Dante's Purgatorio: Canto X

The Needle’s Eye. The First Circle: The Proud. The Sculptures on the Wall.

When we had crossed the threshold of the door
   Which the perverted love of souls disuses,
   Because it makes the crooked way seem straight,

Re-echoing I heard it closed again;
   And if I had turned back mine eyes upon it, 5
   What for my failing had been fit excuse?

We mounted upward through a rifted rock,
   Which undulated to this side and that,
   Even as a wave receding and advancing.

"Here it behoves us use a little art," 10
   Began my Leader, "to adapt ourselves
   Now here, now there, to the receding side."

And this our footsteps so infrequent made,
   That sooner had the moon's decreasing disk
   Regained its bed to sink again to rest, 15

Than we were forth from out that needle's eye;
   But when we free and in the open were,
   There where the mountain backward piles itself,

I wearied out, and both of us uncertain
   About our way, we stopped upon a plain 20
   More desolate than roads across the deserts.

From where its margin borders on the void,
   To foot of the high bank that ever rises,
   A human body three times told would measure;

And far as eye of mine could wing its flight, 25
   Now on the left, and on the right flank now,
   The same this cornice did appear to me.

Thereon our feet had not been moved as yet,
   When I perceived the embankment round about,
   Which all right of ascent had interdicted, 30

To be of marble white, and so adorned
   With sculptures, that not only Polycletus,
   But Nature's self, had there been put to shame.

The Angel, who came down to earth with tidings
   Of peace, that had been wept for many a year, 35
   And opened Heaven from its long interdict,

In front of us appeared so truthfully
   There sculptured in a gracious attitude,
   He did not seem an image that is silent.

One would have sworn that he was saying, "Ave;" 40
   For she was there in effigy portrayed
   Who turned the key to ope the exalted love,

And in her mien this language had impressed,
   "Ecce ancilla Dei," as distinctly
   As any figure stamps itself in wax. 45

"Keep not thy mind upon one place alone,"
   The gentle Master said, who had me standing
   Upon that side where people have their hearts;

Whereat I moved mine eyes, and I beheld
   In rear of Mary, and upon that side 50
   Where he was standing who conducted me,

Another story on the rock imposed;
   Wherefore I passed Virgilius and drew near,
   So that before mine eyes it might be set.

There sculptured in the self-same marble were 55
   The cart and oxen, drawing the holy ark,
   Wherefore one dreads an office not appointed.

People appeared in front, and all of them
   In seven choirs divided, of two senses
   Made one say "No," the other, "Yes, they sing." 60

Likewise unto the smoke of the frankincense,
   Which there was imaged forth, the eyes and nose
   Were in the yes and no discordant made.

Preceded there the vessel benedight,
   Dancing with girded loins, the humble Psalmist, 65
   And more and less than King was he in this.

Opposite, represented at the window
   Of a great palace, Michal looked upon him,
   Even as a woman scornful and afflicted.

I moved my feet from where I had been standing, 70
   To examine near at hand another story,
   Which after Michal glimmered white upon me.

There the high glory of the Roman Prince
   Was chronicled, whose great beneficence
   Moved Gregory to his great victory; 75

'Tis of the Emperor Trajan I am speaking;
   And a poor widow at his bridle stood,
   In attitude of weeping and of grief.

Around about him seemed it thronged and full
   Of cavaliers, and the eagles in the gold 80
   Above them visibly in the wind were moving.

The wretched woman in the midst of these
   Seemed to be saying: "Give me vengeance, Lord,
   For my dead son, for whom my heart is breaking."

And he to answer her: "Now wait until 85
   I shall return." And she: "My Lord," like one
   In whom grief is impatient, "shouldst thou not

Return?" And he: "Who shall be where I am
   Will give it thee." And she: "Good deed of others
   What boots it thee, if thou neglect thine own?" 90

Whence he: "Now comfort thee, for it behoves me
   That I discharge my duty ere I move;
   Justice so wills, and pity doth retain me."

He who on no new thing has ever looked
   Was the creator of this visible language, 95
   Novel to us, for here it is not found.

While I delighted me in contemplating
   The images of such humility,
   And dear to look on for their Maker's sake,

"Behold, upon this side, but rare they make 100
   Their steps," the Poet murmured, "many people;
   These will direct us to the lofty stairs."

