For it is always what it was before；
But through the sight； that fortified itself
In me by looking； one appearance only
To me was ever changing as I changed。
Within the deep and luminous subsistence
Of the High Light appeared to me three circles；
Of threefold colour and of one dimension；
And by the second seemed the first reflected
As Iris is by Iris； and the third
Seemed fire that equally from both is breathed。
O how all speech is feeble and falls short
Of my conceit； and this to what I saw
Is such； 'tis not enough to call it little！
O Light Eterne； sole in thyself that dwellest；
Sole knowest thyself； and； known unto thyself
And knowing； lovest and smilest on thyself！
That circulation； which being thus conceived
Appeared in thee as a reflected light；
When somewhat contemplated by mine eyes；
Within itself； of its own very colour
Seemed to me painted with our effigy；
Wherefore my sight was all absorbed therein。
As the geometrician； who endeavours
To square the circle； and discovers not；
By taking thought； the principle he wants；
Even such was I at that new apparition；
I wished to see how the image to the circle
Conformed itself； and how it there finds place；
But my own wings were not enough for this；
Had it not been that then my mind there smote
A flash of lightning； wherein came its wish。
Here vigour failed the lofty fantasy：
But now was turning my desire and will；
Even as a wheel that equally is moved；
The Love which moves the sun and the other stars。
APPENDIX
SIX SONNETS ON DANTE'S DIVINE COMEDY
BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW （1807…1882）
I
Oft have I seen at some cathedral door
A laborer； pausing in the dust and heat；
Lay down his burden； and with reverent feet
Enter； and cross himself； and on the floor
Kneel to repeat his paternoster o'er；
Far off the noises of the world retreat；
The loud vociferations of the street
Become an undistinguishable roar。
So； as I enter here from day to day；
And leave my burden at this minster gate；
Kneeling in prayer； and not ashamed to pray；
The tumult of the time disconsolate
To inarticulate murmurs dies away；
While the eternal ages watch and wait。
II
How strange the sculptures that adorn these towers！
This crowd of statues； in whose folded sleeves
Birds build their nests； while canopied with leaves
Parvis and portal bloom like trellised bowers；
And the vast minster seems a cross of flowers！
But fiends and dragons on the gargoyled eaves
Watch the dead Christ between the living thieves；
And； underneath； the traitor Judas lowers！
Ah！ from what agonies of heart and brain；
What exultations trampling on despair；
What tenderness； what tears； what hate of wrong；
What passionate outcry of a soul in pain；
Uprose this poem of the earth and air；
This mediaeval miracle of song！
III
I enter； and I see thee in the gloom
Of the long aisles； O poet saturnine！
And strive to make my steps keep pace with thine。
The air is filled with some unknown perfume；
The congregation of the dead make room
For thee to pass； the votive tapers shine；
Like rooks that haunt Ravenna's groves of pine；
The hovering echoes fly from tomb to tomb。
From the confessionals I hear arise
Rehearsals of forgotten tragedies；
And lamentations from the crypts below
And then a voice celestial that begins
With the pathetic words； 〃Although your sins
As scarlet be；〃 and ends with 〃as the snow。〃
IV
With snow…white veil； and garments as of flame；
She stands before thee； who so long ago
Filled thy young heart with passion and the woe
From which thy song in all its splendors came；
And while with stern rebuke she speaks thy name；
The ice about thy heart melts as the snow
On mountain heights； and in swift overflow
Comes gushing from thy lips in sobs of shame。
Thou makest full confession； and a gleam
As of the dawn on some dark forest cast；
Seems on thy lifted forehead to increase；
Lethe and Eunoethe remembered dream
And the forgotten sorrowbring at last
That perfect pardon which is perfect peace。
V
I Lift mine eyes； and all the windows blaze
With forms of saints and holy men who died；
Here martyred and hereafter glorified；
And the great Rose upon its leaves displays
Christ's Triumph； and the angelic roundelays；
With splendor upon splendor multiplied；
And Beatrice again at Dante's side
No more rebukes； but smiles her words of praise。
And then the organ sounds； and unseen choirs
Sing the old Latin hymns of peace and love
And benedictions of the Holy Ghost；
And the melodious bells among the spires
O'er all the house…tops and through heaven above
Proclaim the elevation of the Host！
VI
O star of morning and of liberty！
O bringer of the light； whose splendor shines
Above the darkness of the Apennines；
Forerunner of the day that is to be！
The voices of the city and the sea；
The voices of the mountains and the pines；
Repeat thy song； till the familiar lines
