So upon that celestial chariot A hundred rose ad vocem tanti senis, And, scattering flowers above and round about, 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 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 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 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 In attitude still royally majestic 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? Didst thou not know that man is happy here?" Mine eyes fell downward into the clear fountain, But, seeing myself therein, I sought the grass, So great a shame did weigh my forehead down. 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, Whene'er the land that loses shadow breathes, Before the song of those who sing for ever 65 70 75 80 85 90 But when I heard in their sweet melodies Compassion for me, more than had they said, 95 "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 100 Still firmly standing, to those holy beings Thus her discourse directed afterwards: "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, Himself from me he took and gave to others. When from the flesh to spirit I ascended, And beauty and virtue were in me increased, Pursuing the false images of good, Nor prayer for inspiration me availed, By means of which in dreams and otherwise I called him back, so little did he heed them. 135 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 140 145 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." 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 Even as a cross-bow breaks, when 'tis discharged Too tensely drawn the bowstring and the bow, So I gave way beneath that heavy burden, What trenches lying traverse or what chains 25 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 ?” 30 After the heaving of a bitter sigh, Hardly had I the voice to make response, And with fatigue my lips did fashion it. Weeping I said: "The things that present were With their false pleasure turned aside my steps, Would be thy fault, by such a Judge 'tis known. 35 But when from one's own cheeks comes bursting forth For thy transgression, and another time 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 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 40 45 50 55 бо 65 70 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, 75 And as my countenance was lifted up, Mine eye perceived those creatures beautiful And, still but little reassured, mine eyes 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. Saw Beatrice turned round towards the monster, |