Purgatorio
Canto XXIV
Dante asks about Forese’s sister Piccarda and learns that she is in Paradise. Forese then points out to him certain shades of note. Among them is Buonagiunta, a poet of Lucca, who predicts that a lady, Gentucca, will make Lucca pleasing to Dante. He goes on to speak of the “sweet new style” of the Florentine school of poets to which Dante belonged, superior in naturalness and sincerity to the school of Jacopo of Lentini in Sicily (called The Notary), Guittone of Arezzo, and Buonagiunta himself. Dante speaks of the miseries of Florence, and Forese foretells the death of his brother Corso Donati, leader of the Blacks, and chief cause of those miseries. Dante next observes another tree, from which comes a voice reciting examples of gluttony; the Centaurs, and the Hebrews rejected by Gideon (Judges, 7). As the three poets go on silently, they hear a voice, and Dante is dazzled by the resplendent apparition of the Angel of Temperance.
SPEECH made not going, nor going speech more slow,
But in our talk we went with manful stride
Like to a ship when winds behind it blow;
And me through the eyes’ pits in amazement eyed
The thronging shades, who appeared things twice dead
When they were of my living certified.
And my discourse continuing, I said:
“Perchance he mounts more slowly upon his way[i]8. Statius “mounts more slowly” in order to be longer with Virgil.
Than he would else do, for another’s aid.
But, if thou know’st, where is Piccarda, say; [10][ii]10. “Piccarda”: see the Argument.
And say if I see any whom I should
Note well, of these whose eyes so on me stay.”
“My sister who was beautiful and good,
I know not which most, triumphs now to’ wear
Her glad crown in Olympus’ high abode.”
So said he: and then: “ ’Tis not forbidden here
To name each one, since so drained out and dim
Our likeness is, by reason of our fare.
This one is Buonagiunta” pointing at him,[iii]19-20. “Buonagiunta”: a poet of Lucca. “The face . . .”: Pope Martin IV.
“Buonagiunta of Lucca, and, next, the face [20]
That more than the others showeth scale and seam,
Had Holy Church within his arms’ embrace:
He was of Tours, and purges off by fast
Bolsena’s eels and the sweet wine's disgrace.”
Many another he showed me, first and last,
And to be named thus all contented were,
It seemed, for none a dark look on us cast.
I saw, biting for hunger the empty air,
Ubaldin dalla Pila, and Boniface,[iv]29. “Ubaldin dalla Pila”: a Ghibelline leader. “Boniface” de’ Fieschi: an archbishop of Ravenna.
Who pastured with his staff folk near and far [30]
I saw Master Marchese, who once had space
To drink at Forli with less dry a throat,[v]32. “Master Marchese”: mayor of Faenza in 1296.
Nor, even so, could with his thirst keep pace.
As a man does who, looking, takes chief note
Of one, to him of Lucca did I do,
Who most, it seemed, for my acquaintance sought.
I thought I heard, as he was muttering low,
“Gentucca,” there where he could feel the smart[vi]38. “Gentucca”: see the Argument (she is also the “woman” of line 43). “There where . . .” in the mouth.
Of the high justice which displumes them so.
“O soul,” said I, “who something wouldst impart [40]
To me, do so, that I may understand,
And with thy speech content me and thine own heart.”
“A woman, who wears not yet the wimple’s band,
Is born,” said he, “who shall my city endear
To thee, however by men’s tongues arraigned.
This prophecy with thee thou art to bear.
If in my muttering thou wast doubtful of
The truth, the thing’s self shall yet make it clear.
But tell me, I pray, if I see him who wove
Out of his heart the new rimes that begin [50]
Ladies that have intelligence of love.”[vii]51. The first canzone of the Vita Nuova.
And I to him: “I am one who hearkens when
Love prompteth, and I put thought into word
After the mode which he dictates within.”
“O brother,” he said, “I see what knot deterred
The Notary and Guittone and me too,[viii]56. “The Notary and Guittone”: see the Argument.
Baulked of the new sweet style I have lately heard.
For now I see well how the pen with you
Follows him who dictateth close behind,
Which our pens truly were not wont to do; [60]
And he who seeks to look beyond can find
No difference else ’twixt one and the other style.”
