la  riprenda. 

46    Tu  te  n'  andrai  con  questo  antivedere ; 
Se  nel  mio  mormorar  prendesti  errore, 
Dichiareranti  ancor  le  cose  vere. 

49    Ma  di'  s'  io  veggio  qui  colui  che  fuore 
Trasse  le  nuove  rime,  cominciando : 
Donne  >  ch   avete  intcllctto  d  Amove. 
52     Ed  io  a  lui :    Io  mi  son  un  che,  quando 
Amor  mi  spira,  noto,  ed  a  quel  modo 
Che  ditta  dentro,  vo  signifkando. 
55    O  frate,  issa  veggio,  disse,  il  nodo 

Che  il  Notaro,  e  Guittone,  e  me  ritenne 
Di  qua  dal  dolce  stil  nuovo  ch'  i'  odo. 


Canto  XXIV.]  PURGATORY.  355 

He  murmured :  and  I  seemed  to  hear 
Somewhat  as  if  "  Gentucca  "  there 

Was  muttered  where  he  felt 

The  stripe  that  justice  dealt. 
"  O  soul,"  I  said,  "  that  seem'st  to  seek 
"  So  eagerly  with  me  to  speak, 

"  To  thee  and  me  be  kind, 

"And  let  me  know  thy  mind." 
And  he  began  :    "  A  maid  is  born, 
"  That  hath  not  yet  the  wimple  worn  : 

"  Of  her  thou'lt  learn  to  love 

"  My  city,  some  reprove. 
"  With  this  presage  go  thou  along : 
"And  if  my  murmuring  led  thee  wrong, 

"  The  truths  that  thou  shalt  see 

"  Will  all  make  clear  to  thee. 
"  But  say  if  here  his  face  I  scan, 
"  Who  those  new  rimes  drew  forth,  that  ran, 

"'Ye  ladies,  in  whose  sense 

"  ' Is  Loves  intelligence'  " 
I  answered  ;    "  I  am  one  who  hark 
"  To  Love's  inspiring,  and  I  mark, 

"As  he  within  doth  teach, 

"  To  utter  forth  my  speech." 
"  Brother,  I  see  the  knot,  whereby 
"  Guitto,  the  Notary,  and  I 

"  Were  let  from  drawing  near 

"  To  that  sweet  style  I  hear  : 
A  a  3 


356  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIV. 

58    Io  veggio  ben  come  le  vostre  penne 

Diretro  al  dittator  sen  vanno  strette, 
Che  delle  nostre  certo  non  avvenne. 

Cn     E  qual  piu  a  guardar  oltre  si  mette, 

Non  vede  piu  dall'  uno  all'  altro  stilo. 
E  quasi  contentato  si  tacette. 

64    Come  gli  augei  che  vernan  lungo  il  Nilo 
Alcuna  volta  di  lor  fanno  schiera, 
Poi  volan  piu  in  fretta  e  vanno  in  filo; 

67  Cosl  tutta  la  gente  che  11  era, 

Volgendo  il  viso,  raffretto  suo  passo, 
E  per  magrezza  e  per  voler  leggiera. 

70    E  come  1'  uom  che  di  trottare  e  lasso 

Lascia  andar  li  compagni,  e  si  passeggia 
Fin  che  si  sfoghi  1'  affollar  del  casso  ; 

73    Si  lascio  trapassar  la  santa  greggia 
Forese,  e  dietro  meco  sen  veniva, 
Dicendo  :    Ouando  na  ch'  io  ti  riveggia  ? 

76    Non  so,  rispos'  io  lui,  quant'  io  mi  viva  ; 

Ma  gia  non  fia  il  tornar  mio  tanto  tosto, 
Ch'  io  non  sia  col  voler  prima  alia  riva. 


Canto  XXIV.]  PURGATORY.  ^7 

"  I  see  "  he  said  "  your  pens  go  straight, 
"  Following  him  that  doth  dictate  : 

"But  with  our  enterprise 

"  'Twas  surely  otherwise. 
"  And  he  who  looks  beyond  can  never 
"  Know  what  this  style  from  that  doth  sever." 

Therewith  as  though  content 

He  ceased  his  argument. 
As  birds  that  seek  to  Nilus  warm 
In  winter,  now  in  squadron  form, 

Now  swifter  flight  design 

And  lengthen  into  line  : 
So  all  the  people  in  that  place 
Turned  them  about  with  quickened  pace, 

Made  light  by  their  desire, 

And  by  their  lean  attire. 
And  then  as  one  with  running  spent 
Letteth  his  fellows  pass,  content 

To  slacken,  till  he  rest 

The  panting  of  his  chest : 
So  passed  that  holy  flock,  so  stayed 
With  me  Forese,  and  he  said, 

"  When  shall  be  granted  me 

"  Thy  face  again  to  see  ? " 
"How  long"  I  said  "my  life  shall  last 
':  I  know  not :    but  howe'erso  fast 

"  My  turning,  yet  the  shore 

"  My  heart  will  reach  before : 


3$8  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIV. 

79    Perocche  il  luogo,  u'  fui  a  viver  posto, 

Di  giorno  in  giorno  piu  di  ben  si  spolpa, 
Ed  a  trista  ruina  par  disposto. 

82    Or  va,  diss'  ei,  che  quei  che  piu  n'  ha  colpa 
Vegg'  io  a  coda  d'  una  bestia  tratto 
In  ver  la  valle,  ove  mai  non  si  scolpa. 

85    La  bestia  ad  ogni  passo  va  piu  ratto, 

Crescendo  sempre  fin  ch'  ella  il  percuote, 
E  lascia  il  corpo  vilmente  disfatto. 

88    Non  hanno  molto  a  volger  quelle  ruote, 

(E  drizz6  gli  occhi  al  ciel)  che  ti  fia  chiaro 
Cio  che  il  mio  dir  piu  dichiarar  non  puote. 

91    Tu  ti  rimani  omai,  che  il  tempo  e  caro 
In  questo  regno  si,  ch'  io  perdo  troppo 
Venendo  teco  si  a  paro  a  paro. 

94    Qual  esce  alcuna  volta  di  galoppo 

Lo  cavalier  di  schiera,  che  cavalchi, 
E  va  per  farsi  onor  del  primo  intoppo, 

97    Tal  si  parti  da  noi  con  maggior  valchi ; 
Ed  io  rimasi  in  via  con  esso  i  due, 
Che  fur  del  mondo  si  gran  maliscalchi. 


Canto  XXIV.]  PURGATORY.  359 

"  For  that  the  land  where  I  am  placed 
"  Makes  day  by  day  of  good  more  waste, 

"  And  seemeth  destined  all 

"  In  ruin  sad  to  fall." 
"  Now  go "  he  said  "  for  in  my  sight 
"  He,  upon  whom  most  blame  doth  light, 

"  Is  dragged  at  courser's  tail 

"  Towards  the  remorseless  vale. 
"  Fast  speeds  the  brute  and  faster  still, 
"  His  pace  aye  quickening,  until 

"  He  strikes  and  lets  him  lie 

"  Disfigured  horribly. 
"  Not  far  "  he  said  "  those  wheels  must  turn  " 
(And  pointed  heavenward)  "ere  thou  learn 

"  The  truth  that  prompts  my  speech, 

"  Clearer  than  I  can  teach. 
"  Now  stay  behind,  for  time  is  dear 
"  Within  this  kingdom,  and  I  fear 

"  My  loss  too  great,  if  slow 

"  Along  with  thee  I  go." 
As  forth  from  mounted  squadron  makes 
A  knight,  and  into  gallop  breaks, 

Some  honour  to  be  winning, 

The  first  assault  beginning : 
Even  so  with  longer  bounds  he  darted, 
And  from  our  company  departed: 

With  those  did  I  remain, 

The  world's  great  marshals  twain. 


36°  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIV. 

ioo    E  quando  innanzi  a  noi  entrato  fue, 

Che  gli  occhi  miei  si  fero  a  lui  seguaci, 
Come  la  mente  alle  parole  sue, 

103     Parvermi  i  rami  gravidi  e  vivaci 

D'  un  altro  porno,  e  non  molto  lontani, 
Per  esser  pure  allora  volto  in  laci. 

106    Vidi  gente  sott'  esso  alzar  le  mani, 

E  gridar,  non  so  che,  verso  le  fronde, 
Quasi  bramosi  fantolini  e  vani, 

109  Che  pregano,  e  il  pregato  non  risponde  ; 
Ma  per  fare  esser  ben  la  voglia  acuta, 
Tien  alto  lor  disio  e  nol  nasconde. 

ii2    Poi  si  parti  si  come  ricreduta  ; 

E  noi  venimmo  al  grande  arbore  adesso, 
Che  tanti  prieghi  e  lagrime  rifiuta. 

115    Trapassate  oltre  senza  farvi  presso  ; 

Legno  e  piu  su  che  fu  morso  da  Eva, 
E  questa  pianta  si  levo  da  esso. 

