Part 11

I saw that gentle army silent, then gazing upward, as if awaiting, pale and humble;

and I saw come forth from on high and descend two angels with two flaming swords, truncated and deprived of their points.

Green as just-born leaves were they in vesture, which from green wings beaten trailed behind and wafted.

One came to stand a little above us, and the other descended to the opposite bank, so that the folk were held in between.

Well could I discern their blond heads; but in the face the eye was lost, like virtue confounded by excess.

'Both come from the bosom of Mary,' said Sordello, 'to guard the valley against the serpent that shall soon come.'

Whereupon I, who knew not by what path, turned round, and close drew to, all chilled, the trusted shoulders.

And Sordello likewise: 'Now let us go down among the great shades, and we will speak to them; grateful will it be to them to see you.'

Only three steps, I think, I descended, and was below, and saw one who was gazing only at me, as if he would know me.

Time was now that the air was darkening, but not so that between his eyes and mine was not declared what before it veiled.

Toward me he came, and I toward him: gentle Judge Nino, how pleased I was when I saw you were not among the guilty!

No fair greeting between us was left unsaid; then he asked: 'How long is it that you came to the foot of the mountain through the distant waves?'

'Oh!' said I to him, 'through the sorrowful places I came this morning, and am in my first life, though the other, thus going, I acquire.'

And when my answer was heard, Sordello and he drew back together like people suddenly bewildered.

The one turned to Virgil and the other to one who sat there, crying: 'Up, Conrad! come to see what God by grace willed.'

Then, turning to me: 'By that singular grace which you owe to Him who so hides His first whence, that there is no ford,

when you shall be beyond the broad waves, say to my Joan that for me she pray there where answer is made to the innocent.

I think not that his mother loves me more, since she changed the white bands, which, wretched one, she must still crave.

By her is lightly understood how little in a woman love's fire endures, if eye or touch oft enkindle it not.

Not so fair a sepulcher will the viper that camps in Milan make for her, as the cock of Gallura would have done.'

Thus he spoke, stamped in his aspect with that righteous zeal which measuredly flames in the heart.

My greedy eyes went ever to the sky, even there where the stars are slowest, like a wheel nearest the hub.

And my leader: 'Son, why gaze you up there?' And I to him: 'At those three torches with which this pole here wholly burns.'

Whereupon he to me: 'The four bright stars which you saw this morning are low on the other side, and these have risen where those were.'

As he spoke, Sordello drew him to himself saying: 'See there our adversary'; and pointed his finger that he should look there.

On that side where the little valley has no shelter, was a serpent, perhaps such as gave Eve the bitter food.

Among the grass and flowers came the evil creeping thing, turning now and then its head, and its back licking like a beast that smooths itself.

I did not see, and therefore cannot tell, how the celestial hawks moved; but well saw I both the one and the other moved.

Hearing the green wings cleave the air, fled the serpent, and the angels turned, flying back up to their posts alike.

The shade that had drawn to the judge when he called, through all that assault was not at all loosed from gazing at me.

'If the lamp that leads you on high find in your free will so much wax as is needed up to the topmost enamel,'

he began, 'if of Val di Magra or neighboring part you know true news, tell me, who once was great there.

I was called Conrad Malaspina; not the old one, but descended from him; to mine I bore the love here refined.'

'Oh!' said I to him, 'through your lands I never was; but where dwells all Europe that they are not known?

The fame that honors your house proclaims the lords and proclaims the country, so that he knows who was not there yet;

and I swear to you, if I go above, that your honored people do not deface the prize of purse and sword.

Use and nature so privilege them, that, though the guilty head turn the world, they alone go straight and scorn the evil path.'

And he: 'Now go; ere the sun recline seven times in the bed which the Ram covers and forks with all four feet,

this courteous opinion shall be nailed in the midst of your head with greater nails than of another's speech,

if the course of judgment stop not.'

Purgatory Canto IX

The consort of ancient Tithonus was now whitening at the balcony of the east, forth from the arms of her sweet friend;

with gems her brow was luminous, placed in the figure of the cold animal that with its tail smites the folk;

and night, with the steps wherewith it climbs, had made two where we were, and the third already was lowering its wings;

when I, who had with me of Adam's stock, vanquished by sleep, on the grass bowed down where all five of us were seated.

At the hour that begins the sad lays the swallow near the morning, perhaps in memory of her first woes,

and that our mind, a pilgrim more from the flesh and less from thoughts taken, to its visions is almost divine,

in dream it seemed to me to see suspended an eagle in the sky with golden plumes, with wings outspread and intent on descending;

and it seemed to me to be where his folk were abandoned by Ganymede, when he was rapt to the highest consistory.

