The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
Cafto p. 135How I bare led him it were long to clear ; From high came virtue whiqh such help did leud To lead him to behold thee and to bear. His advent here now please thee to befriend ; '® He seeketh liberty, acknowledged dear Bj one who for its sake bis life did end.
Thou know'st it ; since for it Death had no fear In TJtica for thee where thou hast left The garb which on the great day will shine clear. ^* For us the eternal edicts are not cleft ; Since this one lives, nor Minos biudetb me ; But I am of the circle where bereft Thy Marzia's chaste eyes still are praying thee, O holy breast ! to hold her for thine own ! ^ By her love then unto our prayer agree.
Through thy seven kingdoms grant us leave to wonne The grace obtained from thee, to her I'll bear, K to be named there thou dost not disown. " In Marzia did my eyes such pleasure share ** Whilst thitherwards I lingered," then he said, " That she obtained from me her every prayer. Now that she dwells beyond that river dread.
She cannot move me more by that decree Ordained what time that I from hence was led. ^ But if a lady from the sky rules thee, As thou dost say, of flattery is no need, Suffice it for her sake to urge thy plea.
Go onwards then, and with a slender reed See that thou gird this man, and lave his face So that all stain of foulness hence be freed ; Since 'twould be most unfitting, with the trace Of any cloud to appear before the Prime Guardian, who comes of Paradisal race. This islet all around to its lowest rim ^^ Down thither, where the ocean beats its shore, Produceth reeds upon its moistened slime. Line 73.
Dante appears to have held Cato in peonliar veneration, bat there is no satisfactory reason to be foond for his having chosen a Pagan as the ffxiardian of his Christian For^tory. He and Virgu are the only spirits, not Christians, whom he has permitted to pass beyond the bounds of Limbo. Line 82. The seven rounds into which it will be found that the Purgatory is divided, in each of which is purged away one capital sin. Line 94.
The reed with which Dante is directed to be girt is supposed to be typical of humility, and the washing with dew is clearly so of spiritual purincation.
p. 136Cajtto I. No other plant that leaflet ever bore, Or that grew hard, were able there to grow ; This yieldeth to the ocean's smiting roar. ^^ Bj this way afterwards return not : lo ! The sun will show thy road, which soon will rise Where easiest slopes the mountain upwards go. He disappeared, and then I did arise Without a word, and to my leader drew "® Entirely, and towards him raised my eyes.
Then he began : ** O son, my steps pursue ; Back will we turn, for on that side declines The plain towards its slope, as we can view. Above the dawn the hour of mom now shines, "* Which fled before it, so, as far I strain, I recognised the seashore's trembling lines.
We walked across the solitary plain As one who from a lost road turns anew, Whose wanderings until then had seemed in vain. ^ When we had reached the region where the dew Fights with the sun, and in attempt to pass Towards the shade, its folded cloud breaks through ; With both his hands from off the scattered grass My master tenderly the moisture takes ; ^ Whence I, who of his wish perceptive was. Extended towards him my all-tearful cheeks.
And there discovered, on my face once more. The hue of life that Hell had shrouded, breaks. When we had come on that deserted shore, ^^ Which never yet saw navigate its main. The man who to return possessed the lore, As to that other pleased he girt me then ; O marvel ! for the instant that he chose The humble plant, as erst 'twas born again, *** "And where he plucked it suddenly upgrows. Line 131.
Across this ocean the spirits are carried to Pargatory in the spirit bark described in the next Canto. Ulysses and his companions were the only mortals who had attempted the voyage, and their fate is described in the 26th Canto of Hell. 136. From Virgil. " Uno avolso non deficit alter." — -ffln., book vi.
CANTO II. A light rises on the distant ocean, which, advancing with marvellous speed, is seen to be the bark in which the spirits are brought to Purgatory by an angel. When the troop land upon the shore, Dante vainly endeavours to embrace one of the spirits, whom he recognises for his friend CaseUa.
The latter, to please Dante, sings one of his canzoni, to which while all are rapt in attention Cato rebukes them for dallying on their way, and all hurry towardd the mountain.
The sun already to the horizon's rim Had travelled, whose meridian circle lieth In apogee above Jerusalem : And opposite to him the night that flieth, Issued from out the Ganges, with the scales ^ That from his hands fall when too late she hieth : So that the white and vermeil hue that veils The fair Aurora's cheeks, as rose the day By waning time grows orange-hued, and pales.
Alongside of the seashore still we stay like people who are thinking of their road. Who go in heart, and yet with limbs delay. And lo ! as towards the morning, red like blood Through heavy vapours Mars is wont to flame, Down in the West, above the ocean flood : So there appeared, still can I see the same, Across the sea a light so swiftly sweep.
No flight of bird with that can semblance claim : On which, when I a moment failed to keep My eye, to ask my leader to explain, Brighter I saw it then, and grown in shape. Then o'er the whole of it there seemed to gain I know not what of white, and underneath There issued by degrees its semblance twain. As yet my master not a word essayeth, Till what was white at first as wings he sees.
Then when the Pilot he distinctly seeth, He cried aloud : " Now bend, now bend thy knees : Behold God's angel, towards him bow thy hands ; Henceforth thou'lt see such ministers as these. ^ Line 1. Dante supposes hiinself to be now antipodal to Jerusalem, the centre of the inhabited hemisphere, to whose horizon the sun was now on the point of setting, and therefore rising to him.
At the same time night would be rising on the Ganges, or Hie far East, with the constellation Libra. Line 6. A fanciful idea, expressing that when the nights grow longer than the days, the sun has passed out of Libra into another constellation.
