CANTO XIII.

ARGUMENT.

The second circle. The sin of Envy is here punished. Examples of Charity recounted by invisible spirits. The envious appear, clothed in sackcloth, and having their eyes sown up with an iron thread.-Sapia, a Sienese lady.

Now had we gained the summit of the stairs,

There where a second belt the mount divides,
Ascending which, each soul its loss repairs.
Around it doth a circling cornice wind,

Like to the first encompassing the sides,
Save in its circuit, which is more confined.
Nor sculpture here nor image met our view;
So smooth the bank and pathway did appear,
Which, like the rock, was of a livid hue.
"If we remain till spirits come this way,

Of whom to inquire," the poet said, "I fear
We may perchance too long our choice delay."
Then on the sun intent he fixed his sight,

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And wheeling his left shoulder to one side, As on a pivot turned upon the right. "O friendly planet, through whose aid," he said, "I enter this new path, be thou our guide:By thee all entering here would fain be led. From thee the world receiveth light and heat; Unless by some necessity impeded,

Thy genial rays should ever guide our feet."
The distance that on earth we call a mile,

Already in short space had we proceeded-
Our will so prompt the journey to beguile-
When spirits flying from the realms above,
Heard, but unseen, invited us to taste
The hallowed banquet of celestial love.
The first voice that athwart us flying came,

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Exclaimed aloud: "They have no wine;" then passed
Behind, reiterating still the same.

27. i. e. Of charity, as opposed to envy,-the vice punished in this circle. 29. These words of the Virgin at the marriage feast of Cana, are adduced as an instance of charity.

And ere these strains in distance died away,
"I am Orestes"-whirling by, we heard
Another cry; and pass without delay.

"O father," I exclaimed, "what sounds are these ?"
And as I made inquiry-lo, a third
Distinctly uttered: Love your enemies."
"Within this circle," said my guide, "is felt
The lash that envy is condemned to bear;
Therefore its cords by Love's mild hand are dealt:
The bit is wont to sound in other strain;
As I imagine thou thyself wilt hear,
Ere thou the pass of pardon mayst attain.
But through the air attentive stretch thine eye;
And seated in our front, full many a shade
Along the mountain's side wilt thou descry."
Opening mine eyes to take an ampler view,
I saw before me souls in mantles clad,
The livid rock resembling in their hue.
A little further on, these words I heard:

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"O Mary, Michael, Peter, who Heaven's throne Encircle-be your prayers for us preferred." Walks not a man on earth this day I ween,

So hard of heart, but that he must have known
Some touch of pity for what there was seen.
For tow'rds them when I had approached so near
That e'en their attitudes were plainly shown,
Mine eyes streamed forth with many a bitter tear.
Of sackcloth rude their garment seemed to be;
One on another's shoulder bent him down;
And on the rock all leant dejectedly.

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Thus do the blind, in want of daily bread,
Stand in the churches to implore relief;

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And one against his neighbour rests his head,

The more a stranger's pity to excite,

Not only by the mournful sound of grief,

But by what strikes the heart no less, the sight.

And as the sun doth ne'er the blind illume;

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32. Orestes offered himself to death instead of his friend Pylades. 39. By examples of the opposite virtue. third circle, where stands the Angel who 54. "No beast so fierce but knows some Rich. III.

42. The stair leading to the pardons the crime of envy. touch of pity." Shakspeare,

So, to the shades of whom I now discourse, The light of Heaven ne'er dissipates the gloom. The lids of all an iron thread doth pierce,

Sewing them up, e'en as a hawk's perforce Is sewn, to make the savage bird less fierce. To me it seemed a want of courtesy,

Unseen myself, in others' face to peer, Wherefore I turned to my instructor :-he The silent wishes of my heart well knew,

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And therefore waited not my wish to hear;-
Speak to the point, and let thy words be few."
Virgil came towards me from that outer bound,
Whence easily his feet had slipt below,
Because no bank environs it around :-

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Stood on the other hand the shades devout,

Who by the horrid seam were tortured so,

That o'er their cheeks the bitter tears gushed out.

Turning around, "O spirits," I exclaim,

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"Now certain that exalted Light to see,

The one sole object of your longing aim,

So from your conscience may the grace of Heaven
Dispel the scum, that thus a channel free
May to the river of your mind be given,—
As you inform me what I long to know-
If any Latian soul may here be seen;
Haply to him some benefit may flow."
"We all, my brother, of one city true

Are denizens; but surely thou must mean
One who in Italy did erst pursue

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His pilgrimage." These words I seemed to hear
A little further on from whence I stood;
Wherefore advancing, I approached more near:

Amid the rest I saw a shade, who in

Her face the marks of expectation showed :

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"How ?" ask ye?-Like one blind she raised her chin.

