s: Shone out.  "Why partest from me, O my strength?"


s: My o'ertoil'd sinews slacken.  We had reach'd


s: The summit, and were fix'd like to a bark


s: Arriv'd at land.  And waiting a short space,


s: If aught should meet mine ear in that new round,


s: Then to my guide I turn'd, and said: "Lov'd sire!


s: Declare what guilt is on this circle purg'd.


s: If our feet rest, no need thy speech should pause."


s: He thus to me:  "The love of good, whate'er


s: Wanted of just proportion, here fulfils.


s: Here plies afresh the oar, that loiter'd ill.


s: But that thou mayst yet clearlier understand,


s: Give ear unto my words, and thou shalt cull


s: Some fruit may please thee well, from this delay.


s: My son," he thus began, "was without love,


s: Or natural, or the free spirit's growth.


s: Thou hast not that to learn.  The natural still


s: Is without error; but the other swerves,


s: If on ill object bent, or through excess


s: Of vigour, or defect.  While e'er it seeks


s: The primal blessings, or with measure due


s: Th' inferior, no delight, that flows from it,


s: Partakes of ill.  But let it warp to evil,


s: Or with more ardour than behooves, or less.


s: Works 'gainst its Maker.  Hence thou must infer


s: That love is germin of each virtue in ye,


s: And of each act no less, that merits pain.


s: Now since it may not be, but love intend


s: The welfare mainly of the thing it loves,


s: All from self-hatred are secure; and since


s: Of equal force restrains from hating that.


s: "Grant the distinction just; and it remains


s: The' evil must be another's, which is lov'd.


s: Three ways such love is gender'd in your clay.


s: There is who hopes (his neighbour's worth deprest,)


s: For his own greatness that another fall.


s: There is who so much fears the loss of power,


s: Fame, favour, glory (should his fellow mount


s: Above him), and so sickens at the thought,


s: He loves their opposite: and there is he,


s: Whom wrong or insult seems to gall and shame


s: That he doth thirst for vengeance, and such needs


s: Must doat on other's evil.  Here beneath


s: This threefold love is mourn'd.  Of th' other sort


s: Be now instructed, that which follows good


s: But with disorder'd and irregular course.


s: On which the soul may rest, the hearts of all


s: Yearn after it, and to that wished bourn


s: All therefore strive to tend.  If ye behold


s: There is, where man finds not his happiness:


s: Essence, of every good the branch and root.


s: Along three circles over us, is mourn'd.


s: Expect not, fitter for thine own research.


s: The teacher ended, and his high discourse


s: Concluding, earnest in my looks inquir'd


s: If I appear'd content; and I, whom still


s: Unsated thirst to hear him urg'd, was mute,


s: "Perchance my too much questioning offends


s: But he, true father, mark'd the secret wish


s: By diffidence restrain'd, and speaking, gave


s: Me boldness thus to speak: "Master, my Sight


s: Gathers so lively virtue from thy beams,


s: That all, thy words convey, distinct is seen.


s: Wherefore I pray thee, father, whom this heart


s: Holds dearest!  thou wouldst deign by proof t' unfold


s: That love, from which as from their source thou bring'st


s: All good deeds and their opposite."  He then:


s: "To what I now disclose be thy clear ken


s: How much those blind have err'd, who make themselves


s: The guides of men.  The soul, created apt


s: To love, moves versatile which way soe'er


s: Aught pleasing prompts her, soon as she is wak'd


s: By pleasure into act.  Of substance true


s: Your apprehension forms its counterfeit,


s: Attracts the soul's regard.  If she, thus drawn,


s: incline toward it, love is that inclining,


s: And a new nature knit by pleasure in ye.


s: Then as the fire points up, and mounting seeks


s: His birth-place and his lasting seat, e'en thus


s: Which is a spiritual motion, that ne'er rests


s: Enough to show thee, how the truth from those


s: Praise-worthy in itself: although perhaps


s: Its substance seem still good.  Yet if the wax


s: Be good, it follows not th' impression must."


s: "What love is," I return'd, "thy words, O guide!


s: And my own docile mind, reveal.  Yet thence


s: New doubts have sprung.  For from without if love


s: No other footing, tend she right or wrong,


s: Is no desert of hers."  He answering thus:


s: "What reason here discovers I have power


s: To show thee: that which lies beyond, expect


s: Spirit, substantial form, with matter join'd


s: Which is not felt except it work, nor prov'd


s: By the green leaf.  From whence his intellect


s: Man therefore knows not, or his appetites


s: Their first affections; such in you, as zeal


s: Volition, meriting nor blame nor praise.


s: That as she list are summon'd to her bar,


s: Ye have that virtue in you, whose just voice


s: Uttereth counsel, and whose word should keep


s: The threshold of assent.  Here is the source,


s: Whence cause of merit in you is deriv'd,


s: E'en as the affections good or ill she takes,


s: Or severs, winnow'd as the chaff.  Those men


s: Who reas'ning went to depth profoundest, mark'd


s: That innate freedom, and were thence induc'd


s: To leave their moral teaching to the world.


s: All love that glows within you; to dismiss


s: Or harbour it, the pow'r is in yourselves.


s: She touch upon that theme."  The moon, well nigh


s: To midnight hour belated, made the stars


s: Appear to wink and fade; and her broad disk


s: Seem'd like a crag on fire, as up the vault


s: That course she journey'd, which the sun then warms,


s: When they of Rome behold him at his set.


s: And now the weight, that hung upon my thought,


s: Was lighten'd by the aid of that clear spirit,


s: I therefore, when my questions had obtain'd


s: Rush'd on.  With fury and like random rout,


s: As echoing on their shores at midnight heard


s: If Bacchus' help were needed; so came these


s: Tumultuous, curving each his rapid step,


s: Soon they o'ertook us; with such swiftness mov'd


s: The mighty crowd.  Two spirits at their head


s: Cried weeping; "Blessed Mary sought with haste


s: And flew to Spain."--"Oh tarry not: away;"


s: The others shouted; "let not time be lost


s: Through slackness of affection.  Hearty zeal


s: Haply supplies, where lukewarm erst ye fail'd,


s: Slow or neglectful, to absolve your part


s: Of good and virtuous, this man, who yet lives,


s: (Credit my tale, though strange) desires t' ascend,


s: So morning rise to light us.  Therefore say


s: Which hand leads nearest to the rifted rock?"


s: So spake my guide, to whom a shade return'd:


s: "Come after us, and thou shalt find the cleft.


s: Speeds our unwearied course.  Vouchsafe us then


s: That name, ne'er utter'd without tears in Milan.


s: And there is he, hath one foot in his grave,


s: Who for that monastery ere long shall weep,


s: Ruing his power misus'd: for that his son,


s: Of its true pastor."  Whether more he spake,


s: Or here was mute, I know not: he had sped


s: E'en now so far beyond us.  Yet thus much


s: I heard, and in rememb'rance treasur'd it.


s: He then, who never fail'd me at my need,


s: Cried, "Hither turn.  Lo!  two with sharp remorse


s: Chiding their sin!"  In rear of all the troop


s: These shouted:  "First they died, to whom the sea


s: Endur'd not suffering, for their portion chose


s: Life without glory."  Soon as they had fled


s: Past reach of sight, new thought within me rose


s: By others follow'd fast, and each unlike


s: Its fellow: till led on from thought to thought,


s: And pleasur'd with the fleeting train, mine eye


s: Was clos'd, and meditation chang'd to dream.


s: No reliques chafe the cold beams of the moon,


s: Where gray dawn checkers first the shadowy cone;


s: When 'fore me in my dream a woman's shape


s: There came, with lips that stammer'd, eyes aslant,


s: Distorted feet, hands maim'd, and colour pale.


s: I look'd upon her; and as sunshine cheers


s: Limbs numb'd by nightly cold, e'en thus my look


s: Unloos'd her tongue, next in brief space her form


s: With love's own hue illum'd. Recov'ring speech


s: She forthwith warbling such a strain began,


s: That I, how loth soe'er, could scarce have held


s: Attention from the song.  "I," thus she sang,


s: On the wide sea are wilder'd when they hear:


s: Such fulness of delight the list'ner feels.


s: Enchanted drew.  Whoe'er frequents me once


s: Parts seldom; so I charm him, and his heart


s: Contented knows no void."  Or ere her mouth


s: Was clos'd, to shame her at her side appear'd


s: A dame of semblance holy.  With stern voice


s: She utter'd; "Say, O Virgil, who is this?"


s: Which hearing, he approach'd, with eyes still bent


s: Toward that goodly presence: th' other seiz'd her,


s: And, her robes tearing, open'd her before,


s: And show'd the belly to me, whence a smell,


s: Exhaling loathsome, wak'd me.  Round I turn'd


s: Mine eyes, and thus the teacher:  "At the least


s: Three times my voice hath call'd thee.  Rise, begone.


s: Let us the opening find where thou mayst pass."


s: I straightway rose.  Now day, pour'd down from high,


s: Fill'd all the circuits of the sacred mount;


s: And, as we journey'd, on our shoulder smote


s: The early ray.  I follow'd, stooping low


s: My forehead, as a man, o'ercharg'd with thought,


s: Who bends him to the likeness of an arch,


s: That midway spans the flood; when thus I heard,


s: "Come, enter here," in tone so soft and mild,


s: With swan-like wings dispread and pointing up,


s: The sloping, walls retir'd; then mov'd his plumes,


s: And fanning us, affirm'd that those, who mourn,


s: Are blessed, for that comfort shall be theirs.


s: "What aileth thee, that still thou look'st to earth?"


s: Began my leader; while th' angelic shape


s: "New vision," I replied, "hath rais'd in me


s: Or room or entrance.--"Hast thou seen," said he,


s: "That old enchantress, her, whose wiles alone


s: The spirits o'er us weep for?  Hast thou seen


s: How man may free him of her bonds?  Enough.


s: Let thy heels spurn the earth, and thy rais'd ken


s: Fix on the lure, which heav'n's eternal King


s: Whirls in the rolling spheres."  As on his feet


s: The falcon first looks down, then to the sky


s: Turns, and forth stretches eager for the food,


s: That woos him thither; so the call I heard,


s: Gave way, I journey'd, till the plain was reach'd.


s: On the fifth circle when I stood at large,


s: A race appear'd before me, on the ground


s: All downward lying prone and weeping sore.


s: "My soul hath cleaved to the dust," I heard


s: With sighs so deep, they well nigh choak'd the words.


s: Tow'rds the steep rising our uncertain way."


s: "If ye approach secure from this our doom,


s: Prostration--and would urge your course with speed,


s: See that ye still to rightward keep the brink."


s: So them the bard besought; and such the words,


s: Beyond us some short space, in answer came.


s: I noted what remain'd yet hidden from them:


s: Thence to my liege's eyes mine eyes I bent,


s: And he, forthwith interpreting their suit,


s: Beckon'd his glad assent. Free then to act,


s: As pleas'd me, I drew near, and took my stand


s: O`er that shade, whose words I late had mark'd.


s: And, "Spirit!"  I said, "in whom repentant tears


s: Mature that blessed hour, when thou with God


s: Shalt find acceptance, for a while suspend


s: For me that mightier care.  Say who thou wast,


s: Why thus ye grovel on your bellies prone,


s: And if in aught ye wish my service there,


s: Whence living I am come."  He answering spake


s: "The cause why Heav'n our back toward his cope


s: Reverses, shalt thou know: but me know first


s: And title of my lineage from that stream,


s: His limpid waters through the lowly glen.


s: A month and little more by proof I learnt,


s: With what a weight that robe of sov'reignty


s: Upon his shoulder rests, who from the mire


s: Would guard it: that each other fardel seems


s: But feathers in the balance.  Late, alas!


s: Rome's pastor, I discern'd at once the dream


s: And cozenage of life, saw that the heart


s: Rested not there, and yet no prouder height


s: Lur'd on the climber: wherefore, of that life


s: From God, and covetous of all earthly things;


s: Now, as thou seest, here punish'd for my doting.


