# Purgatory Canto 24

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

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> 
> Canto XXIV
> 
> Argument
> 
>      Forese points out several others by name who are here, like himself,
> purifying themselves from the vice of gluttony; and amongst the rest,
> Buonaggiunta of Lucca, with whom our Poet converses. Forese then predicts the
> violent end of Dante's political enemy, Corso, Donati; and when he has quitted
> them, the Poet, in company with Statius and Virgil, arrives at another tree,
> from whence issue voices that record ancient examples of gluttony; and
> proceeding forward, they are directed by an Angel which way to ascend to the
> next cornice of the mountain.
> 
> Our journey was not slacken'd by our talk,
> Nor yet our talk by journeying. Still we spake,
> And urged our travel stoutly, like a ship
> When the wind sits astern. The shadowy forms,
> That seem'd things dead and dead again, drew in
> At their deep - delved orbs rare wonder of me,
> Perceiving I had life; and I my words
> Continued, and thus spake: "He journeys up
> Perhaps more tardily than else he would,
> For others' sake. But tell me, if thou know'st,
> Where is Piccarda? Tell me, if I see
> Any of mark, among this multitude
> Who eye me thus." - "My sister (she for whom,
> 'Twixt beautiful and good, I cannot say
> Which name was fitter) wears e'en now her crown,
> And triumphs in Olympus." Saying this,
> He added: Since spare diet hath so worn
> Our semblance out, 'tis lawful here to name
> Each one. This," and his finger then he raised,
> 'Is Buonaggiunta,[1] - Buonaggiunta, he
> Of Lucca: and that face beyond him, pierced
> Unto a leaner fineness than the rest,
> Had keeping of the Church; he was of Tours,[2]
> And purges by wan abstinence away
> Bolsena's eels and cups of muscadel."
> 
> [1: "Buonaggiunta." Buonaggiunta Urbiciani, of Lucca.]
> 
> [2: "He was of Tours." Simon of Tours became Pope with the title of
> Martin IV in 1281, and died in 1285.]
> 
> He show'd me many others one by one:
> And all, as they were named, seem'd well content;
> For no dark gesture I discern'd in any.
> I saw, through hunger, Ubaldino[3] grind
> 
> [3: "Ubaldino degli Ubaldini, of Pila, in the Florentine territory.]
> 
> His teeth on emptiness; and Boniface,[4]
> That waved the crozier o'er a numerous flock.
> I saw the Marquis, who had time erewhile
> To swill at Forli with less drought; yet so,
> Was one ne'er stated. I howe'er, like him
> That, gazing 'midst a crowd, singles out one,
> So singled him of Lucca; for methought
> Was none amongst them took such note of me.
> Somewhat I heard him whisper of Gentucca:
> The sound was indistinct and murmur'd there,
> Where justice, that so strips them, fix'd her sting.
> 
> [4: "Boniface," Archbishop of Ravenna. By Venturi he is called
> Bonifazio de' Fieschi, a Genoese; by Vellutello, the son of the above -
> mentioned Ubaldini; and by Landino, Francioso, a Frenchman.]
> 
> "Spirit!" said I, "it seems as thou wouldst fain
> Speak with me. Let me hear thee. Mutual wish
> To converse prompts, which let us both indulge."
> 
> He, answering, straight began: "Woman is born,
> Whose brow no wimple shades yet, that shall make
> My city please thee, blame it as they may.
> Go then with this forewarning. If aught false
> My whisper too implied, the event shall tell.
> But say, if of a truth I see the man
> Of that new lay the inventor, which begins
> With "Ladies, ye that con the lore of love.'"
> 
> To whom I thus: "Count of me but as one,
> Who am the scribe of love; that, when he breathes,
> Take up my pen, and, as he dictates, write."
> 
> "Brother!" said he, "the hindrance, which once held
> The notary, with Guittone and myself,
> Short of that new and sweeter style I hear,
> Is now disclosed: I see how ye your plumes
> Stretch, as the inditer guides them; which, no question,
> Ours did not. He that seeks a grace beyond,
> Sees not the distance parts one style from other."
> And, as contented, here he held his peace.
> 
> Like as the birds, that winter near the Nile,
> In squared regiment direct their course,
> Then stretch themselves in file for speedier flight;
> Thus all the tribe of spirits, as they turn'd
> 
> Their visage, faster fled, nimble alike
> Through leanness and desire. And as a man,
> Tired with the motion of a trotting steed,
> Slacks pace, and stays behind his company,
> Till his o'erbreathed lungs keep temperate time;
> E'en so Forese let that holy crew
> Proceed, behind them lingering at my side,
> And saying: "When shall I again behold thee?"
