CANTO XXXIII "DEUS, venerunt gentes," alternating Now three, now four, melodious psalmody The maidens in the midst of tears began; And Beatrice, compassionate and sighing, Listened to them with such a countenance, That scarce more changed was Mary at the cross. But when the other virgins place had given For her to speak, uprisen to her feet With color as of fire, she made response: "Modicum, et non videbitis me; Et iterum, my sisters predilect, Then all the seven in front of her she placed; That her tenth step was placed upon the ground, As soon as I was with her as I should be, She said to me: "Why, brother, dost thou not Venture to question now, in coming with me?" As unto those who are too reverential, Speaking in presence of superiors, Who drag no living utterance to their teeth, 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 It me befell, that without perfect sound You know, and that which thereunto is good." Henceforward I will have thee strip thyself, So that thou speak no more as one who dreams. Know that the vessel which the serpent broke Was, and is not; but let him who is guilty Think that God's vengeance does not fear a sop. Without an heir shall not forever be The Eagle that left his plumes upon the car, Whence it became a monster, then a prey; For verily I see, and hence narrate it, 30 35 40 The stars already near to bring the time, From every hindrance safe, and every bar, Within which a Five-hundred, Ten, and Five, One sent from God, shall slay the thievish woman And that same giant who is sinning with her. And peradventure my dark utterance, 45 Like Themis and the Sphinx, may less persuade thee, Since, in their mode, it clouds the intellect; But soon the facts shall be the Naiades Who shall this difficult enigma solve, Without destruction of the flocks and harvests. Note thou; and even as by me are uttered 50 55 With blasphemy of deed offendeth God, Five thousand years and more the first-born soul Craved Him, who punished in himself the bite. Thy genius slumbers, if it deem it not For special reason so preeminent In height, and so inverted in its summit. And Pyramus to the mulberry, their pleasure Converted into stone and stained with sin, So that the light of my discourse doth daze thee, I will too, if not written, at least painted, 60 65 Thou bear it back within thee, for the reason That cinct with palm the pilgrim's staff is borne." And I: "As by a signet is the wax 79 Which does not change the figure stamped upon it, My brain is now imprinted by yourself. But wherefore so beyond my power of sight Soars your desirable discourse, that aye The more I strive, so much the more I lose it?" 84 "That thou mayst recognize," she said, "the school Which thou hast followed, and mayst see how far Its doctrine follows after my discourse, And mayst behold your path from the divine. From earth the heaven that highest hastens on." 90 Whence her I answered: "I do not remember Nor have I conscience of it that reproves me." "And if thou art not able to remember," Smiling she answered, “recollect thee now 95 100 To lay them open unto thy rude gaze." And more coruscant and with slower steps The sun was holding the meridian circle, Which, with the point of view, shifts here and there, When halted (as he cometh to a halt, Who goes before a squadron as its escort, If something new he find upon his way) The maidens seven at a dark shadow's edge, 105 Such as, beneath green leaves and branches black, The Alp upon its frigid border wears. In front of them the Tigris and Euphrates Methought I saw forth issue from one fountain, And slowly part, like friends, from one another. "O light, O glory of the human race! III 115 What stream is this which here unfolds itself From out one source, and from itself withdraws?" For such a prayer, 't was said unto me, Pray Matilda that she tell thee;" and here answered, As one does who doth free himself from blame, The beautiful lady: "This and other things 120 Were told to him by me; and sure I am The water of Lethe has not hid them from him." And Beatrice: "Perhaps a greater care, Which oftentimes our memory takes away, Hath made the vision of his mind obscure. But Eunoë behold, that yonder riseth; Lead him to it, and, as thou art accustomed, But makes its own will of another's will Even so, when she had taken hold of me, The beautiful lady moved, and unto Statius 125 130 Said, in her womanly manner, " Come with him.” If, Reader, I possessed a longer space For writing it, I yet would sing in part 136 Of the sweet draught that ne'er would satiate me; But inasmuch as full are all the leaves Made ready for this second canticle, The curb of art no farther lets me go. From the most holy water I returned Regenerate, in the manner of new trees That are renewed with a new foliage, Pure and disposed to mount unto the stars. But Eunoë behold, that yonder rises; Line 127. 140 145 |