Canto IX
CANTO IX
Dante addresses Clemence, who is either the wife or daughter of Charles Martel, and informs her that Charles has foretold the fraud to which her line will fall prey but forbidden him to speak of it (1–6). As the light of Charles turns back to the Divine Sun, another splendor approaches. The Pilgrim invites the willing soul to discern his thoughts, and she identifies herself as Cunizza, the sister of Ezzelino III da Romano, a petty but bloodthirsty tyrant in the March of Treviso (7–33). Although she yielded too easily to the influence of Venus, she pardons the disposition that led to her early excess since it later matured into charity. She then points out another gemlike spirit whose poetic excellence has won him long renown on earth (34–42). Lamenting that the inhabitants of her land do not seek such honor as his, she makes predictions that reflect the very judgment of God on its civil and ecclesiastical leaders (43–63). Cunizza now falls silent and rejoins the celestial roundelay, while the soul she had pointed out appears like a ruby glistening in the sun. At this, Dante challenges the light to answer his question about its identity before he has even asked it. Through an elaborate geographical circumlocution, the spirit indicates that it was from Marseilles and gives its name as Folco, first a troubadour whose earthly passion compared to that of Dido for Aeneas, Phyllis for Demophoon, and Hercules for Iole; then a monk of the Cistercian order; and finally the bishop of Toulouse. He likewise feels no more remorse for his forgiven sins but rejoices instead in the workings of Divine Providence (64–108). Then he satisfies the Pilgrim’s curiosity about another soul, that of Rahab the harlot, who aided Joshua in his conquest of Canaan and was the first to be ransomed by Christ from Limbo (109–126). Changing themes, Folco accuses Dante’s city, Florence, of the same diabolical greed that causes Church officials to neglect the Gospels and the Fathers for the study of Canon Law with an eye to material gain. On a final, hopeful note, however, he prophesies that God shall soon free the Church from its infidelity (127–142).
1 And now, fair Clemence, once your Charles had so[197]
Enlightened me, he told for just my ears
What frauds his seed was yet to undergo[198]
4 But said: “Be silent, let there pass the years”;
So, I can only say that on the spite
Of wrongs you bear will follow rightful tears.[199]
7 And now the life within this holy light
Had turned to its fulfilling Sun again,[200]
That Good enough for every appetite.
10 (O souls deceived, impiety of men,
Who turn the heart from such a Good with ease
And raise your brows to what is empty then!)
13 And here another splendor mid all these[201]
Approached me and by growing brighter meant
To signify to me its will to please.
16 Just as before, my Beatrice had bent
Her eyes on me, so, reassured, I knew
That my desire had met with dear consent.
19 “Blest soul,” I said, “let quick reward ensue
Upon my wish, and give me proof to see
That I can make my thoughts reflect on you.”
22 At that, the light which still was new to me
Went on from depths from which I’d heard it sing,
Like one who in a kindness done finds glee:
25 “In that part of the land that evils wring
In Italy, between Rialto’s ground
And there whence Brenta and Piava spring,[202]
28 There rises up, not very high, a mound[203]
From which a torch that once came down aflare[204]
Made great assaults on all the land around.
31 One root gave birth to him and me down where
Cunizza was my name, and here I glow[205]
As one this planet’s light had vanquished there.
34 Within myself I gladly pardon, though,
What caused my fate and do not grieve on high,
Which might seem strange to vulgar minds below.
37 This shining, precious jewel of our sky,
The one who has most near to me arrived,
Has left great fame behind that will not die
40 Until this hundredth year shall yet be ‘fived’;[206]
Behold how men excel to the extent
Their first life—in another—has survived![207]
43 On this that present crowd is not intent
Which Ádige and Tagliamento close,[208]
Nor yet, though they be scourged, do they repent.
