# Purgatory Canto 13

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-20 — 1 clipping.*

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> 
> Canto XIII
> 
> Argument
> 
>      They gain the second cornice, where the sin of envy is purged; and having
> proceeded a little to the right, they hear voices uttered by invisible spirits
> recounting famous examples of charity, and next behold the shades, or souls,
> of the envious clad in sackcloth, and having their eyes sewed up with an iron
> thread. Amongst these Dante finds Sapia, a Siennese lady, from whom he learns
> the cause of her being there.
> 
> We reach'd the summit of the scale, and stood
> Upon the second buttress of that mount
> Which healeth him who climbs. A cornice there
> Like to the former, girdles round the hill;
> Save that its arch, with sweep less ample, bends.
> 
> Shadow, nor image there, is seen: all smooth
> The rampart and the path, reflecting naught
> But the rock's sullen hue. "If here we wait,
> For some to question," said the bard, "I fear
> Our choice may haply meet too long delay."
> 
> Then fixedly upon the sun his eyes
> He fasten'd; made his right the central point
> From whence to move; and turn'd the left aside.
> "O pleasant light, my confidence and hope!
> Conduct us thou," he cried, "on this new way,
> Where now I venture; leading to the bourn
> We seek. The universal world to thee
> Owes warmth and lustre. If no other cause
> Forbid, thy beams should ever be our guide."
> 
> Far, as in measured for a mile on earth,
> In brief space had we journey'd; such prompt will
> Impell'd; and toward us flying, now were heard
> Spirits invisible, who courteously
> Unto love's table bade the welcome guest.
> The voice, that first flew by, call'd forth aloud,
> "They have no wine," so on behind us past,
> Those sounds reiterating, nor yet lost
> In the faint distance, when another came
> Crying, "I am Orestes,"[1] and alike
> Wing'd its fleet way. "O father!" I exclaim'd,
> "What tongues are these?" and as I question'd, lo!
> A third exclaiming, "Love ye those have wrong'd you."
> 
> [1: "Orestes." Alluding to his friendship with Pylades.]
> 
> "This circuit," said my teacher, "knots the scourge
> For envy; and the cords are therefore drawn
> By charity's correcting hand. The curb
> Is of a harsher sound; as thou shalt hear
> (If I deem rightly) ere thou reach the pass,
> Where pardon sets them free. But fix thine eyes
> Intently through the air; and thou shalt see
> A multitude before thee seated, each
> Along the shelving grot." Then more than erst
> I oped mine eyes; before me view'd; and saw
> Shadows with garments dark as was the rock;
> And when we pass'd a little forth, I heard
> 
> A crying, "Blessed Mary! pray for us,
> Michael and Peter! all ye saintly host!"
> 
> I do not think there walks on earth this day
> Man so remorseless, that he had not yearn'd
> With pity at the sight that next I saw.
> Mine eyes a load of sorrow teem'd, when now
> I stood so near them, that their semblances
> Came clearly to my view. Of sackcloth vile
> Their covering seem'd; and, on his shoulder, one
> Did stay another, leaning; and all lean'd
> Against the cliff. E'en thus the blind and poor,
> Near the confessionals, to crave an alms,
> Stand, each his head upon his fellow's sunk;
> So most to stir compassion, not by sound
> Of words alone, but that which moves not less,
> The sight of misery. And as never beam
> Of noon - day visiteth the eyeless man,
> E'en so was heaven a niggard unto these
> Of his fair light: for, through the orbs of all,
> A thread of wire, impiercing, knits them up,
> As for the taming of a haggard hawk.
> It were a wrong, methought, to pass and look
> On others, yet myself the while unseen.
> To my sage counsel therefore did I turn.
> He knew the meaning of the mute appeal,
> Nor waited for my questioning, but said:
> "Speak; and be brief, be subtile in thy words."
> 
> On that part of the cornice, whence no rim
> Engarlands its steep fall, did Virgil come;
> On the other side me were the spirits, their cheeks
> Bathing devout with penitential tears,
> That through the dread impalement forced a way.
