“Already over us were so uplifted The latest sunbeams which the night pursues, That upon many sides the stars appeared.” ---------------------------------------------------------------- Towards midnight. “La luna, quasi a mezza notte tarda, Facea le stelle a noi parer più rade, Fatta com’ un secchione che tutto arda; E correa contra il ciel per quelle strade Che il sole infiamma allor che quel da Roma Tra i Sardi e i Corsi il vede quando cade.” _Purg._ xviii. 76-81. “The moon, belated almost unto midnight,[453] Now made the stars appear to us more rare, Formed like a bucket that is all ablaze; And counter to the heavens ran through those paths Which the sun sets aflame when he of Rome Sees it ’twixt Sardes and Corsicans go down.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [453] Or “almost at late midnight.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6th day. Nearly 2 hours before sunrise, about 4 a.m. On the 4th Cornice. “Nell’ ora che non può il calor diurno Intepidar più il freddo della luna, Vinto da terra, o talor da Saturno; Quando i geomanti lor Maggior Fortuna Veggiono in oriente, innanzi all’ alba, Surger per via che poco le sta bruno.” _Purg._ xix. 1-6. “It was the hour when the diurnal heat No more can warm the coldness of the moon, Vanquished by Earth, or peradventure Saturn; When geomancers their Fortuna Major See in the orient, before the dawn, Rise by a path that long remains not dim.” ---------------------------------------------------------------- Early morning. Ascent to 5th Cornice. “Su mi levai, e tutti eran già, pieni Dell’ alto dì i giron del sacro monte, Ed andavam col sol nuovo alle reni.” _Purg._ xix. 37-39. “I rose, and full already of high day Were all the circles of the sacred mountain, And with the new sun at our back we went.” ---------------------------------------------------------------- About 10 a.m. On the 6th Cornice. “E già le quattro ancelle eran del giorno Rimase addietro, e la quinta era al temo, Drizzando pure in su l’ ardente corno.” _Purg._ xxii. 118-120.