Part 9 (1/2)

[213] _Caitiffs_: To one who had suffered like Dante for the frank part he took in affairs, neutrality may well have seemed the unpardonable sin in politics; and no doubt but that his thoughts were set on the trimmers in Florence when he wrote, 'Let us not speak of them!'

[214] _A veteran_: Charon. In all this description of the pa.s.sage of the river by the shades, Dante borrows freely from Virgil. It has been already remarked on _Inf._ ii. 28 that he draws ill.u.s.trations from Pagan sources. More than that, as we begin to find, he boldly introduces legendary and mythological characters among the persons of his drama.

With Milton in mind, it surprises, on a first acquaintance with the _Comedy_, to discover how nearly independent of angels is the economy invented by Dante for the other world.

[215] _Other ways, etc._: The souls bound from earth to Purgatory gather at the mouth of the Tiber, whence they are wafted on an angel's skiff to their destination (_Purg._ ii. 100). It may be here noted that never does Dante hint a fear of one day becoming a denizen of Inferno. It is only the pains of Purgatory that oppress his soul by antic.i.p.ation. So here Charon is made to see at a glance that the pilgrim is not of those 'who make descent to Acheron.'

[216] _As fowls, etc._: 'As a bird to its lure'--generally interpreted of the falcon when called back. But a witness of the sport of netting thrushes in Tuscany describes them as 'flying into the vocal ambush in a hurried, half-reluctant, and very remarkable manner.'

[217] _Courteous Master_: Virgil here gives the answer promised at line 76; and Dante by the epithet he uses removes any impression that his guide had been wanting in courtesy when he bade him wait.

[218] _Wherefore_: Charon's displeasure only proves that he feels he has no hold on Dante.

[219] _Trembled, etc._: Symbolical of the increase of woe in Inferno when the doomed souls have landed on the thither side of Acheron. h.e.l.l opens to receive them. Conversely, when any purified soul is released from Purgatory the mountain of purification trembles to its base with joy (_Purg._ xxi. 58).

CANTO IV.

Resounding thunder broke the slumber deep That drowsed my senses, and myself I shook Like one by force awakened out of sleep.

Then rising up I cast a steady look, With eyes refreshed, on all that lay around, And cognisance of where I found me took.

In sooth, me on the valley's brink I found Of the dolorous abyss, where infinite Despairing cries converge with thundering sound.[220]

Cloudy it was, and deep, and dark as night; 10 So dark that, peering eagerly to find What its depths held, no object met my sight.

'Descend we now into this region blind,'

Began the Poet with a face all pale; 'I will go first, and do thou come behind.'

Marking the wanness on his cheek prevail, I asked, 'How can I, seeing thou hast dread, My wonted comforter when doubts a.s.sail?'

'The anguish of the people,' then he said, 'Who are below, has painted on my face 20 Pity,[221] by thee for fear interpreted.

Come! The long journey bids us move apace.'

Then entered he and made me enter too The topmost circle girding the abyss.

Therein, as far as I by listening knew, There was no lamentation save of sighs, Whence throbbed the air eternal through and through.

This, sorrow without suffering made arise From infants and from women and from men, Gathered in great and many companies. 30 And the good Master: 'Wouldst thou[222] nothing then Of who those spirits are have me relate?

Yet know, ere pa.s.sing further, although when On earth they sinned not, worth however great Availed them not, they being unbaptized-- Part[223] of the faith thou holdest. If their fate Was to be born ere man was Christianised, G.o.d, as behoved, they never could adore: And I myself am with this folk comprised.

For such defects--our guilt is nothing more-- 40 We are thus lost, suffering from this alone That, hopeless, we our want of bliss deplore.'

Greatly I sorrowed when he made this known, Because I knew that some who did excel In worthiness were to that limbo[224] gone.

'Tell me, O Sir,' I prayed him, 'Master,[225] tell,'

--That I of the belief might surety win, Victorious every error to dispel-- 'Did ever any hence to bliss attain By merit of another or his own?' 50 And he, to whom my hidden drift[226] was plain: 'I to this place but lately[227] had come down, When I beheld one hither make descent; A Potentate[228] who wore a victor's crown.

The shade of our first sire forth with him went, And his son Abel's, Noah's forth he drew, Moses' who gave the laws, the obedient Patriarch Abram's, and King David's too; And, with his sire and children, Israel, And Rachel, winning whom such toils he knew; 60 And many more, in blessedness to dwell.

And I would have thee know, earlier than these No human soul was ever saved from h.e.l.l.'

While thus he spake our progress did not cease, But we continued through the wood to stray; The wood, I mean, with crowded ghosts for trees.

Ere from the summit far upon our way We yet had gone, I saw a flame which glowed, Holding a hemisphere[229] of dark at bay.

'Twas still a little further on our road, 70 Yet not so far but that in part I guessed That honourable people there abode.

'Of art and science Ornament confessed!

Who are these honoured in such high degree, And in their lot distinguished from the rest?'

He said: 'For them their glorious memory, Still in thy world the subject of renown, Wins grace[230] by Heaven distinguished thus to be.'

Meanwhile I heard a voice: 'Be honour shown To the ill.u.s.trious poet,[231] for his shade 80 Is now returning which a while was gone.'

When the voice paused nor further utterance made, Four mighty shades drew near with one accord, In aspect neither sorrowful nor glad.