Those who have been in mountain mists too thick 1
for eyes to pierce, then seen them thinning down
to let the sun show as a small, pale disc,
know how the setting sun appeared to me 4
as the thick fog dispersed. Shorn of bright rays
it hung above the sea, while far below
dim shadows hid the shores. As we walked on 7
imaginary visions mastered me,
visions of ancient anger and past wrong,
so great that I believe no trumpet blast, 10
or stormy thunderclap, however strong
could have recalled my eyes to where I was.
Procne appeared, changed to a swallow’s form 13
for punishing unfaithful Tereus
by feeding him their son, baked in a pie.
Then I beheld another fantasy 16
of Haman, fierce and scornful, hanging high,
thus rightly punished by an angry king
for outrage against Jewish Mordecai. 19
Lastly I saw a daughter’s wild despair
at sight of mother who had hanged herself
22 because the man her daughter was to wed,
Prince Turnus, had been slaughtered in a fight.
As sleep is broken when a sudden light
25 strikes through a dream, a brightness wakened me
whiter, more dazzling than the sun at noon.
On looking round to see just where I stood
28 a gentle voice said, “Here is your ascent.”
This drove away all other thought, but though
longing to look upon the speaker’s face
31 its brightness baffled me. My leader said,
“This angel showing us the upward way
without us asking, hides in his own light.
34 Accept his courtesy. Climb upstairs now.
We cannot move at all when it is night.”
My foot was on the uphill path’s first step
37 when a wing brushed my face, a soft voice said,
“Blest are peacemakers, free of sinful wrath.”
As we went up, the setting sun’s last rays
40 were slanting steep. On each side stars appeared.
“O strength!” I inward groaned, “Why disappear?”,
for as we reached the highest step my weight
43 felt heavier than stone. We both sank down
like boats left high and dry upon a beach.
I listened and heard nothing, asked at last,
46 “Dear Master, say what sin is purging here?
Our legs can’t move. Don’t let that stop your tongue.”
He answered thus: “Sloth prevents energy
achieving what it should, so here you’ll see 49
how healthy active love must be restored.
Listen and pluck good fruit from our delay.
Since love is God’s creative force, all things 52
(time, space, star, sun, earth, insect, human child)
keep going by God’s love. Love has two kinds:
the natural, and of the mind. Mistakes 55
are never natural. Only minds can err,
loving wrong things, or good ones with too much
or with too little force. Thus love brings both 58
good deeds and deeds requiring punishment.
When we attend to God, the Source of All,
our desires are kept in proper measure. 61
We are not then seduced by sinful pleasure,
until we look away and therefore stray.
As none can harm the source of what they are 64
(trying to wound the sun would be as mad)
the only law of God that we can break
is that which says, Love neighbour as yourself, 67
the rule for Jews that Moses carved in stone
and God when born as Man gave to us all.
And so the only evil folk can love 70
is harming other folk in three main ways
you know by having seen them punished below:
first, trying to excel by doing down 73
those by our side – perversions born of pride.
Second, by fear of losing wealth or fame
76 when those nearby do well – envy’s the name.
Lastly, when insult, real or by mistake
inflames blind anger hungry for revenge.
79 You know these states of lamentable love.
Think now of those you’ll see lamenting here
who loved true good with insufficient zeal,
82 and higher still you’ll find three kinds of grief
endured for not loving the best stuff well.
I leave you to work these out for yourself.
85 My son, believe me, I have said enough.”