The Celestial Pilot. From Dante's Purgatorio, Ii Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABC DAD EFF DGF DDD HIJ KLM NMO PDM CDQ DMR DMN SCP| And now behold as at the approach of morning | A |
| Through the gross vapours 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| And when therefrom I had withdrawn a little | E |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 brightness into wings unfolded | D |
| But when he clearly recognised 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 water swallowed nought thereof | Q |
| - | |
| Upon the stern stood the Celestial Pilot | D |
| Beatitude seemed written in his face | M |
| And more than a hundred spirits sat within | R |
| - | |
| In exitu Israel out of Egypt | D |
| Thus sang they all together in one voice | M |
| With whatso in that Psalm is after written | N |
| - | |
| Then made he sign of holy rood upon them | S |
| Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore | C |
| And he departed swiftly as he came | P |
William Henry Giles Kingston
(1)
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