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PURGATORIO CANTO 01
Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.		 NotesAnn. 

	To course across more kindly waters now
my talent's little vessel lifts her sails,
leaving behind herself a sea so cruel;

	To run o'er better waters hoists its sail
The little vessel of my genius now,
That leaves behind itself a sea so cruel;








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	and what I sing will be that second kingdom,
in which the human soul is cleansed of sin,
becoming worthy of ascent to Heaven.

	And of that second kingdom will I sing
Wherein the human spirit doth purge itself,
And to ascend to heaven becometh worthy.








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	But here, since I am yours, o holy Muses,
may this poem rise again from Hell's dead realm;
and may Calliope rise somewhat here,

	let dead Poesy here rise again,
O holy Muses, since that I am yours,
And here Calliope somewhat ascend,








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	accompanying my singing with that music
whose power struck the poor Pierides
so forcefully that they despaired of pardon.

	My song accompanying with that sound,
Of which the miserable magpies felt
The blow so great, that they despaired of pardon.








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	The gentle hue of oriental sapphire
in which the sky's serenity was steeped-
its aspect pure as far as the horizon-

	Sweet colour of the oriental sapphire,
That was upgathered in the cloudless aspect
Of the pure air, as far as the first circle,








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	brought back my joy in seeing just as soon
as I had left behind the air of death
that had afflicted both my sight and breast.

	Unto mine eyes did recommence delight
Soon as I issued forth from the dead air,
Which had with sadness filled mine eyes and breast.








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	The lovely planet that is patroness
of love made all the eastern heavens glad,
veiling the Pisces in the train she led.

	The beauteous planet, that to love incites,
Was making all the orient to laugh,
Veiling the Fishes that were in her escort.








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	Then I turned to the right, setting my mind
upon the other pole, and saw four stars
not seen before except by the first people.

	To the right hand I turned, and fixed my mind
Upon the other pole, and saw four stars
Ne'er seen before save by the primal people.








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	Heaven appeared to revel in their flames:
o northern hemisphere, because you were
denied that sight, you are a widower!

	Rejoicing in their flamelets seemed the heaven.
O thou septentrional and widowed site,
Because thou art deprived of seeing these!








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	After my eyes took leave of those four stars,
turning a little toward the other pole,
from which the Wain had disappeared by now,

	When from regarding them I had withdrawn,
Turning a little to the other pole,
There where the Wain had disappeared already,








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	I saw a solitary patriarch
near me-his aspect worthy of such reverence
that even son to father owes no more.

	I saw beside me an old man alone,
Worthy of so much reverence in his look,
That more owes not to father any son.








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	His beard was long and mixed with white, as were
the hairs upon his head; and his hair spread
down to his chest in a divided tress.

	A long beard and with white hair intermingled
He wore, in semblance like unto the tresses,
Of which a double list fell on his breast.








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	The rays of the four holy stars so framed
his face with light that in my sight he seemed
like one who is confronted by the sun.

	The rays of the four consecrated stars
Did so adorn his countenance with light,
That him I saw as were the sun before him.








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	"Who are you-who, against the hidden river,
were able to escape the eternal prison?"
he said, moving those venerable plumes.

	"Who are you? ye who, counter the blind river,
Have fled away from the eternal prison?"
Moving those venerable plumes, he said:








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	"Who was your guide? What served you both as lantern
when, from the deep night that will always keep
the hellish valley dark, you were set free?

	"Who guided you ? or who has been your lamp
In issuing forth out of the night profound,
That ever black makes the infernal valley?








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	The laws of the abyss-have they been broken?
Or has a new, a changed decree in Heaven
let you, though damned, approach my rocky slopes?"

	The laws of the abyss, are they thus broken?
Or is there changed in heaven some council new,
That being damned ye come unto my crags?"








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	My guide took hold of me decisively;
by way of words and hands and other signs,
he made my knees and brow show reverence.

	Then did my Leader lay his grasp upon me,
And with his words, and with his hands and signs, so
Reverent he made in me my knees and brow:








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	Then he replied: "I do not come through my
own self. There was a lady sent from Heaven;
her pleas led me to help and guide this man.

	Then answered him: " I came not of myself;
A Lady from Heaven descended, at whose prayers
I aided this one with my company.








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	But since your will would have a far more full
and accurate account of our condition,
my will cannot withhold what you request.

	But since it is thy will more be unfolded
Of our condition, how it truly is,
Mine cannot be that this should be denied thee.








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	This man had yet to see his final evening;
but, through his folly, little time was left
before he did-he was so close to it.

	This one has never his last evening seen,
But by his folly was so near to it
That very little time was there to turn.








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	As I have told you, I was sent to him
for his deliverance; the only road
I could have taken was the road I took.

	As I have said, I unto him was sent
To rescue him, and other way was none
Than this to which I have myself betaken.








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	I showed him all the people of perdition;
now I intend to show to him those spirits
who, in your care, are bent on expiation.

	I've shown him all the people of perdition
And now those spirits I intend to show
Who purge themselves beneath thy guardianship.








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	To tell you how I led him would take long; 
it is a power descending from above
that helps me guide him here, to see and hear you.

	How I have brought him would be long to tell thee.
Virtue descendeth from on high that aids me
To lead him to behold thee and to hear thee.








