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amends； Poitou it seiz'd； Navarre and Gascony。 To Italy came Charles； and
for amends Young Conradine an innocent victim slew； And sent th' angelic
teacher back to heav'n； Still for amends。 I see the time at hand； That
forth from France invites another Charles To make himself and kindred
better known。 Unarm'd he issues； saving with that lance； Which the arch…
traitor tilted with； and that He carries with so home a thrust； as rives The
bowels of poor Florence。 No increase Of territory hence； but sin and
shame Shall be his guerdon； and so much the more As he more lightly
deems of such foul wrong。 I see the other； who a prisoner late Had steps
on shore； exposing to the mart His daughter； whom he bargains for； as do
The Corsairs for their slaves。 O avarice！ What canst thou more； who hast
subdued our blood So wholly to thyself； they feel no care Of their own
flesh？ To hide with direr guilt Past ill and future； lo！ the flower…de…luce
Enters Alagna！ in his Vicar Christ Himself a captive； and his mockery
Acted again！ Lo！ to his holy lip The vinegar and gall once more applied！
And he 'twixt living robbers doom'd to bleed！ Lo！ the new Pilate； of
whose cruelty Such violence cannot fill the measure up； With no degree to
sanction； pushes on Into the temple his yet eager sails！ 〃O sovran
Master！ when shall I rejoice To see the vengeance； which thy wrath
well…pleas'd In secret silence broods？While daylight lasts； So long what
thou didst hear of her； sole spouse Of the Great Spirit； and on which thou
turn'dst To me for comment； is the general theme Of all our prayers： but
when it darkens； then A different strain we utter； then record Pygmalion；
whom his gluttonous thirst of gold Made traitor； robber； parricide： the
woes Of Midas； which his greedy wish ensued； Mark'd for derision to all
future times： And the fond Achan； how he stole the prey； That yet he
seems by Joshua's ire pursued。 Sapphira with her husband next； we blame；
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THE VISION
And praise the forefeet； that with furious ramp Spurn'd Heliodorus。 All
the mountain round Rings with the infamy of Thracia's king； Who slew his
Phrygian charge： and last a shout Ascends： 〃Declare； O Crassus！ for
thou know'st； The flavour of thy gold。〃 The voice of each Now high now
low； as each his impulse prompts； Is led through many a pitch； acute or
grave。 Therefore； not singly； I erewhile rehears'd That blessedness we tell
of in the day： But near me none beside his accent rais'd。〃 From him we
now had parted； and essay'd With utmost efforts to surmount the way；
When I did feel； as nodding to its fall； The mountain tremble； whence an
icy chill Seiz'd on me； as on one to death convey'd。 So shook not Delos；
when Latona there Couch'd to bring forth the twin…born eyes of heaven。
Forthwith from every side a shout arose So vehement； that suddenly my
guide Drew near； and cried： 〃Doubt not； while I conduct thee。〃 〃Glory！〃
all shouted （such the sounds mine ear Gather'd from those； who near me
swell'd the sounds） 〃Glory in the highest be to God。〃 We stood
Immovably suspended； like to those； The shepherds； who first heard in
Bethlehem's field That song： till ceas'd the trembling； and the song Was
ended： then our hallow'd path resum'd； Eying the prostrate shadows； who
renew'd Their custom'd mourning。 Never in my breast Did ignorance so
struggle with desire Of knowledge； if my memory do not err； As in that
moment； nor through haste dar'd I To question； nor myself could aught
discern； So on I far'd in thoughtfulness and dread。
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THE VISION
CANTO XXI
The natural thirst； ne'er quench'd but from the well； Whereof the
woman of Samaria crav'd； Excited： haste along the cumber'd path； After
my guide； impell'd； and pity mov'd My bosom for the 'vengeful deed；
though just。 When lo！ even as Luke relates； that Christ Appear'd unto the
two upon their way； New…risen from his vaulted grave； to us A shade
appear'd； and after us approach'd； Contemplating the crowd beneath its
feet。 We were not ware of it； so first it spake； Saying； 〃God give you peace；
my brethren！〃 then Sudden we turn'd： and Virgil such salute； As fitted that
kind greeting； gave； and cried： 〃Peace in the blessed council be thy lot
Awarded by that righteous court； which me To everlasting banishment
exiles！〃 〃How！〃 he exclaim'd； nor from his speed meanwhile Desisting；
〃If that ye be spirits； whom God Vouchsafes not room above； who up the
height Has been thus far your guide？〃 To whom the bard： 〃If thou
observe the tokens； which this man Trac'd by the finger of the angel bears；
'Tis plain that in the kingdom of the just He needs must share。 But
sithence she； whose wheel Spins day and night； for him not yet had drawn
That yarn； which； on the fatal distaff pil'd； Clotho apportions to each wight
that breathes； His soul； that sister is to mine and thine； Not of herself could
mount； for not like ours Her ken： whence I； from forth the ample gulf Of
hell was ta'en； to lead him； and will lead Far as my lore avails。 But； if
thou know； Instruct us for what cause； the mount erewhile Thus shook and
trembled： wherefore all at once Seem'd shouting； even from his wave…
wash'd foot。〃 That questioning so tallied with my wish； The thirst did
feel abatement of its edge E'en from expectance。 He forthwith replied；
〃In its devotion nought irregular This mount can witness； or by punctual
rule Unsanction'd； here from every change exempt。 Other than that； which
heaven in itself Doth of itself receive； no influence Can reach us。
Tempest none； shower； hail or snow； Hoar frost or dewy moistness； higher
falls Than that brief scale of threefold steps： thick clouds Nor scudding
rack are ever seen： swift glance Ne'er lightens； nor Thaumantian Iris
gleams； That yonder often shift on each side heav'n。 Vapour adust doth
never mount above The highest of the trinal