face was contracted during his journey through the Inferno. (98. The "great Minister," is the Angel who guards the gate of Purgatory. ix. 103. (104.) This is best illustrated by a stanza from Izaak Walton, cap. xvi.—the reed (umile pianta) being an emblem of humility.

"Hail bless'd estate of lowliness!
Happy enjoyment of such minds

As, rich in self contentedness,

Can, like the reeds in roughest winds,

By yielding make that blow but small,

At which proud oaks and cedars fall."

Page 6. (Line 119.) The poet was bewildered in the dark wood, Inf. i. 3, and was returning by the deserted plain to the way of Virtue, nearly obliterated through the ill example of the Popes, as shown canto xvi. 100, &c. (131.) In allusion to Ulysses-who is said to have perished in an attempt to navigate the Atlantic; out of which the mountain of Purgatory is supposed to rise. See Inf. xxvi. 100. (131.) Thus Shakspeare. Hamlet, act iii, sc. 1:

"That undiscover'd country, from whose bourn

No traveller returns."

(136.) Thus Virgil. Æn. vi. 143.

"Primo avulso non deficit alter

Aureus; et simili frondescit virga metallo."

CANTO II.

ARGUMENT.

A VESSEL, under the guidance of an angel, is seen coming over the sea, with spirits to Purgatory; among whom Dante recognises his friend Casella, the musician. He stops to sing one of Dante's sonnets, when, Cato reproaching them for their delay, they hasten up the mountain.

Now that horizon had the sun attain'd,

By the high point of whose meridian clear,
Jerusalem with golden light is stain'd;

And circling opposite to him, the night,

Forth issuing from the Ganges, doth uprear

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The scales, which fall when she has reach'd her height:

So that Aurora's cheeks, where then I stood,

Began through age an orange tint to wear--
With white and vermeil colours late imbued,
By ocean's shore we still prolong'd our stay,
Like men, who, thinking of a journey near,
Advance in thought, while yet their limbs delay:

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When lo! like Mars, in aspect fiery red,

Seen through the vapours when the morn is nigh,

Far in the west above the briny bed ;

So (might I once more view it!) o'er the sea

A light approach'd with such rapidity—
Flies not the bird that may its equal be.
Now for a moment I had turn'd mine eyes
To Virgil, when, on looking back, more bright
It seem'd again, and of an ampler size.

Anon, on either side emerging then,

Something appear'd, I know not what-all white; And gradually another met my ken.

My master spoke not, till the forms of light

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First seen, were known for wings, now fully spread :
But when the Pilot was reveal'd to sight,

Bend, bend thee humbly down upon thy knee ;
Behold God's Angel; clasp thy hands," he said;
66 Henceforth prepare such ministers to see.
See how He spurneth human means-nor oars,
Nor other sail except his wings assumes,
To speed his way between such distant shores.
See how He raises them, to heaven directed,

Fanning the air with those eternal plumes,
Not, like to mortal coil, by change affected."

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Nearer and nearer still, as onward drew

The Messenger divine, he seem'd more bright,
So that mine eye could not endure the view,
But fell to earth abased :-he to the shore
Came with a little skiff, so swift and light,
The wave it touch'd not, as it bounded o'er.
Upon the poop the heavenly Pilot stood,

With stamp of "Blessedness" irradiate :
More than a hundred souls within I view'd.
"What time came forth from Egypt Israel's train,"
Harmoniously they chaunted as they sate,

Nor ceased till they had closed that solemn strain.
Sign of the holy cross he made them :-

:--they

Instant alighted all upon the strand;

And he as speedily retraced his way.
The crowd which there remain'd, a wondering gaze
Around them cast, as strangers to the land;
E'en like to one who objects new surveys.
On every side, the sun shot forth the day,
And had already with his arrows bright

From the mid heaven chased Capricorn away;
When the new comers, looking upward, cried:

"If ye be conversant with this fair height, Show by what pathway we may scale its side."

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And Virgil answer'd: “Ye suppose that we
Possess a full experience of the place;

But know that we are travellers, e'en as ye:
Not long before you, by another way

We came, so hard and difficult to trace,

That an ascent like this will seem but play."

The souls who, by my breathing, as they gazed,
Knew I was still alive, all pallid now

Appeared-such marvel in their minds was raised.

To hear the news, e'en as the people press
Around a herald with the olive bough,
Trampling each other in their eagerness;
So round me all these happy souls repair;
And lingering still to look upon my face,
Forget the streams that were to make them fair.

One who advanced before them, I beheld.

So bent on clasping me in his embrace,
That me to like endeavour he impell'd.

O shadows, save in outward aspect, vain!

Three times around his form my hands I threw ;

As oft return'd they to my breast again.

Wonder, I deem, was painted on my face;
For with a smile the shadow backward drew;

And I full eagerly pursued its trace.

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