The Valley of the Rulers — Divine Comedy

Evening at the valley of rulers is announced by the one hour that makes every homesick heart ache, the hour when sailors feel the friends they left at dawn, when pilgrims thrill to a distant vesper bell mourning the dying day. A soul rises, joins its palms toward the east as if to say I care for naught beside, and sings the Te Lucis Ante in so soft and devout a strain that Dante is lost in ravishment. The rest follow through the hymn in upward gaze. Then Dante turns directly to the reader: pay close attention, the veil here is of so subtle texture that you may pass through it unmarked. The souls go pale and silent. Two angels descend from Mary's bosom, green vesture, flame-illumined swords broken at the points, one settling on the hill above, the other on the hill opposite, the souls enclosed between. Sordello says they guard the valley against the serpent that tends hither each night. They descend into the valley and Dante spots Nino Visconti, the courteous judge, what joy that he is not with the bad. Nino asks how long since Dante arrived; hearing the answer (through Hell this morning, still alive) he and Sordello react with astonishment. Nino asks Dante to tell his daughter Giovanna to pray for him: her mother loves him no more, she has changed her white wimple for another man's heraldry; the Visconti viper will not make as fair a burial as the Gallura cock would have. Dante looks upward: three stars burn at the southern pole where the four cardinal-virtue stars shone that morning. Sordello calls out, the serpent. Along the unguarded side of the valley it comes, smoothing its coat, reversing its lifted head, like the snake that gave Eve the bitter food. The angels drop from their posts; the serpent flees; they return with equal flight. Conrad Malaspina, who has watched Dante through the whole episode without looking away, now speaks. He asks about Valdimagra and introduces himself as the younger Conrad, whose love of his people is here being refined. Dante praises the Malaspina house, their honor of coffer and sword is known through all Europe. Conrad prophesies: before seven Aries cycles have passed, Dante's good opinion of the Malaspina will be nailed into his brain by deeds, not by speech.