The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

Canto IV. PURGATORY. 145 The Heavens, while I was wholly unaware, When to a place we came, where every soul Cried out to us, " The ascent you seek is there." With a small bunch of thorns, a greater hole Is often filled up by a villager, *° When on the grapes the ripening colours roll, Than was that pathway, up the which we steer, My leader, and beside him I alone. As from our side the troop departed here. One climbs San Leo, Noli one goes down. One mounts Bismantova's farthest height Upon one's feet ; but here I must have flown, With active wings I say, and plumage dight Of great desire, to follow the dear guide, Who only gave me hope, and made my light. Within the broken rock we climbing glide, And on each side the cliff's edge hemmed us close, While hands and feet alike in clambering plied. WTien we had reached the highest brink that rose On the steep bank above the far-stretcht plain, ^ ** My master," said I, " now what way to choose ?'* And he to me : " With care your step mantain : Behind me still climb up the mountain height, Till some experienced guide at length we gain." The lofty summit quite o'ertopt the sight, *® And upwards the incline so steeply ran, It measured with its angle, half a right. I was quite weary, when I thus began : " O my sweet father, turn you, and behold, Unless you stay'st, alone I must remain." ^ " My son," he said, " to yonder spot uphold," And pointed out a ledge some way above. " From that side all anew the cliff is rolled." So spurred me onwards then his words of love, I forced myself, and creeping followed near, *® So that at length above the cliff I move. We both of us sate down to rest us here. Turned to the east, from whence our path had past, Gazing on labours done with wonted cheer. O'er the low country first my eyes I cast, ** Then raised them to the sun, and wondering saw How on our left his smiling beams he cast. Line 25. San Leo and Noli are in the Genoese territory, Bismantova in Lombardy.

146 PURGATORY. Cahto IV. The poet clear avised how I with awe ItemaiDed astonied at the car of light, Which *twixt us aod the north did onwards draw. ^ Whence he to me : "If with that mirror bright Castor and Pollux were in company, Which up and down the sun leads with his light, The Zodiac's ruddy portion you would see Whirling around yet closer to the Bear, If in its olden path it yet may be. The cause of this, if you would think with care, Imagine Sion, giving all your mind, That on its under earth this mount does bear, So that they both with one horizon bind Their different hemispheres : hence lies the way. Which Phaeton had not the skill to find. You'lt see how on this side the solar ray Must take a different course to the other sphere. If you but givest your intellect fair play." " " Certes, my master," said I, " I have ne'er Seen aught so clearly as I now discern. There where my intellect appeared least clear, That the mid circle of the heavenly urn. Called the Equator in the starry lore, Which 'twixt the sun and winter does sojoum. By the reason now explained, here moves o'er Towards the north, what time the Hebrews see The sun strike hottest on their opposite shore. But I would gladly know, if it pleases you, How far we've still to go, the hill does rise Far higher than my eyes have power to flee." And he : " This mountain is in such a wise. That always at the first 'tis most severe, And wearies less the more one upwards hies. ^ But when to you all gentle it appear. That you as easily could mount anew As travel in a bark in the lower sphere, Line 61. The meaning of Virgil's not very lucid explanation is as follows : — '' If the Biin were now in the constellation of Gemini, and not in Aries, yon would see the portion of the Zodiac which his rays made red rise nearer the north than it now is. For yon must remember we are exactly antipodal to Sion, the meridian of the other hemisphere." Line 71* The way Phaeton could not keep is the Ecliptic. Line 79. The Equator, which is between the part where the sun caosea summer and where his absence causes winter, recedes from this mountain to the north, at the time when the Jews at Mount Sion see him receding to the south. 8o Lomhardi.

Then will the pathway's ending be in view ; Till then put off your longing for repose ; No more I answer, this I know is true." When he had brought his parlance to a close, There sounded near to us a voice : " Perchance Ere then to rest you you will not refuse." On hearing him we each turned back askance, ^^ And to the left we saw a mossy stone Which had not till that moment met our glance. Then w© moved on, and found three persons thrown Idly behind the shadow of the rock, As one through indolence might throw him down. And one of them, who seemed outworn in look, Was seated, and with hands embraced his knees. And downwards 'twixt them did his visage lock. '* my sweet master," said I, " only gaze On him who shows himself more negligent Than if his sister's self were Idleness." Then turned he towards us with a roused intent, Eaising his visage upwards o'er his thigh, And said, " Mount you, of such a valiant bent. Then did I know him, and the agony, Which still my breathing somewhat quickly sped, Did not prevent my going to him : he, When I had reached him, scarcely raised his head. ** You seest, then, how the sun, beyond belief, From the left shoulder has his chariot led ?" ^^ His lazy actions, and his words so brief. My lips excited somewhat to a smile : Then I began : " No more you'lt cause me grief, Belacqua : but explain why all this while Art seated hither ? do you escort wait ? ^^ Or have you ta'en again your olden style ?" " Oh, brother, how would climbing help my fate? Since to my pain he will not let me wend, God's angel, who is seated at the gate. First it behoves that Heaven that gate defend From me as long as I in life delayed, Since I postponed repentance to the end. Unless before that time a prayer can aid, Rising from heart that lives in Grace's store : What use aught else that cannot Heaven invade ?"