Purgatorio: Canto XXX

When the septentrion of the primal heaven, —
Which never knew its setting or its rise,
Nor other cloud but that by man's sin driven.

And did each one that looked on it apprise
Of duty, as the lower gives to view
How best to steer to where the haven lies, —

Stood still awhile-, then all that people true
That 'twixt it and the Gryphon first drew near,
Turned to the car, as though their peace they knew.

And one of them, as if by Heaven sent there,
Sang, " Veni, Sponsa, come from Lebanon!"
Three times, and all the rest took up the air.

As at the last call every blessed one
Shall quickly from his cavern-tomb return,
And " Alleluias " sing with voice re-won,"

So where the car divine was onward borne
A hundred rose ad vocem tanti Senis,
Angels and heralds of the life eterne;

And all said " Benedictus es qui venis
And, scattering flowers above them and around,
"Manibus O date lilia plenis!"

Oft have I seen how all the east was crowned
At very break of day with roseate hue,
And all the sky beside serener found;

And the sun's face o'erclouded came in view,
The vapours so attempering its powers,
That the eye gazed long while, nor weary grew:

And so, enveloped in a cloud of flowers,
Which leapt up, scattered by angelic hands.
And part within and part without sent showers,

Clad in white veil with olive-wreathed bands,
A lady in a mantle bright and green
O'er robe of fiery glow before me stands.

And then my spirit, which so long had been
Without the wonder that had once dismayed,
When that dear presence by mine eyes was seen.

Though nothing more to vision was displayed.
Through secret power that passed from her to me
The mighty spell of ancient love obeyed.

Soon as I stricken stood, in act to see,
By that high power that pierced me with his dart
Ere yet I passed from out my boyhood free,

I to the left with wistful look did start.
As when an infant seeks his mother's breast.
When fear or anguish vex his troubled heart,

To say to Virgil: " Trembling, fear-opprest,
Is every drop of blood in every vein;
I know that old flame's tokens manifest."

But Virgil then had left me to my pain,
Virgil, my sweetest father, to whose hand,
Virgil's, I gave myself, true health to gain:

Not all from which our mother great was banned
Availed, though now my cheeks with dew had grown
All cleansed, the tears that stained them to command.

'Dante, weep not because thy Virgil's gone;
Weep not as yet; as yet weep thou no more;
For other sword-wounds must thy tears flow down."

As when an admiral from stern looks o'er.
Or prow, the crowd that other ships doth man,
And gives them nobler courage than before,

There, where the left rim of the chariot ran,
When at the sound of mine own name I turned.
Which here perforce recorded men must scan,

I saw the lady, whom I erst discerned
Veiled underneath the angelic festal show,
Beyond the stream with eyes that on me yearned.

Although the veil that from her head did flow.
By the leaves circled to Minerva dear,
Allowed no glimpse of that which lay below.

Queen-like in look and gesture, yet severe,""
She then resumed as one whose speech flows free.
Yet keeps behind a speech more hard to bear:

"Behold! in me thy Beatrice see:
How didst thou deem thee fit to climb the hill?
Didst thou not know that here the blessed be?"

Mine eyes then fell upon the waters still,
But there myself beholding, to the grass
I turned, such shame upon my brow weighed ill.

As mother to her son for proud doth pass.
So she to me, for with a bitter twang
Tastes pity which in sternness doth o'erpass.

She held her peace, and from the angels rang
"In te speravi, Domine,' but they
No farther than the " pedes meos" sang.

E'en as the snows that on the tall trees stay,
Along Italia's backbone are congealed,
Swept on and bound as winds Sclavonian play.

Then trickling flow, the whole vast mass unsealed.
At the mere breath of blast from shadeless clime.
As candles near the fire their substance yield,

So stood I tearless, sighless, for a time,
While yet they sang whose praise ascends on high,
Following th' eternal spheres in ceaseless chime.

But when I heard in their sweet melody
How me they pitied, more than if they said,
"Why, lady, dost thou thus his spirit try?"

The ice that all around my heart was laid
Passed into wind and water, and with pain.
Through mouth and eyes from breast its issue made.

She on the aforesaid margin of the wain
Still standing, to those creatures ever blest
Then turned her speech, and then I heard the strain:

"Ye in the day eternal know no rest,
So that nor night nor sleep from you can steal
One step upon the world's great path imprest;

Therefore my answer greater care must seal,
That he may hear me well who there doth weep,
And so a. grief to guilt proportioned feel.

Not only as the wheels majestic sweep
That guide each seed to its appointed end,"
According as the stars their concert keep,

But through the bounteous graces God doth send,
Which have such lofty vapours for their rain,
No mortal can his glance so far extend.

He, when his new life he did first attain,
Potentially was such that every good
In him had power a wondrous height to gain.

But all the more perverse, and wild, and rude
Becomes the soil, with ill seed, left untilled.
As 'tis with more of natural strength endued.

Awhile my face was strong his life to build.
And I, unveiling to him my young eyes,
In the straight path to lead him on was skilled.

So soon as I had reached the point where lies
Our second age, and I my life had changed,
Me he forsook, and chose another prize.

And when I had from flesh to spirit ranged,
And loveliness and virtue in me grew,
I was to him less dear and more estranged.

His feet he turned to way that was not true,
Following of good the semblance counterfeit,
Which ne'er to promise gives fulfilment due.

Nought it availed the Spirit to entreat,
Wherewith, in visions oft and otherwise,
I called him back, but little heed to meet.

So low he fell, that ways, however wise.
Were all too feeble found his soul to save.
Save showing him the lost ones' miseries.

For this I trod the gateways of the grave.
And unto him who thus far was his guide,
The prayers were borne which with my tears I gave.

The sovran will of God would be defied
If Lethe should be passed, and such a food
Be tasted, yet no reckoning be supplied

Of penitence that pours its tears in flood.""