Purgatorio: Canto IX

She who of yore shared old Tithonus' bed,
On the far Eastern gallery grew white,
As from her sweet friend's arms her steps were led:

Her brow with many a jewelled star was bright,
Set in the figure of that creature cold,
Which with its tail is nations wont to smite.

And of the steps where she her course doth hold,
The night had traversed two, when there we stayed.
And the third now its wings did downward fold,

When I, as by my Adam-flesh downweighed,
Conquered by sleep upon the grass reclined.
Which we all five our resting-place had made.

It was the hour when swallow to the wind
Chants her sad songs as morning's dawn draws near, —
Perchance as ancient sorrows haunt her mind, —"

And when our soul, more alien from the sphere
Of flesh, and less to rush of hot thoughts given,
As half-divine looks forth in vision clear;

I seemed to see in dreams, as in mid-heaven,
An eagle hovering with its plumes of gold,
With wide wings poised to swoop when downward driven;

And I, it seemed, then found me where of old
Young Ganymede his kindred did forsake,
Rapt to the Council which the high Gods hold:

Methought, perchance he on his prey doth break
Here only as by use, and scorneth quite
That spoil gained elsewhere he should upward take.

Then wheeling, as me seemed, a wider flight.
Like a dread thunderbolt he downward came.
And snatched me upward to the burning light.

There seemed both he and I to feel the flame,
And that imagined fire so scorched, it broke
Perforce the slumber which my soul o'ercame.

Not otherwise, of old, Achilles Woke,
Turning his opened eyes on all around,
And knowing not the place that met his look,

What time his mother unto Scyros' ground
Bore him from Chiron in her arms asleep,
Whence the Greeks dragged him, there in hiding found.

Then I roused me, when fled that slumber deep
From off my face, and I, in sore affright,
Was as one chilled with fear, whose blood doth creep.

Near me my Comforter alone in sight
Appeared; the sun two hours had sped his way,
And my gaze turned where shore and sea unite.

Then said my Master: " Cast off thy dismay.
Sure that thus far a good course is begun;
Check not thy powers, but let them have full play.

Now shall thy steps through Purgatory run:
See there the high cliff that doth round it go,"
See where it seems disjoined, the entrance won.

Just now at dawn before the sun's full glow.
While sleep was on thy spirit inwardly.
Upon the flowers that deck the ground below

A lady came and said, ' Lo! Lucia I:"
Let me take him who lieth sleeping there.
And I will speed him in his course on high.'

Sordello stayed, and those good spirits dear:
She took thee up, and as the day grew bright.
She mounted, and I too, her footsteps near;

Then here she laid thee, but first drew my sight
With her fair eyes, to that gate opened wide:
Then she and sleep together took their flight."

As one whose doubting heart, once certified.
Full soon doth into comfort change his fear,
When Truth no more the covering veil doth hide.

So was I changed, as though no care were near;
My Leader saw me, and along the rock
Moved, and toward the height I followed there.

Reader! thou seest well how I unlock
My theme's rich stores; then wonder not, I
If with more art I fertilise its stock.

So we drew nigh, and in the place did stay
Where first an opening narrow seemed to break,
Like passage which through stone walls gives a way.

A gate I saw, and three steps upward make
An access to it, each of diverse hue.
And there a Warder sat who never spake.

And as mine eyes gained clearer fuller view,
I saw him seated on the topmost stair,
With face that did my power to gaze subdue.

In his right hand a naked sword he bare,
Which upon us its rays reflected still,
So that in vain mine eyes oft met its glare.

"Speak where ye are; and tell me what your will,"
So he began to speak. " Where is your guide?
Take heed lest this your journey work you ill."

"A heavenly Lady," then my Chief replied,
Familiar with these things, but just before
Said to us, ' See the gate, thence pass inside.'"

And may she speed your footsteps more and more!"
Began that Warder, with kind speech and fair:
"Come forward then, and these our steps pass o'er."

Thither did we draw nigh, and that first stair
Was of white marble, polished so and clean,"
It mirrored all my features as they were.

The second darker than dusk perse was seen,
Of stone all rugged, rough and coarse in grain,
With many a crack its length and breadth between.

The third, which o'er the others towers amain, "',
Appeared as if of fiery porphyry.
Like blood that gushes crimson horn the vein.

On this, his two feet firmly fixed, saw I
God's angel, seated on the threshold stone.
Which seemed a rock of adamant to the eye.

O'er the three steps my Guide then led me on,
With all good will, and said, " Now humbly pray
That bolts and bars to us be open thrown.''

Then prostrate at the holy feet I lay:
Mercy I begged, and opening of the gate,
And thrice I smote my breast in contrite way.

Then on my brow he did delineate
With his sword's point, seven P's, and said,' When there
Thou go'st within, cleanse these wounds obstinate."

Ashes or earth dug out, left dry and bare,
Would of one colour with his garments be,
And from beneath them he two keys did bear.

Of silver one, of gold the other key;
First he the white, and then the yellow plied
Upon the door, and thus he gladdened me.

When either of these keys in vain is tried
So that the lock it turns not readily,"
Said he to me, " this door will closed abide.

Costlier is one, the other bids us ply-
More art and skill ere through the wards it turn,
For this is that which doth the knot untie.

From Peter hold I them; from him I learn
Rather to ope in error than to close,
If only at my feet men kneel and mourn."

And then the sacred door he open throws,
Saying, ' Enter in, but also take good heed:
He is cast forth who looks back as he goes."

And when upon their hinges did recede
The swivels of that consecrated door,
That are of metal, loud, and strong at need.

Not with so sharp a note, or deep -toned roar,
Tarpeia opened when from it was ta'en
Metellus, and it stood with emptied store.

At the first thunderous peal I turned again.
And TV Deum laudamus seemed to hear,
In voices mingled with melodious strain:

And what I heard upon my mind did bear
Such impress as it oft is wont to take,
When men their singing with the organ share.

For now were heard, now not, the words they spake.