The Celestial Pilot. (from Dante. Purgatorio, Ii.) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDADEFFDGFDDDHIJKL MNMOPDMCDQDMRODOMNSC P| And now behold as at the approach of morning | A |
| Through the gross vapors Mars grows fiery red | B |
| Down in the west upon the ocean floor | C |
| Appeared to me may I again behold it | D |
| A light along the sea so swiftly coming | A |
| Its motion by no flight of wing is equalled | D |
| And when therefrom I had withdrawn a little | E |
| Mine eyes that I might question my conductor | F |
| Again I saw it brighter grown and larger | F |
| Thereafter on all sides of it appeared | D |
| I knew not what of white and underneath | G |
| Little by little there came forth another | F |
| My master yet had uttered not a word | D |
| While the first whiteness into wings unfolded | D |
| But when he clearly recognized the pilot | D |
| He cried aloud 'Quick quick and bow the knee | H |
| Behold the Angel of God fold up thy hands | I |
| Henceforward shalt thou see such officers | J |
| See how he scorns all human arguments | K |
| So that no oar he wants nor other sail | L |
| Than his own wings between so distant shores | M |
| See how he holds them pointed straight to heaven | N |
| Fanning the air with the eternal pinions | M |
| That do not moult themselves like mortal hair ' | O |
| And then as nearer and more near us came | P |
| The Bird of Heaven more glorious he appeared | D |
| So that the eye could not sustain his presence | M |
| But down I cast it and he came to shore | C |
| With a small vessel gliding swift and light | D |
| So that the waters swallowed nought thereof | Q |
| Upon the stern stood the Celestial Pilot | D |
| Beatitude seemed written on his face | M |
| And more than a hundred spirits sat within | R |
| ' | O |
| In exitu Israel de AEgypto | D |
| ' | O |
| Thus sang they all together in one voice | M |
| With whatso in that Psalm is after written | N |
| Then made he sight of holy rood upon them | S |
| Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore | C |
| And he departed swiftly as he came | P |
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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