Binyon's Dante

Laurence Binyon's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy.

Hover over the green Roman numerals for Charles Hall Grandgent's annotations.

The PDF version, with more assured formatting, can be found here.

Purgatorio

Canto XXXIII

The Seven Virtues lament the triumph of evil forces, but Beatrice tells them that though she departs, it is only for a time. Leaving the tree with the Seven, and followed by Dante, Statius, and Matilda, she speaks graciously to Dante and prophesies the future when one, represented by the Roman numerals DUX, shall rescue Italy from her present corruptions: this is conjectured to be the emperor Henry VII. But she sees that Dante does not understand her enigmatic discourse, since his mind has been dulled as if hardened by the petrifying waters of the Elsa. He asks why she speaks so darkly, and she replies that it was to show him how inadequate is the philosophy he has followed: henceforth she will speak more clearly. It is now noon. Beatrice bids Matilda lead Dante to the fountain from which both Lethe and Eunoë flow. He drinks of Eunoë and is forthwith ready to mount on his further journey to Paradise.


DEUS venerunt gentes; thus, now three,[i]1. Ps. 79:1: “O God, the heathen are come into Thine inheritance.”

Now four, with voice and weeping, alternate

Began those ladies a sweet psalmody;

And Beatrice, sighing and compassionate

Listened with look so altered, at the cross

Scarce was the change on Mary’s face more great.

But when those nymphs, for her to interpose,

Yielded her place, up to her full height she,

In colour like a flame, on her feet rose.

Modicum, et non videbitis me[ii] [10]

Et iterum, dear sisters mine,” she said,

Modicum, et vos videbitis me.”

Then all the seven before her she arrayed,

And merely by her nod before her brought

Me and the lady and the sage who stayed.[iii]15. “The lady’: Matilda. “The sage”: Statius.

Thus she went on, and I believe that not

Ten steps upon the ground by her were paced

When with her eyes upon mine eyes she smote.

And with a tranquil countenance: “Make more haste”

She adjured me, “so that if I speak with thee [20]

Thou wilt for hearkening be the better placed.”

Soon as I was, where duty bade me be,

With her, she said: “Brother, why ventureth

Thy tongue not, now thou art near, to question me?”

As with those who from reverence bate their breath

Before their betters, so that, being unstrung,

They bring not the voice living to the teeth,

So it happed to me; and with a halting tongue

I said to her: “My need, Madonna, you

Well know, and what things to its good belong.” [30]

And she to me: “I would that thou eschew

Both fear and shame and rid thee of their cloak,

So that thou speak no more as dreamers do.

Know that the vessel which the serpent broke[iv]34. The “vessel” is the chariot.

Was and is not; but let the guilty weigh[v]35. “The guilty’: Clement and Philip shall both be stricken down.

This well: God fears no sops to avert his stroke.

Not for all time without an heir shall stay

The eagle who left the plumage on the car,[vi]38. “The eagle”: the Empire; Dante considered Frederick I the last Roman Emperor.

Whence it became a monster, and then a prey.

For surely I see, what now I tell thee, a star [40]

That, safe from barrier and impediment,

Shall bring us times, already now not far,

When a Five Hundred Ten and Five forth sent[vii]43. The number DXV gives DUX, the Latin word for “leader.” An emperor, ordained by God, is soon to correct the Papacy and overthrow the power of France.

By God shall slay the thief and also him,

That giant, who with her in whoredom went.

Perhaps my prophecy, obscure in theme

As Sphinx or Themis, may persuade thee less

Since in like mode it maketh thy mind dim;

But soon the events shall be the Naiades[viii]49. Dante erroneously believed that the “Naiades,” or water-nymphs, were the successful guessers of the Sphinx’s riddle.

That, without ruin of the flocks or scaith [50]

To corn, shall solve this riddle’s knottedness.

Note thou: as these words go forth on my breath,

Their purport do thou unto them declare

Who live that life which is a race to death.

