Had chased the Capricorn, when that strange tribe,
Lifting their eyes toward us: "If ye know,
Declare what path will lead us to the mount."

Them Virgil answer'd: "Ye suppose, perchance,
Us well acquainted with this place: but here,
We, as yourselves, are strangers. Not long erst
We came, before you but a little space,

By other road so rough and hard, that now
The ascent will seem to us as play." The spirits.
Who from my breathing had perceived I lived,
Grew pale with wonder. As the multitude
Flock round a herald sent with olive branch,
To hear what news he brings, and in their haste
Tread one another down; e'en so at sight

Of me those happy spirits were fix'd, each one
Forgetful of its errand to depart

Where, cleansed from sin, it might be made all fair
Then one I saw darting before the rest

With such fond ardor to embrace me, I

To do the like was moved. O shadows vain!
Except in outward semblance: thrice my hands1
I clasp'd behind it, they as oft return'd

Empty into my breast again. Surprise

I need must think was painted in my looks,
For that the shadow smiled and backward drew.
To follow it I hasten'd, but with voice

Of sweetness it enjoin'd me to desist.
Then who it was I knew, and pray'd of it,
To talk with me it would a little pause.

It answer'd: "Thee as in my mortal frame

I loved, so loosed from it I love thee still,

And therefore pause: but why walkest thou here?"

Ecco dinanzi a te fugge repente

Saettata la notte.

Marini. Son. al Sig. Cinthio Aldobrandino.

1 Thrice my hands.]

Ter conatus ibi collo dare brachia circum,

Ter frustra comprensa manus effugit imago;
Par levibus ventis volucrique simillima somno.
Virg. Æn., ii. 794.

Compare Homer, Od., xi. 205.

The incident in the text is pleasantly alluded to in that de lightful book, the Capricci del Botaio of Gelli, (Opere. Milan. 1805, v. ii. p. 26.) of which there is an English translation entitled "The Fearfull Fancies of the Florentine Cooper. Written in Toscane, by John Baptist Gelli, one of the free studie of Florence. And for recreation translated into EngLash by W. Barker." 8°. Lond., 1599.

66

Not without purpose once more to return, Thou find'st me, my Casella,1 where I am," Journeying this way," I said: "but how of thee Hath so much time been lost?"3

straight:

He answer'd

"No outrage hath been done to me, if he, Who when and whom he chooses takes, hath oft Denied me passage here; since of just will His will he makes. These three months past inHe, whoso chose to enter, with free leave [deed, Hath taken; whence I wandering by the shore Where Tiber's wave grows salt, of him gain'd kind Admittance, at that river's mouth, toward which His wings are pointed; for there always throng All such as not to Acheron descend."

Then I: "If new law taketh not from thee Memory or custom of love-tuned song,

1 My Casella.] A Florentine, celebrated for his skill in music, "in whose company," says Landino, "Dante often recreated his spirits, wearied by severer studies." See Dr. Burney's History of Music, vol. ii. cap. iv. p. 322. Milton has a fine allusion to this meeting in his sonnet to Henry Lawes,

Dante shall give fame leave to set thee higher
Than his Casella, whom he wooed to sing,
Met in the milder shades of Purgatory.

2 Where I am.]

"Là dove io son." Lombardi understands this differently: "Not without purpose to return again to the earth, where I am; that is, where I usually dwell."

3 Hath so much time been lost.] There is some uncertainty in this passage. If we read

Ma a te com' era tanta terra tolta?

with the Nidobeatina and Aldine editions, and many MSS., it signifies "Why art thou deprived of so desirable à region as that of Purgatory? why dost thou not hasten to be cleansed of thy sins?" If with the Academicians della Crusca, we read,

Diss 'io, ma a te come tant' ora è tolta?

which is not destitute of authority to support it, and which has the advantage over the other, as it marks Dante's speech from Casella's, then it must mean as I have translated it, "Why hast thou lost so much time in arriving here?" Lombardi, who is for the former reading, supposes Casella to be just dead; those who prefer the latter, suppose him to have been dead for some years, but now only just arrived.

He.] The conducting angel.

These three months past.] Since the time of the Jubilee, during which all spirits not condemned to eternal punishment were supposed to pass over to Purgatory as soon as they pleased.

The shore.] Ostia