> 
> I turn'd me to them, and "O shades!" said I,
> "Assured that to your eyes unveil'd shall shine
> The lofty light, sole object of your wish,
> So may Heaven's grace clear whatsoe'er of foam
> Floats turbid on the conscience, that thenceforth
> The stream of mind roll limpid from its source;
> As ye declare (for so shall ye impart
> A boon I dearly prize) if any soul
> Of Latium dwell among ye: and perchance
> That soul may profit, if I learn so much."
> 
> "My brother! we are, each one, citizens
> Of one true city.[2] Any, thou wouldst say,
> Who lived a stranger in Italia's land."
> 
> [2: "_____ Citizens of one true city!" "For here we have no
> continuing city, but we seek one to come." - Heb. xiii. 14.]
> 
> So heard I answering, as appear'd, a voice
> That onward came some space from whence I stood.
> 
> A spirit I noted, in whose look was mark'd
> Expectance. Ask ye how? The chin was raised
> As in one reft of sight. "Spirit," said I,
> "Who for thy rise art tutoring, (if thou be
> That which didst answer to me), or by place,
> Or name, disclose thyself, thy I may know thee."
> 
> "I was," it answer'd, "of Sienna: here
> I cleanse away with these the evil life,
> Soliciting with tears that He, who is,
> Vouchsafe Him to us. Though Sapia[3] named,
> In sapience I excell'd not; gladder far
> Of other's hurt, than of the good befell me.
> That thou mayst own I now deceive thee not,
> Hear, if my folly were not as I speak it.
> When now my tears sloped waning down the arch,
> It so bechanced, my fellow - citizens
> Near Colle met their enemies in the field;
> And I pray'd God to grant what He had will'd.[4]
> There were they vanquish'd, and betook themselves
> Unto the bitter passages of flight.
> I mark'd the hunt; and waxing out of bounds
> In gladness, lifted up my shameless brow,
> And, like the merlin[5] cheated by a gleam,
> Cried: 'Itcis over. Heaven! I fear thee not.'
> Upon my verge of life I wish'd for peace
> With God; nor yet repentance had supplied
> What I did lack of duty, were it not
> 
> [3: "Sapia." A lady of Sienna, living in exile at Colle, so overjoyed
> at a defeat which her countrymen sustained near that place, that she declared
> nothing more was wanting to make her die contended.]
> 
> [4: "_____ What He had will'd." That her countrymen should be
> defeated in battle.]
> 
> [5: Induced by a gleam of fine weather in the winter to escape from
> his master, the merlin was soon oppressed by the rigor of the season.]
> 
> The hermit Piero,[6] touch'd with charity,
> In his devout orisons though on me.
> But who art thou that question'st of our state,
> Who go'st, as I believe, with lids unclosed,
> And breathest in thy talk?" - "Mine eyes," said I,
> "May yet be here ta'en from me; but not long;
> For they have not offended grievously
> With envious glances. But the woe beneath[7]
> Urges my soul with more exceeding dread.
> That nether load already weighs me down."
> 
> [6: "The hermit Piero." Piero Pettinagno, a holy hermit of Florence.]
> 
> [7: Dante felt that he was much more subject to the sin of pride,
> than to that of envy.]
> 
> She thus: "Who then, amongst us here aloft,
> Hath brought thee, if thou weenest to return?"
> 
> "He," answered I, "who standeth mute beside me.
> I live: of me ask therefore, chosen spirit!
> If thou desire I yonder yet should move
> For thee my mortal feet." - "Oh!" she replied,
> "This is so strange a thing, it is great sign
> That God doth love thee. Therefore with thy prayer
> Sometime assist me: and, by that I crave,
> Which most thou covetest, that if thy feet
> E'er tread on Tuscan soil, thou save my fame
> Amongst my kindred. Them shalt thou behold
> With that vain multitude,[8] who set their hope
> On Telamone's haven; there to fail
> Confounded, more than when the fancied stream
> They sought, of Dian call'd: but they, who lead
> Their navies, more than ruin'd hopes shall mourn."
> 
> [8: The Sienese.]
>
> — *Purgatory Canto 13*