第八篇那时正是航海者望乡心酸的时刻，在故园他们和至亲好友惜别；那时也恰是初上征途的香客，远闻钟声，如莅斜阳，因而神伤故里的时候；彼时我开始轻松我的听觉，注视着灵魂中起立的一个。他做了一种手势，要求别人谛听。他两手相连，高举向天空，望眼东方，似乎对如父的上帝说：“除您以外，我别无思念。”如此，从他嘴里发出多么柔和和多么虔敬的声调，使人怅惘，忘失了自己。那赞美诗的第一句是：“在阳光消散前。”其他的灵魂，也以同样虔敬柔和的音调，眼望着东方，和着第一个，唱完全曲。
读者诸君！于此请用敏锐的眼光抓住真相，因为那层幕太薄，是很容易错过去的。
我看见那时这高贵的一队，静静地望着天空。似乎期待什么。面色淡白，态度谦逊。终于我看见出现了两位天使，从天下降，手拿折断而无锋尖的火剑。他们的薄裳绿如初生的嫩叶．因为受他们绿翼的轻摆，飘飘扬扬。一位停息在高岗的这边，另一位停息在高岗的那边，灵魂们正处在他们的中间。我能看得清楚，他们的头发全是金栗色，但他们的脸使人眼花，因为光芒太强烈了。索尔戴罗说：“这两位都是从马利亚的怀抱里下降，并来守护这山谷的，因为那条蛇就要出现了。”我不知道他那条路来，赶忙向四周注视，因为害怕的缘故，我贴近了我忠实的伙伴的肩膀。索尔戴罗终于说：“现在我们走进谷中罢，可以和那些大人物谈谈，他们也很喜欢看见咱们呢。”
我想，不过行了三步罢，我们已经降到谷中，那时有一位灵魂注视我，似乎想认出我的模样。此时天色已经昏暗，但是我和他之间，由于太近的缘故，以前模糊，现在反而非常清楚了。我们彼此靠近，他迎了上来。尊严的审判官尼诺呀！“我看见你在这儿，不在罪人中间，我多么欢喜呀！我们相互致敬，说了几乎所有的客气话；他对我说：“你从什么时候来到这座山的脚下，并渡过了宽阔无边的大海？”我对他说：“哦！我是经过了悲惨之地，今晨才到的；我们处在第一生命，我这样行进以探求其他生命。”
我这句答话方才出口，索尔戴罗与他都突然后退了一步，如同受了惊吓的人。前一位立即转向维吉尔，后一位则向另一个坐着的灵魂，叫道：“库拉多，站起来！快来看看上帝所将许的恩惠。”他又转向我说：“上帝给你这样的殊荣，我真难窥他的意旨何在；假使你能回到巨浪滔天的彼岸，请你叫我的女儿乔万娜为我祈祷，上天从来对无罪者的请求是可以答允的。我不信她的母亲仍爱我，从她脱去白巾后；可是她的不幸始终令她懊悔。从她的行为轻易可以明白女人的情火是多么的短促，假使不用激情和拥抱去再点燃他。米兰人盾牌上的蝮蛇为她做好坟墓。远不及加卢拉的雄鸡来得漂亮罢，”他这样说着，从他脸上的色神彩看来，他胸中是充溢着一股热忱的。
那时我的眼光注视天际，注目着那行得最慢的群星，譬如车轮上接近轴心的位置。我的向导对我说：“我的孩子，你看什么？”我对他说：“我看着那三颗星，他们的光芒掩盖了整个南极。”他对我说：”今晨你所看见的四颗明星，现在在下面；而现在的三颗正在他们今晨的位置。”
维吉尔说话的时候，索尔戴罗忽然把他拉近，说：“看！我们的敌人在那里！”他用手指点维吉尔看。在山谷没有高岗的一处，出现了一很大的蛇，这也许就是拿禁果给夏娃吃的那一条。这条恶虫弯曲在花草里爬着，不时把头转回到他的背上舐着，好象舐自己毛的走兽。那时我并没有看见，所以也无法叙述，两只天雕如何飞起，不过我已经看到他们在突出了。空中扇动的绿翼，呼呼有声，那条蛇当即逃走了，天使回来，像飘一样，返到原来的天空。
那位受招呼走近审判官的灵魂，在这捕猎的时间，他不停地注视我。他说：“那神灯引领你上升，是知道你有足够的决心，好比具备足够的蜡烛，使你上到灿烂的天顶！假使你知道玛格拉山谷或附近的新闻，那末请告诉我，因为我曾经是那里的主人。我叫做库拉多·玛拉斯庇那：我不是老的那个，我是他的后裔。我热爱我的家族，所以我所在这里涤罪。”
我对他说：”可惜！我没有去过你的家乡；但在欧罗巴这块土地上，谁不知道？你的家族声名远布，那里的缙绅先生，那里的城市小邑就算从没有到过的人也耳熟能详了。我对你发誓：你那可尊敬的家族，在慷慨解囊和拔刀相助这两种可贵的品德，仍保持着不褪色的光荣，就和我的升天是一样的真实。那里的风俗人情都非常好；当全世界走入邪路的时候，他依旧保持在正道上面，蔑视城府的捷径。”
这样他又说：“去罢！等待太阳困在羊四脚所践踏的床上七次，你这番诚挚的心意一定会刻入你的头脑里，就象钉进去一般，强似别人的传说，假使天命不中途改变。”
In men at sea, and melts their thoughtful heart,
Who in the morn have bid sweet friends farewell,
And pilgrim newly on his road with love
Thrills, if he hear the vesper bell from far,
That seems to mourn for the expiring day:
When I, no longer taking heed to hear
Began, with wonder, from those spirits to mark
One risen from its seat, which with its hand
Audience implor'd. Both palms it join'd and rais'd,
Fixing its steadfast gaze towards the east,
As telling God, "I care for naught beside."
