As if in expectation； pale and humble；
And from on high come forth and down descend；
I saw two Angels with two flaming swords；
Truncated and deprived of their points。
Green as the little leaflets just now born
Their garments were； which； by their verdant pinions
Beaten and blown abroad； they trailed behind。
One just above us came to take his station；
And one descended to the opposite bank；
So that the people were contained between them。
Clearly in them discerned I the blond head；
But in their faces was the eye bewildered；
As faculty confounded by excess。
〃From Mary's bosom both of them have come；〃
Sordello said； 〃as guardians of the valley
Against the serpent； that will come anon。〃
Whereupon I； who knew not by what road；
Turned round about； and closely drew myself；
Utterly frozen； to the faithful shoulders。
And once again Sordello： 〃Now descend we
'Mid the grand shades； and we will speak to them；
Right pleasant will it be for them to see you。〃
Only three steps I think that I descended；
And was below； and saw one who was looking
Only at me； as if he fain would know me。
Already now the air was growing dark；
But not so that between his eyes and mine
It did not show what it before locked up。
Tow'rds me he moved； and I tow'rds him did move；
Noble Judge Nino！ how it me delighted；
When I beheld thee not among the damned！
No greeting fair was left unsaid between us；
Then asked he： 〃How long is it since thou camest
O'er the far waters to the mountain's foot？〃
〃Oh！〃 said I to him； 〃through the dismal places
I came this morn； and am in the first life；
Albeit the other； going thus； I gain。〃
And on the instant my reply was heard；
He and Sordello both shrank back from me；
Like people who are suddenly bewildered。
One to Virgilius； and the other turned
To one who sat there； crying； 〃Up； Currado！
Come and behold what God in grace has willed！〃
Then； turned to me： 〃By that especial grace
Thou owest unto Him； who so conceals
His own first wherefore； that it has no ford；
When thou shalt be beyond the waters wide；
Tell my Giovanna that she pray for me；
Where answer to the innocent is made。
I do not think her mother loves me more；
Since she has laid aside her wimple white；
Which she； unhappy； needs must wish again。
Through her full easily is comprehended
How long in woman lasts the fire of love；
If eye or touch do not relight it often。
So fair a hatchment will not make for her
The Viper marshalling the Milanese
A…field； as would have made Gallura's Cock。〃
In this wise spake he； with the stamp impressed
Upon his aspect of that righteous zeal
Which measurably burneth in the heart。
My greedy eyes still wandered up to heaven；
Still to that point where slowest are the stars；
Even as a wheel the nearest to its axle。
And my Conductor： 〃Son； what dost thou gaze at
Up there？〃 And I to him： 〃At those three torches
With which this hither pole is all on fire。〃
And he to me： 〃The four resplendent stars
Thou sawest this morning are down yonder low；
And these have mounted up to where those were。〃
As he was speaking； to himself Sordello
Drew him； and said； 〃Lo there our Adversary！〃
And pointed with his finger to look thither。
Upon the side on which the little valley
No barrier hath； a serpent was； perchance
The same which gave to Eve the bitter food。
'Twixt grass and flowers came on the evil streak；
Turning at times its head about； and licking
Its back like to a beast that smoothes itself。
I did not see； and therefore cannot say
How the celestial falcons 'gan to move；
But well I saw that they were both in motion。
Hearing the air cleft by their verdant wings；
The serpent fled； and round the Angels wheeled；
Up to their stations flying back alike。
The shade that to the Judge had near approached
When he had called； throughout that whole assault
Had not a moment loosed its gaze on me。
〃So may the light that leadeth thee on high
Find in thine own free…will as much of wax
As needful is up to the highest azure；〃
Began it； 〃if some true intelligence
Of Valdimagra or its neighbourhood
Thou knowest； tell it me； who once was great there。
Currado Malaspina was I called；
I'm not the elder； but from him descended；
To mine I bore the love which here refineth。〃
〃O；〃 said I unto him； 〃through your domains
I never passed； but where is there a dwelling
Throughout all Europe； where they are not known？
That fame； which doeth honour to your house；
Proclaims its Signors and proclaims its land；
So that he knows of them who ne'er was there。
And； as I hope for heaven； I swear to you
Your honoured family in naught abates
The glory of the purse and of the sword。
It is so privileged by use and nature；
That though a guilty head misguide the world；
Sole it goes right； and scorns the evil way。〃
And he： 〃Now go； for the sun shall not lie
Seven times upon the pillow which the Ram
With all his four feet covers and bestrides；
