Purgatorio: Canto XXII

Behind us was the Angel staying now.
The Angel who to that sixth round had led.
And blotted out one mark from off my brow;

And " Those who thirst for righteousness " had said,
"Beati are they," and to this his song
Joined sitiunt and nought else was uttered.

And I with lighter footstep sped along
Than through the other passes, so that I
Those swift souls followed, without toil, and strong.

When Virgil thus began, " Love kindled by
True virtue asketh other love to burn,
Provided that its flame shines outwardly.

So from the hour when down to us did turn,
In limbus dark of Hades, Juvenal,
And I from him of thy esteem did learn,

My hearty good-will did upon thee fall
As fully as on any yet unknown.
So that these stairs I now full short may call.

But tell, — and as to friend be pardon shown,
If too much freedom loose perchance the rein,
And, as a friend, hold thought's communion, —

How could it be that eager greed of gain
Should find a place within thy breast so wise,
With wisdom thou with much care didst attain?"

At first those words in Statius bade arise
Somewhat of laughter, and then answered he:
"Each word of thine dear proof of love supplies.

Truly full often many things thou'lt see
Which unto doubt false matter minister,
Because of causes true that from us flee!

Thy question doth thy full belief aver
That I in yonder life loved gain too well,
Perchance from that round where thou found'st me here.

Now know that I from avarice did dwell
Much too remote, and 'twas for this excess
Thousands of months of suffering on me fell.

And but that I that evil did redress,
And hearkened to thee where thou didst exclaim,
As if man's nature wrought thee sore distress,

'O cursed thirst of gold, to what foul shame
Dost thou not lead man's wandering appetite?'
I should play now the jousters' dismal game.

Then I perceived our hands too widely might
Open in spending, learning how to mourn
For this as well as other deeds not right.

How many shall rise up with locks all shorn.
Through ignorance, which of this very sin
Repentance bars in life or death-hour's bourn!

Know that the guilt which farthest place would win
From any given sin, that it may dry
Its verdure rank, must with it here begin.

Therefore though I am found in misery,
Purging ray guilt, with those o'er fond of gold.
It comes upon me through the contrary."

"Now when thou didst the fierce arms sing of old,
Of those who wrought Jocasta's double woe,"
Said he who sang the songs of shepherds' fold,

"By that which Clio there to thee doth show,
'Twould seem thou wert not with the true faith crowned,
In lack of which good deeds no help bestow.

If this be so, what sun or torch shed round
Its rays upon thy dark, that thou couldst steer
Thy bark upon the track the Fisher found?"

And he to him: " Thou first my steps didst bear
Towards Parnassus, in its grots to drink,
And then the way to God for me mad'st clear.

Thou didst as one who walks by night with link
Behind him, and no help therefrom doth gain,
But those who follow maketh wise to think.

When thou didst say, ' The age begins again;
Justice returns and primal state of man,
And a new heaven-born offspring comes to reign.'

Bard was I through thee, through thee Christian;
But that thou better see what I design,
I'll stretch my hand with tints to fill my plan.

Already teemed the world with Creed divine.
Through all its wide extent as broadcast sown.
By those who bore the eternal Kingdom's sign.

And those thy words that now I touched upon
Did with those preachers new so well agree,
That with them oft I held comm'union.

So holy then they came to seem to me.
That, when Domitian's persecution fell.
Not without tears of mint- their grief flowed free.

And when on earth I lived our life's brief spell,
I helped them, and then righteous customs made
All other sects to me contemptible.

And ere in song I bade the Greeks invade
The streams of Thebes, I also was baptized.
But lived a secret Christian, being afraid,

And long with pagan worship compromised;
And this lukewarmness full four hundred year
Kept me in path in that fourth round comprised.

Of thee, who mad'st the veil to disappear
Which hid from me that good of which I speak,"
While a long climb remains before us here,

Where dear old Terence is I fain would seek,
Caecilius, Plautus, Varro, if thou know;
Say, are all damned, and in what region bleak?"

"They, Persius, I, and many more enow,"
Answered my Guide, " are with that Greek bard thrown
Who as the Muses' best loved child did grow.

In the dark starless prison's outmost zone.
Full often talk we of that Mountain high
Which claims our nursing-mothers as its own.

Euripides and Antiphon are nigh
To us, with Agatho, Simonides,
And other Greeks, brow-wreathed for poesy.

There of thy race, in company with these,
Antigone, Deiphile, are met;
Ismene, sad as ever, Argia sees.

There she who showed Langia's rivulet,
There Thetis and Tiresias' daughter; there
Deidamia with her sisters set."

The poets both already silent were,"
Eager once more to cast their glance each way,
Freed from their climbing up that close-walled stair.

Already now four handmaids of the day
Were left behind, the fifth one at the yoke
Was pointing upward still, the fiery ray.

"I deem we now should turn," my Guide then spoke,
"Our right arm's shoulder to the outer side,
Circling, as we are wont, around the rock."

Thus there our former custom was our guide;
And we with less misgiving took our way,
Because that true soul us accompanied.

They went before, and I behind did stay
Alone, and listened to their converse high.
Which gave me skill the poet's lyre to play.

But soon their sweet discourse was broken by
A tree which midway in the path we found.
With fruits that sweetly smelt and pleasantly,

And as a fir-tree tapers from the ground,
From bough to bough, so that did upward spread;
I trow, that none might scale its topmost round.

And on the side which barred a closer tread.
Fell headlong from the rock a streamlet clear,
And over all the foliage green was shed.

And the two poets to the tree drew near,
And then a voice from out the leaves did cry:
"Great dearth for you of fruit that groweth here."

And then, " Much more cared Mary for supply
That so the marriage might have honour due.
Than for that mouth which pleads for you on high.

And ancient Roman dames contentment knew,"
Drinking of water clear; and Daniel
Held meats in scorn, and gathered wisdom true.

That primal age, which did as gold excel.
Seasoned its acorns with keen appetite.
And thirst to nectar turned each springing well.

Locusts and honey were the viands light
That fed the Baptist in the desert waste;
Whence stands he clothed in majesty and might.

As in the Gospel ye may find him traced.