Mine eyes, that in beholding were intent
   To see new things, of which they curious are,
   In turning round towards him were not slow. 105

But still I wish not, Reader, thou shouldst swerve
   From thy good purposes, because thou hearest
   How God ordaineth that the debt be paid;

Attend not to the fashion of the torment,
   Think of what follows; think that at the worst 110
   It cannot reach beyond the mighty sentence.

"Master," began I, "that which I behold
   Moving towards us seems to me not persons,
   And what I know not, so in sight I waver."

And he to me: "The grievous quality 115
   Of this their torment bows them so to earth,
   That my own eyes at first contended with it;

But look there fixedly, and disentangle
   By sight what cometh underneath those stones;
   Already canst thou see how each is stricken." 120

O ye proud Christians! wretched, weary ones!
   Who, in the vision of the mind infirm
   Confidence have in your backsliding steps,

Do ye not comprehend that we are worms,
   Born to bring forth the angelic butterfly 125
   That flieth unto judgment without screen?

Why floats aloft your spirit high in air?
   Like are ye unto insects undeveloped,
   Even as the worm in whom formation fails!

As to sustain a ceiling or a roof, 130
   In place of corbel, oftentimes a figure
   Is seen to join its knees unto its breast,

Which makes of the unreal real anguish
   Arise in him who sees it, fashioned thus
   Beheld I those, when I had ta'en good heed. 135

True is it, they were more or less bent down,
   According as they more or less were laden;
   And he who had most patience in his looks

Weeping did seem to say, "I can no more!"

NOTES

1 - 1

In this canto is described the First Circle of Purgatory, where the sin of Pride is punished.

14 - 14

It being now Easter Monday, and the fourth day after the full moon, the hour here indicated would be four hours after sunrise. And as the sun was more than two hours high when Dante found himself at the gate of Purgatory (Canto IX. 44), he was an hour and a half in this needle's eye.

30 - 30

Which was so steep as to allow of no ascent; dritto di salita being used in the sense of right of way.

32 - 32

Polycletus, the celebrated Grecian sculptor, among whose works one, representing the body-guard of the king of Persia, acquired such fame for excellence as to be called “the Rule.”

33 - 33

With this description of the sculptures on the wall of Purgatory compare that of the shield which Vulcan made for Achilles, Iliad, XVIII. 484, Buckley's Tr.: –

“On it he wrought the earth, and the heaven, and the sea,
the unwearied sun, and the full moon. On it also he
represented all the constellations with which the heaven is
crowned, the Pleiades, and Hyades, and the strength of
Orion, and the Bear, which they also call by the appellation
of the Wain, which there revolves, and watches Orion; but it
alone is free from the baths of the ocean.

”In the likewise he wrought two fair cities of articulate
speaking men. In the one, indeed, there were marriages and
feasts; and they were conducting the brides from their
chambers through the city with brilliant torches, and many a
bridal song was raised. The youthful dancers were wheeling
round, and among them pipes and lyres uttered a sound; and
the women standing, each at her portals, admired. And
people were crowded together in an assembly, and there a
contest had arisen; for two men contended for the ransom-
money of a slain man: the one affirmed that he had paid all,
appealing to the people; but the other denied, averring that
he had received naught: and both wished to find an end of
the dispute before a judge. The people were applauding
both, supporters of either party, and the haralds were
keeping back the people; but the elders sat upon polished
stones, in a sacred circle, and the pleaders held in their
hands the staves of the clear-voiced heralds; with these
then they arose, and alternately pleaded their cause.
Moreover, in the midst lay two talents of gold, to give to
him who should best establish his claim among them. But
round the other city sat two armies of people glittering in
arms; and one of two plans was agreeable to them, either to
waste it, or to divide all things into two parts, – the
wealth, whatever the pleasant city contained within it.
They, however, had not yet complied, but were secretly
arming themselves for an ambuscade. Meanwhile, their
beloved wives and young children kept watch, standing above,
and among them the men whom old page possessed. But they
(the younger men) advanced; but Mars was ther leader, and
Pallas Minerva, both golden, and clad in golden dresses,
beautiful and large, along with their armor, radiant all
round, and indeed like gods; but the people were of humbler
size. But when they now had reached a place where it
appeared fit to lay an ambuscade, by a river, where there
was a watering-place for all sorts of cattle, there then
they settled, clad in shining steel. There, apart from the
people, sat two spies, watching when they might perceive the
sheep and crooked-horned oxen. These, however, soon
advanced, and two shepherds accompanied them, amusing
themselves with their pipes, for they had not yet perceived
the stratagem. Then they, discerning them, ran in upon
them, and immediately slaughtered on all sides the herds of
oxen, and the beautiful flocks of snow-white sheep; and slew
the shepherds besides. But they, when they heard the great
tumult among the oxen, previously sitting in front of the
assembly, mounting their nimble-footed steeds, pursued; and
soon came up with them. Then, having marshalled themselves,
they fought a battles on the banks of the river, and wounded
one another with their brazen spears. Among them mingled
Discord and Tumult, and destructive Fate, holding one alive
recently wounded, another unwounded, but a third, slain, she
drew by the feet through the battle; and had the garment
around her shoulders crimsoned with the gore of men. But
they turned about, like living mortals, and fought, and drew
away the slaughtered bodies of each other.

