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my sister Rachel； she Before her glass abides the livelong day； Her radiant
eyes beholding； charm'd no less； Than I with this delightful task。 Her joy
In contemplation； as in labour mine。〃 And now as glimm'ring dawn
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appear'd； that breaks More welcome to the pilgrim still； as he Sojourns
less distant on his homeward way； Darkness from all sides fled； and with it
fled My slumber； whence I rose and saw my guide Already risen。 〃That
delicious fruit； Which through so many a branch the zealous care Of
mortals roams in quest of； shall this day Appease thy hunger。〃 Such the
words I heard From Virgil's lip； and never greeting heard So pleasant as
the sounds。 Within me straight Desire so grew upon desire to mount；
Thenceforward at each step I felt the wings Increasing for my flight。
When we had run O'er all the ladder to its topmost round； As there we
stood； on me the Mantuan fix'd His eyes； and thus he spake： 〃Both fires；
my son； The temporal and eternal； thou hast seen； And art arriv'd； where of
itself my ken No further reaches。 I with skill and art Thus far have drawn
thee。 Now thy pleasure take For guide。 Thou hast o'ercome the steeper
way； O'ercome the straighter。 Lo！ the sun； that darts His beam upon thy
forehead！ lo！ the herb； The arboreta and flowers； which of itself This
land pours forth profuse！ Till those bright eyes With gladness come；
which； weeping； made me haste To succour thee； thou mayst or seat thee
down； Or wander where thou wilt。 Expect no more Sanction of warning
voice or sign from me； Free of thy own arbitrement to choose； Discreet；
judicious。 To distrust thy sense Were henceforth error。 I invest thee
then With crown and mitre； sovereign o'er thyself。〃
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CANTO XXVIII
Through that celestial forest； whose thick shade With lively greenness
the new…springing day Attemper'd； eager now to roam； and search Its
limits round； forthwith I left the bank； Along the champain leisurely my
way Pursuing； o'er the ground； that on all sides Delicious odour breath'd。
A pleasant air； That intermitted never； never veer'd； Smote on my temples；
gently； as a wind Of softest influence： at which the sprays； Obedient all；
lean'd trembling to that part Where first the holy mountain casts his shade；
Yet were not so disorder'd； but that still Upon their top the feather'd
quiristers Applied their wonted art； and with full joy Welcom'd those hours
of prime； and warbled shrill Amid the leaves； that to their jocund lays
inept tenor； even as from branch to branch； Along the piney forests on the
shore Of Chiassi； rolls the gath'ring melody； When Eolus hath from his
cavern loos'd The dripping south。 Already had my steps； Though slow；
so far into that ancient wood Transported me； I could not ken the place
Where I had enter'd； when behold！ my path Was bounded by a rill；
which to the left With little rippling waters bent the grass； That issued
from its brink。 On earth no wave How clean soe'er； that would not seem
to have Some mixture in itself； compar'd with this； Transpicuous； clear；
yet darkly on it roll'd； Darkly beneath perpetual gloom； which ne'er
Admits or sun or moon light there to shine。 My feet advanc'd not； but
my wond'ring eyes Pass'd onward； o'er the streamlet； to survey The tender
May…bloom； flush'd through many a hue； In prodigal variety： and there； As
object； rising suddenly to view； That from our bosom every thought beside
With the rare marvel chases； I beheld A lady all alone； who； singing； went；
And culling flower from flower； wherewith her way Was all o'er painted。
〃Lady beautiful！ Thou； who （if looks； that use to speak the heart； Are
worthy of our trust）； with love's own beam Dost warm thee；〃 thus to her
my speech I fram'd： 〃Ah！ please thee hither towards the streamlet bend
Thy steps so near； that I may list thy song。 Beholding thee and this fair
place； methinks； I call to mind where wander'd and how look'd Proserpine；
in that season； when her child The mother lost； and she the bloomy
spring。〃 As when a lady； turning in the dance； Doth foot it featly； and
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advances scarce One step before the other to the ground； Over the yellow
and vermilion flowers Thus turn'd she at my suit； most maiden…like； Valing
her sober eyes； and came so near； That I distinctly caught the dulcet sound。
Arriving where the limped waters now Lav'd the green sward； her eyes she
deign'd to raise； That shot such splendour on me； as I ween Ne'er glanced
from Cytherea's； when her son Had sped his keenest weapon to her heart。
Upon the opposite bank she stood and smil'd through her graceful fingers
shifted still The intermingling dyes； which without seed That lofty land
unbosoms。 By the stream Three paces only were we sunder'd： yet The
Hellespont； where Xerxes pass'd it o'er； （A curb for ever to the pride of
man） Was by Leander not more hateful held For floating； with
inhospitable wave 'Twixt Sestus and Abydos； than by me That flood；
because it gave no passage thence。 〃Strangers ye come； and haply in
this place； That cradled human nature in its birth； Wond'ring； ye not
without suspicion view My smiles： but that sweet strain of psalmody；
'Thou； Lord！ hast made me glad；' will give ye light； Which may uncloud
your minds。 And thou； who stand'st The foremost； and didst make thy
suit to me； Say if aught else thou wish to hear： for I Came prompt to
answer every doubt of thine。〃 She spake； and I replied： 〃l know not
how To reconcile this wave and rustling sound Of forest leaves； with what
I late have heard Of opposite report。〃 She answering thus： 〃I will unfold
the cause； whence that proceeds； Which makes thee wond