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PURGATORIO CANTO 12
Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr. Notes Ann.

As oxen, yoked, proceed abreast, so I moved with that burdened soul as long as my kind pedagogue allowed me to; but when ABREAST, like oxen going in a yoke, I with that heavy-laden soul went on, As long as the sweet pedagogue permitted;

12.003

he said: "Leave him behind, and go ahead; for here it's fitting that with wings and oars each urge his boat along with all his force," But when he said,"Leave him, and onward pass, For here 'tis good that with the sail and oars, As much as may be, each push on his barque;"

12.006

I drew my body up again, erect- the stance most suitable to man-and yet the thoughts I thought were still submissive, bent. Upright, as walking wills it, I redressed My person, notwithstanding that my thoughts Remained within me downcast and abashed.

12.009

Now I was on my way, and willingly I followed in my teacher's steps, and we together showed what speed we could command. I had moved on, and followed willingly The footsteps of my Master, and we both Already showed how light of foot we were,

12.012

He said to me: "Look downward, for the way will offer you some solace if you pay attention to the pavement at your feet." When unto me he said:"Cast down thine eyes; 'Twere well for thee, to alleviate the way, To look upon the bed beneath thy feet."

12.015

As, on the lids of pavement tombs, there are stone effigies of what the buried were before, so that the dead may be remembered; As, that some memory may exist of them Above the buried dead their tombs in earth Bear sculptured on them what they were before;

12.018

and there, when memory-inciting only the pious-has renewed their mourning, men are often led to shed their tears again; Whence often there we weep for them afresh, From pricking of remembrance, which alone To the compassionate doth set its spur;

12.021

so did I see, but carved more skillfully, with greater sense of likeness, effigies on all the path protruding from the mountain. So saw I there, but of a better semblance In point of artifice, with figures covered Whate'er as pathway from the mount projects.

12.024

I saw, to one side of the path, one who had been created nobler than all other beings, falling lightning-like from Heaven. I saw that one who was created noble More than all other creatures, down from heaven Flaming with lightnings fall upon one side.

12.027

I saw, upon the other side, Briareus transfixed by the celestial shaft: he lay, ponderous, on the ground, in fatal cold. I saw Briareus smitten by the dart Celestial, lying on the other side, Heavy upon the earth by mortal frost.

12.030

I saw Thymbraeus, I saw Mars and Pallas, still armed, as they surrounded Jove, their father, gazing upon the Giants' scattered limbs. I saw Thymbraeus, Pallas saw, and Mars, Still clad in armour round about their father, Gaze at the scattered members of the giants.

12.033

I saw bewildered Nimrod at the foot of his great labor; watching him were those of Shinar who had shared his arrogance. I saw, at foot of his great labour, Nimrod, As if bewildered, looking at the people Who had been proud with him in Sennaar.

12.036

O Niobe, what tears afflicted me when, on that path, I saw your effigy among your slaughtered children, seven and seven! O Niobe! with what afflicted eyes Thee I beheld upon the pathway traced Between thy seven and seven children slain!

12.039

O Saul, you were portrayed there as one who had died on his own sword, upon Gilboa, which never after knew the rain, the dew! O Saul! how fallen upon thy proper sword Didst thou appear there lifeless in Gilboa, That felt thereafter neither rain nor dew!

12.042

O mad Arachne, I saw you already half spider, wretched on the ragged remnants of work that you had wrought to your own hurt! O mad Arachne! so I thee beheld E'en then half spider, sad upon the shreds Of fabric wrought in evil hour for thee!

12.045

O Rehoboam, you whose effigy seems not to menace there, and yet you flee by chariot, terrified, though none pursues! O Rehoboam! no more seems to threaten Thine image there; but full of consternation A chariot bears it off, when none pursues!

12.048

It also showed-that pavement of hard stone- how much Alcmaeon made his mother pay: the cost of the ill-omened ornament. Displayed moreo'er the adamantine pavement How unto his own mother made Alcmaeon Costly appear the luckless ornament;

12.051

It showed the children of Sennacherib as they assailed their father in the temple, then left him, dead, behind them as they fled. Displayed how his own sons did throw themselves Upon Sennacherib within the temple, And how, he being dead, they left him there;

12.054

It showed the slaughter and the devastation wrought by Tomyris when she taunted Cyrus: "You thirsted after blood; with blood I fill you." Displayed the ruin and the cruel carnage That Tomyris wrought, when she to Cyrus said, "Blood didst thou thirst for, and with blood I glut thee!"