94. i. e. "You speak to us as if to men still performing their pilgrimage on earth, and acknowledging distinctions of country. We reck not of any other city but the one true city,' destined for us in heaven. You surely therefore mean:" "Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Ephes. ii. 19. "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come." Heb. xiii. 14.

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“Oh thou,” I said, "who dost thy spirit tame
To mount above;-if thou an answer gave,
Inform me who thou art by place or name.'
"Know," she replied, "I was a Sienese:-
Entrenting God to assist me, here I lave
My guilty soul;-and my companions these.
Sapia my name, though Sapience marked me not;
And more delight I took in others' sadness
Than in the happiness that blessed my lot.
And lest my words deceit should seem intending,
Hear if I was not foolish, e'en to madness:-
When down the arch my years were now descending,
My citizens, assembled in the field

Near Colle, were prepared their foes to meet;

And I prayed God they might be forced to yield:
There routed, were they turned to bitter flight:
And I, who stood to witness their defeat,
Indulged in warmest transports of delight;
And upward turned my daring visage,-crying

To Heaven in joy: "I fear thee now no more;"
As cried the thrush, one transient gleam espying.
Upon the brink of life, I wished to effect

My peace with God; but, though repenting sore,
Still had I suffered for my dire neglect,

Had not Pier Pettinagno kindly thought,
In his most holy orisons, of me,

And by his charity deliverance wrought.

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But who art thou, who journeying onward seekest
To know our stato, and hast thine eyelids free,

As I believe thou hast, and breathing, speakest ?"
"Mine eyes," I said, "may here be reft of sight-
But for short time;-the penalty they owe
For envious looks indulged in, is but slight.
Far greater dread my anxious soul doth own,
Of the infliction to be borne below;

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114. In his Convito, Dante likens human life to an arch-now mounting and now descending. See Trat. iv. 23, 24.

122. Sapia, banished

by her countrymen the Sienese, prayed for their defeat, and was so elated with the success of her prayer, that she uttered this impious bravado in defiance of the Almighty. 127. A hermit, who by his prayers accelerated Sapia's admission into Purgatory. 137. i. e. In the last circle, where the proud are punished. Dante acknowledges himself proud,

not envious.

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And even now that burden weighs me down." And she to me: "Inform me who thy guide,

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If thither to return thou dost expect." "Yon silent spirit brought me," I replied; "And I am living; therefore ask of me,

If thou desire that I, O spirit elect!

Should move on earth my mortal feet for thee."

"Oh! such a novel thing is this to hear,"

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She said, "it greatly proves God's love to thee;
Wherefore sometimes assist me with thy prayer;
And by whatever be thy dearest aim,.

If e'er thou tread the soil of Tuscany,
my fame.
I prithee with my kindred clear
Them wilt thou see amidst that silly race

Whose hopes in Telamon will prove more vain
Than those fond hopes they did in Dian place:
Still more their baffled Admirals shall complain."

CANTO XIV.

ARGUMENT.

151

against the Voices are

The depravity of Italy. Dialogue between Guido del Duca of Brettizora, and Rinieri da Calboli of Romagna. The latter inveighs vice and degeneracy of all who live in the vale of Arno. heard recording instances of envy:

"WHO is the man that winds around our hill
Ere death has set his soul at liberty—
Opening his eyes and closing them at will ?"
"I know him not: but know he's not alone;-

Ask who he is thyself, for thou art nigh;
And move him to discourse with gentle tone."
Bent tow'rds each other, held such colloquy

Concerning me, two spirits on the right;
Then upward raised their looks to speak to me:
"O soul," one said, "that, in thy mortal clay

Enveloped still, dost take thy heavenly flight

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152. The Sienese hoped by the acquisition of Telamone, a sea-port, to oecome great; but its situation in the Maremma was so unhealthy that they were obliged to abandon it, after losing many seamen and admirals; and they are said to have incurred grea: expense in the vain endeavour to discover a stream called Dian supposed to pass under their city. 1. The canto opens with a conversation supposed to pass between two d Rinieri da Calboli of Romagna. noble Florentines, Guido del Duca,