The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Purgatory, Volume 4

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: The Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Purgatory, Volume 4

Author: Dante Alighieri

Illustrator: Gustave Doré

Translator: Henry Francis Cary

Release date: August 5, 2004 [eBook #8793]

Most recently updated: January 2, 2021

Language: English

Credits: Produced by David Widger

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DIVINE COMEDY BY DANTE, ILLUSTRATED, PURGATORY, VOLUME 4 ***

THE VISION

OF

HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE

BY

DANTE ALIGHIERI

PURGATORY

Part 4

TRANSLATED BY

THE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A.

PURGATORY

LIST OF CANTOS

Canto 19

Canto 20

Canto 21

Canto 22

Canto 23

Canto 24

Canto 25

CANTO XIX

It was the hour, when of diurnal heat

No reliques chafe the cold beams of the moon,

O'erpower'd by earth, or planetary sway

Of Saturn; and the geomancer sees

His Greater Fortune up the east ascend,

Where gray dawn checkers first the shadowy cone;

When 'fore me in my dream a woman's shape

There came, with lips that stammer'd, eyes aslant,

Distorted feet, hands maim'd, and colour pale.

I look'd upon her; and as sunshine cheers

Limbs numb'd by nightly cold, e'en thus my look

Unloos'd her tongue, next in brief space her form

Decrepit rais'd erect, and faded face

With love's own hue illum'd. Recov'ring speech

She forthwith warbling such a strain began,

That I, how loth soe'er, could scarce have held

Attention from the song.  "I," thus she sang,

"I am the Siren, she, whom mariners

On the wide sea are wilder'd when they hear:

Such fulness of delight the list'ner feels.

I from his course Ulysses by my lay

Enchanted drew.  Whoe'er frequents me once

Parts seldom; so I charm him, and his heart

Contented knows no void."  Or ere her mouth

Was clos'd, to shame her at her side appear'd

A dame of semblance holy.  With stern voice

She utter'd; "Say, O Virgil, who is this?"

Which hearing, he approach'd, with eyes still bent

Toward that goodly presence: th' other seiz'd her,

And, her robes tearing, open'd her before,

And show'd the belly to me, whence a smell,

Exhaling loathsome, wak'd me.  Round I turn'd

Mine eyes, and thus the teacher: "At the least

Three times my voice hath call'd thee.  Rise, begone.

Let us the opening find where thou mayst pass."

I straightway rose.  Now day, pour'd down from high,

Fill'd all the circuits of the sacred mount;

And, as we journey'd, on our shoulder smote

The early ray.  I follow'd, stooping low

My forehead, as a man, o'ercharg'd with thought,

Who bends him to the likeness of an arch,

That midway spans the flood; when thus I heard,

"Come, enter here," in tone so soft and mild,

As never met the ear on mortal strand.

With swan-like wings dispread and pointing up,

Who thus had spoken marshal'd us along,

Where each side of the solid masonry

The sloping, walls retir'd; then mov'd his plumes,

And fanning us, affirm'd that those, who mourn,

Are blessed, for that comfort shall be theirs.

"What aileth thee, that still thou look'st to earth?"

Began my leader; while th' angelic shape

A little over us his station took.

"New vision," I replied, "hath rais'd in me

Surmizings strange and anxious doubts, whereon

My soul intent allows no other thought

Or room or entrance."—"Hast thou seen," said he,

"That old enchantress, her, whose wiles alone

The spirits o'er us weep for?  Hast thou seen

How man may free him of her bonds?  Enough.

Let thy heels spurn the earth, and thy rais'd ken

Fix on the lure, which heav'n's eternal King

Whirls in the rolling spheres."  As on his feet

The falcon first looks down, then to the sky

Turns, and forth stretches eager for the food,

That woos him thither; so the call I heard,

So onward, far as the dividing rock

Gave way, I journey'd, till the plain was reach'd.

On the fifth circle when I stood at large,

A race appear'd before me, on the ground

All downward lying prone and weeping sore.

"My soul hath cleaved to the dust," I heard

With sighs so deep, they well nigh choak'd the words.

"O ye elect of God, whose penal woes

Both hope and justice mitigate, direct

Tow'rds the steep rising our uncertain way."

"If ye approach secure from this our doom,

Prostration—and would urge your course with speed,

See that ye still to rightward keep the brink."

So them the bard besought; and such the words,

Beyond us some short space, in answer came.

I noted what remain'd yet hidden from them:

Thence to my liege's eyes mine eyes I bent,

And he, forthwith interpreting their suit,

Beckon'd his glad assent. Free then to act,

As pleas'd me, I drew near, and took my stand

O`er that shade, whose words I late had mark'd.

And, "Spirit!"  I said, "in whom repentant tears

Mature that blessed hour, when thou with God

Shalt find acceptance, for a while suspend

For me that mightier care.  Say who thou wast,

Why thus ye grovel on your bellies prone,

And if in aught ye wish my service there,

Whence living I am come."  He answering spake

"The cause why Heav'n our back toward his cope

Reverses, shalt thou know: but me know first

The successor of Peter, and the name

And title of my lineage from that stream,

That' twixt Chiaveri and Siestri draws

His limpid waters through the lowly glen.

A month and little more by proof I learnt,

With what a weight that robe of sov'reignty

Upon his shoulder rests, who from the mire

Would guard it: that each other fardel seems

But feathers in the balance.  Late, alas!

