By reason of my death； what mortal thing
Should then have drawn thee into its desire？
Thou oughtest verily at the first shaft
Of things fallacious to have risen up
To follow me； who was no longer such。
Thou oughtest not to have stooped thy pinions downward
To wait for further blows； or little girl；
Or other vanity of such brief use。
The callow birdlet waits for two or three；
But to the eyes of those already fledged；
In vain the net is spread or shaft is shot。〃
Even as children silent in their shame
Stand listening with their eyes upon the ground；
And conscious of their fault； and penitent；
So was I standing； and she said： 〃If thou
In hearing sufferest pain； lift up thy beard
And thou shalt feel a greater pain in seeing。〃
With less resistance is a robust holm
Uprooted； either by a native wind
Or else by that from regions of Iarbas；
Than I upraised at her command my chin；
And when she by the beard the face demanded；
Well I perceived the venom of her meaning。
And as my countenance was lifted up；
Mine eye perceived those creatures beautiful
Had rested from the strewing of the flowers；
And； still but little reassured； mine eyes
Saw Beatrice turned round towards the monster；
That is one person only in two natures。
Beneath her veil； beyond the margent green；
She seemed to me far more her ancient self
To excel； than others here； when she was here。
So pricked me then the thorn of penitence；
That of all other things the one which turned me
Most to its love became the most my foe。
Such self…conviction stung me at the heart
O'erpowered I fell； and what I then became
She knoweth who had furnished me the cause。
Then； when the heart restored my outward sense；
The lady I had found alone； above me
I saw； and she was saying； 〃Hold me； hold me。〃
Up to my throat she in the stream had drawn me；
And； dragging me behind her； she was moving
Upon the water lightly as a shuttle。
When I was near unto the blessed shore；
〃Asperges me；〃 I heard so sweetly sung；
Remember it I cannot； much less write it。
The beautiful lady opened wide her arms；
Embraced my head； and plunged me underneath；
Where I was forced to swallow of the water。
Then forth she drew me； and all dripping brought
Into the dance of the four beautiful；
And each one with her arm did cover me。
'We here are Nymphs； and in the Heaven are stars；
Ere Beatrice descended to the world；
We as her handmaids were appointed her。
We'll lead thee to her eyes； but for the pleasant
Light that within them is； shall sharpen thine
The three beyond； who more profoundly look。'
Thus singing they began； and afterwards
Unto the Griffin's breast they led me with them；
Where Beatrice was standing； turned towards us。
〃See that thou dost not spare thine eyes；〃 they said；
〃Before the emeralds have we stationed thee；
Whence Love aforetime drew for thee his weapons。〃
A thousand longings； hotter than the flame；
Fastened mine eyes upon those eyes relucent；
That still upon the Griffin steadfast stayed。
As in a glass the sun； not otherwise
Within them was the twofold monster shining；
Now with the one； now with the other nature。
Think； Reader； if within myself I marvelled；
When I beheld the thing itself stand still；
And in its image it transformed itself。
While with amazement filled and jubilant；
My soul was tasting of the food； that while
It satisfies us makes us hunger for it；
Themselves revealing of the highest rank
In bearing； did the other three advance；
Singing to their angelic saraband。
〃Turn； Beatrice； O turn thy holy eyes；〃
Such was their song； 〃unto thy faithful one；
Who has to see thee ta'en so many steps。
In grace do us the grace that thou unveil
Thy face to him； so that he may discern
The second beauty which thou dost conceal。〃
O splendour of the living light eternal！
Who underneath the shadow of Parnassus
Has grown so pale； or drunk so at its cistern；
He would not seem to have his mind encumbered
Striving to paint thee as thou didst appear；
Where the harmonious heaven o'ershadowed thee；
When in the open air thou didst unveil？
Purgatorio： Canto XXXII
So steadfast and attentive were mine eyes
In satisfying their decennial thirst；
That all my other senses were extinct；
And upon this side and on that they had
Walls of indifference； so the holy smile
Drew them unto itself with the old net
When forcibly my sight was turned away
Towards my left hand by those goddesses；
Because I heard from them a 〃Too intently！〃
And that condition of the sight which is
In eyes but lately smitten by the sun
Bereft me of my vision some short while；
But to the less when sight re…shaped itself；
I say the less in reference to the greater
Splendour from which perforce I had withdrawn；
I saw upon its right wing wheeled about
The glorious host returning with the sun
And with the sevenfold flames upon their faces。
As underneath its shields； to save itself；
