Her lovely smile was all I wished to see. 1
For ten years I had thirsted for the sight.
I fixed my eyes on her and in delight
forgot all else but she. Again the net 4
of her enchantment was surrounding me
until I heard the Virtues call, “Too fixed!”
when this recalled me from my dazzled state. 7
I found the sacred pageant had swung round.
Candles and prophets now marched to the sun,
passing the car just as the griffin turned 10
into the new course with an easy force
that stirred no feather of its wings. I walked
with she who’d ferried me and Statius. 13
Beside the car we crossed the woodland glades
lost to mankind because the serpent’s tongue
had misled Eve. Three arrow flights beyond 16
our turning point the car stopped at a tree
far loftier than any I had seen.
Leafless and blossomless, the branches spread 19
wider while rising to astounding height.
Murmuring, “Adam’s tree”, our company
22 encircled it as Beatrice left the car.
The rest sang, “Hail, Griffin who ate no fruit
from this forbidden tree, thus saving seed
25 of righteousness from those who find it sweet
until its poison makes their bellies squirm.”
The griffin drew the car to the tree trunk,
28 laid the pole on a branch, and as in spring
the plants renew themselves, so did the tree.
Its colour flushed through rose to violet.
31 It put forth buds, unfolded leaves and bloom
as a glad hymn was sung, but not by me
who fell asleep. Artists perhaps may paint
34 how I looked then. I can’t, so pass to when
light entered eyes and someone said, “Arise”,
the word Christ used to wake dead Lazarus.
37 My good guide through the stream was at my side.
I asked, “Where’s Beatrice?” and she replied,
“Sitting beside the car on the tree root,
40 shaded by leaves. Around her like a cloister
the Virtues stand, candle in hand, each one
guarding a flame. The griffin is again
43 with prophets, saints, angels in paradise.”
She may have said much more but Beatrice
was all I noticed now, on the bare ground,
46 her seven hand-maids near. She spoke to me.
“Now for a while become a woodlander
and citizen of Rome as Rome should be
when Christ is Roman too. Here and elsewhere 49
remember all you see. When back on Earth
write of it truthfully. Do the world good.”
I saw Jove’s eagle swoop down through the tree, 52
beak tearing leaves, the blossoms and smooth bark.
It struck the car, rocking it side to side,
to and fro like a boat in stormy tide. 55
Then there leapt in a filthy starving fox!
Rebuked by Beatrice the vile thing fled.
The eagle now nested within the car, 58
feathering it with golden plumes until
from on high I heard a lamenting cry,
“My wee car, O how you are weighted down!” 61
Then I saw ground between wheels opening
letting a dragon out that drove its tail
through the car floor. Like wasp removing sting 64
it pulled tail out and wandering away
left the poor broken car encased in plumes,
thick as knot-grasses clogging fertile soil. 67
No doubt the donors of the plumes meant well,
but the transforming chariot grew heads.
Along the shaft were three with oxen horns. 70
At the car corners grew another four,
each with a single horn upon its brow.
This monster never seen on Earth before 73
had riding on its back a naked whore
gazing triumphantly around as if
76 a conqueror upon a citadel,
while at her side a shameless giant stood
kissing, caressing her until he saw
79 her amorously try to catch my eye.
Beating her viciously from head to toe,
he dragged away both her and that foul steed
82 till both were hidden by the leafy wood.