118    Si  tra  le  frasche  non  so  chi  diceva  ; 

Per  che  Virgilio  e  Stazio  ed  io  ristretti 
Oltre  andavam  dal  lato  che  si  leva. 


Canto  XXIV.]  PURGATORY.  361 

And  when  beyond  us  he  was  got 
So  far,  my  eyes  could  follow  not, 

More  than  my  mind  could  reach 

The  meaning  of  his  speech, 
Behold  !  another  tree,  with  load 
Of  heavy  fruitful  boughs,  there  showed  : 

Not  far  from  me  it  lay, 

But  newly  turned  that  way. 
And  folk  beneath  its  branches  there, 
Crying  I  know  not  what,  there  were, 

With  hands  uplifted  all, 

As  eager  children  call 
To  one  who  grants  not  their  request : 
But  still,  to  give  their  longing  zest, 

Upholds  aloft  the  prize, 

Nor  hides  it  from  their  eyes. 
As  undeceived  then  passed  they  by, 
And  we  to  the  great  tree  drew  nigh, 

That  unrelenting  hears 

So  many  prayers  and  tears. 
"  Draw  ye  not  close,  but  onward  move : 
"  The  other  tree  is  far  above, 

"  Which  gave  to  Eve  its  fruit : 

"  From  thence  is  this  the  shoot." 
From  out  the  boughs  such  voice  was  sent : 
Then  Virgil,  I,  and  Statius  went, 

Drawn  close  along  the  ledge, 

By  the  path's  upper  edge. 


3^2  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIV. 

121     Ricordivi,  dicea,  dei  maledetti 

Nei  nuvoli  formati,  che  satolli 
Teseo  combatter  coi  doppi  petti  ; 

124    E  degli  Ebrei  ch'  al  ber  si  mostrar  molli, 
Per  che  no'  i  voile  Gedeon  compagni, 
Quando  ver  Madian  discese  i  colli. 

127     Si,  accostati  all'  un  de'  due  vivagni, 
Passammo,  udendo  colpe  della  gola, 
Seguite  gia  da  miseri  guadagni. 

130    Poi,  rallargati  per  la  strada  sola, 

Ben  mille  passi  e  piu  ci  portaro  oltre, 
Contemplando  ciascun  senza  parola. 

133    Che  andate  pensando  si  voi  sol  tre  ? 

Subita  voce  disse ;  ond'  io  mi  scossi, 
Come  fan  bestie  spaventate  e  poltre. 

136    Drizzai  la  testa  per  veder  chi  fossi ; 

E  giammai  non  si  videro  in  fornace 
Vetri  o  metalli  si  lucenti  e  rossi, 

139  Com'  io  vidi  un  che  dicea:  Se  a  voi  piace 
Montare  in  su,  qui  si  convien  dar  volta; 
Ouinci  si  va  chi  vuole  andar  per  pace. 


Canto  XXIV.]  PURGATORY.  363 

And  then  "  Remember  ye  "  'twas  said 
"That  cursed  cloud-born  crew,  full  fed, 

"  With  double  breasts  that  rose 

"  And  Theseus  dared  oppose  : 
"  The  dainty  drink  those  Hebrews  used, 
"  Whom  Gideon  for  his  mates  refused, 

"  When  from  the  mountains'  crown 

"  He  came  'gainst  Midian  down." 
So  to  one  margin  keeping  fast, 
Listening  to  those  words  we  passed, 

That  told  how  gluttons  win 

Sad  guerdon  for  their  sin. 
From  thence  along  the  lonely  shore 
At  large  we  went  a  mile  and  more, 

Uttering  no  word  of  speech, 

But  contemplative  each. 
When  suddenly  "  What  muse  ye  on, 
"  Ye  three,"  I  heard  "  that  go  alone  ?  " 

And  at  that  voice  I  started, 

As  frighted  beasts  fainthearted. 
To  see  where  I  was  come  I  raised 
My  head,  and  ne'er  in  furnace  blazed 

Metal  or  glass,  to  sight 

More  ruddy  or  more  bright, 
Than  one  who  spake  me  "  Hither  lies 
"  The  turning,  if  ye  fain  would  rise : 

"  Here  shall  he  enter  in 

"  Who  goes  his  peace  to  win." 


364  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXIV. 

142    L'  aspetto  suo  m'  avea  la  vista  tolta: 

Perch'  io  mi  volsi  retro  a'  miei  dottori, 
Com'  uom  che  va  secondo  ch'  egli  ascolta. 

145    E  quale,  annunziatrice  degli  albori, 

L'  aura  di  maggio  muovesi,  ed  olezza, 
Tutta  impregnata  dall'  erba  e  dai  fiori  ; 

148    Tal  mi  senti'  un  vento  dar  per  mezza 

La  fronte,  e  ben  senti'  muover  la  piuma, 
Che  fe'  sentir  d'  ambrosia  1'  orezza. 

151     E  senti'  dir :  Beati  cui  alluma 

Tanto  di  grazia,  che  Y  amor  del  gusto 
Nel  petto  lor  troppo  disir  non  fuma, 

154    Esuriendo  sempre  quanto  e  giusto. 


Canto  XXIV.]  PURGATORY.  365 

My  sight  before  his  face  grew  blind : 
Unto  my  doctors  then  behind 

I  turned,  as  one  who  goes 

By  path  his  hearing  shows. 
As  moves,  as  breathes  the  gale  of  May, 
Heralding  forth  the  dawn  of  day, 

Impregnate  with  the  power 

Of  scented  herb  and  flower  : 
Even  so  I  felt  a  wind  that  stirred 
About  my  temples,  and  I  heard 

The  plumes  that  overhead 

Ambrosial  fragrance  shed. 
Then  too  I  heard  ';  How  blest  are  they 
"  Whom  grace  illumines  with  such  ray, 

"  That  they  can  see  aright 

"  To  guide  their  appetite, 
"  Nor  let  the  love  of  taste  inspire 
"  Within  their  breast  too  great  desire, 

"  Their  hunger  ever  shown 

"  In  righteousness  alone." 


CANTO   VENTESIMOOUINTO. 

Ora  era  onde  il  salir  non  volea  storpio, 
Che  il  Sole  avea  lo  cerchio  di  merigge 
Lasciato  al  Tauro  e  la  notte  alio  Scorpio. 

4  Per  che,  come  fa  1'  uom  che  non  s'  affigge. 
Ma  vassi  alia  via  sua,  checche  gli  appaia, 
Se  di  bisogno  stimolo  il  trafigge  ; 

7    Cos!  entrammo  noi  per  la  callaia, 

Uno  innanzi  altro,  prendendo  la  scala 
Che  per  artezza  i  salitor  dispaia. 

to    E  quale  il  cicognin  che  leva  1'  ala 

Per  voglia  di  volare,  e  non  s'  attenta 
D'  abbandonar  lo  nido,  e  giu  la  cala ; 

13    Tal  era  io,  con  voglia  accesa  e  spenta 
Di  dimandar,  venendo  infino  all'  atto 
Che  fa  colui  ch'  a  dicer  s'  argomenta. 


CANTO    XXV. 

The  hour  allowed  no  halting  feet : 
For  to  the  Bull  the  Sun's  retreat 
Left  the  meridian  height, 
To  Scorpio  the  night. 
Wherefore,  as  one  who  stays  not  still, 
But  forward  goes,  appear  what  will, 
Whene'er  some  pressing  need 
Pricks  him  to  greater  speed, 
So  entered  we  the  pass,  and  there 
One  before  other  clomb  the  stair, 
The  pathway's  narrow  beach 
Severing  each  from  each. 
As  the  young  stork  that  longs  to  fly, 
And  lifts  his  wings,  yet  dares  not  try 
To  leave  his  nest,  and  fain 
Must  let  them  fall  again, 
So  longed  I  there  to  ask :  the  fire, 
Now  lit,  now  quenched,  of  my  desire 
Grew  till  I  turned  about, 
As  one  to  speak  sets  out. 


368  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXV. 

16    Non  lascio,  per  1'  andar  che  fosse  ratto, 
Lo  dolce  Padre  mio,  ma  disse  :  Scocca 
L'  arco  del  dir  che  infino  al  ferro  hai  tratto. 

19    Allor  sicuramente  aprii  la  bocca, 

E  cominciai :  Come  si  puo  far  magro 
La  dove  1'  uopo  di  nutrir  non  tocca  ? 

22    Se  t'  ammentassi  come  Meleagro 

Si  consumo  al  consumar  d'  un  stizzo, 
Non  fora,  disso,  questo  a  te  si  agro  : 

2$    E,  se  pensassi  come  al  vostro  guizzo 

Guizza  dentro  alio  specchio  vostra  image, 
Cio  che  par  duro  ti  parrebbe  vizzo ; 

28    Ma  perche  dentro  a  tuo  voler  t'  adage, 

Ecco  qui  Stazio,  ed  io  lui  chiamo  e  prego, 
Che  sia  or  sanator  delle  tue  piage. 

