the divine comedy(神曲)-第49节
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And lo! as when; upon the approach of morning;
Through the gross vapours Mars grows fiery red
Down in the West upon the ocean floor;
Appeared to memay I again behold it!
A light along the sea so swiftly coming;
Its motion by no flight of wing is equalled;
From which when I a little had withdrawn
Mine eyes; that I might question my Conductor;
Again I saw it brighter grown and larger。
Then on each side of it appeared to me
I knew not what of white; and underneath it
Little by little there came forth another。
My Master yet had uttered not a word
While the first whiteness into wings unfolded;
But when he clearly recognised the pilot;
He cried: 〃Make haste; make haste to bow the knee!
Behold the Angel of God! fold thou thy hands!
Henceforward shalt thou see such officers!
See how he scorneth human arguments;
So that nor oar he wants; nor other sail
Than his own wings; between so distant shores。
See how he holds them pointed up to heaven;
Fanning the air with the eternal pinions;
That do not moult themselves like mortal hair!〃
Then as still nearer and more near us came
The Bird Divine; more radiant he appeared;
So that near by the eye could not endure him;
But down I cast it; and he came to shore
With a small vessel; very swift and light;
So that the water swallowed naught thereof。
Upon the stern stood the Celestial Pilot;
Beatitude seemed written in his face;
And more than a hundred spirits sat within。
〃In exitu Israel de Aegypto!〃
They chanted all together in one voice;
With whatso in that psalm is after written。
Then made he sign of holy rood upon them;
Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore;
And he departed swiftly as he came。
The throng which still remained there unfamiliar
Seemed with the place; all round about them gazing;
As one who in new matters makes essay。
On every side was darting forth the day。
The sun; who had with his resplendent shafts
From the mid…heaven chased forth the Capricorn;
When the new people lifted up their faces
Towards us; saying to us: 〃If ye know;
Show us the way to go unto the mountain。〃
And answer made Virgilius: 〃Ye believe
Perchance that we have knowledge of this place;
But we are strangers even as yourselves。
Just now we came; a little while before you;
Another way; which was so rough and steep;
That mounting will henceforth seem sport to us。〃
The souls who had; from seeing me draw breath;
Become aware that I was still alive;
Pallid in their astonishment became;
And as to messenger who bears the olive
The people throng to listen to the news;
And no one shows himself afraid of crowding;
So at the sight of me stood motionless
Those fortunate spirits; all of them; as if
Oblivious to go and make them fair。
One from among them saw I coming forward;
As to embrace me; with such great affection;
That it incited me to do the like。
O empty shadows; save in aspect only!
Three times behind it did I clasp my hands;
As oft returned with them to my own breast!
I think with wonder I depicted me;
Whereat the shadow smiled and backward drew;
And I; pursuing it; pressed farther forward。
Gently it said that I should stay my steps;
Then knew I who it was; and I entreated
That it would stop awhile to speak with me。
It made reply to me: 〃Even as I loved thee
In mortal body; so I love thee free;
Therefore I stop; but wherefore goest thou?〃
〃My own Casella! to return once more
There where I am; I make this journey;〃 said I;
〃But how from thee has so much time be taken?〃
And he to me: 〃No outrage has been done me;
If he who takes both when and whom he pleases
Has many times denied to me this passage;
For of a righteous will his own is made。
He; sooth to say; for three months past has taken
Whoever wished to enter with all peace;
Whence I; who now had turned unto that shore
Where salt the waters of the Tiber grow;
Benignantly by him have been received。
Unto that outlet now his wing is pointed;
Because for evermore assemble there
Those who tow'rds Acheron do not descend。〃
And I: 〃If some new law take not from thee
Memory or practice of the song of love;
Which used to quiet in me all my longings;
Thee may it please to comfort therewithal
Somewhat this soul of mine; that with its body
Hitherward coming is so much distressed。〃
〃Love; that within my mind discourses with me;〃
Forthwith began he so melodiously;
The melody within me still is sounding。
My Master; and myself; and all that people
Which with him were; appeared as satisfied
As if naught else might touch the mind of any。
We all of us were moveless and attentive
Unto his notes; and lo! the grave old man;
Exclaiming: 〃What is this; ye laggard spirits?
