# Purgatory Canto 21

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.*

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> Christianity Index  Divine Comedy Index  Previous: Purgatory Canto 20  Next: Purgatory Canto 22  
> 
> Canto XXI
> 
> Argument
> 
>      The two Poets are overtaken by the spirit of Statius, who, being
> cleansed, is on his way to Paradise, and who explains the cause of the
> mountain shaking, and of the hymn; his joy at beholding Virgil.
> 
> The natural thirst, ne'er quench'd but from the well[1]
> Whereof the woman of Samaria craved,
> Excited; haste, along the cumber'd path,
> After my guide, impell'd; and pity moved
> My bosom for the 'vengeful doom though just.
> When lo! even as Luke[2] relates, that Christ
> Appear'd unto the two upon their way,
> New - risen from His vaulted grave; to us
> A shade appear'd, and after us approach'd,
> Contemplating the crowd beneath its feet.
> We were not ware of it; so first it spake,
> Saying, "God give you peace, my brethren!" then
> Sudden we turn'd: and Virgil such salute,
> As fitted that kind greeting, gave; and cried:
> "Peace in the blessed council be thy lot,
> Awarded by that righteous court which me
> To everlasting banishment exiles."
> 
> [1: "The well." "The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water,
> that I thirst not." - John, iv. 15.]
> 
> [2: "Luke." Chapter xxiv. 13.]
> 
> "How!" he exclaim'd, nor from his speed meanwhile
> Desisting; "If that ye be spirits whom God
> Vouchsafes not room above; who up the height
> Has been thus far your guide?" To whom the bard:
> "If thou observe the tokens,[3] which this man,
> Traced by the finger of the Angel, bears;
> 'Tis plain that in the kingdom of the just
> He needs must share. But sithence she,[4] whose wheel
> Spins day and night, for him not yet had drawn
> That yarn, which on the fatal distaff piled,
> Clotho apportions to each wight that breathes;
> His soul, that sister is to mine and thine,
> Not of herself could mount; for not like ours
> 
> [3: "The tokens." The letter P for Peccata, sins, inscribed upon his
> forehead by the Angel, in order to his being cleared of them in his passage
> through Purgatory to Paradise.]
> 
> [4: "She." Lachesis, one of the three fates.]
> 
> Her ken: whence I, from forth the ample gulf
> Of Hell, was ta'en, to lead him, and will lead
> Far as my lore avails. But, if thou know,
> Instruct us for what cause, the mount erewhile
> Thus shook, and trembled: wherefore all at once
> Seem'd shouting, even from his wave - wash'd foot."
> 
> That questioning so tallied with my wish,
> The thirst did feel abatement of its edge
> E'en from expectance. He forthwith replied:
> "In its devotion, nought irregular
> This mount can witness, or by punctual rule
> Unsanction'd; here from every change exempt,
> Other than that, which Heaven in itself
> Doth of itself receive, no influence
> Can reach us. Tempest none, shower, hail, or snow,
> Hoar frost, or dewy moistness, higher falls
> Than that brief scale of threefold steps: thick clouds,
> Nor scudding rack, are ever seen: swift glance
> Ne'er lightens; nor Thaumantian Iris gleams,
> That yonder often shifts on each side Heaven.
> Vapour adust doth never mount above
> The highest of the trinal stairs, whereon
> Peter's vicegerent stands. Lower perchance,
> With various motion rock'd, trembles the soil:
> But here, through wind in earth's deep hollow pent,
> I know not how, yet never trembled: then
> Trembles, when any spirit feels itself
> So purified, that it may rise, or move
> For rising; and such loud acclaim ensues.
> Purification, by the will alone,
> Is proved, that free to change society
> Seizes the soul rejoicing in her will.
> Desire of bliss is present from the first;
> But strong propension hinders, to that wish
> By the just ordinance of Heaven opposed;
> Propension now as eager to fulfill
> The allotted torment, as erewhile to sin.
> And I, who in this punishment had lain
> Five hundred years and more, but now have felt
> Free wish for happier clime. Therefore thou felt'st
> The mountain tremble; and the spirits devout
> Heard'st, over all his limits, utter praise
> To that liege Lord, whom I entreat their joy
> To hasten." Thus he spake: and, since the draught
> Is grateful ever as the thirst is keen,
> No words may speak my fullness of content.
> 
> "Now," said the instructor sage, "I see the net
> That takes ye here; and how the toils are loosed;
> Why rocks the mountain, and why ye rejoice.
> Vouchsafe, that from thy lips I next may learn
> Who on the earth thou wast; and wherefore here,
> So many an age, wert prostrate." - "In that time,
> When the good Titus,[5] with Heaven's King to help,
> Avenged those piteous gashes, whence the blood
> By Judas sold did issue; with the name[6]
> Most lasting and most honor'd, there, was I
> Abundantly renown'd," the shade replied,
> "Nor yet with faith endued. So passing sweet
> My vocal spirit; from Tolosa, Rome
> To herself drew me, where I merited
> A myrtle garland to inwreathe my brow.
> Statius they name me still. Of Thebes I sang,
> And next of great Achilles; but i' the way
> Fell with the second burden. Of my flame
> Those sparkles were the seeds, which I derived
> From the bright fountain of celestial fire
> That feeds unnumber'd lamps; the song I mean
> Which sounds Aeneas' wanderings: that the breast
> I hung at; that the nurse, from whom my veins
> Drank inspiration: whose authority
> Was ever sacred with me. To have lived
> Coeval with the Mantuan, I would bide
> The revolution of another sun
> Beyond my stated years in banishment."
> 
> [5: "When the good Titus." When it was so ordered by the divine
> Providence that Titus, by the destruction of Jerusalem, should avenge the
> death of our Saviour on the Jews.]
> 
> [6: "The name." The name of Poet.]
> 
> The Mantuan, when he heard him, turn'd to me;
> And holding silence, by his countenance
> Enjoin'd me silence: but the power, which wills,
> 
> Bears not supreme control: laughter and tears
> Follow so closely on the passion prompts them,
> They wait not for the motions of the will
> In natures most sincere. I did but smile,
> As one who winks; and thereupon the shade
> Broke off, and peer'd into mine eyes, where best
> Our looks interpret. "So to good event
> Mayst thou conduct such great emprise," he cried,
> "Say, why across thy visage beam'd, but now,
> The lightning of a smile." On either part
> Now am I straiten'd; one conjures me speak,
> The other to silence binds me: whence a sigh
> I utter, and the sigh is heard. "Speak on,"
> The teacher cried: "and do not fear to speak;
> But tell him what so earnestly he asks."
> Whereon I thus: "Perchance, O ancient spirit!
> Thou marvel'st at my smiling. There is room
> For yet more wonder. He, who guides my ken
> On high, he is that Mantuan, led by whom
> Thou didst presume of men and gods to sing.
> If other cause thou deem'dst for which I smiled,
> Leave it as not the true one: and believe
> Those words, thou spakest of him, indeed the cause."
> 
> Now down he bent to embrace my teacher's feet;
> But he forbade him: "Brother! do it not:
> Thou art a shadow, and behold'st a shade."
> He, rising, answer'd thus: "Now hast thou proved
> The force and ardour of the love I bear thee,
> When I forget we are but things of air,
> And, as a substance, treat an empty shade."
>
> — *Purgatory Canto 21*