The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

Canto XXIV. PURGATORY. 225 Appeared the living branches, thick with fruit Of another tree, which not far distant stands. Then, when towards it first was turned our route, ^^ People I saw beneath it raise their hands. And cry I know not what towards the leaves. Like eager children, making vain demands. To whom the one besought no answer gives : But to increase their fervent longing, rears "^ On high the bait, and all unhidden leaves, Then, as if undeceived, each onwards steers : And we to the great tree advanced anon. The which denies so many prayers, and tears. " Beware of touching me, but pass you on : *** The tree, whose fruit Eve tasted, you will view Yet higher, though this graft from it is grown." So 'mid the branches spake, I know not who ; Whence Virgil, Statins, and myself past close On that side where the mountain lifts ; anew ^*® It spake to us : " Eecall to memory those Cursed sons of cloud, who their debauch scarce ended. Fought against Theseus, double-breasted foes : And those soft Hebrews, who their draft extended So long, that Gideon had but comrades few '^* What time 'gainst Madian he the hills descended." Creeping along the cliff, we issued through. Hearing those tales of sinfal gluttony, Followed for ever by its gains untrue. Then on the path united, once more free, ^^ A thousand steps and more we travelled on. In contemplation each, and silently. ** What walk you thinking of, you three alone ?" A voice spake suddenly, on which with dread I started like a frighted colt half grown. ^" To see what it might be I raised my head. And never yet in furnace were there seen Metals or glass so shining, and so red, As one I saw, who told us : " If you mean To travel upwards, you must turn this way ; ^*^ Hence go they all, who seek for peace serene." His aspect had my vision ta'en away. Therefore behind my teacher's track withdrawn, I went like one who listening finds his way. Line 122. The Centaurs. Ovid, Metam. 12. Line 124. Judges, ch. yii., vr. 5, 6, and 7*

22o PURGATORY. Cakto XXV. And like the breezy herald of the dawn ^*^ Moves the air of May and breathes sweet, All pregnant of the flowers and grassy lawn, So on my brow I felt a soft breeze beat, And clearly heard the moving of a wing Scenting the soft air with ambrosia sweet : ^^^ And words I gathered : ** Blest in whom does spring Such grace, that in their breasts the love of food Cannot enkindle too great hankering, Who ever hunger after heavenly good."

CANTO XXV. As tbey ascend the stair, Dante expresses his wonder at the leanness of the spirits in the last circle, who as spirits stand in no need of nourishment. On Virgil's request, Statins, to explain his difficulty, describes the generation of the human body, its junction with the soul, and the nature ot the latter after its passage to another world. They then reach the seventh cornice, where those who have been guilty of incontinence are purified in fire. The spirits in the fire record celebrated examples of Chastity. Now without pause 'twas time to mount the height, Since the meridian circle of the day Filled Taurus' star, the Scorpion's that of night. So, as an eager man, who cannot stay. But presses on his road, whate'er appears, ^ When any purpose pricks him on his way ; So entered we upon the narrow stairs, The one before the other hurrying on, Since climbers there, the narrow strait unpairs. And like a young stork lifts its pinion ^^ With wish to fly, but cannot yet attain To rise above its nest, and falls down ; So rose in me the wish, and fell again, To question, coming even to the deed Of one who makes preparation fain ^'' To speak. He did not slacken his swift speed, My own sweet father, but he said : ** Shoot on The shaft of speech you'st drawn unto the head." My lips I opened then, more certain grown. And thus began : ** How are they made so meagre, ^ There, where no need of nourishment is known?" Line 2. It was two o'clock in the afternoon ; the constellation of Taurus, the next to that of Aries, in which was the sun, being then in the meridian, and consequently tliat of the Scorpion, which was opposite to Taurus, was in the meridian of the night.