CANTO XXXI. THOU who art beyond the sacred river,” Turning to me the point of her discourse, That edgewise even had seemed to me so keen, She recommenced, continuing without pause, "Say, say if this be true; to such a charge, Thy own confession needs must be conjoined." My faculties were in so great confusion, That the voice moved, but sooner was extinct Awhile she waited; then she said: "What thinkest? Answer me; for the mournful memories In thee not yet are by the waters injured." Forced such a Yes! from out my mouth, that sight Even as a cross-bow breaks, when 't is discharged forth. So I gave way beneath that heavy burden, 200 25 Didst thou discover, that of passing onward And what allurements or what vantages Upon the forehead of the others showed, That thou shouldst turn thy footsteps unto them?” After the heaving of a bitter sigh, Hardly had I the voice to make response, And with fatigue my lips did fashion it. Weeping I said: "The things that present were With their false pleasure turned aside my steps, Soon as your countenance concealed itself." And she: "Shouldst thou be silent, or deny What thou confessest, not less manifest Would be thy fault, by such a Judge 't is known. But when from one's own cheeks comes bursting forth 40 The accusal of the sin, in our tribunal Against the edge the wheel doth turn itself. 31 35 But still, that thou mayst feel a greater shame So shalt thou hear, how in an opposite way Pleasure so great as the fair limbs wherein I was enclosed, which scattered are in earth. And if the highest pleasure thus did fail thee 45 50 By reason of my death, what mortal thing Should then have drawn thee into its desire? Thou oughtest verily at the first shaft 55 Of things fallacious to have risen up To follow me, who was no longer such. Thou oughtest not to have stooped thy pinions downward To wait for further blows, or little girl, The callow birdlet waits for two or three, But to the eyes of those already fledged, In vain the net is spread or shaft is shot." Stand listening with their eyes upon the ground, 60 65 So was I standing; and she said: "If thou In hearing sufferest pain, lift up thy beard And thou shalt feel a greater pain in seeing." With less resistance is a robust holm Uprooted, either by a native wind Or else by that from regions of Iarbas, Than I upraised at her command my chin; And when she by the beard the face demanded, Well I perceived the venom of her meaning. And as my countenance was lifted up, Mine eye perceived those creatures beautiful Had rested from the strewing of the flowers; And, still but little reassured, mine eyes Saw Beatrice turned round towards the monster, She seemed to me far more her ancient self To excel, than others here, when she was here. So pricked me then the thorn of penitence, That of all other things the one which turned me She knoweth who had furnished me the cause. Then, when the heart restored my outward sense, I saw, and she was saying, "Hold me, hold me." Up to my throat she in the stream had drawn me, And, dragging me behind her, she was moving "Asperges me," I heard so sweetly sung, The beautiful lady opened wide her arms, Embraced my head, and plunged me underneath, Where I was forced to swallow of the water. Then forth she drew me, and all dripping brought Into the dance of the four beautiful, And each one with her arm did cover me. "We here are Nymphs, and in the Heaven are stars; Ere Beatrice descended to the world, We as her handmaids were appointed her. We'll lead thee to her eyes; but for the pleasant Light that within them is, shall sharpen thine Unto the Griffin's breast they led me with them, 95 100 105 ΠΙΟ |