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PURGATORIO CANTO 32
Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr. Notes Ann.

My eyes were so insistent, so intent on finding satisfaction for their ten- year thirst that every other sense was spent. SO steadfast and attentive were mine eyes In satisfying their decennial thirst, That all my other senses were extinct,

32.003

And to each side, my eyes were walled in by indifference to all else (with its old net, the holy smile so drew them to itself), And upon this side and on that they had Walls of indifference, so the holy smile Drew them unto itself with the old net

32.006

when I was forced to turn my eyes leftward by those three goddesses because I heard them warning me: "You stare too fixedly." When forcibly my sight was turned away Towards my left hand by those goddesses, Because l heard from them a "Too intently!"

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And the condition that afflicts the sight when eyes have just been struck by the sun's force left me without my vision for a time. And that condition of the sight which is In eyes but lately smitten by the sun Bereft me of my vision some short while;

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But when my sight became accustomed to lesser sensations (that is, lesser than the mighty force that made my eyes retreat), But to the less when sight re-shaped itself, I say the less in reference to the greater Splendour from which perforce I had withdrawn,

32.015

I saw the glorious army: it had wheeled around and to the right; it had turned east; it faced the seven flames and faced the sun. I saw upon its right wing wheeled about The glorious host returning with the sun And with the sevenfold flames upon their faces.

32.018

Just as, protected by its shields, a squadron will wheel, to save itself, around its standard until all of its men have changed direction; As underneath its shields, to save itself, A squadron turns, and with its banner wheels, Before the whole thereof can change its front,

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so here all troops of the celestial kingdom within the vanguard passed in front of us before the chariot swung around the pole-shaft. That soldiery of the celestial kingdom Which marched in the advance had wholly passed us Before the chariot had turned its pole.

32.024

Back to the wheels the ladies then returned; and though the griffin moved the blessed burden, when he did that, none of his feathers stirred. Then to the wheels the maidens turned themselves, And the Griffin moved his burden benedight, But so that not a feather of him fluttered.

32.027

The lovely lady who'd helped me ford Lethe, and I and Statius, following the wheel that turned right, round the inner, smaller arc, The lady fair who drew me through the ford Followed with Statius and myself the wheel Which made its orbit with the lesser arc.

32.030

were slowly passing through the tall woods-empty because of one who had believed the serpent; our pace was measured by angelic song. So passing through the lofty forest, vacant By fault of her who in the serpent trusted, Angelic music made our steps keep time.

32.033

The space we covered could be matched perhaps by three flights of an unleashed arrow's shafts, when Beatrice descended from the chariot. Perchance as great a space had in three flights An arrow loosened from the string o'erpassed, As we had moved when Beatrice descended.

32.036

"Adam," I heard all of them murmuring, and then they drew around a tree whose every branch had been stripped of flowers and of leaves. I heard them murmur altogether, "Adam!" Then circled they about a tree despoiled Of blooms and other leafage on each bough.

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As it grows higher, so its branches spread wider; it reached a height that even in their forests would amaze the Indians. Its tresses, which so much the more dilate As higher they ascend, had been by Indians Among their forests marvelled at for height.

32.042

"Blessed are you, whose beak does not, o griffin, pluck the sweet-tasting fruit that is forbidden and then afflicts the belly that has eaten!" "Blessed art thou, O Griffin, who dost not Pluck with thy beak these branches sweet to taste, Since appetite by this was turned to evil."

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So, round the robust tree, the others shouted; and the two-natured animal: "Thus is the seed of every righteous man preserved." After this fashion round the tree robust The others shouted; and the twofold creature: "Thus is preserved the seed of all the just."

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And turning to the pole-shaft he had pulled, he drew it to the foot of the stripped tree and, with a branch of that tree, tied the two. And turning to the pole which he had dragged, He drew it close beneath the widowed bough, And what was of it unto it left bound.

