em it is midnight in Spain, midday at
the Ganges, and sunset in Purgatory.

[17] To be buried alive.

[18] Leah and Rachel are respectively the types of the virtuous active
and contemplative life.

[19] As they come nearer home.

[20] In the preceding canto a mystic procession, symbolizing the Old and
New Dispensation, has appeared in the Earthly Paradise. At its head were
seven candlesticks, symbols of the sevenfold spirit of the Lord; it was
followed by personages representing the truthful books of the Old
Testament, and these by the chariot of the Church drawn by a griffon,
who in his double form, half eagle and half lion, represented Christ in
his double nature, human and divine.

[21] The lower septentrion, the seven stars of the Great Bear.

[22] Words from the AEneid (vi. 884), sung by the angels.

[23] The olive is the symbol of wisdom and of peace; the three colors
are those of Faith, Charity and Hope.

[24] Words from the AEneid, iv. 23.

[25] All the joy and beauty of Paradise which Eve lost, and which were
now surrounding Dante.

[26] When he had entered Purgatory.

[27] The words are from Psalm xxxi., verses 1 to 8.

[28] If the wind blow from Africa.

[29] Both devout and piteous.

[30] Through the influences of the circling heavens.

[31] From divine grace.

[32] In Hell.

[33] Not yet obliterated by the waters of Lethe.

[34] Inspired by me.

[35] Other objects of desire.

[36] Numidia, of which Iarbas was king.

[37] The beard being the sign of manhood, which should be accompanied by
wisdom.

[38] The one which by its attractions most diverted me from Beatrice.

[39] A solitary lady whom he had met on first entering the Earthly
Paradise, and who had accompanied him thus far.

[40] The first words of the 7th verse of the 51st Psalm: "Purge me with
hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

[41] The four cardinal virtues.

[42] The three evangelic virtues.

[43] Now with the divine, now with the human.

[44] Light in its essence; all other light is derived from it.

[45] This union of substance and accident.

[46] So overwhelming was the vision that the memory could not retain it
completely even for an instant.

[47] The wish to see the mystery of the union of the two natures, the
divine and human in Christ.

[48] That Love which makes sun and stars revolve was giving a concordant
revolution to my desire and my will.

[49] The mid