Purgatory by Dante Alighieri
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory, Translated by H.F. Cary, the Pennsylvania State University, Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, Hazleton, PA 18201-1291 is a Portable Document File produced as part of an ongoing student publication project, the Pennsylvania State University’s Electronic Classics Series, to bring classical works of literature, in English, to free and easy access of those wishing to make use of them.
Cover design: Jim Manis; art: “The Lion suddenly confronts Dante” - Gustave Doré (French artist and illustrator, 1832 - 83)
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory The Pisces’ light, that in his escort came.
PURGATORY
To the right hand I turn’d, and fix’d my mind
On the’ other pole attentive, where I saw
CANTO I
Four stars ne’er seen before save by the ken
Of our first parents. Heaven of their rays
O’er better waves to speed her rapid course
Seem’d joyous. O thou northern site, bereft
The light bark of my genius lifts the sail,
Indeed, and widow’d, since of these depriv’d!
Well pleas’d to leave so cruel sea behind;
As from this view I had desisted, straight
And of that second region will I sing,
Turning a little tow’rds the other pole,
In which the human spirit from sinful blot
There from whence now the wain had disappear’d,
Is purg’d, and for ascent to Heaven prepares.
I saw an old man standing by my side
Here, O ye hallow’d Nine! for in your train
Alone, so worthy of rev’rence in his look,
I follow, here the deadened strain revive;
That ne’er from son to father more was ow’d.
Nor let Calliope refuse to sound
Low down his beard and mix’d with hoary white
A somewhat higher song, of that loud tone,
Descended, like his locks, which parting fell
Which when the wretched birds of chattering note
Upon his breast in double fold. The beams
Had heard, they of forgiveness lost all hope.
Of those four luminaries on his face
Sweet hue of eastern sapphire, that was spread So brightly shone, and with such radiance clear
O’er the serene aspect of the pure air,
Deck’d it, that I beheld him as the sun.
High up as the first circle, to mine eyes
“Say who are ye, that stemming the blind stream, Unwonted joy renew’d, soon as I ‘scap’d
Forth from th’ eternal prison-house have fled?”
Forth from the atmosphere of deadly gloom,
He spoke and moved those venerable plumes.
That had mine eyes and bosom fill’d with grief.
“Who hath conducted, or with lantern sure
The radiant planet, that to love invites,
Lights you emerging from the depth of night,
Made all the orient laugh, and veil’d beneath
That makes the infernal valley ever black?
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Are the firm statutes of the dread abyss
Of liberty he journeys: that how dear
Broken, or in high heaven new laws ordain’d,
They know, who for her sake have life refus’d.
That thus, condemn’d, ye to my caves approach?”
Thou knowest, to whom death for her was sweet
My guide, then laying hold on me, by words
In Utica, where thou didst leave those weeds,
And intimations given with hand and head,
That in the last great day will shine so bright.
Made my bent knees and eye submissive pay
For us the’ eternal edicts are unmov’d:
Due reverence; then thus to him replied.
He breathes, and I am free of Minos’ power,
“Not of myself I come; a Dame from heaven
Abiding in that circle where the eyes
Descending, had besought me in my charge
Of thy chaste Marcia beam, who still in look
To bring. But since thy will implies, that more
Prays thee, O hallow’d spirit! to own her shine.
Our true condition I unfold at large,
Then by her love we’ implore thee, let us pass
Mine is not to deny thee thy request.
Through thy sev’n regions; for which best thanks
This mortal ne’er hath seen the farthest gloom.
I for thy favour will to her return,
But erring by his folly had approach’d
If mention there below thou not disdain.”
So near, that little space was left to turn.
“Marcia so pleasing in my sight was found,”
Then, as before I told, I was dispatch’d
He then to him rejoin’d, “while I was there,
To work his rescue, and no way remain’d
That all she ask’d me I was fain to grant.
Save this which I have ta’en. I have display’d
Now that beyond the’ accursed stream she dwells,
Before him all the regions of the bad;
She may no longer move me, by that law,
And purpose now those spirits to display,
Which was ordain’d me, when I issued thence.
That under thy command are purg’d from sin.
Not so, if Dame from heaven, as thou sayst,
How I have brought him would be long to say.
Moves and directs thee; then no flattery needs.