32.051

Just like our plants that, when the great light falls on earth, mixed with the light that shines behind the stars of the celestial Fishes, swell In the same manner as our trees (when downward Falls the great light, with that together mingled Which after the celestial Lasca shines)

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with buds-each plant renews its coloring before the sun has yoked its steeds beneath another constellation: so the tree, Begin to swell, and then renew themselves, Each one with its own colour, ere the Sun Harness his steeds beneath another star:

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whose boughs-before-had been so solitary, was now renewed, showing a tint that was less than the rose, more than the violet. Less than of rose and more than violet A hue disclosing, was renewed the tree That had erewhile its boughs so desolate.

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I did not understand the hymn that they then sang-it is not sung here on this earth- nor, drowsy, did I listen to the end. I never heard, nor here below is sung, The hymn which afterward that people sang, Nor did I bear the melody throughout.

32.063

Could I describe just how the ruthless eyes (eyes whose long wakefulness cost them so dear), hearing the tale of Syrinx, fell asleep, Had I the power to paint how fell asleep Those eyes compassionless, of Syrinx hearing, Those eyes to which more watching cost so dear,

32.066

then like a painter painting from a model, I'd draw the way in which I fell asleep; but I refrain-let one more skillful paint. Even as a painter who from model paints I would portray how I was lulled asleep; He may, who well can picture drowsihood.

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I move, therefore, straight to my waking time; I say that radiance rent the veil of sleep, as did a voice: "Rise up: what are you doing?" Therefore I pass to what time I awoke, And say a splendour rent from me the veil Of slumber, and a calling: "Rise, what dost thou ?"

32.072

Even as Peter, John, and James, when brought to see the blossoms of the apple tree- whose fruit abets the angels' hungering, As to behold the apple-tree in blossom Which makes the Angels greedy for its fruit, And keeps perpetual bridals in the Heaven,

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providing endless wedding-feasts in Heaven- were overwhelmed by what they saw, but then, hearing the word that shattered deeper sleeps, Peter and John and James conducted were, And, overcome, recovered at the word By which still greater slumbers have been broken,

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arose and saw their fellowship was smaller- since Moses and Elijah now had left- and saw a difference in their Teacher's dress; And saw their school diminished by the loss Not only of Elias, but of Moses, And the apparel of their Master changed;

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so I awoke and saw, standing above me, she who before-compassionate-had guided my steps along the riverbank. Completely So I revived, and saw that piteous one Above me standing, who had been conductress Aforetime of my steps beside the river,

32.084

bewildered, I asked: "Where is Beatrice?" And she: "Beneath the boughs that were renewed, she's seated on the root of that tree; see And all in doubt I said, "Where's Beatrice ?" And she: "Behold her seated underneath The leafage new, upon the root of it.

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the company surrounding her; the rest have left; behind the griffin they have climbed on high with song that is more sweet, more deep." Behold the company that circles her; The rest behind the Griffin are ascending With more melodious song, and more profound."

32.090

I do not know if she said more than that, because,by now, I had in sight one who excluded all things other from my view. And if her speech were more diffuse I know not, Because already in my sight was she Who from the hearing of aught else had shut me.

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She sat alone upon the simple ground, left there as guardian of the chariot I'd seen the two-form animal tie fast. Alone she sat upon the very earth, Left there as guardian of the chariot Which I had seen the biform monster fasten.

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The seven nymphs encircled her as garland, and in their hands they held the lamps that can not be extinguished by the north or south winds. Encircling her, a cloister made themselves The seven Nymphs, with those lights in their hands Which are secure from Aquilon and Auster.

32.099

"Here you shall be-awhile-a visitor; but you shall be with me-and without end- Rome's citizen, the Rome in which Christ is "Short while shalt thou be here a forester, And thou shalt be with me for evermore A citizen of that Rome where Christ is Roman.

32.102

Roman; and thus, to profit that world which lives badly, watch the chariot steadfastly and, when you have returned beyond, transcribe Therefore, for that world's good which liveth ill, Fix on the car thine eyes, and what thou seest. Having returned to earth, take heed thou write."

32.105

what you have seen." Thus, Beatrice; and I, devoutly, at the feet of her commandments, set mind and eyes where she had wished me to. Thus Beatrice; and I, who at the feet Of her commandments all devoted was, My mind and eyes directed where she willed.