s: Such cleansing from the taint of avarice


s: Do spirits converted need.  This mount inflicts


s: Fasten'd below, nor e'er to loftier clime


s: Were lifted, thus hath justice level'd us


s: Here on the earth.  As avarice quench'd our love


s: Of good, without which is no working, thus


s: Here justice holds us prison'd, hand and foot


s: Chain'd down and bound, while heaven's just Lord shall please.


s: So long to tarry motionless outstretch'd."


s: My knees I stoop'd, and would have spoke; but he,


s: I did him reverence; and "What cause," said he,


s: "Hath bow'd thee thus!"--" Compunction," I rejoin'd.


s: "Up," he exclaim'd, "brother!  upon thy feet


s: (Thine and all others') of one Sovran Power.


s: If thou hast ever mark'd those holy sounds


s: Of gospel truth, 'nor shall be given ill marriage,'


s: Thou mayst discern the reasons of my speech.


s: Go thy ways now; and linger here no more.


s: With which I hasten that whereof thou spak'st.


s: Ill strives the will, 'gainst will more wise that strives


s: His pleasure therefore to mine own preferr'd,


s: I drew the sponge yet thirsty from the wave.


s: Who led me, coasting still, wherever place


s: Walks near the battlements on narrow wall.


s: For those on th' other part, who drop by drop


s: Too closely press the verge.  Accurst be thou!


s: Inveterate wolf!  whose gorge ingluts more prey,


s: Than every beast beside, yet is not fill'd!


s: So bottomless thy maw!  --Ye spheres of heaven!


s: To whom there are, as seems, who attribute


s: All change in mortal state, when is the day


s: Of his appearing, for whom fate reserves


s: To chase her hence?  --With wary steps and slow


s: We pass'd; and I attentive to the shades,


s: And, 'midst the wailing, one before us heard


s: In the sharp pangs of childbed; and "How poor


s: Thou wast," it added, "witness that low roof


s: Where thou didst lay thy sacred burden down.


s: O good Fabricius!  thou didst virtue choose


s: With poverty, before great wealth with vice."


s: The words so pleas'd me, that desire to know


s: The spirit, from whose lip they seem'd to come,


s: Did draw me onward.  Yet it spake the gift


s: Bounteous bestow'd, to save their youthful prime


s: Unblemish'd.  "Spirit!  who dost speak of deeds


s: So worthy, tell me who thou was," I said,


s: "And why thou dost with single voice renew


s: Memorial of such praise. That boon vouchsaf'd


s: Still speeding to its close on restless wing."


s: "I," answer'd he, "will tell thee, not for hell,


s: Which thence I look for; but that in thyself


s: Grace so exceeding shines, before thy time


s: Of that ill plant, whose shade such poison sheds


s: O'er all the Christian land, that seldom thence


s: Good fruit is gather'd.  Vengeance soon should come,


s: Had Ghent and Douay, Lille and Bruges power;


s: And vengeance I of heav'n's great Judge implore.


s: The Philips and the Louis, of whom France


s: Newly is govern'd; born of one, who ply'd


s: The slaughterer's trade at Paris.  When the race


s: Of ancient kings had vanish'd (all save one


s: Wrapt up in sable weeds) within my gripe


s: I found the reins of empire, and such powers


s: Of new acquirement, with full store of friends,


s: That soon the widow'd circlet of the crown


s: He, from whose bones th' anointed race begins.


s: Till the great dower of Provence had remov'd


s: The stains, that yet obscur'd our lowly blood,


s: It wrought no evil: there, with force and lies,


s: Young Conradine an innocent victim slew,


s: And sent th' angelic teacher back to heav'n,


s: Still for amends.  I see the time at hand,


s: That forth from France invites another Charles


s: To make himself and kindred better known.


s: Unarm'd he issues, saving with that lance,


s: Which the arch-traitor tilted with; and that


s: He carries with so home a thrust, as rives


s: The bowels of poor Florence.  No increase


s: Shall be his guerdon, and so much the more


s: As he more lightly deems of such foul wrong.


s: Had steps on shore, exposing to the mart


s: His daughter, whom he bargains for, as do


s: The Corsairs for their slaves.  O avarice!


s: What canst thou more, who hast subdued our blood


s: Of their own flesh?  To hide with direr guilt


s: Past ill and future, lo!  the flower-de-luce


s: And he 'twixt living robbers doom'd to bleed!


s: Such violence cannot fill the measure up,


s: To see the vengeance, which thy wrath well-pleas'd


s: In secret silence broods?--While daylight lasts,


s: So long what thou didst hear of her, sole spouse


s: Of the Great Spirit, and on which thou turn'dst


s: Of all our prayers: but when it darkens, then


s: A different strain we utter, then record


s: Pygmalion, whom his gluttonous thirst of gold


s: Made traitor, robber, parricide: the woes


s: Mark'd for derision to all future times:


s: And the fond Achan, how he stole the prey,


s: That yet he seems by Joshua's ire pursued.


s: Sapphira with her husband next, we blame;


s: And praise the forefeet, that with furious ramp


s: Spurn'd Heliodorus.  All the mountain round


s: Rings with the infamy of Thracia's king,


s: Who slew his Phrygian charge: and last a shout


s: Ascends:  "Declare, O Crassus!  for thou know'st,


s: The flavour of thy gold."  The voice of each


s: Now high now low, as each his impulse prompts,


s: Is led through many a pitch, acute or grave.


s: Therefore, not singly, I erewhile rehears'd


s: But near me none beside his accent rais'd."


s: With utmost efforts to surmount the way,


s: When I did feel, as nodding to its fall,


s: The mountain tremble; whence an icy chill


s: Seiz'd on me, as on one to death convey'd.


s: Couch'd to bring forth the twin-born eyes of heaven.


s: Drew near, and cried: "Doubt not, while I conduct thee."


s: "Glory!" all shouted (such the sounds mine ear


s: Gather'd from those, who near me swell'd the sounds)


s: "Glory in the highest be to God."  We stood


s: The shepherds, who first heard in Bethlehem's field


s: That song: till ceas'd the trembling, and the song


s: Was ended: then our hallow'd path resum'd,


s: Eying the prostrate shadows, who renew'd


s: Their custom'd mourning.  Never in my breast


s: As in that moment; nor through haste dar'd I


s: To question, nor myself could aught discern,


s: So on I far'd in thoughtfulness and dread.


s: The natural thirst, ne'er quench'd but from the well,


s: After my guide, impell'd; and pity mov'd


s: My bosom for the 'vengeful deed, though just.


s: When lo!  even as Luke relates, that Christ


s: A shade appear'd, and after us approach'd,


s: Contemplating the crowd beneath its feet.


s: We were not ware of it; so first it spake,


s: Saying, "God give you peace, my brethren!" then


s: Sudden we turn'd: and Virgil such salute,


s: As fitted that kind greeting, gave, and cried:


s: "Peace in the blessed council be thy lot


s: Awarded by that righteous court, which me


s: "How!" he exclaim'd, nor from his speed meanwhile


s: Desisting, "If that ye be spirits, whom God


s: Vouchsafes not room above, who up the height


s: Has been thus far your guide?"  To whom the bard:


s: "If thou observe the tokens, which this man


s: Trac'd by the finger of the angel bears,


s: 'Tis plain that in the kingdom of the just


s: He needs must share.  But sithence she, whose wheel


s: Spins day and night, for him not yet had drawn


s: That yarn, which, on the fatal distaff pil'd,


s: Clotho apportions to each wight that breathes,


s: His soul, that sister is to mine and thine,


s: Not of herself could mount, for not like ours


s: Her ken: whence I, from forth the ample gulf


s: Of hell was ta'en, to lead him, and will lead


s: Far as my lore avails.  But, if thou know,


s: Instruct us for what cause, the mount erewhile


s: Thus shook and trembled: wherefore all at once


s: Seem'd shouting, even from his wave-wash'd foot."


s: That questioning so tallied with my wish,


s: The thirst did feel abatement of its edge


s: E'en from expectance.  He forthwith replied,


s: This mount can witness, or by punctual rule


s: Unsanction'd; here from every change exempt.


s: Can reach us.  Tempest none, shower, hail or snow,


s: Hoar frost or dewy moistness, higher falls


s: Than that brief scale of threefold steps: thick clouds


s: Nor scudding rack are ever seen: swift glance


s: Ne'er lightens, nor Thaumantian Iris gleams,


s: That yonder often shift on each side heav'n.


s: The highest of the trinal stairs, whereon


s: Peter's vicegerent stands.  Lower perchance,


s: With various motion rock'd, trembles the soil:


s: But here, through wind in earth's deep hollow pent,


s: I know not how, yet never trembled: then


s: For rising, and such loud acclaim ensues.


s: Desire of bliss is present from the first;


s: But strong propension hinders, to that wish


s: By the just ordinance of heav'n oppos'd;


s: Th' allotted torment, as erewhile to sin.


s: Five hundred years and more, but now have felt


s: Free wish for happier clime.  Therefore thou felt'st


s: The mountain tremble, and the spirits devout


s: Heard'st, over all his limits, utter praise


s: To that liege Lord, whom I entreat their joy


s: To hasten."  Thus he spake: and since the draught


s: No words may speak my fullness of content.


s: "Now," said the instructor sage, "I see the net


s: That takes ye here, and how the toils are loos'd,


s: Why rocks the mountain and why ye rejoice.


s: Vouchsafe, that from thy lips I next may learn,


s: Who on the earth thou wast, and wherefore here


s: So many an age wert prostrate." --"In that time,


s: When the good Titus, with Heav'n's King to help,


s: Aveng'd those piteous gashes, whence the blood


s: Most lasting and most honour'd there was I


s: Abundantly renown'd," the shade reply'd,


s: "Not yet with faith endued.  So passing sweet


s: Statius they name me still.  Of Thebes I sang,


s: And next of great Achilles: but i' th' way


s: Fell with the second burthen.  Of my flame


s: Those sparkles were the seeds, which I deriv'd


s: From the bright fountain of celestial fire


s: That feeds unnumber'd lamps, the song I mean


s: Which sounds Aeneas' wand'rings: that the breast


s: I hung at, that the nurse, from whom my veins


s: The Mantuan, when he heard him, turn'd to me,


s: Enjoin'd me silence but the power which wills,


s: Bears not supreme control: laughter and tears


s: Follow so closely on the passion prompts them,


s: They wait not for the motions of the will


s: In natures most sincere.  I did but smile,


s: As one who winks; and thereupon the shade


s: Broke off, and peer'd into mine eyes, where best


s: Mayst thou conduct such great emprize," he cried,


s: "Say, why across thy visage beam'd, but now,


s: The lightning of a smile!"  On either part


s: Now am I straiten'd; one conjures me speak,


s: Th' other to silence binds me: whence a sigh


s: I utter, and the sigh is heard.  "Speak on; "


s: The teacher cried;  "and do not fear to speak,


s: But tell him what so earnestly he asks."


s: Whereon I thus:  "Perchance, O ancient spirit!


s: Thou marvel'st at my smiling. There is room


s: For yet more wonder.  He who guides my ken


s: On high, he is that Mantuan, led by whom


s: Thou didst presume of men arid gods to sing.


s: If other cause thou deem'dst for which I smil'd,


s: Leave it as not the true one; and believe


s: Those words, thou spak'st of him, indeed the cause."


s: Now down he bent t' embrace my teacher's feet;


s: But he forbade him:  "Brother!  do it not:


s: Thou art a shadow, and behold'st a shade."


s: He rising answer'd thus:  "Now hast thou prov'd


s: The force and ardour of the love I bear thee,


s: And as a substance treat an empty shade."


s: Now we had left the angel, who had turn'd


s: One gash from off my forehead raz'd: while they,


s: Whose wishes tend to justice, shouted forth:


s: "Blessed!"  and ended with, "I thirst:" and I,


s: More nimble than along the other straits,


s: So journey'd, that, without the sense of toil,


s: I follow'd upward the swift-footed shades;


s: When Virgil thus began:  "Let its pure flame


s: From virtue flow, and love can never fail


s: Shine manifestly forth.  Hence from that hour,


s: When 'mongst us in the purlieus of the deep,


s: Who told of thine affection, my good will


s: Therefore these stairs will now seem short to me.


