THE DIVINE COMEDY: Inferno, Purgatorio & Paradiso (3 Classic Translations in One Edition). Dante Alighieri

Чтение книги онлайн.

       Or in the clime, that warms it), doth conceive,

       And from its womb produces many a tree

       Of various virtue. This when thou hast heard,

       The marvel ceases, if in yonder earth

       Some plant without apparent seed be found

       To fix its fibrous stem. And further learn,

       That with prolific foison of all seeds,

       This holy plain is fill'd, and in itself

       Bears fruit that ne'er was pluck'd on other soil.

       The water, thou behold'st, springs not from vein,

       As stream, that intermittently repairs

       And spends his pulse of life, but issues forth

       From fountain, solid, undecaying, sure;

       And by the will omnific, full supply

       Feeds whatsoe'er On either side it pours;

       On this devolv'd with power to take away

       Remembrance of offence, on that to bring

       Remembrance back of every good deed done.

       From whence its name of Lethe on this part;

       On th' other Eunoe: both of which must first

       Be tasted ere it work; the last exceeding

       All flavours else. Albeit thy thirst may now

       Be well contented, if I here break off,

       No more revealing: yet a corollary

       I freely give beside: nor deem my words

       Less grateful to thee, if they somewhat pass

       The stretch of promise. They, whose verse of yore

       The golden age recorded and its bliss,

       On the Parnassian mountain, of this place

       Perhaps had dream'd. Here was man guiltless, here

       Perpetual spring and every fruit, and this

       The far-fam'd nectar." Turning to the bards,

       When she had ceas'd, I noted in their looks

       A smile at her conclusion; then my face

       Again directed to the lovely dame.