The Battle of Darkness and Light . Джон Мильтон

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СКАЧАТЬ lucis ante" so devoutly issued

       Forth from its mouth, and with such dulcet notes,

       It made me issue forth from my own mind.

      And then the others, sweetly and devoutly,

       Accompanied it through all the hymn entire,

       Having their eyes on the supernal wheels.

      Here, Reader, fix thine eyes well on the truth,

       For now indeed so subtile is the veil,

       Surely to penetrate within is easy.

      I saw that army of the gentle-born

       Thereafterward in silence upward gaze,

       As if in expectation, pale and humble;

      And from on high come forth and down descend,

       I saw two Angels with two flaming swords,

       Truncated and deprived of their points.

      Green as the little leaflets just now born

       Their garments were, which, by their verdant pinions

       Beaten and blown abroad, they trailed behind.

      One just above us came to take his station,

       And one descended to the opposite bank,

       So that the people were contained between them.

      Clearly in them discerned I the blond head;

       But in their faces was the eye bewildered,

       As faculty confounded by excess.

      "From Mary's bosom both of them have come,"

       Sordello said, "as guardians of the valley

       Against the serpent, that will come anon."

      Whereupon I, who knew not by what road,

       Turned round about, and closely drew myself,

       Utterly frozen, to the faithful shoulders.

      And once again Sordello: "Now descend we

       'Mid the grand shades, and we will speak to them;

       Right pleasant will it be for them to see you."

      Only three steps I think that I descended,

       And was below, and saw one who was looking

       Only at me, as if he fain would know me.

      Already now the air was growing dark,

       But not so that between his eyes and mine

       It did not show what it before locked up.

      Tow'rds me he moved, and I tow'rds him did move;

       Noble Judge Nino! how it me delighted,

       When I beheld thee not among the damned!

      No greeting fair was left unsaid between us;

       Then asked he: "How long is it since thou camest

       O'er the far waters to the mountain's foot?"

      "Oh!" said I to him, "through the dismal places

       I came this morn; and am in the first life,

       Albeit the other, going thus, I gain."

      And on the instant my reply was heard,

       He and Sordello both shrank back from me,

       Like people who are suddenly bewildered.

      One to Virgilius, and the other turned

       To one who sat there, crying, "Up, Currado!

       Come and behold what God in grace has willed!"

      Then, turned to me: "By that especial grace

       Thou owest unto Him, who so conceals

       His own first wherefore, that it has no ford,

      When thou shalt be beyond the waters wide,

       Tell my Giovanna that she pray for me,

       Where answer to the innocent is made.

      I do not think her mother loves me more,

       Since she has laid aside her wimple white,

       Which she, unhappy, needs must wish again.

      Through her full easily is comprehended

       How long in woman lasts the fire of love,

       If eye or touch do not relight it often.

      So fair a hatchment will not make for her

       The Viper marshalling the Milanese

       A-field, as would have made Gallura's Cock."

      In this wise spake he, with the stamp impressed

       Upon his aspect of that righteous zeal

       Which measurably burneth in the heart.

      My greedy eyes still wandered up to heaven,

       Still to that point where slowest are the stars,

       Even as a wheel the nearest to its axle.

      And my Conductor: "Son, what dost thou gaze at

       Up there?" And I to him: "At those three torches

       With which this hither pole is all on fire."

      And he to me: "The four resplendent stars

       Thou sawest this morning are down yonder low,

       And these have mounted up to where those were."

      As he was speaking, to himself Sordello

       Drew him, and said, "Lo there our Adversary!"

       And pointed with his finger to look thither.

      Upon the side on which the little valley

       No barrier hath, a serpent was; perchance

       The same which gave to Eve the bitter food.

      'Twixt grass and flowers came on the evil streak,

       Turning at times its head about, and licking

       Its back like to a beast that smoothes itself.

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