31    Se  la  veduta  eterna  gli  dislego, 
Rispose  Stazio,  la  dove  tu  sie, 
Discolpi  me  non  potert'  io  far  nego. 

34    Poi  comincio :  Se  le  parole  mie, 

Figlio,  la  mente  tua  guarda  e  riceve, 
Lume  ti  fieno  al  come  che  tu  die. 


Canto  XXV.]  PURGATORY.  369 

And  my  sweet  Father  caught  my  look: 
Fast  though  our  going  was,  he  spoke : 

"  Discharge  thy  arrow's  point, 

"  Now  drawn  unto  the  joint." 
With  boldness  then  could  I  unclose 
My  lips,  and  I  began  "  To  those 

"  Who  need  no  nourishment 

"Whence  is  this  leanness  sent?" 
•'If  but  thou  would'st"  he  said,  "recall, 
•;  How  Meleager  wasted  all 

"  With  wasting  of  a  brand, 

"This  could'st  thou  *  understand  : 
"  Think,  too,  how  in  the  mirror  dances 
"  The  image  of  thy  quivering  glances, 

"And  thou  wilt  light  regard 

"  What  now  thou  findest  hard. 
"Yet,  that  thy  wish  thou  mayest  complete, 
"  Lo  !  Statius  here :  and  I  entreat 

"  And  pray  him  that  he  deign 

"  To  heal  thee  of  thy  pain." 
"  If  the  eternal  vision  I 
"  Unfold  to  him,  while  thou  art  by, 

"  Let  this  my  fault  appay, 

"That  cannot  say  thee  nay." 
Thus  Statius,  and  "  If  thou  canst  reach 
-  Thy  mind  to  comprehend  my  speech, 

"  It  shall  be  light  to  shine 

"  On  this  demand  of  thine. 
B   b 


37°  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXV. 

37    Sangue  perfetto,  che  mai  non  si  beve 
Dall'  assetate  vene,  e  si  rimane 
Quasi  alimento  che  di  mensa  leve, 

40    Prende  nel  cuore  a  tutte  membra  umane 
Virtute  informativa,  come  quello 
Ch'  a  farsi  quelle  per  le  vene  vane. 

43    Ancor  digesto,  scende  ov'  e  piu  bello 

Tacer  che  dire ;    e  quindi  poscia  geme 
Sovr'  altrui  sangue  in  natural  vasello. 

46    Ivi  s'  accoglie  1'  uno  e  1'  altro  insieme, 

L'  un  disposto  a  patire  e  1'  altro  a  fare, 
Per  lo  perfetto  luogo  onde  si  preme  ; 

49  E,  giunto  lui,  comincia  ad  operare, 
Coagulando  prima,  e  poi  avviva 
Cio  che  per  sua  materia  fe'  constare. 

52    Anima  fatta  la  virtute  attiva, 

Oual  d'  una  pianta,  in  tanto  differente: 
Che  quest'  e  in  via,  e  quella  e  gia  a  riva. 

55    Tanto  ovra  poi  che  gia  si  muove  e  sente, 
Come  fungo  marino  ;    ed  indi  imprende 
Ad  organar  le  posse  ond'  e  semente. 


Canto  XXV.]  PURGATORY.  37 ' 

"  The  blood  perfected  that  remains 
"  Untasted  by  the  thirsty  veins, 

"  And  in  the  heart  is  stored, 

"  As  meat  removed  from  board, 
"  Informing  virtue  there  doth  take, 
"  The  human  members  all  to  make, 

"  Even  as  these  are  bred 

"  With  what  the  veins  hath  fed. 
"  It  sinks,  digested  once  again, 
"To  where  we  speak  not  of;  and  then 

"  On  other's  blood  'twill  fall 

"In  vessel  natural.. 
"  There  mingles  each  with  each,  this  kind 
"  To  act,  and  that  to  bear,  designed, 

"  Implenished  with  the  grace 

"  Drawn  from  their  perfect  place. 
•'  United  there,  its  work  it  plies, 
"  Coagulates,  then  vivifies 

"  What  solid  first  it  makes, 

"  And  for  its  matter  takes. 
"  From  this  activity  derives 
"  A  soul,  like  that  in  plant  which  lives  ; 

"  Yet  hath  this  reached  the  shore, 

"  And  that  must  grow  to  more. 
"Feeling  and  movement  next  it  gains, 
'•  Like  to  sea-sponge,  and  then  attains 

"  Those  powers  to  organise, 

"  Whose  seed  within  it  lies. 
Bb2 


372  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXV. 

58    Or  si  spiega,  figliuolo,  or  si  distende 

La  virtu  ch'  e  dal  cuor  del  generante, 
Dove  natura  a  tutte  membra  intende: 

61    Ma,  come  d'  animal  divenga  fante, 

Non  vedi  tu  ancor  :   quest'  e  tal  punto 
Che  piu  savio  di  te  fe'  gia  errante  ; 

64    Si  che,  per  sua  dottrina,  fe'  disgiunto 
Dall'  anima  il  possibile  intelletto, 
Perche  da  lui  non  vide  organo  assunto. 

67    Apri  alia  verita  che  viene  il  petto, 
E  sappi  che,  si  tosto  come  al  feto 
L'  articolar  del  cerebro  e  perfetto, 

70  Lo  Motor  primo  a  lui  si  volge  lieto 
Sovra  tanta  arte  di  natura,  e  spira 
Spirito  nuovo  di  virtu  repleto, 

73    Che  ci6  che  truova  attivo  quivi  tira 

In  sua  sustanzia,  e  fassi  un  alma  sola, 
Che  vive  e  sente,  e  se  in  se  rigira. 

76    E  perche  meno  ammiri  la  parola, 

Guarda  il  calor  del  Sol  che  si  fa  vino, 
Giunto  all'  umor  che  dalla  vite  cola. 


Canto  XXV.]  PURGATORY.  373 

"  Now  spreads,  my  son,  through  every  part 
"  The  power  of  the  begetter's  heart, 

"  There  where  by  nature's  hand 

"  Our  members  all  are  planned. 
"  Howbeit  thou  lackest  yet  to  learn 
"  How  animal  to  child  will  turn : 

"  Upon  this  point  ere  now 

"  Erred  one  more  wise  than  thou. 
<:  His  teaching  from  the  soul  would  ever 
"  The  intellect  potential  sever, 

"  For  that  no  organ  fit 

"  He  saw  assigned  for  it. 
"  Ope  now  thy  breast  to  truth  and  know, 
"  That  soon  as  in  the  embryo 

"  The  fittings  of  the  brain 

"  To  perfectness  attain, 
"  Turns  thither  the  First  Mover,  glad 
<:  In  the  great  work  by  nature  made, 

"  And  breathes  new  spirit  sweet, 

"  With  virtue  all  replete  : 
"  That  spirit  to  its  substance  takes 
"  What  it  finds  active  there,  and  makes 

"  One  soul,  with  life,  with  sense, 

"  And  with  intelligence. 
"  And  if  thou  marvel  at  my  words, 
"Think  how  the  Sun  his  heat  affords 

"  To  mingle  with  the  vine, 

"  And  turn  its  juice  to  wine. 


374  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXV 

79     E  quando  Lachesis  non  ha  piu  lino, 
Solvesi  dalla  carne,  ed  in  virtute 
Ne  porta  seco  e  1'  umano  e  il  divino. 

82  L'  altre  potenze  tutte  quante  mute  ; 
Memoria,  intelligenza,  e  volontade, 
In  atto  molto  piu  che  prima  acute. 

85  Senza  arrestarsi,  per  se  stessa  cade 
Mirabilmente  all'  una  delle  rive ; 
Quivi  conosce  prima  le  sue  strade. 

ns    Tosto  che  luogo  li  la  circonscrive, 

La  virtu  informativa  raggia  intorno, 
Cosl  e  quanto  nelle  membra  vive  : 

yi     E  come  1'  aere,  quand'  e  ben  piorno, 

Per  1'  altrui  raggio  che  in  se  si  riflette, 
Di  diversi  color  diventa  adorno, 

94    Cosl  1'  aer  vicin  quivi  si  mette 

In  quella  forma  che  in  lui  suggella, 
Virtualmente,  1'  alma  che  ristette : 

97     E  simigliante  poi  alia  fiammella 

Che  segue  il  fuoco  la  'vunque  si  muta, 
Segue  alio  spirto  sua  forma  novella. 


