PURGATORIO CANTO 30 PURGATORIO CANTO 30
Quando il settentrïon del primo cielo, 30.1 I When the first heaven’s Seven-Stars had halted
che né occaso mai seppe né orto (those stars that never rise or set, that are
né d'altra nebbia che di colpa velo, not veiled except when sin beclouds our vision;
   
e che faceva lì ciascuno accorto 30.4 those stars that, there, made everyone aware
di suo dover, come 'l più basso face of what his duty was, just as the Bear
qual temon gira per venire a porto, below brings helmsmen home to harbor), then
   
fermo s'affisse: la gente verace,N 30.7 the truthful band that had come first between
venuta prima tra 'l grifone ed esso, C the griffin and the Seven-Stars turned toward
al carro volse sé come a sua pace; that chariot as toward their peace, and one
   
e un di loro, quasi da ciel messo, 30.10 of them, as if sent down from Heaven, hymned
"Veni, sponsa, de Libano" cantando M aloud, “Veni, sponsa, de Libano,”
gridò tre volte, e tutti li altri appresso. three times, and all the others echoed him.
   
Quali i beati al novissimo bandoN 30.13 Just as the blessed, at the Final Summons,
surgeran presti ognun di sua caverna, will rise up—ready—each out of his grave,
la revestita voce alleluiando, singing, with new-clothed voices, Alleluia,
   
cotali in su la divina basterna 30.16 so, from the godly chariot, eternal
si levar cento, ad vocem tanti senis, life’s messengers and ministers arose:
ministri e messagger di vita etterna. one hundred stood ad vocem tanti senis.
   
Tutti dicean: "Benedictus qui venis!" 30.19 All of them cried: “Benedictus qui venis,”
e fior gittando e di sopra e dintorno, and, scattering flowers upward and around,
"Manibus, oh, date lilïa plenis!" “Manibus, oh, date lilia plenis.”
   
Io vidi già nel cominciar del giorno 30.22 I have at times seen all the eastern sky
la parte orïental tutta rosata, becoming rose as day began and seen,
e l'altro ciel di bel sereno addorno; adorned in lovely blue, the rest of heaven;
   
e la faccia del sol nascere ombrata, 30.25 and seen the sun’s face rise so veiled that it
sì che per temperanza di vapori was tempered by the mist and could permit
l'occhio la sostenea lunga fïata: the eye to look at length upon it; so,
   
così dentro una nuvola di fiori 30.28 I within a cloud of flowers that were cast
che da le mani angeliche saliva by the angelic hands and then rose up
e ricadeva in giù dentro e di fori, and then fell back, outside and in the chariot,
   
sovra candido vel cinta d'uliva 30.31 a woman showed herself to me; above
donna m'apparve, sotto verde manto PE a white veil, she was crowned with olive boughs;
vestita di color di fiamma viva. her cape was green; her dress beneath, flame-red.
   
E lo spirito mio, che già cotanto 30.34 Within her presence, I had once been used
tempo era stato ch'a la sua presenza to feeling—trembling—wonder, dissolution;
non era di stupor, tremando, affranto, but that was long ago. Still, though my soul,
   
sanza de li occhi aver più conoscenza, 30.37 now she was veiled, could not see her directly,
per occulta virtù che da lei mosse, by way of hidden force that she could move,
d'antico amor sentì la gran potenza. I felt the mighty power of old love.
   
Tosto che ne la vista mi percosse 30.40 As soon as that deep force had struck my vision
l'alta virtù che già m'avea trafitto (the power that, when I had not yet left
prima ch'io fuor di püerizia fosse, my boyhood, had already transfixed me),
   
volsimi a la sinistra col respitto 30.43 I turned around and to my left—just as
col quale il fantolin corre a la mamma a little child, afraid or in distress,
quando ha paura o quando elli è afflitto, will hurry to his mother—anxiously,
   
per dicere a Virgilio: "Men che dramma 30.46 PE to say to Virgil: “I am left with less
di sangue m'è rimaso che non tremi: than one drop of my blood that does not tremble:
conosco i segni de l'antica fiamma." I recognize the signs of the old flame.”
   
Ma Virgilio n'avea lasciati scemi 30.49 PE But Virgil had deprived us of himself,
di sé, Virgilio dolcissimo patre, PE Virgil, the gentlest father, Virgil, he
Virgilio a cui per mia salute die'mi; PE to whom I gave my self for my salvation;
   
né quantunque perdeo l'antica matre, 30.52 PE and even all our ancient mother lost
valse a le guance nette di rugiada was not enough to keep my cheeks, though washed
che, lagrimando, non tornasser atre. with dew, from darkening again with tears.
   
