Canto XXVII

English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1	As when he vibrates forth his earliest rays,
2	In regions where his Maker shed his blood,
3	(The Ebro falling under lofty Libra,

4	And waters in the Ganges burnt with noon,)
5	So stood the Sun; hence was the day departing,
6	When the glad Angel of God appeared to us.

7	Outside the flame he stood upon the verge,
8	And chanted forth, Beati mumbo corde,
9	In voice by far more living than our own.

10	Then: No one farther goes, souls sanctified,
11	If first the fire bite not; within it enter,
12	And be not deaf unto the song beyond.

13	When we were close behind him thus he said;
14	Wherefore e'en such became I, when I heard him,
15	As he is who is put into the grave.

16	Upon my clasped hands I straightened me,
17	Scanning the fire, and vividly recalling
18	The human bodies I had once seen burned.

19	Towards me turned themselves my good Conductors,
20	And unto me Virgilius said: My son,
21	Here may indeed be torment, but not death.

22	Remember thee, remember! and if I
23	On Geryon have safely guided thee,
24	What shall I do now I am nearer God?

25	Believe for certain, shouldst thou stand a full
26	Millenniunn in the bosom of this flame,
27	It could not make thee bald a single hair.

28	And if perchance thou think that I deceive thee,
29	Draw near to it, and put it to the proof
30	With thine own hands upon thy garment's hem.

31	Now lay aside, now lay aside all fear,
32	Turn hithenward, and onward come securely,
33	And I still motionless, and 'gainst my conscience!

34	Seeing me stand still motionless and stubborn,
35	Somewhat disturbed he said: Now look thou, Son,
36	'Twixt Beatrice and thee there is this wall.

37	As at the name of Thisbe oped his lids
38	The dying Pyramus, and gazed upon her,
39	What time the mulberry became vermilion,

40	Even thus, myobduracy being softened,
41	I turned to my wise Guide, hearing the name
42	That in my memory evermore is welling.

43	Whereat he wagged his head, and said: How now?
44	Shall we stay on this side ? then smiled as one
45	Does at a child who's vanquished by an apple.

46	Then into the fire in front of me he entered,
47	Beseeching Statius to come after me,
48	Who a long way before divided us.

49	When I was in it,into molten glass
50	I would have cast me to refresh myself,
51	So without measure was the burning there!

52	And my sweet Father, to encourage me,
53	Discoursing still of Beatrice went on,
54	Saying: Her eyes I seem to see already!

55	A voice, that onthe other side was singing,
56	Directed us, and we, attent alone
57	On that, came forth where the ascent began.

58	Venite, bendicti Patri mei,
59	Sounded within a splendour, which was there
60	Such it o'ercame me, and I could not look.

61	The sun departs, it added, and night cometh;
62	Tarry ye not, but onward urge your steps,
63	So long as yet the west becomes not dark.

64	Straight forward through the rock the path ascended
65	In such a way that I cut off the rays
66	Before me of the sun, that now was low.

67	And of few stairs we yet had made assay,
68	Ere by the vanished shadow the sun's setting
69	Behind us we perceived, I and my Sages.

70	And ere in all its parts immeasurable
71	The horizon of one aspect had become,
72	And Night her boundless dispensation held,

73	Each of us of a stair had made his bed;
74	Because the nature of the mount took from us
75	The power of climbing, more than the delight.

76	Even as in ruminating passive grow
77	The goats, who have been swift and venturesome
78	Upon the mountain-tops ere they were fed,

79	Hushed in the shadow, while the sun is hot,
80	Watched by the herdsman, who upon his staff
81	Is leaning, and in leaning tendeth them;

82	And as the shepherd, lodging out of doors,
83	Passes the night beside his quiet flock,
84	Watching that no wild beast may scatter it,

85	Such at that hour were we, all three of us,
86	I like the goat, and like the herdsmen they,
87	Begirt on this side and on that by rocks.

88	Little could there be seen of things without;
89	But through that little I beheld the stars
90	More luminous and larger than their wont.

91	Thus ruminating, and beholding these,
92	Sleep seized upon me,--sleep, that oftentimes
93	Before a deed is done has tidings of it.

94	It was the hour, I think, when from the East
95	First on the mountain Citherea beamed,
96	Who with the fire of love seems always burning;

97	Youthful and beautiful in dreams methought
98	I saw a lady walking in a meadow,
99	Gathering flowers; and singing she was saying:

100	Know whosoever may my name demand
101	That I am Leah, and go moving round
102	My beauteous hands to make myself a garland.

103	To please me at the mirror, here I deck me,
104	But never does my sister Rachel leave
105	Her looking-glass, and sitteth all day long.

106	To see her beauteous eyes as eager is she,
107	As I am to adorn me with my hands;
108	Her, seeing, and me, doing satisfies.

109	And now before the antelucan splendours
110	That unto pilgrims the more grateful rise,
111	As, home-returning, less remote they lodge,

112	The darkness fled away on every side,
113	And slumber with it; whereupon I rose,
114	Seeing already the great Masters risen.

115	That apple sweet, which through so many branches
116	The care of mortals goeth in pursuit of,
117	To-day shall put in peace thy hungerings.

118	Speaking to me, Virgilius of such words
119	As these made use; and never were there guerdons
120	That could in pleasantness compare with these.

121	Such longing upon longing came upon me
122	To be above, that at each step thereafter
123	For flight I felt in me the pinions growing

124	When underneath us was the stairway all
125	Run o'er, and we were on the highest step,
126	Virgilius fastened upon me his eyes,

127	And said: The temporal fire and the eternal,
128	Son, thou hast seen, and to a place art come
129	Where of myself no farther I discern.

130	By intellect and art I here have brought thee;
131	Take thine own pleasure for thy guide henceforth;
132	Beyond the steep ways and the narrow art thou.

133	Behold the sun, that shines upon thy forehead,
134	Behold the grass, the flowerets, and the shrubs
135	Which of itself alone this land produces.

136	Until rejoicing come the beauteous eyes
137	Which weeping caused me to come unto thee,
138	Thou canst sit down, and thou canst walk among them.

139	Expect no more orword or sign from me;
140	Free and upright and sound is thy free-will,
141	And error were it not to do its bidding;

142	Thee o'er thyself I therefore crown and mitre!

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Canto XXVII