“Those dulcet lays,” I answer’d, “which, as long Wouldst haply know us, time permits not now
As of our tongue the beauty does not fade,
To tell so much, nor can I. Of myself
Shall make us love the very ink that trac’d them.”
Learn what thou wishest. Guinicelli I,
“Brother!” he cried, and pointed at a shade
Who having truly sorrow’d ere my last,
Before him, “there is one, whose mother speech
Already cleanse me.” With such pious joy,
Doth owe to him a fairer ornament.
As the two sons upon their mother gaz’d
He in love ditties and the tales of prose
From sad Lycurgus rescu’d, such my joy
Without a rival stands, and lets the fools
(Save that I more represt it) when I heard
Talk on, who think the songster of Limoges
From his own lips the name of him pronounc’d,
O’ertops him. Rumour and the popular voice
Who was a father to me, and to those
They look to more than truth, and so confirm
My betters, who have ever us’d the sweet
Opinion, ere by art or reason taught.
And pleasant rhymes of love. So nought I heard
Thus many of the elder time cried up
Nor spake, but long time thoughtfully I went,
Guittone, giving him the prize, till truth
Gazing on him; and, only for the fire,
By strength of numbers vanquish’d. If thou own
Approach’d not nearer. When my eyes were fed
So ample privilege, as to have gain’d
By looking on him, with such solemn pledge,
Free entrance to the cloister, whereof Christ
76
The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Is Abbot of the college, say to him
Where stream’d his Maker’s blood, while Libra hangs One paternoster for me, far as needs
Above Hesperian Ebro, and new fires
For dwellers in this world, where power to sin
Meridian flash on Ganges’ yellow tide.
No longer tempts us.” Haply to make way
So day was sinking, when the’ angel of God
For one, that follow’d next, when that was said,
Appear’d before us. Joy was in his mien.
He vanish’d through the fire, as through the wave
Forth of the flame he stood upon the brink,
A fish, that glances diving to the deep.
And with a voice, whose lively clearness far
I, to the spirit he had shown me, drew
Surpass’d our human, “Blessed are the pure
A little onward, and besought his name,
In heart,” he Sang: then near him as we came,
For which my heart, I said, kept gracious room.
“Go ye not further, holy spirits!” he cried,
He frankly thus began: “Thy courtesy
“Ere the fire pierce you: enter in; and list
So wins on me, I have nor power nor will
Attentive to the song ye hear from thence.”
To hide me. I am Arnault; and with songs,
I, when I heard his saying, was as one
Sorely lamenting for my folly past,
Laid in the grave. My hands together clasp’d,
Thorough this ford of fire I wade, and see
And upward stretching, on the fire I look’d,
The day, I hope for, smiling in my view.
And busy fancy conjur’d up the forms
I pray ye by the worth that guides ye up
Erewhile beheld alive consum’d in flames.
Unto the summit of the scale, in time
Th’ escorting spirits turn’d with gentle looks Remember ye my suff’rings.” With such words
Toward me, and the Mantuan spake: “My son,
He disappear’d in the refining flame.
Here torment thou mayst feel, but canst not death.
Remember thee, remember thee, if I
CANTO XXVII
Safe e’en on Geryon brought thee: now I come
More near to God, wilt thou not trust me now?
Now was the sun so station’d, as when first
Of this be sure: though in its womb that flame
His early radiance quivers on the heights,
A thousand years contain’d thee, from thy head
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory No hair should perish. If thou doubt my truth,
Of Beatrice talk’d. “Her eyes,” saith he,
Approach, and with thy hands thy vesture’s hem
“E’en now I seem to view.” From the other side
Stretch forth, and for thyself confirm belief.
A voice, that sang, did guide us, and the voice
Lay now all fear, O lay all fear aside.
Following, with heedful ear, we issued forth,
Turn hither, and come onward undismay’d.”
There where the path led upward. “Come,” we heard,
I still, though conscience urg’d’ no step advanc’d.
“Come, blessed of my Father.” Such the sounds,
When still he saw me fix’d and obstinate,
That hail’d us from within a light, which shone
Somewhat disturb’d he cried: “Mark now, my son,
So radiant, I could not endure the view.
from Beatrice thou art by this wall
“The sun,” it added, “hastes: and evening comes.
Divided.” As at Thisbe’s name the eye
Delay not: ere the western sky is hung
Of Pyramus was open’d (when life ebb’d
With blackness, strive ye for the pass.” Our way
Fast from his veins), and took one parting glance,
Upright within the rock arose, and fac’d
While vermeil dyed the mulberry; thus I turn’d
Such part of heav’n, that from before my steps
To my sage guide, relenting, when I heard
The beams were shrouded of the sinking sun.
The name, that springs forever in my breast.
