The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

CANTO XVI. Dante proceeds througli the smoke, guided by Virgil, and hears the voices of spirits who are purged there from the sin of Anger. He converses with Marco Lombardo, from whom he inquires the reason of the deseneracy of the age. The spirit points out to him the error of attributing it to necessity, or the starry influences, as man is gifted with free will, and explains it as the consequence of the union of temporal and spiritual powers in the Papal Government. Dabkness of Hell, and of a night depriven Of every planet 'neath a murky sky O'er which the clouds in hurraing gloom are driven, Ne'er made so thick a veil before my eye, As did that smoke which us enshrouded there, '' Nor to the sense so rough, and harshly dry. To stay unclosed the eyesight could not bear : On which my escort wise, so often tried, Drew near, and offered me his shoulder fair. So like a blind man goes behind his guide, ^^ Not to forsake the pathway, nor be shent 'Gainst anything where danger may abide, Through that most foul and bitter air I went, Aye listening to my leader, who did say, " Watch only that from me you be'st not rent/* ^^ And voices then I heard, which seemed to pray For peace, and for compassion, all and each, Unto God's Angel, who lifts sins away. The Agnus Dei aye began their speech, In all one word, one manner did appear, ^^ To perfect concord they had seemed to reach. " These must be spirits, master, whom I hear ?*' I said ; and he to me : " You judgest true. Loosening the bond of anger, go they here.** " Now, who art you, our smoke who cleavest through, ^ And yet do speak of us, as if that you Still time by calends did divide anew ?** Thus by a voice was spoken there I trow : On which my master said ; " Do you reply, And ask if hence the way above does go." ^ " O creature who do clear yourself," said I, " To turn again to him, who made you, fair, You'lt hear a marvel if with me will hie." Line 27. As if you were still living, and computing time.

192 PURGATORY. Cahto XVI. " I'll follow you as far as I may fare," He answered, " since the smoke does not permit ^^ To see, we'll keep together by the ear/' Then I began, ** That burden which we quit, Dissolved by death, I bear with me above. And here have come from the infernal pit. If Gk)d has chosen me with such a love, ' ^ So that he wills that I should see his court In way, from modem use, that far does rove, Conceal not from me, who ere death you were, But say and tell me, if direct I go. Unto the pass, your words be our escort." *^ " Marco Lombardo was my name below, The world I knew, that worth I well did love, To which now each one has relaxed the bow : To mount above, you do straightforward move." So answered he, and added : " You I pray ^ To pray for me, when you shall be above." And I to him : " I bind my faith to you To do the thing you askest : but I own A doubt within, I cannot clear away. First it was single, now 'tis double grown *^ Through this your judgment, which now makes me sure Coupled with what was elsewhere to me shown. The world in sooth is altogether poor Of every virtue, as you now did say. And covered heavily with malice' store : ^ But point me out the reason now I pray, Which I may see and unto others show, Since one in Heaven, and one on earth does lay." A deep sigh laden with the soul of woe He vented first, then, " Brother," he began, ^ " The world is blind, you comest from below. All you who live, attribute every plan To skyey influence, as if that all Through stern necessity in first grooves ran. If thus it were, 'twould be the funeral ™ Of your free will, and justice 'twould not be That joy on good, and grief on ill should &.11. Line 46. A Venetian gentleman, Lombard in name and nation. Line 57- Referring to Gnido del Dnca, who was also a laudator temporia acti. Line 63. Some attribute this degeneracy to mankind, and some to the influence of the stars, which it is impossible to evade.

Canto XVI. PURGATORY. 193 The sky begins your movements, I agree : I say not all : supposing so I said, For good and evil, light is granted you : " And will all free ; which, if when sore bestead,- It can, in struggle with the sky, endure. Will conquer all things then, well nourishM. To a better nature, and a higher power, Though subject you are free, and that does make ^ Your soul, on which the skies no influence shower. But if the present world does worth forsake. To you the true cause will I now declare. In you the reason lies, you there must seek. There issues from his hand, who loves it, ere ^ It be, in fashion of a little child. Weeping and laughing with an infant's air The soul all simple, by no lore defiled. Save that as prompted by a Maker kind. To aught that pleases it, it turns beguiled. ^ Of lower good the taste it first does find ; There 'tis deceived, and runs after it. If guide or curb its longing does not bind. Hence it*behoved the laws to place for bit : Kings it behoved to have, that one might greet ^ At least the turret of a city fit. Laws are there, but who yields observance meet ? No one because the Pastor who's supreme. Can ruminate, but has not cloven iQQt. Therefore the people, greedy of the same, ^^ Seeing their guide to worldly 'vantage cleave. Pasture on that, and nothing further claim. Their evil teaching, well may you believe The reason why the world has grown so vile. And not corrupted nature that you have. ^^*