the divine comedy(神曲)-第62部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
And now they seemed conducted by the white;
Now by the red; and from the song of her
The others took their step; or slow or swift。
Upon the left hand four made holiday
Vested in purple; following the measure
Of one of them with three eyes m her head。
In rear of all the group here treated of
Two old men I beheld; unlike in habit;
But like in gait; each dignified and grave。
One showed himself as one of the disciples
Of that supreme Hippocrates; whom nature
Made for the animals she holds most dear;
Contrary care the other manifested;
With sword so shining and so sharp; it caused
Terror to me on this side of the river。
Thereafter four I saw of humble aspect;
And behind all an aged man alone
Walking in sleep with countenance acute。
And like the foremost company these seven
Were habited; yet of the flower…de…luce
No garland round about the head they wore;
But of the rose; and other flowers vermilion;
At little distance would the sight have sworn
That all were in a flame above their brows。
And when the car was opposite to me
Thunder was heard; and all that folk august
Seemed to have further progress interdicted;
There with the vanward ensigns standing still。
Purgatorio: Canto XXX
When the Septentrion of the highest heaven
(Which never either setting knew or rising;
Nor veil of other cloud than that of sin;
And which made every one therein aware
Of his own duty; as the lower makes
Whoever turns the helm to come to port)
Motionless halted; the veracious people;
That came at first between it and the Griffin;
Turned themselves to the car; as to their peace。
And one of them; as if by Heaven commissioned;
Singing; 〃Veni; sponsa; de Libano〃
Shouted three times; and all the others after。
Even as the Blessed at the final summons
Shall rise up quickened each one from his cavern;
Uplifting light the reinvested flesh;
So upon that celestial chariot
A hundred rose 'ad vocem tanti senis;'
Ministers and messengers of life eternal。
They all were saying; 〃Benedictus qui venis;〃
And; scattering flowers above and round about;
〃Manibus o date lilia plenis。〃
Ere now have I beheld; as day began;
The eastern hemisphere all tinged with rose;
And the other heaven with fair serene adorned;
And the sun's face; uprising; overshadowed
So that by tempering influence of vapours
For a long interval the eye sustained it;
Thus in the bosom of a cloud of flowers
Which from those hands angelical ascended;
And downward fell again inside and out;
Over her snow…white veil with olive cinct
Appeared a lady under a green mantle;
Vested in colour of the living flame。
And my own spirit; that already now
So long a time had been; that in her presence
Trembling with awe it had not stood abashed;
Without more knowledge having by mine eyes;
Through occult virtue that from her proceeded
Of ancient love the mighty influence felt。
As soon as on my vision smote the power
Sublime; that had already pierced me through
Ere from my boyhood I had yet come forth;
To the left hand I turned with that reliance
With which the little child runs to his mother;
When he has fear; or when he is afflicted;
To say unto Virgilius: 〃Not a drachm
Of blood remains in me; that does not tremble;
I know the traces of the ancient flame。〃
But us Virgilius of himself deprived
Had left; Virgilius; sweetest of all fathers;
Virgilius; to whom I for safety gave me:
Nor whatsoever lost the ancient mother
Availed my cheeks now purified from dew;
That weeping they should not again be darkened。
〃Dante; because Virgilius has departed
Do not weep yet; do not weep yet awhile;
For by another sword thou need'st must weep。〃
E'en as an admiral; who on poop and prow
Comes to behold the people that are working
In other ships; and cheers them to well…doing;
Upon the left hand border of the car;
When at the sound I turned of my own name;
Which of necessity is here recorded;
I saw the Lady; who erewhile appeared
Veiled underneath the angelic festival;
Direct her eyes to me across the river。
Although the veil; that from her head descended;
Encircled with the foliage of Minerva;
Did not permit her to appear distinctly;
In attitude still royally majestic
Continued she; like unto one who speaks;
And keeps his warmest utterance in reserve:
〃Look at me well; in sooth I'm Beatrice!
How didst thou deign to come unto the Mountain?
