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with herb and flowers； E'en such a wind I felt upon my front Blow gently；
and the moving of a wing Perceiv'd； that moving shed ambrosial smell；
And then a voice： 〃Blessed are they； whom grace Doth so illume； that
appetite in them Exhaleth no inordinate desire； Still hung'ring as the rule
of temperance wills。〃
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THE VISION
CANTO XXV
It was an hour； when he who climbs； had need To walk uncrippled： for
the sun had now To Taurus the meridian circle left； And to the Scorpion
left the night。 As one That makes no pause； but presses on his road；
Whate'er betide him； if some urgent need Impel： so enter'd we upon our
way； One before other； for； but singly； none That steep and narrow scale
admits to climb。 E'en as the young stork lifteth up his wing Through
wish to fly； yet ventures not to quit The nest； and drops it； so in me desire
Of questioning my guide arose； and fell； Arriving even to the act； that
marks A man prepar'd for speech。 Him all our haste Restrain'd not； but
thus spake the sire belov'd： Fear not to speed the shaft； that on thy lip
Stands trembling for its flight。〃 Encourag'd thus I straight began：
〃How there can leanness come； Where is no want of nourishment to feed？〃
〃If thou；〃 he answer'd； 〃hadst remember'd thee； How Meleager with the
wasting brand Wasted alike； by equal fires consm'd； This would not
trouble thee： and hadst thou thought； How in the mirror your reflected
form With mimic motion vibrates； what now seems Hard； had appear'd no
harder than the pulp Of summer fruit mature。 But that thy will In
certainty may find its full repose； Lo Statius here！ on him I call； and pray
That he would now be healer of thy wound。〃 〃If in thy presence I
unfold to him The secrets of heaven's vengeance； let me plead Thine own
injunction； to exculpate me。〃 So Statius answer'd； and forthwith began：
〃Attend my words； O son； and in thy mind Receive them： so shall they be
light to clear The doubt thou offer'st。 Blood； concocted well； Which by the
thirsty veins is ne'er imbib'd； And rests as food superfluous； to be ta'en
From the replenish'd table； in the heart Derives effectual virtue； that
informs The several human limbs； as being that； Which passes through the
veins itself to make them。 Yet more concocted it descends； where shame
Forbids to mention： and from thence distils In natural vessel on another's
blood。 Then each unite together； one dispos'd T' endure； to act the other；
through meet frame Of its recipient mould： that being reach'd； It 'gins to
work； coagulating first； Then vivifies what its own substance caus'd To
bear。 With animation now indued； The active virtue （differing from a
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THE VISION
plant No further； than that this is on the way And at its limit that）
continues yet To operate； that now it moves； and feels； As sea sponge
clinging to the rock： and there Assumes th' organic powers its seed
convey'd。 'This is the period； son！ at which the virtue； That from the
generating heart proceeds； Is pliant and expansive； for each limb Is in the
heart by forgeful nature plann'd。 How babe of animal becomes； remains
For thy consid'ring。 At this point； more wise； Than thou hast err'd；
making the soul disjoin'd From passive intellect； because he saw No organ
for the latter's use assign'd。 〃Open thy bosom to the truth that comes。
Know soon as in the embryo； to the brain； Articulation is complete； then
turns The primal Mover with a smile of joy On such great work of nature；
and imbreathes New spirit replete with virtue； that what here Active it
finds； to its own substance draws； And forms an individual soul； that lives；
And feels； and bends reflective on itself。 And that thou less mayst marvel
at the word； Mark the sun's heat； how that to wine doth change； Mix'd with
the moisture filter'd through the vine。 〃When Lachesis hath spun the
thread； the soul Takes with her both the human and divine； Memory；
intelligence； and will； in act Far keener than before； the other powers
Inactive all and mute。 No pause allow'd； In wond'rous sort self…moving；
to one strand Of those； where the departed roam； she falls； Here learns her
destin'd path。 Soon as the place Receives her； round the plastic virtue
beams； Distinct as in the living limbs before： And as the air； when saturate
with showers； The casual beam refracting； decks itself With many a hue；
so here the ambient air Weareth that form； which influence of the soul
Imprints on it； and like the flame； that where The fire moves； thither
follows； so henceforth The new form on the spirit follows still： Hence hath
it semblance； and is shadow call'd； With each sense even to the sight
endued： Hence speech is ours； hence laughter； tears； and sighs Which thou
mayst oft have witness'd on the mount Th' obedient shadow fails not to
present Whatever varying passion moves within us。 And this the cause of
what thou marvel'st at。〃 Now the last flexure of our way we reach'd；
And to the right hand turning； other care Awaits us。 Here the rocky
precipice Hurls forth redundant flames； and from the rim A blast upblown；
with forcible rebuff Driveth them back； sequester'd from its bound。
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THE VISION
Behoov'd us； one by one； along the side； That border'd on the void； to pass；
and I Fear'd on one hand the fire； on th' other fear'd Headlong to fall： when
thus th' instructor warn'd： 〃Strict rein must in this place direct the eyes。 A
little swerving and the way is lost。〃 Then from the bosom of the
burning mass； 〃O God of mercy！〃 heard I sung； and felt No less desire to
turn。 And when I saw Spirits along the flame proceeding； I Between
their footsteps and mine own was fain To share by turns my view。