Whereat the branches, lightly tremulous, ΤΟ Did all of them bow downward toward that side Where its first shadow casts the Holy Mountain ; Yet not from their upright direction swayed, So that the little birds upon their tops Should leave the practice of each art of theirs; 15 But with full ravishment the hours of prime, Singing, received they in the midst of leaves, That ever bore a burden to their rhymes, Such as from branch to branch goes gathering on Through the pine forest on the shore of Chiassi, When Eolus unlooses the Sirocco. Already my slow steps had carried me Into the ancient wood so far, that I Could not perceive where I had entered it. And lo! my further course a stream cut off, Which tow'rd the left hand with its little waves Bent down the grass that on its margin grew. All waters that on earth most limpid are 20 25 [mixture Would seem to have within themselves some Compared with that which nothing doth conceal, Although it moves on with a brown, brown current 31 Under the shade perpetual, that never Ray of the sun lets in, nor of the moon. The great variety of the fresh may. 35 A lady all alone, who went along Singing and culling floweret after floweret, With which her pathway was all painted over. "Ah, beauteous lady, who in rays of love Dost warm thyself, if I may trust to looks, May the desire come unto thee to draw Near to this river's bank,” I said to her, 40 45 "So much that I may 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." She turned towards me, not in other wise So near approaching, that the dulcet sound Under the lids of Venus, when transfixed 50 55 60 65 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 70 75 80 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. 90 The Good Supreme, sole in itself delighting, Created man good, and this goodly place Gave him as hansel of eternal peace. 85 95 By his default short while he sojourned here; By exhalations of the land and water, 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 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; Which by the will of God as much regains Upon this side with virtue it descends, Which takes away all memory of sin; 105 ΣΙΟ 115 120 125 Here Lethe, as upon the other side Eunoë, it is called; and worketh not If first on either side it be not tasted. every other savor doth transcend; 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 130 135 140 145 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. S CANTO XXIX. INGING like unto an enamored lady She, with the ending of her words, continued: "Beati quorum tecta sunt peccata." And even as Nymphs, that wandered all alone One to avoid and one to see the sun, 5 |