DANTE'S SUBLIME COMEDY: PURGATORY: Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29: Revelation

She sang like one in love, “blesséd are they

whose sins are purified.” Like woodland nymph

seeking or shunning shade among the trees                    3

she walked upstream, and on the other side

I also walked, fitting my steps to hers.

Less than a hundred paces further on                              6

the banks curved equally in such a way

we both faced east again. She called to me,

“Look, brother – listen!” for upon us dawned                9

far greater brightness through each branch and leaf,

and with it such sweet melody rang out

I blamed Eve for her eating of that fruit                        12

which stopped me knowing such delights before.

So on I went, experiencing joys

that grew as brightness grew, while melody                15

became a hymnal and triumphant choir.

O holy virgins who inspire all art,

If poverty and pain and sleepless toil                          18

have been my part in seeking for your aid,

I beg from all of you again, but most

Urania, muse of celestial things,                                   21

to fix in verse thoughts difficult to think.

On the far brink ahead I seemed to see

the golden trunks of seven stately trees,                       24

but as I neared their place, saw them to be

majestic candlesticks, linked at the base.

As voices sang Hosannas each one flamed                  27

bright as midsummer moons. Awestruck, I gazed

at Virgil who looked back, just as amazed.

Staring again on these high things, I saw                      30

their stems approach slow as a new-made bride

down a cathedral isle. The lady said,

“Why love big lights more than their followers?”        33

I saw behind men clad in purer white

than seen on earth. I paused and saw the stream

reflect my left side mirror-like. Above                         36

I saw each flame staining the air behind

one of the colours sunshine paints through rain,

which left a rainbow flag or canopy                            39

ten paces wide, whose end I could not see.

Twenty-four elders walked in pairs beneath.

With wreathes of lilies on their heads they sang,        42

“Hail, loveliest of Adam’s daughters who

in paradise is now divinely blessed.”                                             

They passed, and flowers filled the further bank       45

till brightness grew as four great beasts arrived,

            crowned with green leaves and having six wings each,              

wings spotted with gold eyes like peacocks’ tails,        48

but these were watchful eyes. Ezekiel

            in the Old Testament tells how these came

from freezing cold through cloud, storm, flame, with more  51

of how they look than I have time, reader,

            to tell in rhyme. He says they have four wings.

Saint John’s Apocalypse agrees with me.                    54

Between the beasts a chariot, two-wheeled,

            moved on behind a griffin with two wings

raised high beyond my sight. They neatly clasped      57

the central green band of the canopy,

            nor cut the three bright colours on each side.

            The griffin’s eagle-half was all of gold,                     60

the lion-half pure white with mingled red.

            Rome never gladdened hero-emperors

            with such a car, more dazzling than the sun             63

when Phaeton plunged its horses down the sky.

            Three nymphs danced in a ring by the right wheel.

            One glowed so vivid red that in a fire                         66

she’d be invisible. The second seemed

            all emerald, the third like fallen snow.

            Red and white led the dance alternately,                     69

 but red sang, and according to her voice

            she and the other two moved fast or slow.

            At the left wheel four nymphs in purple dress           72

also rejoiced in dancing, and were led

            by she who had three eyes within her head.       

            Behind these groups appeared two ancient men        75      

in gravity and dignity alike

            but differently clad. One wore the garb

            of he whose kindly art can heal the sick –                  78

Hippocrates. One seemed the opposite,

            holding a sword so sharp, bright, threatening

            I trembled, although between he and me                     81

flowed the deep stream. Four elders followed these

            with humble looks, and last of all came one

            whose face was keen, though walking in his sleep.     84

The garments of these seven final men

            were white, like the first twelve. Their brows were crowned,

            not with lilies, but roses and flowers                          87

so red their heads all seemed to be aflame.

            The car came opposite me and stopped

            with a thunderclap that halted the rest.          

The rainbow flag above them ceased to move.                    100