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Never has lightning fallen with such swift motion from a thick cloud, when it descends from the most distant limit in the heavens, Never descended with so swift a motion Fire from a heavy cloud, when it is raining From out the region which is most remote,

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as did the bird of Jove that I saw swoop down through the tree, tearing the bark as well as the new leaves and the new flowering. As I beheld the bird of Jove descend Down through the tree, rending away the bark, As well as blossoms and the foliage new,

32.114

It struck the chariot with all its force; the chariot twisted, like a ship that's crossed by seas that now storm starboard and now port. And he with all his might the chariot smote, Whereat it reeled, like vessel in a tempest Tossed by the waves, now starboard and now larboard.

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I then saw, as it leaped into the body of that triumphal chariot, a fox that seemed to lack all honest nourishment: Thereafter saw I leap into the body Of the triumphal vehicle a Fox, That seemed unfed with any wholesome food.

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but, as she railed against its squalid sins, my lady forced that fox to flight as quick as, stripped of flesh, its bones permitted it. But for his hideous sins upbraiding him, My Lady put him to as swift a flight As such a fleshless skeleton could bear.

32.123

Then I could see the eagle plunge-again down through the tree-into the chariot and leave it feathered with its plumage; and, Then by the way that it before had come, Into the chariot's chest I saw the Eagle Descend, and leave it feathered with his plumes.

32.126

just like a voice from an embittered heart, a voice issued from Heaven, saying this: "O my small bark, your freight is wickedness!" And such as issues from a heart that mourns, A voice from Heaven there issued, and it said: "My little bark, how badly art thou freighted!"

32.129

Then did the ground between the two wheels seem to me to open; from the earth, a dragon emerged; it drove its tail up through the chariot; Methought, then, that the earth did yawn between Both wheels, and I saw rise from it a Dragon, Who through the chariot upward fixed his tail,

32.132

and like a wasp when it retracts its sting, drawing its venomed tail back to itself, it dragged part of the bottom off, and went And as a wasp that draweth back its sting, Drawing unto himself his tail malign, Drew out the floor, and went his way rejoicing

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its way, undulating. And what was left was covered with the eagle's plumes-perhaps offered with sound and kind intent-much as That which remained behind, even as with grass A fertile region, with the feathers, offered Perhaps with pure intention and benign,

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grass covers fertile ground; and the pole-shaft and both wheels were re-covered in less time than mouth must be kept open when one sighs. Reclothed itself, and with them were reclothed The pole and both the wheels so speedily, A sigh doth longer keep the lips apart.

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Transfigured so, the saintly instrument grew heads, which sprouted from its parts; three grew upon the pole-shaft, and one at each corner. Transfigured thus the holy edifice Thrust forward heads upon the parts of it, Three on the pole and one at either corner.

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The three were horned like oxen, but the four had just a single horn upon their foreheads: such monsters never have been seen before. The first were horned like oxen; but the four Had but a single horn upon the forehead; A monster such had never yet been seen!

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Just like a fortress set on a steep slope, securely seated there, ungirt, a whore, whose eyes were quick to rove, appeared to me; Firm as a rock upon a mountain high, Seated upon it, there appeared to me A shameless whore, with eyes swift glancing round,

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and I saw at her side, erect, a giant, who seemed to serve as her custodian; and they-again, again-embraced each other. And, as if not to have her taken from him, Upright beside her I beheld a giant ; And ever and anon they kissed each other.

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But when she turned her wandering, wanton eyes to me, then that ferocious amador beat her from head to foot; then, swollen with But because she her wanton, roving eye Turned upon me, her angry paramour Did scourge her from her head unto her feet.

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suspicion, fierce with anger, he untied the chariot-made-monster, dragging it into the wood, so that I could not see Then full of jealousy, and fierce with wrath, He loosed the monster, and across the forest Dragged it so far, he made of that alone

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either the whore or the strange chariot-beast. A shield unto the whore and the strange beast.

