The Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Purgatory, Complete. Dante Alighieri

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       Meanwhile we linger'd by the water's brink,

       Like men, who, musing on their road, in thought

       Journey, while motionless the body rests.

       When lo! as near upon the hour of dawn,

       Through the thick vapours Mars with fiery beam

       Glares down in west, over the ocean floor;

       So seem'd, what once again I hope to view,

       A light so swiftly coming through the sea,

       No winged course might equal its career.

       From which when for a space I had withdrawn

       Thine eyes, to make inquiry of my guide,

       Again I look'd and saw it grown in size

       And brightness: thou on either side appear'd

       Something, but what I knew not of bright hue,

       And by degrees from underneath it came

       Another. My preceptor silent yet

       Stood, while the brightness, that we first discern'd,

       Open'd the form of wings: then when he knew

       The pilot, cried aloud, "Down, down; bend low

       Thy knees; behold God's angel: fold thy hands:

       Now shalt thou see true Ministers indeed."

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       Lo how all human means he sets at naught!

       So that nor oar he needs, nor other sail

       Except his wings, between such distant shores.

       Lo how straight up to heaven he holds them rear'd,

       Winnowing the air with those eternal plumes,

       That not like mortal hairs fall off or change!"

       As more and more toward us came, more bright

       Appear'd the bird of God, nor could the eye

       Endure his splendor near: I mine bent down.

       He drove ashore in a small bark so swift

       And light, that in its course no wave it drank.

       The heav'nly steersman at the prow was seen,

       Visibly written blessed in his looks.

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       Within a hundred spirits and more there sat.

       "In Exitu Israel de Aegypto;"

       All with one voice together sang, with what

       In the remainder of that hymn is writ.

       Then soon as with the sign of holy cross

       He bless'd them, they at once leap'd out on land,

       The swiftly as he came return'd. The crew,

       There left, appear'd astounded with the place,

       Gazing around as one who sees new sights.

       From every side the sun darted his beams,

       And with his arrowy radiance from mid heav'n

       Had chas'd the Capricorn, when that strange tribe

       Lifting their eyes towards us: "If ye know,

       Declare what path will Lead us to the mount."

       Them Virgil answer'd. "Ye suppose perchance

       Us well acquainted with this place: but here,

       We, as yourselves, are strangers. Not long erst

       We came, before you but a little space,

       By other road so rough and hard, that now

       The' ascent will seem to us as play." The spirits,

       Who from my breathing had perceiv'd I liv'd,

       Grew pale with wonder. As the multitude

       Flock round a herald, sent with olive branch,

       To hear what news he brings, and in their haste

       Tread one another down, e'en so at sight

       Of me those happy spirits were fix'd, each one

       Forgetful of its errand, to depart,

       Where cleans'd from sin, СКАЧАТЬ