Purgatorio: Canto XXIV

Neither did our speech make the going, nor the going, it more slow; but, talking we went bravely on, even as a ship driven by a fair wind.

And the shades, that seemed things twice dead, drew in wonderment at me through the pits of their eyes, aware of my being alive.

And I, continuing my discourse, said: “Perchance he goeth upward more slowly than he would do, for another’s sake.

But tell me, if thou knowest, where Piccarda is; tell me if I see any person to be noted among this people who gaze so at me.”

“My sister, who, whether she were more fair or more good I know not, now triumphs, rejoicing in her crown on high Olympus.”

Thus spake he at first, and then: “Here ’tis not forbidden to name each one, since our features are so wrung by abstinence.

This (and he showed with his finger) is Bonagiunta, Bonagiunta of Lucca; and that visage, beyond him, shrivelled more than the others,

held Holy Church within its arms: from Tours sprang he, and by fasting purges the eels of Bolsena and the sweet wine.”

Many others he named to me, one by one, and all did seem glad at the naming, so that I saw therefore not one black look.

I saw Ubaldino della Pila using his teeth for very hunger on the void; and Boniface who pastured many peoples with the rook.

I saw Messer Marchese, who once had leisure to drink at Forlì with less thirst, and yet was so craving that he never felt sated.

But as he doth who looks, and then esteems one more than another, so did I to him of Lucca who seemed to have most knowledge of me.

He was muttering, and something like “Gentucca,” I heard there where he was feeling the wounds of Justice, which so doth pluck them.

“O soul,” said I, “that seemeth yearning so to talk with me, speak so that I may understand thee, and satisfy me and thee with thy speech.”

“A woman is born and wears not yet the wimple,” he began, “who will make my city pleasing to thee, however man may rebuke it.

Thou shalt go hence with this prophecy; if thou hast taken my muttering in error, the real facts will make it yet clear to thee.

But tell if I see here him who invented the new rhymes beginning: ‘Ladies that have intelligence of Love.’”

And I to him: “I am one who, when Love inspires me take note, and go setting it forth after the fashion which he dictates within me.”

“O brother,” said he, “now I see the knot which kept back the Notary, and Guittone, and me, short of the sweet new style that I hear.

Truly I see how your pens follow close after him who dictates, which certainly befell not with ours.

And he who sets himself to search farther, has lost all sense of difference between the one style and the other “; and, as if satisfied, he was silent.

As birds that winter along the Nile sometimes make of themselves an aerial squadron, then fly in greater haste and go in file;

so all the people that were there, facing round, quickened their pace, fleet through leanness and desire.

And as one who is weary of running lets his comrades go by, and walks until the panting of his chest be eased;

so Forese let the holy flock pass by, and came on behind with me, saying: “When shall it be that I see thee again?”

“I know not,” answered I him, “how long I may live, yet my return will not be so soon but that I be not before with my desire at the bank:

for the place where I was put to live, is day by day more stripped of good, and seems doomed to woeful ruin.”

“Now go,” said he, “for him who is most in fault I see dragged at the tail of a beast, towards the vale where sin is never cleansed,

Faster goes the beast at every step, increasing ever till it dashes him, and leaves his body hideously disfigured.

Yon wheels (and he lifted his eyes up to the heavens) have not long to revolve ere that shall be clear to thee which my words may no further declare.

Now remain thou behind, for time is precious in this realm, so that I lose too much coming with thee thus at equal pace.”

As a horseman sometimes comes forth at a gallop from a troop that is riding, and goes to win the honour of the first encounter,

so parted he from us with greater strides; and I was left by the way with the two who were such great marshals of the world.

And when he had advanced so far ahead of us, that mine eyes made such pursuit of him, as my mind did of his words,

the laden and green boughs of another tree appeared to me, and not very far away, for I was but then come round thither.

I saw people beneath it lifting up their hands, and crying out something towards the foliage, like spoilt and greedy children,

who beg, and he of whom they beg, answers not, but to make their longing full keen, holds what they desire on high, and hides it not.

Then they departed as though undeceived; and now we came to the great tree which mocks so many prayers and tears.

“Pass onward without drawing nigh to it; higher up is a tree which was eaten of by Eve, and this plant was raised from it.”

Thus amid the branches some one spake; wherefore Virgil and Statius and I, close together, went forward by the side which rises.

“Remember,” he said, “the accursed ones formed in the clouds, who when gorged, fought Theseus with their double breasts;

and the Hebrews who showed themselves soft at the drinking, wherefore Gideon would have them not for comrades when he came down the hills to Midian.”

Thus we passed close against one of the two margins, hearing sins of gluttony, once followed by woeful gains.

Then, spread out along the solitary way, full a thousand paces and more bore us onward, each in contemplation without a word.

“What go ye thus pondering on ye lone three,” sudden voice did say; wherefore I startled as frightened and timid beasts do.

I raised my head to see who it was, and never in a furnace were glasses or metals seen so glowing and red,

as I saw one who said: “If it please you to mount upward, here must a turn be given; hence goeth he who desires to go for peace.”

His countenance had bereft me of sight; wherefore I turned me back to my Teachers, like one who goeth according as he listens.

And as the May breeze, herald of the dawn, stirs and breathes forth sweetness, all impregnate with grass and with flowers,

such a wind felt I give on the middle of my brow, and right well I felt the pinions move which wafted ambrosial fragrance to my senses;

And I heard say: “Blessed are they who are illumined by so much grace, that the love of taste kindleth not too great desire in their breasts, and who hunger always so far as is just.”