There was no light of sun left in the west, And slowly did the moon's new light increase. Heaven, without cloud, above the near hill's crest, Lay passion purple in a breathless peace. Stars started like still tears, in rapture shed, Which without consciousness the lids release.
All steadily, one little sparkle red, Afar, drew close. A woman's form grew up Out of the dimness, tall, with queen-like head, And in one hand was fire; in one, a cup. Of aspect grave she was, with eyes upraised, As one whose thoughts perpetually did sup At the Lord's table.
While the cresset blazed, Her I regarded. "Daughter, whither bent, And wherefore?" As by speech of man amazed, One moment her deep look to me she lent; Then, in a voice of hymn-like, solemn fall, Calm, as by role, she spake out her intent:
"I in my cruse bear water, wherewithal To quench the flames of Hell; and with my fire I Paradise would burn: that hence no small Fear shall impel, and no mean hope shall hire, Men to serve God as they have served of yore; But to his will shall set their whole desire, For love, love, love alone, forevermore!"
And "love, love, love," rang round her as she passed From sight, with mystic murmurs o'er and o'er Reverbed from hollow heaven, as from some vast, Deep-colored, vaulted, ocean-answering shell.
I, Ivo, had no power to ban or bless, But was as one withholden by a spell. Forward she fared in lofty loneliness, Urged on by an imperious inward stress, To waste fair Eden, and to drown fierce Hell.
Ricordati di me, che son la Pia. Siena mi fe; disfecomi Maremma; Salsi colui, che, inanellata pria, Disposato m'avea colla sua gemma.
To westward lies the unseen sea, Blue sea the live winds wander o'er. The many-colored sails can flee, And leave the dead, low-lying shore. Her longing does not seek the main, Her face turns northward first at morn; There, crowning all the wide champaign, Siena stood, where she was born.
Siena stands, and still shall stand; She ne'er shall see or town or tower. Warm life and beauty, hand in hand, Steal farther from her hour by hour. Yet forth she leans, with trembling knees, And northward will she stare and stare Through that thick wall of cypress-trees, And sigh adown the stirless air: