Canto 2

Now had the sun reached the horizon whose meridian circle covers Jerusalem with its highest point; and the night which circles opposite to it was issuing forth from Ganges with the Scales that fall from her hand when she exceeds;⁹ so that where I was the white and red cheeks of the beautiful Aurora by too much age were becoming orange.

The sun had reached the horizon whose meridian passes directly over Jerusalem. Night, circling opposite the sun, was rising from the Ganges with the Scales, which fall from her hand when she grows too long.⁹ So, where I was, the white and red cheeks of beautiful Aurora were turning orange as she grew older.

We were still alongside the sea, like folk who are thinking of their road, who go in heart and linger in body; and lo! as, at approach of the morning, through the dense vapors Mars glows ruddy, down in the west above the ocean floor, such appeared to me,—so may I again behold it!—a light along the sea coming so swiftly that no flight equals its motion. From which when I had a little withdrawn my eye to ask my Leader, again I saw it, brighter become and larger. Then on each side of it appeared to me a something, I know not what, white, and beneath, little by little, another came forth from it. My Master still said not a word, until the first white things showed themselves wings; then, When he clearly recognized the pilot, he cried out, “Mind, mind, thou bend thy knees. Lo! the Angel of God: fold thy hands; henceforth shalt thou see such officials. See how he scorns human means, so that he wills not oar, or other sail than his own wings between such distant shores. See, how he holds them straight toward heaven, stroking the air with his eternal feathers that are not changed like mortal hair.”

We were still beside the sea, like people thinking about their journey, eager to go but staying where they are. And look! As morning approaches, Mars glows red through the thick mist, low in the west above the ocean. A light appeared to me like that, coming across the sea faster than anything can fly. May I see it again! I looked away from it for a moment to ask my Guide about it. When I looked back, the light had grown brighter and larger. Then I saw something white on each side of it, though I could not tell what. Little by little, another white shape emerged beneath the light. My Master said nothing until the first white shapes revealed themselves as wings. Then he clearly recognized the pilot and cried, “Quick, quick, bend your knees. Look! The Angel of God. Fold your hands. From now on, you will see such servants. See how he scorns human means. He needs no oar or sail other than his own wings to travel between such distant shores. See how he holds them straight toward heaven, stroking the air with his eternal feathers, which do not change like mortal hair.”

Then, as nearer and nearer toward us came the Bird Divine, the brighter he appeared; so that near by my eye endured him not, but I bent it down: and he came on to the shore with a small vessel, very swift and light so that the water swallowed naught of it. At the stern stood the Celestial Pilot, such that if but described he would make blessed; and more than a hundred spirits sat within. “In exitu Israel de Egypto” they all were singing together with one voice, with whatso of that psalm is after written. Then he made the sign of holy cross upon them; whereon they all threw themselves upon the strand; and he went away swift as he had come.

As the Divine Bird came closer and closer, he appeared brighter and brighter. When he came near, my eyes could not bear his brightness, so I looked down. He came ashore in a small vessel, so swift and light that it drew no water. At the stern stood the Celestial Pilot, whose mere description would bring bliss. More than a hundred spirits sat in the vessel. They were all singing “In exitu Israel de Egypto” together in one voice, along with the rest of that psalm. Then he made the sign of the holy cross over them, and they all leaped onto the shore. He left as swiftly as he had come.

1 “When Israel went out of Egypt.” Psalm cxiv.

1 “When Israel left Egypt.” Psalm 114.

The crowd which remained there seemed strange to the place, gazing round about like him who of new things makes essay. On all sides the Sun, who had with his bright arrows chased from midheaven the Capricorn,¹⁰ was shooting forth the day, when the new people raised their brow toward us, saying to us, “If ye know, show us the way to go unto the mountain.” And Virgil answered, “Ye believe, perchance, that we are acquainted with this place, but we are pilgrims even as ye are. Just now we came, a little before you, by another way, which was so rough and difficult that the ascent henceforth will seem play to us.

The crowd that remained there seemed unfamiliar with the place. They looked around like people encountering something new. The Sun had driven Capricorn from the middle of the sky with its bright arrows,¹⁰ and daylight was spreading everywhere. Then the newcomers looked up at us and said, “If you know the way to the mountain, show us.” Virgil answered, “Perhaps you think we know this place, but we are pilgrims, just like you. We arrived only a little before you, by another way. It was so rough and difficult that the climb ahead will seem like play to us.”

