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promise of allurement led thee on Elsewhere； that thou elsewhere should'st
rather wait？〃 A bitter sigh I drew； then scarce found voice To answer；
hardly to these sounds my lips Gave utterance； wailing： 〃Thy fair looks
withdrawn； Things present； with deceitful pleasures； turn'd My steps
aside。〃 She answering spake： 〃Hadst thou Been silent； or denied what
thou avow'st； Thou hadst not hid thy sin the more： such eye Observes it。
But whene'er the sinner's cheek Breaks forth into the precious…streaming
tears Of self…accusing； in our court the wheel Of justice doth run counter
to the edge。 Howe'er that thou may'st profit by thy shame For errors past；
and that henceforth more strength May arm thee； when thou hear'st the
Siren…voice； Lay thou aside the motive to this grief； And lend attentive ear；
while I unfold How opposite a way my buried flesh Should have impell'd
thee。 Never didst thou spy In art or nature aught so passing sweet； As
were the limbs； that in their beauteous frame Enclos'd me； and are scatter'd
now in dust。 If sweetest thing thus fail'd thee with my death； What；
afterward； of mortal should thy wish Have tempted？ When thou first
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hadst felt the dart Of perishable things； in my departing For better realms；
thy wing thou should'st have prun'd To follow me； and never stoop'd again
To 'bide a second blow for a slight girl； Or other gaud as transient and as
vain。 The new and inexperienc'd bird awaits； Twice it may be； or thrice；
the fowler's aim； But in the sight of one； whose plumes are full； In vain the
net is spread； the arrow wing'd。〃 I stood； as children silent and asham'd
Stand； list'ning； with their eyes upon the earth； Acknowledging their fault
and self…condemn'd。 And she resum'd： 〃If； but to hear thus pains thee；
Raise thou thy beard； and lo！ what sight shall do！〃 With less
reluctance yields a sturdy holm； Rent from its fibers by a blast； that blows
From off the pole； or from Iarbas' land； Than I at her behest my visage
rais'd： And thus the face denoting by the beard； I mark'd the secret sting
her words convey'd。 No sooner lifted I mine aspect up； Than downward
sunk that vision I beheld Of goodly creatures vanish； and mine eyes Yet
unassur'd and wavering； bent their light On Beatrice。 Towards the animal；
Who joins two natures in one form； she turn'd； And； even under shadow of
her veil； And parted by the verdant rill； that flow'd Between； in loveliness
appear'd as much Her former self surpassing； as on earth All others she
surpass'd。 Remorseful goads Shot sudden through me。 Each thing else；
the more Its love had late beguil'd me； now the more I Was loathsome。
On my heart so keenly smote The bitter consciousness； that on the ground
O'erpower'd I fell： and what my state was then； She knows who was the
cause。 When now my strength Flow'd back； returning outward from the
heart； The lady； whom alone I first had seen； I found above me。 〃Loose
me not；〃 she cried： 〃Loose not thy hold；〃 and lo！ had dragg'd me high As
to my neck into the stream； while she； Still as she drew me after； swept
along； Swift as a shuttle； bounding o'er the wave。 The blessed shore
approaching then was heard So sweetly； 〃Tu asperges me；〃 that I May not
remember； much less tell the sound。 The beauteous dame； her arms
expanding； clasp'd My temples； and immerg'd me； where 't was fit The
wave should drench me： and thence raising up； Within the fourfold dance
of lovely nymphs Presented me so lav'd； and with their arm They each did
cover me。 〃Here are we nymphs； And in the heav'n are stars。 Or ever
earth Was visited of Beatrice； we Appointed for her handmaids； tended on
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her。 We to her eyes will lead thee； but the light Of gladness that is in them；
well to scan； Those yonder three； of deeper ken than ours； Thy sight shall
quicken。〃 Thus began their song； And then they led me to the Gryphon's
breast； While； turn'd toward us； Beatrice stood。 〃Spare not thy vision。 We
have stationed thee Before the emeralds； whence love erewhile Hath
drawn his weapons on thee。 〃As they spake； A thousand fervent wishes
riveted Mine eyes upon her beaming eyes； that stood Still fix'd toward the
Gryphon motionless。 As the sun strikes a mirror； even thus Within those
orbs the twofold being； shone； For ever varying； in one figure now
Reflected； now in other。 Reader！ muse How wond'rous in my sight it
seem'd to mark A thing； albeit steadfast in itself； Yet in its imag'd
semblance mutable。 Full of amaze； and joyous； while my soul Fed on
the viand； whereof still desire Grows with satiety； the other three With
gesture； that declar'd a loftier line； Advanc'd： to their own carol on they
came Dancing in festive ring angelical。 〃Turn； Beatrice！〃 was their
song： 〃O turn Thy saintly sight on this thy faithful one； Who to behold
thee many a wearisome pace Hath measur'd。 Gracious at our pray'r
vouchsafe Unveil to him thy cheeks： that he may mark Thy second beauty；
now conceal'd。〃 O splendour！ O sacred light eternal！ who is he So pale
with musing in Pierian shades； Or with that fount so lavishly imbued；
Whose spirit should not fail him in th' essay To represent thee such as thou
didst seem； When under cope of the still…chiming heaven Thou gav'st to
open air thy charms reveal'd。
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CANTO XXXII
Mine eyes with such an eager coveting； Were bent to rid them of their
ten years' thirst； No other sense was waking： and e'en they Were fenc'd on
either side from heed of aught； So tangled in its custom'd toils that smile
Of saintly brightness drew me to itself； When forcibly toward the left my
sight The sacred virgins turn'd； for from their lips I heard the warning
sounds： 〃Too fix'd a gaze！〃 Awhile my vision labor'd； as when late
Upon the' o'erstrained eyes the sun hath smote： But soon to lesser object；
as the view Was now recover'd