The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

CANTO xxvni. Dante advances through the tranquil forest to explore the Terrestrial Paradise until his progress is stopped by a stream. On the other side he sees a lady, who advances at his prayer to the brink, and explains to him the mystery of the place. She informs him that the river has two branches ; the one before him is Lethe, whose draught takes away the memory of sin, while the other is called Eunoe, by drinking which the spirit recovers only the recollection of good. Already eager thoroughly to explore That thick and living forest, all divine. Which to the eyes the young day shaded o'er.

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238 PURGATORY. Cahto XXVIII. Without delay I left the bank's incline. Ascending the champaign with footsteps slow, * O'er soil on all sides breathing odours fine. A dulcet air, which change did never know, Nor intermission, smote me on the front. Not stronger than the softest breeze can blow : Through which the leafy sprays with trembling wont ^" Are altogether bent towards that side, Where its first shadow casts the holy mount. But from their level not inclined so wide That the small songbirds there their tuneful chime Upon their tops to warble are denied : '* But with a joy complete the hours 'of prime Welcome with song among the foliage green, Whose murmur adds its burden to their rhyme, Such as from branch to branch goes on the strain Along the pine trees upon Chiassi's shore. When Eolus the south wind does unchain. Already my slow steps had borne me o'er So far within that ancient wood, that I, Where I had entered, could behold no more ; And lo ! a stream my further steps deny. Which towards the left hand, with its little waves. Inclined the herbage that was growing nigh. r the clearest water that earth's bosom laves Some mixture ever would appear to loom, Beside that runlet's all-transparent waves ; ^ Although it moves on in holy gloom 'Neath the perpetual shade, that on it yet The rays of sun and moon could never come. Brought to a pause, my eager eyes I set To gaze upon the endless trees which there ** Grew fresh May boughs, beyond the rivulet : And there appeared to me, as does appear Suddenly something which does drive away. Through marvel, every other thought of care, A lady all alone, who on her way, ^ Singing, and gathering flower on flower, did rove. With which her pathway was aU painted gay. Line 20. The pine forest near Ravenna, the scene of the hnnt in the story of Theodore and Honoria, taken by Dryden from Boccaccio. Line 40. The lady is afterwards named Matilda : I believe Yenturi correct in considering her allegorical of active religious Ufe, as Beatrice of the spiritoal, though a real person may also be intended. In the dream which foreshadowed the event 'Dante beheld Leah and Rachel, the eidola of the two ladies who were his after guides.

Canto XXVIII. PUllGATOKY'. 239 " All lady fair, who at the rays of love Art warmed, if I the appearance may believe, Which ever the heart's truth is wont to prove, Would that your pleasure," thus to her I crave, " Unto this bank your steps would nearer bring. That I may hear the song which you do weave. You makest in my memory upspring The vale and Proserpine, wliat time there lost Her mother her, and she the flowers of spring." As turns in a measure, intercrost In dance, with gliding feet a lady fair, And dainty footsteps to the vision lost, Upon the vermeil, yellow flowerets there Towards me did she turn, in virgin guise, Bending her chaste eyes low, with modest air : And all that I had prayed for satisfies, So near approaching me, that her sweet strain Clear with its meaning, on my ear does rise. As soon as she had reached to where the plain Was bathed by the waters of that river bright To raise her eyes towards me did she deign. I do not think there shone so sweet a light Beneath the lids of Venus, by her child Pierced in a mode beyond his wonted might. Upon the right bank of the stream she smiled. With her fair hands collecting flowerets still, Which on that upland grew, unsown and wild. Three paces were we severed by the rill, But the Hellespont, where Xerxes twice crost o*er, A curb for ever to the human will, More hatred from Leander never bore, 'Twixt Sestos and Abydos rolling wide. Than this from me, that would not let me o*er. ''^ She thus began : ** You here but newly bide. And haply that you see me smiling here I' the place which human nature's nest supplied. With marvel may awake in you some fear : The Psalm beginning Deledadi best »• Can give you light, your intellect to clear. Line 51. *' O Proserpina, For the flowers now that frighted you let'st fall From Dis's waggon." . " Winter's Tale." Line 80. ** Thon, Lord, have made us glad through your work." — Ps. xcii. 4. She is smiling, not at the new comers, as they may fear, but with delight at the beauty of God's works in the Terrestrial Paradise.