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gleams； That yonder often shift on each side heav'n。 Vapour adust doth
never mount above The highest of the trinal stairs； whereon Peter's
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vicegerent stands。 Lower perchance； With various motion rock'd；
trembles the soil： But here； through wind in earth's deep hollow pent； I
know not how； yet never trembled： then Trembles； when any spirit feels
itself So purified； that it may rise； or move For rising； and such loud
acclaim ensues。 Purification by the will alone Is prov'd； that free to change
society Seizes the soul rejoicing in her will。 Desire of bliss is present from
the first； But strong propension hinders； to that wish By the just ordinance
of heav'n oppos'd； Propension now as eager to fulfil Th' allotted torment；
as erewhile to sin。 And I who in this punishment had lain Five hundred
years and more； but now have felt Free wish for happier clime。
Therefore thou felt'st The mountain tremble； and the spirits devout
Heard'st； over all his limits； utter praise To that liege Lord； whom I entreat
their joy To hasten。〃 Thus he spake： and since the draught Is grateful
ever as the thirst is keen； No words may speak my fullness of content。
〃Now；〃 said the instructor sage； 〃I see the net That takes ye here； and how
the toils are loos'd； Why rocks the mountain and why ye rejoice。
Vouchsafe； that from thy lips I next may learn； Who on the earth thou wast；
and wherefore here So many an age wert prostrate。〃 〃In that time； When
the good Titus； with Heav'n's King to help； Aveng'd those piteous gashes；
whence the blood By Judas sold did issue； with the name Most lasting and
most honour'd there was I Abundantly renown'd；〃 the shade reply'd； 〃Not
yet with faith endued。 So passing sweet My vocal Spirit； from Tolosa；
Rome To herself drew me； where I merited A myrtle garland to inwreathe
my brow。 Statius they name me still。 Of Thebes I sang； And next of great
Achilles： but i' th' way Fell with the second burthen。 Of my flame Those
sparkles were the seeds； which I deriv'd From the bright fountain of
celestial fire That feeds unnumber'd lamps； the song I mean Which sounds
Aeneas' wand'rings： that the breast I hung at； that the nurse； from whom
my veins Drank inspiration： whose authority Was ever sacred with me。
To have liv'd Coeval with the Mantuan； I would bide The revolution of
another sun Beyond my stated years in banishment。〃 The Mantuan；
when he heard him； turn'd to me； And holding silence： by his countenance
Enjoin'd me silence but the power which wills； Bears not supreme control：
laughter and tears Follow so closely on the passion prompts them； They
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wait not for the motions of the will In natures most sincere。 I did but
smile； As one who winks； and thereupon the shade Broke off； and peer'd
into mine eyes； where best Our looks interpret。 〃So to good event Mayst
thou conduct such great emprize；〃 he cried； 〃Say； why across thy visage
beam'd； but now； The lightning of a smile！〃 On either part Now am I
straiten'd； one conjures me speak； Th' other to silence binds me： whence a
sigh I utter； and the sigh is heard。 〃Speak on； 〃 The teacher cried； 〃and
do not fear to speak； But tell him what so earnestly he asks。〃 Whereon I
thus： 〃Perchance； O ancient spirit！ Thou marvel'st at my smiling。 There
is room For yet more wonder。 He who guides my ken On high； he is that
Mantuan； led by whom Thou didst presume of men arid gods to sing。 If
other cause thou deem'dst for which I smil'd； Leave it as not the true one；
and believe Those words； thou spak'st of him； indeed the cause。〃 Now
down he bent t' embrace my teacher's feet； But he forbade him： 〃Brother！
do it not： Thou art a shadow； and behold'st a shade。〃 He rising answer'd
thus： 〃Now hast thou prov'd The force and ardour of the love I bear thee；
When I forget we are but things of air； And as a substance treat an empty
shade。〃
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CANTO XXII
Now we had left the angel； who had turn'd To the sixth circle our
ascending step； One gash from off my forehead raz'd： while they； Whose
wishes tend to justice； shouted forth： 〃Blessed！〃 and ended with； 〃I
thirst：〃 and I； More nimble than along the other straits； So journey'd； that；
without the sense of toil； I follow'd upward the swift…footed shades； When
Virgil thus began： 〃Let its pure flame From virtue flow； and love can
never fail To warm another's bosom' so the light Shine manifestly forth。
Hence from that hour； When 'mongst us in the purlieus of the deep； Came
down the spirit of Aquinum's hard； Who told of thine affection； my good
will Hath been for thee of quality as strong As ever link'd itself to one not
seen。 Therefore these stairs will now seem short to me。 But tell me： and if
too secure I loose The rein with a friend's license； as a friend Forgive me；
and speak now as with a friend： How chanc'd it covetous desire could find
Place in that bosom； 'midst such ample store Of wisdom； as thy zeal had
treasur'd there？〃 First somewhat mov'd to laughter by his words； Statius
replied： 〃Each syllable of thine Is a dear pledge of love。 Things oft
appear That minister false matters to our doubts； When their true causes
are remov'd from sight。 Thy question doth assure me； thou believ'st I was
on earth a covetous man； perhaps Because thou found'st me in that circle
plac'd。 Know then I was too wide of avarice： And e'en for that excess；
thousands of moons Have wax'd and wan'd upon my sufferings。 And were
it not that I with heedful care Noted where thou exclaim'st as if in ire With
human nature； 'Why； thou cursed thirst Of gold！ dost not with juster
measure guide The appetite of mortals？' I had met The fierce encounter
of the voluble rock。 Then was I ware that with too ample wing The hands
may haste to lavishment； and turn'd； As from my other evil； so from this In
penitence。 How many from their grave Shall with shorn locks aris