# Purgatory Canto  1

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> 
> Canto I
> 
> Argument
> 
>      The Poet describes the delight he experienced at issuing a little before
> dawn from the infernal regions, into the pure air that surrounds the isle of
> Purgatory; and then relates how, turning to the right, he beheld four stars
> never seen before, but by our first parents, and met on his left the shade of
> Cato of Utica, who, having warned him and Virgil what is needful to be done
> before they proceed on their way through Purgatory, disappears; and the two
> poets go toward the shore, where Virgil cleanses Dante's face with the dew,
> and girds him with a reed, as Cato had commanded.
> 
> O'er better waves to speed her rapid course
> The light bark of my genius lifts the sail,
> Well pleased to leave so cruel sea behind;
> And of that second region will I sing,
> In which the human spirit from sinful blot
> Is purged, and for ascent to Heaven prepares.
> 
> Here, O ye hallow'd Nine! for in your train
> I follow, here the deaden'd strain revive;
> Nor let Calliope refuse to sound
> A somewhat higher song, of that loud tone
> Which when the wretched birds of chattering note[1]
> Had heard, they of forgiveness lost all hope.
> 
> [1: Birds oa chattering note." For the fable of the daughters of
> Pierus who challenged the muses to sing, and were by them changed into
> magpies, see Ovid, Met. lib. v. fab. 5.]
> 
> Sweet hue of eastern sapphire, that was spread
> O'er the serene aspect of the pure air,
> High up as the first circle,[2] to mine eyes
> Unwonted joy renew'd, soon as I 'scaped
> Forth from the atmosphere of deadly gloom,
> That had mine eyes and bosom fill'd with grief.
> The radiant planet,[3] that to love invites,
> Made all the orient laugh, and veil'd beneath
> The Pisces' light,[4] that in his [her] escort came.
> 
> [2: "The first circle." Either, as some suppose, the moon; or, as
> Lombardi (who likes to be as far off the rest of the commentators as possible)
> will have it, the highest circle of the stars.]
> 
> [3: "Planet." Venus.]
> 
> [4: The constellation of the Fish veiled by the more luminous body of
> Venus, then a morning star.]
> 
> To the right hand I turn'd, and fix'd my mind
> On the other pole attentive, where I saw
> Four stars[5] ne'er seen before save by the ken
> Of our first parents.[6] Heaven of their rays
> Seem'd joyous. O thou northern site! bereft
> Indeed, and widow'd, since of these deprived.
> 
> [5: Symbolical of the four cardinal virtues, Prudence, Justice,
> Fortitude, and Temperance.]
> 
> [6: "Our first parents." In the terrestrial paradise, placed on the
> summit of Purgatory.]
> 
> As from this view I had desisted, straight
> Turning a little toward the other pole,
> There from whence now the wain[7] had disappear'd,
> I saw an old man[8] standing by my side
> Alone, so worthy of reverence in his look,
> That ne'er from son to father more was owed.
> Low down his beard, and mix'd with hoary white,
> Descended, like his locks, which, parting, fell
> Upon his breast in double fold. The beams
> Of those four luminaries on his face
> So brightly shone, and with such radiance clear
> Deck'd it, that I beheld him as the sun.
> 
> [7: Charles' Wain, or Bootes.]
> 
> [8: "An old man." Cato.]
> 
> "Say who are ye, that stemming the blind stream,
> Forth from the eternal prison - house have fled?"
> He spoke and moved those venerable plumes.
> "Who hath conducted, or with lantern sure
> Lights you emerging from the depth of night,
> That makes the infernal valley ever black?
> Are the firm statutes of the dread abyss
> Broken, or in high Heaven new laws ordain'd,
> That thus, condemn'd, ye to my caves approach?"
> 
> My guide, then laying hold on me, by words
> And intimations given with hand and head,
> Made my bent knees and eye submissive pay
> Due reverence; then thus to him replied:
> 
> "Not of myself I come; a Dame from heaven[9]
> Descending, him besought me in my charge
> To bring. But since thy will implies, that more
> Our true condition I unfold at large,
> Mine is not to deny thee thy request.
