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with thy prayers； That the Chief Pleasure be to him displayed。
Still farther do I pray thee； Queen； who canst Whate'er thou wilt； that
sound thou mayst preserve After so great a vision his affections。
Let thy protection conquer human movements； See Beatrice and all the
blessed ones My prayers to second clasp their hands to thee！〃
The eyes beloved and revered of God； Fastened upon the speaker；
showed to us How grateful unto her are prayers devout；
Then unto the Eternal Light they turned； On which it is not credible
could be By any creature bent an eye so clear。
And I； who to the end of all desires Was now approaching； even as I
ought The ardour of desire within me ended。
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Bernard was beckoning unto me； and smiling； That I should upward
look； but I already Was of my own accord such as he wished；
Because my sight； becoming purified； Was entering more and more
into the ray Of the High Light which of itself is true。
From that time forward what I saw was greater Than our discourse；
that to such vision yields； And yields the memory unto such excess。
Even as he is who seeth in a dream； And after dreaming the imprinted
passion Remains； and to his mind the rest returns not；
Even such am I； for almost utterly Ceases my vision； and distilleth yet
Within my heart the sweetness born of it；
Even thus the snow is in the sun unsealed； Even thus upon the wind in
the light leaves Were the soothsayings of the Sibyl lost。
O Light Supreme； that dost so far uplift thee From the conceits of
mortals； to my mind Of what thou didst appear re…lend a little；
And make my tongue of so great puissance； That but a single sparkle
of thy glory It may bequeath unto the future people；
For by returning to my memory somewhat； And by a little sounding in
these verses； More of thy victory shall be conceived！
I think the keenness of the living ray Which I endured would have
bewildered me； If but mine eyes had been averted from it；
And I remember that I was more bold On this account to bear； so that I
joined My aspect with the Glory Infinite。
O grace abundant； by which I presumed To fix my sight upon the Light
Eternal； So that the seeing I consumed therein！
I saw that in its depth far down is lying Bound up with love together in
one volume； What through the universe in leaves is scattered；
Substance； and accident； and their operations； All interfused together
in such wise That what I speak of is one simple light。
The universal fashion of this knot Methinks I saw； since more
abundantly In saying this I feel that I rejoice。
One moment is more lethargy to me； Than five and twenty centuries to
the emprise That startled Neptune with the shade of Argo！
My mind in this wise wholly in suspense； Steadfast； immovable；
attentive gazed； And evermore with gazing grew enkindled。
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In presence of that light one such becomes； That to withdraw
therefrom for other prospect It is impossible he e'er consent；
Because the good； which object is of will； Is gathered all in this； and
out of it That is defective which is perfect there。
Shorter henceforward will my language fall Of what I yet remember；
than an infant's Who still his tongue doth moisten at the breast。
Not because more than one unmingled semblance Was in the living
light on which I looked； For it is always what it was before；
But through the sight； that fortified itself In me by looking； one
appearance only To me was ever changing as I changed。
Within the deep and luminous subsistence Of the High Light appeared
to me three circles； Of threefold colour and of one dimension；
And by the second seemed the first reflected As Iris is by Iris； and the
third Seemed fire that equally from both is breathed。
O how all speech is feeble and falls short Of my conceit； and this to
what I saw Is such； 'tis not enough to call it little！
O Light Eterne； sole in thyself that dwellest； Sole knowest thyself； and；
known unto thyself And knowing； lovest and smilest on thyself！
That circulation； which being thus conceived Appeared in thee as a
reflected light； When somewhat contemplated by mine eyes；
Within itself； of its own very colour Seemed to me painted with our
effigy； Wherefore my sight was all absorbed therein。
As the geometrician； who endeavours To square the circle； and
discovers not； By taking thought； the principle he wants； Even such was I
at that new apparition； I wished to see how the image to the circle
Conformed itself； and how it there finds place；
But my own wings were not enough for this； Had it not been that then
my mind there smote A flash of lightning； wherein came its wish。
Here vigour failed the lofty fantasy： But now was turning my desire
and will； Even as a wheel that equally is moved；
The Love which moves the sun and the other stars。
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APPENDIX
SIX SONNETS ON DANTE'S DIVINE COMEDY BY HENRY
WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW （1807…1882）
I
Oft have I seen at some cathedral door A laborer； pausing in the dust
and heat； Lay down his burden； and with reverent feet Enter； and cross
himself； and on the floor Kneel to repeat his paternoster o'er； Far off the
noises of the world retreat； The loud vociferations of the street Become an
undistinguishable roar。 So； as I enter here from day to day； And leave my
burden at this minster gate； Kneeling in prayer； and not ashamed to pray；
The tumult of the time disconsolate To inarticulate murmurs dies away；
While the eternal ages watch and wait。
II
How strange the sculptures that adorn these towers！ This crowd of
statues； in whose folded sleeves Birds build their nests； while canopied
with leaves Parvis and portal bloom like trellised bowers； And the vast
minster seems a cross of flowers！ But fiends and dragons on the gargoyled
eaves Watch the dead Christ between the living thieves； And； underneath；
the traitor Judas lowers！ Ah！ from what agonies of heart and brain； What
exultations tra