Chapter VIII: Canto XIV

VERGIL LEADS
DANTE THROUGH
THE RAIN OF FIRE

THEN CAME WE TO A BOUNDARY, WHICH PARTS
THE THIRD AND SECOND CIRCLES, WHERE ARE SHOWN
THE RACKS OF JUSTICE, ...
... WE REACHED A WIDE AND DESERT GROUND,
THAT SPURNS EACH PLANT FROM ITS UNGENIAL BREAST;
THIS PLAIN IS COMPASSED BY THE MOURNFUL WOOD,
AND THAT ENCIRCLED BY THE FOSS PROFOUND:
HERE ON THE VERY EDGE OF BOTH WE STOOD.
BEFORE US LAY A THICK AND ARID SAND

* * * * *

O HEAVENLY VENGEANCE! HOW SHOULDEST THOU BE FEARED

* * * * *

O’ER ALL THE SANDY DESERT FELL BELOW
LARGE FLAKES OF FIRE, AS WHEN ON ALPINE HILL,
WHILE SLEEP THE WINDS, ARE FALLING FLAKES OF SLOW.

* * * * *

“LETHE, BEYOND THIS FOSS, THOU SHALT SURVEY,
THERE, WHERE THE SHADES RESORT, THEIR FORMS TO LAVE,
WHEN PENITENCE HATH WASHED THEIR SINS AWAY.”
]

“THY WILL HENCEFORTH
IS UPRIGHT, PURE,
AND SOUND.

LORD OF THYSELF
BE MITERED AND
BE CROWNED.”

PURGATORIO
CANTO
XXVIII-XXIX

DANTE
UPON THE MOUNTAIN
OF PURIFICATION

EAGER THAT HEAVENLY FOREST TO SURVEY, ...
... I LEFT THE ROCKY BOUND,
AND THERE APPEARED TO ME ...
A LADY ALL ALONE: WHO ROVED ABOUT
SINGING, AS SHE SELECTED FLOWER FROM FLOWER,
WITH WHICH HER PATHWAY PAINTED WAS THROUGHOUT ...
LIKE TO A LADY TURNING IN THE DANCE,
FOOT BEFORE FOOT FROM EARTH SO SLIGHTLY MOVED,
THAT SCARCE PERCEPTIBLE IS HER ADVANCE;--
... TO ME SHE TURNED AROUND, ...
“THE STREAMS THOU SEE’ST SPRING NOT FROM EARTHLY VEIN, ...
BUT ISSUE FROM A NEVER-FAILING SOURCE,
REPLENISHED BY THE WILL OF GOD ...
ON THIS HAND, ABLE--SUCH THE POWER ASSIGNED--
TO TAKE AWAY THE MEMORY OF SIN;
ON THAT--TO CALL EACH VIRTUOUS DEED TO MIND:
THIS, LETHE NAMED--THAT EUNÖE.” ...
AS THOUGH BY LOVE INSPIRED--HER HEAVENLY LAY
TO ITS LAST CADENCE SANG THAT LADY FAIR:
“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE SINS ARE WASHED AWAY.”
]

“A LITTLE WHILE AND ME
YE SHALL NOT SEE--
AND THEN AGAIN

O SISTERS, MY DELIGHT, A
LITTLE WHILE AND ME
YE SHALL BEHOLD!”

PURGATORIO
CANTO
XXX

BEATRICE,
DIVINE WISDOM,
DESCENDS FROM
HEAVEN UPON THE
CHARIOT OF THE CHURCH

AND LO! A VOICE--“COME, SPOUSE FROM LEBANON,”
AS THOUGH FROM HEAVENLY MESSENGER ...

* * * * *

“O BLESSED THOU WHO COMEST,” THEY ALL CRIED;
“SCATTER WE LILIES WITH UNSPARING HAND”;

* * * * *

E’EN SO, ENCOMPASSED IN A CLOUD OF FLOWERS,
WHICH UPWARD BY ANGELIC HANDS WERE FLUNG,
AND ALL ABOUT THE CHARIOT FELL IN SHOWERS--
IN VEIL OF WHITE, WITH OLIVE CHAPLET BOUND,
A MAID APPEARED BENEATH A MANTLE GREEN,
WITH HUE OF LIVING FLAME ENROBED AROUND.
AND NOW MY SPIRIT (WHICH FOR MANY A DAY,
UNUSED TO FEEL HER PRESENCE) ...
FELT, THOUGH SHE WAS NOT FULLY MANIFEST, ...
HOW STRONG THE LOVE THAT ERST MY SOUL POSSESSED.

* * * * *

“YES, I AM BEATRICE; REGARD ME WELL:--
AND HAS THOUGH DEIGNED AT LAST TO ASCEND THE MOUNT,
WHERE JOYS UNSPEAKABLE FOREVER DWELL?”
]

“HIS WILL IS OUR PEACE.
IT IS THAT OCEAN
VAST WHEREUNTO
ARE

MOVING ALL THINGS
WHICH HE CREATES
AND WHICH NATURE
MAKES”

PARADISO