The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

Canto XXVI. PURGATORY. 233 But if just now your words the truth did swear, Tell me the reason why you thus do show ^^® In speech and looks that you do hold me dear P" And I to him : ** Your verses dulcet flow The which as far as modern style can reach, Will make their very ink beloved below." " O brother," said he, " he whom I impeach," And towards a shade in front his hand did move, " Was better workman in his native speech : In prose romances and in lays of love All he surpast, whate'er the fools may say Who think Limoges' poet stands above : ^^^^ To clamour more than truth men turn alway, And hence is formed opinion 'mongst mankind, Till art and reason at the last find way. Thus many elders raised the shouting blind Yielding Guittone guerdon over all, ^^* Till truth has placed him many men behind. Now if to you such privilege befall, That you mayst enter in the College cloister, In which is Christ the Abbot of the Hall, Say to him there for me one Pater Noster, ^^ As far as spiiits in this world have need, Where unto us the power to sin is lost here." Haply to leave his place beside me, freed To the spirit near, he vanished in the fire. As in the wave a fish to the depths does speed. "* To him just shown to me I turned me nigher. And said that to his name a gracious place Had been made ready in my heart's desire. He then began to speak with liberal grace : " So much does charm me this your courtesy, "^ I would not, if I could, conceal my trace. I am Amauld, with tears and minstrelsy I go, in sorrow see the folly past, And joyous see the bliss I hope will be. Now I adjure you, by the virtue vast ^** Which guides you to the summit of the spire, Eemember on my grief your aid to cast." Then hid himself in the refining fire, Line 120. Grerault Berneil, who was oalled the Master of the Troubadours^ but whom Dante ranks below the Provencal poet Arnauld, here introduced.

CANTO XXVII. As the day closes they reach the station of the Angel, who directs them to pass through the fire, to ascend the last staircase. While ascending thi» the sun seUi, and the poets, unable to advance during the night, halt there until the morning. Dante, sleeping there, behol(U in a dream two females representing the active and conteniplative life. In the morning they reach the height, and Virgil directs Dante to follow alone his own promptings until the arrimEil of Beatrice, as bis own guardianship has ceased. So that his earliest rays were trembling o'er The land in which his Maker shed his blood, And Libra stood on high on Ebro's shore, And Gunges' wave with middaj glory glowed, The sun was stationed, so that sank the day ^ There, where God's Angel glad before us stood. Beyond the flame he stood, above the way, And sang : " Beati mundo corde," clear In voice, beyond the reach of human lay : Then, " Holy souls, you cannot further steer Until the flame has bit you ; enter brave. And be not deaf unto the song you'll hear." So spake he as we drew a near : believe When I heard that, that I all cold became. As one about to enter in his grave. Upon my claspM hand I bowed, the flame Regarding, and imagining beneath Sights seen of old of the charred human frame. My good guides turned towards me then, and says Virgil to me, " My son, undoubtedly ^ Here may be torment, but cannot be death. Bemember then, remember then, if I Upon yon Gerion you in safety led. Can I fail now, more near the Deity ? Believe for certain that within the bed ^ Of this flame you a thousand years might'st live, Nor could you lose one hair iipon your head. And if you think'st perchance that I deceive. Approach it, and your own experience try. With your own hands your garment's border give. Line 1. The sun was then rising at Jemsalcm, which being the antipodes of the mountain of Purgatory, it was setting there, wbile midday was over the Gkmges, and midnight in Spain.

Canto XXVII. PURGATORY. 235 Lay by henceforth, all cowardice lay by : Turn there, and onwards in security^" And I, against my conscience, still deny. When he my obstinate resolve did see, A little troubled spake he, " Son, descry, ^^ This is the wall 'twixt Beatrix and you.*' As at the name of Thisbe oped the eye Of Pyramus in death, to gaze on her, What time the mulberry changed to vermeil dye ; So all my hardness softening mellower, *• I turned unto my leader, hearing now That name which ever in my heart does stir. On which he shook his head, and uttered : " How, We would have stayed beyond ?" and smiling bent As o'er a child who to the bait does bow : *^ Within the flame before me then he went, Beseeching Statins to come close behind, Who erst bewixt us had some distance lent. When once within, in boiling glass to find Some coolness I would gladly refuge take, "^^ So was the heat immeasurably refined. Still my sweet father as he went did speak Of Beatrice for my comforting. Saying : " Her eyes already on me break." A voice did guide us onwards, which did sing ^^ On the other side ; attentive to its lay we Came outwards where the ascent did upwards spring. " Venite, Benedicti Patria mei,^* Sounded within a glory there, so bright That overcome I could not face its ray. He ^^ Added, " The sun descends, and comes the night : Make you no pause, but swiftly hurry on. The while the west has still its fading light." The pathway rose, cut straight within the stone. In such direction that my shade I threw •* Before me from the now low sinking sun. When we had mounted of the stairs a few. By my lost shadow, that the sun had set Behind us I and my wise comrades knew. And ere the vast horizon's rim had yet ^* Endued one single aspect in the shade, And wholly o'er the scene night's gloom was set. Line 39. The white fruit of the mulberry changed to red, dyed with the blood of Pyramns. Ovid Metam. iv., 125.