灵魂的上岸。音乐家卡塞拉。
　　　
　　 从耶路撒冷望去，这时的太阳已在西方的地平线上。和此星相对的夜就快从恒河升起，她携着天秤，直到夜长于昼的季节，天秤始从她的手中落去。而在我站的地方看，则太阳渐出于东方，晨光之脸山白色而红色，及年事既久、才变为橙黄色了。
　　　
　　 我们仍滞留在海滨，像一个刚开始旅行的人，他的思想已经上了路，可是他的身体仍然没有动。忽然，似乎有一珠明亮的火星，他的红光穿透海上的浓雾，出现在远处我希望能再见到一次！那红光由海上直向我们来，比飞鸟还要迅急；我掉头瞥见我的引导人，一会儿再望那红光时，则比前更亮更大了，稍后，红光的两旁现着白光，不知是什么东西，不久又增了一种白色。
　　　
　　 我的引导人并不解释什么，直到那两旁白光现为双翼的形状时，但那时他已经认出这是一位驾驭者了；他叫道；“快，快，跪下！这是上帝所派的天使！合什在胸前！这就是你将晋见的官员之一。你看罢，他不用人类的方法：既没有桨，也没有帆，仅凭他的双翼，居然航行在这样广阔的海上！你看罢，他凌着空，用他不褪的神羽从来不脱换的鼓动着空气。”
　　　
　　 终于那神鸟越接近我们，越觉光亮，几乎使我的眼睛承受不住。我把头低下；他和船贴近了海岸；那条船异常精致，轻浅，似乎只轻擦在水面上。天上的驾驶者，立在船尾，能一睹他的庄严美丽，就是幸福；有百多个灵魂坐在船里，这些灵魂异口同声唱着：“以色列出了埃及……。”直到这诗篇的终了。合唱后，天使向他们画了一个“神圣的十字”，灵魂都上了岸；天使循着来路，迅急地回转去了。
　　　
　　 这班灵魂都驻足在那里，似乎不知路径，左顾右盼，就象个旅客到了一处新地一般，那时阳光满地，己把摩羯星逐离了天中，于是新到的探访者抬头向着我们，说：“假使你们知道，请指点我们登山的路径！”维吉尔回复道：”你们以为我们熟悉此地吗；其实我们也是新到，和你们一样。只是比你们略微早一会儿，我门走的另外一条路，那是崎岖惊险，艰苦不堪的，而现在的登山，对于我们简直是在玩了。”
　　　
　　 这些灵魂看见我呼吸着，立即意识到我还是活人。他们惊奇得脸色发白。好比环绕着一个手持一枝橄枝的使者，民众跑来听新闻，你拥我挤，谁都不肯后退一步，现在这些愉快的灵魂也是同样拥挤着围拢，凝视着我，几乎忘记了去丰富自己的美点。其中有一个冲上来要拥抱我，显然对于我的情意深厚，不知不觉我要同样礼待他。呵，质幻的影子，空虚到只有外貌！我三次用手去绕他的腰，三次都回到我自己的胸前。由于惊奇，我想我的脸上泛出红霞了；那时影子微笑着向后退去，我立即追随着。后来他轻轻地叫我停下来，那时我已认出他是谁，他也停了下来，好和我说上几句话。
　　　
　　 他说的是：“在我的生前，我是多么爱你呀！现在我虽然脱离了肉体，可仍旧非常爱你。你为什么到这里来
　　　
　　 我说：“亲爱的卡塞拉！这次旅行，是希望下次还能回到此地；但是你为什么迟到了这许多时候呢？”他说：“那天使愿意在什么时候携带任何人，这是他的特权，虽然好几次我要求渡过来但都遭到回绝；因为他是以最公正的意志为意志的。三个月来，他接待那些愿意上船的人，毫无困难；如此我也到达海边，在台伯河水变为咸味的地方上船，天使和善地接待了我；方才他又张翼返回到那河口去了，因为那里聚集着许多不降落到阿刻隆去的灵魂呢，”
　　　
　　 如此我又对他说：“你处于新环境之下，并不失去你的记忆和艺术，那末你还能唱那可以使我动情的恋歌吗？假使还可以，请你再让我安适一下罢。因为我以肉身来到此地，历尽千辛万苦！”于是他开始唱道：“爱情，他在我的心里谈着……”他的歌声柔和，悦耳。真是余音绕梁，三日不绝！
　　　
　　 老师和我，还有伴着卡塞拉的那班灵魂，听了此歌而出神，似乎每个人都忘了他应做的事情。我们都停在那里，专心颂听着歌声，而那可敬的老人突然出现，喊道：“这样懒惰的灵魂是谁？为什么驻足在这里？快些上山去！卸下你们的鳞甲，这个阻碍你们晋见天帝呢。”
　　　
　　 一群鸽子聚集着啄麦粒的时候，安静地保持他们享受食品的状态，但若一有任何可怕的事情发生，他们马上放弃食品而飞去；现在看见这群新到的灵魂也是这样他们立刻放弃了卡塞拉的歌声，向着那些陌生山路乱跑，而我们呢，动身当然也不敢怠慢。

　　Now had the sun to that horizon reach'd,
　　That covers, with the most exalted point
　　Of its meridian circle, Salem's walls,
　　And night, that opposite to him her orb
　　Sounds, from the stream of Ganges issued forth,
　　Holding the scales, that from her hands are dropp'd
　　When she reigns highest: so that where I was,
　　Aurora's white and vermeil-tinctur'd cheek
　　To orange turn'd as she in age increas'd.
