NowHeliconmustneedspourforthforme,
AndwithherchoirUraniamustassistme,
Toputinversethingsdifficulttothink.
Alittlefartheron, seventreesofgold
Insemblancethelongspacestillintervening
Betweenourselvesandthemdidcounterfeit;
ButwhenIhadapproachedsoneartothem
Thecommonobject, whichthesensedeceives,
Lostnotbydistanceanyofitsmarks,
Thefacultythatlendsdiscoursetoreason
Didapprehendthattheywerecandlesticks,
Andinthevoicesofthesong "Hosanna!"
Abovethemflamedtheharnessbeautiful,
Farbrighterthanthemoonintheserene
Ofmidnight, atthemiddleofhermonth.
Iturnedmeround, withadmirationfilled,
TogoodVirgilius, andheansweredme
Withvisagenolessfullofwonderment.
ThenbackIturnedmyfacetothosehighthings,
Whichmovedthemselvestowardsussosedately,
Theyhadbeendistancedbynew-weddedbrides.
Theladychidme: "Whydostthouburnonly
Sowithaffectionforthelivinglights,
Anddostnotlookatwhatcomesafterthem?"
ThensawIpeople, asbehindtheirleaders,
Comingbehindthem, garmentedinwhite,
Andsuchawhitenessneverwasonearth.
Thewateronmyleftflankwasresplendent,
Andbacktomereflectedmyleftside,
E'enasamirror, ifIlookedtherein.
WhenIuponmymarginhadsuchpost
Thatnothingbutthestreamdividedus,
BettertoseeIgavemystepsrepose;
AndIbeheldtheflameletsonwardgo,
Leavingbehindthemselvestheairdepicted,
Andtheyoftrailingpennonshadthesemblance,
Sothatitoverheadremaineddistinct
Withsevenfoldlists, allofthemofthecolours
Whencethesun'sbowismade, andDelia'sgirdle.
Thesestandardstotherearwardlongerwere
