Divine Comedy: Purgatory | Page 3

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THE VISION?OR,?HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE?OF?DANTE ALIGHIERI
TRANSLATED BY?THE REV. H. F. CARY, A.M.
PURGATORY
CANTO I
O'er better waves to speed her rapid course?The light bark of my genius lifts the sail,?Well pleas'd to leave so cruel sea behind;?And of that second region will I sing,?In which the human spirit from sinful blot?Is purg'd, and for ascent to Heaven prepares.
Here, O ye hallow'd Nine! for in your train?I follow, here the deadened strain revive;?Nor let Calliope refuse to sound?A somewhat higher song, of that loud tone,?Which when the wretched birds of chattering note?Had heard, they of forgiveness lost all hope.
Sweet hue of eastern sapphire, that was spread?O'er the serene aspect of the pure air,?High up as the first circle, to mine eyes?Unwonted joy renew'd, soon as I 'scap'd?Forth from the atmosphere of deadly gloom,?That had mine eyes and bosom fill'd with grief.?The radiant planet, that to love invites,?Made all the orient laugh, and veil'd beneath?The Pisces' light, that in his escort came.
To the right hand I turn'd, and fix'd my mind?On the' other pole attentive, where I saw?Four stars ne'er seen before save by the ken?Of our first parents. Heaven of their rays?Seem'd joyous. O thou northern site, bereft?Indeed, and widow'd, since of these depriv'd!
As from this view I had desisted, straight?Turning a little tow'rds the other pole,?There from whence now the wain had disappear'd,?I saw an old man standing by my side?Alone, so worthy of rev'rence in his look,?That ne'er from son to father more was ow'd.?Low down his beard and mix'd with hoary white?Descended, like his locks, which parting fell?Upon his breast in double fold. The beams?Of those four luminaries on his face?So brightly shone, and with such radiance clear?Deck'd it, that I beheld him as the sun.
"Say who are ye, that stemming the blind stream,?Forth from th' eternal prison-house have fled?"?He spoke and moved those venerable plumes.?"Who hath conducted, or with lantern sure?Lights you emerging from the depth of night,?That makes the infernal valley ever black??Are the firm statutes of the dread abyss?Broken, or in high heaven new laws ordain'd,?That thus, condemn'd, ye to my caves approach?"
My guide, then laying hold on me, by words?And intimations given with hand and head,?Made my bent knees and eye submissive pay?Due reverence; then thus to him replied.
"Not of myself I come; a Dame from heaven?Descending, had besought me in my charge?To bring. But since thy will implies, that more?Our true condition I unfold at large,?Mine is not to deny thee thy request.?This mortal ne'er hath seen the farthest gloom.?But erring by his folly had approach'd?So near, that little space was left to turn.?Then, as before I told, I was dispatch'd?To work his rescue, and no way remain'd?Save this which I have ta'en. I have display'd?Before him all the regions of the bad;?And purpose now those spirits to display,?That under thy command are purg'd from sin.?How I have brought him would be long to say.?From high descends the virtue, by whose aid?I to thy sight and hearing him have led.?Now may our coming please thee. In the search?Of liberty he journeys: that how dear?They know, who for her sake have life refus'd.?Thou knowest, to whom death for her was sweet?In Utica, where thou didst leave those weeds,?That in the last great day will shine so bright.?For us the' eternal edicts are unmov'd:?He breathes, and I am free of Minos' power,?Abiding in that circle where the eyes?Of thy chaste Marcia beam, who still in look?Prays thee, O hallow'd spirit! to own her shine.?Then by her love we' implore thee, let us pass?Through thy sev'n regions; for which best thanks?I for thy favour will to her return,?If mention there below thou not disdain."
"Marcia so pleasing in my sight was found,"?He then to him rejoin'd, "while I was there,?That all she ask'd me I was fain to grant.?Now that beyond the' accursed stream she dwells,?She may no longer move me, by that law,?Which was ordain'd me, when I issued thence.?Not so, if Dame from heaven, as thou sayst,?Moves and directs thee; then no flattery needs.?Enough for me that in her name thou ask.?Go therefore now: and with a slender reed?See that thou duly gird him, and his face?Lave, till all sordid stain thou wipe from thence.?For not with eye, by any cloud obscur'd,?Would it be seemly before him to come,?Who stands the foremost minister in heaven.?This islet all around, there far beneath,?Where the wave beats it,