# Purgatory Canto 19

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

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> 
> Canto XIX
> 
> Argument
> 
>      The Poet, after describing his dream, relates how, at the summoning of an
> Angel, he ascends with Virgil to the fifth cornice, where the sin of avarice
> is cleansed, and where he finds Pope Adrian the fifth.
> 
> It was the hour,[1] when of diurnal heat
> No reliques chafe the cold beams of the moon,
> O'erpower'd by earth, or planetary sway
> Of Saturn; and the geomancer[2] sees
> His Greater Fortune up the east ascend,
> Where gray dawn checkers first the shadowy cone,
> 
> [1: "The hour." Near the dawn.]
> 
> [2: "The geomancer." The geomancers, when they divined, drew a figure
> consisting of sixteen marks, named from so many stars which constitute the end
> of Aquarius and the beginning of Pisces. One of these they called "the greater
> fortune."]
> 
> When, 'fore me in my dream, a woman's shape[3]
> There came, with lips that stammer'd, eyes aslant,
> Distorted feet, hands maim'd, and colour pale.
> 
> [3: "A woman's shape." Worldly happiness. This allegory reminds us of
> the "Choice of Hercules."]
> 
> I look'd upon her: and, as sunshine cheers
> Limbs numb'd by nightly cold, e'en thus my look
> Unloosed her tongue; next, in brief space, her form
> Decrepit raised erect, and faded face
> With love's own hue illumed. Recovering speech,
> She forthwith, warbling, such a strain began,
> That I, how loth soe'er, could scarce have held
> Attention from the song. "I," thus she sang,
> "I am the Syren, she, whom mariners
> On the wide sea are wilder'd when they hear;
> Such fullness of delight the listener feels.
> I, from his course, Ulysses[4] by my lay
> Enchanted drew. Whoe'er frequents me once,
> Parts seldom: so I charm him, and his heart
> Contented knows no void." Or ere her mouth
> Was closed, to shame her, at my side appear'd
> A dame[5] of semblance holy. With stern voice
> She utter'd: "Say, O Virgil! who is this?"
> Which hearing, he approach'd, with eyes still bent
> Toward that goodly presence: the other seized her,
> And, her robes tearing, open'd her before,
> And show'd the belly to me, whence a smell,
> Exhaling loathsome, waked me. Round I turn'd
> Mine eyes: and thus the teacher: "At the least
> Three times my voice hath call'd thee. Rise, begone.
> Let us the opening find where thou mayst pass."
> 
> [4: "Ulysses." It is not easy to determine why Ulysses, contrary to
> the authority of Homer, is said to have been drawn aside from his course by
> the song of the Siren. No improbable way of accounting for the contradiction
> is, to suppose that she is here represented as purposely deviating from the
> truth. Or Dante may have followed some legend of the Middle Ages.]
> 
> [5: "A dame." Philosophy, or perhaps Truth.]
> 
> I straightway rose. Now day, pour'd down from high,
> Fill'd all the circuits of the sacred mount;
> And, as we journey'd, on our shoulder smote
> The early ray. I follow'd, stooping low
> My forehead, as a man, o'ercharged with thought,
> 
> Who bends him to the likeness of an arch
> That midway spans the flood; when thus I heard,
> "Come, enter here," in tone so soft and mild,
> As never met the ear on mortal strand.
> 
> With swan - like wings dispred and pointing up,
> Who thus had spoken marshal'd us along,
> Where, each side of the solid masonry,
> The sloping walls retired; then moved his plumes,
> And fanning us, affirm'd that those, who mourn,[6]
> Are blessed, for that comfort shall be theirs.
> 
> [6: "Who mourn." "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be
> comforted." - Matt. v. 4]
> 
> "What aileth thee, that still thou look'st to earth?"
> Began my leader; while the angelic shape
> A little over us his station took.
> 
> "New vision," I replied, "hath raised in me
> Surmisings strange and anxious doubts, whereon
> My soul int nt allows no other thought
> Or room, or entrance." - "Hast thou seen," said he
> "That old enchantress, her, whose wiles alone
> The spirits o'er us weep for? Hast thou seen
> How man may free him of her bonds? Enough.
> Let thy heels spurn the earth; and thy raised ken
> Fix on the lure, which Heaven's eternal King
> Whirls in the rolling spheres." As on his feet
> The falcon first looks down, then to the sky
> Turns, and forth stretches eager for the food,
> That woos him thither; so the call I heard:
> So onward, far as the dividing rock
> Gave way, I journey'd, till the plain was reach'd.
