Purgatorio: Canto IX

Now was the concubine of ancient Tithonus at eastern terrace growing white, forth from her sweet lover’s arms;

with gems her forehead was glittering, set in the form of the cold animal that strikes folk with its tail;

and Night, in the place where we were, had made two of the steps wherewith she climbs, and the third was already down-stooping its wings;

when I, who with me had somewhat of Adam, vanquished by sleep, sank down on the grass where already all we five were seated.

At the hour when the swallow begins her sad lays nigh unto the morn, perchance in memory of her former woes,

and when our mind, more of a wanderer from the flesh and less prisoned by thoughts, in its visions is almost prophetic;

in a dream methought I saw an eagle poised in the sky, with plumes of gold, with wings outspread, and intent to swoop.

And meseemed to be there where his own people were abandoned by Ganymede, when he was snatched to the high consistory.

I thought within me: “Haply he strikes only here through custom, and perchance scorneth to bear aught upward from other place in his talons.”

Then meseemed that, having wheeled awhile, terrible as lightning, he descended and snatched me up far as the fiery sphere.

There it seemed that he and I did burn, and the visionary flame so scorched that needs was my slumber broken.

Not otherwise Achilles startled, turning his awakened eyes around, and knowing not where he might be,

when his mother carried him away sleeping in her arms from Chiron to Scyros, there whence the Greeks afterwards made him depart,

than I startled, soon as sleep fled from my face, and I grew pale even as a man who freezes with terror.

Alone beside me was my Comfort, and the sun was already more than two hours high, and mine eyes were turned to the sea.

“Have no fear,” said my Lord, “make thee secure, for we are at a good spot; hold not back, but put out all thy strength.

Thou art now arrived at Purgatory; see there the rampart that compasseth it around; see the entrance there where it seems cleft.

Erewhile, in the dawn which precedes the day, when thy soul was sleeping within thee upon the flowers wherewith down below is adorned,

came a lady and said: ‘I am Lucy, let me take this man who sleepeth, so will I prosper him on his way.’

She took thee, and as day was bright, came on upward, and I followed in her track.

Here she placed thee; and first her fair eyes did show to me that open entrance; then she and sleep together went away.”

As doth a man who in dread is reassured, and who changes his fear to comfort after the truth is revealed to him,

I changed me; and when my Leader saw me freed from care, he moved up by the rampart, and I following, towards the height.

Reader, well thou seest how I exalt my subject, therefore marvel thou not if with greater art I sustain it.

We drew nigh, and were at a place, whence there where first appeared to me a break just like a fissure which divides a wall,

I espied a gate, and three steps beneath to go to it, of divers colours, and a warder who as yet spake no word.

And as more I opened mine eyes there, I saw him seated upon the topmost step, such in his countenance that I endured him not;

and in his hand he held a naked sword which reflected the rays so towards us, that I directed mine eyes to it oft in vain.

“Tell, there where ye stand, what would ye?” he began to say; “where is the escort? Beware lest coming upward be to your hurt!”

“A heavenly lady who well knows these things,” my Master answered him, “even now did say to us: ‘Go ye thither, there is the gate.’”

“And may she speed your steps to good,” again began the courteous door-keeper; “come then forward to our stairs.”

There where we came, at the first step, was white marble so polished and smooth that I mirrored me therein as I appear.

The second darker was than perse, of a stone, rugged and calcined, cracked in its length and in its breadth.

The third, which is massy above, seemed to me of porphyry so flaming red as blood that spurts from a vein.

Upon this God’s angel held both his feet, sitting upon the threshold, which seemed to me adamantine stone.

Up by the three steps, with my good will, my Leader brought me, saying: “Humbly ask that the bolt be loosed.”

Devoutly I flung me at the holy feet; for mercy I craved that he would open to me; but first on my breast thrice I smote me.

Seven P’s upon my forehead he described with the point of his sword and: “Do thou wash these wounds when thou art within,” he said.

Ashes, or earth which is dug out dry, would be of one colour with his vesture, and from beneath it he drew forth two keys.

One was of gold and the other was of silver; first with the white and then with the yellow he did so to the gate that I was satisfied.

“Whensoever one of these keys fails so that it turns not aright in the lock,” said he to us, “this passage opens not.

More precious is one, but the other requires exceeding art and wit ere it unlocks, because it is the one which unties the knot.

From Peter I hold them; and he told me to err rather in opening, than in keeping it locked, if only the people fell prostrate at my feet.”

Then he pushed the door of the sacred portal, saying: “Enter, but I make you ware that he who looketh behind returns outside again.”

And when in their sockets were turned the pivots of that sacred portal, which are of metal ringing and strong,

Tarpeia roared not so, nor showed her so harsh, when good Metellus was taken from her, whereby she after remained poor.

I turned me intent for the first sound, and Te Deum laudamus meseemed to hear in a voice mingled with sweet music.

Just such impression gave me that which I heard, as we are wont to receive when people are singing with an organ, and now the words are clear, and now are not.