The Vision, or Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise of Dante Alighieri . alone He strikes his quarry, and elsewhere disdains To pounce upon the prey. Therewith, it seemed, A little wheeling in his aery tour. Terrible as the lightning, rushed he down. And snatched me upward even to the fire. There both, I thought, the eagle and myself Did burn ; and so intense the imagined flames, 30 That needs my sleep was broken off. As erst Achilles shook himself, and round him rolled His wakened eyeballs, wondering where he was, Cantoix] PURGATORY 151 Whenas his mother had from Chiron fled To Scyros, with him slee
The Vision, or Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise of Dante Alighieri . alone He strikes his quarry, and elsewhere disdains To pounce upon the prey. Therewith, it seemed, A little wheeling in his aery tour. Terrible as the lightning, rushed he down. And snatched me upward even to the fire. There both, I thought, the eagle and myself Did burn ; and so intense the imagined flames, 30 That needs my sleep was broken off. As erst Achilles shook himself, and round him rolled His wakened eyeballs, wondering where he was, Cantoix] PURGATORY 151 Whenas his mother had from Chiron fled To Scyros, with him sleeping in her arms (There whence the Greeks, did after sunder him); Een thus I shook me, soon as from my face The slumber parted, turning deadly pale, Like one ice-struck with dread. Sole at my side My comfort stood : and the bright sun was now More than two hours aloft: and to the sea My looks were turned. Fear not, my master cried, * Assured we are at happy point. Thy strength Shrink not, but rise dilated. Thou art come To Purgatory now. Lo ! there the cliff 40. That circling bounds it. Lo ! the entrance there. Where it doth seem disparted. Ere the dawn Ushered the daylight, when thy wearied soul Slept in thee, oer the flowery vale beneath A lady came, and thus bespake me : I 50 Am Lucia. Suffer me to take this man, Who slumbers. Easier so his way shall speed. Sordello and the other gentle shapes Tarrying, she bare thee up : and, as day shone, This summit reached : and I pursued her steps. Here did she place thee. First, her lovely eyes That open entrance showed me ; then at once She vanished with thy sleep. Like one, whose doubts Are chased by certainty, and terror turned To comfort on discovery of the truth, 60 Such was the change in me; and as my guide 152 THE VISION OF DANTE [Canto ix Beheld me fearless, up along the cliff He moved, and I behind him, towards the height. Reader ! thou markest how my theme doth rise;Nor wonder therefore, if more artfullyI prop the structure.
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