sin. But it is only on reaching the top of the stairway that Dante
becomes aware of this fact.

_Canto XIII._ The second ledge of purgatory, which they have now
reached, is faced with plain gray stone, and Virgil leads his
companion a full mile along it ere they become aware of a flight of
invisible spirits, some of whom chant "They have no wine!" while the
others respond "Love ye those who have wrong'd you." These are those
who, having sinned through envy, can be freed only by the exercise of
charity. Then, bidding Dante gaze fixedly, Virgil points out this
shadowy host, clothed in sackcloth, sitting back against the rocks,
and Dante takes particular note of two figures supporting each other.
He next discovers that one and all of these victims have their eyelids
sewn so tightly together with wire that passage is left only for
streams of penitential tears.

When allowed to address them, Dante, hoping to comfort them, offers to
bear back to earth any message they wish to send. It is then that one
of these spirits informs Dante that on earth she was Sapia, a learned
Siennese, who, having rejoiced when her country was defeated, is
obliged to do penance for heartlessness. Marvelling that any one
should wander among them with eyes unclosed, she inquires by what
means Dante has come here, bespeaks his prayers, and implores him to
warn her countrymen not to cherish vain hopes of greatness or to sin
through envy.

_Canto XIV._ The two spirits leaning close together, in their turn
question who Virgil and Dante may be? When they hear mention of Rome
and Florence, they hotly inveigh against the degeneracy of dwellers on
the banks of the Tiber and Arno.