Dante. An essay Part 8

Come augelli surti di riviera _Quasi congratulando a lor pasture_, Fanno di se or tonda or lunga schiera;--_Parad._ 18.[120]

the rooks, beginning to move about at daybreak:

E come per lo natural costume, Le pole insieme, al cominciar del giorno Si muovono a scaldar le fredde piume, Poi altre vanno via senza ritorno, Altre rivolgon se onde son mosse Ed altre roteando fan soggiorno;--_Parad._ 21.[121]

the morning sounds of the swallow:

Nell'ora che comincia i tristi lai La rondinella presso alla mattina, Forse a memoria de' suoi primi guai;--_Purg._ 9.[122]

the joy and delight of the nightingale's song (_Purg._ 17); the lark, silent at last, filled with its own sweetness:

Qual lodoletta, che 'n aere si spazia, Prima cantando, e _poi tace contenta Dell'ultima dolcezza che la sazia_;--_Parad._ 20.[123]

the flight of the starlings and storks (_Inf._ 5, _Purg._ 24); the mournful cry and long line of the cranes (_Inf._ 5, _Purg._ 26); the young birds trying to escape from the nest (_Purg._ 25); the eagle hanging in the sky:

Con l'ale aperte, e a calare intesa;--

the dove, standing close to its mate, or wheeling round it:

S come quando 'l _colombo si pone Presso al compagno_, l'uno e l'altro pande _Girando e mormorando_ l'affezione;--_Parad._ 25.[124]

or the flock of pigeons, feeding:

Adunati alla pastura, Queti, _senza mostrar l'usato orgoglio_.--_Purg._ 2.

[Footnote 120:

And as birds rising from a stream, whence they Their pastures view, as though their joy confessing, Now form a round, and now a long array.--IBID.]

[Footnote 121:

And as with one accord, at break of day, The rooks bestir themselves, by nature taught To chase the dew-drops from their wings away; Some flying off, to reappear no more-- Others repairing to their nests again-- Some whirling round--then settling as before.--WRIGHT.]

[Footnote 122:

What time the swallow pours her plaintive strain, Saluting the approach of morning gray, Thus haply mindful of her former pain.--IBID.]

[Footnote 123:

E'en as the lark high soaring pours its throat Awhile, then rests in silence, as though still It dwelt enamour'd of its last sweet note.--IBID.]

[Footnote 124:

As when unto his partner's side, the dove Approaches near--both fondly circling round, And cooing, show the fervour of their love; So these great heirs of immortality Receive each other; while they joyful sound The praises of the food they share on high.--WRIGHT.]

Hawking supplies its images: the falcon coming for its food:

Il falcon che prima a pie si mira, Indi si volge al grido, e si protende, Per lo disio del pasto, che la il tira;--_Purg._ 19.[125]

or just unhooded, pluming itself for its flight:

Quasi falcon, ch'esce del cappello, Muove la testa, e con l'ale s'applaude, _Voglia mostrando, e facendosi bello_;--_Parad._ 19.[126]

or returning without success, sullen and loath:

Come 'l falcon ch'e stato a.s.sai su l'ali, Che senza veder logoro, o uccello, Fa dire al falconiere: Oime tu cali!

Discende la.s.so onde si muove snello Per cento ruote, _e da lungi si pone_ Dal suo maestro, _disdegnoso e fello_.--_Inf._ 17.[127]

[Footnote 125:

And, as a falcon, which first scans its feet, Then turns him to the call, and forward flies, In eagerness to catch the tempting meat.--IBID.]

[Footnote 126:

Lo, as a falcon, from the hood released, Uplifts his head, and joyous flaps his wings, His beauty and his eagerness increased.--WRIGHT.]

[Footnote 127:

E'en as a falcon, long upheld in air, Not seeing lure or bird upon the wing, So that the falconer utters in despair "Alas, thou stoop'st!" fatigued descends from high; And whirling quickly round in many a ring, Far from his master sits--disdainfully.--IBID.]

It is curious to observe him taking Virgil's similes, and altering them. When Virgil describes the throng of souls, he compares them to falling leaves, or gathering birds in autumn:

Quam multa in silvis auctumni frigore primo Lapsa cadunt folia, aut ad terram gurgite ab alto Quam multae glomerantur aves, ubi frigidus annus Trans pontum fugat, et terris immitt.i.t apricis--

Dante uses the same images, but without copying:

Come d'Autunno si levan le foglie, L'una appresso dell'altra, infin che 'l ramo Rende alla terra tutte le sue spoglie; Similemente il mal seme d'Adamo: Gittansi di quel lito ad una ad una Per cenni, com'augel per suo richiamo.

Cos sen vanno su per l'onda bruna, Ed avanti che sien di la discese, Anche di qua nuova schiera s'aduna.--_Inf._ 3.[128]

[Footnote 128:

As leaves in autumn, borne before the wind, Drop one by one, until the branch laid bare, Sees all its honours to the earth consign'd: So cast them downward at his summons all The guilty race of Adam from that strand-- Each as a falcon answering to the call.--WRIGHT.]

Again--compared with one of Virgil's most highly-finished and perfect pictures, the flight of the pigeon, disturbed at first, and then becoming swift and smooth:

Qualis spelunca subito commota columba, Cui domus et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis Dat tecto ingentem, mox aere lapsa quieto Radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas--

the Italian's simplicity and strength may balance the "ornata parola"

of Virgil:

Quali colombe dal disio chiamate, Con _l'ali aperte e ferme_ al dolce nido Volan per l'aer dal voler portate.--_Inf._ 5.[129]

[Footnote 129:

As doves, by strong affection urged, repair With firm expanded wings to their sweet nest, Borne by the impulse of their will through air.--IBID.

It is impossible not to be reminded at every step, in spite of the knowledge and taste which Mr. Cary and Mr. Wright have brought to their most difficult task, of the truth which Dante has expressed with his ordinary positiveness.