Was my conversion: but when I became

Rome's pastor, I discern'd at once the dream

And cozenage of life, saw that the heart

Rested not there, and yet no prouder height

Lur'd on the climber: wherefore, of that life

No more enamour'd, in my bosom love

Of purer being kindled.  For till then

I was a soul in misery, alienate

From God, and covetous of all earthly things;

Now, as thou seest, here punish'd for my doting.

Such cleansing from the taint of avarice

Do spirits converted need.  This mount inflicts

No direr penalty.  E'en as our eyes

Fasten'd below, nor e'er to loftier clime

Were lifted, thus hath justice level'd us

Here on the earth.  As avarice quench'd our love

Of good, without which is no working, thus

Here justice holds us prison'd, hand and foot

Chain'd down and bound, while heaven's just Lord shall please.

So long to tarry motionless outstretch'd."

My knees I stoop'd, and would have spoke; but he,

Ere my beginning, by his ear perceiv'd

I did him reverence; and "What cause," said he,

"Hath bow'd thee thus!"—"Compunction," I rejoin'd.

"And inward awe of your high dignity."

"Up," he exclaim'd, "brother! upon thy feet

Arise: err not: thy fellow servant I,

(Thine and all others') of one Sovran Power.

If thou hast ever mark'd those holy sounds

Of gospel truth, 'nor shall be given ill marriage,'

Thou mayst discern the reasons of my speech.

Go thy ways now; and linger here no more.

Thy tarrying is a let unto the tears,

With which I hasten that whereof thou spak'st.

I have on earth a kinswoman; her name

Alagia, worthy in herself, so ill

Example of our house corrupt her not:

And she is all remaineth of me there."

CANTO XX

Ill strives the will, 'gainst will more wise that strives

His pleasure therefore to mine own preferr'd,

I drew the sponge yet thirsty from the wave.

Onward I mov'd: he also onward mov'd,

Who led me, coasting still, wherever place

Along the rock was vacant, as a man

Walks near the battlements on narrow wall.

For those on th' other part, who drop by drop

Wring out their all-infecting malady,

Too closely press the verge.  Accurst be thou!

Inveterate wolf! whose gorge ingluts more prey,

Than every beast beside, yet is not fill'd!

So bottomless thy maw!—Ye spheres of heaven!

To whom there are, as seems, who attribute

All change in mortal state, when is the day

Of his appearing, for whom fate reserves

To chase her hence?  —With wary steps and slow

We pass'd; and I attentive to the shades,

Whom piteously I heard lament and wail;

And, 'midst the wailing, one before us heard

Cry out "O blessed Virgin!"  as a dame

In the sharp pangs of childbed; and "How poor

Thou wast," it added, "witness that low roof

Where thou didst lay thy sacred burden down.

O good Fabricius! thou didst virtue choose

With poverty, before great wealth with vice."

The words so pleas'd me, that desire to know

The spirit, from whose lip they seem'd to come,

Did draw me onward.  Yet it spake the gift

Of Nicholas, which on the maidens he

Bounteous bestow'd, to save their youthful prime

Unblemish'd.  "Spirit! who dost speak of deeds

So worthy, tell me who thou was," I said,

"And why thou dost with single voice renew

Memorial of such praise. That boon vouchsaf'd

Haply shall meet reward; if I return

To finish the Short pilgrimage of life,

Still speeding to its close on restless wing."

"I," answer'd he, "will tell thee, not for hell,

Which thence I look for; but that in thyself

Grace so exceeding shines, before thy time

Of mortal dissolution.  I was root

Of that ill plant, whose shade such poison sheds

O'er all the Christian land, that seldom thence

Good fruit is gather'd.  Vengeance soon should come,

Had Ghent and Douay, Lille and Bruges power;

And vengeance I of heav'n's great Judge implore.

Hugh Capet was I high: from me descend

The Philips and the Louis, of whom France

Newly is govern'd; born of one, who ply'd

The slaughterer's trade at Paris.  When the race

Of ancient kings had vanish'd (all save one

Wrapt up in sable weeds) within my gripe

I found the reins of empire, and such powers

Of new acquirement, with full store of friends,

That soon the widow'd circlet of the crown

Was girt upon the temples of my son,

He, from whose bones th' anointed race begins.

Till the great dower of Provence had remov'd

The stains, that yet obscur'd our lowly blood,

Its sway indeed was narrow, but howe'er

It wrought no evil: there, with force and lies,

Began its rapine; after, for amends,

Poitou it seiz'd, Navarre and Gascony.

To Italy came Charles, and for amends

Young Conradine an innocent victim slew,

And sent th' angelic teacher back to heav'n,

Still for amends.  I see the time at hand,

That forth from France invites another Charles

To make himself and kindred better known.

Unarm'd he issues, saving with that lance,

Which the arch-traitor tilted with; and that

He carries with so home a thrust, as rives

The bowels of poor Florence.  No increase

Of territory hence, but sin and shame

Shall be his guerdon, and so much the more

As he more lightly deems of such foul wrong.

I see the other, who a prisoner late

Had steps on shore, exposing to the mart

His daughter, whom he bargains for, as do

The Corsairs for their slaves.  O avarice!

What canst thou more, who hast subdued our blood

So wholly to thyself, they feel no care

Of their own flesh?  To hide with direr guilt

Past ill and future,  lo! the flower-de-luce

Enters Alagna! in his Vicar Christ

Himself a captive, and his mockery

Acted again! Lo! lo his holy lip

The vinegar and gall once more applied!

And he 'twixt living robbers doom'd to bleed!