Nor many stairs were overpass, when now
He shook his forehead; and, “How long,” he said, By fading of the shadow we perceiv’d
“Linger we now?” then smil’d, as one would smile
The sun behind us couch’d: and ere one face
Upon a child, that eyes the fruit and yields.
Of darkness o’er its measureless expanse
Into the fire before me then he walk’d;
Involv’d th’ horizon, and the night her lot
And Statius, who erewhile no little space
Held individual, each of us had made
Had parted us, he pray’d to come behind.
A stair his pallet: not that will, but power,
I would have cast me into molten glass
Had fail’d us, by the nature of that mount
To cool me, when I enter’d; so intense
Forbidden further travel. As the goats,
Rag’d the conflagrant mass. The sire belov’d,
That late have skipp’d and wanton’d rapidly
To comfort me, as he proceeded, still
Upon the craggy cliffs, ere they had ta’en
78
The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Their supper on the herb, now silent lie
A garland, these fair hands unwearied ply.
And ruminate beneath the umbrage brown,
To please me at the crystal mirror, here
While noonday rages; and the goatherd leans
I deck me. But my sister Rachel, she
Upon his staff, and leaning watches them:
Before her glass abides the livelong day,
And as the swain, that lodges out all night
Her radiant eyes beholding, ch
arm’d no less,
In quiet by his flock, lest beast of prey
Than I with this delightful task. Her joy
Disperse them; even so all three abode,
In contemplation, as in labour mine.”
I as a goat and as the shepherds they,
And now as glimm’ring dawn appear’d, that breaks Close pent on either side by shelving rock.
More welcome to the pilgrim still, as he
A little glimpse of sky was seen above;
Sojourns less distant on his homeward way,
Yet by that little I beheld the stars
Darkness from all sides fled, and with it fled
In magnitude and rustle shining forth
My slumber; whence I rose and saw my guide
With more than wonted glory. As I lay,
Already risen. “That delicious fruit,
Gazing on them, and in that fit of musing,
Which through so many a branch the zealous care
Sleep overcame me, sleep, that bringeth oft
Of mortals roams in quest of, shall this day
Tidings of future hap. About the hour,
Appease thy hunger.” Such the words I heard
As I believe, when Venus from the east
From Virgil’s lip; and never greeting heard
First lighten’d on the mountain, she whose orb
So pleasant as the sounds. Within me straight
Seems always glowing with the fire of love,
Desire so grew upon desire to mount,
A lady young and beautiful, I dream’d,
Thenceforward at each step I felt the wings
Was passing o’er a lea; and, as she came,
Increasing for my flight. When we had run
Methought I saw her ever and anon
O’er all the ladder to its topmost round,
Bending to cull the flowers; and thus she sang:
As there we stood, on me the Mantuan fix’d
“Know ye, whoever of my name would ask,
His eyes, and thus he spake: “Both fires, my son,
That I am Leah: for my brow to weave
The temporal and eternal, thou hast seen,
79
The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory And art arriv’d, where of itself my ken
Delicious odour breath’d. A pleasant air,
No further reaches. I with skill and art
That intermitted never, never veer’d,
Thus far have drawn thee. Now thy pleasure take
Smote on my temples, gently, as a wind
For guide. Thou hast o’ercome the steeper way,
Of softest influence: at which the sprays,
O’ercome the straighter. Lo! the sun, that darts
Obedient all, lean’d trembling to that part
His beam upon thy forehead! lo! the herb,
Where first the holy mountain casts his shade,
The arboreta and flowers, which of itself
Yet were not so disorder’d, but that still
This land pours forth profuse! Till those bright eyes Upon their top the feather’d quiristers
With gladness come, which, weeping, made me haste
Applied their wonted art, and with full joy
To succour thee, thou mayst or seat thee down,
Welcom’d those hours of prime, and warbled shrill
Or wander where thou wilt. Expect no more
Amid the leaves, that to their jocund lays
Sanction of warning voice or sign from me,
inept tenor; even as from branch to branch,
Free of thy own arbitrement to choose,
Along the piney forests on the shore
Discreet, judicious. To distrust thy sense
Of Chiassi, rolls the gath’ring melody,
Were henceforth error. I invest thee then
When Eolus hath from his cavern loos’d
With crown and mitre, sovereign o’er thyself.”
The dripping south. Already had my steps,
Though slow, so far into that ancient wood
CANTO XXVIII
Transported me, I could not ken the place
Where I had enter’d, when behold! my path
Through that celestial forest, whose thick shade
Was bounded by a rill, which to the left
With lively greenness the new-springing day
With little rippling waters bent the grass,
Attemper’d, eager now to roam, and search
That issued from its brink. On earth no wave
Its limits round, forthwith I left the bank,
How clean soe’er, that would not seem to have
Along the champain leisurely my way
Some mixture in itself, compar’d with this,
Pursuing, o’er the ground, that on all sides
Transpicuous, clear; yet darkly on it roll’d,
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Darkly beneath perpetual gloom, which ne’er
Over the yellow and vermilion flowers
Admits or sun or moon light there to shine.