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PURGATORIO CANTO 32 Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.	*Notes*	*Ann.*
My eyes were so insistent, so intent on finding satisfaction for their ten- year thirst that every other sense was spent. SO steadfast and attentive were mine eyes In satisfying their decennial thirst, That all my other senses were extinct,	32.003
And to each side, my eyes were walled in by indifference to all else (with its old net, the holy smile so drew them to itself), And upon this side and on that they had Walls of indifference, so the holy smile Drew them unto itself with the old net	32.006
when I was forced to turn my eyes leftward by those three goddesses because I heard them warning me: "You stare too fixedly." When forcibly my sight was turned away Towards my left hand by those goddesses, Because l heard from them a "Too intently!"	32.009
And the condition that afflicts the sight when eyes have just been struck by the sun's force left me without my vision for a time. And that condition of the sight which is In eyes but lately smitten by the sun Bereft me of my vision some short while;	32.012
But when my sight became accustomed to lesser sensations (that is, lesser than the mighty force that made my eyes retreat), But to the less when sight re-shaped itself, I say the less in reference to the greater Splendour from which perforce I had withdrawn,	32.015
I saw the glorious army: it had wheeled around and to the right; it had turned east; it faced the seven flames and faced the sun. I saw upon its right wing wheeled about The glorious host returning with the sun And with the sevenfold flames upon their faces.	32.018
Just as, protected by its shields, a squadron will wheel, to save itself, around its standard until all of its men have changed direction; As underneath its shields, to save itself, A squadron turns, and with its banner wheels, Before the whole thereof can change its front,	32.021
so here all troops of the celestial kingdom within the vanguard passed in front of us before the chariot swung around the pole-shaft. That soldiery of the celestial kingdom Which marched in the advance had wholly passed us Before the chariot had turned its pole.	32.024
Back to the wheels the ladies then returned; and though the griffin moved the blessed burden, when he did that, none of his feathers stirred. Then to the wheels the maidens turned themselves, And the Griffin moved his burden benedight, But so that not a feather of him fluttered.	32.027
The lovely lady who'd helped me ford Lethe, and I and Statius, following the wheel that turned right, round the inner, smaller arc, The lady fair who drew me through the ford Followed with Statius and myself the wheel Which made its orbit with the lesser arc.	32.030
were slowly passing through the tall woods-empty because of one who had believed the serpent; our pace was measured by angelic song. So passing through the lofty forest, vacant By fault of her who in the serpent trusted, Angelic music made our steps keep time.	32.033
The space we covered could be matched perhaps by three flights of an unleashed arrow's shafts, when Beatrice descended from the chariot. Perchance as great a space had in three flights An arrow loosened from the string o'erpassed, As we had moved when Beatrice descended.	32.036
"Adam," I heard all of them murmuring, and then they drew around a tree whose every branch had been stripped of flowers and of leaves. I heard them murmur altogether, "Adam!" Then circled they about a tree despoiled Of blooms and other leafage on each bough.	32.039
As it grows higher, so its branches spread wider; it reached a height that even in their forests would amaze the Indians. Its tresses, which so much the more dilate As higher they ascend, had been by Indians Among their forests marvelled at for height.	32.042
"Blessed are you, whose beak does not, o griffin, pluck the sweet-tasting fruit that is forbidden and then afflicts the belly that has eaten!" "Blessed art thou, O Griffin, who dost not Pluck with thy beak these branches sweet to taste, Since appetite by this was turned to evil."	32.045
So, round the robust tree, the others shouted; and the two-natured animal: "Thus is the seed of every righteous man preserved." After this fashion round the tree robust The others shouted; and the twofold creature: "Thus is preserved the seed of all the just."	32.048
And turning to the pole-shaft he had pulled, he drew it to the foot of the stripped tree and, with a branch of that tree, tied the two. And turning to the pole which he had dragged, He drew it close beneath the widowed bough, And what was of it unto it left bound.	32.051