Canto  XXV.]  PURGATORY.  37j 

"  When  Lachesis  can  spin  no  more, 
"Then  the  divine,  the  human  power, 

"  Are  with  it  borne  away, 

"  Loosed  from  their  fleshly  stay. 
"  The  other  faculties  are  still  : 
'•  Memory,  intellect  and  will, 

"  Become  in  act  more  keen 

"  Than  yet  they  e'er  had  been. 
"  Pausing  not,  of  itself  'twill  sink 
"Wondrously  down  to  either  brink: 

"  There  first  it  comes  to  know 

"  The  road  whereby  'twill  go. 
••  And  soon  as  there  its  place  hath  bound  it, 
"  Informing  virtue's  rays  surround  it, 

Ci  In  measure  and  in  mode 

"  As  erst  its  members  showed. 
"  Then,  as  with  rain  full-charged  the  air 
"  From  other's  ray  reflected  there 

"  Is  clad  in  raiment  bright, 

"  With  divers  colours  dight, 
"  So  here  the  air  that  lies  without 
•■  Is  shed  the  abiding  soul  about, 

"  And  in  like  form  is  dressed, 

"  By  virtual  seal  impressed. 
i;  Thereafter  like  the  flame  that  changes, 
"  Following  the  fire  where'er  it  ranges, 

"  So  doth  the  new  form  cling, 

"  The  spirit  following. 


376  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXV. 

100    Perocche  quindi  ha  poscia  sua  paruta, 

E  chiamata  ombra  ;   e  quindi  organa  poi 
Ciascun  sentire  infino  alia  veduta. 
103    Quindi  parliamo,  e  quindi  ridiam  noi, 
Quindi  facciam  le  lagrime  e  i  sospiri 
Che  per  lo  monte  aver  sentiti  puoi. 
106    Secondo  che  ci  affiggono  i  disiri 

E  gli  altri  affetti,  1'  ombra  si  figura, 
E  questa  e  la  cagion  di  che  tu  ammiri. 
109    E  gia  venuto  all'  ultima  tortura 

S'  era  per  noi,  e  volto  alia  man  destra, 
Ed  eravamo  attend  ad  altra  cura. 
112    Quivi  la  ripa  fiamma  in  fuor  balestra, 
E  la  cornice  spira  fiato  in  suso, 
Che  la  riflette,  e  via  da  lei  sequestra  ; 
115    Onde  ir  ne  convenia  dal  lato  schiuso 

Ad  uno  ad  uno,  ed  io  temeva  il  fuoco 
Quinci,  e  quindi  temea  cadere  in  giuso. 
118    Lo  Duca  mio  dicea:   per  questo  loco 

Si  vuol  tenere  agli  occhi  stretto  il  freno, 
Perocch'  errar  potrebbesi  per  poco. 


Canto  XXV.]  PURGATORY.  377 

"  And  for  that  thence  its  semblance  came, 
"  Shadow  is  given  it  for  name : 

"  Then  organs  it  dispenses 

"  For  sight  and  all  our  senses. 
"  Thence  speak  we,  thence  our  smiles  arise, 
"  Thence  come  our  weeping  and  our  sighs  : 

"  Such  canst  thou  hear  resound, 

"  Travelling  the  hill  around. 
"  As  our  desires,  our  feelings  range, 
"  So  doth  our  shadow's  fashion  change : 

"  Now  is  the  reason  clear 

"  Of  all  thy  marvel  here." 
Now  were  we  come  unto  the  place 
Of  the  last  turning,  and  our  face 

To  the  right  hand  we  bent, 

On  other  cares  intent. 
Here  outward  flashed  the  bank  in  flame, 
While  upward  from  the  cornice  came 

A  blast,  that  drove  it  back, 

And  freed  the  outward  track. 
Whence  it  behoved  us  one  by  one 
To  pass  the  unguarded  side  upon  ; 

And  here  I  feared  the  glow, 

And  there  the  gulf  below. 
Then  spake  my  Leader,  "  Strictest  rein 
"  Must  in  this  place  our  eyes  refrain : 

"  For  from  the  path  to  swerve 

"  Right  little  here  will  serve." 


37**  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXY. 

121     Summae  Dens  clementiae,  nel  seno 

Al  grande  ardore  allora  udii  cantando, 
Che  di  volger  mi  (e    caler  non  meno  : 

124    E  vidi  spirti  per  la  fiamma  andando  ; 

Perch'  io  guardava  loro,  ed  a'  miei  passi, 
Compartendo  la  vista  a  quando  a  quando. 

127    Appresso  il  fine  ch'  a  quell'  inno  fassi, 
Gridavano  alto  :    Virum  non  cognosco  ; 
Indi  ricominciavan  1'  inno  bassi. 

130    Finitolo,  anco  gridavano :  Al  bosco 

Si  tenne  Diana,  ed  Elice  caccionne 
Che  di  Venere  avea  sentito  il  tosco. 

133     Indi  al  cantar  tornavano;  indi  donne 
Gridavano,  e  mariti  che  fur  casti, 
Come  virtute  e  matrimonio  imponne. 

136    E  questo  modo  credo  che  lor  basti 

Per  tutto  il  tempo  che  il  fuoco  gli  abbrucia  ; 
Con  tal  cura  convien,  con  cotai  pasti 

139    Che  la  piaga  dassezzo  si  ricucia. 


Canto  XXV.]  PURGATORY.  379 

"  O  God  of  mercy,  God  of  grace" 

They  sang  within  that  flame's  embrace  : 

With  like  heat  did   I   burn, 

And  fain  would  thither  turn. 
I  looked  where  through  the  fire  there  went 
Spirits :  and  thither  was  I  bent, 

On  them  and  on  my  going 

Divided  heed  bestowing. 
That  hymn  unto  its  ending  ran : 
Whereon  "  /  have  not  known  a  man  " 

Loud  cried  they :  softly  then 

Began  their  hymn  again. 
That  too  was  finished,  and  they  cried  : 
"  Diana  in  the  wood  did  bide, 

"And  Helice  forth  hasted, 

"  Love's  poison  that  had  tasted." 
They  turned  them  then  to  sing  the  names 
Of  husbands  many,  many  dames, 

Who  chastity  had  found, 

In  virtuous  wedlock  bound. 
So  it  sufficeth  them,  I  trow, 
What  time  within  the  fire  they  glow  : 

Such  diet  shall  restore, 

Such  care  their  latest  sore. 


CANTO   VENTESIMOSESTO. 

MENTRE  che  si  per  1'  orlo,  uno  innanzi  altro, 
Ce  n'  andavamo,  e  spesso  il  buon  Maestro 
Diceva :  Guarda ;  giovi  ch'  io  ti  scaltro, 
4    Feriami  il  Sole  in  sull'  omero  destro, 
Che  gia,  raggiando,  tutto  1'  occidente 
Mutava  in  bianco  aspetto  di  cilestro ; 

7    Ed  io  facea  con  1'  ombra  piu  rovente 

Parer  la  fiamma  ;  e  pure  a  tanto  indizio 
Vid'  io  molt'  ombre,  andando,  poner  mente. 

io     Ouesta  fu  la  cagion  che  diede  inizio 
Loro  a  parlar  di  me ;  e  cominciarsi 
A  dir:  Colui  non  par  corpo  fittizio. 

13    Poi  verso  me,  quanto  potevan  farsi, 
Certi  si  feron,  sempre  con  riguardo 
Di  non  uscir  dove  non  fossero  arsi. 


CANTO    XXVI. 

WHILST  one  before  another  round 
The  margin  of  that  ring  we  wound, 

"  Take  heed  "  my  Master  said 

"  And  profit  by  my  aid." 
The  Sun  on  my  right  shoulder  pressed, 
And  in  his  radiance  all  the  west 

Was  changed  from  heavenly  blue 

Unto  a  paler  hue. 
I  seemed  to  make  my  shadow  throw 
Upon  the  flame  a  ruddier  glow, 

And   many  shades  there  turned 

When  but  that  sign  they  learned. 
This  was  the  cause  that  presently 
Made  them  begin  to  speak  of  me : 

u  Yon  body  seems  "  they  spake 

"  Of  no  fictitious  make." 
And  certain  of  their  band  I  saw, 
Far  as  they  might,  towards  me  draw, 

But  yet  within  the  fire 

They  kept,  and  came  not   nighcr. 


383  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVI 

j  6    O  tu,  che  vai,  non  per  esser  piu  tardo, 
Ma  forse  reverente,  agli  altri  dopo, 
Rispondi  a  me  che  in  sete  ed  in  fuoco  ardo 

19    Ne  solo  a  me  la  tua  risposta  e  uopo  ; 

Che  tutti  questi  n'  hanno  maggior  sete 
Che  d'  acqua  fredda  Indo  o  Etiopo. 

22    Dinne  com'  e  che  fai  di  te  parete 

Al  Sol,  come  se  tu  non  fossi  ancora 
Di  morte  entrato  dentro  dalla  rete. 

25    SI  mi  parlava  un  d'  essi,  ed  io  mi  fora 
Gia  manifesto,  s'  io  non  fossi  atteso 
Ad  altra  novita  ch'  apparse  allora ; 

28    Che  per  lo  mezzo  del  cammino  acceso 

Venia  gente  col  viso  incontro  a  questa, 
La  qual  mi  fece  a  rimirar  sospeso. 