Thus turn’d she at my suit, most maiden-like,
My feet advanc’d not; but my wond’ring eyes
Valing her sober eyes, and came so near,
Pass’d onward, o’er the streamlet, to survey
That I distinctly caught the dulcet sound.
The tender May-bloom, flush’d through many a hue,
Arriving where the limped waters now
In prodigal variety: and there,
Lav’d the green sward, her eyes she deign’d to raise, As object, rising suddenly to view,
That shot such splendour on me, as I ween
That from our bosom every thought beside
Ne’er glanced from Cytherea’s, when her son
With the rare marvel chases, I beheld
Had sped his keenest weapon to her heart.
A lady all alone, who, singing, went,
Upon the opposite bank she stood and smil’d
And culling flower from flower, wherewith her way
through her graceful fingers shifted still
Was all o’er painted. “Lady beautiful!
The intermingling dyes, which without seed
Thou, who (if looks, that use to speak the heart,
That lofty land unbosoms. By the stream
Are worthy of our trust), with love’s own beam
Three paces only were we sunder’d: yet
Dost warm thee,” thus to her my speech I fram’d:
The Hellespont, where Xerxes pass’d it o’er,
“Ah! please thee hither towards the streamlet bend (A curb for ever to the pride of man)
Thy steps so near, that I may list thy song.
Was by Leander not more hateful held
Beholding thee and this fair place, methinks,
For floating, with inhospitable wave
I call to mind where wander’d and how look’d
‘Twixt Sestus and Abydos, than by me
Proserpine, in that season, when her child
That flood, because it gave no passage thence.
The mother lost, and she the bloomy spring.”
“Strangers ye come, and haply in this place,
As when a lady, turning in the dance,
That cradled human nature in its birth,
Doth foot it featly, and advances scarce
Wond’ring, ye not without suspicion view
One step before the other to the ground;
My smiles: but that sweet strain of psalmody,
‘Thou, Lord! hast made me glad,’ will give ye light, 81
The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Which may uncloud your minds. And thou, who stand’st Because the circumambient air throughout
The foremost, and didst make thy suit to me,
With its first impulse circles still, unless
Say if aught else thou wish to hear: for I
Aught interpose to cheek or thwart its course;
Came prompt to answer every doubt of thine.”
Upon the summit, which on every side
She spake; and I replied: “l know not how
To visitation of th’ impassive air
To reconcile this wave and rustling sound
Is open, doth that motion strike, and makes
Of forest leaves, with what I late have heard
Beneath its sway th’ umbrageous wood resound:
Of opposite report.” She answering thus:
And in the shaken plant such power resides,
“I will unfold the cause, whence that proceeds,
That it impregnates with its efficacy
Which makes thee wonder; and so purge the cloud
The voyaging breeze, upon whose subtle plume
That hath enwraps thee. The First Good, whose joy
That wafted flies abroad; and th’ other land
Is only in himself, created man
Receiving (as ‘t is worthy in itself,
For happiness, and gave this goodly place,
Or in the clime, that warms it), doth conceive,
His pledge and earnest of eternal peace.
And from its womb produces many a tree
Favour’d thus highly, through his own defect
Of various virtue. This when thou hast heard,
He fell, and here made short sojourn; he fell,
The marvel ceases, if in yonder earth
And, for the bitterness of sorrow, chang’d
Some plant without apparent seed be found
Laughter unblam’d and ever-new delight.
To fix its fibrous stem. And further learn,
That vapours none, exhal’d from earth beneath,
That with prolific foison of all seeds,
Or from the waters (which, wherever heat
This holy plain is fill’d, and in itself
Attracts them, follow), might ascend thus far
Bears fruit that ne’er was pluck’d on other soil.
To vex man’s peaceful state, this mountain rose
“The water, thou behold’st, springs not from vein,
So high toward the heav’n, nor fears the rage
As stream, that intermittently repairs
0f elements contending, from that part
And spends his pulse of life, but issues forth
Exempted, where the gate his limit bars.
From fountain, solid, undecaying, sure;
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory And by the will omnific, full supply
Singing, as if enamour’d, she resum’d
Feeds whatsoe’er On either side it pours;
And clos’d the song, with “Blessed they whose sins
On this devolv’d with power to take away
Are cover’d.” Like the wood-nymphs then, that tripp’d Remembrance of offence, on that to bring