Lo! the new Pilate, of whose cruelty

Such violence cannot fill the measure up,

With no degree to sanction, pushes on

Into the temple his yet eager sails!

"O sovran Master! when shall I rejoice

To see the vengeance, which thy wrath well-pleas'd

In secret silence broods?—While daylight lasts,

So long what thou didst hear of her, sole spouse

Of the Great Spirit, and on which thou turn'dst

To me for comment, is the general theme

Of all our prayers: but when it darkens, then

A different strain we utter, then record

Pygmalion, whom his gluttonous thirst of gold

Made traitor, robber, parricide: the woes

Of Midas, which his greedy wish ensued,

Mark'd for derision to all future times:

And the fond Achan, how he stole the prey,

That yet he seems by Joshua's ire pursued.

Sapphira with her husband next, we blame;

And praise the forefeet, that with furious ramp

Spurn'd Heliodorus.  All the mountain round

Rings with the infamy of Thracia's king,

Who slew his Phrygian charge: and last a shout

Ascends: "Declare, O Crassus! for thou know'st,

The flavour of thy gold."  The voice of each

Now high now low, as each his impulse prompts,

Is led through many a pitch, acute or grave.

Therefore, not singly, I erewhile rehears'd

That blessedness we tell of in the day:

But near me none beside his accent rais'd."

From him we now had parted, and essay'd

With utmost efforts to surmount the way,

When I did feel, as nodding to its fall,

The mountain tremble; whence an icy chill

Seiz'd on me, as on one to death convey'd.

So shook not Delos, when Latona there

Couch'd to bring forth the twin-born eyes of heaven.

Forthwith from every side a shout arose

So vehement, that suddenly my guide

Drew near, and cried: "Doubt not, while I conduct thee."

"Glory!" all shouted (such the sounds mine ear

Gather'd from those, who near me swell'd the sounds)

"Glory in the highest be to God."  We stood

Immovably suspended, like to those,

The shepherds, who first heard in Bethlehem's field

That song: till ceas'd the trembling, and the song

Was ended: then our hallow'd path resum'd,

Eying the prostrate shadows, who renew'd

Their custom'd mourning.  Never in my breast

Did ignorance so struggle with desire

Of knowledge, if my memory do not err,

As in that moment; nor through haste dar'd I

To question, nor myself could aught discern,

So on I far'd in thoughtfulness and dread.

CANTO XXI

The natural thirst, ne'er quench'd but from the well,

Whereof the woman of Samaria crav'd,

Excited: haste along the cumber'd path,

After my guide, impell'd; and pity mov'd

My bosom for the 'vengeful deed, though just.

When lo! even as Luke relates, that Christ

Appear'd unto the two upon their way,

New-risen from his vaulted grave; to us

A shade appear'd, and after us approach'd,

Contemplating the crowd beneath its feet.

We were not ware of it; so first it spake,

Saying, "God give you peace, my brethren!" then

Sudden we turn'd: and Virgil such salute,

As fitted that kind greeting, gave, and cried:

"Peace in the blessed council be thy lot

Awarded by that righteous court, which me

To everlasting banishment exiles!"

"How!" he exclaim'd, nor from his speed meanwhile

Desisting, "If that ye be spirits, whom God

Vouchsafes not room above, who up the height

Has been thus far your guide?"  To whom the bard:

"If thou observe the tokens, which this man

Trac'd by the finger of the angel bears,

'Tis plain that in the kingdom of the just

He needs must share.  But sithence she, whose wheel

Spins day and night, for him not yet had drawn

That yarn, which, on the fatal distaff pil'd,

Clotho apportions to each wight that breathes,

His soul, that sister is to mine and thine,

Not of herself could mount, for not like ours

Her ken: whence I, from forth the ample gulf

Of hell was ta'en, to lead him, and will lead

Far as my lore avails.  But, if thou know,

Instruct us for what cause, the mount erewhile

Thus shook and trembled: wherefore all at once

Seem'd shouting, even from his wave-wash'd foot."

That questioning so tallied with my wish,

The thirst did feel abatement of its edge

E'en from expectance.  He forthwith replied,

"In its devotion nought irregular

This mount can witness, or by punctual rule

Unsanction'd; here from every change exempt.

Other than that, which heaven in itself

Doth of itself receive, no influence

Can reach us.  Tempest none, shower, hail or snow,

Hoar frost or dewy moistness, higher falls

Than that brief scale of threefold steps: thick clouds

Nor scudding rack are ever seen: swift glance

Ne'er lightens, nor Thaumantian Iris gleams,

That yonder often shift on each side heav'n.

Vapour adust doth never mount above

The highest of the trinal stairs, whereon

Peter's vicegerent stands.  Lower perchance,

With various motion rock'd, trembles the soil:

But here, through wind in earth's deep hollow pent,

I know not how, yet never trembled: then

Trembles, when any spirit feels itself

So purified, that it may rise, or move

For rising, and such loud acclaim ensues.

Purification by the will alone

Is prov'd, that free to change society

Seizes the soul rejoicing in her will.

Desire of bliss is present from the first;

But strong propension hinders, to that wish

By the just ordinance of heav'n oppos'd;

Propension now as eager to fulfil

Th' allotted torment, as erewhile to sin.

And I who in this punishment had lain

Five hundred years and more, but now have felt

Free wish for happier clime.  Therefore thou felt'st

The mountain tremble, and the spirits devout

Heard'st, over all his limits, utter praise

To that liege Lord, whom I entreat their joy

To hasten."  Thus he spake: and since the draught

Is grateful ever as the thirst is keen,

No words may speak my fullness of content.

