Classic Poem

Now Tithon's mistress, famed in ancient song,
On the far orient sky shed silver light,
As from her lover's arms she pass'd along:
Her brow with starry diamonds was bright,
In figure of the creature swift and cold,
That with its tail strikes, darting in quick flight;
And twice the footsteps of the Night were told,
The steps which slowly ever onward pace;
Downward the third its dusky wings did fold,
When I, who breathed the breath of Adam's race,
Oppress'd with slumber laid me down among
Our band of five, in that still, flowery place.
And in the hour when first her mournful song
The swallow sings before the sun doth shine,
Perhaps in memory of her ancient wrong;
And when our pilgrim fancies most incline
To lofty thoughts, and least to earthly theme,
And in their vision almost are divine;
Methought I saw above me, in my dream,
A golden plumaged eagle in the sky,
Who with spread wings intent to swoop did seem:
Above Mount Ida he appear'd to fly,
Where Ganymede's departing words were heard,
When borne to the consistory on high.
I thought within myself: " Perchance yon bird
Aids only those who from this hill aspire;
Nor for the living are his pinions stirr'd. "
Then sweeping round in many a circling gyre,
Swift as the dreadful thunderbolt he came,
And bore me upward to the sphere of fire;
And then it seem'd both he and I in flame
Were burning, and in such fierce ardour glow'd,
That from my dream I woke. In ancient fame,
'Tis said no otherwise Achilles show'd,
Awaking, when he strain'd his gaze to learn
What undiscover'd land was his abode,
What time from Cheiron unto Scyra borne,
(While sleeping in his mother's arms he lies,)
Ere from that isle the Greeks made him return;
Thus did I rouse myself, and from mine eyes,
The heavy slumber and the dream were gone,
And I grew pale with terror and surprise:
Beside me was my comforter alone;
My face was turn'd toward the island shore
And for two hours the morning sun had shone.
Then said my Master: " Fear thou not so sore;
In sooth, we have attain'd a goodly height;
Slack not thy efforts now, but strive the more.
The gate of Purgatory now in sight
Appears; behold the ramparts round it drawn;
Ye enter where they seem to disunite.
For in the twilight that precedes the dawn,
The while thy soul asleep within thee lay,
Afar beneath upon the flowery lawn,
A Lady came to us, and thus did say:
" I am Lucia, who this slumb'rer would
Bear upward with me on the heavenly way."
Sordello and the rest of gentle mood
Remain'd; and through the early daylight clear
She bore thee hither: I her steps pursued.
At last she paused; but ere she placed thee here,
Her bright eyes show'd to me the open gate:
Then she did with thy slumber disappear. "
And like to him who still in doubt doth wait,
But changes into comfort all his dread,
Joyful in knowing truly of his state,
Thus was I; and when he who ever led
My steps, perceived me calm and free of care,
Upward he moved and I behind him sped.
Reader, thou seist well how I prepare
My strain with greater art; because the theme
Of which I sing is aye more bright and fair.
As we went on, before me did it seem
As though the wall were broken: and when we
Drew nearer to the gateway's dazzling beam,
I saw the door and the gradations three
Which led to it; I saw their diverse hue,
And one who kept the portal silently.
And when my eyes the place more clearly knew,
I saw him seated on the highest grade;
His forehead such resplendent glory threw
I might not look on him; a naked blade
He bore, that glitter'd with the fiery glow,
And oft thereon in vain my glance was stay'd.
He spake: " Reveal your purpose ere ye go;
Where is your guide? 'tis well ye should beware
That this your coming do not work you woe. "
My Master said: " From out the heavenly air
A Lady came, and bade us to this height
Ascend, whence may the arduous path be tried. "
" And may that Lady lead your steps aright, "
The courteous guardian answer'd, " as ye pass;
To climb our staircase now put forth your might. "
Thither we came: the first was a bright mass
Of snowy marble, polish'd clear and pure,
So that I saw myself as in a glass.
The second was of dusky hue obscure;
The stone appear'd all burnt and rough in grain,
And cleft, in form of cross, did aye endure.
The last lay heavy on the former twain,
And seem'd to me of porphyry as bright
As blood that gushes forth from out a vein.
Above the highest step, within my sight,
There sat God's angel on the threshold-stone,
That seem'd a glittering diamond of light.
Up the three steps, with Virgil's help alone,
I gladly pass'd; and then he spake: " Entreat
With meekness, that the bar may be withdrawn. "
Humbly I fell before the holy feet;
And begg'd for grace to open to me now;
But first three times upon my breast I beat.
He, with his sword, seven times upon my brow
Wrote the first letter of the Plague of Sin;
And bade that I to wash those wounds should go.
His garments were of ashen hue, I ween,
Even like the dust before the whirlwind roll'd;
Two keys of diverse sorts he wore within.
Silver the one; the other was of gold;
First with the white, then with the red he strove
To open; which I gladly did behold.
He said: " If either of those keys should prove
Unyielding, nor unto my hand give heed,
One step along the path ye cannot move.
More precious one; the other hath more need
Of art, and of the skill which doth excel:
Because by it alone the bolt is freed.
From Peter I received them: it were well
With e'en too ready ease to grant this grace,
He said, if at my feet the pilgrims fell. "
And then the gateway of the holy place
He open'd, saying: " Enter; but beware;
For he must forth who looks with backward gaze. "
When on the hinges that the portal bear,
Slow turn'd with grating sound the sacred door,
Whose bolts their deep metallic voice declare,
Less harshly roar'd Tarpeia's gate of yore,
When good Metellus all in vain had found
Resistance, and the treasure was no more.
At the first note, intent I turn'd me round,
And then " Te Deum " did it seem to me
I heard in music mingled with the sound.
Even such an image it appear'd to be,
As when ye hear sweet voices sing; and they
Join with the organ's notes in melody:
And now the words are heard, and now they die away.