And did not seem to move； they came so slowly。
〃Lift up thine eyes；〃 I to the Master said；
〃Behold； on this side； who will give us counsel；
If thou of thine own self can have it not。〃
Then he looked at me； and with frank expression
Replied： 〃Let us go there； for they come slowly；
And thou be steadfast in thy hope； sweet son。〃
Still was that people as far off from us；
After a thousand steps of ours I say；
As a good thrower with his hand would reach；
When they all crowded unto the hard masses
Of the high bank； and motionless stood and close；
As he stands still to look who goes in doubt。
〃O happy dead！ O spirits elect already！〃
Virgilius made beginning； 〃by that peace
Which I believe is waiting for you all；
Tell us upon what side the mountain slopes；
So that the going up be possible；
For to lose time irks him most who most knows。〃
As sheep come issuing forth from out the fold
By ones and twos and threes； and the others stand
Timidly； holding down their eyes and nostrils；
And what the foremost does the others do；
Huddling themselves against her； if she stop；
Simple and quiet and the wherefore know not；
So moving to approach us thereupon
I saw the leader of that fortunate flock；
Modest in face and dignified in gait。
As soon as those in the advance saw broken
The light upon the ground at my right side；
So that from me the shadow reached the rock；
They stopped； and backward drew themselves somewhat；
And all the others； who came after them；
Not knowing why nor wherefore； did the same。
〃Without your asking； I confess to you
This is a human body which you see；
Whereby the sunshine on the ground is cleft。
Marvel ye not thereat； but be persuaded
That not without a power which comes from Heaven
Doth he endeavour to surmount this wall。〃
The Master thus； and said those worthy people：
〃Return ye then； and enter in before us；〃
Making a signal with the back o' the hand
And one of them began： 〃Whoe'er thou art；
Thus going turn thine eyes； consider well
If e'er thou saw me in the other world。〃
I turned me tow'rds him； and looked at him closely；
Blond was he； beautiful； and of noble aspect；
But one of his eyebrows had a blow divided。
When with humility I had disclaimed
E'er having seen him； 〃Now behold！〃 he said；
And showed me high upon his breast a wound。
Then said he with a smile： 〃I am Manfredi；
The grandson of the Empress Costanza；
Therefore； when thou returnest； I beseech thee
Go to my daughter beautiful； the mother
Of Sicily's honour and of Aragon's；
And the truth tell her； if aught else be told。
After I had my body lacerated
By these two mortal stabs； I gave myself
Weeping to Him； who willingly doth pardon。
Horrible my iniquities had been；
But Infinite Goodness hath such ample arms；
That it receives whatever turns to it。
Had but Cosenza's pastor； who in chase
Of me was sent by Clement at that time；
In God read understandingly this page；
The bones of my dead body still would be
At the bridge…head； near unto Benevento；
Under the safeguard of the heavy cairn。
Now the rain bathes and moveth them the wind；
Beyond the realm； almost beside the Verde；
Where he transported them with tapers quenched。
By malison of theirs is not so lost
Eternal Love； that it cannot return；
So long as hope has anything of green。
True is it； who in contumacy dies
Of Holy Church； though penitent at last；
Must wait upon the outside this bank
Thirty times told the time that he has been
In his presumption； unless such decree
Shorter by means of righteous prayers become。
See now if thou hast power to make me happy；
By making known unto my good Costanza
How thou hast seen me； and this ban beside；
For those on earth can much advance us here。〃
Purgatorio： Canto IV
Whenever by delight or else by pain；
That seizes any faculty of ours；
Wholly to that the soul collects itself；
It seemeth that no other power it heeds；
And this against that error is which thinks
One soul above another kindles in us。
And hence； whenever aught is heard or seen
Which keeps the soul intently bent upon it；
Time passes on； and we perceive it not；
Because one faculty is that which listens；
And other that which the soul keeps entire；
This is as if in bonds； and that is free。
Of this I had experience positive
In hearing and in gazing at that spirit；
For fifty full degrees uprisen was
The sun； and I had not perceived it； when
We came to where those souls with one accord
Cried out unto us： 〃Here is what you ask。〃
A greater opening ofttimes hedges up
With but a little forkful of his thorns
The villager； what time the grape imbrowns；
Than was the passage…way through which ascended
Only my Leader and myself behind him；
After that company departed from us。
One climbs Sanleo and descends in Noli；
And mounts the summit of Bismantova；
With feet alone； but here one needs must fly；
With the swift pinions and the plumes I say
