PURGATORIO CANTO 10 Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.	Notes	Ann.
When I had crossed the threshold of the gate that-since the soul's aberrant love would make the crooked way seem straight-is seldom used, WHEN we had crossed the threshhold of the door Which the perverted love of souls disuses, Because it makes the crooked way seem straight,	10.003
I heard the gate resound and, hearing, knew that it had shut; and if I'd turned toward it, how could my fault have found a fit excuse? Re-echoing I heard it closed again; And if I had turned back mine eyes upon it, What for my failing had been fit excuse ?	10.006
Our upward pathway ran between cracked rocks; they seemed to sway in one, then the other part, just like a wave that flees, then doubles back. We mounted upward through a rifted rock, Which undulated to this side and that, Even as a wave receding and advancing.	10.009
"Here we shall need some ingenuity," my guide warned me, "as both of us draw near this side or that side where the rock wall veers." "Here it behoves us use a little art," Began my Leader, "to adapt ourselves Now here, now there, to the receding side."	10.012
This made our steps so slow and hesitant that the declining moon had reached its bed to sink back into rest, before we had And this our footsteps so infrequent made, That sooner had the moon's decreasing disk Regained its bed to sink again to rest,	10.015
made our way through that needle's eye; but when we were released from it, in open space above, a place at which the slope retreats, Than we were forth from out that needle's eye; But when we free and in the open were There where the mountain backward piles itself,	10.018
I was exhausted; with the two of us uncertain of our way, we halted on a plateau lonelier than desert paths. I wearied out, and both of us uncertain About our way, we stopped upon a plain More desolate than roads across the deserts.	10.021
The distance from its edge, which rims the void, in to the base of the steep slope, which climbs and climbs, would measure three times one man's body; From where its margin borders on the void, To foot of the high bank that ever rises, A human body three times told would measure;	10.024
and for as far as my sight took its flight, now to the left, now to the right-hand side, that terrace seemed to me equally wide. And far as eye of mine could wing its flight, Now on the left, and on the right flank now, The same this cornice did appear to me.	10.027
There we had yet to let our feet advance when I discovered that the bordering bank- less sheer than banks of other terraces- Thereon our feet had not been moved as yet, When I perceived the embankment round about, Which all right of ascent had interdicted,	10.030
was of white marble and adorned with carvings so accurate-not only Polycletus but even Nature, there, would feel defeated. To be of marble white, and so adorned With sculptures, that not only Polycletus, But Nature's self, had there been put to shame.	10.033
The angel who reached earth with the decree of that peace which, for many years, had been invoked with tears, the peace that opened Heaven The Angel, who came down to earth with tidings Of peace, that had been wept for many a year, And opened Heaven from its long interdict,	10.036
after long interdict, appeared before us, his gracious action carved with such precision- he did not seem to be a silent image. In front of us appeared so truthfully There sculptured in a gracious attitude, He did not seem an image that is silent.	10.039
One would have sworn that he was saying, "Ave"; for in that scene there was the effigy of one who turned the key that had unlocked One would have sworn that he was saying, "Ave"; For she was there in effigy portrayed Who turned the key to ope the exalted love,	10.042
the highest love; and in her stance there were impressed these words, "Ecce ancilla Dei," precisely like a figure stamped in wax. And in her mien this language had impressed, "Ecce ancilla Dei," as distinctly As any figure stamps itself in wax.	10.045
"Your mind must not attend to just one part," the gentle master said-he had me on the side of him where people have their heart. Keep not thy mind upon one place alone," The gentle Master said, who had me standing Upon that side where people have their hearts;	10.048
At this, I turned my face and saw beyond the form of Mary-on the side where stood the one who guided me-another story Whereat I moved mine eyes, and I beheld In rear of Mary, and upon that side Where he was standing who conducted me,	10.051
engraved upon the rock; therefore I moved past Virgil and drew close to it, so that the scene before my eyes was more distinct. Another story on the rock imposed; Wherefore I passed Virgilius and drew near, So that before mine eyes it might be set.	10.054
There, carved in that same marble, were the cart and oxen as they drew the sacred ark, which makes men now fear tasks not in their charge. There sculptured in the self-same marble were The cart and oxen, drawing the holy ark, Wherefore one dreads an office not appointed.	10.057
People were shown in front; and all that group, divided into seven choirs, made two of my senses speak-one sense said, "No," People appeared in front, and all of them In seven choirs divided, of two senses Made one say "No," the other, "Yes, they sing."	10.060
the other said, "Yes, they do sing"; just so, about the incense smoke shown there, my nose and eyes contended, too, with yes and no. Likewise unto the smoke of the frankincense, Which there was imaged forth, the eyes and nose Were in the yes and no discordant made.	10.063
And there the humble psalmist went before the sacred vessel, dancing, lifting up his robe-he was both less and more than king. Preceded there the vessel benedight, Dancing with girded loins, the humble Psalmist, And more and less than King was he in this.	10.066
Facing that scene, and shown as at the window of a great palace, Michal watched as would a woman full of scorn and suffering. Opposite, represented at the window Of a great palace, Michal looked upon him, Even as a woman scornful and afflicted.	10.069