Within me I thought: 'Perhaps she strikes here by habit, and perhaps of another place she disdains to bear one up on foot.'

Then it seemed to me that, after wheeling a little, terrible as lightning she descended, and rapt me up even to the fire.

There it seemed that she and I burned; and so the imagined flame baked, that the sleep must be broken.

Not otherwise Achilles roused him, turning his awakened eyes around and not knowing where he was,

when his mother from Chiron to Scyros carried him off sleeping in her arms, whence then the Greeks drew him;

so I shook me, as from my face fled the sleep, and became pallid, like a man who, affrighted, freezes.

At my side was only my comfort, and the sun was already higher than two hours, and my face was turned to the sea.

'Have no fear,' said my lord; 'make yourself sure, for we are at a good point; brace not, but relax every vigor.

You are now arrived at the purgatory: see there the cliff that encloses it round; see the entrance there where it seems sundered.

Awhile ago, in the dawn that precedes the day, when your soul within was sleeping, above the flowers wherewith it is adorned below

came a lady, and said: "I am Lucy; let me take him who sleeps, so will I ease him on his way."

Sordello remained and the other gentle shapes; she took you, and when day was clear, came up; and I along her traces.

Here she placed you, but first her fair eyes showed me that open entrance; then she and sleep departed together.'

Like a man who in doubt is certified and changes his fear into comfort, when the truth is discovered to him,

I changed; and as without care my leader saw me, up along the cliff he moved, and I behind toward the height.

Reader, you see well how I exalt my matter, and therefore with more art marvel not if I prop it up.

We drew near, and we were at a part where there where it seemed to me before broken, just like a cleft that parts a wall,

I saw a door, and three steps below for going to it, of different color, and a porter who yet said not a word.

And as I opened my eyes more and more thereon, I saw him seated on the topmost step, such in his face that I endured him not;

and a naked sword he had in hand, which reflected the rays so toward us, that I often directed my face in vain.

'Say from there: what would you?' he began to say, 'where is the escort? Take care that the coming up harm you not.'

'Lady of heaven, aware of these things,' answered my master to him, 'even now said: "Go there: there is the door."'

'And may she advance your steps in good,' recommenced the courteous porter: 'come then before our steps.'

There we came; and the first stair was white marble, so polished and smooth, that I mirrored myself in it as I appear.

The second was more than perse, tinted, of a rough and scorched stone, cracked both lengthwise and across.

The third, which masses above, porphyry it seemed to me, so flaming as blood that spurts from a vein.

Upon this held both his soles the angel of God seated on the threshold that seemed to me a stone of diamond.

Up the three steps with good will my leader drew me, saying: 'Ask humbly that he unloose the bolt.'

Devout I cast me at the holy feet; mercy I besought and that he open to me, but thrice first I smote my breast.

Seven P's on my forehead he described with the point of the sword, and 'See that you wash, when you are within, these wounds,' said he.

Ashes, or earth that dry is dug, of a color were with his vestment; and from beneath that he drew two keys.

The one was of gold and the other of silver; first with the white and then with the yellow he so did to the door, that I was content.

'Whenever one of these keys fails, that it turn not straight in the lock,' said he to us, 'this path opens not.

More precious is the one; but the other needs too much of art and wit before it unbars, for it is that which unties the knot.

From Peter I hold them; and told me to err rather in opening than in keeping it shut, provided the people fall at my feet.'

Then he pushed the door to the sacred gate, saying: 'Enter; but make you aware that returns without who looks back.'

And when out of the distorted hinges the angles of that sacred rule, which of metal are sonorous and strong,

roared not so nor showed so harsh Tarpeia, when taken from her was the good Metellus, wherefore then she remained lean.

I turned attentive to the first thunder, and 'Te Deum laudamus' it seemed to me to hear in voice mingled with sweet sound.

Such image precisely rendered to me what I heard, as one takes when one is to sing with organs;

for now yes now no the words are understood.

Purgatory Canto X

Then we were within the threshold of the door that the evil love of the souls disuses, because it makes the crooked way seem straight,

sounding I heard it be reclosed; and if I had turned my eyes to it, what excuse had been worthy of the fault?

We were climbing by a cleft rock, that moved now on this side and now on that, like the wave that flees and approaches.

'Here it behooves to use a little art,' began my leader, 'in drawing near now hence, now thence to the side that parts.'

And this made our steps scant, so much that ere the waning of the moon returned to its bed to recline,

we were out of that eye of the needle; but when we were free and open where the mount gathers back behind,

I weary and both uncertain of our way, we rested on a plain solitary more than roads through deserts.

