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PURGATORIO CANTO 05
Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.		 NotesAnn. 

	I had already left those shades behind
and followed in the footsteps of my guide
when, there beneath me, pointing at me, one

	I HAD already from those shades departed,
And followed in the footsteps of my Guide,
When from behind, pointing his finger at me,








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	shade shouted: "See the second climber climb:
the sun seems not to shine on his left side
and when he walks, he walks like one alive!"

	One shouted: "See, it seems as if shone not
The sunshine on the left of him below,
And like one living seems he to conduct him








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	When I had heard these words, I turned my eyes
and saw the shades astonished as they stared
at me-at me, and at the broken light.

	Mine eyes I turned at utterance of these words,
And saw them watching with astonishment
But me, but me, and the light which was broken!








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	"Why have you let your mind get so entwined,"
my master said, "that you have slowed your walk?
Why should you care about what's whispered here?

	"Why doth thy mind so occupy itself,"
The Master said, "that thou thy pace dost slacken ?
What matters it to thee what here is whispered ?








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	Come, follow me, and let these people talk:
stand like a sturdy tower that does not shake
its summit though the winds may blast; always

	Come after me, and let the people talk;
Stand like a steadfast tower, that never wags
Its top for all the blowing of the winds;








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	the man in whom thought thrusts ahead of thought
allows the goal he's set to move far off-
the force of one thought saps the other's force."

	For evermore the man in whom is springing
Thought upon thought, removes from him the mark,
Because the force of one the other weakens."








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	Could my reply be other than "I come"?
And-somewhat colored by the hue that makes
one sometimes merit grace-I spoke those words.

	What could I say in answer but "I come"?
I said it somewhat with that colour tinged
Which makes a man of pardon sometimes worthy.








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	Meanwhile, along the slope, crossing our road
slightly ahead of us, people approached,
singing the Miserere verse by verse.

	Meanwhile along the mountain-side across
Came people in advance of us a little,
Singing the Miserere verse by verse.








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	When they became aware that I allowed
no path for rays of light to cross my body,
they changed their song into a long, hoarse "Oh!"

	When they became aware I gave no place
For passage of the sunshine through my body,
They changed their song into a long, hoarse "Oh!"








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	And two of them, serving as messengers,
hurried to meet us, and those two inquired:
"Please tell us something more of what you are."

	And two of them, in form of messengers,
Ran forth to meet us, and demanded of us,
"Of your condition make us cognisant."








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	My master answered them: "You can return
and carry this report to those who sent you:
in truth, the body of this man is flesh.

	And said my Master: "Ye can go your way
And carry back again to those who sent you,
That this one's body is of very flesh.








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	If, as I think, they stopped to see his shadow,
that answer is sufficient: let them welcome
him graciously, and that may profit them."

	If they stood still because they saw his shadow,
As I suppose, enough is answered them;
Him let them honour, it may profit them."








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	Never did I see kindled vapors rend
clear skies at nightfall or the setting sun
cleave August clouds with a rapidity

	Vapours enkindled saw I ne'er so swiftly
At early nightfall cleave the air serene,
Nor, at the set of sun, the clouds of August,








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	that matched the time it took those two to speed
above; and, there arrived, they with the others
wheeled back, like ranks that run without a rein.

	But upward they returned in briefer time,
And, on arriving, with the others wheeled
Tow'rds us, like troops that run without a rein.








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	"These people pressing in on us are many;
they come beseeching you," the poet said;
"don't stop, but listen as you move ahead."

	"This folk that presses unto us is great,
And cometh to implore thee," said the Poet;
"So still go onward, and in going listen."








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	"O soul who make your way to gladness with
the limbs you had at birth, do stay your steps
awhile," they clamored as they came, "to see

	"O soul that goest to beatitude
With the same members wherewith thou wast born,"
Shouting they came, "a little stay thy steps.








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	if there is any of us whom you knew,
that you may carry word of him beyond.
Why do you hurry on? Why don't you stop?

	Look, if thou e'er hast any of us seen,
So that o'er yonder thou bear news of him;
Ah, why dost thou go on ? Ah, why not stay ?








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	We all were done to death by violence,
and we all sinned until our final hour;
then light from Heaven granted understanding,

	Long since we all were slain by violence,
And sinners even to the latest hour;
Then did a light from heaven admonish us,








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	so that, repenting and forgiving, we
came forth from life at peace with God, and He
instilled in us the longing to see Him."

	So that, both penitent and pardoning, forth
From life we issued reconciled to God,
Who with desire to see Him stirs our hearts."








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	And I: "Although I scrutinize your faces,
I recognize no one; but, spirits born
to goodness, if there's anything within

	And I: "Although I gaze into your faces,
No one I recognize; but if may please you
Aught I have power to do, ye well-born spirits, 








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	my power that might please you, then-by that
same peace which in the steps of such a guide
I seek from world to world-I shall perform it."

	Speak ye, and I will do it, by that peace
Which, following the feet of such a Guide,
From world to world makes itself sought by me."








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	And one began: "We all have faith in your
good offices without your oath, as long
as lack of power does not curb your will.

	And one began: "Each one has confidence
In thy good offices without an oath,
Unless the I cannot cut off the I will;








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	Thus I, who speak alone-before the others-
beseech you, if you ever see the land
that lies between Romagna and the realm

	Whence I, who speak alone before the others,
Pray thee, if ever thou dost see the land
That 'twixt Romagna lies and that of Charles,








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	of Charles, that you be courteous to me,
entreating those in Fano to bestow
fair prayers to purge me of my heavy sins.

