PURGATORIO. CANTO I. To run o'er better waters hoists its sail But let dead Poesy here rise again, O holy Muses, since that I am yours, My song accompanying with that sound, Of which the miserable magpies felt The blow so great, that they despaired of pardon. That was upgathered in the cloudless aspect Sweet colour of the oriental sapphire, Of the pure air, as far as the first circle, Unto mine eyes did recommence delight Soon as I issued forth from the dead air, Which had with sadness filled mine eyes and breast. The beauteous planet, that to love incites, There where the Wain had disappeared already, 10 15 20 25 3> I saw beside me an old man alone, Worthy of so much reverence in his look, The He wore, in semblance like unto the tresses, Or is there changed in heaven some council new, And with his words, and with his hands and signs, A Lady from Heaven descended, at whose prayers But since it is thy will more be unfolded Of our condition, how it truly is, Mine cannot be that this should be denied thee. This one has never his last evening seen, But by his folly was so near to it That very little time was there to turn. As I have said, I unto him was sent To rescue him, and other way was none I've shown him all the people of perdition, And now those spirits I intend to show Who purge themselves beneath thy guardianship. By us the eternal edicts are not broken; Since this one lives, and Minos binds not me; I will take back this grace from thee to her, While I was on the other side,” then said he, She can no longer move me, by that law But if a Lady of Heaven do move and rule thee, Go, then, and see thou gird this one about With a smooth rush, and that thou wash his face, For 'twere not fitting that the eye o'ercast This little island round about its base Below there, yonder, where the billow beats it, Or that doth indurate, can there have life, The sun, which now is rising, will direct you Without a word, and wholly drew myself As one who unto the lost road returns, 80 85 ၄၁ 95 100 103 110 115 120 As soon as we were come to where the dew In gentle manner did my Master place; There did he make in me uncovered wholly That hue which Hell had covered up in me. Then came we down upon the desert shore Which never yet saw navigate its waters O marvellous! for even as he culled 125 130 135 CANTO II. ALREADY had the sun the horizon reached And night that opposite to him revolves Was issuing forth from Ganges with the Scales So that the white and the vermilion cheeks Of beautiful Aurora, where I was, By too great age were changing into orange. We still were on the border of the sea, Like people who are thinking of their road, Appeared to me—may I again behold it !— A light along the sea so swiftly coming, Mine eyes, that I might question my Conductor, Then on each side of it appeared to me I knew not what of white, and underneath it 5 ΤΟ 15 20 My Master yet had uttered not a word While the first whiteness into wings unfolded; But when he clearly recognised the pilot, He cried: "Make haste, make haste to bow the knee! See how he scorneth human arguments, So that nor oar he wants, nor other sail Fanning the air with the eternal pinions, The Bird Divine, more radiant he appeared, With a small vessel, very swift and light, Beatitude seemed written in his face, And more than a hundred spirits sat within. "In exitu Israel de Ægypto!" They chanted all together in one voice, With whatso in that psalm is after written. Then made he sign of holy rood upon them, Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore, And he departed swiftly as he came. The throng which still remained there unfamiliar Seemed with the place, all round about them gazing, On every side was darting forth the day 55 The sun, who had with his resplendent shafts From the mid-heaven chased forth the Capricorn, When the new people lifted up their faces Show us the way to go unto the mountain." 60 Towards us, saying to us: "If ye know, And answer made Virgilius: "Ye believe Perchance that we have knowledge of this place, Just now we came, a little while before you, Another way, which was so rough and steep, That mounting will henceforth seem sport to us." The souls who had, from seeing me draw breath, Become aware that I was still alive, Pallid in their astonishment became ; 65 |