The air
  Impregnate changed to water.  Fell the rain: 
  And to the fosses came all that the land
  Contain’d not, and, as mightiest streams are wont,
  To the great river with such headlong sweep
  Rush’d, that naught stayed its course.

Through that celestial forest, whose thick shade
With lively greenness the new-springing day
Attempered, eager now to roam and search
Its limits round, forthwith I left the bank;
Along the champaign leisurely my way
Pursuing, o’er the ground that on all sides
Delicious odour breathed.  A pleasant air,
That intermitted never, never veered,
Smote on my temples gently, as a wind
Of softest influence, at which the sprays,
Obedient all, lean’d trembling to that part
Where first the holy mountain casts his shade;
Yet were not so disordered; but that still
Upon their top the feather’d quiristers
Applied their wonted art, and with full joy
Welcomed those hours of prime, and warbled shrill
Amid the leaves, that to their jocund lays
Kept tenour; even as from branch to branch
Along the piny forests on the shore
Of Chiassi rolls the gathering melody,
When Eolus hath from his cavern loosed
The dripping south.  Already had my steps,
Tho’ slow, so far into that ancient wood
Transported me, I could not ken the place
Where I had enter’d; when behold! my path
Was bounded by a rill, which to the left
With little rippling waters bent the grass
That issued from its brink.

and this of the heavenly Paradise: 

                                I looked,
  And, in the likeness of a river, saw
  Light flowing, from whose amber-seeming waves
  Flash’d up effulgence, as they glided on
  ’Twixt banks, on either side, painted with spring,
  Incredible how fair; and, from the tide,
  There, ever and anon outstarting, flew
  Sparkles instinct with life; and in the flowers
  Did set them, like to rubies chased in gold;
  Then, as if drunk with odours, plunged again
  Into the wondrous flood, from which, as one
  Re-entered, still another rose.

His numerous comparisons conjure up whole scenes, perfect in truth to
Nature, and shewing a keen and widely ranging eye.  For example: 

              Bellowing, there groaned
  A noise, as of a sea in tempest torn
  By warring winds. 
                                        (Inferno.)

O’er better waves to steer her rapid course
The light bark of my genius lifts the sail,
Well pleased to leave so cruel sea behind. 

          
                                                                  (Purgatorio.)

All ye, who in small bark have following sail’d,
Eager to listen on the adventurous track
Of my proud keel, that singing cuts her way. 

                                                                            (Paradiso.)