Dante Alighieri

A Translation of Dante's Purgatorio Dante Alighieri

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1867. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CANTO XXII. The Poets with Statins ascend to the sixth terrace. Statins describes his conversion to the true faith. - Virgil gives him news of many illustrious individuals now in Limbo. They come to an apple tree of sweet odour. From amidst its foliage a voice exalts the virtue of temperance. Already was the angel left behind, To the sixth terrace our celestial guide, Who from my forehead had effaced a wound; And those who place in justice their delight Were called by him Beati, and his lips, 5 With the word sitiunt only, closed the hymn. And I, more light than elsewhere I had felt, Advanced so rapidly, it was no toil The ghosts to follow in their swift ascent. Then Virgil thus began--" Ever that love 10 "Which virtue kindles other love inflames, "If the flame outwardly itself declare; "Whence from that hour in which from us disjoined, "Into Hell's Limbo Juvenal went down, "Who had made known to me thy dear regard, 15 "So full of kindness were for thee my thoughts, "That never kindlier were for one unseen, "And this ascent through thee seems very short. "But tell thou me, and with forgiveness kind "If I too boldly now let loose the rein, 20 "And let the words thou speakest he a friend's; "Within thy bosom how could there be found "A place for avarice midst so great a store "Of wisdom which thy study had compiled?" Over the face of Statius at these words 25 First passed a smile, and then the answer came--. "Each word of thine is proof to me of love; "Truly it often happens things appear "Which give false matter to enlarge our doubts, "Because the causes of the things are hid. 30 "To me thy question showeth thy belief "That I was miser in the other life; "The proof, perhaps, may be my presence here. "But learn that avarice had on me no hold; "I touched the other v...