Purgatorio
Canto XXIX
Matilda is proceeding along the stream, while Dante keeps pace with her on the other side, when she calls his attention to a brilliant light and a music which are approaching. At first dazzlingly indistinct, the light resolves itself into a mystical procession, heralded by Seven Candlesticks, “the seven spirits of God,” followed by four and twenty elders, symbolising the books of the Old Testament, and four Beasts, symbolising the Gospels. The last escort the triumphal car of the Church, drawn by a Gryphon (representing the twofold nature of Christ). By the wheels are dancing, on one side the three theological virtues and on the other the four active virtues. Then come elders, rose-crowned, who typify the remaining books of the New Testament; St. John closing the whole procession. When Dante is abreast of the car, the procession is stopped by a peal of thunder.
SINGING, like to a lady in love’s dream,
She with the closing words continued on
Blessed are they whose sins are pardoned them.
Like nymphs that used to wander, each alone,
Amid the shadowing green from tree to tree,
One seeking, and one hiding from, the sun,
Against the motion of the stream moved she
Upon the bank; and I with her abreast
Made little step with little step agree.
Not to a hundred had our steps increased [10]
When both the banks so curved as to compel
My feet to turn aside unto the East.
Thus went we, and were not far when it befell
The Lady toward me turning full about
Said: “Now, my brother, look and listen well!”
And lo! a sudden splendour dazzled out
From all sides of the forest through the trees,
So that, if it were lightning, I made doubt.
But since the lightning, as it comes, ceases,
And this, remaining, ever intenser grew, [20]
Within my thought I said: “What thing is this?”
And a sweet melody ran thrilling through
The luminous air; which in my righteous zeal
Made me the hardihood of Eve to rue,
Who, but a woman newly formed to feel,
Alone, where all earth and all heaven obeyed,
Presumed to abide not under any veil,[i]27. “Any veil”: of ignorance.
Beneath which had she in devotion stayed,
I should of those ineffable delights
Supp’d sooner, and with me longer had they delayed. [30]
While thus I went mid the first sounds and sights
Of the eternal pleasance, hesitant
In joy that longed to reach yet heavenlier heights,
Before us, under the green boughs aslant,
The air glowed as a fire glows in a blast,
And the sweet sound was heard now as a chant.
O Virgins holy and high, if ever fast,[ii]37. “O Virgins . . .”: the Muses.
And cold, and vigil, I for you endured,
Now am I spurred to claim reward at last.
Helicon’s founts for me be full out-poured, [40]
With all her choir Urania me uphold[iii]41. “Urania”: the Muse of astronomy.
To attempt in verse things scarce to thought assured.
A little farther on seven trees of gold
Feigned to be such by reason that the tract
Dividing us from them the sight cajoled.
But when a nearer vision had unpacked
The general image, which our fancies gloze,
So that of no particular it lacked,
The power that argument for reason shows
Perceived them candlesticks, even as they were, [50]
And clear the words into “Hosanna” rose.
In beauty on high the pomp was flaming there,
Brighter by far than is the moon’s mild blaze
In her mid month through the clear midnight air.
I turned me backward filled full of amaze
To the good Virgil, and for answer read
No less a weight of wonder in his gaze.
Then to the things of glory again my head
I turned, and they came moving on so slow,
They had been passed by a bride newly wed. [60][iv]60. They would have been outstripped by a wedding procession.
The Lady cried to me: “Why dost thou glow
To look but on the living lights in awe,
Nor seekest what comes after them to know?”
Then saw I people in white apparel draw
Nearer, as if one led them, rank by rank:
Such whiteness upon earth none ever saw.
The water glittered bright on my left flank,
And gave to me my left side, if my face
Looked into it, like a mirror, from the bank.
When on my shore I had found such vantage-place [70]
That only the stream’s width kept me confined,
The better to behold, I stayed my pace.
I saw the flames come onward, and behind
Leave the air as if by painted colour sleeked
That a brush trails, to each its tint assigned,
So that the air remained in order streaked
With seven bands, the hues the Sun hath dyed
His bow, and Delia her girdle freaked.[v]78. “Delia”: Diana, the moon.
