1 And so the angel warder let us through
that gate locked fast to those of evil will.
We climbed a narrow track in the cleft hill,
4 nor did I dare look round when at my back
the gate shut with a clang that shook the ground.
Our steep path zig-zagged sharply left and right.
7 Said Virgil, “This will test your climbing skill,
so concentrate.” I did. It was near noon
when I emerged from that tight needle’s eye.
10 Footsore and tired I stood beside my guide,
like him, unsure of where to go again:
sheer drop behind, on each side empty plain,
13 ahead a sheer cliff three men’s height away.
We had not moved a step before I knew
the cliff we faced was marble, pure and white,
16 splendidly carved with shapes so well devised
they could not be the work of human hands
and recognised just One could make them so.
19 We saw the angel Gabriel announce
the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace
for whom mankind has wept through centuries.
He seemed to say, Hail Mary, full of grace! 22
and the humility of her reply,
Here am I, God’s servant, glowed in her face
so I believed I heard her with my ears. 25
“Look over here,” my guide said, pointing to
images of a more crowded scene:
oxen pulling a cart holding the ark 28
brought by King David to Jerusalem.
Seven jubilant choirs surrounded it.
My eyes declared, “They sing!” my ears, “They don’t!” 31
and where, in marble, clouds of incense rose,
eyes disagreed with nose. Before the ark,
the psalmist monarch with his robe tucked up 34
danced like a happy clown. His wife looked down
from a high window, smiling scornfully
at his humiliating lack of pride. 37
Beside this was another crowded scene:
Emperor Trajan riding forth to war
with knights and retinue. Eagles above 40
flapped golden wings. A poor widow clung
to his bridle, cried, “Sir, my murdered son
should be avenged!” “He will be, when I return.” 43
“But if you don’t?” “My heir will do what’s right.”
“If you don’t do what’s needed now,” cried she,
“then why should he?” “True!” Trajan said, halting, 46
“none should delay just acts.” Justice was done.
Our best Pope since Saint Peter, Gregory,
49 esteemed this just humility as proof
of Trajan’s noble Christianity,
so he is now redeemed in Paradise.
52 These splendid visions of true humbleness
pleased me by showing truth and beauty one
till I heard Virgil murmur, “Here come they
55 who should point out the stair to the next heights.”
I looked to see some kind of cavalcade,
then said, “There are no people in my sight!
58 Here’s a slow avalanche of heavy stones
advancing on the ground. Sir, please explain.”
Said he, “Stoop down and look. Under those weights
61 see once proud sinners crawling on their knees.”
I cried out, “O you poor ones who believed
that wealth and power could magnify your worth!
64 Now crushed to earth, at last you will discard
your pride, a grubby caterpillar shell
splitting to loose angelic butterfly,
67 soaring to God upon His Judgement Day.”
I quite forgot I might be one of them.
Brackets supporting ceilings on high walls
70 are sometimes carved like men, knees squeezed to chest.
Those here were just like that, sorely oppressed,
and the most patient ghosts were weeping most.
73 Their state was nearly more than they could bear.