| |
Translated by Henry Francis Cary Selections from “The Divine Comedy” Purgatory: Canto VI.
WHEN I was freed | |
| From all those spirits, who prayed for others’ prayers | |
| To hasten on their state of blessedness; | |
| Straight I began: “O thou, my luminary! | |
| It seems expressly in thy text denied, | 5 |
| That Heaven’s supreme decree can ever bend | |
| To supplication; yet with this design | |
| Do these entreat. Can then their hope be vain? | |
| Or is thy saying not to be revealed?” | |
| He thus to me: “Both what I write is plain, | 10 |
| 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 fulfils, which he, | |
| Who sojourns here, in right should satisfy. | 15 |
| 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, | 20 |
| 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.” | |
| |
