Mine eyes with such an eager coveting,
Were bent to rid them of their ten years' thirst,
No other sense was waking: and e'en they
Were fenc'd on either side from heed of aught;
So tangled in its custom'd toils that smile
Of saintly brightness drew me to itself,
When forcibly toward the left my sight
The sacred virgins turn'd; for from their lips
I heard the warning sounds: "Too fix'd a gaze ! "

2

BEATRICE IN THE EMPYREAN

Paradiso, xxxi. 52-93

So rov'd my ken, and in its general form

All Paradise surveyed: when round I turn'd

With purpose of my lady to inquire

Once more of things that held my thought suspense,

But answer found from other than I ween'd;

For, Beatrice, when I thought to see,

I saw instead a senior at my side,

Rob'd, as the rest, in glory. Joy benign

Glow'd in his eye, and o'er his cheek diffus'd,

With gestures such as spake a father's love.

And, "Whither is she vanish'd?" straight I ask'd.

"By Beatrice summon'd," he replied,

"I come to aid thy wish. Looking aloft

To the third circle from the highest, there

Behold her on the throne, wherein her merit

Hath plac'd her." Answering not, mine eyes I rais'd, And saw her, where aloof she sat, her brow

A wreath reflecting of eternal beams.

Not from the centre of the sea so far
Unto the region of the highest thunder,

As was my ken from hers; and yet the form
Came through that medium down, unmix'd and pure.
"O Lady! thou in whom my hopes have rest!
Who, for my safety, hast not scorn'd, in hell
To leave the traces of thy footsteps mark'd!
For all mine eyes have seen, I, to thy power
And goodness, virtue owe and grace.
Of slave
Thou hast to freedom brought me; and no means,
For my deliverance apt, has left untried.
Thy liberal bounty still toward me keep,

That, when my spirit, which thou madest whole,
Is loosen'd from this body, it may find

Favour with thee." So I my suit preferr'd:
And she, so distant as appear'd, look'd down,

And smil'd; then tow'rds th' eternal fountain turn'd.

APPENDIX IV

SPECIMENS FROM THE ENGLISH VERSIONS OF THE Vita Nuova
LYELL (1835)

So noble and so modest doth appear

My lady when she any one salutes,

That every tongue becomes in trembling mute,

And none dare raise the eyes to look on her.

Robed in humility she hears her praise,
And passes on with calm benignity;
Appearing not a thing on earth, but come
From heaven, to show mankind a miracle.
So pleasing is the sight of her, that he

Who gazes feels a sweetness reach the heart
That must be proved or cannot be conceived.
And from her countenance there seems to flow
A spirit full of mildness and of love,
Which says for ever to the soul, O sigh.

GARROW (1846)

I say then that she was of so noble a presence, so abounding in every charm, that those who looked upon her felt within them so chaste, so gentle a sense of pleasure, that they were incapable of describing it. Nor was there any one that had the opportunity of seeing her, who did not instantly feel compelled to sigh. These and other extraordinary effects

were produced by her, actually and miraculously; wherefore reflecting on all this, and desiring to resume my former style of writing in her praise, I purposed saying some words whereby I might be able to make known her excellent and admirable powers; so that, not only those who had occasion actually to see her, but that others also might know as much of her as can be conveyed by words; and I made the following

sonnet :

My lady doth appear so fair and chaste,
When turning to salute the passers by,
That every tongue grows silent tremblingly,
And on her not an eye presumes to rest.
She passes on (hearing her praise expressed)
Benignly clothed in her modesty,

And seems a thing just 'lighted from the sky
On earth, a miracle to manifest.

Her face so charmeth those it shines upon,

That, through the eyes, it sendeth back alway

Sweet thoughts, which none that hath not felt can tell,

And from her lips there seems to flow as well

A soft and loving spirit, which doth say
Unto the soul incessantly: "Sigh on !"

MARTIN (1862)

say, her demeanour was so full of grace and dignity and every charm, that, looking upon her, men felt within them an emotion of inexpressible sweetness and elevation; nor was it possible for anyone to look upon her, but straightway a sigh arose from his breast. These and even more marvellous effects were wrought by her in a manner at once most strange and admirable; much meditating whereon, and wishing to resume my verses in her praise, I determined to express in words something of her wondrous and excelling influence, in order that not only those who had beheld her in the flesh, but others, might know what of her fair perfection

Γ

might be conveyed in words. Thereupon I composed this

sonnet:

So kind, so full of gentle courtesy,

My lady's feeling is, that every tongue

To silence thrills, and eyes, that on her hung
With mute observance, dare no more to see.
Onwards she moves, clothed with humility,
Hearing, with look benign, her praises rung;
A being, seeming sent from heaven among
Mankind, to show what heavenly wonders be.
Within her looks such stores of pleasure lie,

That through the gazer's eye creeps to his heart
A sweetness must be tasted to be known;
And from his lips, with love in every tone,

A spirit soft and gentle seems to part,

Which to her soul keeps saying, "Sigh! oh sigh!"

NORTON (1867)

I say that she showed herself so gentle and so full of pleasantness, that those who looked on her comprehended in themselves a pure and sweet delight, such as they could not after tell in words; nor was there any who might look upon her but that at first he needs must sigh. These and more admirable things proceeded from her admirably and with power. Wherefore I, thinking upon this, desiring to resume the style of her praise, resolved to say words in which I would set forth her admirable and excellent influences, to the end that not only those who might actually behold her, but also others, should know of her whatever words could tell. Then I devised this sonnet :

So gentle and so modest doth appear

My lady when she giveth her salute,

That every tongue becometh, trembling, mute;
Nor do the eyes to look upon her dare.