The souls who had become aware concerning me by my breathing, that I was still alive, marvelling became deadly pale. And as to a messenger who bears an olive branch the folk press to hear news, and no one shows himself shy of crowding, so, at the sight of me, those fortunate souls stopped still, all of them, as if forgetting to go to make themselves fair.

The souls realized from my breathing that I was still alive. Astonished, they turned deathly pale. People crowd around a messenger carrying an olive branch to hear the news, and no one hesitates to press close. Just so, at the sight of me, those fortunate souls all stopped, as if they had forgotten to go and make themselves beautiful.

I saw one of them drawing forward to embrace me with so great affection that it moved me to do the like. O shades empty save in aspect! Three times behind it I clasped my hands and as oft returned with them unto my breast. With marvel, I believe, I painted me; wherefore the shade smiled and drew back, and I, following it, pressed forward, Gently it said, that I should pause; then I knew who it was, and I prayed it that to speak with me it would stop a little. It replied to me, “So as I loved thee in the mortal body, so loosed from it I love thee; therefore I stop; but wherefore goest thou?”

I saw one of them come forward to embrace me with such affection that I was moved to embrace him too. Oh, shades that look solid but are empty! Three times I clasped my hands behind him, and three times I brought them back to my chest. I believe my face showed my amazement, for the shade smiled and drew back. I followed him and pressed forward. He gently told me to stop. Then I recognized him and begged him to stay a little while and speak with me. He replied, “Just as I loved you in my mortal body, I love you now that I am free of it. So I will stay, but why are you going this way?”

“Casella mine, in order to return another time to this place where I am, do I make this journey,” said I, “but from thee how has so much time been taken?”¹¹

“Dear Casella, I am making this journey so that I may return to this place again someday,” I said. “But why has it taken you so long?”¹¹

And he to me, “No wrong has been done me if he¹² who takes both when and whom it pleases him ofttimes hath denied to me this passage; for of a just will¹³ his own is made. Truly for three months he has taken with all peace whoso has wished to enter. Wherefore I who was now turned to the seashore where the water of Tiber grows salt was benignantly received by him.¹⁴ To that outlet has he now turned his wing, because always those assemble there who towards Acheron do not descend.”

And he said to me, “I have not been wronged, though he¹² has often denied me passage. He takes whom he pleases, when he pleases, for his will follows a just will.¹³ For three months now, he has taken all who wished to enter, with complete peace. So when I came to the seashore where the Tiber’s waters turn salty, he kindly received me.¹⁴ He has now turned his wing toward that river mouth, because those who do not descend toward Acheron always gather there.”

And I, “If a new law take not from thee memory or practice of the song of love which was wont to quiet in me all my longings, may it please thee therewith somewhat to comfort my soul, which coming hither with its body is so wearied.”

And I said, “If a new law has not taken away your memory or ability to sing the song of love that used to quiet all my longings, please sing it to comfort my soul a little. My soul is so weary from coming here with its body.”

“Love which in my mind discourseth with me,”¹⁵ began he then so sweetly that the sweetness still within me sounds.¹⁶ My Master, and I, and that folk who were with him, appeared so content as if naught else could touch the mind of any.

“Love that speaks with me in my mind,”¹⁵ he began to sing so sweetly that I can still hear the sweetness within me.¹⁶ My Master, I, and the people with him seemed so content that nothing else could occupy our minds.

Nothing is known of Casella beyond what is implied in Dante’s affectionate record of their meeting.

Nothing is known about Casella beyond what Dante’s affectionate account of their meeting suggests.

We were all fixed and attentive to his notes; and lo! the venerable old man crying, “What is this, ye laggard spirits? What negligence, what stay is this? Run to the mountain to strip off the slough that lets not God be manifest to you.”

We were all listening intently to his song. Then the venerable old man cried, “What is this, you slow spirits? Why are you neglecting your duty and lingering here? Run to the mountain to shed the covering that keeps God hidden from you.”

As, when gathering grain or tare, the doves assembled at their feeding, quiet, without display of their accustomed pride, if aught appear of which they are afraid, suddenly let the food alone, because they are assailed by a greater care, so I saw that fresh troop leave the song, and go towards the hill-side, like one that goes but knows not where he may come out. Nor was our departure less speedy.

Doves gather to feed on grain or weeds, quietly and without their usual show of pride. But if something frightens them, they suddenly abandon their food because a greater concern has taken hold. In the same way, I saw the newly arrived group stop singing and head toward the hillside. They went like people who do not know where they will end up. We left just as quickly.