12.057

It showed the rout of the Assyrians, sent reeling after Holofernes' death, and also showed his body-what was left. Displayed how routed fled the Assyrians After that Holofernes had been slain, And likewise the remainder of that slaughter

12.060

I saw Troy turned to caverns and to ashes; O Ilium, your effigy in stone- it showed you there so squalid, so cast down! I saw there Troy in ashes and in caverns; O Ilion! thee, how abject and debased, Displayed the image that is there discerned!

12.063

What master of the brush or of the stylus had there portrayed such masses, such outlines as would astonish all discerning minds? Whoe'er of pencil master was or stile, That could portray the shades and traits which there Would cause each subtile genius to admire ?

12.066

The dead seemed dead and the alive, alive: I saw, head bent, treading those effigies, as well as those who'd seen those scenes directly. Dead seemed the dead, the living seemed alive; Better than I saw not who saw the truth, All that I trod upon while bowed I went.

12.069

Now, sons of Eve, persist in arrogance, in haughty stance, do not let your eyes bend, lest you be forced to see your evil path! Now wax ye proud, and on with looks uplifted, Ye sons of Eve, and bow not down your faces So that ye may behold your evil ways!

12.072

We now had circled round more of the mountain and much more of the sun's course had been crossed than I, my mind absorbed, had gauged, when he More of the mount by us was now encompassed, And far more spent the circuit of the sun, Than had the mind preoccupied imagined,

12.075

who always looked ahead insistently, as he advanced, began: "Lift up your eyes; it's time to set these images aside. When he, who ever watchful in advance Was going on, began:"Lift up thy head, 'Tis no more time to go thus meditating

12.078

See there an angel hurrying to meet us, and also see the sixth of the handmaidens returning from her service to the day. Lo there an Angel who is making haste To come towards us; lo, returning is From service of the day the sixth handmaiden,

12.081

Adorn your face and acts with reverence, that he be pleased to send us higher. Remember- today will never know another dawn." With reverence thine acts and looks adorn, So that he may delight to speed us upward; Think that this day will never dawn again."

12.084

I was so used to his insistent warnings against the loss of time; concerning that, his words to me could hardly be obscure. I was familiar with his admonition Ever to lose no time; so on this theme He could not unto me speak covertly.

12.087

That handsome creature came toward us; his clothes were white, and in his aspect he seemed like the trembling star that rises in the morning. Towards us came the being beautiful Vested in white, and in his countenance Such as appears the tremulous morning star.

12.090

He opened wide his arms, then spread his wings; he said: "Approach: the steps are close at hand; from this point on one can climb easily. His arms he opened, and opened then his wings; "Come,"said he,"near at hand here are the steps, And easy from henceforth is the ascent."

12.093

This invitation's answered by so few: o humankind, born for the upward flight, why are you driven back by wind so slight?" At this announcement few are they who come! O human creatures, born to soar aloft, Why fall ye thus before a little wind ?

12.096

He led us to a cleft within the rock, and then he struck my forehead with his wing; that done, he promised me safe journeying. He led us on to where the rock was cleft; There smote upon my forehead with his wings, Then a safe passage promised unto me.

12.099

As on the right, when one ascends the hill where-over Rubaconte's bridge-there stands the church that dominates the well-ruled city, As on the right hand, too ascent the mount Where seated is the church that lordeth O'er the well-guided, above Rubaconte,

12.102

the daring slope of the ascent is broken by steps that were constructed in an age when record books and measures could be trusted, The bold abruptness of the ascent is broken By stairways that were made there in the age When still were safe the ledger and the stave,

12.105

so was the slope that plummets there so steeply down from the other ring made easier; but on this side and that, high rock encroaches. E'en thus attempered is the bank which falls Sheer downward from the second circle there But on this, side and that the high rock graze

12.108

While we began to move in that direction, "Beati pauperes spiritu" was sung so sweetly-it can not be told in words. As we were turning thitherward our persons. "Beati pauperes spiritu," voices Sang in such wise that speech could tell it not.

