So upon that celestial chariot
A hundred rose ‘ad vocem tanti senis,’Ministers and messengers of life eternal.
They all were saying, “Benedictus qui venis,”And, scattering flowers above and round about,“Manibus o date lilia plenis.”
Ere now have I beheld, as day began,The eastern hemisphere all tinged with rose,And the other heaven with fair serene adorned;
And the sun’s face, uprising, overshadowedSo that by tempering influence of vapoursFor a long interval the eye sustained it;
Thus in the bosom of a cloud of flowersWhich from those hands angelical ascended,And downward fell again inside and out,
Over her snow-white veil with olive cinctAppeared a lady under a green mantle,Vested in colour of the living flame.
And my own spirit, that already nowSo long a time had been, that in her presenceTrembling with awe it had not stood abashed,
Without more knowledge having by mine eyes,Through occult virtue that from her proceededOf ancient love the mighty influence felt.
As soon as on my vision smote the powerSublime, that had already pierced me throughEre from my boyhood I had yet come forth,
To the left hand I turned with that relianceWith which the little child runs to his mother,When he has fear, or when he is afflicted,
To say unto Virgilius: “Not a drachmOf blood remains in me, that does not tremble;I know the traces of the ancient flame.”
But us Virgilius of himself deprivedHad left, Virgilius, sweetest of all fathers,Virgilius, to whom I for safety gave me:
Nor whatsoever lost the ancient motherAvailed my cheeks now purified from dew,That weeping they should not again be darkened.
“Dante, because Virgilius has departedDo not weep yet, do not weep yet awhile;For by another sword thou need’st must weep.”
E’en as an admiral, who on poop and prowComes to behold the people that are workingIn other ships, and cheers them to well-doing,
Upon the left hand border of the car,When at the sound I turned of my own name,Which of necessity is here recorded,
I saw the Lady, who erewhile appearedVeiled underneath the angelic festival,Direct her eyes to me across the river.
Although the veil, that from her head descended,Encircled with the foliage of Minerva,Did not permit her to appear distinctly,