“On it he also placed a soft fallow field, rich glebe, wide,
thrice-ploughed; and in it many ploughmen drove hither and
thither, turning round their teams. But when, returning,
they reached the end of the field, then a man, advancing,
gave into their hands a cup of very sweet wine; but they
turned themselves in series, eager to reach the other end of
the deep fallow. But it was all black behind, similar to
ploughed land, which indeed was a marvel beyond all others.

”On it likewise he placed a field of deep corn, where
reapers were cutting, having sharp sickles in their hands.
Some handfuls fell one after the other upon te ground along
the furrow, and te binders of sheaves tied others with
bands. Three binders followed the reapers, while behind
them boys gathering the handfuls, and bearing them in their
arms, continually supplied them; and among them the master
stood by the swath in silence, holding a sceptre, delighted
in heart. But apart, beneath an oak, servants were
preparing a banquet, and, sacrificing a huge ox, they
ministered; while women sprinkled much white barley on the
meat, as a supper for the reapers.

“On it likewise he placed a vineyard, heavily laden with
grapes, beautiful, golden; but the clusters throughout were
black; and it was supported throughout by silver poles.
Round it he drew an azure trench, and about it a hedge of
tin; but there was only one path to it, by which the
gatherers went when they collected the vintage. Young
virgins and youths, of tender minds, bore the luscious fruit
in woven baskets, in the midst of whom a boy played sweetly
on a shrill harp; and with tender voice sang gracefully to
the chord; while they, beating the ground in unison with
dancing and shouts, followed, skipping with their feet.

”In it he also wrought a heard of oxen with horn erect. But
the kine were made of gold and of tin, and rushed out with a
lowing from the stall to the pasture, beside a murmuring
stream, along the breeze-weaving reeds. Four golden
herdsmen accompanied the oxen, and nine dogs, swift of foot,
followed. But two terrible lions detained the bull, roaring
among the foremost oxen, and he was dragged away, loudly
bellowing, and the dogs and youths followed for a rescue.
They indeed, having torn off the skin of the great ox,
lapped up his entrails and black blood; and the shepherds
vainly pressed upon them, urging on their fleet dogs. These
however refused to bite the lions, but, standing very near,
barked, and shunned them.

“On it illustrious Vulcan also formed a pasture in a
beautiful grove full of white sheep, and folds, and covered
huts and cottages.

”Illustrious Vulcan likewise adorned it with a dance, like
unto that which, in wide Gnossus, Daedalus contrived for
fair-haired Ariadne. There danced youths and alluring
virgins, holding each other's hands at the wrist. These
wore fine linen robes, but those were dressed in well-woven
tunics, shining as with oil; these also had beautiful
garlands, and those were golden swords, hanging from silver
belts. Sometimes, with skilful feet, they nimbly bounded
round; as when a potter, sitting, shall make trial of a
wheel fitted to his hands, whether it will run: and at other
times again they ran back to their places through one
another. But a great crowd surrounded the pleasing dance,
amusing themselves; and among them two tumblers, beginning
their songs, spun round through the midst.

“But in it he also formed the vast strength of the river
Oceanus, near the last border of the well-formed shield.”