31     Li  veggio  d'  ogni  parte  farsi  presta 

Ciascun'  ombra,  e  baciarsi  una  con  una, 
Senza  restar,  contente  a  breve  festa  : 

34     Cosl  per  entro  loro  schiera  bruna 

S'  ammusa  1'  una  con  1'  altra  formica, 
Forse  ad  espiar  lor  via  e  lor  fortuna. 


into  XXVI.]  PURGATORY.  $8$ 

"  Thou,  who  behind  the  rest  art  going, 
"  Belike  not  sloth  but  reverence  showing, 

';  Oh  !    let  me  answer  claim, 

"  That  burn  in  thirst  and  flame. 
"  Not  I  alone  thy  answer  wait : 
"  All  these  beside  with  thirst  as  great 

"  Long,  as  for  cooling  cup 

"  Indian  or  Ethiop. 
"  Tell  us  how  'tis  thou  makest  thus 
"A  wall  betwixt  the  Sun  and  us, 

"  As  though  the  toils  of  death 

"  Thou  hadst  not  passed  beneath." 
So  of  their  band  one  made  request ; 
And  soon  had  I  been  manifest, 

But  that  before  my  view 

Appeared  a  marvel  new. 
Along  the  pathway  all  aflame 
A  counter-stream  of  people  came. 

Wherefore  I  stayed  amazed, 

And  on  that  vision  gazed. 
And  everywhere  with  eager  greeting, 
Each  with  a  kiss  his  fellow  meeting, 

Those  spirits  forward  went, 

With  welcome  brief  content. 
Thus  emmets  in  their  dusky  throng 
.  Meet  each  with  each  and  pass  along, 

And  haply  so  are  ware 

How  on  their  road  they  fare. 


384  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVI. 

37    Tosto  che  parton  1'  accoglienza  arnica, 
Prima  che  il  primo  passo  11  trascorra, 
Sopragridar  ciascuna  s'  affatica  ; 

40    La  nuova  gente  :  Soddoma  e  Gomorra  ; 
E  1'  altra :  Nella  vacca  entra  Pasife, 
Perche  il  torello  a  sua  lussuria  corra. 

43    Poi  come  gru,  ch'  alle  montagne  Rife 
Volasser  parte,  e  parte  inver  le  arene, 
Queste  del  giel,  quelle  del  sole  schife, 

46    L'  una  gente  sen  va,  1'  altra  sen  viene, 
E  tornan  lagrimando  ai  primi  canti, 
Ed  al  gridar  che  piu  lor  si  conviene  ; 

49    E  raccostarsi  a  me,  come  davanti, 

Essi  medesmi  che  m'  avean  pregato, 
Attenti  ad  ascoltar  nei  lor  sembianti. 

52    Io,  che  due  volte  avea  visto  lor  grato, 
Incominciai :  O  anime  sicure 
D'  aver,  quando  che  sia,  di  pace  stato, 


Canto  XXVI.]  PURGATORY.  385 

They  ceased  them  from  their  greeting  fond, 
Yet,  ere  they  passed  one  step  beyond, 

Each  strove  with  louder  cry 

The  other  to  outvie. 
The  latest  comers  called  the  name 
Of  Sodom  and  Gomorrha's  shame : 

While  by  the  other  crowd 

The  tale  was  echoed  loud 
"  Pasiphae  with  passion  burned, 
"  And  to  a  heifer's  semblance  turned, 

"That  so  the  bull  were  sped 

"Unto  her  lustful  bed." 
Like  cranes,  if  part  to  Scythia's  land 
Were  flying,  part  to  Afric's  sand, 

These  urged  the  frost  to  shun, 

And  those  the  burning  sun, 
So  went,  so  came,  those  bands  along, 
And  with  their  tears  began  their  song, 

Began  their  cry  again, 

That  best  befits  their  pain. 
Then  towards  me,  as  before,  there  pressed 
Those  same,  who  late  had  made  request, 

And  on  their  face  the  look, 

Of  keen  regard  which  spoke. 
And  for  that  twice  had  been  displayed 
Their  longing,  I  began,  and  said: 

"  O  souls,  whom  soon  or  late 

"  Peace  surely  doth  await, 
c  c 


3%6  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVI. 

55    Non  son  rimase  acerbe  ne  mature 

Le  membra  mie  di  la,  ma  son  qui  meco 
Col  sangue  suo  e  con  le  sue  giunture. 

58    Quinci  su  vo  per  non  esser  piu  cieco  : 

Donna  e  di  sovra  che  n'  acquista  grazia, 
Per  che  il  mortal  pel  vostro  mondo  reco. 

61    Ma  se  la  vostra  maggior  voglia  sazia 

Tosto  divenga,  si  che  il  ciel  v'  alberghi, 
Ch'  e  pien  d'  amore  e  piu  ampio  si  spazia, 

64    Ditemi,  acciocche  ancor  carte  ne  verghi, 
Chi  siete  voi,  e  chi  e  quella  turba 
Che  se  ne  va  diretro  ai  vostri  terghi  ? 

67    Non  altrimenti  stupido  si  turba 

Lo  montanaro,  e  rimirando  ammuta, 
Ouando  rozzo  e  salvatico  s'  inurba, 

70    Che  ciascun'  ombra  fece  in  sua  paruta  ; 
Ma  poiche  furon  di  stupore  scarche, 
Lo  qual  negli  alti  cuor  tosto  s'  attuta, 

73    Beato  te,  che  delle  nostre  marche, 

Ricomincio  colei  che  pria  m'  inchiese, 
Per  morir  meglio  esperienza  imbarche  ! 


Canto  XXVI.]  PURGATORY.  387 

"  My  limbs  not  yet  are  laid  below, 
"  Or  rathe  or  ripe,  but  with  me  go  ; 

"With  them  their  blood  they  bring, 

"  And  every  fastening. 
"  I  mount,  that  so  my  blindness  cease : 
"  A  heavenly  lady  wins  me  grace : 

"  Wherefore  in  mortal  guise 

"  Through  this  your  world  I  rise. 
"  But,  so  may  your  desire  be  blest, 
"And  in  that  heaven  may  ye  have  rest, 

"  That  widest  room  attains, 

"  Where  love  in  fulness  reigns, 
"  Tell  to  me  who  ye  are,  and  tell, 
"  That  so  my  page  may  mark  it  well, 

"  Who  are  this  crowd,  that  wind, 

''Passing  your  backs  behind." 
Like  as  when  first  to  peopled  town 
The  unkempt  mountaineer  comes  down, 

And  speechless  stares  astounded, 

His  senses  all  confounded, 
So  every  shade  amazement  showed  : 
But  when  was  put  away  the  load 

Of  awe,  from  lofty  heart 

That  soonest  will  depart, 
Then  "  Well  is  thee,  who  from  our  shore  " 
(So  he  began  who  spake  before) 

"  Would'st  knowledge  gather  in, 

"  A  better  death  to  win ! 
C  c  2 


3°°  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVI. 

76    La  gente,  che  non  vien  con  noi,  offese 
Di  cio,  per  che  gia  Cesar,  trionfando, 
Regina,  contra  se,  chiamar  s'  intese ; 

79    Pero  si  parton  Soddoma  gridando, 

Rimproverando  a  se,  com'  hai  udito, 
Ed  aiutan  1'  arsura  vergognando. 

S2    Nostro  peccato  fu  ermafrodito ; 

Ma  perche  non  servammo  umana  legge, 
Seguendo  come  bestie  1'  appetito, 

$$  In  obbrobrio  di  noi,  per  noi  si  legge, 
Quando  partiamci,  il  nome  di  colei 
Che  s'  imbestio  nell'  imbestiate  schegge. 

88    Or  sai  nostri  atti,  e  di  che  fummo  rei  : 
Se  forse  a  nome  vuoi  saper  chi  semo, 
Tempo  non  e  da  dire,  e  non  saprei. 

91    Farotti  ben  di  me  volere  scemo  ; 

Son  Guido  Guinicelli,  e  gia  mi  purgo 
Per  ben  dolermi  prima  ch'  all'  estremo. 

94    Quali  nella  tristizia  di  Licurgo 

Si  fer  due  figli  a  riveder  la  madre, 
Tal  mi  fee'  io,  ma  non  a  tanto  insurgo, 


Canto  XXVI.]  PURGATORY.  389 

"  Those  others  by  that  sin  offended, 
"  Which  once  on  Caesar's  ears  attended, 

"When  at  his  triumphing 

"  '  Queen  !    queen  ! '    he  heard  them  sing. 
"  Wherefore,  as  thou  hast  heard,  they  cry 
"  On  Sodom,  self-reproachfully, 

"  And  go  their  way,  the  flame 

"  Made  hotter  by  their  shame. 
"  Hermaphrodite  was  our  offence  ; 
"  But;  for  we  had  not  continence, 

"  Nor  followed  human  rite, 

"  But,  brute-like,  appetite, 
"  Must  we  to  our  disgrace  be  taught 
"  To  tell  the  name  of  her  who  sought 

"To  deed  of  beastly  kind, 

"  In  brute-formed  case  confined. 
"  Now  are  our  acts,  our  sins  made  clear : 
"  If  thou  desire  our  names  to  hear, 

"  There  is  no  time  to  tell, 

"  Nor  should  I  know  them  well. 
"  Yet  shalt  thou  fail  not  of  my  name, 
"  That  Guido  Guinicelli  am, 

"  Soon  to  my  purging  passed, 

"  Repenting  ere  the  last." 
As  once,  when  chanced  Lycurgus'  pain, 
Two  sons  their  mother  found  again, 

So  overborne  was  I, 

But  with  less  ecstasy, 


39°  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVI. 