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	Now may it please you to approve his coming;
he goes in search of liberty-so precious,
as he who gives his life for it must know.

	Now may it please thee to vouchsafe his coming;
He seeketh Liberty, which is so dear,
As knoweth he who life for her refuses.








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	You know it-who, in Utica, found death
for freedom was not bitter, when you left
the garb that will be bright on the great day.

	Thou know'st it; since, for her, to thee not bitter
Was death in Utica, where thou didst leave
The vesture, that will shine so, the great day.








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	Eternal edicts are not broken for us;
this man's alive, and I'm not bound by Minos;
but I am from the circle where the chaste

	By us the eternal edicts are not broken;
 chÈ questSince this one lives, and Minos binds not me;
But of that circle I, where are the chaste








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	eyes of your Marcia are; and she still prays
to you, o holy breast, to keep her as
your own: for her love, then, incline to us.

	Eyes of thy Marcia, who in looks still prays thee,
O holy breast, to hold her as thine own;
 For her love, then, incline thyself to us.








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	Allow our journey through your seven realms.
I shall thank her for kindness you bestow-
if you would let your name be named below."

	Permit us through thy sevenfold realm to go;
I will take back this grace from thee to her,
If to be mentioned there below thou deignest."








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	"While I was there, within the other world,
Marcia so pleased my eyes," he then replied,
"each kindness she required, I satisfied.

	"Marcia so pleasing was unto mine eyes
While I was on the other side,"then said he,
"That every grace she wished of me I granted;








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	Now that she dwells beyond the evil river,
she has no power to move me any longer,
such was the law decreed when I was freed.

	Now that she dwells beyond the evil river,
She can no longer move me, by that law
Which, when I issued forth from there, was made.








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	But if a lady come from Heaven speeds
and helps you, as you say, there is no need
of flattery; it is enough, indeed,

	But if a Lady of Heaven do move and rule thee,
As thou dost say, no flattery is needful;
Let it suffice thee that for her thou ask me.








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	to ask me for her sake. Go then; but first
wind a smooth rush around his waist and bathe
his face, to wash away all of Hell's stains;

	Go, then, and see thou gird this one about
With a smooth rush, and that thou wash his face,
So that thou cleanse away all stain therefrom,








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	for it would not be seemly to approach
with eyes still dimmed by any mists, the first
custodian angel, one from Paradise.

	For 'twere not fitting that the eye o'ercast
By any mist should go before the first
Angel, who is of those of Paradise.








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	This solitary island, all around
its very base, there where the breakers pound,
bears rushes on its soft and muddy ground.

	This little island round about its base
Below there, yonder, where the billow beats it,
Doth rushes bear upon its washy ooze;








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	There is no other plant that lives below:
no plant with leaves or plant that, as it grows,
hardens-and breaks beneath the waves' harsh blows.

	No other plant that putteth forth the leaf,
Or that doth indurate, can there have life,
Because it yieldeth not unto the shocks.








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	That done, do not return by this same pass;
the sun, which rises now, will show you how
this hillside can be climbed more easily."

	Thereafter be not this way your return;
The sun, which now is rising, will direct you
To take the mount by easier ascent."








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	With that he vanished; and without a word,
I rose and drew in closer to my guide,
and it was on him that I set my eyes.

	With this he vanished; and I raised me up
Without a word, and wholly drew myself
Unto my Guide, and turned mine eyes to him.








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	And he began: "Son, follow in my steps;
let us go back; this is the point at which
the plain slopes down to reach its lowest bounds."

	And he began:"Son, follow thou my steps;
Let us turn back. for on this side declines
The plain unto its lower boundaries."








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	Daybreak was vanquishing the dark's last hour,
which fled before it; in the distance, I
could recognize the trembling of the sea.

	The dawn was vanquishing the matin hour
'Which fled before it, so that from afar
I recognised the trembling of the sea








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	We made our way across the lonely plain,
like one returning to a lost pathway,
who, till he finds it, seems to move in vain.

	Along the solitary plain we went
As one who unto the lost road returns,
And till he finds it seems to go in vain.








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	When we had reached the point where dew contends
with sun and, under sea winds, in the shade,
wins out because it won't evaporate,

	As soon as we were come to where the dew
Fights with the sun, and, being in a part
Where shadow falls, little evaporates,








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	my master gently placed both of his hands-
outspread-upon the grass; therefore, aware
of what his gesture and intention were,

	Both of his hands upon the grass outspread
In gentle manner did my Master place;
Whence I, who of his action was aware,








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	I reached and offered him my tear-stained cheeks;
and on my cheeks, he totally revealed
the color that Inferno had concealed.

	Extended unto him my tearful cheeks;
There did he make in me uncovered wholly
That hue which Hell had covered up in me.








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	Then we arrived at the deserted shore,
which never yet had seen its waters coursed
by any man who journeyed back again.

	Then came we down upon the desert shore
Which never yet saw navigate its waters
Any that afterward had known return.








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	There, just as pleased another, he girt me.
O wonder! Where he plucked the humble plant
that he had chosen, there that plant sprang up

	There he begirt me as the other pleased
O marvellous! for even as he culled
The humble plant, such it sprang up again








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	again, identical, immediately.

	 Suddenly there where he uprooted it.




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