Thatisonepersononlyintwonatures.
Beneathherveil, beyondthemargentgreen,
Sheseemedtomefarmoreherancientself
Toexcel, thanothershere, whenshewashere.
Soprickedmethenthethornofpenitence,
Thatofallotherthingstheonewhichturnedme
Mosttoitslovebecamethemostmyfoe.
Suchself-convictionstungmeattheheart
O'erpoweredIfell, andwhatIthenbecame
Sheknowethwhohadfurnishedmethecause.
Then, whentheheartrestoredmyoutwardsense,
TheladyIhadfoundalone, aboveme
Isaw, andshewassaying, "Holdme, holdme."
Uptomythroatsheinthestreamhaddrawnme,
And, draggingmebehindher, shewasmoving
Uponthewaterlightlyasashuttle.
WhenIwasnearuntotheblessedshore,
"Aspergesme," Iheardsosweetlysung,
RememberitIcannot, muchlesswriteit.
Thebeautifulladyopenedwideherarms,
Embracedmyhead, andplungedmeunderneath,
WhereIwasforcedtoswallowofthewater.
MateldaimmersesDanteinLethe
Thenforthshedrewme, andalldrippingbrought
Intothedanceofthefourbeautiful,
Andeachonewithherarmdidcoverme.
'WehereareNymphs, andintheHeavenarestars;
EreBeatricedescendedtotheworld,
Weasherhandmaidswereappointedher.
We'llleadtheetohereyes; butforthepleasant
Lightthatwithinthemis, shallsharpenthine
Thethreebeyond, whomoreprofoundlylook.'
Thussingingtheybegan; andafterwards
UntotheGriffin'sbreasttheyledmewiththem,
WhereBeatricewasstanding, turnedtowardsus.
"Seethatthoudostnotsparethineeyes," theysaid;
"Beforetheemeraldshavewestationedthee,
WhenceLoveaforetimedrewfortheehisweapons."
Athousandlongings, hotterthantheflame,
Fastenedmineeyesuponthoseeyesrelucent,