97    Quand'  i'  udl'  nomar  se  stesso  il  padre 

Mio,  e  degli  altri  miei  miglior,  che  mai 
Rime  d'  amore  usar  dolci  e  leggiadre  : 

ioo    E  senza  udire  e  dir  pensoso  andai, 
Lunga  fiata  rimirando  lui, 
Ne  per  lo  fuoco  in  la  piu  m'  appressai. 

103    Poiche  di  riguardar  pasciuto  fui, 

Tutto  m'  offersi  pronto  al  suo  servigio, 
Con  1'  affermar  che  fa  credere  altrui. 

106    Ed  egli  a  me:  Tu  lasci  tal  vestigio, 

Per  quel  ch'  i'  odo,  in  me,  e  tanto  chiaro, 
Che  Lete  nol  puo  torre  ne  far  bigio. 

109    Ma,  se  le  tue  parole  or  ver  giuraro, 

Dimmi  che  e  cagion  per  che  dimostri 
Nel  dire  e  nel  guardare  avermi  caro  ? 

112    Ed  io  a  lui  :  Li  dolci  detti  vostri 

Che,  quanto  durera  1'  uso  moderno, 
Faranno  cari  ancora  i  loro  inchiostri. 

115    O  frate,  disse,  questi  ch'  io  ti  scerno 

Col  dito,  ed  addito  un  spirto  innanzi, 
Fu  miglior  fabbro  del  parlar  materno. 


Canto  XXVI.]  PURGATORY.  39 1 

Hearing  him  thus  himself  disclose 
My  father,  aye  and  theirs,  who  chose 

In  dulcet  rimes  and  gay 

Love's  praises  to  essay. 
I  heard  not,  spake  not,  as  I  went, 
Long  time  upon  his  face  intent ; 

Yet,  for  I  feared  the  fire, 

I  could  not  draw  me  nigher. 
When  of  my  gaze  I  had  my  fill, 
I  made  me  ready  for  his  will, 

With  that  assent  secure, 

Which  maketh  credence  sure. 
And  he  to  me  :  "  Such  impress  clear 
"Thou  leavest  in  the  words  I  hear, 

"  That  Lethe  ne'er  can  sever, 

"  Nor  turn  to  dimness  ever. 
"  Yet,  if  erewhile  thou  truly  swarest, 
"  Tell  me,  whence  came  the  love  thou  bearest 

"  For  me,  that  in  thy  face 

"  And  in  thy  speech  I  trace." 
And  I  :  "  Those  ditties  sweet  of  yours, 
"  That  will,  while  modern  use  endures, 

"  Most  precious  make  us  think 

"  Even  their  very  ink." 
"  Brother,"  he  said  "  but  yonder  shade  " 
(And  with  his  finger  sign  he  made) 

"  To  better  craft  could  reach 

"  In  our  dear  mother  speech : 


392  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVI. 

n s    Versi  d'  amore  e  prose  di  romanzi 

Soverchio  tutti,  e  lascia  dir  gli  stolti 
Che  quel  di  Lemosi  credon  ch'  avanzi. 

121     A  voce  piu  ch'  al  ver  drizzan  li  volti, 
E  cosi  ferman  sua  opinione, 
Prima  ch'  arte  o  ragion  per  lor  s'  ascolti. 

124    Cosl  fer  molti  antichi  di  Guittone, 

Di  grido  in  grido  pur  lui  dando  pregio, 
Fin  che  1'  ha  vinto  il  ver  con  piu  persone. 

127    Or,  se  tu  hai  si  ampio  privilegio, 

Che  licito  ti  sia  1'  andare  al  chiostro, 
Nel  quale  e  Cristo  abate  del  collegio, 

130     Fagli  per  me  un  dir  di  un  paternostro, 

Quanto  bisogna  a  noi  di  questo  mondo, 
Dove  poter  peccar  non  e  piu  nostro. 

133     Poi,  forse  per  dar  luogo  altrui  secondo, 
Che  presso  avea,  disparve  per  lo  fuoco, 
Come  per  V  acqua  pesce  andando  al  fondo. 

136     lo  mi  feci  al  mostrato  innanzi  un  poco, 
E  dissi  ch'  al  suo  nome  il  mio  disire 
Apparecchiava  grazioso  loco. 


Canto  XXVI.]  PURGATORY.  393 

"  Far  he  out-topped  all  those  who  vaunt 
"  Their  verse  of  love,  their  prose  romaunt  ; 

"  The  Limoges  poet's  lays 

"  He  left  for  fools  to  praise. 
"  The  cry  they  heed,  but  not  the  truth, 
"  And  their  opinion  hold  for  sooth, 

"  Before  they  learn  to  know 

"  What  art  and  reason  show. 
"  Many  of  yore  Guittone  praised  : 
"  With  voice  on  voice  his  fame  they  raised, 

"  Until  the  glamour  passed, 

"  And  truth  prevailed  at  last. 
"  Now,  if  such  privilege  be  thine, 
"That  to  f1-c.  cloister  thou  mayest  win, 

"  Unto  the  college,  where 

"  Christ  sits  in  abbot's  chair, 
"Of  paternoster  say  for  me 
"  Far  as  befits  this  world,  where  we 

"  Need  not  'gainst  sin  to  pray, 

"Whose  power  is  ta'en  away." 
Then  giving  place  to  one  who  came 
Behind,  he  vanished  in  the  flame, 

As  fish  through  water  clear 

Sink  down  and  disappear. 
Somewhat  towards  that  shade  I  drew, 
Late  pointed  at,  and  prayed  him  shew 

His  name,  that  to  my  mind 

Would  gracious  entrance  find. 


394  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVI. 

139    Ei  comincio  liberamente  a  dire  : 

Tan  m'  abelis  vostre  cortes  deman, 

Qti   ieu  110-m  puesc,  ni-m  vueil  a  vos  cobrire. 

142    Jeu  sui  Arnaut,  que  plor,  e  vai  cantan ; 
Consiros  vei  la  passada  folor, 
E  vei  jausen  lo  jorn,  qu   esper  denan. 

145    Ara  vos  prec  per  aquella  valor. 

Que  vos  guida  al  soni  de  l'  esealina, 
Sovenhavos  a  temps  de  ma  dolor. 

14S    Poi  s'  ascose  nel  fuoco  che  gli  affina. 


Canto  XXVI.]  PURGATORY.  395 

Then  freely  his  discourse  began  : 
"  M°  abelis  tan  vos  corts  demon, 

"  Q'  jeu  non  mi  piu  disir, 

"  Ni  veuil  a  vos  cobrir. 
"  Jeu  sui  Arnaut,  que  cant  an  vada, 
"  Const r os  la  folor  pas  sad  a  ; 

"  E  vei  lo  jorn  jausen, 

"  Que  jeu  csper  denan. 
"  Vos  prec  per  la  valor,  la  quale 
"  Guida  vos  al  sow  delle  scale, 

"  Sovenhavos  ancor 

"A  temps  de  ma.  dolor." 
And  when  his  speech  was  ended,  then 
He  parted  from  my  sight  again, 

Vanishing  as  he  came 

In  the  refining  flame. 


CANTO   VENTESIMOSETTIMO. 

Si  come  quando  i  primi  raggi  vibra 

La.  dove  il  suo  Fattore  il  sangue  sparse, 
Cadendo  Ibero  sotto  1'  alta  Libra, 

4    E  1'  onde  in  Gange  da  nona  riarse, 

SI  stava  il  Sole ;  onde  il  giorno  sen  giva, 
Quando  1'  Angel  di  Dio  lieto  ci  apparse. 

7    Fuor  della  fiamma  stava  in  sulla  riva, 
E  cantava  :  Beati  mundo  corde, 
In  voce  assai  piu  che  la  nostra  viva. 

io    Poscia :  Piu  non  si  va,  se  pria  non  morde, 
Anime  sante,  il  fuoco :  entrate  in  esso, 
Ed  al  cantar  di  la  non  siate  sorde. 

13    SI  disse,  come  noi  gli  fummo  presso : 

Perch'  io  divenni  tal,  quando  lo  intesi, 
Quale  e  colui  che  nella  fossa  e  messo. 


CANTO    XXVII. 

