DANTE’S PURGATORIO.

CANTO EIGHTH.

In this Canto, Dante introduces the souls of Nino Visconti, judge of Gallura in Sardinia; and of Conrad Malaspina, who predicts to the poet his banishment.

‘Twas now the hour that brings to men at sea, Who in the morn have bid sweet friends farewell,

Fond thoughts and longing back with them to be; And thrills the pilgrim with a tender spell

Of love, if haply, new upon his way, He faintly hear a chime from some far bell,

That seems to mourn the dying of the day; When I forbore my listening faculty

To mark one spirit uprisen amid the band Who joined both palms and lifted them on high

(First having claimed attention with his hand) And towards the Orient bent so fixed an eye

As ‘twere he said, “My God! on thee alone My longing rests.” Then from his lips there came

Te lucis ante, so devout of tone, So sweet, my mind was ravished by the same

The others next, full sweetly and devout, Fixing their gaze on the supernal wheels,

Followed him chanting the whole Psalm throughout.

Now, reader, to the truth my verse conceals

Make sharp thy vision; subtle is the veil So fine ‘twere easily passed through unseen.

I saw that gentle army, meek and pale, Silently gazing upward with a mien

As of expectancy, and from on high Beheld two angels with two swords descend

Which flamed with fire, but, as I could descry, They bare no points, being broken at the end.

Green robes, in hue more delicate than spring’s Tender new leaves, they trailed behind and fanned

With gentle beating of their verdant wings. One, coming near, just over us took stand,

Down to th’ opponent bank the other sped, So that the spirits were between them grouped

Full well could I discern each flaxen head; But in their faces mine eyes’ virtue drooped,

As ‘twere confounded by excess and dead. “From Mary’s bosom they have both come here,”

Sordello said—“this valley to protect Against the serpent that will soon appear:”

Whence I, unknowing which way to expect This object, turned me, almost froze with fear,

And to those trusty shoulders closely clung. Again Sordello: “Go we down and see

These mighty shades, and let them hear our tongue: Thy presence will to them right gracious be.”

Only three steps I think brought me below Where one I noticed solely eyeing me

As if who I might be he fain would know. ‘Twas dusk, yet not so but the dusky air,

Between his eyes and mine, within the dell, Showed what before it did not quite declare.

Towards me he moved, and I towards him as well: Gentle Judge Nino, when I saw thee there

What joy was mine to find thee not in hell! We left unsaid no form of fair salute:

Then he inquired: “How long since thou didst come O’er the far waters to the mountain’s foot?”

“O but this morn,” said I, “the realms of gloom I passed: in the first life I am, but fain

Would find the next by following on this track.” Like to men suddenly amazed, the twain,

He and Sordello, hearing this, drew back. One looked at Virgil, one into the face

Of a companion sitting there, and cried, “Up, Conrad! see what God hath of his grace

Bestowed,” then turning unto me replied:

NINO VISCONTI.

“By that especial reverence, I beseech,

Which thou ow’st him whose primal way is hid So that none sound it, if soe’er thou reach

The shore beyond the vasty waters, bid My child Giovanna for my peace implore

There where the cry of innocents heaven heeds. Her mother I am sure loves me no more

Since she put off her widow’s paly weeds, But in her misery fain would wear this day.

From her full readily may one be taught How soon love’s flame in woman dies away

If sight or touch full oft relume it not. The chanticleer upon Gallura’s shield

Had graced her sepulchre with fairer show Than will that viper, which to battle-field

Marshals the men of Milan.” With such glow He uttered this as in his face revealed

The heart’s just passion smouldering yet below.

Still that sole part of heaven I fondly eyed Where the stars move, even as a wheel doth move

More slowly next the axle. Said my Guide: “Son, what dost thou so gaze at there above?”

“Up there! at yon three torches,” I replied, “Whose splendor makes this pole here all ablaze.”

And he to me: “The four clear stars that rose This morn before thee have abased their rays,

And these have mounted in the place of those.” While thus he spake, Sordello to his side

Drew Virgil, and exclaimed: “Behold our Foe!” And pointed to the thing which he descried.

And where that small vale’s barrier sinks most low A serpent suddenly was seen to glide,

Such as gave Eve, perchance, the fruit of woe. Through flowers and herbage came that evil streak,

To lick its back oft turning round its head, As with his tongue a beast his fur doth sleek.

I was not looking, so must leave unsaid When first they fluttered, but full well I saw

Both heavenly falcons had their plumage spread. Soon as the serpent felt the withering flaw

Of those green wings, it vanished, and they sped Up to their posts again with even flight.

The shade who had approached the judge when he Accosted him, had never moved his sight

Through this encounter, looking fixed on me.

CONRAD MALASPINA.

“So may that light,” the spirit began to say, “Which leads thee up, find in thine own free will

Sufficient wax to last thee all the way, Even to th’ enamelled summit of the Hill.

If thou true news of Val di Magra know’st, Or of those parts, inform me of the same,

For I was mighty once upon that coast, And Conrad Malaspina was my name.

Not the old lord, but his descendant, I: The love which once I to my kindred bore

Is here refined.” “O,” thus I made reply, “That realm of yours I never travelled o’er;

But where throughout all Europe is the place That knows it not? The honor Fame accords

Your house illustrates not alone the race, But makes the land renowned as are its lords;

He knows that country who was never there: Still the free purse they bear, and still bright swords

So mount my soul as this to thee I swear! Custom and nature privilege them so,

That, if through guilt the world’s guide lead astray, They in the path of right straightforward go

Sole of all men, and scorn the evil way.” To these my words, “Now go,” the spirit said,

For the sun shall not enter seven times more That part of heaven where Aries o’er his bed

Stretches and spreads his forked feet all four, Ere this thy courtesy’s belief shall be

Nailed in the middle of thy head with nails Of greater force than men’s reports to thee

If, unimpeded, Judgment’s course prevails.