Purgatorio: Canto XII

Even in step, like oxen which go in the yoke, I went beside that burdened spirit, so long as the sweet pedagogue suffered it.

But when he said: “Leave him, and press on, for here ’tis well that with sail and with oars, each one urge his bark along with all his might”;

erect, even as is required for walking I made me again with my body, albeit my thoughts remained bowed down and shrunken.

I had moved me, and willingly was following my master’s steps, and both of us already were showing how light of foot we were,

when he said to me: “Turn thine eyes downward: good will it be, for solace of thy way, to see the bed of the soles of thy feet.”

As in order that there be memory of them, the tombs on the ground over the buried bear figured what they were before;

wherefore there, many a time men weep for them, because of the prick of remembrance which only to the pitiful gives spur;

so saw I sculptured there, but of better similitude according to the craftsmanship, all that which for road projects from the mount,

I saw him who was created nobler far than other creature, on one side descending like lightning from heaven.

I saw Briareus, transfixed by the celestial bolt, on the other side, lying on the earth heavy with the death chill.

I saw Thymbraeus, I saw Pallas and Mars, armed yet, around their father, gazing on the scattered limbs of the giants.

I saw Nimrod at the foot of his great labour, as though bewildered, and looking at the people who were proud with him in Shinar.

O Niobe, with what sorrowing eyes I saw thee graven upon the road between seven and seven thy children slain!

O Saul, how upon thine own sword there didst thou appear dead on Gilboa, which thereafter felt nor rain nor dew!

O mad Arachne, so saw I thee already half spider, sad upon the shreds of the work which to thy hurt was wrought by thee!

O Rehoboam, now thine image there seems no more to threaten; but full of terror a chariot beareth it away ere chase be given!

It showed—the hard pavement—again how Alcmaeon made the luckless ornament seem costly to his mother.

It showed how his sons flung themselves upon Sennacherib within the temple, and how, him slain, there they left him.

It showed the destruction and the cruel slaughter which Tomyris wrought when she said to Cyrus: “For blood thou didst thirst and with blood I fill thee!”

It showed how in a rout the Assyrians fled, after Holofernes was slain, and also the relics of the assassination.

I saw Troy in ashes and in ruins: O Ilion, thee how base and vile [discerned! It showed—the sculpture which there is

What master were he of brush or of graver, who drew the shades and the lineaments, which there would make every subtle wit stare?

Dead seemed the dead, and the living, living. He saw not better than I who saw the reality of all that I trod upon while I was going bent down.

Now wax proud and on with haughty visage, ye children of Eve, and bow not down your faces, so that ye may see your evil path!

Already more of the mount was circled by us, and of the sun’s path much more spent, than the mind, not set free, esteemed;

when he, who ever in front of me alert was going, began: “Lift up thy head, this is no time to go thus engrossed.

See there an angel who is making ready to come towards us; look how the sixth handmaiden is returning from the day’s service.

Adorn with reverence thy bearing and thy face, so that it may delight him to send us upward; think that this day never dawns again.”

Right well was I used to his monitions never to lose time, so that in that matter he could not speak to me darkly.

To us came the beauteous creature, robed in white, and in his countenance, such as a tremulous star at morn appears.

His arms he opened and then outspread his wings; he said: “Come; here nigh are the steps, and easily now is ascent made.”

To this announcement few be they who come. O human folk, born to fly upward, why at a breath of wind thus fall ye down?

He led us where the rock was cut; there he beat his wings upon my forehead, then did promise me my journey secure.

As on the right hand, to ascend the mount where stands the church which, over Rubaconte, dominates the well-guided city,

the bold scarp of the ascent is broken by the steps, which were made in the times when the records and the measure were safe,

even so is the bank made easier, which here right steeply falls from the other cornice, but on this side and on that the high rock grazes.

While we were turning there our persons, “Beati pauperes spiritu” voices so sweetly sang, that no speech would tell it.

Ah! how different are these openings from those in Hell! for here we enter through songs, and down there through fierce wailings.

Now were we mounting up by the sacred steps, and meseemed I was exceeding lighter, than meseemed before on the flat;

wherefore I: “Master, say, what heavy thing has been lifted from me, that scarce any toil is perceived by me in journeying?”

He answered: “When the P’s which have remained still nearly extinguished on thy face, shall, like the one, be wholly rased out,

thy feet shall be so vanquished by goodwill, that not only will they feel it no toil, but it shall be a delight to them to be urged upward.”

Then did I, like those who go with something on their head unknown to them, save that another’s signs make them suspect;

wherefore the hand lends its aid to make certain, and searches, and finds, and fulfils that office which cannot be furnished by the sight;

and with the fingers of my right hand outspread, I found but six the letters, which he with the keys had cut upon me over the temples: whereat my Leader looking did smile.