46 But soon the stream that through Vicenza flows[209]
Shall at the marsh by Padua be stained
Since duty has been shunned by all of those.[210]
49 Where Sile and Cagnán’ are no more twained,[211]
With upraised head one lords it for a time,
For snaring whom a web has been ordained.[212]
52 Watch Feltre mourn its godless shepherd’s crime;[213]
No man has entered Malta’s jail and stayed[214]
For any act that was so dredged in slime.
55 Immense indeed would be the vat they made
To hold Ferrara’s blood; and one would tire
If ever ounce by ounce the blood were weighed
58 That this good priest will shed in his desire
To show his party zeal—such gifts well fit[215]
The ways of life within that country’s mire!
61 Above, those mirrors you call Thrones all sit;[216]
From them God’s judgment shines upon our corps
So that our speech seems good to us, thus lit.”
64 She here fell silent and appeared once more
To turn to something else for she’d begun
That wheeling dance in which she’d been before.
67 That other joy, made known to me as one[217]
Of precious worth, appeared before my sight
Like some fine ruby smitten by the sun.[218]
70 Through joy a soul on high becomes more bright
As here we smile, but when below minds drink[219]
Of sorrow’s cup, their shades turn dark as night.
73 “O blessèd soul,” I said, “whose eyes now sink
Deep down in God, whose vision sees all things,
So that you miss no wish that I may think,
76 Why does your voice, which gladdens Heaven’s rings
As do the songs of every pious fire[220]
That makes itself a cowl with its six wings,[221]
79 Not satisfy at once my each desire?
Were I in you just as you are in me,
I would not wait to give what you require.”
82 “The greatest valley into which the sea[222]
Of waters garlanding the earth all pour,”[223]
He then began his answer to my plea,
85 “Extends between its each opposing shore[224]
So far against the sun that there is seen[225]
A zenith where horizon was before.[226]
88 I lived upon that valley’s coast between
The Ebro and the Macra, whose short way[227]
Divides the Genoese and Tuscan green.
91 Within a single dawn and dusk there lay
The town Bougie and that from which I came,[228]
Which with its very blood once warmed the bay.
94 They called me Folco, those who knew my name;[229]
My light imprints this heaven in its turn
Just as it left its stamp upon my frame:
97 For no whit more did Belus’ daughter burn,[230]
Who left Sichaeus wronged, Creüsa grieved,
Than I did when it fit my locks to yearn,[231]
100 Nor did the Rhodopean maid deceived
By her Demóphoön, nor Hercules
When to Ïole in his heart he cleaved.[232]
103 We do not here repent but smile with ease,
Not at the fault—we do not think thereof—
But at the force that orders and foresees.
106 We gaze on art adorned by so much Love,
And also we discern the Good whereby
The world below returns to that above.[233]
109 But so that I may fully satisfy
Your every longing born within this sphere,
I must proceed a bit with my reply.
112 You’d like to know who dwells beside me here
And sparkles in this light so as to be
As sunbeams are on water that is clear.
115 Know Rahab lies here in tranquility;[234]
On having joined our order, she impressed
Her seal upon it at the top degree.
118 And to this heaven’s sphere she first progressed
(Where to a point come shadows earth has cast)[235]
With Christ triumphant as she led the rest.
121 It suits her to some heaven to have passed
As trophy of the lofty victory
That one palm and the other won at last[236]
124 Because she favored Joshua when he[237]
First won his glory in the Holy Land,
Which hardly pricks the papal memory.
127 Your city, which was planted by the hand[238]
Of him who turned against his Maker first[239]
And in whose envy so much grief is spanned,
130 Creates and circulates the bloom accurst[240]
That made the sheep and lambs all go awry
By turning shepherds into wolves athirst.
133 For this both Gospel and great doctors lie
In such neglect, with but Decretals read[241]
And studied, as the margins testify.
136 On these the pope and cardinals dwell instead;
Their thoughts don’t go to Nazareth as right,[242]
Where Gabriel once held his wings outspread.
139 But Vatican and every chosen site
In Rome that was the grave of soldiery
Which once had followed after Peter’s light
142 Shall soon be freed from this adultery.”[243]