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curl'd fume Of incense breathing up the well…wrought toil。 Preceding the
blest vessel； onward came With light dance leaping； girt in humble guise；
Sweet Israel's harper： in that hap he seem'd Less and yet more than kingly。
Opposite； At a great palace； from the lattice forth Look'd Michol； like a
lady full of scorn And sorrow。 To behold the tablet next； Which at the
hack of Michol whitely shone； I mov'd me。 There was storied on the
rock The' exalted glory of the Roman prince； Whose mighty worth mov'd
Gregory to earn His mighty conquest； Trajan th' Emperor。 A widow at his
bridle stood； attir'd In tears and mourning。 Round about them troop'd
Full throng of knights； and overhead in gold The eagles floated； struggling
with the wind。 The wretch appear'd amid all these to say： 〃Grant
vengeance； sire！ for； woe beshrew this heart My son is murder'd。〃 He
replying seem'd； 〃Wait now till I return。〃 And she； as one Made hasty
by her grief； 〃O sire； if thou Dost not return？〃〃Where I am； who then is；
May right thee。〃〃 What to thee is other's good； If thou neglect thy
own？〃〃Now comfort thee；〃 At length he answers。 〃It beseemeth well
My duty be perform'd； ere I move hence： So justice wills； and pity bids me
stay。〃 He； whose ken nothing new surveys； produc'd That visible
speaking； new to us and strange The like not found on earth。 Fondly I
gaz'd Upon those patterns of meek humbleness； Shapes yet more precious
for their artist's sake； When 〃Lo；〃 the poet whisper'd； 〃where this way （But
slack their pace）； a multitude advance。 These to the lofty steps shall guide
us on。〃 Mine eyes； though bent on view of novel sights Their lov'd
allurement； were not slow to turn。 Reader！ I would not that amaz'd
thou miss Of thy good purpose； hearing how just God Decrees our debts
be cancel'd。 Ponder not The form of suff'ring。 Think on what succeeds；
Think that at worst beyond the mighty doom It cannot pass。 〃Instructor；〃
I began； 〃What I see hither tending； bears no trace Of human semblance；
nor of aught beside That my foil'd sight can guess。〃 He answering thus：
〃So courb'd to earth； beneath their heavy teems Of torment stoop they； that
mine eye at first Struggled as thine。 But look intently thither； An
disentangle with thy lab'ring view； What underneath those stones
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THE VISION
approacheth： now； E'en now； mayst thou discern the pangs of each。〃
Christians and proud！ O poor and wretched ones！ That feeble in the
mind's eye； lean your trust Upon unstaid perverseness！ Know ye not
That we are worms； yet made at last to form The winged insect； imp'd with
angel plumes That to heaven's justice unobstructed soars？ Why buoy ye up
aloft your unfleg'd souls？ Abortive then and shapeless ye remain； Like the
untimely embryon of a worm！ As； to support incumbent floor or roof；
For corbel is a figure sometimes seen； That crumples up its knees unto its
breast； With the feign'd posture stirring ruth unfeign'd In the beholder's
fancy； so I saw These fashion'd； when I noted well their guise。 Each； as
his back was laden； came indeed Or more or less contract； but it appear'd
As he； who show'd most patience in his look； Wailing exclaim'd： 〃I can
endure no more。〃
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CANTO XI
O thou Almighty Father； who dost make The heavens thy dwelling； not
in bounds confin'd； But that with love intenser there thou view'st Thy
primal effluence； hallow'd be thy name： Join each created being to extol
Thy might； for worthy humblest thanks and praise Is thy blest Spirit。
May thy kingdom's peace Come unto us； for we； unless it come； With all
our striving thither tend in vain。 As of their will the angels unto thee
Tender meet sacrifice； circling thy throne With loud hosannas； so of theirs
be done By saintly men on earth。 Grant us this day Our daily manna；
without which he roams Through this rough desert retrograde； who most
Toils to advance his steps。 As we to each Pardon the evil done us； pardon
thou Benign； and of our merit take no count。 'Gainst the old adversary
prove thou not Our virtue easily subdu'd； but free From his incitements
and defeat his wiles。 This last petition； dearest Lord！ is made Not for
ourselves； since that were needless now； But for their sakes who after us
remain。〃 Thus for themselves and us good speed imploring； Those
spirits went beneath a weight like that We sometimes feel in dreams； all；
sore beset； But with unequal anguish； wearied all； Round the first circuit；
purging as they go； The world's gross darkness off： In our behalf If there
vows still be offer'd； what can here For them be vow'd and done by such；
whose wills Have root of goodness in them？ Well beseems That we
should help them wash away the stains They carried hence； that so made
pure and light； They may spring upward to the starry spheres。 〃Ah！ so
may mercy…temper'd justice rid Your burdens speedily； that ye have power
To stretch your wing； which e'en to your desire Shall lift you； as ye show
us on which hand Toward the ladder leads the shortest way。 And if there be
more passages than one； Instruct us of that easiest to ascend； For this man
who comes with me； and bears yet The charge of fleshly raiment Adam
left him； Despite his better will but slowly mounts。〃 From whom the
answer came unto these words； Which my guide spake； appear'd not； but
'twas said 〃Along the bank to rightward come with us； And ye shall
find a pass that mocks not toil Of living man to climb： and were it not That
I am hinder'd by the rock； wherewith This arrogant neck is tam'd； whence
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needs I stoop My visage to the ground； him； who yet lives； Whose name
thou speak'st not him I fain would view。 To mark if e'er I knew him？ and
to crave His pity for the fardel that I bear。 I was of Latiun；