〃So much that I might hear what thou art singing。
Thou makest me remember where and what
Proserpina that moment was when lost
Her mother her； and she herself the Spring。〃
As turns herself； with feet together pressed
And to the ground； a lady who is dancing；
And hardly puts one foot before the other；
On the vermilion and the yellow flowerets
She turned towards me； not in other wise
Than maiden who her modest eyes casts down；
And my entreaties made to be content；
So near approaching； that the dulcet sound
Came unto me together with its meaning
As soon as she was where the grasses are。
Bathed by the waters of the beauteous river；
To lift her eyes she granted me the boon。
I do not think there shone so great a light
Under the lids of Venus； when transfixed
By her own son； beyond his usual custom！
Erect upon the other bank she smiled；
Bearing full many colours in her hands；
Which that high land produces without seed。
Apart three paces did the river make us；
But Hellespont； where Xerxes passed across；
（A curb still to all human arrogance；）
More hatred from Leander did not suffer
For rolling between Sestos and Abydos；
Than that from me； because it oped not then。
〃Ye are new…comers； and because I smile；〃
Began she； 〃peradventure； in this place
Elect to human nature for its nest；
Some apprehension keeps you marvelling；
But the psalm 'Delectasti' giveth light
Which has the power to uncloud your intellect。
And thou who foremost art； and didst entreat me；
Speak； if thou wouldst hear more； for I came ready
To all thy questionings； as far as needful。〃
〃The water；〃 said I； 〃and the forest's sound；
Are combating within me my new faith
In something which I heard opposed to this。〃
Whence she： 〃I will relate how from its cause
Proceedeth that which maketh thee to wonder；
And purge away the cloud that smites upon thee。
The Good Supreme； sole in itself delighting；
Created man good； and this goodly place
Gave him as hansel of eternal peace。
By his default short while he sojourned here；
By his default to weeping and to toil
He changed his innocent laughter and sweet play。
That the disturbance which below is made
By exhalations of the land and water；
（Which far as may be follow after heat；）
Might not upon mankind wage any war；
This mount ascended tow'rds the heaven so high；
And is exempt； from there where it is locked。
Now since the universal atmosphere
Turns in a circuit with the primal motion
Unless the circle is broken on some side；
Upon this height； that all is disengaged
In living ether； doth this motion strike
And make the forest sound； for it is dense；
And so much power the stricken plant possesses
That with its virtue it impregns the air；
And this； revolving； scatters it around；
And yonder earth； according as 'tis worthy
In self or in its clime； conceives and bears
Of divers qualities the divers trees；
It should not seem a marvel then on earth；
This being heard； whenever any plant
Without seed manifest there taketh root。
And thou must know； this holy table…land
In which thou art is full of every seed；
And fruit has in it never gathered there。
The water which thou seest springs not from vein
Restored by vapour that the cold condenses；
Like to a stream that gains or loses breath；
But issues from a fountain safe and certain；
Which by the will of God as much regains
As it discharges； open on two sides。
Upon this side with virtue it descends；
Which takes away all memory of sin；
On that； of every good deed done restores it。
Here Lethe； as upon the other side
Eunoe； it is called； and worketh not
If first on either side it be not tasted。
This every other savour doth transcend；
And notwithstanding slaked so far may be
Thy thirst； that I reveal to thee no more；
I'll give thee a corollary still in grace；
Nor think my speech will be to thee less dear
If it spread out beyond my promise to thee。
Those who in ancient times have feigned in song
The Age of Gold and its felicity；
Dreamed of this place perhaps upon Parnassus。
Here was the human race in innocence；
Here evermore was Spring； and every fruit；
This is the nectar of which each one speaks。〃
Then backward did I turn me wholly round
Unto my Poets； and saw that with a smile
They had been listening to these closing words；
Then to the beautiful lady turned mine eyes。
Purgatorio： Canto XXIX
Singing like unto an enamoured lady
She； with the ending of her words； continued：
〃Beati quorum tecta sunt peccata。〃
And even as Nymphs； that wandered all alone
Among the sylvan shadows； sedulous
One to avoid and one to see the sun；
She then against the stream moved onward； going
Along the bank； and I abreast of her；
Her little steps with little steps attending。
Between her steps and mine were not a hundred；
When equally the margins gave a turn；
In such a way； that to the East I faced。
Nor even thus our way continued far