Thereat he held his peace, and seemed resigned.
Even as cranes that winter along the Nile
Now make themselves a squadron in the air,
Then fly at greater speed and go in file,
So all the people that had gathered there,
Turning away their faces, forward prest:
Fleet both through leanness and their wish they were.
And as the runner who becomes distrest [70]
Lets his companions pass him and walks on
Till he have eased the panting of his chest,
Forese let the holy flock be gone,
And asking: “How long shall it be before
Again I see thee?” in step with me went on.
“I know not what of life I may have more”
Replied I, “but return not so soon but
My wish will waft me sooner to the shore,
Because the place where I to live was put
Is, day by day, of all good more despoiled [80]
And seems ordained in misery to rot.”
“Now go,” said he, “for him who is most embroiled[ix]82-87. Corso Donati, the great leader of the Blacks, who in 1308 was accused of treason and condemned. In Dante’s version, Corso is kicked to death by the animal that is hauling him.
I see dragged at the tail of a strong beast
Down towards the vale where sin is unassoiled.
The beast goes faster at every step, increased
In speed, until it breaks him on the ground
And leaves his body hideously defaced.
Yon wheels shall have not long to circle round”
He raised his eyes to heaven “ere that be clear
To thee, which my words may not more expound. [90]
Remain thou now behind, for time is dear
In this kingdom, so that too much I lose,
At equal pace with thee thus loitering here.”
As sometimes at a gallop toward his foes
Forth from a troop a rider, bent to snatch
The honour of the first encounter goes,
So with great strides from us did he detach;
And I in the way remained with but the two,
Those marshals of the world that had no match.
When he was gone so far out of our view [100]
That my eyes after him pursuing yearned
Even as did my mind his words pursue,
Laden and living branches I discerned
Of another apple-tree, not far away,
Seeing that but then had I thither turned.
I saw folk under it raise their hands; and they
Were crying toward the leaves I know not what,
Like children that futile and eager pray,
And he who is prayed answers them not a jot,
But so to make their craving very keen [110]
Holds their desire on high and hides it not.
They, as if undeceived, departed then.
And now we came to the great tree, which, dumb,
Rejects so many prayers and tears of men.
“Pass ye on, and no further this way come!
Higher up there is a tree whose taste was tried[x]116. The tree of knowledge.
By Eve, and this same plant was raised therefrom.”
Thus from among the branches some one cried.
Virgil and Statius and I, close-prest
Together, passed on the ascending side. [120]
“Remember,” it said, “those monsters, all unblest,[xi]121-123. “Those monsters, . . . who. . . fought against Theseus” are the Centaurs.
Formed in the clouds, who when they had gorged their fill
Fought against Theseus with their double breast,
And the Hebrews, at the drinking weak of will,
Whom Gideon for his comrades would not choose[xii]125. Of the Hebrews ready to fight against Midian, Gideon chose only those who drank without kneeling: Judg. 12:4-7.
When he came down on Midian from the hill.”
So, skirting one of the two edges close,
We passed, hearing what gluttons’ faults once sowed
And after reaped a recompense of woes.
Once more at large upon the empty road [130]
Full thousand and more paces on, each one
Lost in his thoughts, without a word we strode.
“What ponder ye three, as ye go alone?”
Said a sudden voice; whereat I shook in dread
As a young beast does, into panic thrown.
To see who it was, I lifted up my head;
And never yet was seen in furnaces
Molten metal or glass to glow so red
As I saw one who was saying, “If ye please
To mount, here turn ye to ascend the height. [140]
This way they go who would go into peace.”
His aspect had all taken away my sight.
Wherefore I turned, back to my teachers drawn,
As one who by his ear is guided right.
And as, annunciation of the dawn,
The breeze of May awakeneth, sweet to smell,
Impregnated from flower and grassy lawn,
A wind full on the forehead did I feel
Touching me, and distinct I heard the plumes[xiii]149. “The plumes”: of the Angel of Temperance.
That made ambrosial fragrance on me steal. [150]
And I heard cry: “Blessed those, whom illumes
So much of grace that never palate’s lust
Makes them exceed by kindling of its fumes,
Hungering always so far as is just.”