From high descends the virtue, by whose aid
Enough for me that in her name thou ask.
I to thy sight and hearing him have led.
Go therefore now: and with a slender reed
Now may our coming please thee. In the search
See that thou duly gird him, and his face
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Lave, till all sordid stain thou wipe from thence.
Strove with the sun, and in a place, where fresh
For not with eye, by any cloud obscur’d,
The wind breath’d o’er it, while it slowly dried;
Would it be seemly before him to come,
Both hands extended on the watery grass
Who stands the foremost minister in heaven.
My master plac’d, in graceful act and kind.
This islet all around, there far beneath,
Whence I of his intent before appriz’d,
Where the wave beats it, on the oozy bed
Stretch’d out to him my cheeks suffus’d with tears.
Produces store of reeds. No other plant,
There to my visage he anew restor’d
Cover’d with leaves, or harden’d in its stalk,
That hue, which the dun shades of hell conceal’d.
There lives, not bending to the water’s sway.
Then on the solitary shore arriv’d,
After, t
That never sailing on its waters saw
Will show you, that now rises, where to take
Man, that could after measure back his course,
The mountain in its easiest ascent.”
He girt me in such manner as had pleas’d
He disappear’d; and I myself uprais’d
Him who instructed, and O, strange to tell!
Speechless, and to my guide retiring close,
As he selected every humble plant,
Toward him turn’d mine eyes. He thus began;
Wherever one was pluck’d, another there
“My son! observant thou my steps pursue.
Resembling, straightway in its place arose.
We must retreat to rearward, for that way
The champain to its low extreme declines.”
CANTO II
The dawn had chas’d the matin hour of prime,
Now had the sun to that horizon reach’d,
Which deaf before it, so that from afar
That covers, with the most exalted point
I spy’d the trembling of the ocean stream.
Of its meridian circle, Salem’s walls,
We travers’d the deserted plain, as one
And night, that opposite to him her orb
Who, wander’d from his track, thinks every step
Sounds, from the stream of Ganges issued forth,
Trodden in vain till he regain the path.
Holding the scales, that from her hands are dropp’d When we had come, where yet the tender dew
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory When she reigns highest: so that where I was,
So that nor oar he needs, nor other sail
Aurora’s white and vermeil-tinctur’d cheek
Except his wings, between such distant shores.
To orange turn’d as she in age increas’d.
Lo how straight up to heaven he holds them rear’d,
Meanwhile we linger’d by the water’s brink,
Winnowing the air with those eternal plumes,
Like men, who, musing on their road, in thought
That not like mortal hairs fall off or change!”
Journey, while motionless the body rests.
As more and more toward us came, more bright
When lo! as near upon the hour of dawn,
Appear’d the bird of God, nor could the eye
Through the thick vapours Mars with fiery beam
Endure his splendor near: I mine bent down.
Glares down in west, over the ocean floor;
He drove ashore in a small bark so swift
So seem’d, what once again I hope to view,
And light, that in its course no wave it drank.
A light so swiftly coming through the sea,
The heav’nly steersman at the prow was seen,
No winged course might equal its career.
Visibly written blessed in his looks.
From which when for a space I had withdrawn
Within a hundred spirits and more there sat.
Thine eyes, to make inquiry of my guide,
“In Exitu Israel de Aegypto;”
Again I look’d and saw it grown in size
All with one voice together sang, with what
And brightness: thou on either side appear’d
In the remainder of that hymn is writ.
Something, but what I knew not of bright hue,
Then soon as with the sign of holy cross
And by degrees from underneath it came
He bless’d them, they at once leap’d out on land,
Another. My preceptor silent yet
The swiftly as he came return’d. The crew,
Stood, while the brightness, that we first discern’d, There left, appear’d astounded with the place,
Open’d the form of wings: then when he knew
Gazing around as one who sees new sights.
The pilot, cried aloud, “Down, down; bend low
From every side the sun darted his beams,
Thy knees; behold God’s angel: fold thy hands:
And with his arrowy radiance from mid heav’n
Now shalt thou see true Ministers indeed.
Had chas’d the Capricorn, when that strange tribe
Lo how all human means he sets at naught!
Lifting their eyes towards us: If ye know,
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Declare what path will Lead us to the mount.”
Then who it was I knew, and pray’d of it,
Them Virgil answer’d. “Ye suppose perchance
To talk with me, it would a little pause.
