Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DIVINA COMMEDIA: PURGATORIO. CANTO 6, by DANTE ALIGHIERI


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DIVINA COMMEDIA: PURGATORIO. CANTO 6, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When I was freed
Last Line: "upon this mountain's crown, fair seat of joy."
Alternate Author Name(s): Dante; Alighieri, Dante


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,
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,
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.
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,
Betwixt truth and mind infuses light:
Know not if thou take me right; I mean
Beatrice. Her thou shalt behold above,
Upon this mountain's crown, fair seat of joy."




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