His  first  rays  quivering  on  the  road, 
There  where  his  Maker  shed  His  blood, 

While  Ebro's  darkened  stream 

Sank  'neath  the  Scales  supreme, 
And  Ganges  in  the  noon-tide  smarted, 
So  stood  the  Sun :  and  day  departed, 

When  with  glad  aspect  bright 

God's  Angel  met  our  sight. 
Outside  the  flame  he  stood  apart  : 
"  Blest  are "  he  sang  "  the  pure  in  heart" 

In  voice  of  livelier  tone 

Than  here  is  ever  known. 
Then  he  went  on  :  "  Above  to  bring  you. 
"  Ye  holy  souls,  the  fire  must  sting  you  : 

"  Pass  in,  nor  let  your  ear 

"  Be  deaf  the  chant  to  hear." 
So,  as  we  drew  us  nigh,  we  heard  : 
And,  when  I  understood  his  word, 

Pale  I  became,  as  though 

Doomed  into  pit  to  go. 


398  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVII. 

1 6    In  sulle  man  commesse  mi  protesi, 

Guardando  il  fuoco,  e  immaginando  forte 
Umani  corpi  gia  veduti  accesi. 

19    Volsersi  verso  me  le  buone  scorte, 
E  Virgilio  mi  disse :  Figliuol  mio, 
Qui  puo  esser  tormento,  ma  non  morte. 

22    Ricordati,  ricordati.  .  .  e,  se  io 

Sovr'  esso  Gerion  ti  guidai  salvo, 
Che  faro  ora  presso  piu  a  Dio  ? 

25    Credi  per  certo  che,  se  dentro  all'  alvo 
Di  questa  fiamma  stessi  ben  mill'  anni, 
Non  ti  potrebbe  far  d'  un  capel  calvo. 

28    E,  se  tu  credi  forse  ch'  io  t'  inganni, 
Fatti  ver  lei,  e  fatti  far  credenza 
Con  le  tue  mani  al  lembo  de'  tuoi  panni. 

31    Pon  giu  omai,  pon  giu  ogni  temenza, 
Volgiti  in  qua,  e  vieni  oltre  sicuro  ; — 
Ed  io  pur  fermo,  e  contro  a  coscienza. 

34    Ouando  mi  vide  star  pur  fermo  e  duro, 
Turbato  un  poco,  disse :  Or  vedi,  figlio, 
Tra  Beatrice  e  te  e  questo  muro. 


Canto  XXVII.]  PURGATORY.  399 

My  hands  I  clasped  and  upward  raught : 
And  as  the  fire  I  marked,  the  thought 

Of  human  bodies  came, 

Erst  seen  consumed  in  flame. 
Towards  me  those  kindly  spirits  made, 
That  with  me  went,  and  Virgil  said  : 

"  Here  torment  there  may  be, 

"  But  never  death  for  thee. 
"Bethink,  bethink  thee,  O  my  son, 
"  If  safely  Geryon's  self  upon 

"  I  kept  thee,  shall  I  here 

"  Fail,  when  to  God  more  near  ? 
"Within  this  flame,  believe  it  sure, 
"  A  thousand  years  though  thou  endure, 

"  Thy  head  it  should  not  scald, 

"Nor  by  one  hair  make  bald. 
"  And  if  thou  thinkest  I  deceive, 
"  Draw  nearer  towards  it,  and  believe 

"  The  witness  of  thy  hand 

"  Upon  thy  raiment's  band. 
"  Henceforth  lay  low  thy  fear,  lay  low. 
"  Turn  thee  and  boldly  onward  go." 

Yet  still  with  hardihood 

My  conscience  I  withstood. 
And  for  that  stubborn  yet  I  stayed, 
Troubled  was  he,  and  "  Son,"  he  said 

"  This  wall  the  barrier  is 

"  'Twixt  thee  and  Beatris." 


4°0  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVII. 

37    Come  al  nome  di  Tisbe  aperse  il  ciglio 
Piramo  in  sulla  morte,  e  riguardolla, 
Allor  che  il  gelso  divent6  vermiglio  ; 

40    Cosl,  la  mia  durezza  fatta  solla, 

Mi  volsi  al  savio  Duca,  udendo  il  nome 
Che  nella  mente  sempre  mi  rampolla. 

43    Ond'  ei  crollo  la  fronte,  e  disse :  Come  ? 
Volemci  star  di  qua  ?  indi  sorrise, 
Come  al  fanciul  si  fa  ch'  e  vinto  al  pome. 

46    Poi  dentro  al  fuoco  innanzi  mi  si  mise, 
Pregando  Stazio  che  venisse  retro, 
Che  pria  per  lunga  strada  ci  divise. 

49    Come  fui  dentro,  in  un  bogliente  vetro 
Gittato  mi  sarei  per  rinfrescarmi, 
Tant'  era  ivi  lo  incendio  senza  metro. 

52  Lo  dolce  Padre  mio,  per  confortarmi, 
Pur  di  Beatrice  ragionando  andava, 
Dicendo :  Gli  occhi  suoi  gia  veder  parmi. 

55     Guidavaci  una  voce  che  cantava 
Di  la ;  e  noi,  attenti  pure  a  lei, 
Venimmo  fuor  la  dove  si  montava. 


Canto  XXVII.] 


PURGATORY.  4°* 


As  dying  Py ramus'  eyes  awoke 
At  Thisbe's  name,  on  her  to  look, 
What  time  the  crimson  dye 
Suffused  the  mulberry, 
So  melting  my  hard  will,  I  neared 
To  my  sage  Leader,  when  I  heard 
The  name,  that  in  my  heart 
From  well-spring  aye  will  start. 
And  then,  with  nodding  of  his  head, 
"Must  we  still  stay  without?"  he  said. 
And  smiled,  as  though  upon 
A  child  with  apple  won. 
Then  foremost  to  the  flame  he  passed, 
And  Statius  at  his  prayer  went  last, 
Who  the  long  while  had  been 
His  feet  and  mine  between. 
But  when  into  the  flame  I  stepped, 
To  molten  glass  I  would  have  leapt. 
To  cool  me,  from  that  heat, 
Beyond  all  measure  great. 
My  Father  sweet,  my  comfort  seeking. 
Of  Beatrice  alone  was  speaking  ; 
"Her  eyes  already  seem 
"On  me"  he  said  "to  beam." 
Then  guided  by  a  voice  we  went 
That  sang  beyond  :  and  all  attent 
We  issued  forth  and  stood 
Before  the  upward  road. 
Dd 


402  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVII. 

58     Venite,  benedicti  pair  is  mei, 

Sono  dentro  ad  un  lume  che  11  era, 
Tal,  che  mi  vinse,  e  guardar  nol  potei. 

61  Lo  Sol  sen  va,  soggiunse,  e  vien  la  sera ; 
Non  v'  arrestate,  ma  studiate  il  passo, 
Mentre  che  1'  occidente  non  s'  annera. 

64    Dritta  salia  la  via  per  entro  il  sasso, 

Verso  tal  parte,  ch'  io  toglieva  i  raggi 
Dinanzi  a  me  del  Sol  ch'  era  gia  basso. 

67    E  di  pochi  scaglion  levammo  i  saggi, 

Che  il  Sol  corcar,  per  1'  ombra  che  si  spense; 
Sentimmo  dietro  ed  io  e  li  miei  saggi. 

70    E  pria  che  in  tutte  le  sue  parti  immense 
Fosse  orizzonte  fatto  d'  un  aspetto, 
E  notte  avesse  tutte  sue  dispense, 

73    Ciascun  di  noi  d'  un  grado  fece  letto ; 
Che  la  natura  del  monte  ci  affranse 
La  possa  del  salir  piu  che  il  diletto. 

76    Quali  si  fanno  ruminando  manse 

Le  capre,  state  rapide  e  proterve 
Sovra  le  cime,  avanti  che  sien  pranse, 


Jf 
Canto  XXVII.]  PURGATORY.  4°3 

"  Come,  blessed  of  my  Father,  cornel" 
Sounded  within  a  light,  wherefrom 

Was  baffled  all  my  power, 

And  I  could  gaze  no  more. 
And  next :  "  The  Sun  is  near  his  end, 
"  And  evening  comes :  do  ye  attend 

"  Upon  your  steps,  nor  stay 

"Until  the  west  be  gray." 
Straight  rose  the  pathway  through  the  rock, 
And  as  I  upward  went,  I  broke 

In  front  of  me  the  shining 

Of  the  Sun  low  declining. 
That  staircase  scarce  had  we  assayed, 
Before  we  saw  the  shadow  fade, 

And  my  wise  Leaders  learned 

The  Sun  to  rest  was  turned. 
And  ere  through  all  his  parts  one  face 
Masked  the  horizon's  boundless  space, 

And  her  full  share  of  heaven 

Unto  the  night  was  given, 
Each  for  his  bed  a  stair  had  found ; 
For  such  the  nature  of  that  mound, 

Our  power  to  rise  was  gone, 

Not  our  delight  alone. 
As  goats,  when  they  have  fed  their  fill, 
That  late  were  wanton  on  the  hill, 

Now  let  their  roaming  cease, 

And  chew  the  cud  in  peace, 
D  d  2 


4-04  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVII. 

