# Purgatory Canto  8

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

---

> Christianity Index  Divine Comedy Index  Previous: Purgatory Canto 7  Next: Purgatory Canto 9  
> 
> Canto VIII
> 
> Argument
> 
>      Two Angels, with flaming swords broken at the points, descend to keep
> watch over the valley, into which Virgil and Dante entering by desire of
> Sordello, our Poet meets with joy the spirit of Nino, the judge of Gallura,
> one who was well known to him. Meantime three exceedingly bright stars appear
> near the pole, and a serpent creeps subtly into the valley, but flees at
> hearing the approach of those angelic guards. Lastly, Conrad Malaspina
> predicts to our Poet his future banishment.
> 
> Now was the hour that wakens fond desire
> In men at sea, and melts their thoughtful heart
> Who in the morn have bid sweet friends farewell,
> And pilgrim newly on his road with love
> Thrills, if he hear the vesper bell from far,
> That seems to mourn for the expiring day:
> When I, no longer taking heed to hear,
> Began, with wonder, from those spirits to mark
> One risen from its seat, which with its hand
> Audience implored. Both palms it join'd and raised,
> Fixing its steadfast gaze toward the east,
> As telling God, "I care for naught beside."
> 
> "Te Lucis Ante,"[1] so devoutly then
> Came from its lip, and in so soft a strain,
> That all my sense in ravishment was lost.
> And the rest after, softly and devout,
> Follow'd through all the hymn, with upward gaze
> Directed to the bright supernal wheels.
> 
> [1: "Te lucis ante terminum," the first verse of the hymn in the last
> part of the sacred office, termed "complin."]
> 
> Here, reader! for the truth make thine eyes keen:
> For of so subtle texture is this veil,
> That thou with ease mayst pass it through unmark'd.
> 
> I saw that gentle band silently next
> Look up, as if in expectation held,
> Pale and in lowly guise; and, from on high,
> I saw, forth issuing descend beneath,
> Two Angels, with two flame - illumined swords,
> Broken and mutilated of their points.
> Green as the tender leaves but newly born,
> Their vesture was, the which, by wings as green
> Beaten, they drew behind them, fann'd in air.
> A little over us one took his stand;
> 
> The other lighted on the opposing hill;
> So that the troop were in the midst contain'd.
> 
> Well I descried the whiteness on their heads;
> But in their visages the dazzled eye
> Was lost, as faculty that by too much
> Is overpower'd. "From Mary's bosom both
> Are come," exclaim'd Sordello, "as a guard
> Over the vale, 'gainst him who hither tends,
> The serpent." Whence, not knowing by which path
> He came, I turn'd me round; and closely press'd,
> All frozen, to my leader's trusted side.
> 
> Sordello paused not: "To the valley now
> (For it is time) let us descend; and hold
> Converse with those great shadows: haply much
> Their sight may please ye." Only three steps down
> Methinks I measured, ere I was beneath,
> And noted one who look'd as with desire
> To know me. Time was now that air grew dim;
> Yet not so dim, that, 'twixt his eyes and mine,
> It clear'd not up what was conceal'd before.
> Mutually toward each other we advanced.
> Nino, thou courteous judge![2] what joy I felt,
> When I perceived thou wert not with the bad.
> 
> [2: Nino di Gallura de' Visconti, nephew to Count Ugolino de'
> Gherardeschi, and betrayed by him.]
> 
> No salutation kind on either part
> Was left unsaid. He then inquired: "How long,
> Since thou arrived'st at the mountain's foot,
> Over the distant waves?" - "Oh!" answer'd I,
> "Through the sad seats of woe this morn I came;
> And still in my first life, thus journeying on,
> The other strive to gain." Soon as they heard
> My words, he and Sordello backward drew,
> As suddenly amazed. To Virgil one,
> The other to a spirit turn'd, who near
> Was seated, crying: "Conrad![3] up with speed:
> Come, see what of His grace high God hath will'd."
> Then turning round to me: "By that rare mark
> Of honour, which thou owest to Him, who hides
> So deeply His first cause it hath no ford;
> 
> [3: Father to Marcello Malaspina.]
> 
> When thou shalt be beyond the vast of waves,
> Tell my Giovanna,[4] that for me she call
> There, where reply to innocence is made.
> Her mother,[5] I believe, loves me no more;