See also Virgil's description of the Shields of AEneas, AEneid, VIII., and of the representations of the walls of the Temple of Juno at Carthage, AEneid, I. Also the description of the Temple of Mars, in Statius, Thebaid, VII., and that of the tomb of the Persian queen in the Alexandreis of Philip Gualtier, noticed in Mr. Summer's article, Atlantic Monthly, XVI. 754. And finally “the noble kerving and the portreitures” of the Temples of Venus, Mars, and Diana, in Chaucer's Knightes Tale: –

“Why shulde I not as wel eke tell you all
The portreiture that was upon the wall
Within the temple of mighty Mars the Rede?
.....
”First on the wall was peinted a forest,
In which ther wonneth neyther man ne best;
With knotty, knarry, barrein trees old,
Of stubbes sharpe, and hidous to behold;
In which ther ran a romble and a swough,
As though a storme shuld bresten every bough.
And, dounward from an hill, under a bent,
Ther stood the temple of Mars Armipotent,
Wrought all of burned stele; of which th'entree
Was longe and streite, and gastly for to see,
And therout came a rage an swiche a vise,
That it made all the gates for to rise.
The northern light in at the dore shone;
For window, on the wall, ne was ther none,
Thurgh which men mighten any light discerne.
The dore was all of athamant eterne;
Yclenched, overthwart and endelong,
With yren tough. And, for to make it strong,
Every piler the temple to sustene
Was tonne-gret, of yren bright and shene.
“Ther saw I, first, the derke imagining
Of felonie, and alle the compassing;
The cruel ire, red as any glede;
The pikepurse; and eke the pale drede;
The smiler, with the knif under the cloke;
The shepen brenning, with the blake smoke;
The treson of the mordring in the bedde;
The open werre, with woundes all bebledde;
Conteke, with blody knif and sharp menace:
All full of chirking was that sory place.
The sleer of himself, yet, saw I there,
His herte-blood hath bathed all his here,
The naile ydriven in the shode anyght,
The colde deth, with mouth gaping upright.”

40 - 40

Luke i. 28: “And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.”

44 - 44

Luke i. 38: “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”

57 - 57

2 Samuel vi. 6, 7: “And when they came to Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”

65 - 65

2 Samuel vi. 14: “And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”

68 - 68

2 Samuel vi. 16: “And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.”

73 - 73

This story of Trajan is told in nearly the same words, though in prose, in th Fiore di Filosofi, a work attributed to Brunetto Latini. See Nannucci, Manuale della Letteratura del Primo Secolo, III. 291. It may be found also in the Legenda Aurea, in the Cento Novelle Antiche, Nov. 67, and in the Life of St. Gregory, by Paulus Diaconus.

As told by Ser Brunetto the story runs thus:

“Trajan was a very just Emperor, and one day, having mounted
his horse to go into battle with his cavalry, a woman came
and seized him by the foot, and, weeping bitterly, asked him
and besought him to do justice upon those who had without
cause put to death her son, who was an upright young man.
And he answered and said, 'I will give thee satisfaction
when I return.' And she said, 'And if thou dost not
return?' And he answered, 'If I do not return, my successor
will give thee satisfaction.' And she said, 'How do I know
that? and suppose he do it, what is it to thee if another do
good? Thou art my debtor, and according to thy deeds shalt
thou be judged; and is a fraud for a man not to pay what he
owes; the justice of another will not liberate thee, and it
will be well for thy successor if he shall liberate
himself.' Moved by these words the Emperor alighted, and
did justice, and consoled the widow, and then mounted his
horse, and went to battle, and routed his enemies. A long
time afterwards St. Gregory, hearing of his justice, saw his
statue, and had him disinterred, and found that he was all
turned to dust, except his bones and his tongue, which was
like that of a living man. And by this St. Gregory knew his
justice, for this tongue had always spoken it; so that then
he wept very piteously through compassion, praying God that
he would take this soul out of Hell, knowing that he had
been a Pagan. Then God, because of these prayers, drew that
soul from pain, and put it into glory. And thereupon the
angel spoke to St Gregory, and told him never to make such a
prayer again, and God laid upon him as a penance either to
be two days in Purgatory, or to be always ill with fever and
side-ache. St. Gregory as the lesser punishment chose the
fever and side-ache (male di fianco).”

75 - 75

Gregory's “great victory” was saving the soul of Trajan by prayer.

124 - 124

Jeremy Taylor says: As the silk-worm eateth itself out of a seed to become a little worm; and there feeding on the leaves of mulberries, it grows till its coat be off, and then works itself into a house of silk; then, casting its pearly seeds from the young to breed, it leaveth its silk for man, and dieth all white and winged in the shape of a flying creature: so is the progress of souls.“

127 - 127

Goer, Confes. Amant.,: –

”The proude vice of veingloire
Remembreth nought of purgatoire.“

And Shakespeare, King Henry the Eighth, III. 2: –

”I have ventured, Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders, This many summers in a sea of glory.“