To look more closely at another carving, which I saw gleaming white beyond Michal, my feet moved past the point where I had stood. I moved my feet from where I had been standing, To examine near at hand another story Which after Michal glimmered white upon me.	10.072
And there the noble action of a Roman prince was presented-he whose worth had urged on Gregory to his great victory- There the high glory of the Roman Prince Was chronicled, whose great beneficence Moved Gregory to his great victory;	10.075
I mean the Emperor Trajan; and a poor widow was near his bridle, and she stood even as one in tears and sadness would. 'Tis of the Emperor Trajan I am speaking; And a poor widow at his bridle stood, In attitude of weeping and of grief.	10.078
Around him, horsemen seemed to press and crowd; above their heads, on golden banners, eagles were represented, moving in the wind. Around about him seemed it thronged and full Of cavaliers, and the eagles in the gold Above them visibly in the wind were moving.	10.081
Among that crowd, the miserable woman seemed to be saying: "Lord, avenge me for the slaying of my son-my heart is broken." The wretched woman in the midst of these Seemed to be saying: "Give me vengeance, Lord, For my dead son, for whom my heart is breaking"	10.084
And he was answering: "Wait now until I have returned." And she, as one in whom grief presses urgently: "And, lord, if you And he to answer her: "Now wait until I shall return."And she: "My Lord," like one In whom grief is impatient,"shouldst thou not	10.087
do not return?" And he: "The one who'll be in my place will perform it for you." She: "What good can others' goodness do for you Return ?" And he: "Who shall be where I am Will give it thee." And she: "Good deed of others What boots it thee, if thou neglect thine own ?"	10.090
if you neglect your own?" He: "Be consoled; my duty shall be done before I go: so justice asks, so mercy makes me stay." Whence he: "Now comfort thee, for it behoves me That I discharge my duty ere I move; Justice so wills, and pity doth retain me.'	10.093
This was the speech made visible by One within whose sight no thing is new-but we, who lack its likeness here, find novelty. He who on no new thing has ever looked Was the creator of this visible language, Novel to us, for here it is not found.	10.096
While I took much delight in witnessing these effigies of true humility- dear, too, to see because He was their Maker- While I delighted me in contemplating The images of such humility, And dear to look on for their Maker's sake,	10.099
the poet murmured: "See the multitude advancing, though with slow steps, on this side: they will direct us to the higher stairs." "Behold, upon this side, but rare they make Their steps," the Poet murmured, "many people, These will direct us to the lofty stairs."	10.102
My eyes, which had been satisfied in seeking new sights-a thing for which they long-did not delay in turning toward him. But I would Mine eyes, that in beholding were intent To see new things, of which they curious are, In turning round towards him were not slow.	10.105
not have you, reader, be deflected from your good resolve by hearing from me now how God would have us pay the debt we owe. But still I wish not, Reader, thou shouldst swerve From thy good purposes, because thou hearest How God ordaineth that the debt be paid;	10.108
Don't dwell upon the form of punishment: consider what comes after that; at worst it cannot last beyond the final Judgment. Attend not to the fashion of the torment, Think of what follows; think that at the worst It cannot reach beyond the mighty sentence.	10.111
"Master," I said, "what I see moving toward us does not appear to me like people, but I can't tell what is there-my sight's bewildered." "Master," began I, "that which I behold Moving towards us seems to me not persons, And what I know not, so in sight I waver."	10.114
And he to me: "Whatever makes them suffer their heavy torment bends them to the ground; at first I was unsure of what they were. And he to me: "The grievous quality Of this their torment bows them so to earth, That my own eyes at first contended with it;	10.117
But look intently there, and let your eyes unravel what's beneath those stones: you can already see what penalty strikes each." But look there fixedly, and disentangle By sight what cometh underneath those stones; Already canst thou see how each is stricken."	10.120
O Christians, arrogant, exhausted, wretched, whose intellects are sick and cannot see, who place your confidence in backward steps, O ye proud Christians! wretched, weary ones! Who, in the vision of the mind infirm Confidence have in your backsliding steps,	10.123
do you not know that we are worms and born to form the angelic butterfly that soars, without defenses, to confront His judgment? Do ye not comprehend that we are worms, Born to bring forth the angelic butterfly That flieth unto judgment without screen ?	10.126
Why does your mind presume to flight when you are still like the imperfect grub, the worm before it has attained its final form? Why floats aloft your spirit high in air? Like are ye unto insects undeveloped Even as the worm in whom formation fails!	10.129
Just as one sees at times-as corbel for support of ceiling or of roof-a figure with knees drawn up into its chest (and this As to sustain a ceiling or a roof, In place of corbel, oftentimes a figure Is seen to join its knees unto its breast,	10.132
oppressiveness, unreal, gives rise to real distress in him who watches it): such was the state of those I saw when I looked hard. Which makes of the unreal real anguish Arise in him who sees it, fashioned thus Beheld I those, when I had ta'en good heed.	10.135
They were indeed bent down-some less, some more- according to the weights their backs now bore; and even he whose aspect showed most patience, True is it, they were more or less bent down, According as they more or less were laden; And he who had most patience in his looks	10.138
in tears, appeared to say: "I can no more." Weeping did seem to say, "I can no more!"	10.139

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