s: The rein with a friend's license, as a friend


s: Forgive me, and speak now as with a friend:


s: How chanc'd it covetous desire could find


s: Place in that bosom, 'midst such ample store


s: Of wisdom, as thy zeal had treasur'd there?"


s: First somewhat mov'd to laughter by his words,


s: Statius replied: "Each syllable of thine


s: Is a dear pledge of love.  Things oft appear


s: That minister false matters to our doubts,


s: When their true causes are remov'd from sight.


s: Thy question doth assure me, thou believ'st


s: Because thou found'st me in that circle plac'd.


s: And e'en for that excess, thousands of moons


s: Have wax'd and wan'd upon my sufferings.


s: And were it not that I with heedful care


s: Noted where thou exclaim'st as if in ire


s: With human nature, 'Why, thou cursed thirst


s: Of gold!  dost not with juster measure guide


s: The fierce encounter of the voluble rock.


s: Then was I ware that with too ample wing


s: The hands may haste to lavishment, and turn'd,


s: In penitence.  How many from their grave


s: Shall with shorn locks arise, who living, aye


s: And at life's last extreme, of this offence,


s: Through ignorance, did not repent.  And know,


s: The fault which lies direct from any sin


s: Wastes its green rankness on one common heap.


s: Therefore if I have been with those, who wail


s: Their avarice, to cleanse me, through reverse


s: Of their transgression, such hath been my lot."


s: To whom the sovran of the pastoral song:


s: "While thou didst sing that cruel warfare wag'd


s: From thy discourse with Clio there, it seems


s: As faith had not been shine: without the which


s: Good deeds suffice not.  And if so, what sun


s: Rose on thee, or what candle pierc'd the dark


s: That thou didst after see to hoist the sail,


s: And follow, where the fisherman had led?"


s: He answering thus: "By thee conducted first,


s: I enter'd the Parnassian grots, and quaff'd


s: Of the clear spring; illumin'd first by thee


s: Open'd mine eyes to God.  Thou didst, as one,


s: Who, journeying through the darkness, hears a light


s: Behind, that profits not himself, but makes


s: His followers wise, when thou exclaimedst, 'Lo!


s: That thou mayst mark more clearly what I trace,


s: My hand shall stretch forth to inform the lines


s: With livelier colouring.  Soon o'er all the world,


s: By messengers from heav'n, the true belief


s: Teem'd now prolific, and that word of thine


s: Accordant, to the new instructors chim'd.


s: Pursuing them, I mix'd my tears with theirs,


s: And, while on earth I stay'd, still succour'd them;


s: And their most righteous customs made me scorn


s: All sects besides.  Before I led the Greeks


s: In tuneful fiction, to the streams of Thebes,


s: I was baptiz'd; but secretly, through fear,


s: Remain'd a Christian, and conform'd long time


s: To Pagan rites.  Five centuries and more,


s: T for that lukewarmness was fain to pace


s: Round the fourth circle.  Thou then, who hast rais'd


s: The covering, which did hide such blessing from me,


s: Whilst much of this ascent is yet to climb,


s: Say, if thou know, where our old Terence bides,


s: They dwell, and in what province of the deep."


s: "These," said my guide, "with Persius and myself,


s: And others many more, are with that Greek,


s: Of mortals, the most cherish'd by the Nine,


s: In the first ward of darkness.  There ofttimes


s: We of that mount hold converse, on whose top


s: For aye our nurses live.  We have the bard


s: And blind Tiresias' daughter, and the bride


s: Or the steep walls obstructed, round them cast


s: Inquiring eyes.  Four handmaids of the day


s: Had finish'd now their office, and the fifth


s: Was at the chariot-beam, directing still


s: Its balmy point aloof, when thus my guide:


s: "Methinks, it well behooves us to the brink


s: Bend the right shoulder' circuiting the mount,


s: Was usher to the road, the which we chose


s: Less doubtful, as that worthy shade complied.


s: List'ning their speech, that to my thoughts convey'd


s: But soon they ceas'd; for midway of the road


s: A tree we found, with goodly fruitage hung,


s: Upward from bough to bough less ample spreads,


s: So downward this less ample spread, that none.


s: Methinks, aloft may climb.  Upon the side,


s: That clos'd our path, a liquid crystal fell


s: From the steep rock, and through the sprays above


s: Stream'd showering.  With associate step the bards


s: Drew near the plant; and from amidst the leaves


s: A voice was heard:  "Ye shall be chary of me;"


s: And after added: "Mary took more thought


s: For joy and honour of the nuptial feast,


s: Than for herself who answers now for you.


s: With water for their beverage.  Daniel fed


s: On pulse, and wisdom gain'd.  The primal age


s: Made acorns tasteful, thirst each rivulet


s: Run nectar.  Honey and locusts were the food,


s: And greatness, which the' Evangelist records."


s: On the green leaf mine eyes were fix'd, like his


s: The more than father warn me: "Son!  our time


s: Asks thriftier using.  Linger not: away."


s: Thereat my face and steps at once I turn'd


s: Toward the sages, by whose converse cheer'd


s: I journey'd on, and felt no toil: and lo!


s: A sound of weeping and a song: "My lips,


s: O Lord!" and these so mingled, it gave birth


s: To pleasure and to pain.  "O Sire, belov'd!


s: Say what is this I hear?"  Thus I inquir'd.


s: "Spirits," said he, "who as they go, perchance,


s: Their debt of duty pay."  As on their road


s: The thoughtful pilgrims, overtaking some


s: Not known unto them, turn to them, and look,


s: But stay not; thus, approaching from behind


s: With speedier motion, eyed us, as they pass'd,


s: The eyes of each were dark and hollow: pale


s: Their visage, and so lean withal, the bones


s: Stood staring thro' the skin.  I do not think


s: When pinc'ed by sharp-set famine to the quick.


s: "Lo!" to myself I mus'd, "the race, who lost


s: Prey'd on her child."  The sockets seem'd as rings,


s: From which the gems were drops.  Who reads the name


s: Had trac'd most plainly.  Who would deem, that scent


s: Of water and an apple, could have prov'd


s: Not knowing how it wrought?  While now I stood


s: Wond'ring what thus could waste them (for the cause


s: Of their gaunt hollowness and scaly rind


s: Appear'd not) lo!  a spirit turn'd his eyes


s: In their deep-sunken cell, and fasten'd then


s: "What grace is this vouchsaf'd me?"  By his looks


s: I ne'er had recogniz'd him: but the voice


s: Brought to my knowledge what his cheer conceal'd.


s: Was kindled from that spark; and I agniz'd


s: This wan and leprous wither'd skin," thus he


s: Suppliant implor'd, "this macerated flesh.


s: Are those twain spirits, that escort thee there?


s: Be it not said thou Scorn'st to talk with me."


s: "That face of thine," I answer'd him, "which dead


s: For weeping, when I see It thus transform'd.


s: Say then, by Heav'n, what blasts ye thus?  The whilst


s: I wonder, ask not Speech from me:  unapt


s: Is he to speak, whom other will employs.


s: He thus:  "The water and tee plant we pass'd,


s: Infus'd, the which so pines me.  Every spirit,


s: Whose song bewails his gluttony indulg'd


s: Too grossly, here in hunger and in thirst


s: Is purified.  The odour, which the fruit,


s: And spray, that showers upon the verdure, breathe,


s: Inflames us with desire to feed and drink.


s: Pain, said I?  solace rather: for that will


s: To the tree leads us, by which Christ was led


s: Our ransom from his vein."  I answering thus:


s: "Forese!  from that day, in which the world


s: For better life thou changedst, not five years


s: Have circled.  If the power of sinning more


s: Were first concluded in thee, ere thou knew'st


s: To God, how hither art thou come so soon?


s: I thought to find thee lower, there, where time


s: Is recompense for time."  He straight replied:


s: "To drink up the sweet wormwood of affliction


s: I have been brought thus early by the tears


s: Stream'd down my Nella's cheeks.  Her prayers devout,


s: Her sighs have drawn me from the coast, where oft


s: Expectance lingers, and have set me free


s: From th' other circles.  In the sight of God


s: She whom I lov'd so fondly, as she ranks


s: The tract most barb'rous of Sardinia's isle,


s: Hath dames more chaste and modester by far


s: Than that wherein I left her.  O sweet brother!


s: What wouldst thou have me say?  A time to come


s: Stands full within my view, to which this hour


s: Shall not be counted of an ancient date,


s: When from the pulpit shall be loudly warn'd


s: Th' unblushing dames of Florence, lest they bare


s: What savage women hath the world e'er seen,


s: What Saracens, for whom there needed scourge


s: To force them walk with cov'ring on their limbs!


s: But did they see, the shameless ones, that Heav'n


s: Wafts on swift wing toward them, while I speak,


s: Their mouths were op'd for howling: they shall taste


s: Of Borrow (unless foresight cheat me here)


s: Or ere the cheek of him be cloth'd with down


s: Ah!  now, my brother, hide thyself no more,


s: Gaze, where thou veil'st the intercepted sun."


s: Whence I replied: "If thou recall to mind


s: Remembrance of those days may grieve thee sore.


s: That I forsook that life, was due to him


s: Who there precedes me, some few evenings past,


s: When she was round, who shines with sister lamp


s: To his, that glisters yonder," and I show'd


s: The sun.  "Tis he, who through profoundest night


s: Of he true dead has brought me, with this flesh


s: As true, that follows.  From that gloom the aid


s: Of his sure comfort drew me on to climb,


s: And climbing wind along this mountain-steep,


s: Which rectifies in you whate'er the world


s: Made crooked and deprav'd I have his word,


s: But there must leave me.  Virgil is that spirit,


s: Who thus hath promis'd,"  and I pointed to him;


s: "The other is that shade, for whom so late


s: Through every pendent cliff and rocky bound."


s: Our journey was not slacken'd by our talk,


s: Nor yet our talk by journeying.  Still we spake,


s: And urg'd our travel stoutly, like a ship


s: When the wind sits astern.  The shadowy forms,


s: That seem'd things dead and dead again, drew in


s: At their deep-delved orbs rare wonder of me,


s: Continued, and thus spake; "He journeys up


s: For others' sake.  But tell me, if thou know'st,


s: Who eye me thus."--"My sister (she for whom,


s: Which name was fitter ) wears e'en now her crown,


s: He added: "Since spare diet hath so worn


s: Our semblance out, 't is lawful here to name


s: Each one .   This," and his finger then he rais'd,


s: Of Lucca: and that face beyond him, pierc'd


s: Had keeping of the church: he was of Tours,


s: And all, as they were nam'd, seem'd well content;


s: That wav'd the crozier o'er a num'rous flock.


s: I saw the Marquis, who tad time erewhile


s: To swill at Forli with less drought, yet so


s: Was one ne'er sated.  I howe'er, like him,


s: That gazing 'midst a crowd, singles out one,


s: Was none amongst them took such note of me.


s: Somewhat I heard him whisper of Gentucca:


s: The sound was indistinct, and murmur'd there,


s: Where justice, that so strips them, fix'd her sting.


s: "Spirit!" said I, "it seems as thou wouldst fain


s: Speak with me.  Let me hear thee.  Mutual wish


s: To converse prompts, which let us both indulge."


s: He, answ'ring, straight began: "Woman is born,


s: Whose brow no wimple shades yet, that shall make


s: My city please thee, blame it as they may.


s: Go then with this forewarning.  If aught false


s: My whisper too implied, th' event shall tell


s: Of that new lay th' inventor, which begins


s: With 'Ladies, ye that con the lore of love'."


s: To whom I thus:  "Count of me but as one


s: Who am the scribe of love; that, when he breathes,


s: Take up my pen, and, as he dictates, write."


s: "Brother!" said he, "the hind'rance which once held


s: Short of that new and sweeter style I hear,


s: Is now disclos'd.  I see how ye your plumes


s: Stretch, as th' inditer guides them; which, no question,


s: Ours did not.  He that seeks a grace beyond,


s: Sees not the distance parts one style from other."


