Singinglikeuntoanenamouredlady

She, withtheendingofherwords, continued:

"Beatiquorumtectasuntpeccata."

AndevenasNymphs, thatwanderedallalone

Amongthesylvanshadows, sedulous

Onetoavoidandonetoseethesun,

Shethenagainstthestreammovedonward, going

Alongthebank, andIabreastofher,

Herlittlestepswithlittlestepsattending.

Thetwentyfoureldersintheprocession

Betweenherstepsandminewerenotahundred,

Whenequallythemarginsgaveaturn,

Insuchaway, thattotheEastIfaced.

Noreventhusourwaycontinuedfar

Beforetheladywhollyturnedherself

Untome, saying, "Brother, lookandlisten!"

Andlo! asuddenlustreranacross

Oneverysideathwartthespaciousforest,

Suchthatitmademedoubtifitwerelightning.

Butsincethelightningceasesasitcomes,

Andthatcontinuingbrightenedmoreandmore,

WithinmythoughtIsaid, "Whatthingisthis?"

Andadeliciousmelodythereran

Alongtheluminousair, whenceholyzeal

MademerebukethehardihoodofEve;

Fortherewhereearthandheavenobedientwere,

Thewomanonly, andbutjustcreated,

Couldnotenduretostay 'neathanyveil;

Underneathwhichhadshedevoutlystayed,

Isoonershouldhavetastedthosedelights

Ineffable, andforalongertime.

While 'midsuchmanifoldfirst-fruitsIwalked

Oftheeternalpleasureallenrapt,

Andstillsolicitousofmoredelights,

Infrontofuslikeanenkindledfire

Becametheairbeneaththeverdantboughs,

Andthesweetsoundassingingnowwasheard.

OVirginssacrosanct! ifeverhunger,

Vigils, orcoldforyouIhaveendured,

Theoccasionspursmetheirrewardtoclaim!