"Now," said the instructor sage, "I see the net

That takes ye here, and how the toils are loos'd,

Why rocks the mountain and why ye rejoice.

Vouchsafe, that from thy lips I next may learn,

Who on the earth thou wast, and wherefore here

So many an age wert prostrate."—"In that time,

When the good Titus, with Heav'n's King to help,

Aveng'd those piteous gashes, whence the blood

By Judas sold did issue, with the name

Most lasting and most honour'd there was I

Abundantly renown'd," the shade reply'd,

"Not yet with faith endued.  So passing sweet

My vocal Spirit, from Tolosa, Rome

To herself drew me, where I merited

A myrtle garland to inwreathe my brow.

Statius they name me still.  Of Thebes I sang,

And next of great Achilles: but i' th' way

Fell with the second burthen.  Of my flame

Those sparkles were the seeds, which I deriv'd

From the bright fountain of celestial fire

That feeds unnumber'd lamps, the song I mean

Which sounds Aeneas' wand'rings: that the breast

I hung at, that the nurse, from whom my veins

Drank inspiration: whose authority

Was ever sacred with me.  To have liv'd

Coeval with the Mantuan, I would bide

The revolution of another sun

Beyond my stated years in banishment."

The Mantuan, when he heard him, turn'd to me,

And holding silence: by his countenance

Enjoin'd me silence but the power which wills,

Bears not supreme control: laughter and tears

Follow so closely on the passion prompts them,

They wait not for the motions of the will

In natures most sincere.  I did but smile,

As one who winks; and thereupon the shade

Broke off, and peer'd into mine eyes, where best

Our looks interpret. "So to good event

Mayst thou conduct such great emprize," he cried,

"Say, why across thy visage beam'd, but now,

The lightning of a smile!"  On either part

Now am I straiten'd; one conjures me speak,

Th' other to silence binds me: whence a sigh

I utter, and the sigh is heard.  "Speak on;"

The teacher cried; "and do not fear to speak,

But tell him what so earnestly he asks."

Whereon I thus: "Perchance, O ancient spirit!

Thou marvel'st at my smiling. There is room

For yet more wonder.  He who guides my ken

On high, he is that Mantuan, led by whom

Thou didst presume of men and gods to sing.

If other cause thou deem'dst for which I smil'd,

Leave it as not the true one; and believe

Those words, thou spak'st of him, indeed the cause."

Now down he bent t' embrace my teacher's feet;

But he forbade him: "Brother! do it not:

Thou art a shadow, and behold'st a shade."

He rising answer'd thus: "Now hast thou prov'd

The force and ardour of the love I bear thee,

When I forget we are but things of air,

And as a substance treat an empty shade."

CANTO XXII

Now we had left the angel, who had turn'd

To the sixth circle our ascending step,

One gash from off my forehead raz'd: while they,

Whose wishes tend to justice, shouted forth:

"Blessed!"  and ended with, "I thirst:" and I,

More nimble than along the other straits,

So journey'd, that, without the sense of toil,

I follow'd upward the swift-footed shades;

When Virgil thus began: "Let its pure flame

From virtue flow, and love can never fail

To warm another's bosom' so the light

Shine manifestly forth.  Hence from that hour,

When 'mongst us in the purlieus of the deep,

Came down the spirit of Aquinum's hard,

Who told of thine affection, my good will

Hath been for thee of quality as strong

As ever link'd itself to one not seen.

Therefore these stairs will now seem short to me.

But tell me: and if too secure I loose

The rein with a friend's license, as a friend

Forgive me, and speak now as with a friend:

How chanc'd it covetous desire could find

Place in that bosom, 'midst such ample store

Of wisdom, as thy zeal had treasur'd there?"

First somewhat mov'd to laughter by his words,

Statius replied: "Each syllable of thine

Is a dear pledge of love.  Things oft appear

That minister false matters to our doubts,

When their true causes are remov'd from sight.

Thy question doth assure me, thou believ'st

I was on earth a covetous man, perhaps

Because thou found'st me in that circle plac'd.

Know then I was too wide of avarice:

And e'en for that excess, thousands of moons

Have wax'd and wan'd upon my sufferings.

And were it not that I with heedful care

Noted where thou exclaim'st as if in ire

With human nature, 'Why, thou cursed thirst

Of gold! dost not with juster measure guide

The appetite of mortals?'  I had met

The fierce encounter of the voluble rock.

Then was I ware that with too ample wing

The hands may haste to lavishment, and turn'd,

As from my other evil, so from this

In penitence.  How many from their grave

Shall with shorn locks arise, who living, aye

And at life's last extreme, of this offence,

Through ignorance, did not repent.  And know,

The fault which lies direct from any sin

In level opposition, here With that

Wastes its green rankness on one common heap.

Therefore if I have been with those, who wail

Their avarice, to cleanse me, through reverse

Of their transgression, such hath been my lot."

To whom the sovran of the pastoral song:

"While thou didst sing that cruel warfare wag'd

By the twin sorrow of Jocasta's womb,

From thy discourse with Clio there, it seems

As faith had not been shine: without the which

Good deeds suffice not.  And if so, what sun

Rose on thee, or what candle pierc'd the dark

That thou didst after see to hoist the sail,

And follow, where the fisherman had led?"

