Canto I of the Purgatory

The old man, gardian oto the doorway of the Purgatory.
I came by the will of a Lady from Heaven.

Per correr miglior acque alza le vele
omai la navicella del mio ingegno,
che lascia dietro a sé mar sì crudele;

  e canterò di quel secondo regno
dove l'umano spirito si purga
e di salire al ciel diventa degno.

  Ma qui la morta poesì resurga,
o sante Muse, poi che vostro sono;
e qui Caliopè alquanto surga,

  seguitando il mio canto con quel suono
di cui le Piche misere sentiro
lo colpo tal, che disperar perdono.

My spirit leaves behind him, this cruel sea to sail on better waves. 

"Oh sacred Muses! I will sing this other kingdom where, to go up to Heaven, 
the human soul must purify itself first." 


As soon as I had left the atmosphere of death which had veiled my sight and had saddened my heart, 
a soft music, arrived from the Orient, gave back joy to all my senses.
Venus, the Beauty  who invites to Love, shone in glare with all Her charms. 
I turned myself on my right and I fixed the other pole. There, I saw stars, similar 
to the four cardinal virtues, becoming animated of all their flames to the four corners of the sky. 

While turning over myself, I saw a solitary old man, who inspired respect to me 
such as a father, and who spoke as follows: 
 
"Who are you, who return back from darkness, and how have you fled the eternal prison? 
Who guided you and was like a lantern to you, to leave this deep night which darkens 
the infernal valley forever? Have the laws of the abyss been violated or, 
does exists there, new laws  which enable you to come in my lands?" 


My guide, full of respect and humility, answered him:
 "I did not come by my will, but delegated by a Lady from Heaven to help whom you see here, 
who did not leave his carnal envelope yet, and there was no other road to come here. 
I showed him the place where the perverts live, and I would like him to see these spirits 
who purify themselves under your authority.
He seeks freedom which has such a price that he would give up his life for it. 
We do not violate the eternal secrecies; this one is indeed alive 
and I ask you to allow him to cross the seven kingdoms. 
I would be grateful to you if you accept, that over there, I make for that, the praise of your name." 


And the old man says:  
"If, as you say it, a lady from Heaven opens the way to you, then go 
and do so that your companion is worthy to present himself 
in front of the Prime Minister of Heaven, wash his face from  his stains." 


And it is what my Master did after we had reached this place where the dew resists to the Sun. 

My Master extended his hands ahead and I present, to him, my cheeks, still flooded with tears;
 he then made me recover the redness on my face that Hell had erased. 

Then we came on the deserted shore which never did see on its water whoever turned back.