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upon our forehead smote the beams。 For round the mountain； circling； so
our path Had led us； that toward the sun…set now Direct we journey'd：
when I felt a weight Of more exceeding splendour； than before； Press on
my front。 The cause unknown； amaze Possess'd me； and both hands
against my brow Lifting； I interpos'd them； as a screen； That of its
gorgeous superflux of light Clipp'd the diminish'd orb。 As when the ray；
Striking On water or the surface clear Of mirror； leaps unto the opposite
part； Ascending at a glance； e'en as it fell； （And so much differs from the
stone； that falls Through equal space； as practice skill hath shown； Thus
with refracted light before me seemed The ground there smitten； whence
in sudden haste My sight recoil'd。 〃What is this； sire belov'd！ 'Gainst
which I strive to shield the sight in vain？〃 Cried I； 〃and which towards us
moving seems？〃 〃Marvel not； if the family of heav'n；〃 He answer'd；
〃yet with dazzling radiance dim Thy sense it is a messenger who comes；
Inviting man's ascent。 Such sights ere long； Not grievous； shall impart to
thee delight； As thy perception is by nature wrought Up to their pitch。〃
The blessed angel； soon As we had reach'd him； hail'd us with glad voice：
〃Here enter on a ladder far less steep Than ye have yet encounter'd。〃 We
forthwith Ascending； heard behind us chanted sweet； 〃Blessed the
merciful；〃 and 〃happy thou！ That conquer'st。〃 Lonely each； my guide
and I Pursued our upward way； and as we went； Some profit from his
words I hop'd to win； And thus of him inquiring； fram'd my speech：
〃What meant Romagna's spirit； when he spake Of bliss exclusive with no
partner shar'd？〃 He straight replied： 〃No wonder； since he knows； What
sorrow waits on his own worst defect； If he chide others； that they less
may mourn。 Because ye point your wishes at a mark； Where； by
communion of possessors； part Is lessen'd； envy bloweth up the sighs of
men。 No fear of that might touch ye； if the love Of higher sphere exalted
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your desire。 For there； by how much more they call it ours； So much
propriety of each in good Increases more； and heighten'd charity Wraps
that fair cloister in a brighter flame。〃 〃Now lack I satisfaction more；〃
said I； 〃Than if thou hadst been silent at the first； And doubt more gathers
on my lab'ring thought。 How can it chance； that good distributed； The
many； that possess it； makes more rich； Than if 't were shar'd by few？〃
He answering thus： 〃Thy mind； reverting still to things of earth； Strikes
darkness from true light。 The highest good Unlimited； ineffable； doth so
speed To love； as beam to lucid body darts； Giving as much of ardour as it
finds。 The sempiternal effluence streams abroad Spreading； wherever
charity extends。 So that the more aspirants to that bliss Are multiplied；
more good is there to love； And more is lov'd； as mirrors； that reflect； Each
unto other； propagated light。 If these my words avail not to allay Thy
thirsting； Beatrice thou shalt see； Who of this want； and of all else thou
hast； Shall rid thee to the full。 Provide but thou That from thy temples
may be soon eras'd； E'en as the two already； those five scars； That when
they pain thee worst； then kindliest heal；〃 〃Thou；〃 I had said；
〃content'st me；〃 when I saw The other round was gain'd； and wond'ring
eyes Did keep me mute。 There suddenly I seem'd By an ecstatic vision
wrapt away； And in a temple saw； methought； a crowd Of many persons；
and at th' entrance stood A dame； whose sweet demeanour did express A
mother's love； who said； 〃Child！ why hast thou Dealt with us thus？
Behold thy sire and I Sorrowing have sought thee；〃 and so held her peace；
And straight the vision fled。 A female next Appear'd before me； down
whose visage cours'd Those waters； that grief forces out from one By deep
resentment stung； who seem'd to say： 〃If thou； Pisistratus； be lord indeed
Over this city； nam'd with such debate Of adverse gods； and whence each
science sparkles； Avenge thee of those arms； whose bold embrace Hath
clasp'd our daughter； 〃and to fuel； meseem'd； Benign and meek； with
visage undisturb'd； Her sovran spake： 〃How shall we those requite； Who
wish us evil； if we thus condemn The man that loves us？〃 After that I
saw A multitude； in fury burning； slay With stones a stripling youth； and
shout amain 〃Destroy； destroy： 〃and him I saw； who bow'd Heavy with
death unto the ground； yet made His eyes； unfolded upward； gates to
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heav'n； Praying forgiveness of th' Almighty Sire； Amidst that cruel conflict；
on his foes； With looks； that With compassion to their aim。 Soon as my
spirit； from her airy flight Returning； sought again the things； whose truth
Depends not on her shaping； I observ'd How she had rov'd to no unreal
scenes Meanwhile the leader； who might see I mov'd； As one； who
struggles to shake off his sleep； Exclaim'd： 〃What ails thee； that thou
canst not hold Thy footing firm； but more than half a league Hast travel'd
with clos'd eyes and tott'ring gait； Like to a man by wine or sleep
o'ercharg'd？〃 〃Beloved father！ so thou deign；〃 said I； 〃To listen； I will
tell thee what appear'd Before me； when so fail'd my sinking steps。〃 He
thus： 〃Not if thy Countenance were mask'd With hundred vizards； could a
thought of thine How small soe'er； elude me。 What thou saw'st Was
shown； that freely thou mightst ope thy heart To the waters of peace； that
flow diffus'd From their eternal fountain。 I not ask'd； What ails thee？
for such cause as he doth； who Looks only with that eye which sees no
more； When spiritless the body lies； but ask'd； To give fresh vigour to thy
foot。 Such goads The slow and loit'ring need； that they be found Not