Canto XXXII
Canto XXXII
English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow
| 1 | So steadfast and attentive were mine eyes |
| 2 | In satisfying their decennial thirst, |
| 3 | That all my other senses were extinct, |
| 4 | And upon this side and on that they had |
| 5 | Walls of indifference, so the holy smile |
| 6 | Drew them unto itself with the old net |
| 7 | When forcibly my sight was turned away |
| 8 | Towards my left hand by those goddesses, |
| 9 | Because l heard from them a Too intently! |
| 10 | And that condition of the sight which is |
| 11 | In eyes but lately smitten by the sun |
| 12 | Bereft me of my vision some short while; |
| 13 | But to the less when sight re-shaped itself, |
| 14 | I say the less in reference to the greater |
| 15 | Splendour from which perforce I had withdrawn, |
| 16 | I saw upon its right wing wheeled about |
| 17 | The glorious host returning with the sun |
| 18 | And with the sevenfold flames upon their faces. |
| 19 | As underneath its shields, to save itself, |
| 20 | A squadron turns, and with its banner wheels, |
| 21 | Before the whole thereof can change its front, |
| 22 | That soldiery of the celestial kingdom |
| 23 | Which marched in the advance had wholly passed us |
| 24 | Before the chariot had turned its pole. |
| 25 | Then to the wheels the maidens turned themselves, |
| 26 | And the Griffin moved his burden benedight, |
| 27 | But so that not a feather of him fluttered. |
| 28 | The lady fair who drew me through the ford |
| 29 | Followed with Statius and myself the wheel |
| 30 | Which made its orbit with the lesser arc. |
| 31 | So passing through the lofty forest, vacant |
| 32 | By fault of her who in the serpent trusted, |
| 33 | Angelic music made our steps keep time. |
| 34 | Perchance as great a space had in three flights |
| 35 | An arrow loosened from the string o'erpassed, |
| 36 | As we had moved when Beatrice descended. |
| 37 | I heard them murmur altogether,Adam! |
| 38 | Then circled they about a tree despoiled |
| 39 | Of blooms and other leafage on each bough. |
| 40 | Its tresses, which so much the more dilate |
| 41 | As higher they ascend, had been by Indians |
| 42 | Among their forests marvelled at for height. |
| 43 | Blessed art thou, O Griffin, who dost not |
| 44 | Pluck with thy beak these branches sweet to taste, |
| 45 | Since appetite by this was turned to evil. |
| 46 | After this fashion round the tree robust |
| 47 | The others shouted; and the twofold creature: |
| 48 | Thus is preserved the seed of all the just. |
| 49 | And turning to the pole which he had dragged, |
| 50 | He drew it close beneath the widowed bough, |
| 51 | And what was of it unto it left bound. |
| 52 | In the same manner as our trees (when downward |
| 53 | Falls the great light, with that together mingled |
| 54 | Which after the celestial Lasca shines) |
| 55 | Begin to swell, and then renew themselves, |
| 56 | Each one with its own colour, ere the Sun |
| 57 | Harness his steeds beneath another star: |
| 58 | Less than of rose and more than violet |
| 59 | A hue disclosing, was renewed the tree |
| 60 | That had erewhile its boughs so desolate. |
| 61 | I never heard, nor here below is sung, |
| 62 | The hymn which afterward that people sang, |
| 63 | Nor did I bear the melody throughout. |
| 64 | Had I the power to paint how fell asleep |
| 65 | Those eyes compassionless, of Syrinx hearing, |
| 66 | Those eyes to which more watching cost so dear, |
| 67 | Even as a painter who from model paints |
| 68 | I would portray how I was lulled asleep; |
| 69 | He may, who well can picture drowsihood. |
| 70 | Therefore I pass to what time I awoke, |
| 71 | And say a splendour rent from me the veil |
| 72 | Of slumber, and a calling: Rise, what dost thou? |
| 73 | As to behold the apple-tree in blossom |
| 74 | Which makes the Angels greedy for its fruit, |
| 75 | And keeps perpetual bridals in the Heaven, |
| 76 | Peter and John and James conducted were, |
| 77 | And, overcome, recovered at the word |
| 78 | By which still greater slumbers have been broken, |
| 79 | And saw their school diminished by the loss |
| 80 | Not only of Elias, but of Moses, |
