And I was in that place, methought, from whence
Young Ganymede, from his associates ’reft,
Was snatch’d aloft to the high consistory. 
“Perhaps,” thought I within me, “here alone
He strikes his quarry, and elsewhere disdains
To pounce upon the prey.”  Therewith, it seem’d,
A little wheeling in his airy tour
Terrible as the lightning rush’d he down,
And snatch’d me upward even to the fire.

There both, I thought, the eagle and myself
Did burn; and so intense th’ imagin’d flames,
That needs my sleep was broken off.  As erst
Achilles shook himself, and round him roll’d
His waken’d eyeballs wond’ring where he was,
Whenas his mother had from Chiron fled
To Scyros, with him sleeping in her arms;
E’en thus I shook me, soon as from my face
The slumber parted, turning deadly pale,
Like one ice-struck with dread.  Solo at my side
My comfort stood:  and the bright sun was now
More than two hours aloft:  and to the sea
My looks were turn’d.  “Fear not,” my master cried,
“Assur’d we are at happy point.  Thy strength
Shrink not, but rise dilated.  Thou art come
To Purgatory now.  Lo! there the cliff
That circling bounds it!  Lo! the entrance there,
Where it doth seem disparted! re the dawn
Usher’d the daylight, when thy wearied soul
Slept in thee, o’er the flowery vale beneath
A lady came, and thus bespake me:  “I
Am Lucia.  Suffer me to take this man,
Who slumbers.  Easier so his way shall speed.” 
Sordello and the other gentle shapes
Tarrying, she bare thee up:  and, as day shone,
This summit reach’d:  and I pursued her steps. 
Here did she place thee.  First her lovely eyes
That open entrance show’d me; then at once
She vanish’d with thy sleep.  Like one, whose doubts
Are chas’d by certainty, and terror turn’d
To comfort on discovery of the truth,
Such was the change in me:  and as my guide
Beheld me fearless, up along the cliff
He mov’d, and I behind him, towards the height.

Reader! thou markest how my theme doth rise,
Nor wonder therefore, if more artfully
I prop the structure! nearer now we drew,
Arriv’d’ whence in that part, where first a breach
As of a wall appear’d, I could descry
A portal, and three steps beneath, that led
For inlet there, of different colour each,
And one who watch’d, but spake not yet a word. 
As more and more mine eye did stretch its view,
I mark’d him seated on the highest step,
In visage such, as past my power to bear.

Grasp’d in his hand a naked sword, glanc’d back
The rays so toward me, that I oft in vain
My sight directed.  “Speak from whence ye stand:” 
He cried:  “What would ye?  Where is your escort? 
Take heed your coming upward harm ye not.”

“A heavenly dame, not skilless of these things,”
Replied the’ instructor, “told us, even now,
“Pass that way:  here the gate is.” —­“And may she
Befriending prosper your ascent,” resum’d
The courteous keeper of the gate:  “Come then
Before our steps.”  We straightway thither came.