He answering thus: "By thee conducted first,

I enter'd the Parnassian grots, and quaff'd

Of the clear spring; illumin'd first by thee

Open'd mine eyes to God.  Thou didst, as one,

Who, journeying through the darkness, hears a light

Behind, that profits not himself, but makes

His followers wise, when thou exclaimedst, 'Lo!

A renovated world!  Justice return'd!

Times of primeval innocence restor'd!

And a new race descended from above!'

Poet and Christian both to thee I owed.

That thou mayst mark more clearly what I trace,

My hand shall stretch forth to inform the lines

With livelier colouring.  Soon o'er all the world,

By messengers from heav'n, the true belief

Teem'd now prolific, and that word of thine

Accordant, to the new instructors chim'd.

Induc'd by which agreement, I was wont

Resort to them; and soon their sanctity

So won upon me, that, Domitian's rage

Pursuing them, I mix'd my tears with theirs,

And, while on earth I stay'd, still succour'd them;

And their most righteous customs made me scorn

All sects besides.  Before I led the Greeks

In tuneful fiction, to the streams of Thebes,

I was baptiz'd; but secretly, through fear,

Remain'd a Christian, and conform'd long time

To Pagan rites.  Five centuries and more,

T for that lukewarmness was fain to pace

Round the fourth circle.  Thou then, who hast rais'd

The covering, which did hide such blessing from me,

Whilst much of this ascent is yet to climb,

Say, if thou know, where our old Terence bides,

Caecilius, Plautus, Varro: if condemn'd

They dwell, and in what province of the deep."

"These," said my guide, "with Persius and myself,

And others many more, are with that Greek,

Of mortals, the most cherish'd by the Nine,

In the first ward of darkness.  There ofttimes

We of that mount hold converse, on whose top

For aye our nurses live.  We have the bard

Of Pella, and the Teian, Agatho,

Simonides, and many a Grecian else

Ingarlanded with laurel.  Of thy train

Antigone is there, Deiphile,

Argia, and as sorrowful as erst

Ismene, and who show'd Langia's wave:

Deidamia with her sisters there,

And blind Tiresias' daughter, and the bride

Sea-born of Peleus."  Either poet now

Was silent, and no longer by th' ascent

Or the steep walls obstructed, round them cast

Inquiring eyes.  Four handmaids of the day

Had finish'd now their office, and the fifth

Was at the chariot-beam, directing still

Its balmy point aloof, when thus my guide:

"Methinks, it well behooves us to the brink

Bend the right shoulder' circuiting the mount,

As we have ever us'd."  So custom there

Was usher to the road, the which we chose

Less doubtful, as that worthy shade complied.

They on before me went; I sole pursued,

List'ning their speech, that to my thoughts convey'd

Mysterious lessons of sweet poesy.

But soon they ceas'd; for midway of the road

A tree we found, with goodly fruitage hung,

And pleasant to the smell: and as a fir

Upward from bough to bough less ample spreads,

So downward this less ample spread, that none.

Methinks, aloft may climb.  Upon the side,

That clos'd our path, a liquid crystal fell

From the steep rock, and through the sprays above

Stream'd showering.  With associate step the bards

Drew near the plant; and from amidst the leaves

A voice was heard: "Ye shall be chary of me;"

And after added: "Mary took more thought

For joy and honour of the nuptial feast,

Than for herself who answers now for you.

The women of old Rome were satisfied

With water for their beverage.  Daniel fed

On pulse, and wisdom gain'd.  The primal age

Was beautiful as gold; and hunger then

Made acorns tasteful, thirst each rivulet

Run nectar.  Honey and locusts were the food,

Whereon the Baptist in the wilderness

Fed, and that eminence of glory reach'd

And greatness, which the' Evangelist records."

CANTO XXIII

On the green leaf mine eyes were fix'd, like his

Who throws away his days in idle chase

Of the diminutive, when thus I heard

The more than father warn me: "Son! our time

Asks thriftier using.  Linger not: away."

Thereat my face and steps at once I turn'd

Toward the sages, by whose converse cheer'd

I journey'd on, and felt no toil: and lo!

A sound of weeping and a song: "My lips,

O Lord!" and these so mingled, it gave birth

To pleasure and to pain.  "O Sire, belov'd!

Say what is this I hear?"  Thus I inquir'd.

"Spirits," said he, "who as they go, perchance,

Their debt of duty pay."  As on their road

The thoughtful pilgrims, overtaking some

Not known unto them, turn to them, and look,

But stay not; thus, approaching from behind

With speedier motion, eyed us, as they pass'd,

A crowd of spirits, silent and devout.

The eyes of each were dark and hollow: pale

Their visage, and so lean withal, the bones

Stood staring thro' the skin.  I do not think

Thus dry and meagre Erisicthon show'd,

When pinc'ed by sharp-set famine to the quick.

"Lo!" to myself I mus'd, "the race, who lost

Jerusalem, when Mary with dire beak

Prey'd on her child."  The sockets seem'd as rings,

From which the gems were drops.  Who reads the name

Of man upon his forehead, there the M

Had trac'd most plainly.  Who would deem, that scent

Of water and an apple, could have prov'd

Powerful to generate such pining want,

Not knowing how it wrought?  While now I stood

Wond'ring what thus could waste them (for the cause

Of their gaunt hollowness and scaly rind

Appear'd not) lo! a spirit turn'd his eyes

In their deep-sunken cell, and fasten'd then

On me, then cried with vehemence aloud:

"What grace is this vouchsaf'd me?"  By his looks

I ne'er had recogniz'd him: but the voice

Brought to my knowledge what his cheer conceal'd.