> 
> On the fifth circle when I stood at large,
> A race appear'd before me, on the ground
> All downward lying prone and weeping sore.
> "My soul hath cleaved to the dust," I heard
> With sighs so deep, they well nigh choked the words.
> 
> "O ye elect of God! whose penal woes
> Both hope and justice mitigate, direct
> Towards the steep rising our uncertain way."
> 
> "If ye approach secure from this our doom,
> Prostration, and would urge your course with speed,
> 
> See that ye still to rightward keep the brink."
> 
> So them the bard besought; and such the words,
> Beyond us some short space, in answer came.
> 
> I noted what remain'd yet hidden from them:[7]
> Thence to my liege's eyes mine eyes I bent,
> And he, forthwith interpreting their suit,
> Beckon'd his glad assent. Free then to act
> As pleased me, I drew near, and took my stand
> Over that shade whose words I late had mark'd.
> And, "Spirit!" I said, "in whom repentant tears
> Mature that blessed hour when thou with God
> Shalt find acceptance, for a while suspend
> For me that mightier care. Say who thou wast;
> Why thus ye grovel on your bellies prone;
> And if, in aught, ye wish my service there,
> Whence living I am come." He answering spake:
> "The cause why Heaven our back towards his cope
> Reverses, shalt thou know: but me know first,
> The successor of Peter,[8] and the name
> And title of my lineage, from that stream[9]
> That 'twixt Chiaveri and Siestri draws
> His limpid waters through the lowly glen.
> A month and little more by proof I learnt,
> With what a weight that robe of sovereignty
> Upon his shoulder rests, who from the mire
> Would guard it; that each other fardel seems
> But feathers in the balance. Late, alas!
> Was my conversion: but, when I became
> Rome's pastor, I discerned at once the dream
> And cozenage of life; saw that the heart
> Rested not there, and yet no prouder height
> Lured on the climber: whereof, of that life
> No more enamor'd, in my bosom love
> Of purer being kindled. For till then
> 
> [7: "I noted what remain'd yet hidden from them." They were ignorant,
> it appeared, whether Dante was come there to be purged of his sins.]
> 
> [8: "The successor of Peter." Ottobuono, of the family of Fieschi,
> Counts of Lavagno, died thirty - nine days after he became Pope, with the
> title of Adrian V, in 1276.]
> 
> [9: "That stream." The river Lavagno, in the Genoese territory; to
> the east of which territory are situated Siestri and Chiaveri.]
> 
> I was a soul in misery, alienate
> From God, and covetous of all earthly things;
> Now, as thou seest, here punish'd for my doting.
> Such cleansing from the taint of avarice,
> Do spirits, converted, need. This mount inflicts
> No direr penalty. E'en as our eyes
> Fasten'd below, nor e'er to loftier clime
> Were lifted; thus hath justice level'd us,
> Here on the earth. As avarice quench'd our love
> Of good, without which is no working; thus
> Here justice holds us prison'd, hand and foot
> Chain'd down and bound, while Heaven's just Lord shall please,
> So long to tarry, motionless, outstretch'd."
> 
> My knees I stoop'd, and would have spoke; but he,
> Ere my beginning, by his ear perceived
> I did him reverence; and "What cause," said he,
> "Hath bow'd thee thus?" - "Compunction," I rejoin'd,
> "And inward awe of your high dignity."
> 
> "Up," he exclaim'd, "brother! upon thy feet
> Arise; err not: thy fellow - servant I,
> (Thine and all others') of one Sovran Power.
> If thou hast ever mark'd those holy sounds
> Of gospel truth, 'nor shall be given in marriage,'
> Thou mayst discern the reasons of my speech.
> Go thy ways now; and linger here no more.
> Thy tarrying is a let unto the tears,
> With which I hasten that whereof thou spakest.
> I have on earth a kinswoman;[10] her name
> Alagia, worthy in herself, so ill
> Example of our house corrupt her not:
> And she is all remaineth of me there."
> 
> [10: "A kinswoman." Alagia is said to have been the wife of the
> Marchese Marcello Malaspina, one of the Poet's protectors during his exile.
> See Canto viii. 133.]
>
> — *Purgatory Canto 19*