Just like our plants that, when the great light falls on earth, mixed with the light that shines behind the stars of the celestial Fishes, swell In the same manner as our trees (when downward Falls the great light, with that together mingled Which after the celestial Lasca shines)	32.054
with buds-each plant renews its coloring before the sun has yoked its steeds beneath another constellation: so the tree, Begin to swell, and then renew themselves, Each one with its own colour, ere the Sun Harness his steeds beneath another star:	32.057
whose boughs-before-had been so solitary, was now renewed, showing a tint that was less than the rose, more than the violet. Less than of rose and more than violet A hue disclosing, was renewed the tree That had erewhile its boughs so desolate.	32.060
I did not understand the hymn that they then sang-it is not sung here on this earth- nor, drowsy, did I listen to the end. I never heard, nor here below is sung, The hymn which afterward that people sang, Nor did I bear the melody throughout.	32.063
Could I describe just how the ruthless eyes (eyes whose long wakefulness cost them so dear), hearing the tale of Syrinx, fell asleep, Had I the power to paint how fell asleep Those eyes compassionless, of Syrinx hearing, Those eyes to which more watching cost so dear,	32.066
then like a painter painting from a model, I'd draw the way in which I fell asleep; but I refrain-let one more skillful paint. Even as a painter who from model paints I would portray how I was lulled asleep; He may, who well can picture drowsihood.	32.069
I move, therefore, straight to my waking time; I say that radiance rent the veil of sleep, as did a voice: "Rise up: what are you doing?" Therefore I pass to what time I awoke, And say a splendour rent from me the veil Of slumber, and a calling: "Rise, what dost thou ?"	32.072
Even as Peter, John, and James, when brought to see the blossoms of the apple tree- whose fruit abets the angels' hungering, As to behold the apple-tree in blossom Which makes the Angels greedy for its fruit, And keeps perpetual bridals in the Heaven,	32.075
providing endless wedding-feasts in Heaven- were overwhelmed by what they saw, but then, hearing the word that shattered deeper sleeps, Peter and John and James conducted were, And, overcome, recovered at the word By which still greater slumbers have been broken,	32.078
arose and saw their fellowship was smaller- since Moses and Elijah now had left- and saw a difference in their Teacher's dress; And saw their school diminished by the loss Not only of Elias, but of Moses, And the apparel of their Master changed;	32.081
so I awoke and saw, standing above me, she who before-compassionate-had guided my steps along the riverbank. Completely So I revived, and saw that piteous one Above me standing, who had been conductress Aforetime of my steps beside the river,	32.084
bewildered, I asked: "Where is Beatrice?" And she: "Beneath the boughs that were renewed, she's seated on the root of that tree; see And all in doubt I said, "Where's Beatrice ?" And she: "Behold her seated underneath The leafage new, upon the root of it.	32.087
the company surrounding her; the rest have left; behind the griffin they have climbed on high with song that is more sweet, more deep." Behold the company that circles her; The rest behind the Griffin are ascending With more melodious song, and more profound."	32.090
I do not know if she said more than that, because,by now, I had in sight one who excluded all things other from my view. And if her speech were more diffuse I know not, Because already in my sight was she Who from the hearing of aught else had shut me.	32.093
She sat alone upon the simple ground, left there as guardian of the chariot I'd seen the two-form animal tie fast. Alone she sat upon the very earth, Left there as guardian of the chariot Which I had seen the biform monster fasten.	32.096
The seven nymphs encircled her as garland, and in their hands they held the lamps that can not be extinguished by the north or south winds. Encircling her, a cloister made themselves The seven Nymphs, with those lights in their hands Which are secure from Aquilon and Auster.	32.099
"Here you shall be-awhile-a visitor; but you shall be with me-and without end- Rome's citizen, the Rome in which Christ is "Short while shalt thou be here a forester, And thou shalt be with me for evermore A citizen of that Rome where Christ is Roman.	32.102
Roman; and thus, to profit that world which lives badly, watch the chariot steadfastly and, when you have returned beyond, transcribe Therefore, for that world's good which liveth ill, Fix on the car thine eyes, and what thou seest. Having returned to earth, take heed thou write."	32.105
