The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

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212 PURGATORY. Cakto XXI. But tell us why such shocks, if you do know, The mountain gave just now, and why did cry • ^ They all together to the waves below ?" So askt he, fitting in the needle's eye Of my desire, that only with the hope Of satisfaction grew my thirst less dry. Began he : " Nothing here beyond the cope Of order feels this mountain's piety. And nothing haps beyond the accustomed scope. From every alteration here 'tis free : From what Heaven to and from itself does owe, And from no other influence may it be, Because nor either rain, nor hail, nor snow. Nor dew, nor hoar frost e'er can fall adown Above that stair of three low steps I trow. Dense clouds, or lighter never here can wonne. Nor lightning, nor Thaumantia's daughter bright. ^ Which ever on the earth still shifts on. Dry vapour cannot rise beyond the height Of the three entrance stairs of which I spake. Where plants his feet Saint Peter's vicar bright. Lower perchance, it more or less can shake : But e'er by wind, within the earth concealed. How I know not, above it cannot quake. With us it trembles, when some spirit healed . Is felt to rise, in act to soar above. With helpful greeting there such cry is pealed. Purification, will alone does prove. For wholly free to change its company, The soul it seizes, and assists with love. The will was ever there, but 'twas not free, For justice all divine, against desire. Proportioned to the sin the penalty. And I, who've lain within that sorro\^ul fire Five hundred years, and more, but now perceived The will released to a better home to aspire. Therefore you felt'st the mountain all upheaved,' And the pious spirits render praise to God, May He soon raise them from their pain relieved.

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Line 45. Yentnri considers this to be light. I consider it may mean simply a pore heavenly influence, distinct from every elemental cause.

Line 50. Iris, the rainbow. Line 61.

The only restraining power to keep the soul in Purgatory is the will, which will not wish to depart until the penalty has been fully satisfactory to the sin.

Canto XXI. PURQATORr. 213 Thus spake he, and as bliss the greater flowed From drinking, as the previous thirst was great, I cannot tell the joy which he bestowed. '* Then my wise leader : " Now I see the net Which holds you here, and how from henc« you go, Wherefore it shakes, and you rejoice thereat : Now who you were, be pleasid that I know, And why so many ages you were laid ^^ Here, with an answer bind me to you now.'* " In the time when worthy Titus, with the aid Of the highest King, avenged the holy wounds, Whence flowed the blood by Judas' lip betrayed ; The name that longest lasts, and most redounds, ^ Did I possess on earth," replied that spirit, " Though not yet now within the true Faith's bounds. Such sweetness did my vocal soul inherit That from Toulouse did Bome my presence claim. And deemed my brow the myrtle wreath to merit. '• Statins on earth still me the people name : I sang of Thebes, and then Achilles great, Although I fell beneath that second theme. The sparks were seeds to my poetic heat. Which warmed me ever from that flame divine, •* More than a thousand have been lit thereat. I speak of the Eneid, mother mine. And nurse it was in poetry sublime ; Without it I had never writ a line. And only to have lived on earth what time ^*" Virgil was living, I would stay a year In this stern banishment, beyond my time." Virgil turned towards me when that smote his ear With look that in its silence, silence said ; But all it wishes, will cannot forbear : ^^ For smiles and tears to diverse passion wed. Upon that passion follow so instinct. In open natures, will is quite outsped. I smiled then, as a man who takes a hint t On which the shade in silence watcht my eyes, ^^° Where the inward thought is shown the most distinct. " Ah to success conduct your great emprise !" He said, " But tell me why your face has shown Just now that rapid smile, like lightning rise ?" Line 89^ Dante falls into the error of confoandinsf the poet Statins with a Rhetorician of that name who was a native of Tonloase. The poet was a Napolitain. Line 98. Statins died when he had only commenced the " Achilleid.*'