Purgatorio 27 by Dante (Durling) Lyrics
As when he shoots the first rays to where his
Maker bled, when Ebro falls beneath high Libra
and the waves of Ganges are scorched by noon: (H 3)
so stood the sun, and thus day was fading, when
the glad angel of God appeared to us. (H 6)
He was standing outside the flame, on the bank,
and he was singing, “Beati mundo corde!” with a
voice much more alive than ours. (H 9)
Then: “You go no further, holy souls, unless the
fire bites first; enter into it, and be not deaf to the
singing over there,” (H 12)
he said to us as we came near; and when I heard
him, I became like one placed in the grave. (H 15)
Over my clasped hands I stretched forward, staring
at the fire, and vividly imagining human bodies I
had in the past seen burning. (H 18)
My good guides turned toward me, and Virgil
said to me: “My son, here there can be torment,
but not death. (H 21)
Remember, remember! And if I guided you
safely upon Geryon, what will I do here, closer to
God? (H 24)
Believe it certain that if you stayed within the
womb of this flame for a good thousand years, it
could not make you bald by one hair. (H 27)
And if you perhaps believe I am deceiving you,
approach it and reassure yourself with your own
hands and the edge of your robe. (H 30)
Lay aside now, lay aside every fear; turn this way
and come: enter confidently!” And I being still
fixed and against conscience. (H 33)
When he saw me still standing fixed and rigid, a
little perturbed he said: “Now see, son: between
Beatrice and you is this wall.” (H 36)
As at the name of Thisbe Pyramus opened his
eyelids on the point of death and gazed at her, then
when the mulberry turned crimson: (H 39)
so, my rigor softening, I turned to my wise
leader, hearing the name that burgeons always in
my memory. (H 42)
And he shook his head and said: “Well? do we
want to stay on this side?” Then he smiled as one
does at a little boy who is won over by an apple. (H 45)
Then ahead of me he put himself in the fire,
begging Statius to come after, who for a long way
had divided us. (H 48)
As soon as I was within, I would have thrown
myself into boiling glass to be cooled, so without
measure was the burning there. (H 51)
My sweet father, to strengthen me, walked ever
speaking of Beatrice, saying: “Already I seem to see
her eyes.” (H 54)
A voice was guiding us that was singing on the
other side; and, ever intent upon it, we came forth
where we could ascend. (H 57)
“Venite, benedicti Patris mei!” sounded within a
light that was there, so bright that it vanquished
me and I could not look at it. (H 60)
“The sun departs,” it added, “and evening
comes; do not stop, but hasten your step, while the
west has not gone dark.” (H 63)
The path mounted straight ahead within the
rock, so that I cut the rays of the sun in front of
me, for it was already setting. (H 66)
And we sampled but few steps before my sages
and I perceived, by my shadow’s disappearing, that
the sun had set behind us. (H 69)
And before the horizon in all its immense
regions had become of one appearance, and night
had assumed all its dispensation, (H 72)
each of us made his bed on a step; for the nature
of the mountain had broken our power to climb
further and our delight in it. (H 75)
As the she-goats are still and tame as they
ruminate, though they were swift and wild on the
hilltops before having fed, (H 78)
silent in the shade while the sun burns, guarded
by the goatherd, who leans on his staff and
provides them with rest: (H 81)
and as the shepherd who dwells outdoors spends
the night resting alongside his flock, taking care
that no wild beast disperse them: (H 84)
so were all three of us then, I like a she-goat,
they like shepherds, enclosed on this side and that
by the high rock. (H 87)
Little could be seen there of outside things, but,
by that little, I saw the stars brighter and larger
than their custom. (H 90)
Thus ruminating and gazing at them, sleep took
me, sleep that often, before the event comes,
knows the news. (H 93)
At the hour, I believe, when from the east
Cytherea first shone on the mountain, she who
seems always aflame with the fire of love, (H 96)
in dream I seemed to see a lady, young and
beautiful, walking in a meadow gathering flowers,
and singing she said: (H 99)
“Whoever asks my name, let him know that I
myself am Leah, and I go moving my lovely hands
about in order to make myself a garland. (H 102)
To please myself at the mirror I here adorn
myself, but my sister Rachel is never distracted
from her looking-glass, and sits there all day long. (H 105)
She is as desirous to see her lovely eyes as I am
to adorn myself with my hands: seeing satisfies
her, doing satisfies me.” (H 108)
And already, because of the splendors preceding
dawn, which rise the more welcome to pilgrims as,
returning, they sleep less far from home, (H 111)
the shadows were fleeing on every side, and my
sleep with them: therefore I rose up, seeing my
great masters already risen. (H 114)
“That sweet apple which the zeal of mortals goes
seeking along so many branches, today will bring
peace to your hungers.” (H 117)
Virgil used toward me these very words, and
never were there gifts that were equal in pleasure
to them. (H 120)
So much did desire upon desire grow in me to
be above that at every step I felt my wings grow for
flight. (H 123)
When the stairway was all below us, quickly
climbed, and we were on the uppermost step,
Virgil fixed his eyes on me (H 126)
and said: “The temporal fire and the eternal
have you seen, my son, and you have come to a
place where I by myself discern no further. (H 129)
I have drawn you here with wit and with art;
your own pleasure now take as leader: you are
beyond the steep ways, beyond the narrow. (H 132)
See the sun that shines on your brow, see the
grasses, the flowers, and the bushes that here the
earth brings forth of itself alone. (H 135)
Until the lovely eyes arrive in their gladness
which weeping made me come to you, you can sit
and you can walk among them. (H 138)
No longer await any word or sign from me: free,
upright, and whole is your will, and it would be a
fault not to act according to its intent.
