Methought；　then；　that　the　earth　did　yawn　between
  Both　wheels；　and　I　saw　rise　from　it　a　Dragon；
  Who　through　the　chariot　upward　fixed　his　tail；
  And　as　a　wasp　that　draweth　back　its　sting；
  Drawing　unto　himself　his　tail　malign；
  Drew　out　the　floor；　and　went　his　way　rejoicing。
  That　which　remained　behind；　even　as　with　grass
  A　fertile　region；　with　the　feathers；　offered
  Perhaps　with　pure　intention　and　benign；
  Reclothed　itself；　and　with　them　were　reclothed
  The　pole　and　both　the　wheels　so　speedily；
  A　sigh　doth　longer　keep　the　lips　apart。
  Transfigured　thus　the　holy　edifice
  Thrust　forward　heads　upon　the　parts　of　it；
  Three　on　the　pole　and　one　at　either　corner。
  The　first　were　horned　like　oxen；　but　the　four
  Had　but　a　single　horn　upon　the　forehead；
  A　monster　such　had　never　yet　been　seen！
  Firm　as　a　rock　upon　a　mountain　high；
  Seated　upon　it；　there　appeared　to　me
  A　shameless　whore；　with　eyes　swift　glancing　round；
  And；　as　if　not　to　have　her　taken　from　him；
  Upright　beside　her　I　beheld　a　giant；
  And　ever　and　anon　they　kissed　each　other。
  But　because　she　her　wanton；　roving　eye
  Turned　upon　me；　her　angry　paramour
  Did　scourge　her　from　her　head　unto　her　feet。
  Then　full　of　jealousy；　and　fierce　with　wrath；
  He　loosed　the　monster；　and　across　the　forest
  Dragged　it　so　far；　he　made　of　that　alone
  A　shield　unto　the　whore　and　the　strange　beast。
  Purgatorio：　Canto　XXXIII
  〃Deus　venerunt　gentes；〃　alternating
  Now　three；　now　four；　melodious　psalmody
  The　maidens　in　the　midst　of　tears　began；
  And　Beatrice；　compassionate　and　sighing；
  Listened　to　them　with　such　a　countenance；
  That　scarce　more　changed　was　Mary　at　the　cross。
  But　when　the　other　virgins　place　had　given
  For　her　to　speak；　uprisen　to　her　feet
  With　colour　as　of　fire；　she　made　response：
  〃'Modicum；　et　non　videbitis　me；
  Et　iterum；'　my　sisters　predilect；
  'Modicum；　et　vos　videbitis　me。'〃
  Then　all　the　seven　in　front　of　her　she　placed；
  And　after　her；　by　beckoning　only；　moved
  Me　and　the　lady　and　the　sage　who　stayed。
  So　she　moved　onward；　and　I　do　not　think
  That　her　tenth　step　was　placed　upon　the　ground；
  When　with　her　eyes　upon　mine　eyes　she　smote；
  And　with　a　tranquil　aspect；　〃Come　more　quickly；〃
  To　me　she　said；　〃that；　if　I　speak　with　thee；
  To　listen　to　me　thou　mayst　be　well　placed。〃
  As　soon　as　I　was　with　her　as　I　should　be；
  She　said　to　me：　〃Why；　brother；　dost　thou　not
  Venture　to　question　now；　in　coming　with　me？〃
  As　unto　those　who　are　too　reverential；
  Speaking　in　presence　of　superiors；
  Who　drag　no　living　utterance　to　their　teeth；
  It　me　befell；　that　without　perfect　sound
  Began　I：　〃My　necessity；　Madonna；
  You　know；　and　that　which　thereunto　is　good。〃
  And　she　to　me：　〃Of　fear　and　bashfulness
  Henceforward　I　will　have　thee　strip　thyself；
  So　that　thou　speak　no　more　as　one　who　dreams。
  Know　that　the　vessel　which　the　serpent　broke
  Was；　and　is　not；　but　let　him　who　is　guilty
  Think　that　God's　vengeance　does　not　fear　a　sop。
  Without　an　heir　shall　not　for　ever　be
  The　Eagle　that　left　his　plumes　upon　the　car；
  Whence　it　became　a　monster；　then　a　prey；
  For　verily　I　see；　and　hence　narrate　it；
  The　stars　already　near　to　bring　the　time；
  From　every　hindrance　safe；　and　every　bar；
  Within　which　a　Five…hundred；　Ten；　and　Five；
  One　sent　from　God；　shall　slay　the　thievish　woman
  And　that　same　giant　who　is　sinning　with　her。
  And　peradventure　my　dark　utterance；
  Like　Themis　and　the　Sphinx；　may　less　persuade　thee；
  Since；　in　their　mode；　it　clouds　the　intellect；
  But　soon　the　facts　shall　be　the　Naiades
  Who　shall　this　difficult　enigma　solve；
  Without　destruction　of　the　flocks　and　harvests。
  Note　thou；　and　even　as　by　me　are　uttered
  These　words；　so　teach　them　unto　those　who　live
  That　life　which　is　a　running　unto　death；
  And　bear　in　mind；　whene'er　thou　writest　them；
  Not　to　conceal　what　thou　hast　seen　the　plant；
