Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DIVINA COMMEDIA: PURGATORIO. THE TERRESTIAL PARADISE, by DANTE ALIGHIERI Poet's Biography First Line: Longing already to search in and round Last Line: Ray of the sun lets in, nor of the moon. Alternate Author Name(s): Dante; Alighieri, Dante | ||||||||
Longing already to search in and round The heavenly forest, dense and living-green, Which tempered to the eyes the newborn day, Withouten more delay I left the bank, Crossing the level country slowly, slowly, Over the soil, that everywhere breathed fragrance. A gently-breathing air, that no mutation Had in itself, smote me upon the forehead, No heavier blow, than of a pleasant breeze, Whereat the tremulous branches readily Did all of them bow downward towards that side Where its first shadow casts the Holy Mountain; Yet not from their upright direction bent So that the little birds upon their tops Should cease the practice of their tuneful art; But with full-throated joy, the hours of prime Singing received they in the midst of foliage That made monotonous burden to their rhymes, Even as from branch to branch it gathering swells, Through the pine forests on the shore of Chiassi, When Aeolus unlooses the Sirocco. Already my slow steps had led me on Into the ancient wood so far, that I Could see no more the place where I had entered. And lo! my further course cut off a river, Which, tow'rds the left hand, with its little waves, Bent down the grass, that on its margin sprang. All waters that on earth most limpid are, Would seem to have within themselves some mixture, Compared with that, which nothing doth conceal, Although it moves on with a brown, brown current, Under the shade perpetual, that never Ray of the sun lets in, nor of the moon. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET TO GUIDO CAVALCANTI by DANTE ALIGHIERI BALLATA: 9. HE WILL GAZE UPON BEATRICE by DANTE ALIGHIERI CANZONE: 17. HE BESEECHES DEATH FOR THE LIFE OF BEATRICE by DANTE ALIGHIERI DIVINA COMMEDIA: INFERNO. CANTO 3 by DANTE ALIGHIERI DIVINA COMMEDIA: INFERNO. UGOLINO by DANTE ALIGHIERI DIVINA COMMEDIA: PARADISO. CANTO 14. THE TRIUMPH OF CHRIST by DANTE ALIGHIERI DIVINA COMMEDIA: PARADISO. CANTO 31. THE SAINTS IN GLORY by DANTE ALIGHIERI DIVINA COMMEDIA: PARADISO. CANTO 7. SIN AND REDEMPTION by DANTE ALIGHIERI DIVINA COMMEDIA: PURGATORIO. BEATRICE by DANTE ALIGHIERI DIVINA COMMEDIA: PURGATORIO. CANTO 11. PRAYER OF PENITENTS by DANTE ALIGHIERI DIVINA COMMEDIA: PURGATORIO. CANTO 16. MAN'S FREE WILL by DANTE ALIGHIERI DIVINA COMMEDIA: PURGATORIO. CANTO 27. FIRE OF PURIFICATION by DANTE ALIGHIERI |
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