Canto IV
CANTO IV
Dante finds experiential confirmation of the philosophical doctrine of the unity of the soul and the plurality of its powers in that Manfred so absorbs his attention that he does not notice how much time has already elapsed when the spirits in his company point out the place of ascent—a phenomenon inexplicable on the thesis of a multiplicity of souls in man (1–18). Virgil and Dante must now struggle up a gap so narrow that a farmer with a single forkful of thorns could mend a wider hole in a hedge protecting his vineyard from theft. At an angle sharper than 45°, the cleft is even steeper than the cliffs of San Leo, Noli, and Bismantova, but the Pilgrim’s desire sprouts wings behind his inspiring Guide, as he clambers up with hands and feet to a ledge that circles the mountain. The two Climbers sit to rest a moment, facing the east and looking back over the difficult trek (19–54). The Poet is amazed to find the sun on his left in the northeastern sky rather than on his right to the southeast as it would be in Europe. Virgil explains that Jerusalem lies in the center of the northern hemisphere whereas Purgatory occupies the midpoint of the southern hemisphere, with the two sharing a common horizon, so that the less the ecliptic is south of Jerusalem, particularly in late May and June, the more it is north of Purgatory (55–84). Quite satisfied with the explanation, the still exhausted Dante worries about how far he must yet mount up since the peak of the mountain exceeds his range of vision. Virgil reassures him that the higher one scales the easier it is to rise so that at the top it is as simple to ascend as it is to sail downstream in a boat (85–96). Unexpectedly, a voice ironically quips that the Pilgrim may need to rest again before he reaches that point. It is Belacqua, lazing with others in the shade of a boulder, his arms around his knees, his face down, scarcely raising his eyes to speak, and keeping his words to a minimum. Relieved to find him in Purgatory rather than Hell, the Poet wonders why he does not start the climb. Belacqua explains that the indolent who delayed their repentance until the last must now wait as long as they lived on earth to begin their penance in Purgatory, unless they are aided by the prayers of one in a state of grace (97–135). Pointing to the sun at high noon, Virgil then reminds Dante of the time and urges him to hurry along (136–139).
1 When any faculty once apprehends
Some pleasure or some pain, these feelings claim
The full attention of the soul, which tends
4 To slight its other powers; and this same
Event disproves the errors that suppose
That soul on soul can burn in us aflame.[60]
7 Thus, if a thing is seen or heard that goes
To hold the soul most strongly bound, indeed
Time passes, but we’re unaware it flows.
10 For by one power time is given heed,
Another fully holds the spirit’s view;
The latter is as bound, the former freed.
13 I had experience that this is true,
On hearing, much amazed, the spirit there;
For fifty full degrees had been passed through[61]
16 Now by the sun, though I was not aware
Of it when we approached those souls who said
With but one cry: “Find here the sought-for stair.”
19 A man who works the farm will often spread
A fork of thorns to hedge a hole more wide
The moment that the grapes turn purplish red
22 Than was the gap up which there climbed my Guide
With me behind—alone, just he and I—
Because that troop had parted from our side.
25 Descend to Noli, climb San Leo high,
Or scale Bismántova up to its height[62]
With feet alone, but here I had to fly—
28 I mean with rapid wings and pinnioned flight
Of great desire behind that one who led;
He gave me hope and was to me a light.
31 Within the rifted rock we climbed ahead,
Though by the edge on either side hard pressed;
The ground required that hands should aid the tread.
34 And after we had reached the upper crest
Of that high bank, upon a slope that’s clear,
I said, “My Master, say which way we’ll test.”
37 He told me: “Don’t fall back a footstep here;
Come up the mount behind me, and advance
Until some wiser escort should appear.”
40 Its lofty summit far surpassed my glance;
Its slope much steeper than a line there lay
That from mid-quadrant to the center slants.[63]
43 I was fatigued when I began to say:
“Dear Father, turn around and look at one
Who will remain alone unless you stay.”
