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breach As of a wall appear'd； I could descry A portal； and three steps
beneath； that led For inlet there； of different colour each； And one who
watch'd； but spake not yet a word。 As more and more mine eye did stretch
its view； I mark'd him seated on the highest step； In visage such； as past
my power to bear。 Grasp'd in his hand a naked sword； glanc'd back The
rays so toward me； that I oft in vain My sight directed。 〃Speak from
whence ye stand：〃 He cried： 〃What would ye？ Where is your escort？
Take heed your coming upward harm ye not。〃 〃A heavenly dame； not
skilless of these things；〃 Replied the' instructor； 〃told us； even now； 'Pass
that way： here the gate is。〃 〃And may she Befriending prosper your
ascent；〃 resum'd The courteous keeper of the gate： 〃Come then Before
our steps。〃 We straightway thither came。 The lowest stair was marble
white so smooth And polish'd； that therein my mirror'd form Distinct I saw。
The next of hue more dark Than sablest grain； a rough and singed block；
Crack'd lengthwise and across。 The third； that lay Massy above； seem'd
porphyry； that flam'd Red as the life…blood spouting from a vein。 On this
God's angel either foot sustain'd； Upon the threshold seated； which
appear'd A rock of diamond。 Up the trinal steps My leader cheerily drew
me。 〃Ask；〃 said he； 〃With humble heart； that he unbar the bolt。〃
Piously at his holy feet devolv'd I cast me； praying him for pity's sake That
he would open to me： but first fell Thrice on my bosom prostrate。 Seven
times0 The letter； that denotes the inward stain； He on my forehead with
the blunted point Of his drawn sword inscrib'd。 And 〃Look；〃 he cried；
〃When enter'd； that thou wash these scars away。〃 Ashes； or earth ta'en
dry out of the ground； Were of one colour with the robe he wore。 From
underneath that vestment forth he drew Two keys of metal twain： the one
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THE VISION
was gold； Its fellow silver。 With the pallid first； And next the burnish'd；
he so ply'd the gate； As to content me well。 〃Whenever one Faileth of
these； that in the keyhole straight It turn not； to this alley then expect
Access in vain。〃 Such were the words he spake。 〃One is more precious：
but the other needs Skill and sagacity； large share of each； Ere its good
task to disengage the knot Be worthily perform'd。 From Peter these I
hold； of him instructed； that I err Rather in opening than in keeping fast；
So but the suppliant at my feet implore。〃 Then of that hallow'd gate he
thrust the door； Exclaiming； 〃Enter； but this warning hear： He forth again
departs who looks behind。〃 As in the hinges of that sacred ward The
swivels turn'd； sonorous metal strong； Harsh was the grating； nor so surlily
Roar'd the Tarpeian； when by force bereft Of good Metellus； thenceforth
from his loss To leanness doom'd。 Attentively I turn'd； List'ning the
thunder； that first issued forth； And 〃We praise thee； O God；〃 methought I
heard In accents blended with sweet melody。 The strains came o'er mine
ear； e'en as the sound Of choral voices； that in solemn chant With organ
mingle； and； now high and clear； Come swelling； now float indistinct
away。
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THE VISION
CANTO X
When we had passed the threshold of the gate （Which the soul's ill
affection doth disuse； Making the crooked seem the straighter path）； I
heard its closing sound。 Had mine eyes turn'd； For that offence what plea
might have avail'd？ We mounted up the riven rock； that wound On
either side alternate； as the wave Flies and advances。 〃Here some little
art Behooves us；〃 said my leader； 〃that our steps Observe the varying
flexure of the path。〃 Thus we so slowly sped； that with cleft orb The
moon once more o'erhangs her wat'ry couch； Ere we that strait have
threaded。 But when free We came and open； where the mount above One
solid mass retires； I spent； with toil； And both； uncertain of the way； we
stood； Upon a plain more lonesome； than the roads That traverse desert
wilds。 From whence the brink Borders upon vacuity； to foot Of the steep
bank； that rises still； the space Had measur'd thrice the stature of a man：
And； distant as mine eye could wing its flight； To leftward now and now to
right dispatch'd； That cornice equal in extent appear'd。 Not yet our feet
had on that summit mov'd； When I discover'd that the bank around； Whose
proud uprising all ascent denied； Was marble white； and so exactly
wrought With quaintest sculpture； that not there alone Had Polycletus； but
e'en nature's self Been sham'd。 The angel who came down to earth With
tidings of the peace so many years Wept for in vain； that op'd the heavenly
gates From their long interdict） before us seem'd； In a sweet act； so
sculptur'd to the life； He look'd no silent image。 One had sworn He had
said； 〃Hail！〃 for she was imag'd there； By whom the key did open to God's
love； And in her act as sensibly impress That word； 〃Behold the handmaid
of the Lord；〃 As figure seal'd on wax。 〃Fix not thy mind On one place
only；〃 said the guide belov'd； Who had me near him on that part where lies
The heart of man。 My sight forthwith I turn'd And mark'd； behind the
virgin mother's form； Upon that side； where he； that mov'd me； stood；
Another story graven on the rock。 I passed athwart the bard； and drew
me near； That it might stand more aptly for my view。 There in the self…
same marble were engrav'd The cart and kine； drawing the sacred ark；
That from unbidden office awes mankind。 Before it came much people；
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and the whole Parted in seven quires。 One sense cried； 〃Nay；〃 Another；
〃Yes； they sing。〃 Like doubt arose Betwixt the eye and smell； from the
curl'd fume Of incense breathing up the well…wrought toil。 Preceding the
blest ves