So upon that celestial chariot A hundred rose ad vocem tanti senis, Ere now have I beheld, as day began, The eastern hemisphere all tinged with rose, And the sun's face, uprising, overshadowed So that by tempering influence of vapours For a long interval the eye sustained it ; Thus in the bosom of a cloud of flowers Which from those hands angelical ascended, And downward fell again inside and out, Over her snow-white veil with olive cinct Appeared a lady under a green mantle, Vested in colour of the living flame. And my own spirit, that already now So long a time had been, that in her presence Through occult virtue that from her proceeded Sublime, that had already pierced me through To the left hand I turned with that reliance With which the little child runs to his mother, To say unto Virgilius: "Not a drachm Of blood remains in me, that does not tremble; But us Virgilius of himself deprived Had left, Virgilius, sweetest of all fathers, Nor whatsoever lost the ancient mother Availed my cheeks now purified from dew, "Dante, because Virgilius has departed Do not weep yet, do not weep yet awhile; Comes to behold the people that are working ་་ 30 35 40 45 50 Upon the left hand border of the car, When at the sound I turned of my own name, I saw the Lady, who erewhile appeared Continued she, like unto one who speaks, And keeps his warmest utterance in reserve: "Look at me well; in sooth I'm Beatrice! How didst thou deign to come unto the Mountain? As to the son the mother seems superb, So she appeared to me; for somewhat bitter Tasteth the savour of severe compassion. Silent became she, and the Angels sang Suddenly,. "In te, Domine, speravi:" But beyond pedes meos did not pass. Even as the snow among the living rafters Upon the back of Italy congeals, Blown on and drifted by Sclavonian winds, And then, dissolving, trickles through itself Whene'er the land that loses shadow breathes, So that it seems a fire that melts a taper; E'en thus was I without a tear or sigh, Before the song of those who sing for ever But when I heard in their sweet melodies Compassion for me, more than had they said, "O wherefore, lady, dost thou thus upbraid him ?" The ice, that was about my heart congealed, To air and water changed, and in my anguish Through mouth and eyes came gushing from my breast She, on the right-hand border of the car Still firmly standing, to those holy beings Ye keep your watch in the eternal day, So that nor night nor sleep can steal from you Therefore my answer is with greater care, That he may hear me who is weeping yonder, Which have such lofty vapours for their rain Potentially, that every righteous habit Would have made admirable proof in him; But so much more malignant and more savage Becomes the land untilled and with bad seed, The more good earthly vigour it possesses. Some time did I sustain him with my look ; Revealing unto him my youthful eyes, I led him with me turned in the right way. As soon as ever of my second age I was upon the threshold and changed life, And beauty and virtue were in me increased, Nor prayer for inspiration me availed, By means of which in dreams and otherwise So low he fell, that all appliances For his salvation were already short, Save showing him the people of perdition. For this I visited the gates of death, And unto him, who so far up has led him, God's lofty fiat would be violated, If Lethe should be passed, and if such viands Of penitence, that gushes forth in tears," CANTO XXXI. "O THOU who art beyond the sacred river," "Say, say if this be true; to such a charge, Thy own confession needs must be conjoined." My faculties were in so great confusion, That the voice moved, but sooner was extinct Awhile she waited; then she said: "What thinkest? In thee not yet are by the waters injured." Forced such a Yes! from out my mouth, that sight Outpouring in a torrent tears and sighs, Didst thou discover, that of passing onward Thou shouldst have thus despoiled thee of the hope? And what allurements or what vantages Upon the forehead of the others showed, That thou shouldst turn thy footsteps unto them?” After the heaving of a bitter sigh, Hardly had I the voice to make response, 10 But when from one's own cheeks comes bursting forth Against the edge the wheel doth turn itself. For thy transgression, and another time Hearing the Sirens thou mayst be more strong, Cast down the seed of weeping and attend ; So shalt thou hear, how in an opposite way Pleasure so great as the fair limbs wherein By reason of my death, what mortal thing 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, So was I standing; and she said: "If thou In hearing sufferest pain, lift up thy beard With less resistance is a robust holm Uprooted, either by a native wind Or else by that from regions of Iarbas, And when she by the beard the face demanded, And as my countenance was lifted up, Mine eye perceived those creatures beautiful And, still but little reassured, mine eyes Saw Beatrice turned round towards the monster, 45 50 55 60 65 75 |