What negligence; what standing still is this?
Run to the mountain to strip off the slough;
That lets not God be manifest to you。〃
Even as when; collecting grain or tares;
The doves; together at their pasture met;
Quiet; nor showing their accustomed pride;
If aught appear of which they are afraid;
Upon a sudden leave their food alone;
Because they are assailed by greater care;
So that fresh company did I behold
The song relinquish; and go tow'rds the hill;
As one who goes; and knows not whitherward;
Nor was our own departure less in haste。
Purgatorio: Canto III
Inasmuch as the instantaneous flight
Had scattered them asunder o'er the plain;
Turned to the mountain whither reason spurs us;
I pressed me close unto my faithful comrade;
And how without him had I kept my course?
Who would have led me up along the mountain?
He seemed to me within himself remorseful;
O noble conscience; and without a stain;
How sharp a sting is trivial fault to thee!
After his feet had laid aside the haste
Which mars the dignity of every act;
My mind; that hitherto had been restrained;
Let loose its faculties as if delighted;
And I my sight directed to the hill
That highest tow'rds the heaven uplifts itself。
The sun; that in our rear was flaming red;
Was broken in front of me into the figure
Which had in me the stoppage of its rays;
Unto one side I turned me; with the fear
Of being left alone; when I beheld
Only in front of me the ground obscured。
〃Why dost thou still mistrust?〃 my Comforter
Began to say to me turned wholly round;
〃Dost thou not think me with thee; and that I guide thee?
'Tis evening there already where is buried
The body within which I cast a shadow;
'Tis from Brundusium ta'en; and Naples has it。
Now if in front of me no shadow fall;
Marvel not at it more than at the heavens;
Because one ray impedeth not another
To suffer torments; both of cold and heat;
Bodies like this that Power provides; which wills
That how it works be not unveiled to us。
Insane is he who hopeth that our reason
Can traverse the illimitable way;
Which the one Substance in three Persons follows!
Mortals; remain contented at the 'Quia;'
For if ye had been able to see all;
No need there were for Mary to give birth;
And ye have seen desiring without fruit;
Those whose desire would have been quieted;
Which evermore is given them for a grief。
I speak of Aristotle and of Plato;
And many others;〃and here bowed his head;
And more he said not; and remained disturbed。
We came meanwhile unto the mountain's foot;
There so precipitate we found the rock;
That nimble legs would there have been in vain。
'Twixt Lerici and Turbia; the most desert;
The most secluded pathway is a stair
Easy and open; if compared with that。
〃Who knoweth now upon which hand the hill
Slopes down;〃 my Master said; his footsteps staying;
〃So that who goeth without wings may mount?〃
And while he held his eyes upon the ground
Examining the nature of the path;
And I was looking up around the rock;
On the left hand appeared to me a throng
Of souls; that moved their feet in our direction;
And did not seem to move; they came so slowly。
〃Lift up thine eyes;〃 I to the Master said;
〃Behold; on this side; who will give us counsel;
If thou of thine own self can have it not。〃
Then he looked at me; and with frank expression
Replied: 〃Let us go there; for they come slowly;
And thou be steadfast in thy hope; sweet son。〃
Still was that people as far off from us;
After a thousand steps of ours I say;
As a good thrower with his hand would reach;
When they all crowded unto the hard masses
Of the high bank; and motionless stood and close;
As he stands still to look who goes in doubt。
〃O happy dead! O spirits elect already!〃
Virgilius made beginning; 〃by that peace
Which I believe is waiting for you all;
Tell us upon what side the mountain slopes;
So that the going up be possible;
For to lose time irks him most who most knows。〃
As sheep come issuing forth from out the fold
By ones and twos and threes; and the others stand
Timidly; holding down their eyes and nostrils;
And what the foremost does the others do;
Huddling them