> 
> [9: Beatrice. See Hell, ii. 54.]
> 
> This mortal ne'er hath seen the farthest gloom;
> But erring by his folly had approach'd
> So near, that little space was left to turn.
> Then, as before I told, I was despatch'd
> To work his rescue; and no way remain'd
> Save this which I have ta'en. I have display'd
> Before him all the regions of the bad;
> And purpose now those spirits to display,
> That under thy command are purged from sin.
> How I have brought him would be long to say.
> From high descends the virtue, by whose aid
> I to thy sight and hearing him have led.
> Now may our coming please thee. In the search
> Of liberty he journeys: that how dear,
> They know who for her sake have life refused.
> Thou knowest, to whom death for her was sweet
> In Utica, where thou didst leave those weeds,
> That in the last great day will shine so bright.
> For us the eternal edicts are unmoved;
> He breathes, and I of Minos am not bound,
> Abiding in that circle, where the eyes
> Of thy chaste Marcia beam, who still in look
> Prays thee, O hallow'd spirit! to own her thine.
> Then by her love we implore thee, let us pass
> Through thy seven regions;[10] for which, best thanks
> I for thy favour will to her return,
> If mention there below thou not disdain."
> 
> [10: "Through thy seven regions." The seven rounds of Purgatory, in
> which the seven capital sins are punished.]
> 
> "Marcia so pleasing in my sight was found,"
> He then to him rejoin'd, "while I was there,
> That all she ask'd me I was fain to grant.
> Now that beyond the accursed stream she dwells,
> She may no longer move me, by that law,[11]
> Which was ordain'd me, when I issued thence.
> Not so, if Dame from Heaven, as thou sayst,
> Moves and directs thee; then no flattery needs.
> Enough for me that in her name thou ask.
> 
> [11: "By that law." When he was delivered by Christ from Limbo, a
> change of affections accompanied his change of place.]
> 
> Go therefore now: and with a slender reed[12]
> See that thou duly gird him, and his face
> Lave, till all sordid stain thou wipe from thence.
> For not with eye, by any cloud obscured,
> Would it be seemly before him to come,
> Who stands the foremost minister in Heaven.
> This islet all around, there far beneath,
> Where the wave beats it, on the oozy bed
> Produces store of reeds. No other plant,
> Cover'd with leaves, or harden'd in its stalk,
> There lives, not bending to the water's sway.
> After, this way return not; but the sun
> Will show you, that now rises, where to take
> The mountain in its easiest ascent."
> 
> [12: A type of simplicity and patience.]
> 
> He disappear'd; and I myself upraised
> Speechless, and to my guide retiring close,
> Toward him turn'd mine eyes. He thus began:
> "My son! observant thou my steps pursue.
> We must retreat to rereward; for that way
> The champain to its low extreme declines."
> 
> The dawn had chased the matin hour of prime,
> Which fled before it, so that from afar
> I spied the trembling of the ocean stream.
> 
> We traversed the deserted plain, as one
> Who, wander'd from his track, thinks every step
> Trodden in vain till he regain the path.
> 
> When we had come, where yet the tender dew
> Strove with the sun, and in a place where fresh
> The wind breathed o'er it, while it slowly dried;
> Both hands extended on the watery grass
> My master placed, in graceful act and kind.
> Whence I of his intent before apprised,
> Stretch'd out to him my cheeks suffused with tears.
> There to my visage he anew restored
> That hue which the dun shades of Hell conceal'd.
> 
> Then on the solitary shore arrived,
> That never sailing on its waters saw
> Man that could after measure back his course,
> He girt me in such manner as had pleased
> 
> Him who instructed; and, oh strange to tell!
> As he selected every humble plant,
> Wherever one was pluck'd another there
> Resembling, straightway in its place arose.
>
> — *Purgatory Canto  1*