And when thou writest these things, have a care

Not to conceal how thou hast seen the boughs

Which here have twice been ravaged and made bare.

Whoso despoils that tree or rends it, does

Offence to God, since he in act hath curst

What God created holy for His use. [60]

For biting of it did in pain and thirst

Five thousand years and more the first soul yearn[ix]62-63. “The first soul”: Adam. “For Him”: Christ.

For Him who in himself the bite amerced.

Thy wit sleeps if it faileth to discern

That tree for a special cause to be so high

And at the top to growth inverted turn.

If the vain thoughts thy mind is crusted by

Had not been water of Elsa and not made[x]68. “Water of Elsa”: see the Argument.

Their pleasure a Pyramus to the mulberry,[xi]69. As the blood of Pyramus stained the mulberry.

By heed to so great circumstances paid [70]

Thou wouldst have found thy moral sense admit

God’s justice in the tree that he forbade.

But since I see dulled into stone thy wit

And, stony, into stain of colour wrought

Such that the light of my word dazzles it,

I also will that, if not written, thy thought

Bear it within thee, for the cause wherefore

The staff with palm encircled home is brought.”[xii]78. “The staff” which the pilgrims bring back from the Holy Land.

And I: “As wax is under the seal’s power,

Keeping unchanged the figure it imprest, [80]

My brain is stamped by you for evermore.

But why doth your word, longed-for without rest,

Soar now so far beyond my vision’s reach,

That the more keen, the vainer is its quest?”

“That thou may’st see,” she said, “what the schools teach

Which thou hast followed, and may’st come to know

How vain its power to keep pace with my speech,

And see your way from the divine way so

Far separate as is that heaven remote

Which speeds the highest, from the earth below.” [90]

Wherefore I answered: “I remember not

That I estranged myself ever from you,

Nor prick of conscience therefrom have I got.”

“And if in this thy memory tells not true,”

Smiling she answered, “art thou not acquaint

How thou this day of Lethe hast drunken new?

And if for fire the smoke is argument,

Clearly doth this forgetfulness a flaw

Prove in thy will, on other things intent.

But naked verily shall be my saw [100]

Henceforth, so far as shall befit thy case,

Uncovering it unto thy vision raw.”

Both more resplendent and with slower pace

The sun held the meridian circle above

Which varieth still with the observer’s place,

When halted (as he halts and doth not move

Who goes with folk to escort them and defend,

If he finds aught new or the trace thereof)

The seven ladies, at a shadow’s end

Pale as beneath black branches and green growth [110]

The mountains over their cold brooks extend.

Before them Tigris and Euphrates both

I seemed to see from one spring welling twinned

And parting as friends part, lingering and loth.

“O light! O glory of all human kind,

What are these waters that from one source fleet

And self from self into the distance wind?”

At such a prayer was said to me: “Entreat

Matilda that she tell thee”; and here replied,

As one who doth himself from blame acquit, [120]

The fair lady: “This and things beside

Have been told him by me; and I can swear

That these from him no Lethe waters hide.”

And Beatrice: “Perhaps a greater care

That often putteth memory to rout

Hath made his mind dim-eyed and unaware.

But behold Eunoë, which there floweth out:[xiii]127. Dante’s memory of the good must be revived by Eunoë.

Lead him to it, and, as thou art wont to use,

Revive his virtue faint to death with doubt.”

As noble soul that maketh no excuse [130]

But makes another’s will her will, when she

The outward sign of it straightway construes,

So the fair lady, having taken me,

Set forth and spoke to Statius in his place:

“Come with him,” gracious as a queen may be.

If, Reader, for the writing were more space,

That sweet fount, whence I ne’er could drink my fill,

Would I yet sing, though in imperfect praise.

But seeing that for this second canticle

The paper planned is full to the last page, [140]

The bridle of art must needs constrain my will.

Back from that wave’s most holy privilege

I turned me, re-made, as the plant repairs

Itself, renewed with its new foliage,

Pure and disposed to mount up to the stars.



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