	Thou be so courteous to me of thy prayers
In Fano, that they pray for me devoutly,
That I may purge away my grave offences.








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	My home was Fano; but the piercing wounds
from which there poured the blood where my life lived-
those I received among Antenor's sons,

	From thence was I; but the deep wounds, through which
Issued the blood wherein I had my seat,
Were dealt me in bosom of the Antenori,








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	there where I thought that I was most secure;
for he of Este, hating me far more
than justice warranted, had that deed done.

	There where I thought to be the most secure;
'Twas he of Este had it done, who held me
In hatred far beyond what justice willed.








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	But had I fled instead toward Mira when
they overtook me at Oriaco, then
I should still be beyond, where men draw breath.

	But if towards the Mira I had fled,
When I was overtaken at Oriaco,
I still should be o'er yonder where men breathe.








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	I hurried to the marsh. The mud, the reeds
entangled me; I fell. And there I saw
a pool, poured from my veins, form on the ground."

	I ran to the lagoon, and reeds and mire
Did so entangle me I fell, and saw there
A lake made from my veins upon the ground."








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	Another shade then said: "Ah, so may that
desire which draws you up the lofty mountain
be granted, with kind pity help my longing!

	Then said another: "Ah, be that desire
Fulfilled that draws thee to the lofty mountain,
As thou with pious pity aidest mine.








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	I was from Montefeltro, I'm Buonconte;
Giovanna and the rest-they all neglect me;
therefore, among these shades, I go in sadness."

	I was of Montefeltro, and am Buonconte;
Giovanna, nor none other cares for me;
Hence among these I go with downcast front."








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	And I to him: "What violence or chance
so dragged you from the field of Campaldino
that we know nothing of your burial place?"

	And I to him: "What violence or what chance
Led thee astray so far from Campaldino,
That never has thy sepulture been known ?"








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	"Oh," he replied, "across the Casentino
there runs a stream called Archiano-born
in the Apennines above the Hermitage.

	"Oh," he replied, "at Casentino's foot
A river crosses named Archiano, born
Above the Hermitage in Apennine.








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	There, at the place where that stream's name is lost,
I came-my throat was pierced-fleeing on foot
and bloodying the plain; and there it was

	There where the name thereof becometh void
Did I arrive, pierced through and through the throat,
Fleeing on foot, and bloodying the plain;








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	that I lost sight and speech; and there, as I
had finished uttering the name of Mary,
I fell; and there my flesh alone remained.

	There my sight lost I, and my utterance
Ceased in the name of Mary, and thereat
I fell, and tenantless my flesh remained.








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	I'll speak the truth-do you, among the living,
retell it: I was taken by God's angel,
but he from Hell cried: 'You from Heaven-why

	Truth will I speak, repeat it to the living;
God's Angel took me up, and he of hell
Shouted: 'O thou from heaven, why dost thou rob me ? 








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	do you deny me him? For just one tear
you carry off his deathless part; but I
shall treat his other part in other wise.'

	'Thou bearest away the eternal part of him,
For one poor little tear, that takes him from me;
But with the rest I'll deal in other fashion! '








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	You are aware how, in the air, moist vapor
will gather and again revert to rain
as soon as it has climbed where cold enfolds.

	Well knowest thou how in the air is gathered
That humid vapour which to water turns, 
Soon as it rises where the cold doth grasp it.








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	His evil will, which only seeks out evil,
conjoined with intellect; and with the power
his nature grants, he stirred up wind and vapor.

	He joined that evil will, which aye seeks evil,
To intellect, and moved the mist and wind
By means of power, which his own nature gave;








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	And then, when day was done, he filled the valley
from Pratomagno far as the great ridge
with mist; the sky above was saturated.

	Thereafter  when the day was spent, the valley
From Pratomagno to the great yoke covered
With fog, and made the heaven above intent,








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	The dense air was converted into water;
rain fell, and then the gullies had to carry
whatever water earth could not receive;

	So that the pregnant air to water changed;
Down fell the rain, and to the gullies came
Whate'er of it earth tolerated not;








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	and when that rain was gathered into torrents,
it rushed so swiftly toward the royal river
that nothing could contain its turbulence.

	And as it mingled with the mighty torrents,
Towards the royal river with such speed
It headlong rushed, that nothing held it back.








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	The angry Archiano-at its mouth-
had found my frozen body; and it thrust
it in the Arno and set loose the cross

	My frozen body near unto its outlet
The robust Archian found, and into Arno  
Thrust it, and loosened from my breast the cross








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	that, on my chest, my arms, in pain, had formed.
It rolled me on the banks and river bed,
then covered, girded me with its debris."

	I made of me, when agony o'ercame me;
It rolled me on the banks and on the bottom,
Then with its booty covered and begirt me."








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	"Pray, after your returning to the world,
when, after your long journeying, you've rested,"
the third soul, following the second, said,

	"Ah, when thou hast returned unto the world,  
And rested thee from thy long journeying,"
After the second followed the third spirit,








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	"may you remember me, who am La Pia;
Siena made-Maremma unmade-me:
he who, when we were wed, gave me his pledge

	"Do thou remember me who am the Pia;
Siena made me, unmade me Maremma;
He knoweth it, who had encircled first,








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	and then, as nuptial ring, his gem, knows that."

	Espousing me, my finger with his gem."




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