"Dante, perché Virgilio se ne vada, 30.55 IPE “Dante, though Virgil’s leaving you, do not
non pianger anco, non piangere ancora; yet weep, do not weep yet; you’ll need your tears
ché pianger ti conven per altra spada." for what another sword must yet inflict.”
   
Quasi ammiraglio che in poppa e in prora 30.58 Just like an admiral who goes to stern
viene a veder la gente che ministra and prow to see the officers who guide
per li altri legni, e a ben far l'incora; the other ships, encouraging their tasks;
   
in su la sponda del carro sinistra, 30.61 so, on the left side of the chariot
quando mi volsi al suon del nome mio, (I’d turned around when I had heard my name—
che di necessità qui si registra, which, of necessity, I transcribe here),
   
vidi la donna che pria m'appario 30.64 PE I saw the lady who had first appeared
velata sotto l'angelica festa, to me beneath the veils of the angelic
drizzar li occhi ver' me di qua dal rio. flowers look at me across the stream.
   
Tutto che 'l vel che le scendea di testa, 30.67 Although the veil she wore—down from her head,
cerchiato de le fronde di Minerva, D which was encircled by Minerva’s leaves—
non la lasciasse parer manifesta, did not allow her to be seen distinctly,
   
regalmente ne l'atto ancor proterva 30.70 her stance still regal and disdainful, she
continüò come colui che dice continued, just as one who speaks but keeps
e 'l più caldo parlar dietro reserva: until the end the fiercest parts of speech:
   
"Guardaci ben! Ben son, ben son Beatrice. 30.73 PE “Look here! For I am Beatrice, I am!
Come degnasti d'accedere al monte? How were you able to ascend the mountain?
non sapei tu che qui è l'uom felice?" Did you not know that man is happy here?”
   
Li occhi mi cadder giù nel chiaro fonte; 30.76 PL My lowered eyes caught sight of the clear stream,
ma veggendomi in esso, i trassi a l'erba, but when I saw myself reflected there,
tanta vergogna mi gravò la fronte. such shame weighed on my brow, my eyes drew back
   
Così la madre al figlio par superba, 30.79 and toward the grass; just as a mother seems
com' ella parve a me; perché d'amaro harsh to her child, so did she seem to me—
sente il sapor de la pietade acerba. how bitter is the savor of stern pity!
   
Ella si tacque; e li angeli cantaro 30.82 C Her words were done. The angels—suddenly—
di sùbito "In te, Domine, speravi"; M sang, “In te, Domine, speravi”; but
ma oltre "pedes meos" non passaro. their singing did not go past “pedes meos.”
   
Sì come neve tra le vive travi 30.85 Even as snow among the sap-filled trees
per lo dosso d'Italia si congela, along the spine of Italy will freeze
soffiata e stretta da li venti schiavi, when gripped by gusts of the Slavonian winds,
   
poi, liquefatta, in sé stessa trapela, 30.88 then, as it melts, will trickle through itself—
pur che la terra che perde ombra spiri, that is, if winds breathe north from shade-less lands—
sì che par foco fonder la candela; just as, beneath the flame, the candle melts;
   
così fui sanza lagrime e sospiri 30.91 so I, before I’d heard the song of those
anzi 'l cantar di quei che notan sempre whose notes always accompany the notes
dietro a le note de li etterni giri; of the eternal spheres, was without tears
   
ma poi che 'ntesi ne le dolci tempre 30.94 and sighs; but when I heard the sympathy
lor compartire a me, par che se detto for me within their gentle harmonies,
avesser: "Donna, perché sì lo stempre?" as if they’d said: “Lady, why shame him so?”—
   
lo gel che m'era intorno al cor ristretto, 30.97 then did the ice that had restrained my heart
spirito e acqua fessi, e con angoscia become water and breath; and from my breast
de la bocca e de li occhi uscì del petto. and through my lips and eyes they issued—anguished.
   
