English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
| 1 | EAGER already to search in and round |
| 2 | The heavenly forest, dense and living-green, |
| 3 | Which tempered to the eyes the new-born day, |
| 4 | Withouten more delay I left the bank, |
| 5 | Taking the level country slowly, slowly |
| 6 | Over the soil that everywhere breathes fragrance. |
| 7 | A softly-breathing air, that no mutation |
| 8 | Had in itself, upon the forehead smote me |
| 9 | No heavier blow than of a gentle wind, |
| 10 | Whereat the branches, lightly tremulous, |
| 11 | Did all of them bow downward toward that side |
| 12 | Where its first shadow casts the Holy Mountain; |
| 13 | Yet not from their upright direction swayed, |
| 14 | So that the little birds upon their tops |
| 15 | Should leave the practice of each art of theirs; |
| 16 | But with full ravishment the hours of prime, |
| 17 | Singing, received they in the midst of leaves, |
| 18 | That ever bore a burden to their rhymes, |
| 19 | Such as from branch to branch goes gathering on |
| 20 | Through the pine forest on the shore of Chiassi, |
| 21 | When Eolus unlooses the Sirocco. |
| 22 | Already my slow steps had carried me |
| 23 | Into the ancient wood so far, that I |
| 24 | Could not perceive where I had entered it |
| 25 | And lo! my further course a stream cut off, |
| 26 | Which tow’rd the left hand with its little waves |
| 27 | Bent down the grass that on its margin sprang |
| 28 | All waters that on earth most limpid are |
| 29 | Would seem to have within themselves some mixture |
| 30 | Compared with that which nothing doth conceal, |
| 31 | Although it moves on with a brown, brown current |
| 32 | Under the shade perpetual, that never |
| 33 | Ray of the sun lets in, nor of the moon. |
| 34 | With feet I stayed, and with mine eyes I passed |
| 35 | Beyond the rivulet, to look upon |
| 36 | The great variety of the fresh may. |
| 37 | And there appeared to me (even as appears |
| 38 | Suddenly something that doth turn aside |
| 39 | Through very wonder every other thought) |
| 40 | A lady all alone, who went along |
| 41 | Singing and culling floweret after floweret, |
| 42 | With which her pathway was all painted over. |
| 43 | Ah, beauteous lady, who in rays of love |
| 44 | Dost warm thyself, if I may trust to looks, |
| 45 | Which the heart’s witnesses are wont to be, |
| 46 | May the desire come unto thee to draw |
| 47 | Near to this river’s bank, I said to her, |
| 48 | So much that I might hear what thou art singing. |
| 49 | Thou makest me remember where and what |
| 50 | Proserpina that moment was when lost |
| 51 | Her mother her, and she herself the Spring. |
| 52 | As turns herself, with feet together pressed |
| 53 | And to the ground, a lady who is dancing, |
| 54 | And hardly puts one foot before the other, |
| 55 | On the vermilion and the yellow flowerets |
| 56 | She turned towards me, not in other wise |
| 57 | Than maiden who her modest eyes casts down; |
| 58 | And my entreaties made to be content, |
| 59 | So near approaching, that the dulcet sound |
| 60 | Came unto me together with its meaning |
| 61 | As soon as she was where the grasses are |
| 62 | Bathed by the waters of the beauteous river, |
| 63 | To lift her eyes she granted me the boon. |
| 64 | I do not think there shone so great a light |
| 65 | Under the lids of Venus, when transfixed |
| 66 | By her own son, beyond his usual custom! |
| 67 | Erect upon the other bank she smiled, |
| 68 | Bearing full many colours in her hands. |
| 69 | Which that high land produces without seed. |
| 70 | Apart three paces did the river make us; |
| 71 | But Hellespont, where Xerxes passed across, |
| 72 | (A curb still to all human arrogance,) |
| 73 | More hatred from Leander did not suffer |
| 74 | For rolling between Sestos and Abydos, |
