[xdelta-announce] Ories, peopled in a great measure by those who stand in opposition to

[Joh H. <be...@ad...>]

E wall and one foss shuts in" (VI, 79). As night approaches Sordello
leads the poets to the angelically protected Flowery Valley wherein are
found the souls of those rulers who were negligent of the spiritual
life. Many of them were once old enemies but now they not only sing
together but live in harmony, united also in paying tributes to the
worth of some reigning monarchs or in expressing denunciation at the
degeneracy of others. Here in the Valley of the Princes, while sleeping
on the grass and among the flowers, Dante has a strange dream indicative
of a near episode in his journey. He sees an eagle in the sky with wings
wide open and intent upon swooping "Then wheeling somewhat more, it
seemed to me Terrible as the lightning he descended And snatched me
upward even to the (sphere of) fire Therein it seemed that he and I were
burning, And the imagined fire did scorch me so That of necessity my
sleep was broken." (IX, 28.) He awakes to find himself actually
transported up the perpendicular wall to the entrance Gate of Purgatory.
Virgil interprets the dream, pointing out that the eagle represents
Lucia (Illuminating Grace) who has carried the poet to St. Peter's Gate.
"Thou hast at length arrived at Purgatory; See there the cliff that
closeth it around; See there the entrance, where it seems disjoined.
While at dawn, which doth precede the day, When inwardly thy spirit was
asleep Upon the flowers that deck the land below, There came a Lady and
said: 'I am Lucia; Let me take this one up, who is asleep; So will I
make his journey