1 She sang like one in love, “blessèd are they
whose sins are purified”. Like woodland nymph
seeking or shunning shade among the trees
4 she walked upstream, and on the other side
I also walked, fitting my steps to hers.
Less than a hundred paces further on
7 the banks curved equally in such a way
we both faced east again. She called to me,
“Look, brother – listen!” for upon us dawned
10 far greater brightness through each branch and leaf,
and with it such sweet melody rang out
I blamed Eve for her eating of that fruit
13 which stopped me knowing such delights before.
So on I went, experiencing joys
that grew as brightness grew, while melody
16 became a hymnal and triumphant choir.
O holy virgins who inspire all art,
if sleepless toil and pain and poverty
19 have been my part in seeking for your aid,
I beg from all of you again, but most
Urania, muse of celestial things,
to fix in verse thoughts difficult to think. 22
On the far brink ahead I seemed to see
the golden trunks of seven stately trees,
but as I neared their place, saw them to be 25
majestic candlesticks, linked at the base.
As voices sang hosannas each one flamed
bright as midsummer moons. Awestruck, I gazed 28
at Virgil who looked back, just as amazed.
Staring again on these high things, I saw
their stems approach slow as a new-made bride 31
down a cathedral aisle. The lady said,
“Why love big lights more than their followers?”
I saw behind men clad in purer white 34
than seen on Earth. I paused and saw the stream
reflect my left side mirror-like. Above
I saw each flame staining the air behind 37
with the bright colours sunshine paints through rain,
which left a rainbow flag or canopy
ten paces wide, whose end I could not see. 40
Twenty-four elders walked in pairs beneath.
With wreaths of lilies on their heads they sang,
“Hail, loveliest of Adam’s daughters who 43
in paradise is now divinely blessed.”
They passed, and flowers filled the further bank
while brightness grew as four great beasts arrived, 46
crowned with green leaves and having six wings each,
wings spotted with gold eyes like peacocks’ tails,
49 but these were watchful eyes. Ezekiel
in the Old Testament tells how these came
from freezing cold through cloud, storm, flame, with more
52 of how they look than I have time, reader,
to tell in rhyme. He says they have four wings.
Saint John’s Apocalypse agrees with me.
55 Between the beasts a chariot, two-wheeled,
moved on behind a griffin with two wings
raised high beyond my sight. They neatly clasped
58 the central green band of the canopy,
nor cut the three bright colours on each side.
The griffin’s eagle-half was all of gold,
61 the lion-half pure white with mingled red.
Rome never gladdened hero-emperors
with such a car, more vivid than the sun
64 when Phaeton plunged its horses down the sky.
Three nymphs danced in a ring by the right wheel.
One glowed so vivid red that in a fire
67 she’d be invisible. The second seemed
all emerald, the third like fallen snow.
Red and white led the dance alternately,
70 but red sang, and according to her voice
she and the other two moved fast or slow.
At the left wheel four nymphs in purple dress
73 also rejoiced in dancing, and were led
by she who had three eyes within her head.
Behind these groups appeared two ancient men
in gravity and dignity alike 76
but differently clad. One wore the garb
of he whose kindly art can heal the sick –
Hippocrates. One seemed the opposite, 79
holding a sword so sharp, bright, threatening
I shuddered, though between him and me
flowed the deep stream. Four elders followed these 82
with humble looks, and last of all came one
whose face was keen, though walking in his sleep.
The garments of these seven final men 85
were white, like the first twelve. Their brows were crowned,
not with white lilies, but with rosy wreaths
so red their heads all seemed to be aflame. 88
The car came opposite me and stopped
with thunderclap that halted all the rest.
The rainbow flag above them ceased to flap. 91