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created then Works 'gainst its Maker。 Hence thou must infer That love is
germin of each virtue in ye； And of each act no less； that merits pain。 Now
since it may not be； but love intend The welfare mainly of the thing it
loves； All from self…hatred are secure； and since No being can be thought t'
exist apart And independent of the first； a bar Of equal force restrains from
hating that。 〃Grant the distinction just； and it remains The' evil must be
another's； which is lov'd。 Three ways such love is gender'd in your clay。
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THE VISION
There is who hopes （his neighbour's worth deprest；） Preeminence himself；
and coverts hence For his own greatness that another fall。 There is who so
much fears the loss of power； Fame； favour； glory （should his fellow
mount Above him）； and so sickens at the thought； He loves their opposite：
and there is he； Whom wrong or insult seems to gall and shame That he
doth thirst for vengeance； and such needs Must doat on other's evil。 Here
beneath This threefold love is mourn'd。 Of th' other sort Be now
instructed； that which follows good But with disorder'd and irregular
course。 〃All indistinctly apprehend a bliss On which the soul may rest；
the hearts of all Yearn after it； and to that wished bourn All therefore strive
to tend。 If ye behold Or seek it with a love remiss and lax； This cornice
after just repenting lays Its penal torment on ye。 Other good There is；
where man finds not his happiness： It is not true fruition； not that blest
Essence； of every good the branch and root。 The love too lavishly bestow'd
on this； Along three circles over us； is mourn'd。 Account of that division
tripartite Expect not； fitter for thine own research。
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THE VISION
CANTO XVIII
The teacher ended； and his high discourse Concluding； earnest in my
looks inquir'd If I appear'd content； and I； whom still Unsated thirst to hear
him urg'd； was mute； Mute outwardly； yet inwardly I said： 〃Perchance my
too much questioning offends But he； true father； mark'd the secret wish
By diffidence restrain'd； and speaking； gave Me boldness thus to speak：
〃Master； my Sight Gathers so lively virtue from thy beams； That all； thy
words convey； distinct is seen。 Wherefore I pray thee； father； whom this
heart Holds dearest！ thou wouldst deign by proof t' unfold That love；
from which as from their source thou bring'st All good deeds and their
opposite。〃 He then： 〃To what I now disclose be thy clear ken Directed；
and thou plainly shalt behold How much those blind have err'd； who make
themselves The guides of men。 The soul； created apt To love； moves
versatile which way soe'er Aught pleasing prompts her； soon as she is
wak'd By pleasure into act。 Of substance true Your apprehension forms
its counterfeit； And in you the ideal shape presenting Attracts the soul's
regard。 If she； thus drawn； incline toward it； love is that inclining； And a
new nature knit by pleasure in ye。 Then as the fire points up； and mounting
seeks His birth…place and his lasting seat； e'en thus Enters the captive soul
into desire； Which is a spiritual motion； that ne'er rests Before enjoyment
of the thing it loves。 Enough to show thee； how the truth from those Is
hidden； who aver all love a thing Praise…worthy in itself： although perhaps
Its substance seem still good。 Yet if the wax Be good； it follows not th'
impression must。〃 〃What love is；〃 I return'd； 〃thy words； O guide！ And my
own docile mind； reveal。 Yet thence New doubts have sprung。 For
from without if love Be offer'd to us； and the spirit knows No other footing；
tend she right or wrong； Is no desert of hers。〃 He answering thus： 〃What
reason here discovers I have power To show thee： that which lies beyond；
expect From Beatrice； faith not reason's task。 Spirit； substantial form； with
matter join'd Not in confusion mix'd； hath in itself Specific virtue of that
union born； Which is not felt except it work； nor prov'd But through effect；
as vegetable life By the green leaf。 From whence his intellect Deduced
its primal notices of things； Man therefore knows not； or his appetites
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THE VISION
Their first affections； such in you； as zeal In bees to gather honey； at the
first； Volition； meriting nor blame nor praise。 But o'er each lower faculty
supreme； That as she list are summon'd to her bar； Ye have that virtue in
you； whose just voice Uttereth counsel； and whose word should keep The
threshold of assent。 Here is the source； Whence cause of merit in you is
deriv'd； E'en as the affections good or ill she takes； Or severs； winnow'd as
the chaff。 Those men Who reas'ning went to depth profoundest； mark'd
That innate freedom； and were thence induc'd To leave their moral
teaching to the world。 Grant then； that from necessity arise All love that
glows within you； to dismiss Or harbour it； the pow'r is in yourselves。
Remember； Beatrice； in her style； Denominates free choice by eminence
The noble virtue； if in talk with thee She touch upon that theme。〃 The
moon； well nigh To midnight hour belated； made the stars Appear to wink
and fade； and her broad disk Seem'd like a crag on fire； as up the vault
That course she journey'd； which the sun then warms； When they of Rome
behold him at his set。 Betwixt Sardinia and the Corsic isle。 And now the
weight； that hung upon my thought； Was lighten'd by the aid of that clear
spirit； Who raiseth Andes above Mantua's name。 I therefore； when my
questions had obtain'd Solution plain and ample； stood as one Musing in
dreary slumber； but not long Slumber'd； for suddenly a multitude； The
steep already turning； from behind； Rush'd on。 With fury and like
random rout； As echoing on their shores at midnight heard Ismenus and
Asopus； for his Thebes If Bacchus' help were needed； so came these
Tumultuous； curving each his rapid step； By eagerness impell'd of holy
love。 Soon they o'ertook us； with such swiftness mov'd The mighty
cr