Divine Comedy: Purgatory | Page 8

the hill that towards the heaven
rises highest from the sea. The sun, which behind was flaming ruddy,
was broken in front of me by the figure that the staying of its rays upon
me formed. When I saw the ground darkened only in front of me, I
turned me to my side with fear of being abandoned: and my Comfort,
wholly turning to me, began to say, "Why dost thou still distrust? Dost
thou not believe me with thee, and that I guide thee? It is now evening
there where the body is buried within which I cast a shadow; Naples
holds it, and from Brundusium it is taken; if now in front of me there is
no shadow, marvel not more than at the heavens of which one hinders
not the other's radiance. To suffer torments, both hot and cold, bodies

like this the Power ordains, which wills not that how it acts be revealed
to us. Mad is he who hopes that our reason can traverse the infinite way
which One Substance in Three Persons holds. Be content, human race,
with the
quia;[1]; for if ye had been able to see everything, need had
not been for Mary to hear child: and ye have seen desiring
fruitlessly
men such [2] that their desire would have been
quieted, which is
given them eternally for a grief. I speak of Aristotle and of Plato, and of
many others;" and here he bowed his front, and said no more, and
remained disturbed.
[1] Quic is used here, as often in mediaeval Latin, for quod. The
meaning is, Be content to know that the thing is, seek not to know
WHY or HOW--propter quid--it is as it is.
[2] If human knowledge sufficed.
We had come, meanwhile, to the foot of the mountain; here we found
the rock so steep, that there the legs would be agile in vain. Between
Lerici and Turbia[1] the most deserted, the most secluded way is a stair
easy and open, compared with that. "Now who knows on which hand
the hillside slopes," said my Master, staying his step, "so that he can
ascend who goeth without
wings?"
[1] Lerici on the Gulf of Spezzia, and Turbia, just above Monaco, are at
the two ends of the Riviera; between them the mountains rise steeply
from the shore, along which in Dante's time there was no road.
And while he was holding his face low, questioning his mind about the
road, and I was looking up around the rock, on the left hand appeared
to me a company of souls who were moving their feet towards us, and
seemed not, so slowly were they coming. "Lift," said I to the Master,
"thine eyes, lo! on this side who will give us counsel, if thou from
thyself canst not have it." He looked at them, and with air of relief,
answered, "Let us go thither, for they come slowly, and do thou
confirm thy hope, sweet son.
That people was still as far, I mean after a thousand steps of ours, as a

good thrower would cast with his hand, when they all pressed up to the
hard masses of the high bank, and stood still and close, as one who
goes in doubt stops to look.[1] "O ye who have made good ends, O
spirits already elect," Virgil began, "by that peace which I believe is
awaited by you all, tell us, where the mountain lies so that the going up
is possible; for to lose time is most displeasing to him who knows
most."
[1] They stopped, surprised, at seeing Virgil and Dante advancing to
the left, against the rule in Purgatory, where the course is always to the
right, symbolizing progress in good. In Hell the contrary rule holds.
As the sheep come forth from the fold by ones, and twos, and threes,
and the others stand timid, holding eye and muzzle to the ground; and
what the first does the others also do, huddling themselves to her if she
stop, silly and quiet, and wherefore know not; so I saw then moving to
approach, the head of that fortunate flock, modest in face and dignified
in gait.
When those in front saw the light broken on the ground at my right side,
so that the shadow fell from me on the cliff, they stopped, and drew
somewhat back; and all the rest who were coming behind, not knowing
why, did just the same. "Without your
asking, I confess to you that
this is a human body which you see, whereby the light of the sun on the
ground is cleft. Marvel not thereat, but believe that not without power
that comes from heaven he seeks to surmount this wall." Thus the
Master:and that worthy people said, "Turn, enter in advance, then;"