Harvard Classics Volume 20. Golden Deer Classics

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СКАЧАТЬ venture, fear it will in folly end.

      Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know’st,

      Than I can speak.” As one, who unresolves

      What he hath late resolved, and with new thoughts

      Changes his purpose, from his first intent

      Removed; e’en such was I on that dun coast,

      Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first

      So eagerly embraced. “If right thy words

      I scan,” replied that shade magnanimous,

      “Thy soul is by vile fear assail’d, which oft

      So overcasts a man, that he recoils

      From noblest resolution, like a beast

      At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.

      That from this terror thou mayst free thyself,

      I will instruct thee why I came, and what

      I heard in that same instant, when for thee

      Grief touch’d me first. I was among the tribe,

      Who rest suspended,^[14] when a dame, so blest

      And lovely I besought her to command,

      Call’d me; her eyes were brighter than the star

      Of day; and she, with gentle voice and soft,

      Angelically tuned, her speech address’d:

      ‘O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame

      Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!

      A friend, not of my fortune but myself,

      On the wide desert in his road has met

      Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn’d.

      Now much I dread lest he past help have stray’d,

      And I be risen too late for his relief,

      From what in heaven of him I heard. Speed now,

      And by thy eloquent persuasive tongue,

      And by all means for his deliverance meet,

      Assist him. So to me will comfort spring.

      I, who now bid thee on this errand forth,

      Am Beatrice;^[15] from a place I come

      Revisited with joy. Love brought me thence,

      Who prompts my speech. When in my Master’s sight

      I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell.’

      “She then was silent, and I thus began:

      ‘O Lady! by whose influence alone

      Mankind excels whatever is contain’d

      Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb,

      So thy command delights me, that to obey,

      If it were done already, would seem late.

      No need hast thou further to speak thy will:

      Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth

      To leave that ample space, where to return

      Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath.’

      “She then: ‘Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire,

      I will instruct thee briefly why no dread

      Hinders my entrance here. Those things alone

      Are to be fear’d whence evil may proceed;

      None else, for none are terrible beside.

      I am so framed by God, thanks to His grace!

      That any sufferance of your misery

      Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire

      Assails me. In high Heaven a blessed Dame^[16]

      Resides, who mourns with such effectual grief

      That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,

      That God’s stern judgment to her will inclines.’

      To Lucia,^[17] calling, her she thus bespake:

      ‘Now doth thy faithful servant need thy aid,

      And I commend him to thee.’ At her word

      Sped Lucia, of all cruelty the foe,

      And coming to the place, where I abode

      Seated with Rachel, her of ancient days,

      She thus address’d me: “Thou true praise of God!

      Beatrice! why is not thy succour lent

      To him, who so much loved thee, as to leave

      For thy sake all the multitude admires?

      Dost thou not hear how pitiful his wail,

      Nor mark the death, which in the torrent flood,

      Swoln mightier than a sea, him struggling holds?”

      Ne’er among men did any with such speed

      Haste to their profit, flee from their annoy,

      As, when these words were spoken, I came here,

      Down from my blessed seat, trusting the force

      Of thy pure eloquence, which thee, and all

      Who well have mark’d it, into honor brings.’

      “When she had ended, her bright beaming eyes

      Tearful she turn’d aside; whereat I felt

      Redoubled zeal to serve thee. As she will’d,

      Thus am I come: I saved thee from the beast,

      Who thy near way across the goodly mount

      Prevented. What is this comes o’er thee than?

      Why, why dost thou hang back? why in thy breast

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