79    Tacite  all'  ombra,  mentre  che  il  Sol  ferve, 
Guardate  dal  pastor  che  in  sulla  verga 
Poggiato  s'  e,  e  lor  poggiato  serve ; 

82  E  quale  il  mandrian  che  fuori  alberga, 
Lungo  il  peculio  suo  queto  pernotta, 
Guardando  perche  fiera  non  lo  sperga  ; 

85    Tali  eravamo  tutti  e  tre  allotta, 

lo  come  capra,  ed  ei  come  pastori, 
Fasciati  quinci  e  quindi  d'  alta  grotta. 

88     Poco  potea  parer  li  del  di  fuori ; 

Ma  per  quel  poco  vedev'  io  le  stelle, 
Di  lor  solere  e  piu  chiare  e  maggiori. 

91     SI  ruminando,  e  si  mirando  in  quelle, 

Mi  prese  il  sonno ;  il  sonno  che  sovente, 
Anzi  che  il  fatto  sia,  sa  le  novelle. 

94    Nell'  ora  credo,  che  dell'  oriente 
Prima  raggi6  nel  monte  Citerea, 
Che  di  fuoco  d'  amor  par  sempre  ardente, 

97    Giovane  e  bella  in  sogno  mi  parea 

Donna  vedere  andar  per  una  landa, 
Cogliendo  fiori,  e  cantando  dicea  : 


Canto  XXVII,]  PURGATORY.  405 

While  the  sun  beats,  in  shadow  sleeping, 
Under  their  watchful  herdsman's  keeping, 

That  leans  upon  his  staff, 

And  leaning  keeps  them  safe : 
And  as  the  swain  the  live  night  long 
Is  lodged  his  quiet  flock  among, 

On  guard  lest  unaware 

Wild  beast  shall  chase  and  tear : 
So  in  that  place  all  three  we  lay, 
As  goat  was  I,  as  shepherds  they, 

Held  in  on  either  side, 

By  the  high  rock  entied. 
Small  space  was  there  to  look  without, 
Yet  through  that  space  the  stars  shone  out, 

Beyond  their  wont  to  sight 

Far  larger  and  more  bright. 
So  ruminant,  so  gazing  still, 
Sleep  overcame  me,  sleep  that  will 

Ofttimes  the  future  see 

Before  it  come  to  be. 
And  in  the  hour  when  first,  I  deem, 
Shone  on  the  mount  the  orient  beam 

Of  Venus,  in  whose  rays 

Love's  flame  seems  aye  to  blaze, 
Came  to  my  dreams  a  lady  young 
And  fair,  that  moved  a  plain  along, 

Gathering  flowers  gay, 

And  singing  on  her  way. 
D  d   3 


4°6  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVII. 

ioo    Sappia,  qualunque  il  mio  nome  dimanda, 

Ch'  io  mi  son  Lia,  e  vo  movendo  intorno 
Le  belle  mani  a  farmi  una  ghirlanda. 

103  Per  piacermi  alio  specchio  qui  m'  adorno ; 
Ma  mia  suora  Rachel  mai  non  si  smaga 
Dal  suo  miraglio,  e  siede  tutto  giorno. 

1 06    Ell'  e  de'  suoi  begli  occhi  veder  vaga, 

Com'  io  dell'  adornarmi  con  le  mani  ; 
Lei  lo  vedere,  e  me  1'  ovrare  appaga. 

109    E  gia,  per  gli  splendori  antelucani, 

Che  tanto  ai  peregrin  surgon  piu  grati, 
Quanto  tornando  albergan  men  lontani, 

112    Le  tenebre  fuggian  da  tutti  i  lati, 

E  il  sonno  mio  con  esse  ;  ond'  io  leva'mi, 
Veggendo  i  gran  Maestri  gia  levati. 

115    Quel  dolce  pome,  che  per  tanti  rami 
Cercando  va  la  cura  dei  mortali, 
Oggi  porra  in  pace  le  tue  fami : 

118    Virgilio  inverso  me  queste  cotali 

Parole  us6,  e  mai  non  furo  strenne 
Che  fosser  di  piacere  a  queste  eguali. 


Canto  XXVII.]  PURGATORY.  407 

'  Let  him,'  she  said  '  that  asketh,  know 
'  My  name  is  Leah,  and  I  go, 

'  Plying  my  fingers  fair, 

'  A  garland  to  prepare. 
■  To  deck  myself  it  needeth  me, 
'  Ere  in  the  glass  I  look :  but  she, 

'  My  sister  Rachel  stays, 

c  Content  all  day  to  gaze. 
'  In  her  fair  eyes  she  takes  her  fill, 
'  I  with  my  hands  must  deck  me  still : 

'  Before  the  glass  to  shine 

'  Her  lot,  to  labour  mine.' 
The  lights  that  usher  in  the  dawn, 
Those  lights  to  pilgrims  homeward  drawn 

That  grow  each  day  more  dear, 

As  to  their  goal  they  near, 
Scattered  the  darkness  round  us  shed, 
And  thereat  all  my  slumber  fled  : 

Uprose  I  then  again 

With  my  great  Masters  twain. 
"  That  apple  sweet,  from  bough  to  bough 
"  By  man  so  dearly  sought,  shalt  thou 

"  This  day  possess  in  peace, 

"And  all  thy  hunger  cease." 
As  Virgil  turned  to  me,  I  met 
With  words  like  these :  and  never  yet 

Did  any  gifts  impart 

Such  gladness  to  my  heart. 


408  PURGATORIO.  [Canto  XXVII. 

121    Tanto  voler  sovra  voler  mi  venne 

Dell'  esser  su,  ch'  ad  ogni  passo  poi 
Al  volo  mi  sentia  crescer  le  penne. 

124    Come  la  scala  tutta  sotto  noi 

Fu  corsa,  e  fummo  in  su  il  grado  superno, 
In  me  ficco  Virgilio  gli  occhi  suoi, 

127    E  disse :  II  temporal  fuoco  e  1'  eterno 

Veduto  hai,  figlio,  e  sei  venuto  in  parte 
Dov'  io  per  me  piu  oltre  non  discerno. 

130    Tratto  t'  ho  qui  con  ingegno  e  con  arte; 
Lo  tuo  piacere  omai  prendi  per  duce : 
Fuor  sei  dell'  erte  vie,  fuor  sei  dell'  arte. 

133     Vedi  la  il  Sol  che  in  fronte  ti  riluce  ; 
Vedi  1'  erbetta,  i  fiori  e  gli  arbuscelli, 
Che  qui  la  terra  sol  da  se  produce. 
136    Mentre  che  vegnan  lieti  gli  occhi  belli, 
Che  lagrimando  a  te  venir  mi  fenno, 
Seder  ti  puoi  e  puoi  andar  tra  elli. 


■- 


CntoXXVIL]  PURGATORY.  *°9 

At  every  step  there  seemed  to  grow 
Desire  upon  desire,  as  though 
With  wings  I  were  arrayed, 
My  upward  flight  to  aid. 
When  all  the  stair  we  had  o'errun, 
And  stood  the  topmost  step  upon, 
Then  Virgil  fixedly 
Fastened  his  eyes  on  me: 
«  Now  hast  thou  looked,  my  son,  on  all. 
"The  eternal  flame,  the  temporal: 
"Now  shalt  thou  pass  before, 
"Where  I  can  guide  no  more. 
«  So  far  my  art  hath  led,  my  skill : 
«  Henceforth  take  guidance  from  thy  will  : 
"Now  hast  thou  left  behind 
"  The  steep  road,  the  confined. 
«  Look  on  the  Sun,  resplendent  o'er  thee, 
"The  flowers,  the  trees  that  lie  before  thee, 
«  The  herbage  green,  that  earth 
«  Brings  of  herself  to  birth. 
'<  Till  those  fair  eyes  shall  meet  thee  glad, 
"That  weeping  sent  me  to  thy  aid, 
"  Here  mayest  thou  sit,  or  rove 
«  At  large  about  the  grove. 


4IQ  PURGATORIO.  .[ Canto  XXVII. 

139    Non  aspettar  mio  dir  piu,  ne  mio  cenno : 
Libero,  dritto  e  sano  e  tuo  arbitrio, 
E  fallo  fora  non  fare  a  suo  senno  ; 

142     Perch'  io  te  sovra  te  corono  e  mitrio. 


Canto  XXVII.]  PURGATORY.  41  1 

"  No  longer  on  my  word  -abide, 

"  Nor  look  for  sign  from  me  to  guide : 

"  Now  hast  thou  judgment  found, 

"  Free  and  upright  and  sound. 
"  Henceforth  in  thee  it  were  offence, 
1;  Not  to  be  guided  by  thy  sense  : 

"Now  o'er  thyself  I  set 

"  Mitre  and  coronet." 


Dante  Alighieri 

The  Furgatory  of  Dante 
Alighieri 


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