Ella, pur ferma in su la detta coscia 30.100 I Still standing motionless upon the left
del carro stando, a le sustanze pie C side of the chariot, she then addressed
volse le sue parole così poscia: the angels who had been compassionate:
   
"Voi vigilate ne l'etterno die, 30.103 “You are awake in never-ending day,
sì che notte né sonno a voi non fura and neither night nor sleep can steal from you
passo che faccia il secol per sue vie; one step the world would take along its way;
   
onde la mia risposta è con più cura 30.106 therefore, I’m more concerned that my reply
che m'intenda colui che di là piagne, be understood by him who weeps beyond,
perché sia colpa e duol d'una misura. so that his sorrow’s measure match his sin.
   
Non pur per ovra de le rote magne, 30.109 Not only through the work of the great spheres—
che drizzan ciascun seme ad alcun fine which guide each seed to a determined end,
secondo che le stelle son compagne, depending on what stars are its companions—
   
ma per larghezza di grazie divine, 30.112 but through the bounty of the godly graces,
che sì alti vapori hanno a lor piova, which shower down from clouds so high that we
che nostre viste là non van vicine, cannot approach them with our vision, he,
   
questi fu tal ne la sua vita nova 30.115 when young, was such—potentially—that any
virtüalmente, ch'ogne abito destro propensity innate in him would have
fatto averebbe in lui mirabil prova. prodigiously succeeded, had he acted.
   
Ma tanto più maligno e più silvestro 30.118 But where the soil has finer vigor, there
si fa 'l terren col mal seme e non cólto, precisely—when untilled or badly seeded—
quant' elli ha più di buon vigor terrestro. will that terrain grow wilder and more noxious.
   
Alcun tempo il sostenni col mio volto: 30.121 My countenance sustained him for a while;
mostrando li occhi giovanetti a lui, showing my youthful eyes to him, I led
meco il menava in dritta parte vòlto. him with me toward the way of righteousness.
   
Sì tosto come in su la soglia fui 30.124 As soon as I, upon the threshold of
di mia seconda etade e mutai vita, my second age, had changed my life, he took
questi si tolse a me, e diessi altrui. himself away from me and followed after
   
Quando di carne a spirto era salita, 30.127 another; when, from flesh to spirit, I
e bellezza e virtù cresciuta m'era, had risen, and my goodness and my beauty
fu' io a lui men cara e men gradita; had grown, I was less dear to him, less welcome:
   
e volse i passi suoi per via non vera, 30.130 he turned his footsteps toward an untrue path;
imagini di ben seguendo false, he followed counterfeits of goodness, which
che nulla promession rendono intera. will never pay in full what they have promised.
   
Né l'impetrare ispirazion mi valse, 30.133 Nor did the inspirations I received—
con le quali e in sogno e altrimenti with which, in dream and otherwise, I called
lo rivocai: sì poco a lui ne calse! him back—help me; he paid so little heed!
   
Tanto giù cadde, che tutti argomenti 30.136 He fell so far there were no other means
a la salute sua eran già corti, to lead him to salvation, except this:
fuor che mostrarli le perdute genti. to let him see the people who were lost.
   
Per questo visitai l'uscio d'i morti, 30.139 For this I visited the gateway of
e a colui che l'ha qua sù condotto, PE the dead; to him who guided him above
li preghi miei, piangendo, furon porti. my prayers were offered even as I wept.
   
Alto fato di Dio sarebbe rotto, 30.142 D The deep design of God would have been broken
se Letè si passasse e tal vivanda PL if Lethe had been crossed and he had drunk
fosse gustata sanza alcuno scotto such waters but had not discharged the debt
   
di pentimento che lagrime spanda." 30.145 of penitence that’s paid when tears are shed.”
   
+People: (PE)
  • 30.32 Beatrice
  • 30.46 Virgilio
  • 30.49 Virgilio
  • 30.50 Virgilio
  • 30.51 Virgilio
  • 30.52 Eva
  • 30.55 Dante
  • 30.55 Virgilio
  • 30.64 Beatrice
  • 30.73 Beatrice
  • 30.140 Virgilio
+Places: (PL)
  • 30.76 Lete
  • 30.143 Lete
+Creatures: (C)
  • 30.8 grifone
  • 30.82 angeli
  • 30.101 angeli
+Deities: (D)
  • 30.68 Minerva
  • 30.142 Dio
+Structures: (S)
+Images: (I)
  • 30.1 Botticelli, Chariot
  • 30.28 Vellutello, griffin
  • 30.55 Flaxman, Beatrice
  • 30.100 Vellutello, Cart
+Music: (M)
  • 30.11 Veni, sponsa
  • 30.83 In te, Domine