> 
> "How long my life may last," said I, "I know not:
> This know, how soon soever I return,
> My wishes will before me have arrived:
> Sithence the place,[5] where I am set to live,
> Is, day by day, more scoop'd of all its good;
> And dismal ruin seems to threaten it,".
> 
> [5: "The place." Florence.]
> 
> "Go now," he cried: "lo! he,[6] whose guilt is most,
> Passes before my vision, dragg'd at heels
> Of an infuriate beast. Toward the vale,
> Where guilt hath no redemption, on its speeds,
> Each step increasing swiftness on the last;
> Until a blow it strikes, that leaveth him
> A corse most vilely shatter'd. No long space
> Those wheels have yet to roll," (therewith his eyes
> Look'd up to Heaven,) "ere thou shalt plainly see
> That which my words may not more plainly tell.
> I quit thee: time is precious here: I lose
> Too much, thus measuring my pace with thine."
> 
> [6: "He." Corso Donati was suspected of aiming at the sovereignty of
> Florence. To escape the fury of his fellow - citizens, he fled away on
> horseback, but falling, was overtaken and slain, A.D. 1308. The contemporary
> annalist, after relating at length the circumstances of his fate, adds, "that
> he was one of the wisest and most valorous knights, the best speaker, the most
> expert statesman, the most renowned and enterprising man of his age in Italy,
> a comely knight and of graceful carriage, but very worldly, and in his time
> had formed many conspiracies in Florence, and entered into many scandalous
> practices for the sake of attaining state and lordship." G. Villani, lib. v.]
> 
> As from a troop of well - rank'd chivalry,
> One knight, more enterprising than the rest,
> Pricks forth at gallop, eager to display
> His prowess in the first encounter proved;
> So parted he from us, with lengthen'd strides;
> And left me on the way with those twain spirits,
> Who were such mighty marshals of the world.
> 
> When he beyond us had so fled, mine eyes
> No nearer reach'd him, than my thoughts his words,
> The branches of another fruit, thick hung,
> And blooming fresh, appear'd. E'en as our steps
> Turn'd thither; not far off, it rose to view.
> Beneath it were a multitude, that raised
> Their hands, and shouted forth I know not what
> Unto the boughs; like greedy and fond brats,
> That beg, and answer none obtain from him,
> Of whom they beg; but more to draw them on,
> He, at arm's length, the object of their wish
> Above them holds aloft, and hides it not.
> 
> At length, as undeceived, they went their way:
> And we approach the tree, whom vows and tears
> Sue to in vain; the mighty tree. "Pass on,
> And come not near. Stands higher up the wood,
> Whereof Eve tasted: and from it was ta'en
> This plant." Such sounds from midst the thickets came
> Whence I, with either bard, close to the side
> That rose, pass'd forth beyond. "Remember," next
> We heard, "those unblest creatures of the clouds,[7]
> How they their twofold bosoms, overgorged,
> Opposed on fight to Theseus: call to mind
> The Hebrews, how, effeminate, they stoop'd
> To ease their thirst; whence Gideon's ranks were thinn'd,
> As he to Midian[8] march'd adown the hills."
> 
> [7: The Centaurs.]
> 
> [8: Judges, vii.]
> 
> Thus near one border coasting, still we heard
> The sins of gluttony, with woe erewhile
> Reguerdon'd. Then along the lonely path,
> Once more at large, full thousand paces on
> We travel'd, each contemplative and mute.
> 
> "Why pensive journey so ye three alone?"
> thus suddenly a voice exclaim'd: whereat
> I shook, as doth a scared and paltry beast;
> Then raised my head, to look from whence it came.
> 
> Was ne'er, in furnace, glass, or metal, seen
> So bright and glowing red, as was the shape
> I now beheld. "If ye desire to mount,"
> He cried; "here must ye turn. This way he goes,
> 
> Who goes in quest of peace." His countenance
> Had dazzled me; and to my guides I faced
> Backward, like one who walks as sound directs.
> 
> As when, to harbinger the dawn, springs up
> On Freshen'd wing the air of May, and breathes
> Of fragrance, all impregn'd with herb and flowers;
> E'en such a wind I felt upon my front
> Blow gently, and the moving of a wing
> Perceived, that, moving, shed ambrosial smell;
> And then a voice: "Blessed are they, whom grace
> Doth so illume, that appetite in them
> Exhaleth no inordinate desire,
> Still hungering as the rule of temperance wills."
>
> — *Purgatory Canto 24*