Before the lady wholly turned herself
Unto me； saying； 〃Brother； look and listen！〃
And lo！ a sudden lustre ran across
On every side athwart the spacious forest；
Such that it made me doubt if it were lightning。
But since the lightning ceases as it comes；
And that continuing brightened more and more；
Within my thought I said； 〃What thing is this？〃
And a delicious melody there ran
Along the luminous air； whence holy zeal
Made me rebuke the hardihood of Eve；
For there where earth and heaven obedient were；
The woman only； and but just created；
Could not endure to stay 'neath any veil；
Underneath which had she devoutly stayed；
I sooner should have tasted those delights
Ineffable； and for a longer time。
While 'mid such manifold first…fruits I walked
Of the eternal pleasure all enrapt；
And still solicitous of more delights；
In front of us like an enkindled fire
Became the air beneath the verdant boughs；
And the sweet sound as singing now was heard。
O Virgins sacrosanct！ if ever hunger；
Vigils； or cold for you I have endured；
The occasion spurs me their reward to claim！
Now Helicon must needs pour forth for me；
And with her choir Urania must assist me；
To put in verse things difficult to think。
A little farther on； seven trees of gold
In semblance the long space still intervening
Between ourselves and them did counterfeit；
But when I had approached so near to them
The common object； which the sense deceives；
Lost not by distance any of its marks；
The faculty that lends discourse to reason
Did apprehend that they were candlesticks；
And in the voices of the song 〃Hosanna！〃
Above them flamed the harness beautiful；
Far brighter than the moon in the serene
Of midnight； at the middle of her month。
I turned me round； with admiration filled；
To good Virgilius； and he answered me
With visage no less full of wonderment。
Then back I turned my face to those high things；
Which moved themselves towards us so sedately；
They had been distanced by new…wedded brides。
The lady chid me： 〃Why dost thou burn only
So with affection for the living lights；
And dost not look at what comes after them？〃
Then saw I people； as behind their leaders；
Coming behind them； garmented in white；
And such a whiteness never was on earth。
The water on my left flank was resplendent；
And back to me reflected my left side；
E'en as a mirror； if I looked therein。
When I upon my margin had such post
That nothing but the stream divided us；
Better to see I gave my steps repose；
And I beheld the flamelets onward go；
Leaving behind themselves the air depicted；
And they of trailing pennons had the semblance；
So that it overhead remained distinct
With sevenfold lists； all of them of the colours
Whence the sun's bow is made； and Delia's girdle。
These standards to the rearward longer were
Than was my sight； and； as it seemed to me；
Ten paces were the outermost apart。
Under so fair a heaven as I describe
The four and twenty Elders； two by two；
Came on incoronate with flower…de…luce。
They all of them were singing： 〃Blessed thou
Among the daughters of Adam art； and blessed
For evermore shall be thy loveliness。〃
After the flowers and other tender grasses
In front of me upon the other margin
Were disencumbered of that race elect；
Even as in heaven star followeth after star；
There came close after them four animals；
Incoronate each one with verdant leaf。
Plumed with six wings was every one of them；
The plumage full of eyes； the eyes of Argus
If they were living would be such as these。
Reader！ to trace their forms no more I waste
My rhymes； for other spendings press me so；
That I in this cannot be prodigal。
But read Ezekiel； who depicteth them
As he beheld them from the region cold
Coming with cloud； with whirlwind； and with fire；
And such as thou shalt find them in his pages；
Such were they here； saving that in their plumage
John is with me； and differeth from him。
The interval between these four contained
A chariot triumphal on two wheels；
Which by a Griffin's neck came drawn along；
And upward he extended both his wings
Between the middle list and three and three；
So that he injured none by cleaving it。
So high they rose that they were lost to sight；
His limbs were gold； so far as he was bird；
And white the others with vermilion mingled。
Not only Rome with no such splendid car
E'er gladdened Africanus； or Augustus；
But poor to it that of the Sun would be；
That of the Sun； which swerving was burnt up
At the importunate orison of Earth；
When Jove was so mysteriously just。
Three maidens at the right wheel in a circle
Came onward dancing； one so very red
That in the fire she hardly had been noted。
The second was as if her flesh and bones
Had all been fashioned out of emerald；
The third appeared as snow but newly fallen。
And now they seemed conducted by the white；
Now by the red； and from the song of her
The