Purgatory

by Dante Alighieri

  Clipp’d the diminish’d orb. As when the ray,

  But your old enemy so baits his hook,

  42

  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Striking On water or the surface clear

  And thus of him inquiring, fram’d my speech:

  Of mirror, leaps unto the opposite part,

  “What meant Romagna’s spirit, when he spake

  Ascending at a glance, e’en as it fell,

  Of bliss exclusive with no partner shar’d?”

  (And so much differs from the stone, that falls

  He straight replied: “No wonder, since he knows, Through equal space, as practice skill hath shown;

  What sorrow waits on his own worst defect,

  Thus with refracted light before me seemed

  If he chide others, that they less may mourn.

  The ground there smitten; whence in sudden haste

  Because ye point your wishes at a mark,

  My sight recoil’d. “What is this, sire belov’d!

  Where, by communion of possessors, part

  ‘Gainst which I strive to shield the sight in vain?”

  Is lessen’d, envy bloweth up the sighs of men.

  Cried I, “and which towards us moving seems?”

  No fear of that might touch ye, if the love

  “Marvel not, if the family of heav’n,”

  Of higher sphere exalted your desire.

  He answer’d, “yet with dazzling radiance dim

  For there, by how much more they call it ours,

  Thy sense it is a messenger who comes,

  So much propriety of each in good

  Inviting man’s ascent. Such sights ere long,

  Increases more, and heighten’d charity

  Not grievous, shall impart to thee delight,

  Wraps that fair cloister in a brighter flame.”

  As thy perception is by nature wrought

  “Now lack I satisfaction more,” said I,

  Up to their pitch.” The blessed angel, soon

  “Than if thou hadst been silent at the first,

  As we had reach’d him, hail’d us with glad voice:

  And doubt more gathers on my lab’ring thought.

  “Here enter on a ladder far less steep

  How can it chance, that good distributed,

  Than ye have yet encounter’d.” We forthwith

  The many, that possess it, makes more rich,

  Ascending, heard behind us chanted sweet,

  Than if ‘t were shar’d by few?” He answering thus:

  “Blessed the merciful,” and “happy thou!

  “Thy mind, reverting still to things of earth,

  That conquer’st.” Lonely each, my guide and I

  Strikes darkness from true light. The highest good

  Pursued our upward way; and as we went,

  Unlimited, ineffable, doth so speed

  Some profit from his words I hop’d to win,

  To love, as beam to lucid body darts,

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  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Giving as much of ardour as it finds.

  Appear’d before me, down whose visage cours’d

  The sempiternal effluence streams abroad

  Those waters, that grief forces out from one

  Spreading, wherever charity extends.

  By deep resentment stung, who seem’d to say:

  So that the more aspirants to that bliss

  “If thou, Pisistratus, be lord indeed

  Are multiplied, more good is there to love,

  Over this city, nam’d with such debate

  And more is lov’d; as mirrors, that reflect,

  Of adverse gods, and whence each science sparkles,

  Each unto other, propagated light.

  Avenge thee of those arms, whose bold embrace

  If these my words avail not to allay

  Hath clasp’d our daughter; “and to fuel, meseem’d,

  Thy thirsting, Beatrice thou shalt see,

  Benign and meek, with visage undisturb’d,

  Who of this want, and of all else thou hast,

  Her sovran spake: “How shall we those requite,

  Shall rid thee to the full. Provide but thou

  Who wish us evil, if we thus condemn

  That from thy temples may be soon eras’d,

  The man that loves us?” After that I saw

  E’en as the two already, those five scars,

  A multitude, in fury burning, slay

  That when they pain thee worst, then kindliest heal,”

  With stones a stripling youth, and shout amain

  “Thou,” I had said, “content’st me,” when I saw

  “Destroy, destroy“: and him I saw, who bow’d

  The other round was gain’d, and wond’ring eyes

  Heavy with death unto the ground, yet made

  Did keep me mute. There suddenly I seem’d

  His eyes, unfolded upward, gates to heav’n,

  By an ecstatic vision wrapt away;

  Praying forgiveness of th’ Almighty Sire,

  And in a temple saw, methought, a crowd

  Amidst that cruel conflict, on his foes,

  Of many persons; and at th’ entrance stood

  With looks, that With compassion to their aim.

  A dame, whose sweet demeanour did express

  Soon as my spirit, from her airy flight

  A mother’s love, who said, “Child! why hast thou

  Returning, sought again the things, whose truth

  Dealt with us thus? Behold thy sire and I

  Depends not on her shaping, I observ’d

  Sorrowing have sought thee”; and so held her peace, How she had rov’d to no unreal scenes

  And straight the vision fled. A female next

  Meanwhile the leader, who might see I mov’d,

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  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory As one, who struggles to shake off his sleep,

  There was no room for ‘scaping; and that mist

  Exclaim’d: “What ails thee, that thou canst not hold Bereft us, both of sight and the pure air.