"Te Lucis Ante," so devoutly then
Came from its lip, and in so soft a strain,
That all my sense in ravishment was lost.
And the rest after, softly and devout,
Follow'd through all the hymn, with upward gaze
Directed to the bright supernal wheels.
Here, reader! for the truth makes thine eyes keen:
For of so subtle texture is this veil,
That thou with ease mayst pass it through unmark'd.
I saw that gentle band silently next
Look up, as if in expectation held,
Pale and in lowly guise; and from on high
I saw forth issuing descend beneath
Two angels with two flame-illumin'd swords,
Broken and mutilated at their points.
Green as the tender leaves but newly born,
Their vesture was, the which by wings as green
Beaten, they drew behind them, fann'd in air.
A little over us one took his stand,
The other lighted on the' Opposing hill,
So that the troop were in the midst contain'd.
Well I descried the whiteness on their heads;
But in their visages the dazzled eye
Was lost, as faculty that by too much
Is overpower'd. "From Mary's bosom both
Are come," exclaim'd Sordello, "as a guard
Over the vale, ganst him, who hither tends,
The serpent." Whence, not knowing by which path
He came, I turn'd me round, and closely press'd,
All frozen, to my leader's trusted side.
Sordello paus'd not: "To the valley now
(For it is time) let us descend; and hold
Converse with those great shadows: haply much
Their sight may please ye." Only three steps down
Methinks I measur'd, ere I was beneath,
And noted one who look'd as with desire
To know me. Time was now that air arrow dim;
Yet not so dim, that 'twixt his eyes and mine
It clear'd not up what was conceal'd before.
Mutually tow'rds each other we advanc'd.
Nino, thou courteous judge! what joy I felt,
When I perceiv'd thou wert not with the bad!
No salutation kind on either part
Was left unsaid. He then inquir'd: "How long
Since thou arrived'st at the mountain's foot,
Over the distant waves?"—"O!" answer'd I,
"Through the sad seats of woe this morn I came,
And still in my first life, thus journeying on,
The other strive to gain." Soon as they heard
My words, he and Sordello backward drew,
As suddenly amaz'd. To Virgil one,
The other to a spirit turn'd, who near
Was seated, crying: "Conrad! up with speed:
Come, see what of his grace high God hath will'd."
Then turning round to me: "By that rare mark
Of honour which thou ow'st to him, who hides
So deeply his first cause, it hath no ford,
When thou shalt be beyond the vast of waves.
Tell my Giovanna, that for me she call
There, where reply to innocence is made.
Her mother, I believe, loves me no more;
Since she has chang'd the white and wimpled folds,
Which she is doom'd once more with grief to wish.
By her it easily may be perceiv'd,
How long in women lasts the flame of love,
If sight and touch do not relume it oft.
For her so fair a burial will not make
The viper which calls Milan to the field,
As had been made by shrill Gallura's bird."
He spoke, and in his visage took the stamp
Of that right seal, which with due temperature
Glows in the bosom. My insatiate eyes
Meanwhile to heav'n had travel'd, even there
Where the bright stars are slowest, as a wheel
Nearest the axle; when my guide inquir'd:
"What there aloft, my son, has caught thy gaze?"
I answer'd: "The three torches, with which here
The pole is all on fire." He then to me:
"The four resplendent stars, thou saw'st this morn
Are there beneath, and these ris'n in their stead."
While yet he spoke. Sordello to himself
Drew him, and cry'd: "Lo there our enemy!"
And with his hand pointed that way to look.
Along the side, where barrier none arose
Around the little vale, a serpent lay,
Such haply as gave Eve the bitter food.
Between the grass and flowers, the evil snake
Came on, reverting oft his lifted head;
And, as a beast that smoothes its polish'd coat,
Licking his hack. I saw not, nor can tell,
How those celestial falcons from their seat
Mov'd, but in motion each one well descried,
Hearing the air cut by their verdant plumes.
The serpent fled; and to their stations back
The angels up return'd with equal flight.
The Spirit (who to Nino, when he call'd,
Had come), from viewing me with fixed ken,
Through all that conflict, loosen'd not his sight.
"So may the lamp, which leads thee up on high,
Find, in thy destin'd lot, of wax so much,
As may suffice thee to the enamel's height."
It thus began: "If any certain news
Of Valdimagra and the neighbour part
Thou know'st, tell me, who once was mighty there
They call'd me Conrad Malaspina, not
That old one, but from him I sprang. The love
I bore my people is now here refin'd."
"In your dominions," I answer'd, "ne'er was I.
But through all Europe where do those men dwell,
To whom their glory is not manifest?
The fame, that honours your illustrious house,
Proclaims the nobles and proclaims the land;
So that he knows it who was never there.
I swear to you, so may my upward route
Prosper! your honour'd nation not impairs
The value of her coffer and her sword.
Nature and use give her such privilege,
That while the world is twisted from his course
By a bad head, she only walks aright,
And has the evil way in scorn." He then:
"Now pass thee on: sev'n times the tired sun
Revisits not the couch, which with four feet
The forked Aries covers, ere that kind
Opinion shall be nail'd into thy brain
With stronger nails than other's speech can drive,
If the sure course of judgment be not stay'd."