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once the residence Of courtesy and velour； ere the day； That frown'd on
Frederick； now secure may pass Those limits； whosoe'er hath left； for
shame； To talk with good men； or come near their haunts。 Three aged ones
are still found there； in whom The old time chides the new： these deem it
long Ere God restore them to a better world： The good Gherardo； of
Palazzo he Conrad； and Guido of Castello； nam'd In Gallic phrase more
fitly the plain Lombard。 On this at last conclude。 The church of Rome；
Mixing two governments that ill assort； Hath miss'd her footing； fall'n into
the mire； And there herself and burden much defil'd。〃 〃O Marco！〃 I
replied； shine arguments Convince me： and the cause I now discern Why
of the heritage no portion came To Levi's offspring。 But resolve me this
Who that Gherardo is； that as thou sayst Is left a sample of the perish'd
race； And for rebuke to this untoward age？〃 〃Either thy words；〃 said he；
〃deceive； or else Are meant to try me； that thou； speaking Tuscan；
Appear'st not to have heard of good Gherado； The sole addition that； by
which I know him； Unless I borrow'd from his daughter Gaia Another
name to grace him。 God be with you。 I bear you company no more。
Behold The dawn with white ray glimm'ring through the mist。 I must
awaythe angel comesere he Appear。〃 He said； and would not hear me
more。
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THE VISION
CANTO XVII
Call to remembrance； reader； if thou e'er Hast； on a mountain top； been
ta'en by cloud； Through which thou saw'st no better； than the mole Doth
through opacous membrane； then； whene'er The wat'ry vapours dense
began to melt Into thin air； how faintly the sun's sphere Seem'd wading
through them； so thy nimble thought May image； how at first I re…beheld
The sun； that bedward now his couch o'erhung。 Thus with my leader's
feet still equaling pace From forth that cloud I came； when now expir'd
The parting beams from off the nether shores。 O quick and forgetive
power！ that sometimes dost So rob us of ourselves； we take no mark
Though round about us thousand trumpets clang！ What moves thee； if the
senses stir not？ Light Kindled in heav'n； spontaneous； self…inform'd； Or
likelier gliding down with swift illapse By will divine。 Portray'd before
me came The traces of her dire impiety； Whose form was chang'd into the
bird； that most Delights itself in song： and here my mind Was inwardly so
wrapt； it gave no place To aught that ask'd admittance from without。
Next shower'd into my fantasy a shape As of one crucified； whose visage
spake Fell rancour； malice deep； wherein he died； And round him
Ahasuerus the great king； Esther his bride； and Mordecai the just；
Blameless in word and deed。 As of itself That unsubstantial coinage of
the brain Burst； like a bubble； Which the water fails That fed it； in my
vision straight uprose A damsel weeping loud； and cried； 〃O queen！ O
mother！ wherefore has intemperate ire Driv'n thee to loath thy being？
Not to lose Lavinia； desp'rate thou hast slain thyself。 Now hast thou lost
me。 I am she； whose tears Mourn； ere I fall； a mother's timeless end。〃
E'en as a sleep breaks off； if suddenly New radiance strike upon the closed
lids； The broken slumber quivering ere it dies； Thus from before me sunk
that imagery Vanishing； soon as on my face there struck The light；
outshining far our earthly beam。 As round I turn'd me to survey what place
I had arriv'd at； 〃Here ye mount；〃 exclaim'd A voice； that other purpose
left me none； Save will so eager to behold who spake； I could not choose
but gaze。 As 'fore the sun； That weighs our vision down； and veils his
form In light transcendent； thus my virtue fail'd Unequal。 〃This is Spirit
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THE VISION
from above； Who marshals us our upward way； unsought； And in his own
light shrouds him；。 As a man Doth for himself； so now is done for us。 For
whoso waits imploring； yet sees need Of his prompt aidance； sets himself
prepar'd For blunt denial； ere the suit be made。 Refuse we not to lend a
ready foot At such inviting： haste we to ascend； Before it darken： for we
may not then； Till morn again return。〃 So spake my guide； And to one
ladder both address'd our steps； And the first stair approaching； I perceiv'd
Near me as 'twere the waving of a wing； That fann'd my face and
whisper'd： 〃Blessed they The peacemakers： they know not evil wrath。〃
Now to such height above our heads were rais'd The last beams； follow'd
close by hooded night； That many a star on all sides through the gloom
Shone out。 〃Why partest from me； O my strength？〃 So with myself I
commun'd； for I felt My o'ertoil'd sinews slacken。 We had reach'd The
summit； and were fix'd like to a bark Arriv'd at land。 And waiting a short
space； If aught should meet mine ear in that new round； Then to my guide
I turn'd； and said： 〃Lov'd sire！ Declare what guilt is on this circle purg'd。 If
our feet rest； no need thy speech should pause。〃 He thus to me： 〃The
love of good； whate'er Wanted of just proportion； here fulfils。 Here plies
afresh the oar； that loiter'd ill。 But that thou mayst yet clearlier understand；
Give ear unto my words； and thou shalt cull Some fruit may please thee
well； from this delay。 〃Creator； nor created being； ne'er； My son；〃 he
thus began； 〃was without love； Or natural； or the free spirit's growth。 Thou
hast not that to learn。 The natural still Is without error； but the other
swerves； If on ill object bent； or through excess Of vigour； or defect。
While e'er it seeks The primal blessings； or with measure due Th' inferior；
no delight； that flows from it； Partakes of ill。 But let it warp to evil； Or
with more ardour than behooves； or less。 Pursue the good； the thing
created then Works 'gainst its Maker。 Hence thou must infer That love is
germin of each vir