And he to me: "The four resplendent stars Thou sawest this morning are down yonder low, And these have mounted up to where those were." As he was speaking, to himself Sordello Drew him, and said, "Lo there our Adversary!" 95 Upon the side on which the little valley No barrier hath, a serpent was; perchance The same which gave to Eve the bitter food. "Twixt grass and flowers came on the evil streak, Turning at times its head about, and licking Its back like to a beast that smoothes itself. I did not see, and therefore cannot say How the celestial falcons 'gan to move, But well I saw that they were both in motion. Hearing the air cleft by their verdant wings, The serpent fled, and round the Angels wheeled, Up to their stations flying back alike. The shade that to the Judge had near approached 100 105 When he had called, throughout that whole assault 110 "So may the light that leadeth thee on high Find in thine own free-will as much of wax Began it, "if some true intelligence Of Valdimagra or its neighborhood 115 Thou knowest, tell it me, who once was great there. Currado Malaspina was I called; I'm not the elder, but from him descended; To mine I bore the love which here refineth." "O," said I unto him, “ "through your domains 120 I never passed, but where is there a dwelling Throughout all Europe, where they are not known? That fame, which doeth honor to your house, Proclaims its Signors and proclaims its land, So that he knows of them who ne'er was there. And, as I hope for heaven, I swear to you Your honored family in naught abates The glory of the purse and of the sword. It is so privileged by use and nature, That though a guilty head misguide the world, Before that such a courteous opinion Shall in the middle of thy head be nailed Unless the course of justice standeth still.” 125 130 135 CANTO IX. HE concubine of old Tithonus now THE With Gleamed white upon the eastern balcony, Forth from the arms of her sweet paramour; gems her forehead all relucent was, Set in the shape of that cold animal Which with its tail doth smite amain the nations, And of the steps, with which she mounts, the Night Had taken two in that place where we were, And now the third was bending down its wings; When I, who something had of Adam in me, Vanquished by sleep, upon the grass reclined, Just at the hour when her sad lay begins The little swallow, near unto the morning, Perchance in memory of her former woes, And when the mind of man, a wanderer 5 10 15 More from the flesh, and less by thought imprisoned, In dreams it seemed to me I saw suspended An eagle in the sky, with plumes of gold, With wings wide open, and intent to stoop, By Ganymede his kith and kin abandoned, From habit only here, and from elsewhere Then wheeling somewhat more, it seemed to me, And snatched me upward even to the fire. And the imagined fire did scorch me so, Not otherwise Achilles started up, Around him turning his awakened eyes, And knowing not the place in which he was, What time from Chiron stealthily his mother Wherefrom the Greeks withdrew him afterwards, Than I upstarted, when from off my face Sleep fled away; and pallid I became, As doth the man who freezes with affright. 35 40 Only my Comforter was at my side, And now the sun was more than two hours high, And turned towards the sea-shore was my face. "Be not intimidated," said my Lord, "Be reassured, for all is well with us; Do not restrain, but put forth all thy strength. Thou hast at length arrived at Purgatory; See there the cliff that closes it around; See there the entrance, where it seems disjoined. Whilom at dawn, which doth precede the day, When inwardly thy spirit was asleep Upon the flowers that deck the land below, Let me take this one up, who is asleep; Remained; she took thee, and, as day grew bright, Upward she came, and I upon her footsteps. She laid thee here; and first her beauteous eyes That open entrance pointed out to me; In guise of one whose doubts are reassured, And who to confidence his fear doth change, 45 50 55 60 65 |