Remembrance of his alter'd lineaments

Was kindled from that spark; and I agniz'd

The visage of Forese.  "Ah! respect

This wan and leprous wither'd skin," thus he

Suppliant implor'd, "this macerated flesh.

Speak to me truly of thyself.  And who

Are those twain spirits, that escort thee there?

Be it not said thou Scorn'st to talk with me."

"That face of thine," I answer'd him, "which dead

I once bewail'd, disposes me not less

For weeping, when I see It thus transform'd.

Say then, by Heav'n, what blasts ye thus?  The whilst

I wonder, ask not Speech from me: unapt

Is he to speak, whom other will employs."

He thus: "The water and tee plant we pass'd,

Virtue possesses, by th' eternal will

Infus'd, the which so pines me.  Every spirit,

Whose song bewails his gluttony indulg'd

Too grossly, here in hunger and in thirst

Is purified.  The odour, which the fruit,

And spray, that showers upon the verdure, breathe,

Inflames us with desire to feed and drink.

Nor once alone encompassing our route

We come to add fresh fuel to the pain:

Pain, said I?  solace rather: for that will

To the tree leads us, by which Christ was led

To call Elias, joyful when he paid

Our ransom from his vein."  I answering thus:

"Forese! from that day, in which the world

For better life thou changedst, not five years

Have circled.  If the power of sinning more

Were first concluded in thee, ere thou knew'st

That kindly grief, which re-espouses us

To God, how hither art thou come so soon?

I thought to find thee lower, there, where time

Is recompense for time."  He straight replied:

"To drink up the sweet wormwood of affliction

I have been brought thus early by the tears

Stream'd down my Nella's cheeks.  Her prayers devout,

Her sighs have drawn me from the coast, where oft

Expectance lingers, and have set me free

From th' other circles.  In the sight of God

So much the dearer is my widow priz'd,

She whom I lov'd so fondly, as she ranks

More singly eminent for virtuous deeds.

The tract most barb'rous of Sardinia's isle,

Hath dames more chaste and modester by far

Than that wherein I left her.  O sweet brother!

What wouldst thou have me say?  A time to come

Stands full within my view, to which this hour

Shall not be counted of an ancient date,

When from the pulpit shall be loudly warn'd

Th' unblushing dames of Florence, lest they bare

Unkerchief'd bosoms to the common gaze.

What savage women hath the world e'er seen,

What Saracens, for whom there needed scourge

Of spiritual or other discipline,

To force them walk with cov'ring on their limbs!

But did they see, the shameless ones, that Heav'n

Wafts on swift wing toward them, while I speak,

Their mouths were op'd for howling: they shall taste

Of Borrow (unless foresight cheat me here)

Or ere the cheek of him be cloth'd with down

Who is now rock'd with lullaby asleep.

Ah! now, my brother, hide thyself no more,

Thou seest how not I alone but all

Gaze, where thou veil'st the intercepted sun."

Whence I replied: "If thou recall to mind

What we were once together, even yet

Remembrance of those days may grieve thee sore.

That I forsook that life, was due to him

Who there precedes me, some few evenings past,

When she was round, who shines with sister lamp

To his, that glisters yonder," and I show'd

The sun.  "Tis he, who through profoundest night

Of he true dead has brought me, with this flesh

As true, that follows.  From that gloom the aid

Of his sure comfort drew me on to climb,

And climbing wind along this mountain-steep,

Which rectifies in you whate'er the world

Made crooked and deprav'd I have his word,

That he will bear me company as far

As till I come where Beatrice dwells:

But there must leave me.  Virgil is that spirit,

Who thus hath promis'd,"  and I pointed to him;

"The other is that shade, for whom so late

Your realm, as he arose, exulting shook

Through every pendent cliff and rocky bound."

CANTO XXIV

Our journey was not slacken'd by our talk,

Nor yet our talk by journeying.  Still we spake,

And urg'd our travel stoutly, like a ship

When the wind sits astern.  The shadowy forms,

That seem'd things dead and dead again, drew in

At their deep-delved orbs rare wonder of me,

Perceiving I had life; and I my words

Continued, and thus spake; "He journeys up

Perhaps more tardily then else he would,

For others' sake.  But tell me, if thou know'st,

Where is Piccarda?  Tell me, if I see

Any of mark, among this multitude,

Who eye me thus."—"My sister (she for whom,

'Twixt beautiful and good I cannot say

Which name was fitter ) wears e'en now her crown,

And triumphs in Olympus."  Saying this,

He added: "Since spare diet hath so worn

Our semblance out, 't is lawful here to name

Each one.  This," and his finger then he rais'd,

"Is Buonaggiuna,—Buonaggiuna, he

Of Lucca: and that face beyond him, pierc'd

Unto a leaner fineness than the rest,

Had keeping of the church: he was of Tours,

And purges by wan abstinence away

Bolsena's eels and cups of muscadel."

He show'd me many others, one by one,

And all, as they were nam'd, seem'd well content;

For no dark gesture I discern'd in any.

I saw through hunger Ubaldino grind

His teeth on emptiness; and Boniface,

That wav'd the crozier o'er a num'rous flock.

I saw the Marquis, who tad time erewhile

To swill at Forli with less drought, yet so

Was one ne'er sated.  I howe'er, like him,

That gazing 'midst a crowd, singles out one,

So singled him of Lucca; for methought

Was none amongst them took such note of me.