12.111

How different were these entryways from those of Hell! For here it is with song one enters; down there, it is with savage lamentations. Ah me! how different are these entrances From the Infernal! for with anthems here One enters, and below with wild laments.

12.114

Now we ascended by the sacred stairs, but I seemed to be much more light than I had been, before, along the level terrace. We now were hunting up the sacred stairs, And it appeared to me by far more easy Than on the plain it had appeared before.

12.117

At this I asked: "Master, tell me, what heavy weight has been lifted from me, so that I, in going, notice almost no fatigue?" Whence I: "My Master, say, what heavy thing Has been uplifted from me, so that hardly Aught of fatigue is felt by me in wlaking?"

12.120

He answered: "When the P's that still remain upon your brow-now almost all are faint- have been completely, like this P. erased, He answered: "When the P's which have remained Still on thy face almost obliterate Shall wholly, as the first is, be erased,

12.123

your feet will be so mastered by good will that they not only will not feel travail but will delight when they are urged uphill." Thy feet will be so vanquished by good will, That not alone they shall not feel fatigue, But urging up will be to them delight."

12.126

Then I behaved like those who make their way with something on their head of which they're not aware, till others' signs make them suspicious, Then did I even as they do who are going With something on the head to them unknown, Unless the signs of others make them doubt,

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at which, the hand helps them to ascertain; it seeks and finds and touches and provides the services that sight cannot supply; Wherefore the hand to ascertain is helpful, And seeks and finds, and doth fulfill the office Which cannot be accomplished by the sight;

12.132

so, with my right hand's outspread fingers, I found just six of the letters once inscribed by him who holds the keys, upon my forehead; And with the fingers of the right hand spread I found but six the letters, that had carved Upon my temples he who bore the keys;

12.135

and as he watched me do this, my guide smiled. Upon beholding which my Leader smiled.