> Since she has changed the white and wimpled folds,[6]
> Which she is doom'd once more with grief to wish.
> By her it easily may be perceived,
> How long in woman lasts the flame of love,
> If sight and touch do not relume it oft.
> For her so fair a burial will not make
> The viper,[7] which calls Milan to the field,
> As had been made by shrill Gallura's bird."[8]
> 
> [4: The daughter of Nino, and wife of Riccardo da Camino, of
> Trevigi.]
> 
> [5: "Her mother." Beatrice, Marchioness of Este, wife of Nino, and
> after his death married to Galeazzo de' Visconti of Milan.]
> 
> [6: The weeds of widowhood.]
> 
> [7: The arms of Galeazzo and the ensign of the Milanese.]
> 
> [8: The cock was the ensign of Gallura, Nino's province in Sardinia.
> It is not known whether Beatrice had any further cause to regret her nuptials
> with Galeazzo, than a certain shame which appears, however unreasonably, to
> have attached to a second marriage.]
> 
> He spoke, and in his visage took the stamp
> Of that right zeal, which with due temperature
> Glows in the bosom. My insatiate eyes
> Meanwhile to Heaven had travel'd, even there
> Where the bright stars are slowest, as a wheel
> Nearest the axle; when my guide inquired:
> "What there aloft, my son, has caught thy gaze?"
> 
> I answer'd: "The three torches,[9] with which here
> The pole is all on fire." He then to me:
> "The four resplendent stars, thou saw'st this morn,
> Are there beneath; and these, risen in their stead."
> 
> [9: The three evangelical virtues, Faith, Hope and Charity, are
> supposed to rise in the evening, to denote their belonging to the
> contemplative; as the four others are made to rise in the morning to signify
> their belonging to the active life: or perhaps it may mark the succession, in
> order of time, of the Gospel to the heathen system of morality.]
> 
> While yet he spoke, Sordello to himself
> Drew him, and cried: "Lo there our enemy!"
> And with his hand pointed that way to look.
> 
> Along the side, where barrier none arose
> Around the little vale, a serpent lay,
> Such haply as gave Eve the bitter food.
> Between the grass and flowers, the evil snake
> Came on, reverting oft his lifted head;
> 
> And, as a beast that smooths its polish'd coat,
> Licking his back. I saw not, nor can tell,
> How those celestial falcons from their seat
> Moved, but in motion each one well described.
> Hearing the air cut by their verdant plumes,
> The serpent fled; and, to their stations, back
> The Angels up return'd with equal flight.
> 
> The spirit, (who to Nino, when he call'd,
> Had come), from viewing me with fixed ken,
> Through all that conflict, loosen'd not his sight.
> 
> "So may the lamp, which leads thee up on high,
> Find, in thy free resolve, of wax so much,
> As may suffice thee to the enamel'd height."
> It thus began: "If any certain news
> Of Valdimagra and the neighbour part
> Thou know'st, tell me, who once was mighty there.
> They call'd me Conrad Malaspina; not
> That old one, but from him I sprang. The love
> I bore my people is now here refined."
> 
> "In your domains," I answer'd, "ne'er was I.
> But, through all Europe, where do those men dwell,
> To whom their glory is not manifest?
> The fame, that honours your illustrious house,
> Proclaims the nobles, and proclaims the land;
> So that he knows it, who was never there.
> I swear to you, so may my upward route
> Prosper, your honoured nation not impairs
> The value of her coffer and her sword.
> Nature and use give her such privilege,
> That while the world is twisted from his course
> By a bad head, she only walks aright,
> And has the evil way in scorn." He then:
> "Now pass thee on: seven times the tired sun[10]
> Revisits not the couch, which with the four feet
> The forked Aries covers, ere that kind
> Opinion shall be nail'd into thy brain
> 
> [10: The sun shall not enter into the constellation of Aries seven
> times more, before thou shalt have still better cause for the good opinion
> thou expressest of Valdimagra, in the kind reception thou shalt there meet
> with." Dante was hospitably received by the Marchese Marcello, or Morello
> Malaspina, during his banishment, A. D. 1307.]
> 
> With stronger nails than other's speech can drive;
> If the sure course of judgment be not stay'd."
>
> — *Purgatory Canto  8*