entrance to Purgatory. This done, one spirit, detaching itself from
the rest, inquires whether Dante does not remember Manfred, King of
Naples and Sicily, and whether he will not, on his return to earth,
inform the princess that her father repented of his sins at the moment
of death and now bespeaks her prayers to shorten his time of
probation.

_Canto IV._ Dazed by what he has just seen and heard, Dante becomes
conscious of his surroundings once more, only when the sun stands
considerably higher, and when he has arrived at the foot of a rocky
pathway, up which he painfully follows Virgil, helping himself with
his hands as well as his feet. Arrived at its top, both gaze
wonderingly around them, and perceive by the position of the sun that
they must be at the antipodes of Florence, where their journey began.
Panting with the exertions he has just made, Dante expresses some fear
lest his strength may fail him, whereupon Virgil kindly assures him
the way, so arduous at first, will become easier and easier the higher
they ascend.

Just then a voice, addressing them, advises them to rest, and Dante,
turning, perceives, among other spirits, a sitting figure, in whom he
recognizes a friend noted for his laziness. On questioning this
spirit, Dante learns that this friend, Belacqua, instead of exerting
himself to climb the mount of Purgatory, is idly waiting in hopes of
being wafted upward by the prayers of some "heart which lives in
grace." Such slothfulness irritates Virgil, who hurries Dante on,
warning him the sun has already reached its meridian and night will
all too soon overtake them.

_Canto V._ Heedless of the whispered comments behind him because he is