  Thy footing firm, but more than half a league

  Hast travel’d with clos’d eyes and tott’ring gait,

  CANTO XVI

  Like to a man by wine or sleep o’ercharg’d?”

  “Beloved father! so thou deign,” said I,

  Hell’s dunnest gloom, or night unlustrous, dark,

  “To listen, I will tell thee what appear’d

  Of every planes ‘reft, and pall’d in clouds,

  Before me, when so fail’d my sinking steps.”

  Did never spread before the sight a veil

  He thus: “Not if thy Countenance were mask’d

  In thickness like that fog, nor to the sense

  With hundred vizards, could a thought of thine

  So palpable and gross. Ent’ring its shade,

  How small soe’er, elude me. What thou saw’st

  Mine eye endured not with unclosed lids;

  Was shown, that freely thou mightst ope thy heart

  Which marking, near me drew the faithful guide,

  To the waters of peace, that flow diffus’d

  Offering me his shoulder for a stay.

  From their eternal fountain. I not ask’d,

  As the blind man behind his leader walks,

  What ails thee? for such cause as he doth, who

  Lest he should err, or stumble unawares

  Looks only with that eye which sees no more,

  On what might harm him, or perhaps destroy,

  When spiritless the body lies; but ask’d,

  I journey’d through that bitter air and foul,

  To give fresh vigour to thy foot. Such goads

  Still list’ning to my escort’s warning voice,

  The slow and loit’ring need; that they be found

  “Look that from me thou part not.” Straight I heard Not wanting, when
their hour of watch returns.”

  Voices, and each one seem’d to pray for peace,

  So on we journey’d through the evening sky

  And for compassion, to the Lamb of God

  Gazing intent, far onward, as our eyes

  That taketh sins away. Their prelude still

  With level view could stretch against the bright

  Was “Agnus Dei,” and through all the choir,

  Vespertine ray: and lo! by slow degrees

  One voice, one measure ran, that perfect seem’d

  Gath’ring, a fog made tow’rds us, dark as night.

  The concord of their song. “Are these I hear

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  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Spirits, O master?” I exclaim’d; and he:

  The way directing as a safe escort.”

  “Thou aim’st aright: these loose the bonds of wrath.”

  “I was of Lombardy, and Marco call’d:

  “Now who art thou, that through our smoke dost Not inexperienc’d of the world, that worth

  cleave?

  I still affected, from which all have turn’d

  And speak’st of us, as thou thyself e’en yet

  The nerveless bow aside. Thy course tends right

  Dividest time by calends?” So one voice

  Unto the summit:” and, replying thus,

  Bespake me; whence my master said: “Reply;

  He added, “I beseech thee pray for me,

  And ask, if upward hence the passage lead.”

  When thou shalt come aloft.” And I to him:

  “O being! who dost make thee pure, to stand

  “Accept my faith for pledge I will perform

  Beautiful once more in thy Maker’s sight!

  What thou requirest. Yet one doubt remains,

  Along with me: and thou shalt hear and wonder.”

  That wrings me sorely, if I solve it not,

  Thus I, whereto the spirit answering spake:

  Singly before it urg’d me, doubled now

  “Long as ‘t is lawful for me, shall my steps

  By thine opinion, when I couple that

  Follow on thine; and since the cloudy smoke

  With one elsewhere declar’d, each strength’ning other.

  Forbids the seeing, hearing in its stead

  The world indeed is even so forlorn

  Shall keep us join’d.” I then forthwith began

  Of all good as thou speak’st it and so swarms

  “Yet in my mortal swathing, I ascend

  With every evil. Yet, beseech thee, point

  To higher regions, and am hither come

  The cause out to me, that myself may see,

  Through the fearful agony of hell.

  And unto others show it: for in heaven

  And, if so largely God hath doled his grace,

  One places it, and one on earth below.”

  That, clean beside all modern precedent,

  Then heaving forth a deep and audible sigh,

  He wills me to behold his kingly state,

  “Brother!” he thus began, “the world is blind;

  From me conceal not who thou wast, ere death

  And thou in truth com’st from it. Ye, who live,

  Had loos’d thee; but instruct me: and instruct

  Do so each cause refer to heav’n above,

  If rightly to the pass I tend; thy words

  E’en as its motion of necessity

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  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Drew with it all that moves. If this were so,

  With fondness she pursues it, if no guide

  Free choice in you were none; nor justice would

  Recall, no rein direct her wand’ring course.

  There should be joy for virtue, woe for ill.

  Hence it behov’d, the law should be a curb;

  Your movements have their primal bent from heaven;

  A sovereign hence behov’d, whose piercing view

  Not all; yet said I all; what then ensues?

  Might mark at least the fortress and main tower

  Light have ye still to follow evil or good,

  Of the true city. Laws indeed there are:

  And of the will free power, which, if it stand

  But who is he observes them? None; not he,

  Firm and unwearied in Heav’n’s first assay,

  Who goes before, the shepherd of the flock,

  Conquers at last, so it be cherish’d well,

  Who chews the cud but doth not cleave the hoof.

