E avvegna ch'io fossi al dubbiar mio
lì quasi vetro a lo color ch'el veste,
tempo aspettar tacendo non patio,

ma de la bocca, «Che cose son queste?»,
mi pinse con la forza del suo peso:
per ch'io di coruscar vidi gran feste.

And notwithstanding my doubt
was as glass is to the color about it
I could not endure the time in silence

"What are these things?"
I exhorted with particular force
which in reply the lights glittered

I reflect
my place, my experience, 
the beliefs - and doubts - of others

Can I turn
to reflect the sky, sun
the stars glistening