s: And, as contented, here he held his peace.


s: Like as the bird, that winter near the Nile,


s: In squared regiment direct their course,


s: Then stretch themselves in file for speedier flight;


s: Thus all the tribe of spirits, as they turn'd


s: Through leanness and desire.  And as a man,


s: Tir'd With the motion of a trotting steed,


s: Slacks pace, and stays behind his company,


s: Till his o'erbreathed lungs keep temperate time;


s: Proceed, behind them lingering at my side,


s: And saying: "When shall I again behold thee?"


s: "How long my life may last," said I, "I know not;


s: Sithence the place, where I am set to live,


s: Is, day by day, more scoop'd of all its good,


s: "Go now," he cried:  "lo!  he, whose guilt is most,


s: Passes before my vision, dragg'd at heels


s: Of an infuriate beast.  Toward the vale,


s: Where guilt hath no redemption, on it speeds,


s: Each step increasing swiftness on the last;


s: Until a blow it strikes, that leaveth him


s: A corse most vilely shatter'd.  No long space


s: Those wheels have yet to roll"  (therewith his eyes


s: Look'd up to heav'n) "ere thou shalt plainly see


s: That which my words may not more plainly tell.


s: I quit thee: time is precious here: I lose


s: Too much, thus measuring my pace with shine."


s: One knight, more enterprising than the rest,


s: Pricks forth at gallop, eager to display


s: His prowess in the first encounter prov'd


s: So parted he from us with lengthen'd strides,


s: And left me on the way with those twain spirits,


s: Who were such mighty marshals of the world.


s: No nearer reach'd him, than my thought his words,


s: The branches of another fruit, thick hung,


s: And blooming fresh, appear'd.  E'en as our steps


s: Turn'd thither, not far off it rose to view.


s: Beneath it were a multitude, that rais'd


s: Their hands, and shouted forth I know not What


s: Unto the boughs; like greedy and fond brats,


s: That beg, and answer none obtain from him,


s: Of whom they beg; but more to draw them on,


s: He at arm's length the object of their wish


s: Above them holds aloft, and hides it not.


s: At length, as undeceiv'd they went their way:


s: And we approach the tree, who vows and tears


s: Sue to in vain, the mighty tree.  "Pass on,


s: And come not near.  Stands higher up the wood,


s: Whereof Eve tasted, and from it was ta'en


s: 'this plant." Such sounds from midst the thickets came.


s: Whence I, with either bard, close to the side


s: That rose, pass'd forth beyond.  "Remember," next


s: We heard, "those noblest creatures of the clouds,


s: How they their twofold bosoms overgorg'd


s: Oppos'd in fight to Theseus:  call to mind


s: The Hebrews, how effeminate they stoop'd


s: To ease their thirst; whence Gideon's ranks were thinn'd,


s: As he to Midian march'd adown the hills."


s: Thus near one border coasting, still we heard


s: Reguerdon'd.  Then along the lonely path,


s: Once more at large, full thousand paces on


s: We travel'd, each contemplative and mute.


s: "Why pensive journey thus ye three alone?"


s: Thus suddenly a voice exclaim'd: whereat


s: I shook, as doth a scar'd and paltry beast;


s: Then rais'd my head to look from whence it came.


s: Was ne'er, in furnace, glass, or metal seen


s: So bright and glowing red, as was the shape


s: He cried, "here must ye turn.  This way he goes,


s: Who goes in quest of peace."  His countenance


s: Had dazzled me; and to my guides I fac'd


s: Backward, like one who walks, as sound directs.


s: As when, to harbinger the dawn, springs up


s: On freshen'd wing the air of May, and breathes


s: Of fragrance, all impregn'd with herb and flowers,


s: Perceiv'd, that moving shed ambrosial smell;


s: And then a voice:  "Blessed are they, whom grace


s: Still hung'ring as the rule of temperance wills."


s: It was an hour, when he who climbs, had need


s: And to the Scorpion left the night.  As one


s: That makes no pause, but presses on his road,


s: Whate'er betide him, if some urgent need


s: That steep and narrow scale admits to climb.


s: E'en as the young stork lifteth up his wing


s: Through wish to fly, yet ventures not to quit


s: Of questioning my guide arose, and fell,


s: A man prepar'd for speech.  Him all our haste


s: Restrain'd not, but thus spake the sire belov'd:


s: Fear not to speed the shaft, that on thy lip


s: Stands trembling for its flight."  Encourag'd thus


s: I straight began:  "How there can leanness come,


s: Where is no want of nourishment to feed?"


s: "If thou," he answer'd, "hadst remember'd thee,


s: This would not trouble thee: and hadst thou thought,


s: With mimic motion vibrates, what now seems


s: Hard, had appear'd no harder than the pulp


s: Of summer fruit mature.  But that thy will


s: Lo Statius here!  on him I call, and pray


s: That he would now be healer of thy wound."


s: The secrets of heaven's vengeance, let me plead


s: So Statius answer'd, and forthwith began:


s: "Attend my words, O son, and in thy mind


s: Receive them: so shall they be light to clear


s: The doubt thou offer'st. Blood, concocted well,


s: Which by the thirsty veins is ne'er imbib'd,


s: And rests as food superfluous, to be ta'en


s: From the replenish'd table, in the heart


s: Which passes through the veins itself to make them.


s: Yet more concocted it descends, where shame


s: Forbids to mention: and from thence distils


s: T' endure, to act the other, through meet frame


s: Of its recipient mould: that being reach'd,


s: Then vivifies what its own substance caus'd


s: The active virtue (differing from a plant


s: No further, than that this is on the way


s: To operate, that now it moves, and feels,


s: As sea sponge clinging to the rock: and there


s: Assumes th' organic powers its seed convey'd.


s: 'This is the period, son!  at which the virtue,


s: That from the generating heart proceeds,


s: Is in the heart by forgeful nature plann'd.


s: For thy consid'ring.  At this point, more wise,


s: Than thou hast err'd, making the soul disjoin'd


s: "Open thy bosom to the truth that comes.


s: Know soon as in the embryo, to the brain,


s: On such great work of nature, and imbreathes


s: New spirit replete with virtue, that what here


s: Active it finds, to its own substance draws,


s: And forms an individual soul, that lives,


s: And feels, and bends reflective on itself.


s: And that thou less mayst marvel at the word,


s: Mark the sun's heat, how that to wine doth change,


s: Mix'd with the moisture filter'd through the vine.


s: "When Lachesis hath spun the thread, the soul


s: Takes with her both the human and divine,


s: Far keener than before, the other powers


s: Inactive all and mute.  No pause allow'd,


s: In wond'rous sort self-moving, to one strand


s: Of those, where the departed roam, she falls,


s: Here learns her destin'd path.  Soon as the place


s: Receives her, round the plastic virtue beams,


s: And as the air, when saturate with showers,


s: The casual beam refracting, decks itself


s: With many a hue; so here the ambient air


s: Weareth that form, which influence of the soul


s: Imprints on it; and like the flame, that where


s: The fire moves, thither follows, so henceforth


s: The new form on the spirit follows still:


s: Hence hath it semblance, and is shadow call'd,


s: With each sense even to the sight endued:


s: Hence speech is ours, hence laughter, tears, and sighs


s: Which thou mayst oft have witness'd on the mount


s: Th' obedient shadow fails not to present


s: Whatever varying passion moves within us.


s: And this the cause of what thou marvel'st at."


s: Now the last flexure of our way we reach'd,


s: And to the right hand turning, other care


s: Hurls forth redundant flames, and from the rim


s: Driveth them back, sequester'd from its bound.


s: Behoov'd us, one by one, along the side,


s: That border'd on the void, to pass; and I


s: Fear'd on one hand the fire, on th' other fear'd


s: Headlong to fall: when thus th' instructor warn'd:


s: "Strict rein must in this place direct the eyes.


s: Then from the bosom of the burning mass,


s: "O God of mercy!" heard I sung; and felt


s: Between their footsteps and mine own was fain


s: To share by turns my view.  At the hymn's close


s: They shouted loud, "I do not know a man;"


s: Then in low voice again took up the strain,


s: Which once more ended, "To the wood," they cried,


s: "Ran Dian, and drave forth Callisto, stung


s: Unto their song; then marry a pair extoll'd,


s: Who liv'd in virtue chastely, and the bands


s: Of wedded love.  Nor from that task, I ween,


s: Surcease they; whilesoe'er the scorching fire


s: Enclasps them.  Of such skill appliance needs


s: To medicine the wound, that healeth last.


s: While singly thus along the rim we walk'd,


s: Oft the good master warn'd me:  "Look thou well.


s: Now all the western clime irradiate chang'd


s: From azure tinct to white; and, as I pass'd,


s: My passing shadow made the umber'd flame


s: Burn ruddier.  At so strange a sight I mark'd


s: This bred occasion first to speak of me,


s: "He seems," said they, "no insubstantial frame:"


s: Then to obtain what certainty they might,


s: Stretch'd towards me, careful not to overpass


s: The burning pale.  "O thou, who followest


s: The others, haply not more slow than they,


s: But mov'd by rev'rence, answer me, who burn


s: In thirst and fire: nor I alone, but these


s: All for thine answer do more thirst, than doth


s: Indian or Aethiop for the cooling stream.


s: Tell us, how is it that thou mak'st thyself


s: Hadst enter'd?"  Thus spake one, and I had straight


s: Declar'd me, if attention had not turn'd


s: To new appearance.  Meeting these, there came,


s: Midway the burning path, a crowd, on whom


s: The shadows all press forward, sev'rally


s: Each snatch a hasty kiss, and then away.


s: E'en so the emmets, 'mid their dusky troops,


s: Their mutual road perchance, and how they thrive.


s: That friendly greeting parted, ere dispatch


s: Of the first onward step, from either tribe


s: Loud clamour rises: those, who newly come,


s: Shout  Sodom and Gomorrah!" these, "The cow


s: Pasiphae enter'd, that the beast she woo'd


s: Might rush unto her luxury."  Then as cranes,


s: That part towards the Riphaean mountains fly,


s: Part towards the Lybic sands, these to avoid


s: The ice, and those the sun; so hasteth off


s: One crowd, advances th' other; and resume


s: Their first song weeping, and their several shout.


s: Who had erewhile besought me, and their looks


s: Mark'd eagerness to listen.  I, who twice


s: Their will had noted, spake:  "O spirits secure,


s: Whene'er the time may be, of peaceful end!


s: My limbs, nor crude, nor in mature old age,


s: Have I left yonder: here they bear me, fed


s: With blood, and sinew-strung.  That I no more


s: May live in blindness, hence I tend aloft.


s: There is a dame on high, who wind for us


s: This grace, by which my mortal through your realm


s: I bear.  But may your utmost wish soon meet


s: Such full fruition, that the orb of heaven,


s: Fullest of love, and of most ample space,


s: Henceforth to stand recorded) who ye are,


s: And what this multitude, that at your backs


s: Have past behind us."  As one, mountain-bred,


s: Rugged and clownish, if some city's walls


s: He chance to enter, round him stares agape,


s: Each spirit.  But when rid of that amaze,


s: He, who before had question'd, thus resum'd:


s: "O blessed, who, for death preparing, tak'st


s: Their crime, who not with us proceed, was that,


s: For which, as he did triumph, Caesar heard


s: The snout of 'queen,' to taunt him.  Hence their cry


s: Themselves, and aid the burning by their shame.


s: Following like beasts our vile concupiscence,


s: Hence parting from them, to our own disgrace


s: Record the name of her, by whom the beast


s: In bestial tire was acted.  Now our deeds


s: Thou know'st, and how we sinn'd.  If thou by name


s: Wouldst haply know us, time permits not now


s: Already cleanse me."  With such pious joy,


s: (Save that I more represt it) when I heard


s: From his own lips the name of him pronounc'd,


s: My betters, who have ever us'd the sweet


s: And pleasant rhymes of love.  So nought I heard


s: Nor spake, but long time thoughtfully I went,


s: Approach'd not nearer.  When my eyes were fed


s: By looking on him, with such solemn pledge,


s: He thus bespake me:  "What from thee I hear


s: Is grav'd so deeply on my mind, the waves


s: Of Lethe shall not wash it off, nor make


s: A whit less lively.  But as now thy oath


s: Has seal'd the truth, declare what cause impels


s: That love, which both thy looks and speech bewray."