A squadron turns； and with its banner wheels；
Before the whole thereof can change its front；
That soldiery of the celestial kingdom
Which marched in the advance had wholly passed us
Before the chariot had turned its pole。
Then to the wheels the maidens turned themselves；
And the Griffin moved his burden benedight；
But so that not a feather of him fluttered。
The lady fair who drew me through the ford
Followed with Statius and myself the wheel
Which made its orbit with the lesser arc。
So passing through the lofty forest； vacant
By fault of her who in the serpent trusted；
Angelic music made our steps keep time。
Perchance as great a space had in three flights
An arrow loosened from the string o'erpassed；
As we had moved when Beatrice descended。
I heard them murmur altogether； 〃Adam！〃
Then circled they about a tree despoiled
Of blooms and other leafage on each bough。
Its tresses； which so much the more dilate
As higher they ascend； had been by Indians
Among their forests marvelled at for height。
〃Blessed art thou； O Griffin； who dost not
Pluck with thy beak these branches sweet to taste；
Since appetite by this was turned to evil。〃
After this fashion round the tree robust
The others shouted； and the twofold creature：
〃Thus is preserved the seed of all the just。〃
And turning to the pole which he had dragged；
He drew it close beneath the widowed bough；
And what was of it unto it left bound。
In the same manner as our trees （when downward
Falls the great light； with that together mingled
Which after the celestial Lasca shines）
Begin to swell； and then renew themselves；
Each one with its own colour； ere the Sun
Harness his steeds beneath another star：
Less than of rose and more than violet
A hue disclosing； was renewed the tree
That had erewhile its boughs so desolate。
I never heard； nor here below is sung；
The hymn which afterward that people sang；
Nor did I bear the melody throughout。
Had I the power to paint how fell asleep
Those eyes compassionless； of Syrinx hearing；
Those eyes to which more watching cost so dear；
Even as a painter who from model paints
I would portray how I was lulled asleep；
He may； who well can picture drowsihood。
Therefore I pass to what time I awoke；
And say a splendour rent from me the veil
Of slumber； and a calling： 〃Rise； what dost thou？〃
As to behold the apple…tree in blossom
Which makes the Angels greedy for its fruit；
And keeps perpetual bridals in the Heaven；
Peter and John and James conducted were；
And； overcome； recovered at the word
By which still greater slumbers have been broken；
And saw their school diminished by the loss
Not only of Elias； but of Moses；
And the apparel of their Master changed；
So I revived； and saw that piteous one
Above me standing； who had been conductress
Aforetime of my steps beside the river；
And all in doubt I said； 〃Where's Beatrice？〃
And she： 〃Behold her seated underneath
The leafage new； upon the root of it。
Behold the company that circles her；
The rest behind the Griffin are ascending
With more melodious song； and more profound。〃
And if her speech were more diffuse I know not；
Because already in my sight was she
Who from the hearing of aught else had shut me。
Alone she sat upon the very earth；
Left there as guardian of the chariot
Which I had seen the biform monster fasten。
Encircling her； a cloister made themselves
The seven Nymphs； with those lights in their hands
Which are secure from Aquilon and Auster。
〃Short while shalt thou be here a forester；
And thou shalt be with me for evermore
A citizen of that Rome where Christ is Roman。
Therefore； for that world's good which liveth ill；
Fix on the car thine eyes； and what thou seest；
Having returned to earth； take heed thou write。〃
Thus Beatrice； and I； who at the feet
Of her commandments all devoted was；
My mind and eyes directed where she willed。
Never descended with so swift a motion
Fire from a heavy cloud； when it is raining
From out the region which is most remote；
As I beheld the bird of Jove descend
Down through the tree； rending away the bark；
As well as blossoms and the foliage new；
And he with all his might the chariot smote；
Whereat it reeled； like vessel in a tempest
Tossed by the waves； now starboard and now larboard。
Thereafter saw I leap into the body
Of the triumphal vehicle a Fox；
That seemed unfed with any wholesome food。
But for his hideous sins upbraiding him；
My Lady put him to as swift a flight
As such a fleshless skeleton could bear。
Then by the way that it before had come；
Into the chariot's chest I saw the Eagle
Descend； and leave it feathered with his plumes。
And such as issues from a heart that mourns；
A voice from Heaven there issued； and it said：
〃My little bark； how badly art thou freighted！〃
Methought； then； that the earth did yawn between
Both wheels； and I saw rise from it a Dragon；
Who through the chariot