Purgatorio: Canto 1 Dante Alighieri (Ft. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Purgatorio: Canto I

To run o'er better waters hoists its sail
   The little vessel of my genius now,
   That leaves behind itself a sea so cruel;

And of that second kingdom will I sing
   Wherein the human spirit doth purge itself,
   And to ascend to heaven becometh worthy.

But let dead Poesy here rise again,
   O holy Muses, since that I am yours,
   And here Calliope somewhat ascend,

My song accompanying with that sound,
   Of which the miserable magpies felt
   The blow so great, that they despaired of pardon.

Sweet colour of the oriental sapphire,
   That was upgathered in the cloudless aspect
   Of the pure air, as far as the first circle,

Unto mine eyes did recommence delight
   Soon as I issued forth from the dead air,
   Which had with sadness filled mine eyes and breast.