Canto XV
CANTO XV
It is about three o’clock in the afternoon, and the Travelers are heading northwest, so that the beams of the sun strike them directly in the face. Blinded by a dazzling light, Dante first assumes that it is the direct glare of the sun and attempts to screen his eyes with his hand. When that attempt fails, he wonders if the solar rays are being reflected upwards from a pool. Virgil then explains to him that a splendorous angel is inviting him to ascend and predicts that it will not be long before he feels delight rather than pain at such sights (1–33). As they start up the stairs to the third terrace, another P is erased from the Pilgrim’s brow, though he does not realize it at the time. They now hear the fifth beatitude chanted behind them: “Blessed are the merciful.” In order to make good use of the time, the Poet asks how it is that material goods exclude partnership, as Guido del Duca had said. Virgil replies that the share of earthly possessions diminishes when several divide them among themselves and that this decreased share easily gives rise to envy. But spiritual goods such as knowledge and love increase when they are shared, thus eliminating all cause for enviousness (34–81). As the Climbers emerge upon the third terrace, Dante is caught up in a series of three ecstatic visions presenting examples of gentleness, the virtue contrary to the vice of wrath punished on this level. The first is Mary’s gentle questioning on finding the child Jesus in the temple (82–93), the second Pisistratus’ refusal to condemn a young man who had publicly embraced his daughter (94–105), the third St. Stephen’s forgiveness of his persecutors (106–114). Virgil then exhorts the Pilgrim to rouse himself from his waking dreams, and as they continue towards the setting sun, a cloud of black smoke envelops them (115–145).
1 So much appeared remaining of the way[240]
The sun must course towards night as would appear
Between the end of tierce and break of day
4 To show itself of the ecliptic’s sphere,[241]
Which like a child is ever at its fun;
For it was vespers there, but midnight here.
7 Rays struck us in the face for we had run
A quarter circle round the mount, and so
We now aimed straight for where there sets the sun.[242]
10 I then could feel my brow weighed down below
By splendors that were brighter than just now,
And things amazed me that I did not know.
13 And thus I raised my hands above my brow,
And in this way I made myself a screen
To ease the light’s excess. And knowing how
16 Rays strike the water or a mirror’s sheen
But in the opposite direction dart,
On rising at the angle that was seen
19 At their descent, and equally depart
As much then from the free fall of a stone,
As show experiment and theory’s art,[243]
22 Just so, I thought, in front of me there shone
A light reflected that had struck my head,
From which my sight so rapidly had flown.
25 “What light, sweet Father, is so brightly shed
It doesn’t help me much if I defend
My sight? It seems to move towards us,” I said.
28 “You should not be amazed,” replied my Friend,
“If Heaven’s family still dazzles you;
A messenger invites us to ascend.[244]
31 And it will not be long before you view
These things and feel no burden but delight
As much as nature has disposed you to.”
34 When we had reached that blessèd angel’s site,
He said, rejoicing: “Enter here to come
By stairs less steep than any other flight.”
37 Already past that point, we mounted some;
“Beat’ misericordes” was behind[245]
Us sung and “Joy to you who overcome!”
40 When he and I were left alone to wind
Our upward way, I, walking, formed a plan
To profit from his words; so I inclined
43 Towards him to pose a question, and it ran:
“What did that spirit of Romagna mean
With mention of the ‘partnership’ and ‘ban?’”
46 He said: “From his worst fault that one has seen
The damage done; and thus, show no surprise
If it is blamed to make his tears less keen.
49 When your desires are focused in such wise
That sharing things reduces them in part,
Then envy moves the bellows to your sighs.
52 Should love, though, of the highest sphere impart
To all of your desires an upward turn,
Such fear would not be tugging at your heart.
55 The more those saying ‘ours’ will there sojourn,
The more of good shall each one hold in store
And in that cloister charity more burn.”[246]
58 “I’m hungering for satisfaction more,
And in my mind more doubt assembles too,
Than if,” I said, “I’d held my tongue before.
61 With goods distributed, can it be true
They render their possessors yet more rich
Than if they are possessed by just a few?”
64 “Because you fix your mind on matters which
Are of the earth,” he said to me, “what should
You garner from true light but darkest pitch?
67 That infinite, ineffable true Good,
Which there exists on high, thus runs to love
As sunbeams to a lucid body would.[247]
70 It gives to ardor what it finds thereof,
So that the more such charity extends,
The more Eternal Goodness grows above.
73 The more enamored souls, the more each tends
To love up there, with more for loving well;
And just like mirrors each to each resplends.
76 But you’ll see Beatrice, and she will quell
Most fully this and every other thirst
If my words don’t appease your hunger spell.
79 Strive only that there soon may be dispersed
Your last five wounds as two were wiped away;[248]
They will be healed by being painful first.”
82 “You’ve satisfied me,” I had wished to say,
But saw that I had reached another round[249]
Where eager eyes would make my tongue delay.
85 For there, it seemed, I suddenly was found
Caught up in dreams of ecstasy to spy
Some people in a temple mill around.[250]
88 A lady said, as she was standing by
The entrance, “Son,” with sweet maternal air,
“Why have you done this thing to us, oh why?
91 See, I in tears have sought you everywhere,
Your father too”; and when she ceased to speak,
That first appearance disappeared. And there
94 Arose another woman down whose cheek[251]
The tears that are distilled by grieving poured,
When grief is born of great resentment’s pique.
97 “If of this city you are truly lord,
A town whose name the gods’ own strife has styled,[252]
And which shines forth all knowledge,” she implored,
100 “Seek vengeance, Pisistratus, for our child
On those bold arms that dared embrace our gem!”
It seemed her lord replied, benign and mild,
103 With placid mien: “What shall we do to them
Who harbor some desire to do us ill
If those who love us we should thus condemn?”
106 I then saw people fired by angry will,[253]
Who stoned a boy to death; their forceful cries
Kept blaring to each other: “Kill him, kill!”
109 I saw him sink to earth, for his demise
Had burdened him already with its weight
As he made doors to Heaven of his eyes
112 And prayed his Lord on high, in such a strait,
That He forgive his persecutors’ sin,
With such a look as opens pity’s gate.
115 But when my mind turned outwards from within
To see the things that truly are outside,
I saw what my not-false mistakes had been.
118 My Leader, who could see me at his side
Like one who tries to free himself from sleep,
Inquired: “What’s wrong? You cannot hold your stride,
121 But, coming over half a league, you keep
Your eyes both veiled; with stumbling gait you sway,
Like someone drunk with wine or half asleep.”
124 “If you will listen to me, I shall say,
My dearest Father, what appeared to be
When both my legs,” I said, “were snatched away.”
127 “If you should wear a hundred veils,” said he,
“Upon your face, no thought on which you muse,
However slight, would yet be hid from me.
130 What you have seen was shown lest you refuse
To open up your heart to streams that run
With peace that God’s eternal founts diffuse.
133 I did not ask ‘What’s wrong with you?’ as one
Who only looks with eyes that have grown dim,
As when the soulless body lies undone;
136 I asked to fortify your feet with vim,
For thus one prods the sluggard who is slow
To use the waking hours returned to him.”
139 We journeyed onwards through the vesper glow[254]
Against the shining evening rays we hit,
Intent, as far as eye could see, when lo!
142 A cloud of smoke was forming bit by bit
And coming onward towards us, black as night;
Nor was there room there to escape from it,
145 Which took from us a purer air and sight.