# Purgatory Canto  6

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-21 — 1 clipping.*

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> 
> Canto VI
> 
> Argument
> 
>      Many besides, who are in like case with those spoken of in the last
> Canto, beseech our Poet to obtain for them the prayers of their friends, when
> he shall be returned to this world. This moves him to express a doubt to his
> guide, how the dead can be profited by the prayers of the living; for the
> solution of which doubt he is referred to Beatrice. Afterward he meets with
> Sordello the Mantuan, whose affection, shown to Virgil his countryman, leads
> Dante to break forth into an invective against the unnatural divisions with
> which Italy, and more especially Florence, was distracted.
> 
> When from their game of dice men separate,
> He who hath lost remains in sadness fix'd,
> Revolving in his mind what luckless throws
> He cast: but, meanwhile, all the company
> Go with the other; one before him runs,
> And one behind his mantle twitches, one
> Fast by his side bids him remember him.
> He stops not; and each one, to whom his hand
> Is stretch'd, well knows he bids him stand aside;
> And thus[1] he from the press defends himself.
> E'en such was I in that close - crowding throng;
> 
> [1: "And thus." It was usual for money to be given to bystanders at
> play by winners.]
> 
> And turning so my face around to all,
> And promising, I 'scaped from it with pains.
> 
> Here of Arezzo him[2] I saw, who fell
> By Ghino's cruel arm; and him beside,[3]
> Who in his chase was swallow'd by the stream.
> Here Frederic Novello,[4] with his hand
> Stretch'd forth, entreated; and of Pisa he,[5]
> Who put the good Marzucco to such proof
> Of constancy. Count Orso[6] I beheld;
> And from its frame a soul dismiss'd for spite
> And envy, as it said, but for no crime;
> I speak of Peter de la Brosse:[7] and here,
> While she yet lives, that Lady of Brabant,
> Let her beware; lest for so false a deed
> She herd with worse than these. When I was freed
> From all those spirits, who pray'd for others' prayers
> To hasten on their state of blessedness;
> Straight I began: "O thou, my luminary!
> It seems expressly in thy text denied,
> That Heaven's supreme decree can ever bend
> To supplication; yet with this design
> Do these entreat. Can then their hope be vain?
> 
> [2: Benincasa of Arezzo, eminent for his skill in jurisprudence, who
> having condemned to death Turrino da Turrita, brother of Ghino di Tacco, for
> his robberies in Maremma, was murdered by Ghino, in an apartment of his own
> house, in the presence of many witnesses. Ghino was not only suffered to
> escape in safety, but obtained so high a reputation by the liberality with
> which he dispensed the fruits of his plunder, and treated those who fell into
> his hands with so much courtesy, that he was afterward invited to Rome, and
> knighted by Boniface VIII.]
> 
> [3: Cione, or Ciacco de' Tarlatti of Arezzo, carried by his horse
> into the Arno, and there drowned, while in pursuit of enemies.]
> 
> [4: "Frederic Novello." Son of the Conte Guido da Battifolle, and
> slain by one of the family of Bostoli.]
> 
> [5: Farinata de' Scornigiani, of Pisa. His father, Marzucco, who had
> entered the order of the Frati Minori, so entirely overcame his resentment,
> that he even kissed the hands of the slayer of his son, and as he was
> following the funeral, exhorted his kinsmen to reconciliation.]
> 
> [6: "Count Orso." Son of Napoleone da Cerbaia, slain by Alberto da
> Mangona, his uncle.]
> 
> [7: Secretary of Philip III of France. The courtiers envying the high
> place which he held in the King's favor, prevailed on Mary of Brabant to
> charge him falsely with an attempt upon her person; for which supposed crime
> he suffered death. So say the Italian commentators. Henault represents the
> matter very differently: "Pierre de la Brosse, formerly barber to St. Louis,
> afterward the favorite of Philip, fearing the too great attachment of the King
> for his wife Mary, accuses this princess of having poisoned Louis, eldest son
> of Philip, by his first marriage. This calumny is discovered by a nun of
> Nivelle, in Flanders. La Brosse is hanged."]
> 
> Or is thy saying not to me reveal'd?"
> 
> He thus to me: "Both what I write is plain,
> And these deceived not in their hope; if well
> Thy mind consider, that the sacred height
> Of judgment doth not stoop, because love's flame
> In a short moment all fulfills, which he,
> Who sojourns here, in right should satisfy.
> Besides, when I this point concluded thus,
> By praying no defect could be supplied;
> Because the prayer had none access to God.
> Yet in this deep suspicion rest thou not
> Contented, unless she assure thee so,
> Who betwixt truth and mind infuses light:
> I know not if thou take me right; I mean
> Beatrice. Her thou shalt behold above,
> Upon this mountain's crown, fair seat of joy."
> 
> Then I: "Sir! let us mend our speed; for now
> I tire not as before: and lo! the hill[8]
> Stretches its shadow far." He answer'd thus:
> "Our progress with this day shall be as much
> As we may now despatch; but otherwise
> Than thou supposest is the truth. For there
> Thou canst not be, ere thou once more behold
> Him back returning, who behind the steep
> Is now so hidden, that, as erst, his beam
> Thou dost not break. But lo! a spirit there
> Stands solitary, and toward us looks:
> It will instruct us in the speediest way."
