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penitence。 How many from their grave Shall with shorn locks arise； who
living； aye And at life's last extreme； of this offence； Through ignorance；
did not repent。 And know； The fault which lies direct from any sin In
level opposition； here With that Wastes its green rankness on one common
heap。 Therefore if I have been with those； who wail Their avarice； to
cleanse me； through reverse Of their transgression； such hath been my
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lot。〃 To whom the sovran of the pastoral song： 〃While thou didst sing
that cruel warfare wag'd By the twin sorrow of Jocasta's womb； From thy
discourse with Clio there； it seems As faith had not been shine： without the
which Good deeds suffice not。 And if so； what sun Rose on thee； or what
candle pierc'd the dark That thou didst after see to hoist the sail； And
follow； where the fisherman had led？〃 He answering thus： 〃By thee
conducted first； I enter'd the Parnassian grots； and quaff'd Of the clear
spring； illumin'd first by thee Open'd mine eyes to God。 Thou didst； as
one； Who； journeying through the darkness； hears a light Behind； that
profits not himself； but makes His followers wise； when thou exclaimedst；
'Lo！ A renovated world！ Justice return'd！ Times of primeval innocence
restor'd！ And a new race descended from above！' Poet and Christian both
to thee I owed。 That thou mayst mark more clearly what I trace； My hand
shall stretch forth to inform the lines With livelier colouring。 Soon o'er
all the world； By messengers from heav'n； the true belief Teem'd now
prolific； and that word of thine Accordant； to the new instructors chim'd。
Induc'd by which agreement； I was wont Resort to them； and soon their
sanctity So won upon me； that； Domitian's rage Pursuing them； I mix'd my
tears with theirs； And； while on earth I stay'd； still succour'd them； And
their most righteous customs made me scorn All sects besides。 Before I
led the Greeks In tuneful fiction； to the streams of Thebes； I was baptiz'd；
but secretly； through fear； Remain'd a Christian； and conform'd long time
To Pagan rites。 Five centuries and more； T for that lukewarmness was
fain to pace Round the fourth circle。 Thou then； who hast rais'd The
covering； which did hide such blessing from me； Whilst much of this
ascent is yet to climb； Say； if thou know； where our old Terence bides；
Caecilius； Plautus； Varro： if condemn'd They dwell； and in what province
of the deep。〃 〃These；〃 said my guide； 〃with Persius and myself； And
others many more； are with that Greek； Of mortals； the most cherish'd by
the Nine； In the first ward of darkness。 There ofttimes We of that mount
hold converse； on whose top For aye our nurses live。 We have the bard
Of Pella； and the Teian； Agatho； Simonides； and many a Grecian else
Ingarlanded with laurel。 Of thy train Antigone is there； Deiphile； Argia；
and as sorrowful as erst Ismene； and who show'd Langia's wave： Deidamia
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with her sisters there； And blind Tiresias' daughter； and the bride Sea…born
of Peleus。〃 Either poet now Was silent； and no longer by th' ascent Or
the steep walls obstructed； round them cast Inquiring eyes。 Four
handmaids of the day Had finish'd now their office； and the fifth Was at
the chariot…beam； directing still Its balmy point aloof； when thus my guide：
〃Methinks； it well behooves us to the brink Bend the right shoulder'
circuiting the mount； As we have ever us'd。〃 So custom there Was usher
to the road； the which we chose Less doubtful； as that worthy shade
complied。 They on before me went； I sole pursued； List'ning their
speech； that to my thoughts convey'd Mysterious lessons of sweet poesy。
But soon they ceas'd； for midway of the road A tree we found； with goodly
fruitage hung； And pleasant to the smell： and as a fir Upward from bough
to bough less ample spreads； So downward this less ample spread； that
none。 Methinks； aloft may climb。 Upon the side； That clos'd our path； a
liquid crystal fell From the steep rock； and through the sprays above
Stream'd showering。 With associate step the bards Drew near the plant；
and from amidst the leaves A voice was heard： 〃Ye shall be chary of
me；〃 And after added： 〃Mary took more thought For joy and honour of the
nuptial feast； Than for herself who answers now for you。 The women of
old Rome were satisfied With water for their beverage。 Daniel fed On
pulse； and wisdom gain'd。 The primal age Was beautiful as gold； and
hunger then Made acorns tasteful； thirst each rivulet Run nectar。 Honey
and locusts were the food； Whereon the Baptist in the wilderness Fed； and
that eminence of glory reach'd And greatness； which the' Evangelist
records。〃
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CANTO XXIII
On the green leaf mine eyes were fix'd； like his Who throws away his
days in idle chase Of the diminutive； when thus I heard The more than
father warn me： 〃Son！ our time Asks thriftier using。 Linger not： away。〃
Thereat my face and steps at once I turn'd Toward the sages； by whose
converse cheer'd I journey'd on； and felt no toil： and lo！ A sound of
weeping and a song： 〃My lips； O Lord！〃 and these so mingled； it gave
birth To pleasure and to pain。 〃O Sire； belov'd！ Say what is this I hear？〃
Thus I inquir'd。 〃Spirits；〃 said he； 〃who as they go； perchance； Their
debt of duty pay。〃 As on their road The thoughtful pilgrims； overtaking
some Not known unto them； turn to them； and look； But stay not； thus；
approaching from behind With speedier motion； eyed us； as they pass'd； A
crowd of spirits； silent and devout。 The eyes of each were dark and hollow：
pale Their visage； and so lean withal； the bones Stood staring thro' the skin。
I do not think Thus d