Purgatorio: Canto V

I HAD already parted from that shade,
And in my Leader's footsteps followed on,
When one behind, who sign with finger made.

Shouted, " See there, it seems as if there shone
No sunshine on the left of him below,
And seems he moves as doth a living one."

Mine eyes I turned on hearing him speak so,
And saw them watching with astonishment,
Me only, me, and that light's broken glow.

"Why is thy mind thus on itself intent?"
Then said my Master, " that thou'rt slow to walk?
What boots it thee what by their whisper's meant?

Come on behind me; let the people talk;
Be thou like tower that bendeth not its height,
And doth the fierce winds of their victory baulk.

For aye the man in whom thoughts weak and light
Spring, each on other, from the goal doth roam,
For one still weakens all the other's might."

What could I answer more than just "I come "?
So spake I, somewhat touched with that same hue,
Which worthy of forgiveness rendereth some.

Meantime along the slope there came in view
A tribe that moved in front a little space.
And verse by verse sang Miserere through.

And when they noticed that I gave no place
Through this my body for the light to go.
Their song to one long, hoarse " Oh! " changed apace.

And two of them as envoys then did show,
And ran to meet us, as of us to learn:
"Let us, we pray, your state and business know."

Then said my Master: " Ye may now return,
And take back word to those who sent you here,
That in this man true flesh they may discern.

If they stood still to see his shadow there,
As I suppose, enough has now been said;
Show honour, and more kind will he appear."

Ne'er in my sight have fiery vapours sped
In early eve to cleave the blue serene.
Or clouds of August in the sunset red.

More quick than they anon to turn were seen;
And turning so, when they the others met.
They wheeled on us, like squadron without rein.

"The folk that press us form a throng close set,"
The poet said, "and they imploring come;
So still go onward, onward, listening yet."

"O soul that tak'st thy way to blessed home.
With limbs the same as those thy mother bore,"
Shouting they came, "stay here, and look if some

Among us thou hast ever seen before,
That news of him to yon world thou mayst bear;
Ah! why dost go? Why haltest thou no more?

We all a death of violence did share.
And sinners were, e'en to our latest hour;
Then light from Heaven made our vision clear;

So by repentance and love's pardoning power
We passed from life as reconciled to God,
On whom to gaze strong yearnings us devour."

And I, " Though every face to me is showed,
Yet recognise I none; but if aught please
That I can do, O spirits born for good,"

Tell me, and I will do it, by that peace.
Which makes me, following such a Guide as this.
Seek it from world to world and never cease."

And one began; " Each one full certain is
Of thy good will, though oaths of thine were none,"
Unless thy will through want of power shall miss.

Whence I, who speak before the rest alone.
Pray thee, if ever thou that land dost see
'Twixt Charles's kingdom and Romagna thrown.

That thou wouldst ask of thy great courtesy
That Fano's prayers may be on me bestowed.
That I may purge my grave iniquity.

Thence sprang I, but the deep wounds, whence there flowed
The blood wherein of old I dwelt secure,
Were given in land by Antenori trod,

There where I dreamed my safety was most sure:
'Twas he of Este had it done, whose spite
Went far beyond what justice could endure.

But had I towards Mira taken flight,
When I o'erta'en at Oriaco stood,
I still had breathed in yonder world of light.

I to the marshes ran, where reeds and mud
So tangled me that I fell there, and saw
Upon the ground a pool of mine own blood."

Then said another, " That which thee doth draw
Be thine, the wish to mount this lofty hill.
So thou help mine by love's all-pitying law!

Of Montefeltro once, Buonconte still:
Nor others, nor Giovanna, for me care.
Hence as I walk sad looks tell tale of ill."

And I to him: " What force or chance did bear
Thee so far off from Campaldino's plain,
That thou wast buried, no man knowing where?"

"At Casentino's foot," said he again,
"There flows a stream as Archiano known,
Which from the Apennine convent seeks the main.

There, where it drops the name it once did own,
I came, my throat with many a wound pierced through,
On foot, and all the plain was blood-bestrown.

There my sight failed, and with it utterance too
Ceased with the name of Mary; and I fell,
And my corpse lifeless lay exposed to view.

Truth will I speak; do thou the living tell;
God's angel took me, and Hell's loudly cried,
Why robb'st thou me, thou, who in Heaven dost dwell?

Thou bear'st the part that ever shall abide.
For one poor tear that cheats me of my prize;
The rest shall by another doom be tried.'

Thou knowest well how in the air doth rise
That humid vapour which in raindrops breaks,"
Soon as it mounts where cold pervades the skies.

Then came that Evil Will who evil seeks.
That only, with his mind, and with the power
His nature gives him, moves the windy reeks;

And so the valley, at day's closing hour,"
From Pratomagno to the mountain-chain,
He veiled with cloud, and made the heaven to lower.

So that the pregnant air condensed to rain.
The showers fell fast, and to the gullies came
So much of them as earth could not contain;

And, as with torrents strong they one became.
Towards the kingly river on they passed
So quickly that no force their strength could tame.

My frozen body near its mouth at last
The raging Archian found and drove amain
I' the Arno, and set loose the cross which fast

I o'er my breast made, when I bowed to pain:
It rolled me on its banks and in its bed;
Then girt and hid me with its stolen gain."

"Ah! when thou back unto the world shalt tread
And hast found rest from thy long pilgrimage,"
So a third spirit, in due order, said,

"Let me. La Pia, then thy thoughts engage:
Siena gave me life, Maremma slew.
He knows it, who, with ring of marriage,

Made me, espoused before, wear jewel new."