To rearward, farther than the eye descried,
These banners streamed; as I computed it, [80]
Ten paces might the outermost divide.[vi]81. “The outermost”: the two outer ones, representing “wisdom” and “fear of the Lord.”
Under so fair a sky as I have writ,
Came four and twenty elders, two by two,
And they wore crowns of the white lilies knit.
“Among the daughters of Adam blessed thou,[vii]85-87. The books of the Old Testament anticipate the greeting to Mary uttered at the time of the Annunciation.
And blessed,” they continued in their song,
“Thy beauties, the eternal ages through.”
Soon as the flowers and the fresh grass along
The other bank, opposite to my eye,
Were cleared of those elect ones and their throng, [90]
As star comes after star into the sky,
Four living creatures followed in their train,[viii]92. The four animals represent the Gospels.
Crowned with green leaves, slowly advancing nigh.
Each with six wings was plumed, the plumy grain
Filled full of eyes; and even such would gleam[ix]95. The hundred-eyed Argus was the guardian of Io.
The eyes of Argus, could they live again.
But further to define the forms of them,
I spare to spend rhymes, reader, nor can aim
At lavishness, constrained to other theme.
But read Ezekiel, who their form and frame [100][x]100. Ezekiel 1:4-6; 2:12.
Paints as he saw them, from the region cold
Coming upon the wind in cloud and flame.
As thou upon his page dost find them scrolled,
So were they here; but for the wings they wore,
John is with me, and hath the difference told.[xi]105. In the Revelation of St. John 4:6-8, the animals have six wings.
The midmost of the space between the four
Contained a car on two wheels, triumphing,
Which at his neck a Gryphon onward bore.[xii]108. “A Gryphon”: see the Argument.
And he stretcht upward one and the other wing
‘Twixt three and three and mid band, lest he might, [110]
By cleaving it, to any an injury bring.
They rose so high that they were lost to sight.
As far as he was bird, his limbs were scaled
With gold, the rest was vermeil mixt with white.
With car so fair never was Rome regaled
By Africanus, nor Augustus, nay,[xiii]116-120. “Africanus”: Publius Cornelius Scipio. Phaëthon, the unsuccessful driver of the chariot of the sun, was stricken down by Jove.
The Sun’s own car beside it would be paled,
The Sun’s own car that perished, driven astray,
At Earth’s devout prayer fallen in flames extinct,
When Jove let justice have her secret way. [120]
Beside the car’s right wheel came dancing linked
Three ladies in a ring; so red was one,[xiv]122-125. Red is the colour of Charity. “The next” is Hope, the third is Faith.
That scarce in fire her form had been distinct:
The next was like as if her flesh and bone
Were made all of an emerald; the third
Seemed snow on which the air had newly blown.
And now the red to lead the rest appeared,
And now the white; and from the chant which led
They took the time, as slow or quick they heard.
By the left wheel came four with festal tread, [130][xv]130. The four cardinal virtues: Prudence (who leads), Temperance, Justice, and Fortitude.
In purple, following in their order due
One of them, who had three eyes in her head.
After the passing of this retinue
I saw two aged men, unlike arrayed,
But like in mien, reverend and grave to view.
One showed him a familiar of that trade[xvi]136-139. The “familiar” of Hippocrates, the Greek doctor, represents the book of the Acts of the Apostles. “The other” represents the Epistles of Paul.
Ennobled by supreme Hippocrates
Whom Nature for her dearest creatures made.
Contrary care the other seemed to please:
He bore a sword so keen and bright, its glance [140]
Made, even across the stream, fear on me seize.
Then saw I four, of aspect humble, advance;[xvii]142-144. “Four”: the minor Epistles. The “old man” stands for the Revelations of St. John.
And behind all was an old man alone
Coming, with piercing visage, in a trance.
And all these seven had a like raiment on
With the first troop, but round about the head
A garlanding of lilies had they none,
Of roses rather, and other blossoms red.
One from short distance viewing them would swear
That over the eyes a fire upon them fed. [150]
Now when the car came opposite me, the air
Thundered; and this folk in their solemn lines,
Seeming forbidden, did no farther dare,
Halting in that place with the van’s ensigns.[xviii]154. “The van’s ensigns”: the candlesticks.