Somewhat I heard him whisper of Gentucca:

The sound was indistinct, and murmur'd there,

Where justice, that so strips them, fix'd her sting.

"Spirit!" said I, "it seems as thou wouldst fain

Speak with me.  Let me hear thee.  Mutual wish

To converse prompts, which let us both indulge."

He, answ'ring, straight began: "Woman is born,

Whose brow no wimple shades yet, that shall make

My city please thee, blame it as they may.

Go then with this forewarning.  If aught false

My whisper too implied, th' event shall tell

But say, if of a  truth I see the man

Of that new lay th' inventor, which begins

With 'Ladies, ye that con the lore of love'."

To whom I thus: "Count of me but as one

Who am the scribe of love; that, when he breathes,

Take up my pen, and, as he dictates, write."

"Brother!" said he, "the hind'rance which once held

The notary with Guittone and myself,

Short of that new and sweeter style I hear,

Is now disclos'd.  I see how ye your plumes

Stretch, as th' inditer guides them; which, no question,

Ours did not.  He that seeks a grace beyond,

Sees not the distance parts one style from other."

And, as contented, here he held his peace.

Like as the bird, that winter near the Nile,

In squared regiment direct their course,

Then stretch themselves in file for speedier flight;

Thus all the tribe of spirits, as they turn'd

Their visage, faster deaf, nimble alike

Through leanness and desire.  And as a man,

Tir'd With the motion of a trotting steed,

Slacks pace, and stays behind his company,

Till his o'erbreathed lungs keep temperate time;

E'en so Forese let that holy crew

Proceed, behind them lingering at my side,

And saying: "When shall I again behold thee?"

"How long my life may last," said I, "I know not;

This know, how soon soever I return,

My wishes will before me have arriv'd.

Sithence the place, where I am set to live,

Is, day by day, more scoop'd of all its good,

And dismal ruin seems to threaten it."

"Go now," he cried: "lo! he, whose guilt is most,

Passes before my vision, dragg'd at heels

Of an infuriate beast.  Toward the vale,

Where guilt hath no redemption, on it speeds,

Each step increasing swiftness on the last;

Until a blow it strikes, that leaveth him

A corse most vilely shatter'd.  No long space

Those wheels have yet to roll"  (therewith his eyes

Look'd up to heav'n) "ere thou shalt plainly see

That which my words may not more plainly tell.

I quit thee: time is precious here: I lose

Too much, thus measuring my pace with shine."

As from a troop of well-rank'd chivalry

One knight, more enterprising than the rest,

Pricks forth at gallop, eager to display

His prowess in the first encounter prov'd

So parted he from us with lengthen'd strides,

And left me on the way with those twain spirits,

Who were such mighty marshals of the world.

When he beyond us had so fled mine eyes

No nearer reach'd him, than my thought his words,

The branches of another fruit, thick hung,

And blooming fresh, appear'd.  E'en as our steps

Turn'd thither, not far off it rose to view.

Beneath it were a multitude, that rais'd

Their hands, and shouted forth I know not What

Unto the boughs; like greedy and fond brats,

That beg, and answer none obtain from him,

Of whom they beg; but more to draw them on,

He at arm's length the object of their wish

Above them holds aloft, and hides it not.

At length, as undeceiv'd they went their way:

And we approach the tree, who vows and tears

Sue to in vain, the mighty tree.  "Pass on,

And come not near.  Stands higher up the wood,

Whereof Eve tasted, and from it was ta'en

'this plant." Such sounds from midst the thickets came.

Whence I, with either bard, close to the side

That rose, pass'd forth beyond.  "Remember," next

We heard, "those noblest creatures of the clouds,

How they their twofold bosoms overgorg'd

Oppos'd in fight to Theseus: call to mind

The Hebrews, how effeminate they stoop'd

To ease their thirst; whence Gideon's ranks were thinn'd,

As he to Midian march'd adown the hills."

Thus near one border coasting, still we heard

The sins of gluttony, with woe erewhile

Reguerdon'd.  Then along the lonely path,

Once more at large, full thousand paces on

We travel'd, each contemplative and mute.

"Why pensive journey thus ye three alone?"

Thus suddenly a voice exclaim'd: whereat

I shook, as doth a scar'd and paltry beast;

Then rais'd my head to look from whence it came.

Was ne'er, in furnace, glass, or metal seen

So bright and glowing red, as was the shape

I now beheld.  "If ye desire to mount,"

He cried, "here must ye turn.  This way he goes,

Who goes in quest of peace."  His countenance

Had dazzled me; and to my guides I fac'd

Backward, like one who walks, as sound directs.

As when, to harbinger the dawn, springs up

On freshen'd wing the air of May, and breathes

Of fragrance, all impregn'd with herb and flowers,

E'en such a wind I felt upon my front

Blow gently, and the moving of a wing

Perceiv'd, that moving shed ambrosial smell;

And then a voice: "Blessed are they, whom grace

Doth so illume, that appetite in them

Exhaleth no inordinate desire,

Still hung'ring as the rule of temperance wills."

CANTO XXV

It was an hour, when he who climbs, had need

To walk uncrippled: for the sun had now

To Taurus the meridian circle left,

And to the Scorpion left the night.  As one

That makes no pause, but presses on his road,

Whate'er betide him, if some urgent need

Impel: so enter'd we upon our way,

One before other; for, but singly, none

That steep and narrow scale admits to climb.

