And of few stairs we yet had made assay, Ere by the vanished shadow the sun's setting Behind us we perceived, I and my Sages. And ere in all its parts immeasurable The horizon of one aspect had become, And Night her boundless dispensation held, Each of us of a stair had made his bed; Because the nature of the mount took from us The power of climbing, more than the delight. Even as in ruminating passive grow The goats, who have been swift and venturesome Upon the mountain-tops ere they were fed, Hushed in the shadow, while the sun is hot, his staff Watched by the herdsman, who upon I like the goat, and like the herdsmen they, 70 75 80 85 90 Thus ruminating, and beholding these, Sleep seized upon me, — sleep, that oftentimes Before a deed is done has tidings of it. It was the hour, I think, when from the East First on the mountain Citherea beamed, Who with the fire of love seems always burning; Youthful and beautiful in dreams methought I saw a lady walking in a meadow, Gathering flowers; and singing she was saying: "Know whosoever may my name demand That I am Leah, and go moving round My beauteous hands to make myself a garland. To see her beauteous eyes as eager is she, As I am to adorn me with my hands; That unto pilgrims the more grateful rise, The darkness fled away on every side, And slumber with it; whereupon I rose, 95 100 105 110 66 That apple sweet, which through so many branches 115 As these made use; and never were there gifts Such longing upon longing came upon me To be above, that at each step thereafter When underneath us was the stairway all eyes, Run o'er, and we were on the highest step, 120 125 By intellect and art I here have brought thee; 130 Take thine own pleasure for thy guide henceforth; Beyond the steep ways and the narrow art thou. Behold the sun, that shines upon thy forehead; Behold the grass, the flowerets, and the shrubs Which of itself alone this land produces. Until rejoicing come the beauteous eyes Which weeping caused me to come unto thee, 135 Thou canst sit down, and thou canst walk among them. Expect no more or word or sign from me; 140 23 CANTO XXVIII. EAGER already to search in and round The heavenly forest, dense and living-green, Which tempered to the eyes the new-born day, Withouten more delay I left the bank, Taking the level country slowly, slowly Over the soil that everywhere breathes fragrance. A softly-breathing air, that no mutation Had in itself, upon the forehead smote me No heavier blow than of a gentle wind, Whereat the branches, lightly tremulous, Did all of them bow downward toward that side |