More hatred from Leander did not suffer For rolling between Sestos and Abydos, Than that from me, because it oped not then.
"Ye are new-comers; and because I smile,"
Began she, "peradventure, in this place Elect to human nature for its nest, Some apprehension keeps you marvelling;
But the psalm 'Delectasti' giveth light Which has the power to uncloud your intellect.
And thou who foremost art, and didst entreat me, Speak, if thou wouldst hear more; for I came ready To all thy questionings, as far as needful."
"The water," said I, "and the forest's sound, Are combating within me my new faith In something which I heard opposed to this."
Whence she: "I will relate how from its cause Proceedeth that which maketh thee to wonder, And purge away the cloud that smites upon thee.
The Good Supreme, sole in itself delighting, Created man good, and this goodly place Gave him as hansel of eternal peace.
By his default short while he sojourned here;
By his default to weeping and to toil He changed his innocent laughter and sweet play.
That the disturbance which below is made By exhalations of the land and water, (Which far as may be follow after heat,)
Might not upon mankind wage any war, This mount ascended tow'rds the heaven so high, And is exempt, from there where it is locked.
Now since the universal atmosphere Turns in a circuit with the primal motion Unless the circle is broken on some side, Upon this height, that all is disengaged In living ether, doth this motion strike And make the forest sound, for it is dense;
And so much power the stricken plant possesses That with its virtue it impregns the air, And this, revolving, scatters it around;
And yonder earth, according as 'tis worthy In self or in its clime, conceives and bears Of divers qualities the divers trees;
It should not seem a marvel then on earth, This being heard, whenever any plant Without seed manifest there taketh root.
And thou must know, this holy table-land In which thou art is full of every seed, And fruit has in it never gathered there.
The water which thou seest springs not from vein Restored by vapour that the cold condenses, Like to a stream that gains or loses breath;
But issues from a fountain safe and certain, Which by the will of God as much regains As it discharges, open on two sides.
Upon this side with virtue it descends, Which takes away all memory of sin;
On that, of every good deed done restores it.
Here Lethe, as upon the other side Eunoe, it is called; and worketh not If first on either side it be not tasted.
This every other savour doth transcend;
And notwithstanding slaked so far may be Thy thirst, that I reveal to thee no more, I'll give thee a corollary still in grace, Nor think my speech will be to thee less dear If it spread out beyond my promise to thee.
Those who in ancient times have feigned in song The Age of Gold and its felicity, Dreamed of this place perhaps upon Parnassus.
Here was the human race in innocence;
Here evermore was Spring, and every fruit;
This is the nectar of which each one speaks."
Then backward did I turn me wholly round Unto my Poets, and saw that with a smile They had been listening to these closing words;
Then to the beautiful lady turned mine eyes.
