Canto 8

It was now the hour that turns back desire in those that sail the sea, and softens their hearts, the day when they have said to their sweet friends farewell, and which pierces the new pilgrim with love, if he hears from afar a bell that seems to deplore the dying day,—when I began to render hearing vain, and to look at one of the souls who, uprisen, besought attention with its hand. It joined and raised both its palms, fixing its eyes toward the orient, as if it said to God, “For aught else I care not.” “Te lucis ante”⁸¹ so devoutly issued from his mouth and with such sweet notes that it made me issue forth from my own mind. And then the others sweetly and devoutly accompanied it through all the hymn to the end, having their eyes upon the supernal wheels. Here, reader, sharpen well thine eyes for the truth, for the veil is now indeed so thin that surely passing through within is easy.⁸²

It was now the hour that turns the thoughts of sailors toward home and softens their hearts on the day they have said farewell to their dear friends. At this hour, love pierces a new pilgrim if he hears a distant bell that seems to mourn the dying day. Then I stopped listening and watched one of the souls. He had risen and was asking for attention with his hand. He pressed his palms together and raised them, fixing his eyes on the east, as if to say to God, “I care for nothing else.” He sang “Te lucis ante”⁸¹ so devoutly and so sweetly that I lost myself in the song. Then the others joined him, singing the whole hymn sweetly and devoutly to the end, with their eyes on the wheels of heaven. Reader, look closely now for the truth. The veil is so thin here that surely it is easy to see through it.⁸²

“Before the close of light, we pray thee, O Creator, that through thy clemency, thou be our watch and guard.”

“Before daylight ends, we pray to you, O Creator, to watch over and guard us in your mercy.”

I saw that army of the gentle-born silently thereafter gazing upward as if in expectation, pallid and humble; and I saw issuing from on high and descending two angels, with two fiery swords truncated and deprived of their points. Green as leaflets just now born were their garments, which, beaten and blown by their green pinions, they trailed behind. One came to stand a little above us, and the other descended on the opposite bank, so that the people were contained between them. I clearly discerned in them their blond heads, but on their faces the eye was dazzled, as a faculty which is confounded by excess. “Both come from the bosom of Mary,” said Sordello, “for guard of the valley, because of the serpent that will come straightway.” Whereat I, who knew not by what path, turned me round, and all chilled drew me close to the trusty shoulders.

I saw that company of nobles gazing silently upward, pale and humble, as if waiting for something. Then I saw two angels come down from above. Each carried a fiery sword with its point cut off. Their garments were as green as newly sprouted leaves. Their green wings beat the garments and blew them out behind them. One angel came to rest a little above us. The other descended onto the opposite bank, so that the people were between them. I could clearly see their blond heads, but their faces dazzled my eyes. My sight was overwhelmed by their brightness. “Both come from Mary’s side,” said Sordello, “to guard the valley against the serpent that will come soon.” I did not know which way the serpent would come. So I turned around and, chilled with fear, pressed close to the shoulders I trusted.

And Sordello again, “Now let us go down into the valley among the great shades, and we will speak to them; well pleasing will it be to them to see you.” Only three steps I think I had descended and I was below; and I saw one who was gazing only at me as if he wished to know me. It was now the time when the air was darkening, but not so that between his eyes and mine it did not reveal that which it locked up before.⁸³ Towards me he moved, and I moved towards him. Gentle Judge Nino,⁸⁴ how much it pleased me when I saw that thou wast not among the damned! No fair salutation was silent between us; then he asked, “How long is it since thou camest to the foot of the mountain across the far waters?”

And Sordello said again, “Now let us go down into the valley among the great spirits and speak to them. They will be very pleased to see you.” I think I had taken only three steps before I reached the bottom. There I saw someone gazing only at me, as if he wanted to know who I was. The air was growing dark, but there was still enough light for us to recognize each other, though we had not before.⁸³ He moved toward me, and I moved toward him. Gentle Judge Nino,⁸⁴ how glad I was to see that you were not among the damned! We exchanged every kind greeting. Then he asked, “How long ago did you arrive at the foot of the mountain, across the distant waters?”

“Oh,” said I to him, “from within the dismal places I came this morning, and I am in the first life, albeit in going thus, I may gain the other.” And when my answer was heard, Sordello⁸⁵ and he drew themselves back like folk suddenly bewildered, the one to Virgil, and the other turned to one who was seated there, crying, “Up, Corrado,⁸⁶ come to see what God through grace hath willed.” Then, turning to me, “By that singular gratitude thou owest unto Him who so hides His own first wherefore⁸⁷ that there is no ford to it, when thou shalt be beyond the wide waves, say to my Joan, that for me she cry there where answer is given to the innocent. I do not think her mother⁸⁸ loves me longer, since she changed her white wimples,⁸⁹ which she, wretched, needs must desire again. Through her easily enough is comprehended how long the fire of love lasts in woman, if eye or touch does not often rekindle it. The viper⁹⁰ which leads afield the Milanese will not make for her so fair a sepulture as the cock of Gallura would have done.” Thus he said, marked in his aspect with the stamp of that upright zeal which in due measure glows in the heart.