s: "Those dulcet lays," I answer'd, "which, as long


s: As of our tongue the beauty does not fade,


s: Shall make us love the very ink that trac'd them."


s: "Brother!"  he cried, and pointed at a shade


s: Before him, "there is one, whose mother speech


s: He in love ditties and the tales of prose


s: Without a rival stands, and lets the fools


s: Talk on, who think the songster of Limoges


s: O'ertops him.  Rumour and the popular voice


s: They look to more than truth, and so confirm


s: Guittone, giving him the prize, till truth


s: By strength of numbers vanquish'd.  If thou own


s: Free entrance to the cloister, whereof Christ


s: For dwellers in this world, where power to sin


s: No longer tempts us."  Haply to make way


s: For one, that follow'd next, when that was said,


s: He vanish'd through the fire, as through the wave


s: A fish, that glances diving to the deep.


s: For which my heart, I said, kept gracious room.


s: So wins on me, I have nor power nor will


s: To hide me.  I am Arnault; and with songs,


s: Thorough this ford of fire I wade, and see


s: The day, I hope for, smiling in my view.


s: I pray ye by the worth that guides ye up


s: Remember ye my suff'rings."  With such words


s: Now was the sun so station'd, as when first


s: His early radiance quivers on the heights,


s: Where stream'd his Maker's blood, while Libra hangs


s: So day was sinking, when the' angel of God


s: Appear'd before us.  Joy was in his mien.


s: Forth of the flame he stood upon the brink,


s: And with a voice, whose lively clearness far


s: Surpass'd our human, "Blessed are the pure


s: In heart," he Sang:  then near him as we came,


s: "Go ye not further, holy spirits!"  he cried,


s: "Ere the fire pierce you: enter in; and list


s: Attentive to the song ye hear from thence."


s: Laid in the grave.  My hands together clasp'd,


s: And upward stretching, on the fire I look'd,


s: Erewhile beheld alive consum'd in flames.


s: Th' escorting spirits turn'd with gentle looks


s: Toward me, and the Mantuan spake:  "My son,


s: Here torment thou mayst feel, but canst not death.


s: Safe e'en on Geryon brought thee: now I come


s: More near to God, wilt thou not trust me now?


s: Of this be sure: though in its womb that flame


s: A thousand years contain'd thee, from thy head


s: No hair should perish.  If thou doubt my truth,


s: Approach, and with thy hands thy vesture's hem


s: Stretch forth, and for thyself confirm belief.


s: Turn hither, and come onward undismay'd."


s: I still, though conscience urg'd' no step advanc'd.


s: When still he saw me fix'd and obstinate,


s: Somewhat disturb'd he cried:  "Mark now, my son,


s: Fast from his veins), and took one parting glance,


s: While vermeil dyed the mulberry; thus I turn'd


s: To my sage guide, relenting, when I heard


s: The name, that springs forever in my breast.


s: He shook his forehead; and, "How long," he said,


s: "Linger we now?"  then smil'd, as one would smile


s: Upon a child, that eyes the fruit and yields.


s: And Statius, who erewhile no little space


s: Had parted us, he pray'd to come behind.


s: Rag'd the conflagrant mass.  The sire belov'd,


s: Of Beatrice talk'd.  "Her eyes," saith he,


s: "E'en now I seem to view."  From the other side


s: A voice, that sang, did guide us, and the voice


s: Following, with heedful ear, we issued forth,


s: There where the path led upward.  "Come," we heard,


s: "Come, blessed of my Father."  Such the sounds,


s: That hail'd us from within a light, which shone


s: So radiant, I could not endure the view.


s: "The sun," it added, "hastes: and evening comes.


s: With blackness, strive ye for the pass."  Our way


s: Upright within the rock arose, and fac'd


s: Such part of heav'n, that from before my steps


s: The beams were shrouded of the sinking sun.


s: The sun behind us couch'd: and ere one face


s: Of darkness o'er its measureless expanse


s: Involv'd th' horizon, and the night her lot


s: A stair his pallet: not that will, but power,


s: Had fail'd us, by the nature of that mount


s: Forbidden further travel.  As the goats,


s: That late have skipp'd and wanton'd rapidly


s: Upon the craggy cliffs, ere they had ta'en


s: Their supper on the herb, now silent lie


s: While noonday rages; and the goatherd leans


s: Upon his staff, and leaning watches them:


s: And as the swain, that lodges out all night


s: In quiet by his flock, lest beast of prey


s: Close pent on either side by shelving rock.


s: Gazing on them, and in that fit of musing,


s: Sleep overcame me, sleep, that bringeth oft


s: First lighten'd on the mountain, she whose orb


s: Seems always glowing with the fire of love,


s: Was passing o'er a lea; and, as she came,


s: Bending to cull the flowers; and thus she sang:


s: A garland, these fair hands unwearied ply.


s: To please me at the crystal mirror, here


s: Before her glass abides the livelong day,


s: Her radiant eyes beholding, charm'd no less,


s: Than I with this delightful task.  Her joy


s: And now as glimm'ring dawn appear'd, that breaks


s: More welcome to the pilgrim still, as he


s: Sojourns less distant on his homeward way,


s: Darkness from all sides fled, and with it fled


s: My slumber; whence I rose and saw my guide


s: Which through so many a branch the zealous care


s: Of mortals roams in quest of, shall this day


s: Appease thy hunger."  Such the words I heard


s: From Virgil's lip; and never greeting heard


s: So pleasant as the sounds.  Within me straight


s: Thenceforward at each step I felt the wings


s: Increasing for my flight.  When we had run


s: O'er all the ladder to its topmost round,


s: As there we stood, on me the Mantuan fix'd


s: His eyes, and thus he spake:  "Both fires, my son,


s: The temporal and eternal, thou hast seen,


s: No further reaches.  I with skill and art


s: Thus far have drawn thee.  Now thy pleasure take


s: For guide.  Thou hast o'ercome the steeper way,


s: O'ercome the straighter.  Lo!  the sun, that darts


s: His beam upon thy forehead!  lo! the herb,


s: The arboreta and flowers, which of itself


s: This land pours forth profuse!  Till those bright eyes


s: With gladness come, which, weeping, made me haste


s: To succour thee, thou mayst or seat thee down,


s: Or wander where thou wilt.  Expect no more


s: Sanction of warning voice or sign from me,


s: Discreet, judicious.  To distrust thy sense


s: Were henceforth error.  I invest thee then


s: With crown and mitre, sovereign o'er thyself."


s: Through that celestial forest, whose thick shade


s: With lively greenness the new-springing day


s: Attemper'd, eager now to roam, and search


s: Its limits round, forthwith I left the bank,


s: Pursuing, o'er the ground, that on all sides


s: Delicious odour breath'd.  A pleasant air,


s: Of softest influence: at which the sprays,


s: Obedient all, lean'd trembling to that part


s: Where first the holy mountain casts his shade,


s: Yet were not so disorder'd, but that still


s: Applied their wonted art, and with full joy


s: Welcom'd those hours of prime, and warbled shrill


s: Amid the leaves, that to their jocund lays


s: inept tenor; even as from branch to branch,


s: The dripping south.  Already had my steps,


s: Though slow, so far into that ancient wood


s: Transported me, I could not ken the place


s: Where I had enter'd, when behold!  my path


s: Was bounded by a rill, which to the left


s: With little rippling waters bent the grass,


s: That issued from its brink.  On earth no wave


s: How clean soe'er, that would not seem to have


s: Some mixture in itself, compar'd with this,


s: Transpicuous, clear; yet darkly on it roll'd,


s: Darkly beneath perpetual gloom, which ne'er


s: Admits or sun or moon light there to shine.


s: My feet advanc'd not; but my wond'ring eyes


s: Pass'd onward, o'er the streamlet, to survey


s: The tender May-bloom, flush'd through many a hue,


s: That from our bosom every thought beside


s: And culling flower from flower, wherewith her way


s: Thou, who (if looks, that use to speak the heart,


s: Are worthy of our trust), with love's own beam


s: Dost warm thee," thus to her my speech I fram'd:


s: "Ah!  please thee hither towards the streamlet bend


s: Thy steps so near, that I may list thy song.


s: Beholding thee and this fair place, methinks,


s: I call to mind where wander'd and how look'd


s: Proserpine, in that season, when her child


s: The mother lost, and she the bloomy spring."


s: Doth foot it featly, and advances scarce


s: One step before the other to the ground;


s: Thus turn'd she at my suit, most maiden-like,


s: Valing her sober eyes, and came so near,


s: That I distinctly caught the dulcet sound.


s: Lav'd the green sward, her eyes she deign'd to raise,


s: That shot such splendour on me, as I ween


s: Ne'er glanced from Cytherea's, when her son


s: Had sped his keenest weapon to her heart.


s: Upon the opposite bank she stood and smil'd


s: through her graceful fingers shifted still


s: The intermingling dyes, which without seed


s: That lofty land unbosoms.  By the stream


s: The Hellespont, where Xerxes pass'd it o'er,


s: That flood, because it gave no passage thence.


s: "Strangers ye come, and haply in this place,


s: Wond'ring, ye not without suspicion view


s: My smiles: but that sweet strain of psalmody,


s: 'Thou, Lord!  hast made me glad,' will give ye light,


s: Which may uncloud your minds.  And thou, who stand'st


s: The foremost, and didst make thy suit to me,


s: Say if aught else thou wish to hear: for I


s: Came prompt to answer every doubt of thine."


s: She spake; and I replied:  "l know not how


s: To reconcile this wave and rustling sound


s: Of forest leaves, with what I late have heard


s: Of opposite report."  She answering thus:


s: "I will unfold the cause, whence that proceeds,


s: Which makes thee wonder; and so purge the cloud


s: That hath enwraps thee.  The First Good, whose joy


s: For happiness, and gave this goodly place,


s: His pledge and earnest of eternal peace.


s: Favour'd thus highly, through his own defect


s: He fell, and here made short sojourn; he fell,


s: And, for the bitterness of sorrow, chang'd


s: That vapours none, exhal'd from earth beneath,


s: Or from the waters (which, wherever heat


s: Attracts them, follow), might ascend thus far


s: To vex man's peaceful state, this mountain rose


s: So high toward the heav'n, nor fears the rage


s: Exempted, where the gate his limit bars.


s: Because the circumambient air throughout


s: With its first impulse circles still, unless


s: Aught interpose to cheek or thwart its course;


s: Is open, doth that motion strike, and makes


s: Beneath its sway th' umbrageous wood resound:


s: And in the shaken plant such power resides,


s: The voyaging breeze, upon whose subtle plume


s: That wafted flies abroad; and th' other land


s: Or in the clime, that warms it), doth conceive,


s: Of various virtue.  This when thou hast heard,


s: Some plant without apparent seed be found


s: To fix its fibrous stem.  And further learn,


s: This holy plain is fill'd, and in itself


s: Bears fruit that ne'er was pluck'd on other soil.


s: "The water, thou behold'st, springs not from vein,


s: And spends his pulse of life, but issues forth


s: Feeds whatsoe'er On either side it pours;


s: On this devolv'd with power to take away


s: Remembrance of offence, on that to bring


s: Remembrance back of every good deed done.


s: From whence its name of Lethe on this part;


s: On th' other Eunoe: both of which must first


s: Be tasted ere it work; the last exceeding


s: All flavours else.  Albeit thy thirst may now


s: Less grateful to thee, if they somewhat pass


s: The stretch of promise.  They, whose verse of yore


s: On the Parnassian mountain, of this place


s: Perhaps had dream'd.  Here was man guiltless, here


s: Perpetual spring and every fruit, and this


s: The far-fam'd nectar."  Turning to the bards,


s: When she had ceas'd, I noted in their looks


s: And clos'd the song, with "Blessed they whose sins


s: Are cover'd."  Like the wood-nymphs then, that tripp'd


s: Eager to view and one to 'scape the sun,


s: So mov'd she on, against the current, up


s: The verdant rivage.  I, her mincing step


s: Gave me to face the orient.  Nor our way


s: Far onward brought us, when to me at once


s: She turn'd, and cried:  "My brother!  look and hearken."