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Previous or Next Canto

PURGATORIO CANTO 12 Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.	*Notes*	*Ann.*
As oxen, yoked, proceed abreast, so I moved with that burdened soul as long as my kind pedagogue allowed me to; but when ABREAST, like oxen going in a yoke, I with that heavy-laden soul went on, As long as the sweet pedagogue permitted;	12.003
he said: "Leave him behind, and go ahead; for here it's fitting that with wings and oars each urge his boat along with all his force," But when he said,"Leave him, and onward pass, For here 'tis good that with the sail and oars, As much as may be, each push on his barque;"	12.006
I drew my body up again, erect- the stance most suitable to man-and yet the thoughts I thought were still submissive, bent. Upright, as walking wills it, I redressed My person, notwithstanding that my thoughts Remained within me downcast and abashed.	12.009
Now I was on my way, and willingly I followed in my teacher's steps, and we together showed what speed we could command. I had moved on, and followed willingly The footsteps of my Master, and we both Already showed how light of foot we were,	12.012
He said to me: "Look downward, for the way will offer you some solace if you pay attention to the pavement at your feet." When unto me he said:"Cast down thine eyes; 'Twere well for thee, to alleviate the way, To look upon the bed beneath thy feet."	12.015
As, on the lids of pavement tombs, there are stone effigies of what the buried were before, so that the dead may be remembered; As, that some memory may exist of them Above the buried dead their tombs in earth Bear sculptured on them what they were before;	12.018
and there, when memory-inciting only the pious-has renewed their mourning, men are often led to shed their tears again; Whence often there we weep for them afresh, From pricking of remembrance, which alone To the compassionate doth set its spur;	12.021
so did I see, but carved more skillfully, with greater sense of likeness, effigies on all the path protruding from the mountain. So saw I there, but of a better semblance In point of artifice, with figures covered Whate'er as pathway from the mount projects.	12.024
I saw, to one side of the path, one who had been created nobler than all other beings, falling lightning-like from Heaven. I saw that one who was created noble More than all other creatures, down from heaven Flaming with lightnings fall upon one side.	12.027
I saw, upon the other side, Briareus transfixed by the celestial shaft: he lay, ponderous, on the ground, in fatal cold. I saw Briareus smitten by the dart Celestial, lying on the other side, Heavy upon the earth by mortal frost.	12.030
I saw Thymbraeus, I saw Mars and Pallas, still armed, as they surrounded Jove, their father, gazing upon the Giants' scattered limbs. I saw Thymbraeus, Pallas saw, and Mars, Still clad in armour round about their father, Gaze at the scattered members of the giants.	12.033
I saw bewildered Nimrod at the foot of his great labor; watching him were those of Shinar who had shared his arrogance. I saw, at foot of his great labour, Nimrod, As if bewildered, looking at the people Who had been proud with him in Sennaar.	12.036
O Niobe, what tears afflicted me when, on that path, I saw your effigy among your slaughtered children, seven and seven! O Niobe! with what afflicted eyes Thee I beheld upon the pathway traced Between thy seven and seven children slain!	12.039
O Saul, you were portrayed there as one who had died on his own sword, upon Gilboa, which never after knew the rain, the dew! O Saul! how fallen upon thy proper sword Didst thou appear there lifeless in Gilboa, That felt thereafter neither rain nor dew!	12.042
O mad Arachne, I saw you already half spider, wretched on the ragged remnants of work that you had wrought to your own hurt! O mad Arachne! so I thee beheld E'en then half spider, sad upon the shreds Of fabric wrought in evil hour for thee!	12.045
O Rehoboam, you whose effigy seems not to menace there, and yet you flee by chariot, terrified, though none pursues! O Rehoboam! no more seems to threaten Thine image there; but full of consternation A chariot bears it off, when none pursues!	12.048
It also showed-that pavement of hard stone- how much Alcmaeon made his mother pay: the cost of the ill-omened ornament. Displayed moreo'er the adamantine pavement How unto his own mother made Alcmaeon Costly appear the luckless ornament;	12.051
It showed the children of Sennacherib as they assailed their father in the temple, then left him, dead, behind them as they fled. Displayed how his own sons did throw themselves Upon Sennacherib within the temple, And how, he being dead, they left him there;	12.054
It showed the slaughter and the devastation wrought by Tomyris when she taunted Cyrus: "You thirsted after blood; with blood I fill you." Displayed the ruin and the cruel carnage That Tomyris wrought, when she to Cyrus said, "Blood didst thou thirst for, and with blood I glut thee!"	12.057
It showed the rout of the Assyrians, sent reeling after Holofernes' death, and also showed his body-what was left. Displayed how routed fled the Assyrians After that Holofernes had been slain, And likewise the remainder of that slaughter	12.060
I saw Troy turned to caverns and to ashes; O Ilium, your effigy in stone- it showed you there so squalid, so cast down! I saw there Troy in ashes and in caverns; O Ilion! thee, how abject and debased, Displayed the image that is there discerned!	12.063
What master of the brush or of the stylus had there portrayed such masses, such outlines as would astonish all discerning minds? Whoe'er of pencil master was or stile, That could portray the shades and traits which there Would cause each subtile genius to admire ?	12.066
The dead seemed dead and the alive, alive: I saw, head bent, treading those effigies, as well as those who'd seen those scenes directly. Dead seemed the dead, the living seemed alive; Better than I saw not who saw the truth, All that I trod upon while bowed I went.	12.069
