Purgatorio: CantoI
Toruno'erbetterwatershoistsitssail
Thelittlevesselofmygeniusnow,
Thatleavesbehinditselfaseasocruel;
AndofthatsecondkingdomwillIsing
Whereinthehumanspiritdothpurgeitself,
Andtoascendtoheavenbecomethworthy.
ButletdeadPoesyhereriseagain,
OholyMuses, sincethatIamyours,
AndhereCalliopesomewhatascend,
Mysongaccompanyingwiththatsound,
Ofwhichthemiserablemagpiesfelt
Theblowsogreat, thattheydespairedofpardon.
Sweetcolouroftheorientalsapphire,
Thatwasupgatheredinthecloudlessaspect
Ofthepureair, asfarasthefirstcircle,
Untomineeyesdidrecommencedelight
SoonasIissuedforthfromthedeadair,
Whichhadwithsadnessfilledmineeyesandbreast.
Thebeauteousplanet, thattoloveincites,
Wasmakingalltheorienttolaugh,
VeilingtheFishesthatwereinherescort.
TotherighthandIturned, andfixedmymind
Upontheotherpole, andsawfourstars
Ne'erseenbeforesavebytheprimalpeople.
Rejoicingintheirflameletsseemedtheheaven.
Othouseptentrionalandwidowedsite,
Becausethouartdeprivedofseeingthese!
WhenfromregardingthemIhadwithdrawn,
Turningalittletotheotherpole,
TherewheretheWainhaddisappearedalready,
Isawbesidemeanoldmanalone,
Worthyofsomuchreverenceinhislook,
Thatmoreowesnottofatheranyson.
Alongbeardandwithwhitehairintermingled
Hewore, insemblancelikeuntothetresses,
Ofwhichadoublelistfellonhisbreast.
Theraysofthefourconsecratedstars
Didsoadornhiscountenancewithlight,
ThathimIsawaswerethesunbeforehim.