Cafto I. PURGATORY. 135 How I bare led him it were long to clear ; From high came virtue whiqh such help did leud To lead him to behold you and to bear. His advent here now please you to befriend ; '® He seeks liberty, acknowledged dear Bj one who for its sake bis life did end. You know'st it ; since for it Death had no fear In TJtica for you where you have left The garb which on the great day will shine clear. ^* For us the eternal edicts are not cleft ; Since this one lives, nor Minos biudetb me ; But I am of the circle where bereft Your Marzia's chaste eyes still are praying you, O holy breast ! to hold her for your own ! ^ By her love then unto our prayer agree. Through your seven kingdoms grant us leave to wonne The grace obtained from you, to her I'll bear, K to be named there you do not disown." " In Marzia did my eyes such pleasure share ** Whilst thitherwards I lingered," then he said, " That she obtained from me her every prayer. Now that she dwells beyond that river dread. She cannot move me more by that decree Ordained what time that I from hence was led. ^ But if a lady from the sky rules you, As you do say, of flattery is no need, Suffice it for her sake to urge your plea. Go onwards then, and with a slender reed See that you gird this man, and lave his face So that all stain of foulness hence be freed ; Since 'twould be most unfitting, with the trace Of any cloud to appear before the Prime Guardian, who comes of Paradisal race. This islet all around to its lowest rim ^^ Down thither, where the ocean beats its shore, Produces reeds upon its moistened slime. Line 73. Dante appears to have held Cato in peonliar veneration, bat there is no satisfactory reason to be foond for his having chosen a Pagan as the ffxiardian of his Christian For^tory. He and Virgu are the only spirits, not Christians, whom he has permitted to pass beyond the bounds of Limbo. Line 82. The seven rounds into which it will be found that the Purgatory is divided, in each of which is purged away one capital sin. Line 94. The reed with which Dante is directed to be girt is supposed to be typical of humility, and the washing with dew is clearly so of spiritual purincation.
136 PURGATORY. Cajtto I. No other plant that leaflet ever bore, Or that grew hard, were able there to grow ; This yields to the ocean's smiting roar. ^^ Bj this way afterwards return not : lo ! The sun will show your road, which soon will rise Where easiest slopes the mountain upwards go." He disappeared, and then I did arise Without a word, and to my leader drew "® Entirely, and towards him raised my eyes. Then he began : ** O son, my steps pursue ; Back will we turn, for on that side declines The plain towards its slope, as we can view." Above the dawn the hour of mom now shines, "* Which fled before it, so, as far I strain, I recognised the seashore's trembling lines. We walked across the solitary plain As one who from a lost road turns anew, Whose wanderings until then had seemed in vain. ^ When we had reached the region where the dew Fights with the sun, and in attempt to pass Towards the shade, its folded cloud breaks through ; With both his hands from off the scattered grass My master tenderly the moisture takes ; ^ Whence I, who of his wish perceptive was. Extended towards him my all-tearful cheeks. And there discovered, on my face once more. The hue of life that Hell had shrouded, breaks. When we had come on that deserted shore, ^^ Which never yet saw navigate its main. The man who to return possessed the lore, As to that other pleased he girt me then ; O marvel ! for the instant that he chose The humble plant, as erst 'twas born again, *** "And where he plucked it suddenly upgrows. Line 131. Across this ocean the spirits are carried to Pargatory in the spirit bark described in the next Canto. Ulysses and his companions were the only mortals who had attempted the voyage, and their fate is described in the 26th Canto of Hell. 136. From Virgil. " Uno avolso non deficit alter." — -ffln., book vi.
CANTO II. A light rises on the distant ocean, which, advancing with marvellous speed, is seen to be the bark in which the spirits are brought to Purgatory by an angel. When the troop land upon the shore, Dante vainly endeavours to embrace one of the spirits, whom he recognises for his friend CaseUa. The latter, to please Dante, sings one of his canzoni, to which while all are rapt in attention Cato rebukes them for dallying on their way, and all hurry towardd the mountain. The sun already to the horizon's rim Had travelled, whose meridian circle lies In apogee above Jerusalem : And opposite to him the night that flies, Issued from out the Ganges, with the scales ^ That from his hands fall when too late she hies : So that the white and vermeil hue that veils The fair Aurora's cheeks, as rose the day By waning time grows orange-hued, and pales. Alongside of the seashore still we stay like people who are thinking of their road. Who go in heart, and yet with limbs delay. And lo ! as towards the morning, red like blood Through heavy vapours Mars is wont to flame, Down in the West, above the ocean flood : So there appeared, still can I see the same, Across the sea a light so swiftly sweep. No flight of bird with that can semblance claim : On which, when I a moment failed to keep My eye, to ask my leader to explain, Brighter I saw it then, and grown in shape. Then o'er the whole of it there seemed to gain I know not what of white, and underneath There issued by degrees its semblance twain. As yet my master not a word essays, Till what was white at first as wings he sees. Then when the Pilot he distinctly sees, He cried aloud : " Now bend, now bend your knees : Behold God's angel, towards him bow your hands ; Henceforth you'lt see such ministers as these. ^ Line 1. Dante supposes hiinself to be now antipodal to Jerusalem, the centre of the inhabited hemisphere, to whose horizon the sun was now on the point of setting, and therefore rising to him. At the same time night would be rising on the Ganges, or Hie far East, with the constellation Libra. Line 6. A fanciful idea, expressing that when the nights grow longer than the days, the sun has passed out of Libra into another constellation.
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