Now, sons of Eve, persist in arrogance, in haughty stance, do not let your eyes bend, lest you be forced to see your evil path! Now wax ye proud, and on with looks uplifted, Ye sons of Eve, and bow not down your faces So that ye may behold your evil ways!	12.072
We now had circled round more of the mountain and much more of the sun's course had been crossed than I, my mind absorbed, had gauged, when he More of the mount by us was now encompassed, And far more spent the circuit of the sun, Than had the mind preoccupied imagined,	12.075
who always looked ahead insistently, as he advanced, began: "Lift up your eyes; it's time to set these images aside. When he, who ever watchful in advance Was going on, began:"Lift up thy head, 'Tis no more time to go thus meditating	12.078
See there an angel hurrying to meet us, and also see the sixth of the handmaidens returning from her service to the day. Lo there an Angel who is making haste To come towards us; lo, returning is From service of the day the sixth handmaiden,	12.081
Adorn your face and acts with reverence, that he be pleased to send us higher. Remember- today will never know another dawn." With reverence thine acts and looks adorn, So that he may delight to speed us upward; Think that this day will never dawn again."	12.084
I was so used to his insistent warnings against the loss of time; concerning that, his words to me could hardly be obscure. I was familiar with his admonition Ever to lose no time; so on this theme He could not unto me speak covertly.	12.087
That handsome creature came toward us; his clothes were white, and in his aspect he seemed like the trembling star that rises in the morning. Towards us came the being beautiful Vested in white, and in his countenance Such as appears the tremulous morning star.	12.090
He opened wide his arms, then spread his wings; he said: "Approach: the steps are close at hand; from this point on one can climb easily. His arms he opened, and opened then his wings; "Come,"said he,"near at hand here are the steps, And easy from henceforth is the ascent."	12.093
This invitation's answered by so few: o humankind, born for the upward flight, why are you driven back by wind so slight?" At this announcement few are they who come! O human creatures, born to soar aloft, Why fall ye thus before a little wind ?	12.096
He led us to a cleft within the rock, and then he struck my forehead with his wing; that done, he promised me safe journeying. He led us on to where the rock was cleft; There smote upon my forehead with his wings, Then a safe passage promised unto me.	12.099
As on the right, when one ascends the hill where-over Rubaconte's bridge-there stands the church that dominates the well-ruled city, As on the right hand, too ascent the mount Where seated is the church that lordeth O'er the well-guided, above Rubaconte,	12.102
the daring slope of the ascent is broken by steps that were constructed in an age when record books and measures could be trusted, The bold abruptness of the ascent is broken By stairways that were made there in the age When still were safe the ledger and the stave,	12.105
so was the slope that plummets there so steeply down from the other ring made easier; but on this side and that, high rock encroaches. E'en thus attempered is the bank which falls Sheer downward from the second circle there But on this, side and that the high rock graze	12.108
While we began to move in that direction, "Beati pauperes spiritu" was sung so sweetly-it can not be told in words. As we were turning thitherward our persons. "Beati pauperes spiritu," voices Sang in such wise that speech could tell it not.	12.111
How different were these entryways from those of Hell! For here it is with song one enters; down there, it is with savage lamentations. Ah me! how different are these entrances From the Infernal! for with anthems here One enters, and below with wild laments.	12.114
Now we ascended by the sacred stairs, but I seemed to be much more light than I had been, before, along the level terrace. We now were hunting up the sacred stairs, And it appeared to me by far more easy Than on the plain it had appeared before.	12.117
At this I asked: "Master, tell me, what heavy weight has been lifted from me, so that I, in going, notice almost no fatigue?" Whence I: "My Master, say, what heavy thing Has been uplifted from me, so that hardly Aught of fatigue is felt by me in wlaking?"	12.120
He answered: "When the P's that still remain upon your brow-now almost all are faint- have been completely, like this P. erased, He answered: "When the P's which have remained Still on thy face almost obliterate Shall wholly, as the first is, be erased,	12.123
your feet will be so mastered by good will that they not only will not feel travail but will delight when they are urged uphill." Thy feet will be so vanquished by good will, That not alone they shall not feel fatigue, But urging up will be to them delight."	12.126
Then I behaved like those who make their way with something on their head of which they're not aware, till others' signs make them suspicious, Then did I even as they do who are going With something on the head to them unknown, Unless the signs of others make them doubt,	12.129
at which, the hand helps them to ascertain; it seeks and finds and touches and provides the services that sight cannot supply; Wherefore the hand to ascertain is helpful, And seeks and finds, and doth fulfill the office Which cannot be accomplished by the sight;	12.132
so, with my right hand's outspread fingers, I found just six of the letters once inscribed by him who holds the keys, upon my forehead; And with the fingers of the right hand spread I found but six the letters, that had carved Upon my temples he who bore the keys;	12.135
and as he watched me do this, my guide smiled. Upon beholding which my Leader smiled.	12.136