In straits like this along the foss are placed The father of his consort, and the rest Partakers in that council, seed of ill And sorrow to the Jews." The monks in Cologne.These monks wore their cowls unusually large.
Frederick's.Frederick II.punished those guilty of high treason by wrapping them up in lead, and casting them into a furnace.
Joyous friars.An order of knights (Frail Godenti) on two of whom the Ghibelline party at one time conferred the chief power of Florence.One was Catalano de' Malavolti, the other Loderingo di Liandolo.Their administration was unjust.
Gardingo's vicinage.That part of the city inhabited by the Ghibelline family of the Uberti, and destroyed, under the iniquitous administration of Catalano and Loderingo.
That pierced spirit.Caiaphas.
The father of his consort.Annas.
When the poets reach the ninth and last circle they see the souls of traitors lying in a frozen lake and in the midst Lucifer, the fallen archangel, in the very center of the earth.They slide down his icy sides, and begin to ascend to the earth's surface through a cavern "and thence come forth to see the stars again."The second part of the Divine Comedy is the vision of Purgatory.
When the solid earth retired before the falling Lucifer, making the hollow cone of hell, it was pushed out on the other side of the globe, forming the mountain of Purgatory.This is also divided into nine circles.In the first two are the souls of those who delayed repentance until death.In the other seven, the seven deadly sins are purged away.On the summit is the earthly paradise.
I.The Celestial Pilot.--From the Pargatorio.
The mountain of Purgatory is situated upon an island.While Virgil and Dante are standing looking across the water, they behold a boat laden with spirits for Purgatory under the guidance of an angel.
Meanwhile we linger'd by the water's brink, Like men' who' musing on their road, in thought Journey, while motionless the body rests.
When lo! as, near upon the hour of dawn, Through the thick vapours Mars with fiery beam Glares down in west, over the ocean floor;So seem'd, what once again I hope to view, A light, so swiftly coming through the sea, No winged course night equal its career.
From which when for a space I had withdrawn Mine eyes, to make inquiry of my guide, Again I look'd, and saw it grown in size And brightness: then on either side appear'd Something but what I knew not, of bright hue, And by degrees from underneath it came Another.My preceptor silent yet Stood, while the brightness, that we first discern'd, Open'd the form of wings: then when he knew The pilot, cried aloud, "Down, down; bend low Thy knees; behold God's angel: fold thy hands:
Now shalt thou see true ministers indeed.
Lo! how all human means he sets at nought;So that nor oar he needs, nor other sail Except his wings, between such distant shores.
Lo! how straight up to heaven he holds them rear'd, Winnowing the air with those eternal plumes, That not like mortal hairs fall off or change."As more and more toward us came, more bright Appear'd the bird of God, nor could the eye Endure his splendour near: I mine bent down.
He drove ashore in a small bark so swift And light, that in its course no wave it drank.
The heavenly steersman at the prow was seen, Visibly written Blessed in his looks.
Within, a hundred spirits and more there sat.
"In Exitu Israel de Egypto,"
All with one voice together sang, with what In the remainder of that hymn is writ.
Then soon as with the sign of holy cross He bless'd them, they at once leap'd out on land:
He, swiftly as he came, return'd.
In Exitu Israel de Egypto--When Israel came out of Egypt.--Ps cxiv.
II.The Meeting with Sordello.--From the Purgatorio.
In the second circle of the mountain of Purgatory, Virgil and Dante encounter the spirit of Sordello, detained among those who delayed repentance until death.
Sordello.A Provencal soldier and poet, whose life is wrapt in romantic mystery.See Browning's poem "Sardello".
"But lo! a spirit there Stands solitary' and toward us looks:
It will instruct us in the speediest way."We soon approach'd it.
When my courteous guide began, "Mantua," the shadow, in itself absorb'd, Rose towards us from the place in which it stood, And cried, "Mantuan! I am thy countryman, Sordello."Each the other then embraced.
After their courteous greetings joyfully Seven times exchanged, Sordello backward drew Exclaiming, "Who are ye?"--"Before this mount By spirits worthy of ascent to God Was sought, my bones had by Octavius care Been buried.I am Virgil; for no sin Deprived of heaven, except for lack of faith."So answer'd him in few my gentle guide.
"Glory of Latium!" he exclaim'd, "In whom our tongue its utmost power display'd;Boast of my honour'd birth-place I what desert Of mine, what favour, rather, undeserved, Shows thee to me? If I to hear that voice Am worthy, say if from below thou comest, And from what cloister's pale."--"Through every orb Of that sad region," he replied, "thus far Am I arrived, by heavenly influence led:
And with such aid I come.Not for my doing, But for not doing, have I lost the sight Of that high Sun, whom thou desirest, and who By me too late was known.There is a place
There underneath, not made by torments sad, But by dun shades alone; where mourning's voice Sounds not of anguish sharp, but breathes in sighs.
There I with little innocents abide, Who by death's fangs were bitten, ere exempt From human taint.There I with those abide, Who the three holy virtues put not on, But understood the rest, and without blame Follow'd them all.But if thou know'st and canst, Direct us how we soonest may arrive, Where Purgatory its true beginning takes."He answer'd thus: "We have no certain place Assign'd us: upwards I may go, or round.
Far as I can, I join thee for thy guide.
But thou beholdest now how day declines;