46 He said: “Just drag yourself to here, my son,”
While pointing out a slightly higher rim,
Which circles on that side the mount’s full run.[64]
49 I forced myself to clamber after him
Until I had that ledge beneath my feet—
The words he uttered spurred me to such vim.
52 When there the two of us had found a seat,
We faced the east, from which we’d mounted, for
A look behind is wont to help and sweet.
55 I cast my eye below upon the shore,
But next I raised it to the sun, amazed
That it should strike us on the left. Once more[65]
58 The Poet noted well that I was dazed,
Because the chariot of light that ran
Between the Áquilo and us now blazed.[66]
61 “If Castor and if Pollux,” he began,
“Were in conjunction with that mirror’s tack,
Which leads its light both north and south, you’d scan
64 The orbits of the ruddy Zodiac
Yet even closer to the Dippers’ sky,
Unless, of course, it left its ancient track.[67]
67 If you would grasp how that could happen, try
To concentrate and to imagine here
That Zion and this mount on earth so lie
70 That each will have a different hemisphere,
With one horizon, though. And you will see
The way that Phaëthon could not quite steer
73 Must pass upon this side the mount at sea,
When on that side Mount Zion is passed by,
If you give mind to this more carefully.”[68]
76 “Most certainly, my Master,” so said I,
“I’ve never seen so clear as I’ve just done,
Where wit seemed lacking, for I now descry
79 That, of supernal motions, the mid one
(‘Equator’ some would call it in their art),[69]
Which always lies mid winter and the sun,
82 Must for the reason that you say depart
And journey as far northwards from these seas
As Jews once saw it towards the warmer part.[70]
85 Yet I would gladly know, if you should please,
How far it is that we must travel still;
The slope climbs higher than my eyesight sees.”
88 He said: “Of such a nature is this hill
That though it’s always hard to start below,
The more one climbs, the less it does one ill.
91 When it appears to you so gentle, though,
That it is just as easy to ascend
As to descend by boat the river’s flow,
94 Then you shall have attained this pathway’s end.
Hope there to rest your weariness a bit;
This truth I know and say no more, my friend.”
97 He spoke these words, and now that he had quit,
Another voice was also heard to sound:
“You will have need before, perhaps, to sit!”
100 On hearing it, the two of us turned round
And saw upon our left a giant stone,
Which neither he nor I before had found.
103 We went to it, and people there were shown
Who lounged behind that boulder in the shade,
Like men who in their indolence lie prone.
106 One sat, who seemed to me most tired, and stayed
With both his arms around his knees to aim
His face down low between his legs. I prayed:
109 “Sweet Lord, now cast your eye upon the frame
Of one who shows more languor thus, no doubt,
Than if ‘The Lazy’ were his middle name.”[71]
112 Then, paying heed to us, he turned about,
Though just above his thigh he’d raised his sight;
“So, go on up,” he said, “if you’re so stout!”
115 I then knew who he was; and yet, despite
My somewhat shortened breath, the strain I’d got
Did not impede my going to his site.
118 I reached him, and he raised his eyes a jot;
“Have you seen well how on your left hand there
The sun can drive his coach,” he said, “or not?”
121 And both his acts so dull and words so spare
Had moved my lips to smile a little too;
So I began: “Belacqua, now I bear[72]
124 No grief for you. But tell me, why are you
Just sitting here? Just waiting for a guide?
Or taking up your wonted ways anew?”
127 “O brother, what’s the use to climb?” He sighed.
“God’s angel sitting at the gate won’t send
Me yet to face the torments for outside
130 Of it the sky’s rotation must extend
As long as in my life it turned before,
Since I put off good sighs until the end—
133 Unless such prayers should help me first as soar
From hearts that live within a state of grace;
What good’s the rest, unheard at Heaven’s door?”
136 The Poet climbed before me from that place
And told me now: “You see the sun just reach
The sky’s meridian, so come apace;[73]
139 Night sets her foot upon Morocco’s beach.”[74]