Are footpaths for the thought of Italy！
Thy fame is blown abroad from all the heights；
Through all the nations； and a sound is heard；
As of a mighty wind； and men devout；
Strangers of Rome； and the new proselytes；
In their own language hear thy wondrous word；
And many are amazed and many doubt。
End
The Divine Comedy
translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
PURGATORIO
Purgatorio： Canto I
To run o'er better waters hoists its sail
The little vessel of my genius now；
That leaves behind itself a sea so cruel；
And of that second kingdom will I sing
Wherein the human spirit doth purge itself；
And to ascend to heaven becometh worthy。
But let dead Poesy here rise again；
O holy Muses； since that I am yours；
And here Calliope somewhat ascend；
My song accompanying with that sound；
Of which the miserable magpies felt
The blow so great； that they despaired of pardon。
Sweet colour of the oriental sapphire；
That was upgathered in the cloudless aspect
Of the pure air； as far as the first circle；
Unto mine eyes did recommence delight
Soon as I issued forth from the dead air；
Which had with sadness filled mine eyes and breast。
The beauteous planet； that to love incites；
Was making all the orient to laugh；
Veiling the Fishes that were in her escort。
To the right hand I turned； and fixed my mind
Upon the other pole； and saw four stars
Ne'er seen before save by the primal people。
Rejoicing in their flamelets seemed the heaven。
O thou septentrional and widowed site；
Because thou art deprived of seeing these！
When from regarding them I had withdrawn；
Turning a little to the other pole；
There where the Wain had disappeared already；
I saw beside me an old man alone；
Worthy of so much reverence in his look；
That more owes not to father any son。
A long beard and with white hair intermingled
He wore； in semblance like unto the tresses；
Of which a double list fell on his breast。
The rays of the four consecrated stars
Did so adorn his countenance with light；
That him I saw as were the sun before him。
〃Who are you？ ye who； counter the blind river；
Have fled away from the eternal prison？〃
Moving those venerable plumes； he said：
〃Who guided you？ or who has been your lamp
In issuing forth out of the night profound；
That ever black makes the infernal valley？
The laws of the abyss； are they thus broken？
Or is there changed in heaven some council new；
That being damned ye come unto my crags？〃
Then did my Leader lay his grasp upon me；
And with his words； and with his hands and signs；
Reverent he made in me my knees and brow；
Then answered him： 〃I came not of myself；
A Lady from Heaven descended； at whose prayers
I aided this one with my company。
But since it is thy will more be unfolded
Of our condition； how it truly is；
Mine cannot be that this should be denied thee。
This one has never his last evening seen；
But by his folly was so near to it
That very little time was there to turn。
As I have said； I unto him was sent
To rescue him； and other way was none
Than this to which I have myself betaken。
I've shown him all the people of perdition；
And now those spirits I intend to show
Who purge themselves beneath thy guardianship。
How I have brought him would be long to tell thee。
Virtue descendeth from on high that aids me
To lead him to behold thee and to hear thee。
Now may it please thee to vouchsafe his coming；
He seeketh Liberty； which is so dear；
As knoweth he who life for her refuses。
Thou know'st it； since； for her； to thee not bitter
Was death in Utica； where thou didst leave
The vesture； that will shine so； the great day。
By us the eternal edicts are not broken；
Since this one lives； and Minos binds not me；
But of that circle I； where are the chaste
Eyes of thy Marcia； who in looks still prays thee；
O holy breast； to hold her as thine own；
For her love； then； incline thyself to us。
Permit us through thy sevenfold realm to go；
I will take back this grace from thee to her；
If to be mentioned there below thou deignest。〃
〃Marcia so pleasing was unto mine eyes
While I was on the other side；〃 then said he；
〃That every grace she wished of me I granted；
Now that she dwells beyond the evil river；
She can no longer move me； by that law
Which； when I issued forth from there； was made。
But if a Lady of Heaven do move and rule thee；
As thou dost say； no flattery is needful；
Let it suffice thee that for her thou ask me。
Go； then； and see thou gird this one about
With a smooth rush； and that thou wash his face；
So that thou cleanse away all stain therefrom；
For 'twere not fitting that the eye o'ercast
By any mist should go before the first
Angel； who is of those of Paradise。
This little island round about its base
Below there； yonder； where the billow beats it；
Doth rushes bear upon its washy ooze；
No other plant that putteth forth the leaf；
Or that doth indurate； can there have l