s: Through the great forest on all parts, so bright


s: I doubted whether lightning were abroad;


s: That doth unfold it, and this during still


s: And waxing still in splendor, made me question


s: Ran through the luminous air.  Then did I chide


s: Of our first parent, for that there were earth


s: Stood in obedience to the heav'ns, she only,


s: Woman, the creature of an hour, endur'd not


s: Restraint of any veil: which had she borne


s: Had from the first, and long time since, been mine.


s: While through that wilderness of primy sweets


s: That never fade, suspense I walk'd, and yet


s: Under the green boughs glow'd; and, for a song,


s: O ye thrice holy virgins!  for your sakes


s: If e'er I suffer'd hunger, cold and watching,


s: Occasion calls on me to crave your bounty.


s: Now through my breast let Helicon his stream


s: Arise to aid me: while the verse unfolds


s: Things that do almost mock the grasp of thought.


s: Onward a space, what seem'd seven trees of gold,


s: So near them, that no lineament was lost


s: Of those, with which a doubtful object, seen


s: Remotely, plays on the misdeeming sense,


s: Discourse to reason, these for tapers of gold


s: Distinguish, and it th' singing trace the sound


s: "Hosanna."  Above, their beauteous garniture


s: Flam'd with more ample lustre, than the moon


s: Through cloudless sky at midnight in her full.


s: Charg'd with no less amazement: whence my view


s: Reverted to those lofty things, which came


s: So slowly moving towards us, that the bride


s: Would have outstript them on her bridal day.


s: The lady called aloud:  "Why thus yet burns


s: Affection in thee for these living, lights,


s: And dost not look on that which follows them?"


s: I straightway mark'd a tribe behind them walk,


s: As if attendant on their leaders, cloth'd


s: With raiment of such whiteness, as on earth


s: Was never.  On my left, the wat'ry gleam


s: Borrow'd, and gave me back, when there I look'd.


s: Such station, that the distance of the stream


s: My steps for clearer prospect, and beheld


s: The flames go onward, leaving, as they went,


s: The air behind them painted as with trail


s: Of liveliest pencils!  so distinct were mark'd


s: All those sev'n listed colours, whence the sun


s: These streaming gonfalons did flow beyond


s: So beautiful, came foul and-twenty elders,


s: By two and two, with flower-de-luces crown'd.


s: All sang one song:  "Blessed be thou among


s: The daughters of Adam!  and thy loveliness


s: Blessed for ever!"  After that the flowers,


s: And the fresh herblets, on the opposite brink,


s: Were free from that elected race; as light


s: In heav'n doth second light, came after them


s: Four animals, each crown'd with verdurous leaf.


s: With six wings each was plum'd, the plumage full


s: Of eyes, and th' eyes of Argus would be such,


s: Were they endued with life.  Reader, more rhymes


s: Will not waste in shadowing forth their form:


s: For other need no straitens, that in this


s: I may not give my bounty room.  But read


s: Ezekiel; for he paints them, from the north


s: How he beheld them come by Chebar's flood,


s: In whirlwind, cloud and fire; and even such


s: As thou shalt find them character'd by him,


s: Here were they; save as to the pennons; there,


s: From him departing, John accords with me.


s: The space, surrounded by the four, enclos'd


s: Stretch'd either wing uplifted, 'tween the midst


s: And the three listed hues, on each side three;


s: So that the wings did cleave or injure none;


s: And out of sight they rose.  The members, far


s: As he was bird, were golden; white the rest


s: A car in Rome ne'er grac'd Augustus pomp,


s: Were poor to this, that chariot of the sun


s: At Tellus' pray'r devout, by the just doom


s: Mysterious of all-seeing Jove.  Three nymphs


s: ,k the right wheel, came circling in smooth dance;


s: The one so ruddy, that her form had scarce


s: Been known within a furnace of clear flame:


s: The next did look, as if the flesh and bones


s: Were emerald: snow new-fallen seem'd the third.


s: Now seem'd the white to lead, the ruddy now;


s: And from her song who led, the others took


s: Their treasure, swift or slow.  At th' other wheel,


s: Advanc'd with festal step, as of them one


s: The rest conducted, one, upon whose front


s: Three eyes were seen.  In rear of all this group,


s: In raiment, but in port and gesture like,


s: Did show himself some favour'd counsellor


s: Of the great Coan, him, whom nature made


s: To serve the costliest creature of her tribe.


s: Bearing a sword, whose glitterance and keen edge,


s: E'en as I view'd it with the flood between,


s: Appall'd me.  Next four others I beheld,


s: Of humble seeming: and, behind them all,


s: One single old man, sleeping, as he came,


s: With a shrewd visage.  And these seven, each


s: Like the first troop were habited, hut wore


s: No braid of lilies on their temples wreath'd.


s: Rather with roses and each vermeil flower,


s: A sight, but little distant, might have sworn,


s: That they were all on fire above their brow.


s: Whenas the car was o'er against me, straight.


s: Was heard a thund'ring, at whose voice it seem'd


s: The chosen multitude were stay'd; for there,


s: With the first ensigns, made they solemn halt.


s: Soon as the polar light, which never knows


s: Setting nor rising, nor the shadowy veil


s: Of the first heav'n, to duty each one there


s: The steersman to his port, stood firmly fix'd;


s: Forthwith the saintly tribe, who in the van


s: Between the Gryphon and its radiance came,


s: Did turn them to the car, as to their rest:


s: In holy chant thrice shorted forth aloud:


s: "Come, spouse, from Libanus!" and all the rest


s: The blest shall rise, from forth his cavern each


s: Of life eternal.  "Blessed thou!  who com'st!"


s: And, "O," they cried, "from full hands scatter ye


s: Unwith'ring lilies;" and, so saying, cast


s: Flowers over head and round them on all sides.


s: I have beheld, ere now, at break of day,


s: The eastern clime all roseate, and the sky


s: And the sun's face so shaded, and with mists


s: Long while endur'd the sight: thus in a cloud


s: Of flowers, that from those hands angelic rose,


s: And down, within and outside of the car,


s: Fell showering, in white veil with olive wreath'd,


s: Green mantle, rob'd in hue of living flame:


s: No shudd'ring terror crept.  Mine eyes no more


s: Had knowledge of her; yet there mov'd from her


s: The power of ancient love was strong within me.


s: The heav'nly influence, which years past, and e'en


s: In childhood, thrill'd me, than towards Virgil I


s: Turn'd me to leftward, panting, like a babe,


s: That flees for refuge to his mother's breast,


s: If aught have terrified or work'd him woe:


s: And would have cried:  "There is no dram of blood,


s: That doth not quiver in me.  The old flame


s: Throws out clear tokens of reviving fire:"


s: Virgil, my best-lov'd father; Virgil, he


s: All, our prime mother lost, avail'd to save


s: My undew'd cheeks from blur of soiling tears.


s: "Dante, weep not, that Virgil leaves thee: nay,


s: Weep thou not yet: behooves thee feel the edge


s: Of other sword, and thou shalt weep for that."


s: When 'mid the sail-yards all hands ply aloof;


s: (Turning me at the sound of mine own name,


s: The virgin station'd, who before appeared


s: Veil'd in that festive shower angelical.


s: Towards me, across the stream, she bent her eyes;


s: Though from her brow the veil descending, bound


s: That I beheld her clearly; then with act


s: Full royal, still insulting o'er her thrall,


s: Added, as one, who speaking keepeth back


s: The bitterest saying, to conclude the speech:


s: Beatrice.  What!  and hast thou deign'd at last


s: Approach the mountain?  knewest not, O man!


s: Thy happiness is whole?"  Down fell mine eyes


s: On the clear fount, but there, myself espying,


s: Recoil'd, and sought the greensward: such a weight


s: Of shame was on my forehead.  With a mien


s: Of that stern majesty, which doth surround


s: mother's presence to her awe-struck child,


s: She look'd; a flavour of such bitterness


s: Was mingled in her pity.  There her words


s: Brake off, and suddenly the angels sang:


s: "In thee, O gracious Lord, my hope hath been:"


s: But went no farther than, "Thou Lord, hast set


s: My feet in ample room."  As snow, that lies


s: And closely pil'd by rough Sclavonian blasts,


s: Breathe but the land whereon no shadow falls,


s: And straightway melting it distils away,


s: Did sing, that with the chiming of heav'n's sphere,


s: Still in their warbling chime: but when the strain


s: Their soft compassion, more than could the words


s: "Virgin, why so consum'st him?"  then the ice,


s: To spirit and water, and with anguish forth


s: Gush'd through the lips and eyelids from the heart.


s: Upon the chariot's right edge still she stood,


s: To those bright semblances with pity touch'd:


s: "Ye in th' eternal day your vigils keep,


s: So that nor night nor slumber, with close stealth,


s: The goings on of life: thence with more heed


s: I shape mine answer, for his ear intended,


s: Who there stands weeping, that the sorrow now


s: That mark each seed to some predestin'd aim,


s: The constellations meet, but through benign


s: Largess of heav'nly graces, which rain down


s: From such a height, as mocks our vision, this man


s: Was in the freshness of his being, such,


s: All better habits wond'rously had thriv'd.


s: The more of kindly strength is in the soil,


s: So much doth evil seed and lack of culture


s: Mar it the more, and make it run to wildness.


s: These looks sometime upheld him; for I show'd


s: My youthful eyes, and led him by their light


s: In upright walking.  Soon as I had reach'd


s: The threshold of my second age, and chang'd


s: My mortal for immortal, then he left me,


s: And gave himself to others.  When from flesh


s: I was less dear to him, and valued less.


s: His steps were turn'd into deceitful ways,


s: Following false images of good, that make


s: No promise perfect.  Nor avail'd me aught


s: To sue for inspirations, with the which,


s: I, both in dreams of night, and otherwise,


s: Did call him back; of them so little reck'd him,


s: Such depth he fell, that all device was short


s: Of his preserving, save that he should view


s: And one, who hath conducted him thus high,


s: Receiv'd my supplications urg'd with weeping.


s: It were a breaking of God's high decree,


s: If Lethe should be past, and such food tasted


s: Without the cost of some repentant tear."


s: "O Thou!"  her words she thus without delay


s: Resuming, turn'd their point on me, to whom


s: They but with lateral edge seem'd harsh before,


s: 'Say thou, who stand'st beyond the holy stream,


s: If this be true.  A charge so grievous needs


s: Such strange amazement hung, the voice expir'd


s: Imperfect, ere its organs gave it birth.


s: A little space refraining, then she spake:


s: "What dost thou muse on?  Answer me.  The wave


s: Did such a "Yea " produce, as needed help


s: In act to be discharg'd, a cross-bow bent


s: Beyond its pitch, both nerve and bow o'erstretch'd,


s: The flagging weapon feebly hits the mark;


s: Thus, tears and sighs forth gushing, did I burst


s: Beneath the heavy load, and thus my voice


s: Was slacken'd on its way.  She straight began:


s: The good, which sets a bound to our aspirings,


s: What bar of thwarting foss or linked chain


s: Did meet thee, that thou so should'st quit the hope


s: Of further progress, or what bait of ease


s: Elsewhere, that thou elsewhere should'st rather wait?"


s: A bitter sigh I drew, then scarce found voice


s: To answer, hardly to these sounds my lips


s: Gave utterance, wailing:  "Thy fair looks withdrawn,


s: Things present, with deceitful pleasures, turn'd


s: My steps aside."  She answering spake:  "Hadst thou


s: Been silent, or denied what thou avow'st,


s: Thou hadst not hid thy sin the more: such eye


s: Observes it.  But whene'er the sinner's cheek


s: Breaks forth into the precious-streaming tears


s: Of self-accusing, in our court the wheel


s: Of justice doth run counter to the edge.


