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brink。〃 So them the bard besought； and such the words； Beyond us
some short space； in answer came。 I noted what remain'd yet hidden
from them： Thence to my liege's eyes mine eyes I bent； And he； forthwith
interpreting their suit； Beckon'd his glad assent。 Free then to act； As pleas'd
me； I drew near； and took my stand O‘er that shade； whose words I late
had mark'd。 And； 〃Spirit！〃 I said； 〃in whom repentant tears Mature that
blessed hour； when thou with God Shalt find acceptance； for a while
suspend For me that mightier care。 Say who thou wast； Why thus ye
grovel on your bellies prone； And if in aught ye wish my service there；
Whence living I am come。〃 He answering spake 〃The cause why Heav'n
our back toward his cope Reverses； shalt thou know： but me know first
The successor of Peter； and the name And title of my lineage from that
stream； That' twixt Chiaveri and Siestri draws His limpid waters through
the lowly glen。 A month and little more by proof I learnt； With what a
weight that robe of sov'reignty Upon his shoulder rests； who from the mire
Would guard it： that each other fardel seems But feathers in the balance。
Late； alas！ Was my conversion： but when I became Rome's pastor； I
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discern'd at once the dream And cozenage of life； saw that the heart Rested
not there； and yet no prouder height Lur'd on the climber： wherefore； of
that life No more enamour'd； in my bosom love Of purer being kindled。
For till then I was a soul in misery； alienate From God； and covetous of all
earthly things； Now； as thou seest； here punish'd for my doting。 Such
cleansing from the taint of avarice Do spirits converted need。 This
mount inflicts No direr penalty。 E'en as our eyes Fasten'd below； nor e'er
to loftier clime Were lifted； thus hath justice level'd us Here on the earth。
As avarice quench'd our love Of good； without which is no working； thus
Here justice holds us prison'd； hand and foot Chain'd down and bound；
while heaven's just Lord shall please。 So long to tarry motionless
outstretch'd。〃 My knees I stoop'd； and would have spoke； but he； Ere
my beginning； by his ear perceiv'd I did him reverence； and 〃What cause；〃
said he； 〃Hath bow'd thee thus！〃〃 Compunction；〃 I rejoin'd。 〃And inward
awe of your high dignity。〃 〃Up；〃 he exclaim'd； 〃brother！ upon thy feet
Arise： err not： thy fellow servant I； （Thine and all others'） of one Sovran
Power。 If thou hast ever mark'd those holy sounds Of gospel truth； 'nor
shall be given ill marriage；' Thou mayst discern the reasons of my speech。
Go thy ways now； and linger here no more。 Thy tarrying is a let unto the
tears； With which I hasten that whereof thou spak'st。 I have on earth a
kinswoman； her name Alagia； worthy in herself； so ill Example of our
house corrupt her not： And she is all remaineth of me there。〃
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CANTO XX
Ill strives the will； 'gainst will more wise that strives His pleasure
therefore to mine own preferr'd； I drew the sponge yet thirsty from the
wave。 Onward I mov'd： he also onward mov'd； Who led me； coasting
still； wherever place Along the rock was vacant； as a man Walks near the
battlements on narrow wall。 For those on th' other part； who drop by drop
Wring out their all…infecting malady； Too closely press the verge。
Accurst be thou！ Inveterate wolf！ whose gorge ingluts more prey； Than
every beast beside； yet is not fill'd！ So bottomless thy maw！ Ye spheres
of heaven！ To whom there are； as seems； who attribute All change in
mortal state； when is the day Of his appearing； for whom fate reserves To
chase her hence？ With wary steps and slow We pass'd； and I attentive
to the shades； Whom piteously I heard lament and wail； And； 'midst the
wailing； one before us heard Cry out 〃O blessed Virgin！〃 as a dame In
the sharp pangs of childbed； and 〃How poor Thou wast；〃 it added；
〃witness that low roof Where thou didst lay thy sacred burden down。 O
good Fabricius！ thou didst virtue choose With poverty； before great
wealth with vice。〃 The words so pleas'd me； that desire to know The
spirit； from whose lip they seem'd to come； Did draw me onward。 Yet it
spake the gift Of Nicholas； which on the maidens he Bounteous bestow'd；
to save their youthful prime Unblemish'd。 〃Spirit！ who dost speak of
deeds So worthy； tell me who thou was；〃 I said； 〃And why thou dost with
single voice renew Memorial of such praise。 That boon vouchsaf'd Haply
shall meet reward； if I return To finish the Short pilgrimage of life； Still
speeding to its close on restless wing。〃 〃I；〃 answer'd he； 〃will tell thee；
not for hell； Which thence I look for； but that in thyself Grace so
exceeding shines； before thy time Of mortal dissolution。 I was root Of
that ill plant； whose shade such poison sheds O'er all the Christian land；
that seldom thence Good fruit is gather'd。 Vengeance soon should come；
Had Ghent and Douay； Lille and Bruges power； And vengeance I of
heav'n's great Judge implore。 Hugh Capet was I high： from me descend
The Philips and the Louis； of whom France Newly is govern'd； born of
one； who ply'd The slaughterer's trade at Paris。 When the race Of ancient
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kings had vanish'd （all save one Wrapt up in sable weeds） within my gripe
I found the reins of empire； and such powers Of new acquirement； with
full store of friends； That soon the widow'd circlet of the crown Was girt
upon the temples of my son； He； from whose bones th' anointed race
begins。 Till the great dower of Provence had remov'd The stains； that yet
obscur'd our lowly blood； Its sway indeed was narrow； but howe'er It
wrought no evil： there； with force and lies； Began its rapine； after； for
amends； Poitou