Purgatorio: Canto XXXII

So fixed and intent were my eyes on satisfying their ten years’ thirst, that all my other senses were quenched;

and they on either side had a wall of unconcern, so the holy smile drew them to itself in the toils of old;

when perforce my face was turned toward my left by those goddesses, because I heard from them a: “Too fixedly.”

And that condition of the sight, which is in eyes but just smitten by the sun, made me remain a while without vision;

but after my sight re-formed itself to the lesser (I mean the lesser in respect to the greater object of sense wherefrom perforce I turned me away)

I saw the glorious host had wheeled upon the right flank, and was returning with the sun and with the seven flames in its face.

As under its shields a troop turns about to retreat, and wheels round with the standard ere it can wholly change front,

that soldiery of the heavenly realm, which was in the van, passed all by us ere the car turned its pole.

Then to the wheels the ladies returned, and the grifon moved the hallowed burden, so that thereby no plume of it was ruffled.

The fair lady who drew me across the ford, and Statius, and I, were following the wheel which made its orbit with the lesser arc.

So pacing the lofty forest, empty through the fault of her who gave credence to the serpent, a melody of angels gave measure to our steps.

Haply in three flights so much space an arrow shot forth had covered, as we had advanced when Beatrice descended.

I heard all murmur “Adam!” Then did they surround a tree despoiled of flowers, and of other foliage, in every bough.

Its crown of foliage, which more expands the loftier it is, would be marvelled at for its height by Indians in their woods.

“Blessed art thou, grifon, that with thy beak dost rend naught from this tree sweet to taste, since ill writhes the belly therefrom.”

Thus round about the sturdy tree the others cried; and the beast of two natures: “Thus is preserved the seed of all righteousness.”

And having turned to the pole which he had drawn, he dragged it to the foot of the widowed bough; and to it left bound that which came from it.

As trees of our land when the great light falls down mingled with that which beams behind the celestial carp,

burgeon forth, and each then is decked anew with its colour ere the sun yokes his steeds beneath another constellation,

opening out into a hue, less than of roses and more than of violets, the tree renewed itself, which before had its boughs so naked.

I understood it not, nor here is sung, the hymn which then that people sang, nor did I endure its melody outright.

If I could pourtray how the pitiless eyes did slumber hearing of Syrinx, the eyes whose longer vigil cost so dear,

as a painter who paints from a model, I would depict how I feel asleep; be he who he may that can rightly image drowsiness.

Wherefore I pass on to when I awoke, and I say that a bright light rent the veil of my sleep, and a call: “Arise, what doest thou?”

As to behold some flowerets of the apple tree, which makes the angels greedy for its fruit, and makes perpetual marriage feast in heaven,

Peter and John and James were brought, and, being overcome, came to themselves at the word by which greater slumbers had been broken,

and saw their band diminished by Moses, as well as by Elias, and their Master’s raiment changed,

even so I came to myself, and saw that pitying one bending o’er me, who before was guide to my steps along the stream.

And all perplexed I said: “Where is Beatrice?” and she: “Behold her sitting beneath the new foliage upon its root.

Behold the company that encircleth her; the others are mounting up after the grifon with sweeter and profounder song.”

And if her words extended farther I know not, because now before mine eyes was she, who had shut me off from heeding aught else.

Alone sat she upon the bare earth, left there as guardian of the chariot, which I had seen the beast of two forms make fast.

The seven nymphs in a ring made of them a fence about her, with those lights in their hands which are secure from north wind and from south.

“Here shalt thou be short time a forester, and with me everlastingly shalt be a citizen of that Rome whereof Christ is a Roman.

Therefore to profit the world that liveth ill, fix now thine eyes upon the car, and look that thou write what thou seest, when returned yonder.”

Thus Beatrice; and I, who was all obedient at the feet of her commands, gave mind and eyes whither she willed.

Ne’er did fire from dense cloud descend, with motion so swift, when it falls from that confine which is most remote,

as I saw Jove’s bird swoop down through the tree, rending its bark, likewise its flowers and its new leaves;

and he smote the car with all his might; whereat it reeled like a vessel in a storm, beaten by the waves, now to starboard, now to larboard.

Then saw I a she-fox, that seemed fasting from all good food, leap into the body of the triumphal vehicle.

But, rebuking her for foul sins, my Lady put her to flight, as swift as the fleshless bones did bear.

Then, from thence whence he first had come, I saw the eagle descend down into the body of the car, and leave it feathered with his plumage,

And as a voice comes from a heart that sorroweth, such voice came from heaven, and thus it spake: “O my little bark, how ill art thou laden!”

Then it seemed to me that the earth opened twixt the two wheels, and I saw a dragon come forth that fixed his tail up through the car;

and like a wasp, that draws back her sting, drawing to him his spiteful tail he wrenched out part of the bottom and went his vagrant way.

That which remained,—even as teeming land with grass,—with those plumes, haply offered with sincere and kind intent,

did again cover itself, and both wheels and the pole were covered again by them, in such time that a sigh keeps the mouth open longer.

Thus transformed, the sacred edifice put forth heads above its parts, three over the pole, and one at each corner.

The first were horned like an ox, but the four had one single horn at the forehead; such monster never yet was seen.

Seated upon it, secure as a fortress on a steep hill, a shameless harlot appeared to me, with eyes quick around.

And, as though she should not be taken from him, a giant I saw erect at her side, and from time to time each kissed the other;

but, because her lustful and vagrant eye she turned upon me, that fierce paramour did scourge her from head to feet.

Then filled with jealousy and cruel with rage, he loosed the monster, and dragged it so far through the wood, that of this alone he made a screen between me and the harlot and the strange beast.