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第49节

the divine comedy(神曲)-第49节

小说: the divine comedy(神曲) 字数: 每页4000字

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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From which when I a little had withdrawn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

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