  DejÓ atrÁs aquellas regiones y atravesÓ otras inmensidades llenas de visiones terribles, que ni Él pudo comprender ni yo acierto Á concebir, y llegÓ al cabo al Último cÍrculo[1] de la espiral de los cielos, donde los serafines[2] adoran al SeÑor, cubierto el rostro con las triples alas[3] y postrados Á sus pies. [Footnote 1: Último circulo. Becquer follows no particular metaphysical system in his description of the various heavenly spheres.] [Footnote 2: serafines. The seraphim ('burning' or 'flaming ones') are the highest order in the hierarchy of angels. They are mentioned by Isaiah (vi. 2). Dante speaks of the seraph as "that soul in Heaven which is most enlightened." Paradiso, canto XXI, Charles Eliot Norton's translation. See p. 47, note 1, and also p. 152, note 1.] [Footnote 3: cubierto el rostro con las triples alas. Becquer does not follow exactly the Biblical description. "Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly." Isaiah vi. 2. In the famous vision of St. Francis of Assisi, at the time that he received his stigmata, the Seraph appeared to him with two wings raised above his head, with two wings stretched out for flight, and with two wings covering his whole body. See Mrs. Oliphant, Francis of Assisi, London, Macmillan & Co., 1871, pp. 253–255.] Él quiso mirarlo. Un aliento de fuego abrasÓ su cara, un mar de luz obscureciÓ sus ojos, un trueno gigante retumbÓ en sus oÍdos, y arrancado del corcel y lanzado al vacÍo como la piedra candente que arroja un volcÁn, se sintiÓ bajar, y bajar sin caer nunca, ciego, [Footnote 1: Compare—
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