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beside upon the solid floor How dear Alcmaeon forc'd his mother rate That
ornament in evil hour receiv'd： How in the temple on Sennacherib fell His
sons； and how a corpse they left him there。 Was shown the scath and cruel
mangling made By Tomyris on Cyrus； when she cried： 〃Blood thou didst
thirst for； take thy fill of blood！〃 Was shown how routed in the battle fled
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THE VISION
Th' Assyrians； Holofernes slain； and e'en The relics of the carnage。 Troy
I mark'd In ashes and in caverns。 Oh！ how fall'n； How abject； Ilion；
was thy semblance there！ What master of the pencil or the style Had
trac'd the shades and lines； that might have made The subtlest workman
wonder？ Dead the dead； The living seem'd alive； with clearer view His
eye beheld not who beheld the truth； Than mine what I did tread on； while
I went Low bending。 Now swell out； and with stiff necks Pass on； ye
sons of Eve！ veil not your looks； Lest they descry the evil of your path！
I noted not （so busied was my thought） How much we now had circled of
the mount； And of his course yet more the sun had spent； When he； who
with still wakeful caution went； Admonish'd： 〃Raise thou up thy head：
for know Time is not now for slow suspense。 Behold That way an angel
hasting towards us！ Lo Where duly the sixth handmaid doth return From
service on the day。 Wear thou in look And gesture seemly grace of
reverent awe； That gladly he may forward us aloft。 Consider that this day
ne'er dawns again。〃 Time's loss he had so often warn'd me 'gainst； I
could not miss the scope at which he aim'd。 The goodly shape
approach'd us； snowy white In vesture； and with visage casting streams Of
tremulous lustre like the matin star。 His arms he open'd； then his wings；
and spake： 〃Onward： the steps； behold！ are near； and now Th' ascent is
without difficulty gain'd。〃 A scanty few are they； who when they hear
Such tidings； hasten。 O ye race of men Though born to soar； why suffer
ye a wind So slight to baffle ye？ He led us on Where the rock parted；
here against my front Did beat his wings； then promis'd I should fare In
safety on my way。 As to ascend That steep； upon whose brow the chapel
stands （O'er Rubaconte； looking lordly down On the well…guided city；） up
the right Th' impetuous rise is broken by the steps Carv'd in that old and
simple age； when still The registry and label rested safe； Thus is th'
acclivity reliev'd； which here Precipitous from the other circuit falls： But
on each hand the tall cliff presses close。 As ent'ring there we turn'd；
voices； in strain Ineffable； sang： 〃Blessed are the poor In spirit。〃 Ah
how far unlike to these The straits of hell； here songs to usher us； There
shrieks of woe！ We climb the holy stairs： And lighter to myself by far I
seem'd Than on the plain before； whence thus I spake： 〃Say； master； of
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THE VISION
what heavy thing have I Been lighten'd； that scarce aught the sense of toil
Affects me journeying？〃 He in few replied： 〃When sin's broad characters；
that yet remain Upon thy temples； though well nigh effac'd； Shall be； as
one is； all clean razed out； Then shall thy feet by heartiness of will Be so
o'ercome； they not alone shall feel No sense of labour； but delight much
more Shall wait them urg'd along their upward way。〃 Then like to one；
upon whose head is plac'd Somewhat he deems not of but from the becks
Of others as they pass him by； his hand Lends therefore help to' assure
him； searches； finds； And well performs such office as the eye Wants
power to execute： so stretching forth The fingers of my right hand； did I
find Six only of the letters； which his sword Who bare the keys had trac'd
upon my brow。 The leader； as he mark'd mine action； smil'd。
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THE VISION
CANTO XIII
We reach'd the summit of the scale； and stood Upon the second
buttress of that mount Which healeth him who climbs。 A cornice there；
Like to the former； girdles round the hill； Save that its arch with sweep
less ample bends。 Shadow nor image there is seen； all smooth The
rampart and the path； reflecting nought But the rock's sullen hue。 〃If here
we wait For some to question；〃 said the bard； 〃I fear Our choice may haply
meet too long delay。〃 Then fixedly upon the sun his eyes He fastn'd；
made his right the central point From whence to move； and turn'd the left
aside。 〃O pleasant light； my confidence and hope； Conduct us thou；〃 he
cried； 〃on this new way； Where now I venture； leading to the bourn We
seek。 The universal world to thee Owes warmth and lustre。 If no other
cause Forbid； thy beams should ever be our guide。〃 Far； as is measur'd
for a mile on earth； In brief space had we journey'd； such prompt will
Impell'd； and towards us flying； now were heard Spirits invisible； who
courteously Unto love's table bade the welcome guest。 The voice； that first？
flew by； call'd forth aloud； 〃They have no wine； 〃 so on behind us past；
Those sounds reiterating； nor yet lost In the faint distance； when another
came Crying； 〃I am Orestes；〃 and alike Wing'd its fleet way。 〃Oh
father！〃 I exclaim'd； 〃What tongues are these？〃 and as I question'd； lo！
A third exclaiming； 〃Love ye those have wrong'd you。〃 〃This circuit；〃
said my teacher； 〃knots the scourge For envy； and the cords are therefore
drawn By charity's correcting hand。 The curb Is of a harsher sound； as
thou shalt hear （If I deem rightly）； ere thou reach the pass； Where pardon
sets them free。 But fix thine eyes Intently through the air； and thou shalt
see A multitude before thee seated； each Along the shelving grot。〃 Then
more than erst I op'd my eyes； before me view'd； and saw Shadows with
garments dark as was the rock； And when we pass'd a little forth； I heard A
crying； 〃Blessed Mary！ pray for us； Michael and Peter！ all ye saintly
host！〃 I do not think there walks on earth this