The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

CANTO VIII. At evening fall one of the spirits sings the hymn of the Church, " Te lucis ante terminum," and on its close two angels, with flaming swords broken off at the points, descend to guard the vale. The poets then enter it, and Dante meets with joy his friend Nino, the Ju^e of Gallura. A serpent creeps into the valley, bat flees at once on the advance of the angels ; and Dante converses with Conrad Malaspina, who predicts to him his own exile. 'TwAS now the hour when longings rise anew To voyagers, and the heart grown tender sighs, The day they've said to well-loved friends adieu. When the new pilgrim thrills with love's soft ties. If from afar he hear the vesper bell, * That seems to mourn above the day that dies. When I began to shake aside the spell Of listening, and to gaze upon a soul, Who with his hand an audience claimed as well. He joined both palms together, and the whole Lifted on high, his eyes fixed towards the east, As though he said to Grod, " I trust you sole." Te lucis ante with such holy zest Fell from his mouth, and with such cadence sweet. That on it bore me from my mind released. The others sweetly then with fervent heat Accompanied his voice throughout the hymn, Fixing their eyes upon the starry seat. Here to the truth sharpen your eyesight dim, O reader, for so subtle is the veil, ^ You well might'st pass it by, nor see within. I saw that gentle army in the vale Guzing in silence afterwards above. As if in expectation, humbly pale. And I saw cleave the height, and downwards move Two angels, holding each a flaming sword, The points of which were broken off above. Line I. These opening lines have been thns beautifolly paraphrased by Byron: — " Soft hour ! which wakes the wish, and melts the heart. Of those who sail the seas, on the first day When they from their sweet friends are torn apart, Or fills with love the pilgrim on his way As the isT bell of vesper makes him start. Seeming to weep the dying day's decay." "Don Juan," Canto III.

Canto VIII. PURGATORY. 161 Green as young shoots just sprouted in the sward Their garments were, and by the rapid flight Of their green pinions were they blown abroad. The one, not far above us, did alight, The other to the farther shore did fare. So that i' the midst they held the troop in sight. One clearly could perceive their golden hair, But from the eye their faces did escape, ^* As fail the senses, rapt on aught too rare. '* They both of them have come from Mary's lap, This valley to defend," Sordello cried, " From the serpent that will swiftly come, mayhap.*' Whence I, who knew not from which path 'twould glide, *° Turned me around, and very closely drew, All frozen, unto Virgil's faithful side. Sordello still, " Let us go downwards now Mid the great shadows, and with them we'll speak ; To see you will delight them well I trow." ** Three footsteps scarcely downwards did I take, To join them, when a spirit I remark Gazing, as recognition he would seek. Already by this time it had grown dark. But not so much but that his eves and mine ^ Could that distinguish which the rest did mark. He drew to me, and I towards him incline : My gentle Nino, what a joy it gave To see you were not doomed with the malign ! * There lacked to us no salutation brave. And then he asked : " How long is't since you came Unto this mountain, o'er the distant wave ?" " O," said I to him, " from the bourns of shame This mom I came, and still my life I own. Though wandering, immortality I claim." As soon as that my answer had been known. He and Sordello drew themselves away. As people in a sudden marvel thrown. To Virgil one, the other turned to me. Crying to one, " Currado, leave your place, ** A marvel of God's favour come to see." Then tuiilied to me : " By that peculiar grace You owest unto him who so does hide His primal self that none to it can pass. Line 53. Nino, Judge of Gallura, of the family of the Yisconti of Pisa, and nephew of Count Ugolino. M

162 PURGATORY. Camto VIH. When you shall be beyond that ocean wide, ^^ Tell my Giovanna, that for me she pray, There where the innocent are not denied. Her mother cannot love me more I say, Since she has changed her widow's garb of woe, Which still the wretched one must yearn for aye. ^* From her example we can easily know How long in woman fires of love endure, If sight or touch do not keep up the glow. She will not gain so fair a sepulture Prom the Milani, who the viper claim, ^ As would have given the cock that marks Gallure." Thus did he speak, indignant with the flame, Stampt on his face, of that straightforward zeal, Which in his heart with measure did he tame. jSfy greedy eyes towards the sky did steal. There, where the stars revolving circle slow. As near the axle slowest turns the wheel. My leader : " Son, at what art gazing so ?" And I to him : " At those three torches bright Whence yonder Pole above, is all aglow." And he to me : ** The four clear stars of light You saw'st this mom, are not yet risen anew. These are already mounted in their site." The while he spake Sordello him withdrew, Saying, " Behold our enemy is there," ** And pointed with his finger where to view. On that side where the little vale was bare Of all defence there was an adder seen. Perchance that gave to Eve such bitter fare. Slid 'twixt the grass and flowers the evil sheen, Turning at times its head to lick its back. As any animal its hide does preen. I saw not, and to tell must therefore lack, How the celestial falcons rallied there. But well I saw them both upon its track. Hearing their green wings sweeping cleave the air The serpent fled, and back the angels flew With equal flight unto their fixed repair. Line 71* Giovanna is Nino's daughter, whose widow. Beatrice, Marchioness of Este, made a second marriage with Galeazzo dei visconti of Milan. The viper allnded to in the 80th verse was the arms of the visconti, adopted as the standard of the Milanese, while the cock was the standard of Nino's province of Grallora. Line 89. The three theological virtues are here intended.