E'en as the young stork lifteth up his wing

Through wish to fly, yet ventures not to quit

The nest, and drops it; so in me desire

Of questioning my guide arose, and fell,

Arriving even to the act, that marks

A man prepar'd for speech.  Him all our haste

Restrain'd not, but thus spake the sire belov'd:

"Fear not to speed the shaft, that on thy lip

Stands trembling for its flight."  Encourag'd thus

I straight began: "How there can leanness come,

Where is no want of nourishment to feed?"

"If thou," he answer'd, "hadst remember'd thee,

How Meleager with the wasting brand

Wasted alike, by equal fires consum'd,

This would not trouble thee: and hadst thou thought,

How in the mirror your reflected form

With mimic motion vibrates, what now seems

Hard, had appear'd no harder than the pulp

Of summer fruit mature.  But that thy will

In certainty may find its full repose,

Lo Statius here! on him I call, and pray

That he would now be healer of thy wound."

"If in thy presence I unfold to him

The secrets of heaven's vengeance, let me plead

Thine own injunction, to exculpate me."

So Statius answer'd, and forthwith began:

"Attend my words, O son, and in thy mind

Receive them: so shall they be light to clear

The doubt thou offer'st. Blood, concocted well,

Which by the thirsty veins is ne'er imbib'd,

And rests as food superfluous, to be ta'en

From the replenish'd table, in the heart

Derives effectual virtue, that informs

The several human limbs, as being that,

Which passes through the veins itself to make them.

Yet more concocted it descends, where shame

Forbids to mention: and from thence distils

In natural vessel on another's blood.

Then each unite together, one dispos'd

T' endure, to act the other, through meet frame

Of its recipient mould: that being reach'd,

It 'gins to work, coagulating first;

Then vivifies what its own substance caus'd

To bear.  With animation now indued,

The active virtue (differing from a plant

No further, than that this is on the way

And at its limit that) continues yet

To operate, that now it moves, and feels,

As sea sponge clinging to the rock: and there

Assumes th' organic powers its seed convey'd.

'This is the period, son! at which the virtue,

That from the generating heart proceeds,

Is pliant and expansive; for each limb

Is in the heart by forgeful nature plann'd.

How babe of animal becomes, remains

For thy consid'ring.  At this point, more wise,

Than thou hast err'd, making the soul disjoin'd

From passive intellect, because he saw

No organ for the latter's use assign'd.

"Open thy bosom to the truth that comes.

Know soon as in the embryo, to the brain,

Articulation is complete, then turns

The primal Mover with a smile of joy

On such great work of nature, and imbreathes

New spirit replete with virtue, that what here

Active it finds, to its own substance draws,

And forms an individual soul, that lives,

And feels, and bends reflective on itself.

And that thou less mayst marvel at the word,

Mark the sun's heat, how that to wine doth change,

Mix'd with the moisture filter'd through the vine.

"When Lachesis hath spun the thread, the soul

Takes with her both the human and divine,

Memory, intelligence, and will, in act

Far keener than before, the other powers

Inactive all and mute.  No pause allow'd,

In wond'rous sort self-moving, to one strand

Of those, where the departed roam, she falls,

Here learns her destin'd path.  Soon as the place

Receives her, round the plastic virtue beams,

Distinct as in the living limbs before:

And as the air, when saturate with showers,

The casual beam refracting, decks itself

With many a hue; so here the ambient air

Weareth that form, which influence of the soul

Imprints on it; and like the flame, that where

The fire moves, thither follows, so henceforth

The new form on the spirit follows still:

Hence hath it semblance, and is shadow call'd,

With each sense even to the sight endued:

Hence speech is ours, hence laughter, tears, and sighs

Which thou mayst oft have witness'd on the mount

Th' obedient shadow fails not to present

Whatever varying passion moves within us.

And this the cause of what thou marvel'st at."

Now the last flexure of our way we reach'd,

And to the right hand turning, other care

Awaits us.  Here the rocky precipice

Hurls forth redundant flames, and from the rim

A blast upblown, with forcible rebuff

Driveth them back, sequester'd from its bound.

Behoov'd us, one by one, along the side,

That border'd on the void, to pass; and I

Fear'd on one hand the fire, on th' other fear'd

Headlong to fall: when thus th' instructor warn'd:

"Strict rein must in this place direct the eyes.

A little swerving and the way is lost."

Then from the bosom of the burning mass,

"O God of mercy!" heard I sung; and felt

No less desire to turn.  And when I saw

Spirits along the flame proceeding, I

Between their footsteps and mine own was fain

To share by turns my view.  At the hymn's close

They shouted loud, "I do not know a man;"

Then in low voice again took up the strain,

Which once more ended, "To the wood," they cried,

"Ran Dian, and drave forth Callisto, stung

With Cytherea's poison:" then return'd

Unto their song; then marry a pair extoll'd,

Who liv'd in virtue chastely, and the bands

Of wedded love.  Nor from that task, I ween,

Surcease they; whilesoe'er the scorching fire

Enclasps them.  Of such skill appliance needs

To medicine the wound, that healeth last.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DIVINE COMEDY BY DANTE, ILLUSTRATED, PURGATORY, VOLUME 4 ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™

Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

back

back

back

back

back

back

back

back

back

back

back

back

Table of Contents

THE VISION

OF

HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE

DANTE ALIGHIERI

PURGATORY

Part 4

TRANSLATED BY

THE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A.

PURGATORY

LIST OF CANTOS

CANTO XIX

CANTO XX

CANTO XXI

CANTO XXII

CANTO XXIII

CANTO XXIV

CANTO XXV

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE