And that continuing brightened more and more, Within my thought I said, “What thing is this?” And a delicious melody there ran Along the luminous air, whence holy zeal Made me rebuke the hardihood of Eve; For there where earth and heaven obedient were, The woman only, and but just created, Could not endure to stay ’neath any veil; Underneath which had she devoutly stayed, I sooner should have tasted those delights Ineffable, and for a longer time. While ’mid such manifold first-fruits I walked Of the eternal pleasure all enrapt, And still solicitous of more delights, In front of us like an enkindled fire Became the air beneath the verdant boughs, And the sweet sound as singing now was heard. O Virgins sacrosanct! if ever hunger, Vigils, or cold for you I have endured, The occasion spurs me their reward to claim! Now Helicon must needs pour forth for me, And with her choir Urania must assist me, 1086 To put in verse things difficult to think.