　　
　　Meanwhile we linger'd by the water's brink,
　　Like men, who, musing on their road, in thought
　　Journey, while motionless the body rests.
　　When lo! as near upon the hour of dawn,
　　Through the thick vapours Mars with fiery beam
　　Glares down in west, over the ocean floor;
　　So seem'd, what once again I hope to view,
　　A light so swiftly coming through the sea,
　　No winged course might equal its career.
　　From which when for a space I had withdrawn
　　Thine eyes, to make inquiry of my guide,
　　Again I look'd and saw it grown in size
　　And brightness: thou on either side appear'd
　　Something, but what I knew not of bright hue,
　　And by degrees from underneath it came
　　Another. My preceptor silent yet
　　Stood, while the brightness, that we first discern'd,
　　Open'd the form of wings: then when he knew
　　The pilot, cried aloud, "Down, down; bend low
　　Thy knees; behold God's angel: fold thy hands:
　　Now shalt thou see true Ministers indeed."
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　Lo how all human means he sets at naught!
　　So that nor oar he needs, nor other sail
　　Except his wings, between such distant shores.
　　Lo how straight up to heaven he holds them rear'd,
　　Winnowing the air with those eternal plumes,
　　That not like mortal hairs fall off or change!"
　　
　　As more and more toward us came, more bright
　　Appear'd the bird of God, nor could the eye
　　Endure his splendor near: I mine bent down.
　　He drove ashore in a small bark so swift
　　And light, that in its course no wave it drank.
　　The heav'nly steersman at the prow was seen,
　　Visibly written blessed in his looks.
　　
　　
　　Within a hundred spirits and more there sat.
　　"In Exitu Israel de Aegypto;"
　　All with one voice together sang, with what
　　In the remainder of that hymn is writ.
　　Then soon as with the sign of holy cross
　　He bless'd them, they at once leap'd out on land,
　　The swiftly as he came return'd. The crew,
　　There left, appear'd astounded with the place,
　　Gazing around as one who sees new sights.
　　
　　From every side the sun darted his beams,
　　And with his arrowy radiance from mid heav'n
　　Had chas'd the Capricorn, when that strange tribe
　　Lifting their eyes towards us: "If ye know,
　　Declare what path will Lead us to the mount."
　　
　　Them Virgil answer'd. "Ye suppose perchance
　　Us well acquainted with this place: but here,
　　We, as yourselves, are strangers. Not long erst
　　We came, before you but a little space,
　　By other road so rough and hard, that now
　　The' ascent will seem to us as play." The spirits,
　　Who from my breathing had perceiv'd I liv'd,
　　Grew pale with wonder. As the multitude
　　Flock round a herald, sent with olive branch,
　　To hear what news he brings, and in their haste
　　Tread one another down, e'en so at sight
　　Of me those happy spirits were fix'd, each one
　　Forgetful of its errand, to depart,
　　Where cleans'd from sin, it might be made all fair.
　　
　　Then one I saw darting before the rest
　　With such fond ardour to embrace me, I
　　To do the like was mov'd. O shadows vain
　　Except in outward semblance! thrice my hands
　　I clasp'd behind it, they as oft return'd
　　Empty into my breast again. Surprise
　　I needs must think was painted in my looks,
　　For that the shadow smil'd and backward drew.
　　To follow it I hasten'd, but with voice
　　Of sweetness it enjoin'd me to desist.
　　Then who it was I knew, and pray'd of it,
　　To talk with me, it would a little pause.
　　It answered: "Thee as in my mortal frame
　　I lov'd, so loos'd forth it I love thee still,
　　And therefore pause; but why walkest thou here?"
　　
　　"Not without purpose once more to return,
　　Thou find'st me, my Casella, where I am
　　Journeying this way;" I said, "but how of thee
　　Hath so much time been lost?" He answer'd straight:
　　"No outrage hath been done to me, if he
　　Who when and whom he chooses takes, me oft
　　This passage hath denied, since of just will
　　His will he makes. These three months past indeed,
　　He, whose chose to enter, with free leave
　　Hath taken; whence I wand'ring by the shore
　　Where Tyber's wave grows salt, of him gain'd kind
　　Admittance, at that river's mouth, tow'rd which
　　His wings are pointed, for there always throng
　　All such as not to Archeron descend."
　　
　　Then I: "If new laws have not quite destroy'd
　　Memory and use of that sweet song of love,
　　That while all my cares had power to 'swage;
　　Please thee with it a little to console
　　My spirit, that incumber'd with its frame,
　　Travelling so far, of pain is overcome."
　　
　　"Love that discourses in my thoughts." He then
　　Began in such soft accents, that within
　　The sweetness thrills me yet. My gentle guide
　　And all who came with him, so well were pleas'd,
　　That seem'd naught else might in their thoughts have room.
　　
　　Fast fix'd in mute attention to his notes
　　We stood, when lo! that old man venerable
　　Exclaiming, "How is this, ye tardy spirits?
　　What negligence detains you loit'ring here?
　　Run to the mountain to cast off those scales,
　　That from your eyes the sight of God conceal."
　　
　　As a wild flock of pigeons, to their food
　　Collected, blade or tares, without their pride
　　Accustom'd, and in still and quiet sort,
　　If aught alarm them, suddenly desert
　　Their meal, assail'd by more important care;
　　So I that new-come troop beheld, the song
　　Deserting, hasten to the mountain's side,
　　As one who goes yet where he tends knows not.
　　
　　Nor with less hurried step did we depart.