Therefore you over yourself I crown and mitre.” (H 142)
Maker bled, when Ebro falls beneath high Libra
and the waves of Ganges are scorched by noon: (H 3)
so stood the sun, and thus day was fading, when
the glad angel of God appeared to us. (H 6)
He was standing outside the flame, on the bank,
and he was singing, “Beati mundo corde!” with a
voice much more alive than ours. (H 9)
Then: “You go no further, holy souls, unless the
fire bites first; enter into it, and be not deaf to the
singing over there,” (H 12)
he said to us as we came near; and when I heard
him, I became like one placed in the grave. (H 15)
Over my clasped hands I stretched forward, staring
at the fire, and vividly imagining human bodies I
had in the past seen burning. (H 18)
My good guides turned toward me, and Virgil
said to me: “My son, here there can be torment,
but not death. (H 21)
Remember, remember! And if I guided you
safely upon Geryon, what will I do here, closer to
God? (H 24)
Believe it certain that if you stayed within the
womb of this flame for a good thousand years, it
could not make you bald by one hair. (H 27)
And if you perhaps believe I am deceiving you,
approach it and reassure yourself with your own
hands and the edge of your robe. (H 30)
Lay aside now, lay aside every fear; turn this way
and come: enter confidently!” And I being still
fixed and against conscience. (H 33)
When he saw me still standing fixed and rigid, a
little perturbed he said: “Now see, son: between
Beatrice and you is this wall.” (H 36)
As at the name of Thisbe Pyramus opened his
eyelids on the point of death and gazed at her, then
when the mulberry turned crimson: (H 39)
so, my rigor softening, I turned to my wise
leader, hearing the name that burgeons always in
my memory. (H 42)
And he shook his head and said: “Well? do we
want to stay on this side?” Then he smiled as one
does at a little boy who is won over by an apple. (H 45)
Then ahead of me he put himself in the fire,
begging Statius to come after, who for a long way
had divided us. (H 48)
As soon as I was within, I would have thrown
myself into boiling glass to be cooled, so without
measure was the burning there. (H 51)
My sweet father, to strengthen me, walked ever
speaking of Beatrice, saying: “Already I seem to see
her eyes.” (H 54)
A voice was guiding us that was singing on the
other side; and, ever intent upon it, we came forth
where we could ascend. (H 57)
“Venite, benedicti Patris mei!” sounded within a
light that was there, so bright that it vanquished
me and I could not look at it. (H 60)
“The sun departs,” it added, “and evening
comes; do not stop, but hasten your step, while the
west has not gone dark.” (H 63)
The path mounted straight ahead within the
rock, so that I cut the rays of the sun in front of
me, for it was already setting. (H 66)
And we sampled but few steps before my sages
and I perceived, by my shadow’s disappearing, that
the sun had set behind us. (H 69)
And before the horizon in all its immense
regions had become of one appearance, and night
had assumed all its dispensation, (H 72)
each of us made his bed on a step; for the nature
of the mountain had broken our power to climb
further and our delight in it. (H 75)
As the she-goats are still and tame as they
ruminate, though they were swift and wild on the
hilltops before having fed, (H 78)
silent in the shade while the sun burns, guarded
by the goatherd, who leans on his staff and
provides them with rest: (H 81)
and as the shepherd who dwells outdoors spends
the night resting alongside his flock, taking care
that no wild beast disperse them: (H 84)
so were all three of us then, I like a she-goat,
they like shepherds, enclosed on this side and that
by the high rock. (H 87)
Little could be seen there of outside things, but,
by that little, I saw the stars brighter and larger
than their custom. (H 90)
Thus ruminating and gazing at them, sleep took
me, sleep that often, before the event comes,
knows the news. (H 93)
At the hour, I believe, when from the east
Cytherea first shone on the mountain, she who
seems always aflame with the fire of love, (H 96)
in dream I seemed to see a lady, young and
beautiful, walking in a meadow gathering flowers,
and singing she said: (H 99)
“Whoever asks my name, let him know that I
myself am Leah, and I go moving my lovely hands
about in order to make myself a garland. (H 102)
To please myself at the mirror I here adorn
myself, but my sister Rachel is never distracted
from her looking-glass, and sits there all day long. (H 105)
She is as desirous to see her lovely eyes as I am
to adorn myself with my hands: seeing satisfies
her, doing satisfies me.” (H 108)
And already, because of the splendors preceding
dawn, which rise the more welcome to pilgrims as,
returning, they sleep less far from home, (H 111)
the shadows were fleeing on every side, and my
sleep with them: therefore I rose up, seeing my
great masters already risen. (H 114)
“That sweet apple which the zeal of mortals goes
seeking along so many branches, today will bring
peace to your hungers.” (H 117)
Virgil used toward me these very words, and
never were there gifts that were equal in pleasure
to them. (H 120)
So much did desire upon desire grow in me to
be above that at every step I felt my wings grow for
flight. (H 123)
When the stairway was all below us, quickly
climbed, and we were on the uppermost step,
Virgil fixed his eyes on me (H 126)
and said: “The temporal fire and the eternal
have you seen, my son, and you have come to a
place where I by myself discern no further. (H 129)
I have drawn you here with wit and with art;
your own pleasure now take as leader: you are
beyond the steep ways, beyond the narrow. (H 132)
See the sun that shines on your brow, see the
grasses, the flowers, and the bushes that here the
earth brings forth of itself alone. (H 135)
Until the lovely eyes arrive in their gladness
which weeping made me come to you, you can sit
and you can walk among them. (H 138)
No longer await any word or sign from me: free,
upright, and whole is your will, and it would be a
fault not to act according to its intent.
Therefore you over yourself I crown and mitre.” (H 142)