CANTO VIII ARGUMENT.-Two Angels, with flaming swords broken at the points, descend to keep watch over the valley, into which Virgil and Dante entering by desire of Sordello, our Poet meets with joy the spirit of Nino, the judge of Gallura, one who was well known to him. Meantime three exceedingly bright stars appear near the pole, and a serpent creeps subtly into the valley, but flees at hearing the approach of those angelic guards. Lastly, Conrad Malaspina predicts to our Poet his future banishment. N OW was the hour that wakens fond desire In men at sea, and melts their thoughtful heart And pilgrim newly on his road with love Thrills, if he hear the vesper bell from far, That seems to mourn for the expiring day: Began, with wonder, from those spirits to mark Audience implored. Both palms it join'd and raised, As telling God, "I care for naught beside." Follow'd through all the hymn, with upward gaze Here, reader! for the truth make thine eyes keen: For of so subtle texture is this veil, That thou with ease mayst pass it through unmark'd. Look up, as if in expectation held, Pale and in lowly guise; and, from on high, I saw, forth issuing descend beneath, Two Angels, with two flame-illumined swords, Green as the tender leaves but newly born, 1"Te lucis ante terminum," the first verse of the hymn in the last part of the sacred office, termed complin." Their vesture was, the which, by wings as green So that the troop were in the midst contain'd. Was lost, as faculty that by too much 66 as a guard Over the vale, 'gainst him, who hither tends, The serpent." Whence, not knowing by which path Sordello paused not: "To the valley now (For it is time) let us descend; and hold Converse with those great shadows: haply much Their sight may please ye." Only three steps down Methinks I measured, ere I was beneath, And noted one who look'd as with desire To know me. Time was now that air grew dim; Was left unsaid. He then inquired: "How long, The other to a spirit turn'd, who near Was seated, crying: "Conrad! up with speed: Nino di Gallura de' Visconti, nephew to Count Ugolino de' Gherardeschi, and betrayed by him. Father to Marcello Malaspina. 66 Come, see what of His grace high God hath will'd." 4 Her mother, I believe, loves me no more; Since she has changed the white and wimpled folds, 998 How long in woman lasts the flame of love, 66 The four resplendent stars, thou saw'st this morn, Are there beneath; and these, risen in their stead." While yet he spoke, Sordello to himself Drew him, and cried: 66 Lo there our enemy!" And with his hand pointed that way to look. Along the side, where barrier none arose Around the little vale, a serpent lay, The daughter of Nino, and wife of Riccardo da Camino, of Trevigi. 5"Her mother." Beatrice, Marchioness of Este, wife of Nino, and after his death married to Galeazzo de' Visconti of Milan. The weeds of widowhood. The arms of Galeazzo and the ensign of the Milanese. 8 The cock was the ensign of Gallura, Nino's province in Sardinia. A certain shame appears to have bee attached to a second marriage. The three evangelical virtues Faith, Hope, and Charity, are sup posed to rise in the evening, to denote their belonging to the contemplative; as the four others are made to rise in the morning to signify their belonging to the active life: or perhaps it may mark the succession, in order of time, of the Gospel to the heathen system of morality. Such haply as gave Eve the bitter food. The spirit, (who to Nino, when he call'd, Thou know'st, tell me, who once was mighty there. That old one, but from him I sprang. The love I bore my people is now here refined." "In your domains," I answer'd, "ne'er was I. The fame, that honours your illustrious house, I swear to you, so may my upward route Nature and use give her such privilege, That while the world is twisted from his course By a bad head, she only walks aright, And has the evil way in scorn." He then: "Now pass thee on: seven times the tired sun 10 10" The sun shall not enter into the constellation of Aries seven times more, before thou shalt have still better cause for the good opin ion thou expressest of Valdimagra, in the kind reception thou shalt there meet with." Dante was hospitably received by the Marchese Marcello, or Morello Malaspina, during his banishment, A. D. 1307. Revisits not the couch, which with four feet With stronger nails than other's speech can drive; CANTO IX ARGUMENT.-Dante is carried up the mountain, asleep and dreaming, by Lucia; and, on awakening, finds himself, two hours after sunrise, with Virgil, near the gate of Purgatory, through which they are admitted by the Angel deputed by St. Peter to keep it. N OW the fair consort of Tithonus old, Arisen from her mate's beloved arms, Look'd palely o'er the eastern cliff; her brow, Lucent with jewels, glitter'd, set in sign. Of that chill animal,1 who with his train And when our minds, more wanderers from the flesh, Then, in a vision, did I seem to view A golden-feather'd eagle in the sky, With open wings, and hovering for descent; 1" Of that chill animal." The scorpion. 2 The third was closing up its wing." The night being divided into four watches, I think he may mean that the third was past, and the fourth and last was begun, so that there might be some faint glimmering of morning twilight; and not merely, as Lombardi supposes, that the third watch was drawing to ward its close, which would still leave an insurmountable difficulty in the first verse. 3" All five." Virgil, Dante, Sordello, Nino, and Corrado Malaspina. 4 "Remembering haply ancient grief." Progne having been changed into a swallow after the outrage done her by Tereus. |