DANTE meets with Cato of Utica; described as a most venerable old man, to whose care the spirits in Purgatory are consigned. By his recommendation, Virgil girds Dante with a reed, as a sign of humility, and cleanses him with drops of dew.
O'ER the smooth waters of a milder sea
The light bark of my genius hoists her sail,
Leaving behind the flood of misery;
For now that second kingdom claims my song,
Wherein is purified the spirit frail,
And fitted to rejoin the heavenly throng.
Wake into life the deaden'd notes again,
O ye most holy Nine! since yours I am;
And let Calliope exalt the strain,
Following my verse with that extatic sound,
Which, to the wretched Pica when it came,
Dash'd all their hopes of pardon to the ground.
Sweet colours that with orient sapphire shone,
Collected in the tranquil atmosphere,
Far as the highest circle's purer zone,
Enjoyment to my weary eyes restored,
Soon as I issued from that stagnant air
Which o'er my sight and breast such sorrow pour'd.The beauteous Star, to love and lovers dear,
Was making all the Orient laugh ;-so bright,
She veil'd the Pisces, who attended near,—
When to the other pole mine eyes I turn'd,
And there beheld four planets on the right,
By none save those in Paradise discern'd:
Heaven seem'd to view their lustre with delight.
O northern region, how bereaved art thou,
These starry splendours banish'd from thy sight!
When from their radiance I had turn'd my head
Back to the northern hemisphere, whence now
The constellation of the Wain had fled-
Near me I saw an aged man alone,
Whose look inspired devotion more profound
Than to his father ever owed a son.
His beard was long, and intermix'd with grey,
Which falling with the hoary locks around,
In double tresses on his bosom lay.
So brightly o'er his face with heavenly light
Did those four hallow'd stars their lustre shed,
Methought the sun was beaming opposite.
"Tell who are ye, that stemming the dark tide,
Have 'scaped the eternal prison of the dead?"
Moving his venerable locks, he cried.-
"Who was the guide and lantern to your track,
When forth from that profoundest night ye came
Which makes the infernal vale for ever black?-
Thus broken are the laws that govern Hell?
Or are Heaven's counsels now no more the same,
That, though accurst, ye dare approach my cell ?"
Instant my guide drew near,—and both by sign,
And by injunction, and by counsel given,
In reverence made my eyes and knees incline;
Then said: "I came not of my own accord;
At HER request who dwells enthron'd in heaven,
To this lone wanderer, guidance I afford.
But since more fully thou would'st fain be told
The reason of our toilsome journey here,
'Tis not for me such knowledge to withhold—
Never did he behold life's latest eve;
But Folly drew him to that term so near,
Scarce had he time his error to retrieve.
In this extremity I brought him aid,
As hath related been: nor other way
Was found, except the one I have essay'd. Him have I led throughout the realms of woe; And now, the spirits, who beneath thy sway Perfection seek, my purpose 'tis to show.
'Twere long to tell how I have lured him on:
From heaven descends the grace which brings him here
To list thy words, and look thy face upon.
Let him from thee a gracious welcome find:
He comes in search of Liberty: how dear
She is, he knows who life for her resign'd:-
Thou knowest,-who for her could'st death despise 73
In Utica, where erst was doff'd by thee
The vest that shall hereafter glorious rise.
By us unbroken are the laws of Hell;
For he still lives, and Minos binds not me;
But in that circle 'tis my lot to dwell,
Where the chaste eyes of thy loved Marcia still
Entreat thee, holy one! to call her thine:
Then, by her love, incline thee to our will.
Through thy seven kingdoms suffer us to go;
And I will thank her for the deed benign,
If thou disdain not to be named below."
"So pleasing was my Marcia to my sight,"
He answered me, "while I on earth remain'd,
That all she wish'd I granted with delight.
Now, since she dwells beyond the evil tide,
She cannot move me; so the law ordain'd,
When I departed from the other side.
But if the mandate of a heavenly Dame
Direct thy steps, no need of flattery;
Sufficient that thou ask me in her name.
Go then, and gird him with a simple reed,
And to his face the cleansing dew apply,
So that from every stain he may be freed.
For not, while any dimness clouds his eyes,
Might he by that great Minister be seen
Who watches here, and is of Paradise.
Around this islet coast, down, down below,
Where dash the waters on the margin green,
Such reeds amid the slime are wont to grow.
No plant, producing leaves, can there survive;
None there, whose harden'd stem disdains to bend
Before the beating wave, remains alive.
Not by this way your homeward journey lies ;-
The rising sun will show you where to ascend
The hallow'd mountain at an easier rise."
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