EyesofthyMarcia, whoinlooksstillpraysthee,
Oholybreast, toholdherasthineown;
Forherlove, then, inclinethyselftous.
Permitusthroughthysevenfoldrealmtogo;
Iwilltakebackthisgracefromtheetoher,
Iftobementionedtherebelowthoudeignest."
"Marciasopleasingwasuntomineeyes
WhileIwasontheotherside," thensaidhe,
"ThateverygraceshewishedofmeIgranted;
Nowthatshedwellsbeyondtheevilriver,
Shecannolongermoveme, bythatlaw
Which, whenIissuedforthfromthere, wasmade.
ButifaLadyofHeavendomoveandrulethee,
Asthoudostsay, noflatteryisneedful;
Letitsufficetheethatforherthouaskme.
Go, then, andseethougirdthisoneabout
Withasmoothrush, andthatthouwashhisface,
Sothatthoucleanseawayallstaintherefrom,
For 'twerenotfittingthattheeyeo'ercast
Byanymistshouldgobeforethefirst
Angel, whoisofthoseofParadise.
Thislittleislandroundaboutitsbase
Belowthere, yonder, wherethebillowbeatsit,
Dothrushesbearuponitswashyooze;
Nootherplantthatputtethforththeleaf,
Orthatdothindurate, cantherehavelife,
Becauseityieldethnotuntotheshocks.
Thereafterbenotthiswayyourreturn;
Thesun, whichnowisrising, willdirectyou
DantekneelingbeforeCato
Totakethemountbyeasierascent."
Withthishevanished; andIraisedmeup
Withoutaword, andwhollydrewmyself
UntomyGuide, andturnedmineeyestohim.
Andhebegan: "Son, followthoumysteps;
Letusturnback, foronthissidedeclines
Theplainuntoitslowerboundaries."
Thedawnwasvanquishingthematinhour
Whichfledbeforeit, sothatfromafar
Irecognisedthetremblingofthesea.