Before that such a courteous opinion
Shall in the middle of thy head be nailed
With greater nails than of another's speech；
Unless the course of justice standeth still。〃
Purgatorio： Canto IX
The concubine of old Tithonus now
Gleamed white upon the eastern balcony；
Forth from the arms of her sweet paramour；
With gems her forehead all relucent was；
Set in the shape of that cold animal
Which with its tail doth smite amain the nations；
And of the steps； with which she mounts； the Night
Had taken two in that place where we were；
And now the third was bending down its wings；
When I； who something had of Adam in me；
Vanquished by sleep； upon the grass reclined；
There were all five of us already sat。
Just at the hour when her sad lay begins
The little swallow； near unto the morning；
Perchance in memory of her former woes；
And when the mind of man； a wanderer
More from the flesh； and less by thought imprisoned；
Almost prophetic in its visions is；
In dreams it seemed to me I saw suspended
An eagle in the sky； with plumes of gold；
With wings wide open； and intent to stoop；
And this； it seemed to me； was where had been
By Ganymede his kith and kin abandoned；
When to the high consistory he was rapt。
I thought within myself； perchance he strikes
From habit only here； and from elsewhere
Disdains to bear up any in his feet。
Then wheeling somewhat more； it seemed to me；
Terrible as the lightning he descended；
And snatched me upward even to the fire。
Therein it seemed that he and I were burning；
And the imagined fire did scorch me so；
That of necessity my sleep was broken。
Not otherwise Achilles started up；
Around him turning his awakened eyes；
And knowing not the place in which he was；
What time from Chiron stealthily his mother
Carried him sleeping in her arms to Scyros；
Wherefrom the Greeks withdrew him afterwards；
Than I upstarted； when from off my face
Sleep fled away； and pallid I became；
As doth the man who freezes with affright。
Only my Comforter was at my side；
And now the sun was more than two hours high；
And turned towards the sea…shore was my face。
〃Be not intimidated；〃 said my Lord；
〃Be reassured； for all is well with us；
Do not restrain； but put forth all thy strength。
Thou hast at length arrived at Purgatory；
See there the cliff that closes it around；
See there the entrance； where it seems disjoined。
Whilom at dawn； which doth precede the day；
When inwardly thy spirit was asleep
Upon the flowers that deck the land below；
There came a Lady and said： 'I am Lucia；
Let me take this one up； who is asleep；
So will I make his journey easier for him。'
Sordello and the other noble shapes
Remained； she took thee； and； as day grew bright；
Upward she came； and I upon her footsteps。
She laid thee here； and first her beauteous eyes
That open entrance pointed out to me；
Then she and sleep together went away。〃
In guise of one whose doubts are reassured；
And who to confidence his fear doth change；
After the truth has been discovered to him；
So did I change； and when without disquiet
My Leader saw me； up along the cliff
He moved； and I behind him； tow'rd the height。
Reader； thou seest well how I exalt
My theme； and therefore if with greater art
I fortify it； marvel not thereat。
Nearer approached we； and were in such place；
That there； where first appeared to me a rift
Like to a crevice that disparts a wall；
I saw a portal； and three stairs beneath；
Diverse in colour； to go up to it；
And a gate…keeper； who yet spake no word。
And as I opened more and more mine eyes；
I saw him seated on the highest stair；
Such in the face that I endured it not。
And in his hand he had a naked sword；
Which so reflected back the sunbeams tow'rds us；
That oft in vain I lifted up mine eyes。
〃Tell it from where you are； what is't you wish？〃
Began he to exclaim； 〃where is the escort？
Take heed your coming hither harm you not！〃
〃A Lady of Heaven； with these things conversant；〃
My Master answered him； 〃but even now
Said to us； 'Thither go； there is the portal。'〃
〃And may she speed your footsteps in all good；〃
Again began the courteous janitor；
〃Come forward then unto these stairs of ours。〃
Thither did we approach； and the first stair
Was marble white； so polished and so smooth；
I mirrored myself therein as I appear。
The second； tinct of deeper hue than perse；
Was of a calcined and uneven stone；
Cracked all asunder lengthwise and across。
The third； that uppermost rests massively；
Porphyry seemed to me； as flaming red
As blood that from a vein is spirting forth。
Both of his feet was holding upon this
The Angel of God； upon the threshold seated；
Which seemed to me a stone of diamond。
Along the three stairs upward with good will
Did my Conductor draw me； saying： 〃Ask
Humbly that he the fastening may undo。〃
Devoutly at the holy feet I cast me；
For mercy's sake besought that h