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Upon the' o'erstrained eyes the sun hath smote： But soon to lesser object；
as the view Was now recover'd （lesser in respect To that excess of sensible；
whence late I had perforce been sunder'd） on their right I mark'd that
glorious army wheel； and turn； Against the sun and sev'nfold lights； their
front。 As when； their bucklers for protection rais'd； A well…rang'd troop；
with portly banners curl'd； Wheel circling； ere the whole can change their
ground： E'en thus the goodly regiment of heav'n Proceeding； all did pass
us； ere the car Had slop'd his beam。 Attendant at the wheels The damsels
turn'd； and on the Gryphon mov'd The sacred burden； with a pace so
smooth； No feather on him trembled。 The fair dame Who through the
wave had drawn me； companied By Statius and myself； pursued the wheel；
Whose orbit； rolling； mark'd a lesser arch。 Through the high wood； now
void （the more her blame； Who by the serpent was beguil'd） I past With
step in cadence to the harmony Angelic。 Onward had we mov'd； as far
Perchance as arrow at three several flights Full wing'd had sped； when
from her station down Descended Beatrice。 With one voice All
murmur'd 〃Adam；〃 circling next a plant Despoil'd of flowers and leaf on
every bough。 Its tresses； spreading more as more they rose； Were such； as
'midst their forest wilds for height The Indians might have gaz'd at。
〃Blessed thou！ Gryphon； whose beak hath never pluck'd that tree Pleasant
to taste： for hence the appetite Was warp'd to evil。〃 Round the stately
trunk Thus shouted forth the rest； to whom return'd The animal twice…
gender'd： 〃Yea： for so The generation of the just are sav'd。〃 And turning
to the chariot…pole； to foot He drew it of the widow'd branch； and bound
There left unto the stock whereon it grew。 As when large floods of
radiance from above Stream； with that radiance mingled； which ascends
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Next after setting of the scaly sign； Our plants then burgeon； and each
wears anew His wonted colours； ere the sun have yok'd Beneath another
star his flamy steeds； Thus putting forth a hue； more faint than rose； And
deeper than the violet； was renew'd The plant； erewhile in all its branches
bare。 Unearthly was the hymn； which then arose。 I understood it not；
nor to the end Endur'd the harmony。 Had I the skill To pencil forth； how
clos'd th' unpitying eyes Slumb'ring； when Syrinx warbled； （eyes that paid
So dearly for their watching；） then like painter； That with a model paints； I
might design The manner of my falling into sleep。 But feign who will the
slumber cunningly； I pass it by to when I wak'd； and tell How suddenly a
flash of splendour rent The curtain of my sleep； and one cries out： 〃Arise；
what dost thou？〃 As the chosen three； On Tabor's mount； admitted to
behold The blossoming of that fair tree； whose fruit Is coveted of angels；
and doth make Perpetual feast in heaven； to themselves Returning at the
word； whence deeper sleeps Were broken； that they their tribe diminish'd
saw； Both Moses and Elias gone； and chang'd The stole their master wore：
thus to myself Returning； over me beheld I stand The piteous one； who
cross the stream had brought My steps。 〃And where；〃 all doubting； I
exclaim'd； 〃Is Beatrice？〃〃See her；〃 she replied； 〃Beneath the fresh leaf
seated on its root。 Behold th' associate choir that circles her。 The others；
with a melody more sweet And more profound； journeying to higher
realms； Upon the Gryphon tend。〃 If there her words Were clos'd； I know
not； but mine eyes had now Ta'en view of her； by whom all other thoughts
Were barr'd admittance。 On the very ground Alone she sat； as she had
there been left A guard upon the wain； which I beheld Bound to the
twyform beast。 The seven nymphs Did make themselves a cloister round
about her； And in their hands upheld those lights secure From blast
septentrion and the gusty south。 〃A little while thou shalt be forester
here： And citizen shalt be forever with me； Of that true Rome； wherein
Christ dwells a Roman To profit the misguided world； keep now Thine
eyes upon the car； and what thou seest； Take heed thou write； returning to
that place。〃 Thus Beatrice： at whose feet inclin'd Devout； at her behest；
my thought and eyes； I； as she bade； directed。 Never fire； With so swift
motion； forth a stormy cloud Leap'd downward from the welkin's farthest
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bound； As I beheld the bird of Jove descending Pounce on the tree； and； as
he rush'd； the rind； Disparting crush beneath him； buds much more And
leaflets。 On the car with all his might He struck； whence； staggering like
a ship； it reel'd； At random driv'n； to starboard now； o'ercome； And now to
larboard； by the vaulting waves。 Next springing up into the chariot's
womb A fox I saw； with hunger seeming pin'd Of all good food。 But； for
his ugly sins The saintly maid rebuking him； away Scamp'ring he turn'd；
fast as his hide…bound corpse Would bear him。 Next； from whence
before he came； I saw the eagle dart into the hull O' th' car； and leave it
with his feathers lin'd； And then a voice； like that which issues forth From
heart with sorrow riv'd； did issue forth From heav'n； and； 〃O poor bark of
mine！〃 it cried； 〃How badly art thou freighted！〃 Then； it seem'd； That the
earth open'd between either wheel； And I beheld a dragon issue thence；
That through the chariot fix'd his forked train； And like a wasp that
draggeth back the sting； So drawing forth his baleful train； he dragg'd Part
of the bottom forth； and went his way Exulting。 What remain'd； as lively
turf With green herb； so did clothe itself with plumes； Which haply had
with purpose chaste and kind Been offer'd； and therewith were cloth'd the
wheels； Both one and other； and the beam； so quickly A sigh were not
breath'd sooner。 Thus transform'd； The holy structure； through its several
parts； Did put forth heads； three on the beam； and one