From its bank, where it bounds the void, to the foot of the high cliff that still rises, a human body measured thrice would span;

and as far as my eye could draw wings, now from the left and now from the right flank, this cornice seemed to me such.

There above our feet were not yet moved, when I knew that cliff around which had straight of ascent lacking,

to be of candid marble and adorned with carvings so, that not only Polycletus, but nature there would be shamed.

The angel who came on earth with the decree of the much-years-wept peace, that opened the heaven of its long prohibition,

before us appeared so veracious there carved in a gentle act, that it seemed not an image that is silent.

One would have sworn that he said 'Ave!'; for there was imaged her who to open the high love turned the key;

and had in act impressed this speech 'Ecce ancilla Dei', properly as a figure in wax is sealed.

'Hold not the mind to one place only,' said the sweet master, who had me from that side where the heart has the people.

Wherefore I moved with my face, and saw behind Mary, from that coast whence was he who moved me,

another story imposed on the rock; wherefore I crossed Virgil, and drew near, that it might be disposed to my eyes.

There was carved in the marble itself the cart and the oxen, drawing the holy ark, wherefore one fears office not committed.

Before appeared folk; and all of them, divided in seven choirs, to my two senses made the one say 'No,' the other 'Yes, sing.'

Likewise to the smoke of the incenses that were imaged there, the eyes and the nose discordant became to the yes and the no.

There preceded the blessed vessel, dancing and lifted, the humble psalmist, and more and less than king was in that case.

Opposite, figured at a view of a great palace, Michal admired such as a disdainful and sad lady.

I moved my feet from the place where I stood, to observe near another story, which behind Michal whitened to me.

There was storied the high glory of the Roman principate, whose valor moved Gregory to his great victory;

I say of Trajan the emperor; and a widow was at his rein, attituded with tears and dolor.

Around him appeared thronged and full of horsemen, and the eagles in the gold above them in view moved to the wind.

The wretched one among all those seemed to say: 'Lord, do me vengeance of my son who is dead, wherefore I grieve';

and he to her answering: 'Now wait so long as I return'; and she: 'My lord,' like a person in whom sorrow hastens,

'if you return not?'; and he: 'Who shall be where I, will do it to you'; and she: 'Another's good what shall be to you, if you put yours in oblivion?';

wherefore he: 'Now comfort you; for it behooves that I fulfill my duty ere I move: justice wills and pity stays me.'

He who never saw new thing produced this visible speech, new to us because here it is not found.

While I delighted to gaze on the images of so many humilities, and for their maker dear to see,

'Lo from here, but they make rare steps,' murmured the poet, 'many folk: these will send us to the high degrees.'

My eyes, that to gaze were content to see new things whereof they are eager, turning to him were not slow.

I would not however, reader, that you relax from good purpose through hearing how God wills that the debt be paid.

Attend not the form of the martyrdom: think the sequence; think that beyond the great sentence it cannot go to the worse.

I began: 'Master, that which I see moving toward us, seem not to me persons, and know not what, so in seeing I wander.'

And he to me: 'The heavy condition of their torment crouches them to the earth, so that my eyes first had contest thereon.

But look fixed there, and untwist with the face that which comes beneath those stones: already can you discern how each smites himself.'

O proud Christians, wretched weary ones, who, of the sight of the mind infirm, have trust in backward steps,

perceive you not that we are worms born to form the angelic butterfly, that flies to justice without shield?

Wherefore your soul in high floats, since you are almost automata in defect, like a worm in whom formation fails?

As to sustain floor or roof, for a corbel sometimes a figure is seen to join the knees to the breast,

which makes of the not true true rancor arise in who beholds it; thus fashioned saw I those, when I set good care.

True is that more and less were contracted according as it befell more and less on back; and who more patience had in the acts,

weeping seemed to say: 'No more can I.'

Purgatory Canto XI

'O Our Father, who art in the heavens, not circumscribed, but through more love that to the first effects above you have,

praised be your name and your power by every creature, as is worthy of rendering thanks to your sweet vapor.

Come to us the peace of your kingdom, for we to it cannot from ourselves, if it come not, with all our wit.

As of his will your angels to you make sacrifice, singing Hosanna, so let men of theirs.

Give today to us the daily manna, without which through this harsh desert back goes who most strives to go.

And as we the ill we have suffered forgive to each, and you forgive benign, and look not at our merit.

Our virtue that lightly is tamed, try not with the ancient adversary, but free from him who so spurs it.

This last prayer, dear lord, now is not made for us, for need not, but for those who behind us remained.'

Thus to itself and us good monition those shades praying, went under the weight, similar to that which sometimes is dreamed,

disparately anguished all around and weary up along the first cornice, purging the mist of the world.

