397. "With these vile companions of his exile, Dante in vain attempted a forcible entrance into Florence. After this miscarriage, Dante quitted the confederacy-disgusted by the bickerings, jealousies, and bad faith, of the heterogeneous and unmanageable multitude, which common calamities had drawn together, but could not cement by common interests." James Montgomery. Life of Dante. Lardner's Cab. Cycl. No. 63. The "valley" means Italy in its degraded state, the same valley that in the opening of the Inferno, i. 14, " struck the poet with dismay," and is described at length in the fourteenth of the Purgatorio. (71.) Bartolomeo della Scala,-Lord of Verona, whose arms were an eagle upon a ladder. (76.) i.e. Can Grande della Scala-said to have been born under the influence of the planet Mars, in which Dante now was. His virtue, and contempt of riches are predicted in similar terms in the Inferno, i. 101, where see note. See also Par. xxx. 136. (82.) Pope Clement, the Gascon, after making Henry VII. Emperor, secretly assisted his foes. See note Inf. xix. 82; Par. xxvii. 58. Page 165. (Line 95.) Referring to the hints thrown out in the Inf. and Purg. of impending calamities. Page 166. (Line 110.) i.e. "Foreseeing my exile from Florence, the place of my birth, I must take care, lest, indulging a spirit of satire, I exclude myself from other places also." Page 167. (Line 134.) From Horace. ii. b. Odes. x. 9. 'Sæpius ventis agitatur ingens Pinus et celsæ graviore casu Decidunt turres: feriuntque summos Fulgura montes." CANTO XVIII. ARGUMENT, MANY distinguished warriors and Crusaders are seen in the planet Mars. Dante thence ascends to Jupiter, the sixth heaven, in which the spirits of those who had been eminent upon earth for the administration of Justice are disposed in the form of an Eagle. Now silently that happy soul pursued His joyous musings-I too, thoughtfully Temper'd the pleasant with the bitter food; When She, who led me on my heavenward flight, Said: "Muse on other things; and know that I Am near to Him, who doth each wrong requite." I turn'd me at my Comforter's loved strain; But to describe the affection that I view'd Within her holy eyes I strive in vain ;— Not merely wanting trust in mine own speech, But, to retrace such feeling, not endued With mental power, unless Another teach. 1 7 This much, however, I can call to mind, That, gazing upon her in that blest place, All other wishes wholly were resign'd; Till the Eternal Pleasure, that beam❜d bright On Beatrice, reflected from her face, Thrill'd me again with exquisite delight. Then with a smile that all my soul subdued, "Turn thee, and list," she said; "for Paradise May elsewhere than within these eyes be view'd." And as sometimes in this our mortal state We see affection pictured in the eyes, Of power the soul entire to captivate— So, in the effulgence of that holy flame To which I turn'd, an ardent wish I saw With me a further intercourse to claim. 13 19 25 "In this fifth tier," commenced he, "of the tree, Which vital strength doth from the Summit draw, And beareth fruit and leaves eternally, Are spirits blest, who, ere to heaven they came, Obtain'd such high distinction in their day, Each were a theme to exalt a poet's fame. Wherefore observe the cross in either horn; And he whom I shall name will there display 31 The form of lightning 'thwart heav'n's concave borne." Joshua he named; whereat I saw a light Swift drawn along the cross; nor did the sound Reach mine ear swifter than the flame my sight. Another bright effulgence I beheld, At name of Maccabee, whirl round and round; Gladness the lash which that bright top impell'd. Then in like manner was my eyesight bent Orlando to behold, and Charlemagne, As on his bird the falconer looks intent. In Beatrice my duty to behold, Or by her words or action signified; And saw the beam from her so serene, rays So joyous-she surpast herself in beauty- song: So I perceived the circle of my flight, 61 Together with the heaven, become enlarged, And rapid as the change in Maiden's face, What time the crimson hue wherewith 'twas charged, To native paleness doth again give place; Such change in Beatrice the silvery sheen Of that attemper'd planet gave to sight; – The sixth in which I so received had been. And in that gladsome torch of Jove I saw 67 The sparks of love, which there were beaming bright, Letters like those we use, distinctly draw. And as birds rising from a stream, whence they 73 Their pastures view, as though their joy confessing, Now form a round, and now a long array; So, singing as they fly, did joy impel These creatures blest, themselves in figures dressing, Now like the letter D-now I-now L. They move accordant to the holy strain, Till one of these same letters they have wrought; O heavenly Muse, that dost to glory give 79 |