Didst thou not know that man is happy here?〃
Mine eyes fell downward into the clear fountain;
But; seeing myself therein; I sought the grass;
So great a shame did weigh my forehead down。
As to the son the mother seems superb;
So she appeared to me; for somewhat bitter
Tasteth the savour of severe compassion。
Silent became she; and the Angels sang
Suddenly; 〃In te; Domine; speravi:〃
But beyond 'pedes meos' did not pass。
Even as the snow among the living rafters
Upon the back of Italy congeals;
Blown on and drifted by Sclavonian winds;
And then; dissolving; trickles through itself
Whene'er the land that loses shadow breathes;
So that it seems a fire that melts a taper;
E'en thus was I without a tear or sigh;
Before the song of those who sing for ever
After the music of the eternal spheres。
But when I heard in their sweet melodies
Compassion for me; more than had they said;
〃O wherefore; lady; dost thou thus upbraid him?〃
The ice; that was about my heart congealed;
To air and water changed; and in my anguish
Through mouth and eyes came gushing from my breast。
She; on the right…hand border of the car
Still firmly standing; to those holy beings
Thus her discourse directed afterwards:
〃Ye keep your watch in the eternal day;
So that nor night nor sleep can steal from you
One step the ages make upon their path;
Therefore my answer is with greater care;
That he may hear me who is weeping yonder;
So that the sin and dole be of one measure。
Not only by the work of those great wheels;
That destine every seed unto some end;
According as the stars are in conjunction;
But by the largess of celestial graces;
Which have such lofty vapours for their rain
That near to them our sight approaches not;
Such had this man become in his new life
Potentially; that every righteous habit
Would have made admirable proof in him;
But so much more malignant and more savage
Becomes the land untilled and with bad seed;
The more good earthly vigour it possesses。
Some time did I sustain him with my look;
Revealing unto him my youthful eyes;
I led him with me turned in the right way。
As soon as ever of my second age
I was upon the threshold and changed life;
Himself from me he took and gave to others。
When from the flesh to spirit I ascended;
And beauty and virtue were in me increased;
I was to him less dear and less delightful;
And into ways untrue he turned his steps;
Pursuing the false images of good;
That never any promises fulfil;
Nor prayer for inspiration me availed;
By means of which in dreams and otherwise
I called him back; so little did he heed them。
So low he fell; that all appliances
For his salvation were already short;
Save showing him the people of perdition。
For this I visited the gates of death;
And unto him; who so far up has led him;
My intercessions were with weeping borne。
God's lofty fiat would be violated;
If Lethe should be passed; and if such viands
Should tasted be; withouten any scot
Of penitence; that gushes forth in tears。〃
Purgatorio: Canto XXXI
〃O 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
Than by its organs it was set at large。
Awhile she waited; then she said: 〃What thinkest?
Answer me; for the mournful memories
In thee not yet are by the waters injured。〃
Confusion and dismay together mingled
Forced such a Yes! from out my mouth; that sight
Was needful to the understanding of it。
Even as a cross…bow breaks; when 'tis discharged
Too tensely drawn the bowstring and the bow;
And with less force the arrow hits the mark;
So I gave way beneath that heavy burden;
Outpouring in a torrent tears and sighs;
And the voice flagged upon its passage forth。
Whence she to me: 〃In those desires of mine
Which led thee to the loving of that good;
Beyond which there is nothing to aspire to;
What trenches lying traverse or what chains
Didst thou discover; that of passing onward
Thou shouldst have thus despoiled thee of the hope?
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 'tis known。
But when from one's own cheeks comes bursting forth
The accusal of the sin; in our tribunal
Against the edge the wheel doth turn itself。
But still; that thou mayst feel a greater shame
For thy transgression; and another time
Hearing the Sirens thou mayst be more strong;
Cast down the seed of weeping and attend;
So shalt thou hear; how in an opposite way
My buried flesh should have directed thee。
Never to thee presented art or nature
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
By reason of my death; what mortal thing
Should then have drawn thee into its d