Of great desire； conducted after him
Who gave me hope； and made a light for me。
We mounted upward through the rifted rock；
And on each side the border pressed upon us；
And feet and hands the ground beneath required。
When we were come upon the upper rim
Of the high bank； out on the open slope；
〃My Master；〃 said I； 〃what way shall we take？〃
And he to me： 〃No step of thine descend；
Still up the mount behind me win thy way；
Till some sage escort shall appear to us。〃
The summit was so high it vanquished sight；
And the hillside precipitous far more
Than line from middle quadrant to the centre。
Spent with fatigue was I； when I began：
〃O my sweet Father！ turn thee and behold
How I remain alone； unless thou stay！〃
〃O son；〃 he said； 〃up yonder drag thyself；〃
Pointing me to a terrace somewhat higher；
Which on that side encircles all the hill。
These words of his so spurred me on； that I
Strained every nerve； behind him scrambling up；
Until the circle was beneath my feet。
Thereon ourselves we seated both of us
Turned to the East； from which we had ascended；
For all men are delighted to look back。
To the low shores mine eyes I first directed；
Then to the sun uplifted them； and wondered
That on the left hand we were smitten by it。
The Poet well perceived that I was wholly
Bewildered at the chariot of the light；
Where 'twixt us and the Aquilon it entered。
Whereon he said to me： 〃If Castor and Pollux
Were in the company of yonder mirror；
That up and down conducteth with its light；
Thou wouldst behold the zodiac's jagged wheel
Revolving still more near unto the Bears；
Unless it swerved aside from its old track。
How that may be wouldst thou have power to think；
Collected in thyself； imagine Zion
Together with this mount on earth to stand；
So that they both one sole horizon have；
And hemispheres diverse； whereby the road
Which Phaeton； alas！ knew not to drive；
Thou'lt see how of necessity must pass
This on one side； when that upon the other；
If thine intelligence right clearly heed。〃
〃Truly； my Master；〃 said I； 〃never yet
Saw I so clearly as I now discern；
There where my wit appeared incompetent；
That the mid…circle of supernal motion；
Which in some art is the Equator called；
And aye remains between the Sun and Winter；
For reason which thou sayest； departeth hence
Tow'rds the Septentrion； what time the Hebrews
Beheld it tow'rds the region of the heat。
But； if it pleaseth thee； I fain would learn
How far we have to go； for the hill rises
Higher than eyes of mine have power to rise。〃
And he to me： 〃This mount is such； that ever
At the beginning down below 'tis tiresome；
And aye the more one climbs； the less it hurts。
Therefore； when it shall seem so pleasant to thee；
That going up shall be to thee as easy
As going down the current in a boat；
Then at this pathway's ending thou wilt be；
There to repose thy panting breath expect；
No more I answer； and this I know for true。〃
And as he finished uttering these words；
A voice close by us sounded： 〃Peradventure
Thou wilt have need of sitting down ere that。〃
At sound thereof each one of us turned round；
And saw upon the left hand a great rock；
Which neither I nor he before had noticed。
Thither we drew； and there were persons there
Who in the shadow stood behind the rock；
As one through indolence is wont to stand。
And one of them； who seemed to me fatigued；
Was sitting down； and both his knees embraced；
Holding his face low down between them bowed。
〃O my sweet Lord；〃 I said； 〃do turn thine eye
On him who shows himself more negligent
Then even Sloth herself his sister were。〃
Then he turned round to us； and he gave heed；
Just lifting up his eyes above his thigh；
And said： 〃Now go thou up； for thou art valiant。〃
Then knew I who he was； and the distress；
That still a little did my breathing quicken；
My going to him hindered not； and after
I came to him he hardly raised his head；
Saying： 〃Hast thou seen clearly how the sun
O'er thy left shoulder drives his chariot？〃
His sluggish attitude and his curt words
A little unto laughter moved my lips；
Then I began： 〃Belacqua； I grieve not
For thee henceforth； but tell me； wherefore seated
In this place art thou？ Waitest thou an escort？
Or has thy usual habit seized upon thee？〃
And he： 〃O brother； what's the use of climbing？
Since to my torment would not let me go
The Angel of God； who sitteth at the gate。
First heaven must needs so long revolve me round
Outside thereof； as in my life it did；
Since the good sighs I to the end postponed；
Unless； e'er that； some prayer may bring me aid
Which rises from a heart that lives in grace；
What profit others that in heaven are heard not？〃
Meanwhile the Poet was before me mounting；
And saying： 〃Come now； see the sun has touched
Meridian； and from the shore the night
Covers already with her foot Morocco。〃
Purgatorio： Canto V
I had already