| 75 | Than that from me, because it oped not then. |
| 76 | Ye are new-comers; and because I smile, |
| 77 | Began she, peradventure, in this place |
| 78 | Elect to human nature for its nest, |
| 79 | Some apprehension keeps you marvelling; |
| 80 | But the psalm Delectasti giveth light |
| 81 | Which has the power to uncloud your intellect. |
| 82 | And thou who foremost art, and didst entreat me, |
| 83 | Speak, if thou wouldst hear more; for I came ready |
| 84 | To all thy questionings, as far as needful. |
| 85 | The water,said I,and the forest’s sound, |
| 86 | Are combating within me my new faith |
| 87 | In something which I heard opposed to this. |
| 88 | Whence she: I will relate how from its cause |
| 89 | Proceedeth that which maketh thee to wonder, |
| 90 | And purge away the cloud that smites upon thee. |
| 91 | The Good Supreme, sole in itself delighting, |
| 92 | Created man good, and this goodly place |
| 93 | Gave him as hansel of eternal peace. |
| 94 | By his default short while he sojourned here; |
| 95 | By his default to weeping and to toil |
| 96 | He changed his innocent laughter and sweet play. |
| 97 | That the disturbance which below is made |
| 98 | By exhalations of the land and water, |
| 99 | (Which far as may be follow after heat,) |
| 100 | Might not upon mankind wage any war, |
| 101 | This mount ascended tow’rds the heaven so high, |
| 102 | And is exempt, from there where it is locked. |
| 103 | Now since the universal atmosphere |
| 104 | Turns in a circuit with the primal motion |
| 105 | Unless the circle is broken on some side, |
| 106 | Upon this height,that all is disengaged |
| 107 | In living ether, doth this motion strike |
| 108 | And make the forest sound, for it is dense; |
| 109 | And so much power the stricken plant possesses |
| 110 | That with its virtue it impregns the air, |
| 111 | And this, revolving, scatters it around; |
| 112 | And yonder earth, according as ’tis worthy |
| 113 | In self or in its clime, conceives and bears |
| 114 | Of divers qualities the divers trees; |
| 115 | It should not seem a marvel then on earth, |
| 116 | This being heard, whenever any plant |
| 117 | Without seed manifest there taketh root. |
| 118 | And thou must know, this holy table-land |
| 119 | In which thou art is full of every seed, |
| 120 | And fruit has in it never gathered there. |
| 121 | The water which thou seest springs not from vein |
| 122 | Restored by vapour that the cold condenses, |
| 123 | Like to a stream that gains or loses breath |
| 124 | But issues from a fountain safe and certain, |
| 125 | Which by the will of God as much regains |
| 126 | As it discharges, open on two sides. |
| 127 | Upon this side with virtue it descends, |
| 128 | Which takes away all memory of sin; |
| 129 | On that, of every good deed done restores it. |
| 130 | Here Lethe, as upon the other side |
| 131 | Eunoe, it is called; and worketh not |
| 132 | If first on either side it be not tasted. |
| 133 | This every other savour doth transcend; |
| 134 | And notwithstanding slaked so far may be |
| 135 | Thy thirst, that I reveal to thee no more, |
| 136 | I’ll give thee a corollary still in grace, |
| 137 | Nor think my speech will be to thee less dear |
| 138 | If it spread out beyond my promise to thee. |
| 139 | Those who in ancient times have feigned in song |
| 140 | The Age of Gold and its felicity, |
| 141 | Dreamed of this place perhaps upon Parnassus. |
| 142 | Here was the human race in innocence; |
| 143 | Here evermore was Spring, and every fruit; |
| 144 | This is the nectar of which each one speaks. |
| 145 | Then backward did I turn me wholly round |
| 146 | Unto my Poets, and saw that with a smile |
| 147 | They had been listening to these closing words; |
| 148 | Then to the beautiful lady turned mine eyes. |