s: Howe'er that thou may'st profit by thy shame


s: For errors past, and that henceforth more strength


s: May arm thee, when thou hear'st the Siren-voice,


s: Lay thou aside the motive to this grief,


s: Should have impell'd thee.  Never didst thou spy


s: In art or nature aught so passing sweet,


s: As were the limbs, that in their beauteous frame


s: Enclos'd me, and are scatter'd now in dust.


s: If sweetest thing thus fail'd thee with my death,


s: What, afterward, of mortal should thy wish


s: Have tempted?  When thou first hadst felt the dart


s: For better realms, thy wing thou should'st have prun'd


s: To 'bide a second blow for a slight girl,


s: Twice it may be, or thrice, the fowler's aim;


s: But in the sight of one, whose plumes are full,


s: In vain the net is spread, the arrow wing'd."


s: Stand, list'ning, with their eyes upon the earth,


s: Acknowledging their fault and self-condemn'd.


s: And she resum'd:  "If, but to hear thus pains thee,


s: Raise thou thy beard, and lo!  what sight shall do!"


s: With less reluctance yields a sturdy holm,


s: Rent from its fibers by a blast, that blows


s: From off the pole, or from Iarbas' land,


s: And thus the face denoting by the beard,


s: I mark'd the secret sting her words convey'd.


s: Of goodly creatures vanish; and mine eyes


s: Yet unassur'd and wavering, bent their light


s: Who joins two natures in one form, she turn'd,


s: And parted by the verdant rill, that flow'd


s: All others she surpass'd.  Remorseful goads


s: Shot sudden through me.  Each thing else, the more


s: Its love had late beguil'd me, now the more


s: I Was loathsome.  On my heart so keenly smote


s: The bitter consciousness, that on the ground


s: O'erpower'd I fell: and what my state was then,


s: She knows who was the cause.  When now my strength


s: Flow'd back, returning outward from the heart,


s: I found above me.  "Loose me not," she cried:


s: "Loose not thy hold;" and lo!  had dragg'd me high


s: As to my neck into the stream, while she,


s: Still as she drew me after, swept along,


s: Swift as a shuttle, bounding o'er the wave.


s: The blessed shore approaching then was heard


s: May not remember, much less tell the sound.


s: The beauteous dame, her arms expanding, clasp'd


s: My temples, and immerg'd me, where 't was fit


s: The wave should drench me: and thence raising up,


s: Within the fourfold dance of lovely nymphs


s: Presented me so lav'd, and with their arm


s: They each did cover me.  "Here are we nymphs,


s: And in the heav'n are stars.  Or ever earth


s: Appointed for her handmaids, tended on her.


s: We to her eyes will lead thee; but the light


s: Of gladness that is in them, well to scan,


s: Those yonder three, of deeper ken than ours,


s: Thy sight shall quicken."  Thus began their song;


s: And then they led me to the Gryphon's breast,


s: While, turn'd toward us, Beatrice stood.


s: "Spare not thy vision.  We have stationed thee


s: Before the emeralds, whence love erewhile


s: Hath drawn his weapons on thee.  "As they spake,


s: Mine eyes upon her beaming eyes, that stood


s: Still fix'd toward the Gryphon motionless.


s: Within those orbs the twofold being, shone,


s: How wond'rous in my sight it seem'd to mark


s: Full of amaze, and joyous, while my soul


s: With gesture, that declar'd a loftier line,


s: Advanc'd: to their own carol on they came


s: "Turn, Beatrice!" was their song:  "O turn


s: Thy saintly sight on this thy faithful one,


s: Who to behold thee many a wearisome pace


s: Hath measur'd.  Gracious at our pray'r vouchsafe


s: Unveil to him thy cheeks: that he may mark


s: Thy second beauty, now conceal'd."  O splendour!


s: Whose spirit should not fail him in th' essay


s: To represent thee such as thou didst seem,


s: When under cope of the still-chiming heaven


s: Thou gav'st to open air thy charms reveal'd.


s: Were bent to rid them of their ten years' thirst,


s: No other sense was waking: and e'en they


s: Were fenc'd on either side from heed of aught;


s: So tangled in its custom'd toils that smile


s: Of saintly brightness drew me to itself,


s: The sacred virgins turn'd; for from their lips


s: I heard the warning sounds:  "Too fix'd a gaze!"


s: Upon the' o'erstrained eyes the sun hath smote:


s: I had perforce been sunder'd) on their right


s: I mark'd that glorious army wheel, and turn,


s: Against the sun and sev'nfold lights, their front.


s: As when, their bucklers for protection rais'd,


s: A well-rang'd troop, with portly banners curl'd,


s: Wheel circling, ere the whole can change their ground:


s: Proceeding, all did pass us, ere the car


s: Had slop'd his beam.  Attendant at the wheels


s: The damsels turn'd; and on the Gryphon mov'd


s: The sacred burden, with a pace so smooth,


s: No feather on him trembled.  The fair dame


s: Who through the wave had drawn me, companied


s: By Statius and myself, pursued the wheel,


s: Whose orbit, rolling, mark'd a lesser arch.


s: Through the high wood, now void (the more her blame,


s: Perchance as arrow at three several flights


s: Full wing'd had sped, when from her station down


s: All murmur'd  "Adam," circling next a plant


s: Despoil'd of flowers and leaf on every bough.


s: Its tresses, spreading more as more they rose,


s: Were such, as 'midst their forest wilds for height


s: The Indians might have gaz'd at.  "Blessed thou!


s: Gryphon, whose beak hath never pluck'd that tree


s: Pleasant to taste: for hence the appetite


s: Was warp'd to evil."  Round the stately trunk


s: Thus shouted forth the rest, to whom return'd


s: The animal twice-gender'd:  "Yea: for so


s: And turning to the chariot-pole, to foot


s: He drew it of the widow'd branch, and bound


s: There left unto the stock whereon it grew.


s: As when large floods of radiance from above


s: Stream, with that radiance mingled, which ascends


s: Our plants then burgeon, and each wears anew


s: His wonted colours, ere the sun have yok'd


s: Thus putting forth a hue, more faint than rose,


s: The plant, erewhile in all its branches bare.


s: Unearthly was the hymn, which then arose.


s: To pencil forth, how clos'd th' unpitying eyes


s: Slumb'ring, when Syrinx warbled, (eyes that paid


s: So dearly for their watching,) then like painter,


s: That with a model paints, I might design


s: But feign who will the slumber cunningly;


s: The curtain of my sleep, and one cries out:


s: "Arise, what dost thou?"  As the chosen three,


s: The blossoming of that fair tree, whose fruit


s: Perpetual feast in heaven, to themselves


s: Returning at the word, whence deeper sleeps


s: Were broken, that they their tribe diminish'd saw,


s: The stole their master wore: thus to myself


s: The piteous one, who cross the stream had brought


s: My steps.  "And where," all doubting, I exclaim'd,


s: "Beneath the fresh leaf seated on its root.


s: Behold th' associate choir that circles her.


s: And more profound, journeying to higher realms,


s: Upon the Gryphon tend."  If there her words


s: Were clos'd, I know not; but mine eyes had now


s: Ta'en view of her, by whom all other thoughts


s: Were barr'd admittance.  On the very ground


s: Alone she sat, as she had there been left


s: Bound to the twyform beast.  The seven nymphs


s: Did make themselves a cloister round about her,


s: And in their hands upheld those lights secure


s: From blast septentrion and the gusty south.


s: "A little while thou shalt be forester here:


s: Of that true Rome, wherein Christ dwells a Roman


s: Thine eyes upon the car; and what thou seest,


s: Take heed thou write, returning to that place."


s: Devout, at her behest, my thought and eyes,


s: With so swift motion, forth a stormy cloud


s: Leap'd downward from the welkin's farthest bound,


s: Pounce on the tree, and, as he rush'd, the rind,


s: Disparting crush beneath him, buds much more


s: And leaflets.  On the car with all his might


s: He struck, whence, staggering like a ship, it reel'd,


s: At random driv'n, to starboard now, o'ercome,


s: And now to larboard, by the vaulting waves.


s: Next springing up into the chariot's womb


s: Of all good food.  But, for his ugly sins


s: Scamp'ring he turn'd, fast as his hide-bound corpse


s: Would bear him.  Next, from whence before he came,


s: O' th' car, and leave it with his feathers lin'd;


s: And then a voice, like that which issues forth


s: From heart with sorrow riv'd, did issue forth


s: From heav'n, and, "O poor bark of mine!" it cried,


s: "How badly art thou freighted!"  Then, it seem'd,


s: That the earth open'd between either wheel,


s: That through the chariot fix'd his forked train;


s: And like a wasp that draggeth back the sting,


s: So drawing forth his baleful train, he dragg'd


s: Part of the bottom forth, and went his way


s: Exulting.  What remain'd, as lively turf


s: With green herb, so did clothe itself with plumes,


s: Which haply had with purpose chaste and kind


s: Been offer'd; and therewith were cloth'd the wheels,


s: Both one and other, and the beam, so quickly


s: A sigh were not breath'd sooner.  Thus transform'd,


s: The holy structure, through its several parts,


s: Did put forth heads, three on the beam, and one


s: On every side; the first like oxen horn'd,


s: The four.  Like monster sight hath never seen.


s: O'er it methought there sat, secure as rock


s: Whose ken rov'd loosely round her.  At her side,


s: As 't were that none might bear her off, I saw


s: They mingled kisses.  But, her lustful eyes


s: Chancing on me to wander, that fell minion


s: Scourg'd her from head to foot all o'er; then full


s: Of jealousy, and fierce with rage, unloos'd


s: The monster, and dragg'd on, so far across


s: The forest, that from me its shades alone


s: Shielded the harlot and the new-form'd brute.


s: "The heathen, Lord!  are come!" responsive thus,


s: And sighing, to the song', in such a mood,


s: That Mary, as she stood beside the cross,


s: Was scarce more chang'd.  But when they gave her place


s: To speak, then, risen upright on her feet,


s: She, with a colour glowing bright as fire,


s: Shall see me not; and, my beloved sisters,


s: Again a little while, and ye shall see me."


s: Before her then she marshall'd all the seven,


s: And, beck'ning only motion'd me, the dame,


s: So on she pass'd; and had not set, I ween,


s: Her tenth step to the ground, when with mine eyes


s: Her eyes encounter'd; and, with visage mild,


s: "So mend thy pace," she cried, "that if my words


s: Address thee, thou mayst still be aptly plac'd


s: To hear them."  Soon as duly to her side


s: I now had hasten'd:  "Brother!" she began,


s: "Why mak'st thou no attempt at questioning,


s: As thus we walk together?"  Like to those


s: Before their betters, draw not forth the voice


s: "Lady!  what I have need of, that thou know'st,


s: And what will suit my need."  She answering thus:


s: "Of fearfulness and shame, I will, that thou


s: Henceforth do rid thee: that thou speak no more,


s: As one who dreams.  Thus far be taught of me:


s: The vessel, which thou saw'st the serpent break,


s: Was and is not: let him, who hath the blame,


s: Hope not to scare God's vengeance with a sop.


s: That eagle, he, who left the chariot plum'd,


s: Which monster made it first and next a prey.


s: Plainly I view, and therefore speak, the stars


s: E'en now approaching, whose conjunction, free


s: A season, in the which, one sent from God,


s: (Five hundred, five, and ten, do mark him out)


s: That foul one, and th' accomplice of her guilt,


s: The giant, both shall slay.  And if perchance


s: Fail to persuade thee, (since like them it foils


s: The intellect with blindness) yet ere long


s: Events shall be the Naiads, that will solve


s: On flock or field.  Take heed; and as these words


s: To those who live that life, which is a race


s: To death: and when thou writ'st them, keep in mind


s: Not to conceal how thou hast seen the plant,


s: That twice hath now been spoil'd.  This whoso robs,


s: This whoso plucks, with blasphemy of deed


s: Creating hallow'd it.  For taste of this,


s: In pain and in desire, five thousand years


s: And upward, the first soul did yearn for him,


s: "Thy reason slumbers, if it deem this height


s: Without due cause: and were not vainer thoughts,


s: And their fond pleasures had not dyed it dark


s: As Pyramus the mulberry, thou hadst seen,


s: In the forbidden tree.  But since I mark thee


s: And, to that hardness, spotted too and stain'd,


s: So that thine eye is dazzled at my word,


s: I will, that, if not written, yet at least


s: Painted thou take it in thee, for the cause,


s: That one brings home his staff inwreath'd with palm.


