Dante Alighieri
translation: Rev. H. F. Cary

THE DIVINE COMEDY - The Vision of Paradise, Purgatory and Hell
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CANTO XXVII

 Now was the sun so station'd, as when first
 His early radiance quivers on the heights,
 Where stream'd his Maker's blood, while Libra hangs
 Above Hesperian Ebro, and new fires
 Meridian flash on Ganges' yellow tide.
 
 So day was sinking, when the' angel of God
 Appear'd before us.  Joy was in his mien.
 Forth of the flame he stood upon the brink,
 And with a voice, whose lively clearness far
 Surpass'd our human, "Blessed are the pure
 In heart," he Sang: then near him as we came,
 "Go ye not further, holy spirits!"  he cried,
 "Ere the fire pierce you: enter in; and list
 Attentive to the song ye hear from thence."
 
 I, when I heard his saying, was as one
 Laid in the grave.  My hands together clasp'd,
 And upward stretching, on the fire I look'd,
 And busy fancy conjur'd up the forms
 Erewhile beheld alive consum'd in flames.
 
 Th' escorting spirits turn'd with gentle looks
 Toward me, and the Mantuan spake: "My son,
 Here torment thou mayst feel, but canst not death.
 Remember thee, remember thee, if I
 Safe e'en on Geryon brought thee: now I come
 More near to God, wilt thou not trust me now?
 Of this be sure: though in its womb that flame
 A thousand years contain'd thee, from thy head
 No hair should perish.  If thou doubt my truth,
 Approach, and with thy hands thy vesture's hem
 Stretch forth, and for thyself confirm belief.
 Lay now all fear, O lay all fear aside.
 Turn hither, and come onward undismay'd."
 I still, though conscience urg'd' no step advanc'd.
 
 When still he saw me fix'd and obstinate,
 Somewhat disturb'd he cried: "Mark now, my son,
 From Beatrice thou art by this wall
 Divided."  As at Thisbe's name the eye
 Of Pyramus was open'd (when life ebb'd
 Fast from his veins), and took one parting glance,
 While vermeil dyed the mulberry; thus I turn'd
 To my sage guide, relenting, when I heard
 The name, that springs forever in my breast.
 
 He shook his forehead; and, "How long," he said,
 "Linger we now?"  then smil'd, as one would smile
 Upon a child, that eyes the fruit and yields.
 Into the fire before me then he walk'd;
 And Statius, who erewhile no little space
 Had parted us, he pray'd to come behind.
 
 I would have cast me into molten glass
 To cool me, when I enter'd; so intense
 Rag'd the conflagrant mass.  The sire belov'd,
 To comfort me, as he proceeded, still
 Of Beatrice talk'd.  "Her eyes," saith he,
 "E'en now I seem to view."  From the other side
 A voice, that sang, did guide us, and the voice
 Following, with heedful ear, we issued forth,
 There where the path led upward.  "Come," we heard,
 "Come, blessed of my Father."  Such the sounds,
 That hail'd us from within a light, which shone
 So radiant, I could not endure the view.
 "The sun," it added, "hastes: and evening comes.
 Delay not: ere the western sky is hung
 With blackness, strive ye for the pass."  Our way
 Upright within the rock (...)
(......)