Purgatorio: Canto XVIII

The great Instructor to its close had brought
His reasoning high, and searched with eager gaze.
Whether my face with full content were fraught;

And I, as spurred by thirst that nought allays.
Without was mute, but said within, " Perchance,
He grieves that I o'er many questions raise."

But that true Father, seeing, at a glance,
The timid wish that kept itself concealed.
Speaking, gave my speech courage to advance.

And I: "O Master, so my sight lives healed,
In this thy light, that I discern full clear,
Whate'er thy speech implies or hath revealed.

Wherefore I pray thee, gentle Father dear,
That thou show me that love from whence arise
All acts that good or otherwise appear."

"Turn thou to me," said he, " the eager eyes
Of thy keen spirit; this will manifest
The error of blind leaders, self-styled wise.

The soul, that's made in love to find its rest.
Is moved by all that comes in pleasure's hue,
Soon as by pleasure it to act is press'd.

Your power perceptive from some object true
Impression draws, and it unfolds within,
So that the soul it doth to gaze subdue;

And if thus turned, it bends itself to win,
Love is that bending; that is Nature's might,
By pleasure new created, and bound in.

Then, as the fire mounts upward to the height.
By its own essence which is made to rise
There, where on kindred matter it doth light,

So the soul captive to its longing flies —
The spirit's motion — and then rests knows none.
Till the thing loved fruition full supplies.

Now may appear to thee how little known
Is truth unto those people who maintain
That to all love per se may praise be shown;

Because perchance its substance praise may gain
As always good; yet not each seal's impress
Is good, though good the wax itself remain."

"Thy language, and my following mind no less
Behind thee," said I, "show me what is Love,
But this begets in me more doubt's distress;

For if Love from without our mind doth move,
And the soul moveth not with other feet,
Then neither right nor wrong doth merit prove."

And he to me: " What reason's sight doth meet,
That I can tell; beyond it thou must wait
For Beatrice, faith's work to complete.

Each form substantial, which is separate
From matter, yet with it in union bound,
In special virtue doth participate.

This, without act, is still by sense unfound,
And shows itself through its effects alone.
As life in plant when green leaves spread around;

Wherefore in man must still remain unknown"
What is the source of first cognitions true,
And how of things we seek desires have grown.

Which, as the bee seeks honey, so in you
Are found as instinct, and to this first will
No merit or of praise or blame is due.

Now since round this all others cluster still.
Virtue innate that counsels, in you dwells,
And o'er assent should watchman's part fulfil.

This is the source, from which, as fountain, wells
Merit's true cause in you, accordingly
As it takes good or bad loves, or repels.

They, who in reasoning did the depths descry,
Perceived in man this liberty innate,
So to the world they left Morality.

Hence let us say that though each love may date,""
As from necessity, in you its rise,
Yours is the power to guide and moderate.

That noble power thy Beatrice descries
In the free will; seek therefore thou to know
Thou hast it, if of it she thee advise."

The moon, as though at midnight wandering slow.
Shaped like a bucket all in fiery sheen.
Made the stars few and feeble in their glow;

And moving 'gainst the heavens its course was seen.
In paths the sun inflames when he of Rome
Sees it go down 'twixt Corsi and Sardine.

And that high soul who made of old his home,
Pietola, than Mantua more renowned,
Had made my doubts no longer burdensome.

Whence I, who to my questions now had found
An answer that was manifest and plain,
Stood like a man in dreamy slumbers bound.

But from me soon that somnolence was ta'en
Full suddenly, by crowd who then behind
Our backs had turned, and on our steps did gain.

As, where Ismenus and Asopus wind.
Men saw of old by night wild tumult held,
When Thebes had need for Bacchus to be kind.

So on that circle, far as I beheld.
Came on a troop with eager step who trode,
By good will and a righteous love impelled.

Soon they were on us, for upon their road
With speed they ran, that whole crowd's wide extent,
And two in front cried out, as tears down flowed:

"Mary in haste unto the mountain went;"
And 'Caesar, firm Ilerda to subdue,
Massilia crushed, to Spain his footsteps bent."

"Haste, haste! that time may not be lost by you.
Through lack of love," forthwith the others cried,
"That zeal in doing good may grace renew."

"O ye, in whom keen will intensified
Atones perchance for slackness and delay,
When your good deeds by lukewarm soul were tied.

This living man — and here no lie I say, —
Seeks, if the sun relight us, to ascend:
So tell us where the pass yields nearest way."

These were the words of him, my Guide and Friend.
And one of those same spirits said, " Come near
Behind, and to the opening thou shalt wend.

So strong our will a forward course to steer,"
We cannot stay ourselves, so pardon thou,
If this our duty rudeness should appear.

I, at Verona, took St. Zeno's vow
As Abbot, under Barbarossa brave.
Of whom in sorrow Milan speaks e'en now;

And one there is with one foot in the grave,
Who shall ere long that monastery rue.
And in his power there find a burden grave.

Because his son, in body foul to view.
And worse in mind, and illegitimate,
He hath set up in place of shepherd true."

If more he said, or ceased, I cannot state,
So great a space already lay between;
But this I heard and gladly now relate.

And he who in all need my help had been,
Said, " Turn thou this way, and behold these two
Putting sharp bit on coward souls and mean."

In rear of all they cried, " That wretched crew
To whom the Red Sea opened, all were dead.
Ere Jordan might the heirs of promise view;

And they who from the toil and trouble fled,
Nor with Anchises' son endured the end.
Passed to a life on which no fame was shed."

Then, when apart from us those souls did wend
So far from us, we saw their face no more,"
A new thought in my spirit 'gan ascend;

From this were others born of diverse race,
And so from this to that I rambled on,
That wandering thus mine eyelids closed apace.

And I to dream changed meditation."