s: "I thus:  "As wax by seal, that changeth not


s: Its impress, now is stamp'd my brain by thee.


s: But wherefore soars thy wish'd-for speech so high


s: Beyond my sight, that loses it the more,


s: The more it strains to reach it?" --"To the end


s: That thou mayst know," she answer'd straight, "the school,


s: That thou hast follow'd; and how far behind,


s: When following my discourse, its learning halts:


s: And mayst behold your art, from the divine


s: 'Twixt earth and heaven's most high and rapturous orb."


s: I was estrang'd from thee, nor for such fault


s: Doth conscience chide me."  Smiling she return'd:


s: "If thou canst, not remember, call to mind


s: How lately thou hast drunk of Lethe's wave;


s: And, sure as smoke doth indicate a flame,


s: From henceforth verily my words shall be


s: In thy unpractis'd view."  More sparkling now,


s: The circle of mid-day, that varies still


s: As th' aspect varies of each several clime,


s: Vestige of somewhat strange and rare: so paus'd


s: The sev'nfold band, arriving at the verge


s: Beneath green leaves and gloomy branches, oft


s: And, where they stood, before them, as it seem'd,


s: Forth from one fountain issue; and, like friends,


s: Linger at parting. "O enlight'ning beam!


s: What water this, which from one source deriv'd


s: Itself removes to distance from itself?"


s: "Entreat Matilda, that she teach thee this."


s: And here, as one, who clears himself of blame


s: Imputed, the fair dame return'd:  "Of me


s: He this and more hath learnt; and I am safe


s: That Lethe's water hath not hid it from him."


s: That oft the memory 'reeves, perchance hath made


s: His mind's eye dark.  But lo!  where Eunoe cows!


s: Lead thither; and, as thou art wont, revive


s: His fainting virtue."  As a courteous spirit,


s: Makes it his own; when she had ta'en me, thus


s: The lovely maiden mov'd her on, and call'd


s: "Come thou with him."  Were further space allow'd,


s: Then, Reader, might I sing, though but in part,


s: That beverage, with whose sweetness I had ne'er


s: Been sated.  But, since all the leaves are full,


s: Appointed for this second strain, mine art


s: With warning bridle checks me.  I return'd


s: If 'en as new plants renew'd with foliage new,


s: Pure and made apt for mounting to the stars.


s: Verse 1.  O'er better waves.]  Berni, Orl. Inn. L 2. c. i.


s: v. 11.  Birds of chattering note.]  For the fable of the


s: daughters of Pierus, who challenged the muses to sing, and were


s: changed into magpies, see Ovid, Met. 1. v. fab. 5.


s: v. 20.  Made all the orient laugh.]  Hence Chaucer, Knight's


s: Tale: And all the orisont laugheth of the sight.


s: v. 24.  Four stars.]  Symbolical of the four cardinal virtues,


s: Prudence Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.  See Canto XXXI v.


s: v. 30.  The wain.]  Charles's wain, or Bootes.


s: v. 92.  Venerable plumes.]  The same metaphor has occurred in


s: It is used by Ford in the Lady's Trial, a. 4. s. 2.


s: Of softness is exchang'd for plumes of age.


s: v. 58.  The farthest gloom.]  L'ultima sera. Ariosto, Oroando


s: Connubil: liceat tumulo scripsisse, Catonis


s: v. 110.  I spy'd the trembling of the ocean stream.]


s: v. 1.  Now had the sun.]  Dante was now antipodal to Jerusalem,


s: so that while the sun was setting with respect to that place


s: which he supposes to be the middle of the inhabited earth, to him


s: v. 6.  The scales.]  The constellation Libra.


s: Ter conatus ibi eollo dare brachia eircum,


s: Ter frustra eomprensa manus effugit imago,


s: Par levibus ventis voluerique simillima sommo.


s: v. 88.  My Casella.]  A Florentine, celebrated for his skill in


s: music, "in whose company," says Landine, "Dante often recreated


s: his spirits wearied by severe studies." See Dr. Burney's History


s: of Music, vol. ii. c. iv. p. 322.  Milton has a fine allusion to


s: this meeting in his sonnet to Henry Lawes.


s: v. 90.  Hath so much time been lost.]  Casella had been dead some


s: v. 94.  These three months past.]  Since the time of the Jubilee,


s: were supposed to pass over to Purgatory as soon as they pleased.


s: v. 170.  "Love that discourses in my thoughts."]


s: The first verse of a eanzone or song in the Convito of Dante,


s: which he again cites in his Treatise de Vulg.  Eloq. 1. ii. c.


s: v.  9.  How doth a little failing wound thee sore.]


s: (Ch'era al cor picciol fallo amaro morso.


s: v. 11.  Haste, that mars all decency of act. Aristotle in his


s: Physiog iii.  reekons it among the "the signs of an impudent


s: man," that he is "quick in his motions."  Compare Sophoeles,


s: Virgil died at Brundusium, from whence his body is said to have


s: v. 38.  Desiring fruitlessly.]  See H. Canto IV, 39.


s: v. 49.  'Twixt Lerice and Turbia.]  At that time the two


s: extremities of the Genoese republic, the former on the east, the


s: latter on the  west. A very ingenious writer has had occasion,


s: for a different purpose, to mention one of these places as


s: remarkably secluded by its mountainous situation "On an eminence


s: among the mountains, between the two little cities, Nice and


s: Manoca, is the village of Torbia, a name formed from the Greek


s: v. 78.  As sheep.]  The imitative nature of these animals


s: supplies our Poet with another comparison in his Convito Opere,


s: v. 110.  Manfredi.  King of Naples and Sicily, and the natural


s: son of Frederick II. He was lively end agreeable in his manners,


s: and delighted in poetry, music, and dancing. But he was luxurious


s: Epicurean. See G. Villani l. vi. c. xlvii. and Mr. Matthias's


s: Tiraboschi, v. I. p. 38. He fell in the battle with Charles of


s: Anjou in 1265, alluded to in Canto  XXVIII, of Hell, v. 13,


s: "Dying, excommunicated, King Charles did allow of his being


s: buried in sacred ground, but he was interred near the bridge of


s: Benevento, and on his grave there was cast a stone by every one


s: of the army whence there was formed a great mound of stones. But


s: some ave said, that afterwards, by command of the Pope. the


s: Bishop of Cosenza took up his body and sent it out of the


s: kingdom, because it was the land of the church, and that it was


s: buried by the river Verde, on the borders of the kingdom and of


s: Carapagna. this, however, we do not affirm."  G. Villani, Hist.


s: v. 111.  Costanza.]  See Paradise Canto III.  v. 121.


s: v. 112.  My fair daughter.]  Costanza, the daughter of Manfredi,


s: and wife of Peter III.  King of Arragon, by whom she was mother


s: v. 127.  The stream of Verde.]  A river near Ascoli, that falls


s: into he Toronto. The "xtinguished lights " formed part of the


s: ceremony t the interment of one excommunicated.


s: Mentre che la speranza ha fior del verde.


s: v. 1.  When.] It must be owned the beginning of this Canto is


s: somewhat obscure. Bellutello refers, for an elucidation of it, to


s: illustration may be derived from the following, passage in


s: South's Sermons, in which I have ventured to supply the words


s: between crotchets that seemed to be wanting to complete


s: the sense. Now whether these three, judgement memory, and


s: invention, are three distinct things, both in being distinguished


s: itself, considered without any such faculties, (or whether the


s: soul be one individual substance) but only receiving these


s: several denominations rom the several respects arising from the


s: several actions exerted immediately by itself upon several


s: objects, or several qualities of the same object, I say whether


s: of these it is, is not easy to decide, and it is well that it is


s: not necessary Aquinas, and most with him, affirm the former, and


s: Scotus with his followers the latter." Vol. iv. Serm. 1.


s: v. 23.  Sanleo.]  A fortress on the summit of Montefeltro.


s: v. 24.  Noli.]  In the Genoese territory, between Finale and


s: v. 25.  Bismantua.]  A steep mountain in the territory of Reggio.


s: v. 55.  From the left.]  Vellutello observes an imitation of


s: Ignotum vobis, Arabes, venistis in orbem,


s: Umbras mirati nemornm non ire sinistras.


s: v. 69 Thou wilt see.]  "If you consider that this mountain of


s: Purgatory and that of Sion are antipodal to each other, you will


s: perceive that the sun must rise on opposite sides of the


s: v. 119.  Belacqua.]  Concerning this man, the commentators afford


s: v. 14.  Be as a tower.]  Sta  ome torre ferma


s: v. 36.  Ne'er saw I fiery vapours.]  Imitated by Tasso, G. L, c.


s: In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fir'd


s: v. 67.  That land.]  The Marca d'Ancona, between Romagna and


s: Apulia, the kingdom of Charles of Anjou.


s: v. 76.  From thence I came.]  Giacopo del Cassero, a citizen of


s: Fano who having spoken ill of Azzo da Este, Marquis of Ferrara,


s: was by his orders put to death.  Giacopo, was overtaken by the


s: assassins at Oriaco a place near the Brenta, from whence, if he


s: had fled towards Mira, higher up on that river, instead of making


s: v. 75.  Antenor's land.]  The city of Padua, said to be founded


s: v. 87.  Of Montefeltro I.]  Buonconte (son of Guido da


s: Montefeltro, whom we have had in the twenty-seventh Canto of


s: Hell) fell in the battle of Campaldino (1289), fighting on the


s: v. 88.  Giovanna.]  Either the wife, or kinswoman, of Buonconte.


s: v. 91.  The hermit's seat.]  The hermitage of Camaldoli.


s: v. 95.  Where its name is cancel'd.]  That is, between Bibbiena


s: and Poppi, where the Archiano falls into the Arno.


s: v. 115.  From Pratomagno to the mountain range.]  From Pratomagno


s: v. 131.  Pia.] She is said to have been a Siennese lady, of the


s: family of Tolommei, secretly made away with by her husband, Nello


s: v. 14.  Of Arezzo him.]  Benincasa of Arezzo, eminent for his


s: skill in jurisprudence, who, having condemned to death Turrino da


s: was murdered by Ghino, in an apartment of his own house, in the


s: presence of many witnesses. Ghino was not only suffered to escape


s: dispense the fruits of his plunder, and treated those who fell


s: into his hands with so much courtesy, that he was afterwards


s: invited to Rome, and knighted by Boniface VIII. A story is told


s: v. 15.  Him beside.]  Ciacco de' Tariatti of Arezzo.  He is said


s: to have been carried by his horse into the Arno, and there


s: drowned, while he was in pursuit of certain of his enemies.


s: v. 18.  Of Pisa he.]  Farinata de' Scornigiani of Pisa.  His


s: father Marzuco, who had entered the order of the Frati Minori, so


s: funeral, exhorted his kinsmen to reconciliation.


s: v. 20.  Count 0rso.]  Son of Napoleone da Cerbaia, slain by


s: an attempt upon her person for which supposed crime he suffered


s: death. So say the Italian commentators.  Henault represents the


s: matter very differently: "Pierre de la Brosse, formerly barber to


s: great attachment of the king for his wife Mary, accuses this


s: princess of having poisoned Louis, eldest son of Philip, by his


s: first marriage. This calumny is discovered by a nun of Nivelle in


s: v. 30.  In thy text.]  He refers to Virgil, Aen. 1, vi.  376.


s: Desine fata deum flecti sperare precando, 37. The sacred height


s: Of judgment. Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, a. ii. s. 2.


s: v. 66.  Eyeing us as a lion on his watch.]


s: A line taken by Tasso, G.  L. c. x. st. 56.


s: v. 76.  Sordello.]  The history of Sordello's life is wrapt in