I saw beside me an old man alone, Worthy of so much reverence in his look, The He wore, in semblance like unto the tresses, That him I saw as were the sun before him. Or is there changed in heaven some council new, And with his words, and with his hands and signs, A Lady from Heaven descended, at whose prayers 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. As I have said, I unto him was sent To rescue him, and other way was none I've shown him all the people of perdition, And now those spirits I intend to show 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; I will take back this grace from thee to her, While I was on the other side," then said he, She can no longer move me, by that law Go, then, and see thou gird this one about With a smooth rush, and that thou wash his face, For 'twere not fitting that the eye o'ercast This little island round about its base Below there, yonder, where the billow beats it, No other plant that putteth forth the leaf, Or that doth indurate, can there have life, The sun, which now is rising, will direct you Without a word, and wholly drew myself As one who unto the lost road returns, As soon as we were come to where the dew In gentle manner did my Master place; There did he make in me uncovered wholly That hue vich Hell had covered up in me, Then came we down upon the desert shore Which never yet saw navigate its waters O marvellous! for even as he culled Suddenly there where he uprooted it. 125 ກວ *35 CANTO II. ALREADY had the sun the horizon reached And night that opposite to him revolves Was issuing forth from Ganges with the Scales So that the white and the vermilion cheeks Of beautiful Aurora, where I was, By too great age were changing into orange. We still were on the border of the sea, Like people who are thinking of their road, Appeared to me—may I again behold it !— A light along the sea so swiftly coming, Mine eyes, that I might question my Conductor, Then on each side of it appeared to me I knew not what of white, and underneath it My Master yet had uttered not a word While the first whiteness into wings unfolded; But when he clearly recognised the pilot, He cried: "Make haste, make haste to bow the knee! See how he scorneth human arguments, So that nor oar he wants, nor other sail Fanning the air with the eternal pinions, The Bird Divine, more radiant he appeared, With a small vessel, very swift and light, Beatitude seemed written in his face, And more than a hundred spirits sat within. "In exitu Israel de Ægypte !" They chanted all together in one voice, With whatso in that psalm is after written. Then made he sign of holy rood upon them, Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore, And he departed swiftly as he came. The throng which still remained there unfamiliar Seemed with the place, all round about them gazing, On every side was darting forth the day The sun, who had with his resplendent shafts From the mid-heaven chased forth the Capricorn, When the new people lifted up their faces Towards us, saying to us: "If ye know, Show us the way to go unto the mountain." And answer made Virgilius : Ye believe 66 Perchance that we have knowledge of this place, Just now we came, a little while before you, Another way, which was so rough and steep, That mounting will henceforth seem sport to us." The souls who had, from seeing me draw breath, Become aware that I was still alive, Pallid in their astonishment became ; And as to messenger who bears the olive The people throng to listen to the news, Those fortunate spirits, all of them, as if O empty shadows, save in aspect only! Three times behind it did I clasp my hands, I think with wonder I depicted me; Whereat the shadow smiled and backward drew; Then knew I who it was, and I entreated Therefore I stop; but wherefore goest thou ?" "My own Casella! to return once more There where I am, I make this journey," said I; If he who takes both when and whom he pleases For of a righteous will his own is made. He, sooth to say, for three months past has taken Whence I, who now had turned unto that shore Unto that outlet now his wing is pointed, Because for evermore assemble there And I: "If some new law take not from thee Thee may it please to comfort therewithal Somewhat this soul of mine, that with its body The melody within me still is sounding. 170 |