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upon its right wing wheeled about

       The glorious host returning with the sun

       And with the sevenfold flames upon their faces.

      As underneath its shields, to save itself,

       A squadron turns, and with its banner wheels,

       Before the whole thereof can change its front,

      That soldiery of the celestial kingdom

       Which marched in the advance had wholly passed us

       Before the chariot had turned its pole.

      Then to the wheels the maidens turned themselves,

       And the Griffin moved his burden benedight,

       But so that not a feather of him fluttered.

      The lady fair who drew me through the ford

       Followed with Statius and myself the wheel

       Which made its orbit with the lesser arc.

      So passing through the lofty forest, vacant

       By fault of her who in the serpent trusted,

       Angelic music made our steps keep time.

      Perchance as great a space had in three flights

       An arrow loosened from the string o'erpassed,

       As we had moved when Beatrice descended.

      I heard them murmur altogether, "Adam!"

       Then circled they about a tree despoiled

       Of blooms and other leafage on each bough.

      Its tresses, which so much the more dilate

       As higher they ascend, had been by Indians

       Among their forests marvelled at for height.

      "Blessed art thou, O Griffin, who dost not

       Pluck with thy beak these branches sweet to taste,

       Since appetite by this was turned to evil."

      After this fashion round the tree robust

       The others shouted; and the twofold creature:

       "Thus is preserved the seed of all the just."

      And turning to the pole which he had dragged,

       He drew it close beneath the widowed bough,

       And what was of it unto it left bound.

      In the same manner as our trees (when downward

       Falls the great light, with that together mingled

       Which after the celestial Lasca shines)

      Begin to swell, and then renew themselves,

       Each one with its own colour, ere the Sun

       Harness his steeds beneath another star:

      Less than of rose and more than violet

       A hue disclosing, was renewed the tree

       That had erewhile its boughs so desolate.

      I never heard, nor here below is sung,

       The hymn which afterward that people sang,

       Nor did I bear the melody throughout.

      Had I the power to paint how fell asleep

       Those eyes compassionless, of Syrinx hearing,

       Those eyes to which more watching cost so dear,

      Even as a painter who from model paints

       I would portray how I was lulled asleep;

       He may, who well can picture drowsihood.

      Therefore I pass to what time I awoke,

       And say a splendour rent from me the veil

       Of slumber, and a calling: "Rise, what dost thou?"

      As to behold the apple-tree in blossom

       Which makes the Angels greedy for its fruit,

       And keeps perpetual bridals in the Heaven,

      Peter and John and James conducted were,

       And, overcome, recovered at the word

       By which still greater slumbers have been broken,

      And saw their school diminished by the loss

       Not only of Elias, but of Moses,

       And the apparel of their Master changed;

      So I revived, and saw that piteous one

       Above me standing, who had been conductress

       Aforetime of my steps beside the river,

      And all in doubt I said, "Where's Beatrice?"

       And she: "Behold her seated underneath

       The leafage new, upon the root of it.

      Behold the company that circles her;

       The rest behind the Griffin are ascending

       With more melodious song, and more profound."

      And if her speech were more diffuse I know not,

       Because already in my sight was she

       Who from the hearing of aught else had shut me.

      Alone she sat upon the very earth,

       Left there as guardian of the chariot

       Which I had seen the biform monster fasten.

      Encircling her, a cloister made themselves

       The seven Nymphs, with those lights in their hands

       Which are secure from Aquilon and Auster.

      "Short while shalt thou be here a forester,

       And thou shalt be with me for evermore

       A citizen of that Rome where Christ is Roman.

      Therefore, for that world's good which liveth ill,

       Fix on the car thine eyes, and what thou seest,

       Having returned to earth, take heed thou write."

      Thus Beatrice; and I, who at the feet

       Of her commandments all devoted was,

       My mind and eyes directed where she willed.

      Never descended with so swift a motion

       Fire from a heavy cloud, when it is raining

       From out the region which is most remote,

      As I beheld the bird of Jove descend

       Down through the tree, rending away the bark,

       As well as blossoms and the foliage new,

      And he with all his might the chariot smote,

       Whereat it reeled, like vessel in a tempest

       Tossed by the waves, now starboard and now larboard.

      Thereafter saw I leap into the body

       Of the triumphal vehicle a Fox,

       That seemed unfed with any wholesome food.

      But for his hideous sins upbraiding him,

       My Lady put him to as swift a flight

       As such a fleshless skeleton could bear.

      Then by the way that it before had come,

       Into the chariot's chest I saw the Eagle

       Descend, and leave it feathered with his plumes.

      And such as issues from a heart that mourns,

       A voice from Heaven there issued, and it said:

       "My little bark, how badly art thou freighted!"

      Methought, then, that the earth did yawn between

      

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