what you have seen." Thus, Beatrice; and I, devoutly, at the feet of her commandments, set mind and eyes where she had wished me to. Thus Beatrice; and I, who at the feet Of her commandments all devoted was, My mind and eyes directed where she willed.	32.108
Never has lightning fallen with such swift motion from a thick cloud, when it descends from the most distant limit in the heavens, Never descended with so swift a motion Fire from a heavy cloud, when it is raining From out the region which is most remote,	32.111
as did the bird of Jove that I saw swoop down through the tree, tearing the bark as well as the new leaves and the new flowering. As I beheld the bird of Jove descend Down through the tree, rending away the bark, As well as blossoms and the foliage new,	32.114
It struck the chariot with all its force; the chariot twisted, like a ship that's crossed by seas that now storm starboard and now port. And he with all his might the chariot smote, Whereat it reeled, like vessel in a tempest Tossed by the waves, now starboard and now larboard.	32.117
I then saw, as it leaped into the body of that triumphal chariot, a fox that seemed to lack all honest nourishment: Thereafter saw I leap into the body Of the triumphal vehicle a Fox, That seemed unfed with any wholesome food.	32.120
but, as she railed against its squalid sins, my lady forced that fox to flight as quick as, stripped of flesh, its bones permitted it. But for his hideous sins upbraiding him, My Lady put him to as swift a flight As such a fleshless skeleton could bear.	32.123
Then I could see the eagle plunge-again down through the tree-into the chariot and leave it feathered with its plumage; and, Then by the way that it before had come, Into the chariot's chest I saw the Eagle Descend, and leave it feathered with his plumes.	32.126
just like a voice from an embittered heart, a voice issued from Heaven, saying this: "O my small bark, your freight is wickedness!" And such as issues from a heart that mourns, A voice from Heaven there issued, and it said: "My little bark, how badly art thou freighted!"	32.129
Then did the ground between the two wheels seem to me to open; from the earth, a dragon emerged; it drove its tail up through the chariot; Methought, then, that the earth did yawn between Both wheels, and I saw rise from it a Dragon, Who through the chariot upward fixed his tail,	32.132
and like a wasp when it retracts its sting, drawing its venomed tail back to itself, it dragged part of the bottom off, and went And as a wasp that draweth back its sting, Drawing unto himself his tail malign, Drew out the floor, and went his way rejoicing	32.135
its way, undulating. And what was left was covered with the eagle's plumes-perhaps offered with sound and kind intent-much as That which remained behind, even as with grass A fertile region, with the feathers, offered Perhaps with pure intention and benign,	32.138
grass covers fertile ground; and the pole-shaft and both wheels were re-covered in less time than mouth must be kept open when one sighs. Reclothed itself, and with them were reclothed The pole and both the wheels so speedily, A sigh doth longer keep the lips apart.	32.141
Transfigured so, the saintly instrument grew heads, which sprouted from its parts; three grew upon the pole-shaft, and one at each corner. Transfigured thus the holy edifice Thrust forward heads upon the parts of it, Three on the pole and one at either corner.	32.144
The three were horned like oxen, but the four had just a single horn upon their foreheads: such monsters never have been seen before. The first were horned like oxen; but the four Had but a single horn upon the forehead; A monster such had never yet been seen!	32.147
Just like a fortress set on a steep slope, securely seated there, ungirt, a whore, whose eyes were quick to rove, appeared to me; Firm as a rock upon a mountain high, Seated upon it, there appeared to me A shameless whore, with eyes swift glancing round,	32.150
and I saw at her side, erect, a giant, who seemed to serve as her custodian; and they-again, again-embraced each other. And, as if not to have her taken from him, Upright beside her I beheld a giant ; And ever and anon they kissed each other.	32.153
But when she turned her wandering, wanton eyes to me, then that ferocious amador beat her from head to foot; then, swollen with But because she her wanton, roving eye Turned upon me, her angry paramour Did scourge her from her head unto her feet.	32.156
suspicion, fierce with anger, he untied the chariot-made-monster, dragging it into the wood, so that I could not see Then full of jealousy, and fierce with wrath, He loosed the monster, and across the forest Dragged it so far, he made of that alone	32.159
either the whore or the strange chariot-beast. A shield unto the whore and the strange beast.	32.160