“Oh,” I said to him, “I came from the dismal places this morning, and I am still in my first life. Though I travel this way, I may gain the other life.” When they heard my answer, Sordello⁸⁵ and the other man drew back like people suddenly bewildered. Sordello turned to Virgil, and the other man turned to someone seated nearby, crying, “Up, Corrado,⁸⁶ come and see what God in his grace has willed.” Then he turned to me. “You owe God a special gratitude, for he so conceals his first reason⁸⁷ that there is no way to reach it. By that gratitude, I ask you to tell my Joan, when you are beyond the wide waves, to pray for me where the innocent receive an answer. I do not think her mother⁸⁸ loves me any longer, since she gave up her white widow’s veils.⁸⁹ In her misery, she will surely wish for them again. Her example makes it easy to understand how long the fire of love lasts in a woman, if sight or touch does not often rekindle it. The viper⁹⁰ that leads the Milanese into battle will not provide her with as fine a tomb as the cock of Gallura would have.” As he spoke, his face bore the mark of the righteous zeal that burns in the heart in proper measure.

My greedy eyes were going ever to the sky, ever there where the stars are slowest, even as a wheel nearest the axle. And my Leader, “Son, at what lookest thou up there?” And I to him, “At those three torches with which the pole on this side is all aflame.”⁹¹ And he to me, “The four bright stars which thou sawest this morning are low on the other side, and these are risen where those were.”

My eager eyes kept turning toward the sky, where the stars move slowest, like a wheel nearest its axle. My Guide asked, “Son, what are you looking at up there?” I answered, “At those three torches that set the pole on this side completely ablaze.”⁹¹ He said, “The four bright stars you saw this morning are low on the other side. These three have risen where the four were.”

As he was speaking, lo! Sordello drew him to himself, saying, “See there our adversary,” and pointed his finger that he should look thither. At that part where the little valley has no barrier was a snake, perhaps such as gave to Eve the bitter food. Through the grass and the flowers came the evil trail, turning from time to time its head to its back, licking like a beast that sleeks itself. I did not see, and therefore cannot tell how the celestial falcons moved, but I saw well both one and the other in motion. Hearing the air cleft by their green wings the serpent fled, and the angels wheeled about, up to their stations flying back alike.

As he was speaking, Sordello drew him close and said, “Look there, our adversary.” He pointed so that the man would look. A snake appeared where the little valley had no barrier. Perhaps it was like the snake that gave Eve the bitter food. The evil creature moved through the grass and flowers. From time to time, it turned its head toward its back and licked itself like an animal grooming itself. I did not see how the heavenly falcons moved, so I cannot say. But I saw both of them in motion. When the serpent heard their green wings cutting through the air, it fled. The angels wheeled around and both flew back up to their stations.

The shade which had drawn close to the Judge when he exclaimed, through all that assault had not for a moment loosed its gaze from me. “So may the light that leadeth thee on high find in thine own free-will so much wax as is needed up to the enamelled summit,”⁹² it began, “if thou knowest true news of Valdimacra⁹³ or of the neighboring region, tell it to me, for formerly I was great there. I was called Corrado Malaspina; I am not the ancient,⁹⁴ but from him I am descended; to mine own I bore the love which here is refined.” “Oh,” said I to him, “through your lands I have never been, but where doth man dwell in all Europe that they are not renowned? The fame that honoreth your house proclaims its lords, proclaims its district, so that he knows of them who never yet was there; and I swear to you, so may I go above, that your honored race doth not despoil itself of the praise of the purse and of the sword. Custom and nature so privilege it that though the guilty head turn the world awry, alone it goes right and scorns the evil road.”⁹⁵ And he, “Now go, for the sun shall not lie seven times in the bed that the Ram covers and bestrides with all four feet,⁹⁶ before this courteous opinion will be nailed in the middle of thy head with greater nails than the speech of another, if course of judgment be not arrested.”

The shade who had drawn close to the Judge when he cried out had not looked away from me for a moment during the whole attack. “May the light that leads you upward find enough wax in your own free will to carry you to the enameled summit,”⁹² he began. “If you know any true news of Valdimacra⁹³ or the neighboring region, tell me, for I was once a great man there. I was called Corrado Malaspina. I am not the elder Corrado,⁹⁴ but I am descended from him. I loved my own people with the love that is refined here.” “Oh,” I said to him, “I have never traveled through your lands. But where in all Europe does anyone live who has not heard of them? The fame that honors your house makes its lords and its region known, even to those who have never been there. And I swear to you, as I hope to ascend, that your honored family still deserves its praise for generosity and skill with the sword. Custom and nature so favor your family that, though the guilty leader turns the world astray, it alone follows the right path and scorns the evil one.”⁹⁵ And he said, “Go now, for the sun will not lie seven times in the bed that the Ram covers and straddles with all four feet⁹⁶ before this kind opinion is fixed in your mind more firmly than another person’s words could fix it, unless the course of judgment is halted.”