| 81 | And the apparel of their Master changed; |
| 82 | So I revived, and saw that piteous one |
| 83 | Above me standing, who had been conductress |
| 84 | Aforetime of my steps beside the river, |
| 85 | And all in doubt I said, Where's Beatrice? |
| 86 | And she: Behold her seated underneath |
| 87 | 'I he leafage new, upon the root of it. |
| 88 | Behold the company that circles her; |
| 89 | The rest behind the Griffin are ascending |
| 90 | With more melodious song, and more profound. |
| 91 | And if her speech were more diffuse I know not, |
| 92 | Because already in my sight was she |
| 93 | Who from the hearing of aught else had shut me. |
| 94 | Alone she sat upon the very earth, |
| 95 | Left there as guardian of the chariot |
| 96 | Which I had seen the biform monster fasten. |
| 97 | Encircling her, a cloister made themselves |
| 98 | The seven Nymphs, with those lights in their hands |
| 99 | Which are secure from Aquilon and Auster. |
| 100 | Short while shalt thou be here a forester, |
| 101 | And thou shalt be with me for evermore |
| 102 | A citizen of that Rome where Christ is Roman. |
| 103 | Therefore, for that world's good which liveth ill, |
| 104 | Fix on the car thine eyes, and what thou seest. |
| 105 | Having returned to earth, take heed thou write. |
| 106 | Thus Beatrice; and I, who at the feet |
| 107 | Of her commandments all devoted was, |
| 108 | My mind and eyes directed where she willed. |
| 109 | Never descended with so swift a motion |
| 110 | Fire from a heavy cloud, when it is raining |
| 111 | From out the region which is most remote, |
| 112 | As I beheld the bird of Jove descend |
| 113 | Down through the tree, rending away the bark, |
| 114 | As well as blossoms and the foliage new, |
| 115 | And he with all his might the chariot smote, |
| 116 | Whereat it reeled, like vessel in a tempest |
| 117 | Tossed by the waves, now starboard and now larboard. |
| 118 | Thereafter saw I leap into the body |
| 119 | Of the triumphal vehicle a Fox, |
| 120 | That seemed unfed with any wholesome food. |
| 121 | But for his hideous sins upbraiding him, |
| 122 | My Lady put him to as swift a flight |
| 123 | As such a fleshless skeleton could bear. |
| 124 | Then by the way that it before had come, |
| 125 | Into the chariot's chest I saw the Eagle |
| 126 | Descend, and leave it feathered with his plumes. |
| 127 | And such as issues from a heart that mourns, |
| 128 | A voice from Heaven there issued, and it said: |
| 129 | My little bark, how badly art thou freighted! |
| 130 | Methought, then, that the earth did yawn between |
| 131 | Both wheels, and I saw rise from it a Dragon, |
| 132 | Who through the chariot upward fixed his tail, |
| 133 | And as a wasp that draweth back its sting, |
| 134 | Drawing unto himself his tail malign, |
| 135 | Drew out the floor, and went his way rejoicing |
| 136 | That which remained behind, even as with grass |
| 137 | A fertile region, with the feathers, offered |
| 138 | Perhaps with pure intention and benign, |
| 139 | Reclothed itself, and with them were reclothed |
| 140 | The pole and both the wheels so speedily, |
| 141 | A sigh doth longer keep the lips apart. |
| 142 | Transfigured thus the holy edifice |
| 143 | Thrust forward heads upon the parts of it, |
| 144 | Three on the pole and one at either corner. |
| 145 | The first were horned like oxen; but the four |
| 146 | Had but a single horn upon the forehead; |
| 147 | A monster such had never yet been seen! |
| 148 | Firm as a rock upon a mountain high, |
| 149 | Seated upon it, there appeared to me |
| 150 | A shameless whore, with eyes swift glancing round, |
| 151 | And, as if not to have her taken from him, |
| 152 | Upright beside her I beheld a giant j |
| 153 | And ever and anon they kissed each other. |
| 154 | But because she her wanton, roving eye |
| 155 | Turned upon me, her angry paramour |
| 156 | Did scourge her from her head unto her feet. |
| 157 | Then full of jealousy, and fierce with wrath, |
| 158 | He loosed the monster, and across the forest |
| 159 | Dragged it so far, he made of that alone |
| 160 | A shield unto the whore and the strange beast. |