  That　twice　already　has　been　pillaged　here。
  Whoever　pillages　or　shatters　it；
  With　blasphemy　of　deed　offendeth　God；
  Who　made　it　holy　for　his　use　alone。
  For　biting　that；　in　pain　and　in　desire
  Five　thousand　years　and　more　the　first…born　soul
  Craved　Him；　who　punished　in　himself　the　bite。
  Thy　genius　slumbers；　if　it　deem　it　not
  For　special　reason　so　pre…eminent
  In　height；　and　so　inverted　in　its　summit。
  And　if　thy　vain　imaginings　had　not　been
  Water　of　Elsa　round　about　thy　mind；
  And　Pyramus　to　the　mulberry；　their　pleasure；
  Thou　by　so　many　circumstances　only
  The　justice　of　the　interdict　of　God
  Morally　in　the　tree　wouldst　recognize。
  But　since　I　see　thee　in　thine　intellect
  Converted　into　stone　and　stained　with　sin；
  So　that　the　light　of　my　discourse　doth　daze　thee；
  I　will　too；　if　not　written；　at　least　painted；
  Thou　bear　it　back　within　thee；　for　the　reason
  That　cinct　with　palm　the　pilgrim's　staff　is　borne。〃
  And　I：　〃As　by　a　signet　is　the　wax
  Which　does　not　change　the　figure　stamped　upon　it；
  My　brain　is　now　imprinted　by　yourself。
  But　wherefore　so　beyond　my　power　of　sight
  Soars　your　desirable　discourse；　that　aye
  The　more　I　strive；　so　much　the　more　I　lose　it？〃
  〃That　thou　mayst　recognize；〃　she　said；　〃the　school
  Which　thou　hast　followed；　and　mayst　see　how　far
  Its　doctrine　follows　after　my　discourse；
  And　mayst　behold　your　path　from　the　divine
  Distant　as　far　as　separated　is
  From　earth　the　heaven　that　highest　hastens　on。〃
  Whence　her　I　answered：　〃I　do　not　remember
  That　ever　I　estranged　myself　from　you；
  Nor　have　I　conscience　of　it　that　reproves　me。〃
  〃And　if　thou　art　not　able　to　remember；〃
  Smiling　she　answered；　〃recollect　thee　now
  That　thou　this　very　day　hast　drunk　of　Lethe；
  And　if　from　smoke　a　fire　may　be　inferred；
  Such　an　oblivion　clearly　demonstrates
  Some　error　in　thy　will　elsewhere　intent。
  Truly　from　this　time　forward　shall　my　words
  Be　naked；　so　far　as　it　is　befitting
  To　lay　them　open　unto　thy　rude　gaze。〃
  And　more　coruscant　and　with　slower　steps
  The　sun　was　holding　the　meridian　circle；
  Which；　with　the　point　of　view；　shifts　here　and　there
  When　halted　（as　he　cometh　to　a　halt；
  Who　goes　before　a　squadron　as　its　escort；
  If　something　new　he　find　upon　his　way）
  The　ladies　seven　at　a　dark　shadow's　edge；
  Such　as；　beneath　green　leaves　and　branches　black；
  The　Alp　upon　its　frigid　border　wears。
  In　front　of　them　the　Tigris　and　Euphrates
  Methought　I　saw　forth　issue　from　one　fountain；
  And　slowly　part；　like　friends；　from　one　another。
  〃O　light；　O　glory　of　the　human　race！
  What　stream　is　this　which　here　unfolds　itself
  From　out　one　source；　and　from　itself　withdraws？〃
  For　such　a　prayer；　'twas　said　unto　me；　〃Pray
  Matilda　that　she　tell　thee；〃　and　here　answered；
  As　one　does　who　doth　free　himself　from　blame；
  The　beautiful　lady：　〃This　and　other　things
  Were　told　to　him　by　me；　and　sure　I　am
  The　water　of　Lethe　has　not　hid　them　from　him。〃
  And　Beatrice：　〃Perhaps　a　greater　care；
  Which　oftentimes　our　memory　takes　away；
  Has　made　the　vision　of　his　mind　obscure。
  But　Eunoe　behold；　that　yonder　rises；
  Lead　him　to　it；　and；　as　thou　art　accustomed；
  Revive　again　the　half…dead　virtue　in　him。〃
  Like　gentle　soul；　that　maketh　no　excuse；
  But　makes　its　own　will　of　another's　will
  As　soon　as　by　a　sign　it　is　disclosed；
  Even　so；　when　she　had　taken　hold　of　me；
  The　beautiful　lady　moved；　and　unto　Statius
  Said；　in　her　womanly　manner；　〃Come　with　him。〃
  If；　Reader；　I　possessed　a　longer　space
  For　writing　it；　I　yet　would　sing　in　part
  Of　the　sweet　draught　that　ne'er　would　satiate　me；
  But　inasmuch　as　full　are　all　the　leaves
  Made　ready　for　this　second　canticle；
  The　curb　of　art　no　farther　lets　me　go。
  From　the　most　holy　water　I　returned
  Regenerate；　in　the　manner　of　new　trees
  That　are　renewed　with　a　new　foliage；
  Pure　and　disposed　to　mount　unto　the　stars。
  XFIR驗MZ?br />