Us well acquainted with this place: but here,
It answered: “Thee as in my mortal frame
We, as yourselves, are strangers. Not long erst
I lov’d, so loos’d forth it I love thee still,
We came, before you but a little space,
And therefore pause; but why walkest thou here?”
By other road so rough and hard, that now
“Not without purpose once more to return,
The’ ascent will seem to us as play.” The spirits,
Thou find’st me, my Casella, where I am
Who from my breathing had perceiv’d I liv’d,
Journeying this way;” I said, “but how of thee
Grew pale with wonder. As the multitude
Hath so much time been lost?” He answer’d straight: Flock round a herald, sent with olive branch,
“No outrage hath been done to me, if he
To hear what news he brings, and in their haste
Who when and whom he chooses takes, me oft
Tread one another down, e’en so at sight
This passage hath denied, since of just will
Of me those happy spirits were fix’d, each one
His will he makes. These three months past indeed,
Forgetful of its errand, to depart,
He, whose chose to enter, with free leave
Where cleans’d from sin, it might be made all fair.
Hath taken; whence I wand’ring by the shore
Then one I saw darting before the rest
Where Tyber’s wave grows salt, of him gain’d kind
With such fond ardour to embrace me, I
Admittance, at that river’s mouth, tow’rd which
To do the like was mov’d. O shadows vain
His wings are pointed, for there always throng
Except in outward semblance! thrice my hands
All such as not to Archeron descend.”
I clasp’d behind it, they as oft return’d
Then I: “If new laws have not quite destroy’d
Empty into my breast again. Surprise
Memory and use of that sweet song of love,
I needs must think was painted in my looks,
That while all my cares had power to ‘swage;
For that the shadow smil’d and backward drew.
Please thee with it a little to console
To follow it I hasten’d, but with voice
My spirit, that incumber’d with its frame,
Of sweetness it enjoin’d me to desist.
Travelling so far, of pain is overcome.”
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory
“Love that discourses in my thoughts.” He then Turn’d tow’rds the mountain, whither reason’s voice Began in such soft accents, that within
Drives us; I to my faithful company
The sweetness thrills me yet. My gentle guide
Adhering, left it not. For how of him
And all who came with him, so well were pleas’d,
Depriv’d, might I have sped, or who beside
That seem’d naught else might in their thoughts have Would o’er the mountainous tract have led my steps
room.
Fast fix’d in mute attention to his notes
Seem’d smitten. O clear conscience and upright
We stood, when lo! that old man venerable
How doth a little fling wound thee sore!
Exclaiming, “How is this, ye tardy spirits?
Soon as his feet desisted (slack’ning pace),
What negligence detains you loit’ring here?
From haste, that mars all decency of act,
Run to the mountain to cast off those scales,
My mind, that in itself before was wrapt,
That from your eyes the sight of God conceal.”
Its thoughts expanded, as with joy restor’d:
As a wild flock of pigeons, to their food
And full against the steep ascent I set
Collected, blade or tares, without their pride
My face, where highest to heav’n its top o’erflows.
Accustom’d, and in still and quiet sort,
The sun, that flar’d behind, with ruddy beam
If aught alarm them, suddenly desert
Before my form was broken; for in me
Their meal, assail’d by more important care;
His rays resistance met. I turn’d aside
So I that new-come troop beheld, the song
With fear of being left, when I beheld
Deserting, hasten to the mountain’s side,
Only before myself the ground obscur’d.
As one who goes yet where he tends knows not.
When thus my solace, turning him around,
Nor with less hurried step did we depart.
Bespake me kindly: “Why distrustest thou?
Believ’st not I am with thee, thy sure guide?
CANTO III
It now is evening there, where buried lies
The body, in which I cast a shade, remov’d
Them sudden flight had scatter’d over the plain,
To Naples from Brundusium’s wall. Nor thou
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The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Marvel, if before me no shadow fall,
clines?”
More than that in the sky element
My master said and paus’d, “so that he may
One ray obstructs not other. To endure
Ascend, who journeys without aid of wine,?”
Torments of heat and cold extreme, like frames
And while with looks directed to the ground
That virtue hath dispos’d, which how it works
The meaning of the pathway he explor’d,
Wills not to us should be reveal’d. Insane