  Triumphant over all. To mightier force,

  Therefore the multitude, who see their guide

  To better nature subject, ye abide

  Strike at the very good they covet most,

  Free, not constrain’d by that, which forms in you

  Feed there and look no further. Thus the cause

  The reasoning mind uninfluenc’d of the stars.

  Is not corrupted nature in yourselves,

  If then the present race of mankind err,

  But ill-conducting, that hath turn’d the world

  Seek in yourselves the cause, and find it there.

  To evil. Rome, that turn’d it unto good,

  Herein thou shalt confess me no false spy.

  Was wont to boast two suns, whose several beams

  “Forth from his plastic hand, who charm’d beholds Cast light on either way, the world’s and God’s.

  Her image ere she yet exist, the soul

  One since hath quench’d the other; and the sword

  Comes like a babe, that wantons sportively

  Is grafted on the crook; and so conjoin’d

  Weeping and laughing in its wayward moods,

  Each must perforce decline to worse, unaw’d

  As artless and as ignorant of aught,

  By fear of other. If thou doubt me, mark

  Save that her Maker being one who dwells

  The blade: each herb is judg’d of by its seed.

  With gladness ever, willingly she turns

  That land, through which Adice and the Po

  To whate’er yields her joy. Of some slight good

  Their waters roll, was once the residence

  The flavour soon she tastes; and, snar’d by that,

  Of courtesy and velour, ere the day,

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  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory That frown’d on Frederick; now secure may pass

  Another name to grace him. God be with you.

  Those limits, whosoe’er hath left, for shame,

  I bear you company no more. Behold

  To talk with good men, or come near their haunts.

  The dawn with white ray glimm’ring through the

  Three aged ones are still found there, in whom

  mist.

  The old time chides the new: these deem it long

  I must away—the angel comes—ere he

  Ere God restore them to a better world:

  Appear.” He said, and would not hear me more.

  The good Gherardo, of Palazzo he

  Conrad, and Guido of Castello, nam’d

  CANTO XVII

  In Gallic phrase more fitly the plain Lombard.

  On this at last conclude. The church of Rome,

  Call to remembrance, reader, if thou e’er

  Mixing two governments that ill assort,

  Hast, on a mountain top, been ta’en by cloud,

  Hath miss’d her footing, fall’n into the mire,

  Through which thou saw’st no better, than the mole

  And there herself and burden much defil’d.”

  Doth through opacous membrane; then, whene’er

  “O Marco!” I replied, shine arguments

  The wat’ry vapours dense began to melt

  Convince me: and the cause I now discern

  Into thin air, how faintly the sun’s sphere

  Why of the heritage no portion came

  Seem�
��d wading through them; so thy nimble thought

  To Levi’s offspring. But resolve me this

  May image, how at first I re-beheld

  Who that Gherardo is, that as thou sayst

  The sun, that bedward now his couch o’erhung.

  Is left a sample of the perish’d race,

  Thus with my leader’s feet still equaling pace And for rebuke to this untoward age?”

  From forth that cloud I came, when now expir’d

  “Either thy words,” said he, “deceive; or else The parting beams from off the nether shores.

  Are meant to try me; that thou, speaking Tuscan,

  O quick and forgetive power! that sometimes dost Appear’st not to have heard of good Gherado;

  So rob us of ourselves, we take no mark

  The sole addition that, by which I know him;

  Though round about us thousand trumpets clang!

  Unless I borrow’d from his daughter Gaia

  What moves thee, if the senses stir not? Light

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  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Kindled in heav’n, spontaneous, self-inform’d,

  The broken slumber quivering ere it dies;

  Or likelier gliding down with swift illapse

  Thus from before me sunk that imagery

  By will divine. Portray’d before me came

  Vanishing, soon as on my face there struck

  The traces of her dire impiety,

  The light, outshining far our earthly beam.

  Whose form was chang’d into the bird, that most

  As round I turn’d me to survey what place

  Delights itself in song: and here my mind

  I had arriv’d at, “Here ye mount,” exclaim’d

  Was inwardly so wrapt, it gave no place

  A voice, that other purpose left me none,

  To aught that ask’d admittance from without.

  Save will so eager to behold who spake,

  Next shower’d into my fantasy a shape

  I could not choose but gaze. As ‘fore the sun,

  As of one crucified, whose visage spake

  That weighs our vision down, and veils his form

  Fell rancour, malice deep, wherein he died;

  In light transcendent, thus my virtue fail’d

  And round him Ahasuerus the great king,

  Unequal. “This is Spirit from above,

  Esther his bride, and Mordecai the just,

  Who marshals us our upward way, unsought;

  Blameless in word and deed. As of itself

  And in his own light shrouds him;. As a man

  That unsubstantial coinage of the brain

  Doth for himself, so now is done for us.

  Burst, like a bubble, Which the water fails