Singinglikeuntoanenamouredlady
She, withtheendingofherwords, continued:
"Beatiquorumtectasuntpeccata."
AndevenasNymphs, thatwanderedallalone
Amongthesylvanshadows, sedulous
Onetoavoidandonetoseethesun,
Shethenagainstthestreammovedonward, going
Alongthebank, andIabreastofher,
Herlittlestepswithlittlestepsattending.
Thetwentyfoureldersintheprocession
Betweenherstepsandminewerenotahundred,
Whenequallythemarginsgaveaturn,
Insuchaway, thattotheEastIfaced.
Noreventhusourwaycontinuedfar
Beforetheladywhollyturnedherself
Untome, saying, "Brother, lookandlisten!"
Andlo! asuddenlustreranacross
Oneverysideathwartthespaciousforest,
Suchthatitmademedoubtifitwerelightning.
Butsincethelightningceasesasitcomes,
Andthatcontinuingbrightenedmoreandmore,
WithinmythoughtIsaid, "Whatthingisthis?"
Andadeliciousmelodythereran
Alongtheluminousair, whenceholyzeal
MademerebukethehardihoodofEve;
Fortherewhereearthandheavenobedientwere,
Thewomanonly, andbutjustcreated,
Couldnotenduretostay 'neathanyveil;
Underneathwhichhadshedevoutlystayed,
Isoonershouldhavetastedthosedelights
Ineffable, andforalongertime.
While 'midsuchmanifoldfirst-fruitsIwalked
Oftheeternalpleasureallenrapt,
Andstillsolicitousofmoredelights,
Infrontofuslikeanenkindledfire
Becametheairbeneaththeverdantboughs,
Andthesweetsoundassingingnowwasheard.
OVirginssacrosanct! ifeverhunger,
Vigils, orcoldforyouIhaveendured,
Theoccasionspursmetheirrewardtoclaim!