> 
> [8: "The hill." It was now past the moon.]
> 
> We soon approach'd it. O thou Lombard spirit!
> How didst thou stand, in high abstracted mood,
> Scarce moving with slow dignity thine eyes.
> It spoke not aught, but let us onward pass,
> Eying us as a lion on his watch.
> But Virgil, with entreaty mild, advanced,
> Requesting it to show the best ascent.
> It answer to his question none return'd;
> But of our country and our kind of life
> Demanded. When my courteous guide began,
> "Mantua," the shadow, in itself absorb'd,
> 
> Rose toward us from the place in which it stood,
> And cried, "Mantuan! I am thy countryman,
> Sordello."[9] Each the other then embraced.
> 
> [9: Sordello's life is wrapt in obscurity. He distinguished himself
> by his skill in Provencal poetry and many feats of military prowess have been
> attributed to him. It is probable that he was born at the end of the twelfth,
> and died about the middle of the succeeding, century.]
> 
> Ah, slavish Italy! thou inn of grief!
> Vessel without a pilot in loud storm!
> Lady no longer of fair provinces,
> But brothel - house impure! this gentle spirit,
> Even from the pleasant sound of his dear land
> Was prompt to greet a fellow citizen
> With such glad cheer: while now thy living ones
> In thee abide not without war; and one
> Malicious gnaws another; ay, of those
> Whom the same wall and the same moat contains.
> Seek, wretched one! around the sea - coasts wide;
> Then homeward to thy bosom turn; and mark,
> If any part of thee sweet peace enjoy.
> What boots it, that thy reins Justinian's hand
> Refitted, if thy saddle be unprest?
> Naught doth he now but aggravate thy shame.
> Ah, people! thou obedient still should'st live,
> And in the saddle let thy Caesar sit,
> If well thou marked'st that which God commands.
> 
> Look how that beast to fellness hath relapsed,
> From having lost correction of the spur,
> Since to the bridle thou hast set thine hand,
> O German Albert![10] who abandon'st her
> That is grown savage and unmanageable,
> When thou shouldst clasp her flanks with forked heels.
> Just judgment from the stars fall on thy blood;
> And be it strange and manifest to all;
> Such as may strike thy successor[11] with dread;
> For that thy sire[12] and thou have suffer'd thus,
> 
> [10: The Emperor Albert I succeeded Adolphus in 1298, and was
> murdered in 1308. See Paradise, Canto xix. 114.]
> 
> [11: Henry of Luxemburg, by whose interposition in the affairs of
> Italy our Poet hoped to have been reinstated in his native city.]
> 
> [12: The Emperor Rodolph, too intent on increasing his power in
> Germany to give much of his thoughts to Italy, "the garden of the empire."]
> 
> Through greediness of yonder realms detain'd,
> The garden of the empire to run waste.
> Come, see the Capulets and Montagues,[13]
> The Filippeschi and Monaldi,[14] man
> Who carest for naught! those sunk in grief, and these
> With dire suspicion rack'd. Come, cruel one!
> Come, and behold the oppression of the nobles,
> And mark their injuries; and thou mayst see
> What safety Santafiore can supply.[15]
> Come and behold thy Rome, who calls on thee,
> Desolate widow, day and night with moans,
> "My Caesar, why dost thou desert my side?"
> Come, and behold what love among thy people:
> And if no pity touches thee for us,
> Come, and blush for thine own report. For me,
> If it be lawful, O Almighty Power!
> Who wast on earth for our sakes crucified,
> Are thy just eyes turn'd elsewhere? or is this
> A preparation, in the wondrous depth
> Of thy sage counsel made, for some good end,
> Entirely from our reach of thought cut off?
> So are the Italian cities all o'erthrong'd
> With tyrants, and a great Marcellus made
> Of every petty factious villager.
> 
> [13: Two powerful Ghibelline families of Verona.]
> 
> [14: Two rival families in Orvieto.]
> 
> [15: A place between Pisa and Siena.]
> 
> My Florence! thou mayst well remain unmoved
> At this digression, which affects not thee:
> Thanks to thy people, who so wisely speed.
> Many have justice in their heart, that long
> Waiteth for counsel to direct the bow,
> Or ere it dart unto its aim: but thine
> Have it on their lips' edge. Many refuse
> To bear the common burdens: readier thine
> Answer uncall'd, and cry, "Behold I stoop!"
> 
> Make thyself glad, for thou hast reason now,
> Thou wealthy! thou at peace! thou wisdom - fraught!
> Facts best will witness if I speak the truth.
> Athens and Lacedaemon, who of old
> Enacted laws, for civil arts renown'd,
> 
> Made little progress in improving life
> Toward thee, who usest such nice subtlety,
> That to the middle of November scarce
> Reaches the thread thou in October weavest.
> How many times within thy memory,
> Customs, and laws, and coins, and offices
> Have been by thee renew'd, and people changed.
> 
> If thou remember'st well and canst see clear,
> Thou wilt perceive thyself like a sick wretch,
> Who finds no rest upon her down, but oft
> Shifting her side, short respite seeks from pain.
>
> — *Purgatory Canto  6*