Purgatorio
Canto XXVI
Proceeding along the circle, the three poets go in single file, keeping to the outer edge, because of the fire. Dante’s shadow makes the flames seem redder, which astonishes the spirits. One of them, who is Guido Guinicelli, questions Dante, whose attention is however distracted by a throng coming towards them who greet the others briefly; they are those who were guilty of unnatural lust, while the sin of the first group was “hermaphrodite,” or bi-sexual, but infringed human law. This is explained by Guinicelli, who now makes himself known and is greeted with reverence by Dante as his “father” in poetry (as the sons of Hypsipyle recognized and embraced their mother in Statius’ poem). But Guinicelli deprecates his praise and points to the shade of Arnaut Daniel, the Provençal poet, as a better craftsman in verse, surpassing his rival Giraut de Borneuil of Limoges. Guinicelli disappears into the flame, and Dante greets Arnaut, who replies in the Provençal tongue.
WHILE thus along the road’s edge we progressed
One after one, “By my instruction’s light”
Said the good Master, “see thou profitest.”
The sun smote on my shoulder from the right
And with his beams by now was changing fast
The whole face of the West from blue to white.
And redder with the shadow that I cast
The flames appeared; and this small sign alone
Many, I saw, took heed of as they passed.
This was the cue for them to speak upon: [10]
And of me, among themselves, they made comment:
“No shadowy body this one seems to own.”
Far as they could, then, certain of them went
Toward me, still watchful not to issue out
There where the burning would no more torment.
“O thou that goest behind the others, not
From indolence but for reverence may-hap,
Answer me, who have fire within my throat.
Not I alone will drink thine answer up,
For all these have a greater thirst for it [20]
Than for cold brooks Indian or Ethiop.
Say how it is that thou thyself dost set
As a wall against the sun, as if ensnared
Thou wert not in the meshes of Death’s net.”
Thus one spoke; and already I had declared
Myself, had not the intentness of my gaze
Been drawn to a new thing which then appeared.
For where the middle road was all ablaze
People were coming with face fronting these
Who made me stand and linger in my amaze. [30]
Each shade I see on either side to press,
And without staying, and content with scant
Greeting, I see them one another kiss.
Even so within their dusky troops an ant
Noses another, if haply it may spy
Their journey out or what their luck may grant.
Soon as they put the friendly greeting by,
Before the first step of the speeding foot
Each of them strives which shall the loudest cry.
“Sodom and Gomorrah” the new-comers shout. [40]
The rest, “Pasiphae entereth the cow[i]41. “Pasiphae,” cursed by Venus with a passion for a bull, satisfied her lust by concealing herself in a wooden cow.
That the young bull may hasten to her rut.”
Like cranes that, some to the Rhipean snow
Would fly, some to the sandy regions,—they
Shunning the frost, and those the hot sun’s glow—
One part go on, the other come away,
And weeping to their first chants they recur
And to the words it fits them most to say.
And those same ones who did me first implore
With listening intentness in their mien [50]
Were drawing close up to me as before.
I, who now twice their eagerness had seen,
Began: “O spirits that have security
Of reaching in the end the state serene,
My members, whether green or ripe they be,
Remain not yonder upon earth confined
But with their blood and joints are here with me.
Upward I go, to be no longer blind.
There is a lady above who hath won me grace;[ii]59. “A lady”: the Virgin Mary.
Hence in your world my mortal self ye find. [60]
But so may your supreme wish come to pass
Sooner, so that the heaven may harbour you
Which brims with love and spreads in amplest space,
That yet my pen may write it, tell me who
Ye are, and what that multitude is there
Which goes behind your backs away from you?”
Not otherwise the embarrassed highlander
Grows dazed and round about him stareth dumb,
Wild and uncouth amid the city’s stir,
Than each shade did now in his looks become. [70]
But when they were disburdened of that strain,
And lofty hearts are soon relieved therefrom,
“Blessed thou,” that first shade began again,
“Who for a better death art taking in
Store of experience out of our domain.
The people who come not with us had that sin
For which Caesar of old as he passed by
Heard in his triumph called behind him ‘Queen!’[iii]78. A charge of sodomy.
Therefore do they reproach themselves and cry
‘Sodom,’ as thou hast heard, at parting hence, [80]
And with their shame the burning magnify.
For us, hermaphrodite was our offence.
But since we observed not human law (our blood
Pursuing like a beast the lusts of sense)
We read, to our reproach and for our good,
Parting, the name of her who did imbrute
Herself in the imbruted frame of wood.
Thou knowest our guilty acts now and their fruit.
If chance thou would’st by name know who we are,
There is no time to tell, nor could I do it. [90]
Of me indeed I will content thy prayer.
I am Guido Guinicelli and purge me in flame[iv]92. “Guido Guinicelli”: the most important Italian poet before Dante.
Because, ere the end, my sins repented were.”
Then such as in Lycurgus’ grief became[v]94. Hypsipyle’s two sons saved her from the rage of Lycurgus (see the Argument).
Two sons, rejoiced their mother again to see
So became I (yet not so high I aim),
When I heard name himself the father of me
And of others, my betters, who have wrought
Ever of love sweet rhyme so graciously.
Without hearing or speech, in musing thought [100]
I went, a long time gazing on him still,
Yet, for the fire, no nearer to him sought.
When with beholding I had fed my fill,
I offered all his wishes to obey
With that oath which persuades another’s will.
And he to me: “Such trace, by what men say,
Thou leavest printed in me, and one so clear,
That Lethe cannot drown or make it grey.[vi]108. “Lethe”: the river of oblivion.
But if twas truth thy words just now did swear,
Tell me what is the cause why in thy speech; [110]
And look thou showest that thou hold’st me dear.”
And I to him: “Your own sweet ditties, which,
So long as modern use is not let die,
The ink that they were written in shall enrich.”
“O brother,” said he, “He who is singled by[vii]115. “He who . . .”: Arnaut Daniel, a twelfth-century troubadour.
My finger (he pointed to a spirit in front)
Wrought better in the mother-tongue than I.
Whether in verses of love or prose romaunt
He surpassed all; and let the fools contend
Who make him of Limoges of more account. [120][viii]120. Giraut de Borneuil of Limoges: a younger contemporary of Arnaut.
To rumour rather than to truth they bend
Their faces, fixt in their opinion’s seat
Ere art or reason they can apprehend.
Thus many an elder did Guittone treat,[ix]124. Guittone d’Arezzo: a prolific imitator of the Provençal school.
Shouting as one, their votes for him to pledge,
Till truth, with most, conquered the counterfeit.
Now if thou hast such ample privilege
That to the cloister it admitteth thee
Where Christ is Abbot of the blest college,
A Paternoster do thou say for me [130]
So far as need for us be of such aid
In this world, where to sin we are no more free.”
Then, perhaps giving place to another shade
Close by him, through the flames he disappeared
Like fish that into the deep water fade.
Him who was pointed at I a little neared
And told him what desire upon my side
Held for his name a grateful place prepared.
And with a willing frankness he replied:
“Your courteous request pleases me so, [140]
I have no power nor will from you to hide.
I am Arnald, and I weep and singing go.
I think on my past folly and see the stain,
And view with joy the day I hope to know.
I pray you by that Goodness which doth deign
To guide you to the summit of this stair
Bethink you in due season of my pain.”
Then he shrank back in the refining fire.