Canto II

English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1	ALREADY had the sun the horizon reached
2	Whose circle of meridian covers o'er
3	Jerusalem with its most lofty point,

4	And night that opposite to him revolves
5	Was issuing forth from Ganges with the Scales
6	That fall from out her hand when she exceedeth;

7	So that the white and the vermilion cheeks
8	Of beautiful Aurora, where I was,
9	By too great age were changing into orange.

10	We still were on the border of the sea,
11	Like people who are thinking of their road,
12	Who go in heart and with the body stay;

13	And lo! as when, upon the approach of morning,
14	Through the gross vapours Mars grows fiery red
15	Down in the West upon the ocean floor,

16	Appeared to me--may I again behold it!--
17	A light along the sea so swiftly coming,
18	Its motion by no flight of wing is equalled;

19	From which when I a little had withdrawn
20	Mine eyes, that I might question my Conductor,
21	Again I saw it brighter grown and larger.

22	Then on each side of it appeared to me
23	I knew not what of white, and underneath
24	Little by little there came forth another.

25	My Master yet had uttered not a word
26	While the first whiteness into wings unfolded;
27	But when he clearly recognised the pilot,

28	He cried: Make haste, make haste to bow the knee!
29	Behold the Angel of God ! fold thou thy hands !
30	Henceforward shalt thou see such officers!

31	See how he scorneth human arguments,
32	So that nor oar he wants, nor other sail
33	Than his own wings, between so distant shores.

34	See how he holds them pointed up to heaven,
35	Fanning the air with the eternal pinions,
36	That do not moult themselves like mortal hair!

37	Then as still nearer and more near us came
38	The Bird Divine, more radiant he appeared
39	So that near by the eye could not endure him,

40	But down I cast it; and he came to shore
41	With a small vessel, very swift and light,
42	So that the water swallowed naught thereof

43	Upon the stern stood the Celestial Pilot;
44	Beatitude seemed written in his face,
45	And more than a hundred spirits sat within.

46	In exitu Israel de Aegypto!
47	They chanted all together in one voice,
48	With whatso in that psalm is after written.

49	Then made he sign of holy rood upon them,
50	Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore,
51	And he departed swiftly as he came.

52	The throng which still remained there unfamiliar
53	Seemed with the place, all round about them gazing,
54	As one who in new matters makes essay.

55	On every side was darting forth the day
56	The sun, who had with his resplendent shafts
57	From the mid-heaven chased forth the Capricorn,

58	When the new people lifted up their faces
59	Towards us, saying to us: If ye know,
60	Show us the way to go unto the mountain.

61	And answer made Virgilius:'Ye believe
62	Perchance that we have knowledge of this place,
63	But we are strangers even as ourselves

64	Just now we came, a little while before you;
65	Another way, which was so rough and steep,
66	That mounting will henceforth seem sport to us.

67	The souls who had, from seeing me draw breath,
68	Become aware that I was still alive,
69	Pallid in their astonishment became;

70	And as to messenger who bears the olive
71	The people throng to listen to the news,
72	And no one shows himself afraid of crowding,

73	So at the sight of me stood motionless
74	Those fortunate spirits, all of them, as if
75	Oblivious to go and make them fair.

76	One from among them saw I coming forward,
77	As to embrace me, with such great affection,
78	That it incited me to do the like.

79	O empty shadows, save in aspect only!
80	Three times behind it did I clasp my hands,
81	As oft returned with them to my own breast !

82	T think with wonder I depicted me;
83	Whereat the shadow smiled and backward drew;
84	And I, pursuing it, pressed farther forward.

85	Gently it said that I should stay my steps;
86	Then knew I who it was, and I entreated
87	That it would stop awhile to speak with me.

88	It made reply to me: Even as I loved thee
89	In mortal body, so I love thee free;
90	Therefore I stop; but wherefore goest thou?

91	My own Casella ! to return once more
92	There where I am, I make this journey, said I;
93	But how from thee has so much time be taken

94	And he to me: No outrage has been done me,
95	If he who takes both when and whom he pleases
96	Has many times denied to me this passage,

97	For of a righteous will his own is made.
98	He, sooth to say, for three months past has taken
99	Whoever wished to enter with all peace;

100	Whence I, who now had turned unto that shore
101	Where salt the waters of the Tiber grow,
102	Benignantly by him have been received.

103	Unto that outlet now his wing is pointed,
104	Because for evermore assemble there
105	Those who tow'rds Acheron do not descend.

106	And I: If some new law take not from thee
107	Memory or practice of the song of love,
108	Which used to quiet in me all my longings,

109	Thee may it please to comfort therewithal
110	Somewhat this soul of mine, that with its body
111	Hitherward coming is so much distressed.

112	Love, that within my mind discourses with me,
113	Forthwith began he so melodiously,
114	The melody within me still is sounding.

115	My Master, and myself, and all that people
116	Which with him were, appeared as satisfied
117	As if naught else might touch the mind of any;

118	We all of us were moveless and attentive
119	Unto his notes; and lo ! the grave old man,
120	Exclaiming: What is this, ye laggard spirits

121	hat negligence, what standing still is this?
122	Run to the mountain to strip off the slough,
123	That lets not God be manifest to you.

124	Even as when, collecting grain or tares,
125	The doves, together at their pasture met,
126	Quiet, nor showing their accustomed pride

127	If aught appear of which they are afraid,
128	Upon a sudden leave their food alone,
129	Because they are assailed by greater care;

130	So that fresh company did I behold
131	The song relinquish, and go tow'rds the hill,
132	As one who goes, and knows not whitherward;

133	Nor was our own departure less in haste.

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Canto II