NowHeliconmustneedspourforthforme,

AndwithherchoirUraniamustassistme,

Toputinversethingsdifficulttothink.

Alittlefartheron, seventreesofgold

Insemblancethelongspacestillintervening

Betweenourselvesandthemdidcounterfeit;

ButwhenIhadapproachedsoneartothem

Thecommonobject, whichthesensedeceives,

Lostnotbydistanceanyofitsmarks,

Thefacultythatlendsdiscoursetoreason

Didapprehendthattheywerecandlesticks,

Andinthevoicesofthesong "Hosanna!"

Abovethemflamedtheharnessbeautiful,

Farbrighterthanthemoonintheserene

Ofmidnight, atthemiddleofhermonth.

Iturnedmeround, withadmirationfilled,

TogoodVirgilius, andheansweredme

Withvisagenolessfullofwonderment.

ThenbackIturnedmyfacetothosehighthings,

Whichmovedthemselvestowardsussosedately,

Theyhadbeendistancedbynew-weddedbrides.

Theladychidme: "Whydostthouburnonly

Sowithaffectionforthelivinglights,

Anddostnotlookatwhatcomesafterthem?"

ThensawIpeople, asbehindtheirleaders,

Comingbehindthem, garmentedinwhite,

Andsuchawhitenessneverwasonearth.

Thewateronmyleftflankwasresplendent,

Andbacktomereflectedmyleftside,

E'enasamirror, ifIlookedtherein.

WhenIuponmymarginhadsuchpost

Thatnothingbutthestreamdividedus,

BettertoseeIgavemystepsrepose;

AndIbeheldtheflameletsonwardgo,

Leavingbehindthemselvestheairdepicted,

Andtheyoftrailingpennonshadthesemblance,

Sothatitoverheadremaineddistinct

Withsevenfoldlists, allofthemofthecolours

Whencethesun'sbowismade, andDelia'sgirdle.

Thesestandardstotherearwardlongerwere