If from there always good is said for us, from here what to say and do for them is possible by those who have to the will good root?

Well should their debt be helped to wash the notes which they bring hence, so that, clean and light, they may issue to the starry wheels.

'Ah, if justice and pity free you soon, so that you may move the wing, that according to your desire lifts you,

show from which hand toward the stair one goes more short; and if there is more than one pass, that teach us which descends less steep;

for this one who comes with me, by the burden of Adam's flesh wherewith he is vested, to mounting up, against his will, is sparing.'

Their words, which rendered to these that he had said whom I was following, were not from whom they came manifest;

but it was said: 'To the right hand along the bank come with us, and you will find the pass possible for a living person to ascend.

And if I were not impeded by the stone that my proud neck tames, wherefore I must bear my face low,

this one, who yet lives and is not named, would I gaze, to see if I know him, and to make him pitiful to this load.

I was Latin and born of a great Tuscan: William Aldobrandesco was my father; I know not if his name was ever with you.

The ancient blood and the gentle works of my forebears made me so arrogant, that, thinking not of the common mother,

every man I held in such scorn, that I died of it, as the Sienese know, and in Campagnatico every serf knows.

I am Omberto; and not only to me does pride harm, for all my kinsfolk has it drawn with it into the evil.

And here behooves that I this weight bear for it, until to God satisfaction be made, since I did it not among the living, here among the dead.'

Listening I bent my face down; and one of them, not this one who spoke, turned under the weight that encumbers him,

and saw me and knew me and called, holding his eyes with effort fixed on me who all bowed was going with them.

'Oh!' said I to him, 'are you not Oderisi, the honor of Gubbio and the honor of that art which is called illuminating in Paris?'

'Brother,' said he, 'more laugh the pages which Franco Bolognese paints; the honor is all now his, and mine in part.

Well would I not have been so courteous while I lived, through the great desire of the excellence where my heart intended.

Of such pride here is paid the fine; and yet were I not here, if not that, being able to sin, I turned to God.

O vain glory of human powers! how little green on the top endures, if not reached by the heavy ages!

Cimabue thought in painting to hold the field, and now Giotto has the cry, so that the fame of the other is dark.

Thus has the one taken from the other Guido the glory of the tongue; and perhaps is born who shall chase the one and the other from the nest.

The worldly rumor is naught but a breath of wind, that now comes hence and now comes thence, and changes name because it changes side.

What voice will you have more, if old shears the flesh from you, than if you were dead ere you left the 'pappo' and 'dindi',

before a thousand years pass? which is shorter space to the eternal, than a moving of eyelid to the circle that is slowest tortured in heaven.

He who of the path takes so little before me, Tuscany sounded all; and now scarce in Siena is whispered,

of which he was lord when was destroyed the Florentine rage, that proud was at that time as now it is putrid.

Your renown is color of grass, that comes and goes, and he discolors it by whom it issues from the sour earth.'

And I to him: 'Your true saying incites in me good humility, and great swelling flattens; but who is he of whom you spoke now?'

'That one is,' answered he, 'Provenzan Salvani; and is here because he was presumptuous to bring all Siena to his hands.

Gone is thus and goes, without repose, since he died; such coin he renders to satisfy who beyond is too bold.'

And I: 'If that spirit who waits, ere he repent, the edge of life, here below dwells and ascends not up there,

if good prayer aid him not, before time pass equal to what he lived, how was his coming here granted?'

'When he lived more glorious,' said he, 'freely in the Field of Siena, every shame laid aside, he set himself;

and there, to draw his friend from pain, who sustained it in the prison of Charles, he brought himself to tremble in every vein.

No more will I say, and obscure I know I speak; but little time will go, that your neighbors will do so that you can gloss it.

This work took him those confines.'

Purgatory Canto XII

Alike, as oxen that go to the yoke, went I with that soul laden, until the sweet pedagogue endured it.

But when he said: 'Leave him and cross; for here is good with wings and with oars, however much he can, each to ply his bark';

straight as one should go I redressed with the person, though the thoughts remained with me bent and lessened.

I had moved, and followed willingly the steps of my master, and both already showed how light we were;

and he said to me: 'Turn your eyes down: good will it be for you, to tranquilize the way, to see the bed of your feet.'

As, that of them memory be, above the buried the earthy tombs bear marked that which they were before,

whereby there many times is wept again through the prick of remembrance, which only to the pious gives of the heels;

so saw I there, but of better semblance according to the art, figured whatsoever along the outside of the mount advances.

I saw him who was created noble more than other creature, down from heaven lightning descend, from the one side.

I saw Briareus pierced by the celestial dart lying, from the other side, heavy to the earth for the mortal frost.

“Stories of the world, in your language.”