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behind them walk； As if attendant on their leaders； cloth'd With raiment of
such whiteness； as on earth Was never。 On my left； the wat'ry gleam
Borrow'd； and gave me back； when there I look'd。 As in a mirror； my left
side portray'd。 When I had chosen on the river's edge Such station； that
the distance of the stream Alone did separate me； there I stay'd My steps
for clearer prospect； and beheld The flames go onward； leaving； as they
went； The air behind them painted as with trail Of liveliest pencils！ so
distinct were mark'd All those sev'n listed colours； whence the sun Maketh
his bow； and Cynthia her zone。 These streaming gonfalons did flow
beyond My vision； and ten paces； as I guess； Parted the outermost。
Beneath a sky So beautiful； came foul and…twenty elders； By two and two；
with flower…de…luces crown'd。 All sang one song： 〃Blessed be thou
among The daughters of Adam！ and thy loveliness Blessed for ever！〃
After that the flowers； And the fresh herblets； on the opposite brink； Were
free from that elected race； as light In heav'n doth second light； came after
them Four animals； each crown'd with verdurous leaf。 With six wings each
was plum'd； the plumage full Of eyes； and th' eyes of Argus would be such；
Were they endued with life。 Reader； more rhymes Will not waste in
shadowing forth their form： For other need no straitens； that in this I may
not give my bounty room。 But read Ezekiel； for he paints them； from the
north How he beheld them come by Chebar's flood； In whirlwind； cloud
and fire； and even such As thou shalt find them character'd by him； Here
were they； save as to the pennons； there； From him departing； John
accords with me。 The space； surrounded by the four； enclos'd A car
triumphal： on two wheels it came Drawn at a Gryphon's neck； and he
above Stretch'd either wing uplifted； 'tween the midst And the three listed
hues； on each side three； So that the wings did cleave or injure none； And
out of sight they rose。 The members； far As he was bird； were golden；
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THE VISION
white the rest With vermeil intervein'd。 So beautiful A car in Rome ne'er
grac'd Augustus pomp； Or Africanus'： e'en the sun's itself Were poor to this；
that chariot of the sun Erroneous； which in blazing ruin fell At Tellus'
pray'r devout； by the just doom Mysterious of all…seeing Jove。 Three
nymphs ；k the right wheel； came circling in smooth dance； The one so
ruddy； that her form had scarce Been known within a furnace of clear
flame： The next did look； as if the flesh and bones Were emerald： snow
new…fallen seem'd the third。 Now seem'd the white to lead； the ruddy now；
And from her song who led； the others took Their treasure； swift or slow。
At th' other wheel； A band quaternion； each in purple clad； Advanc'd with
festal step； as of them one The rest conducted； one； upon whose front
Three eyes were seen。 In rear of all this group； Two old men I beheld；
dissimilar In raiment； but in port and gesture like； Solid and mainly grave；
of whom the one Did show himself some favour'd counsellor Of the great
Coan； him； whom nature made To serve the costliest creature of her tribe。
His fellow mark'd an opposite intent； Bearing a sword； whose glitterance
and keen edge； E'en as I view'd it with the flood between； Appall'd me。
Next four others I beheld； Of humble seeming： and； behind them all； One
single old man； sleeping； as he came； With a shrewd visage。 And these
seven； each Like the first troop were habited； hut wore No braid of lilies
on their temples wreath'd。 Rather with roses and each vermeil flower； A
sight； but little distant； might have sworn； That they were all on fire above
their brow。 Whenas the car was o'er against me； straight。 Was heard a
thund'ring； at whose voice it seem'd The chosen multitude were stay'd； for
there； With the first ensigns； made they solemn halt。
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THE VISION
CANTO XXX
Soon as the polar light； which never knows Setting nor rising； nor the
shadowy veil Of other cloud than sin； fair ornament Of the first heav'n； to
duty each one there Safely convoying； as that lower doth The steersman to
his port； stood firmly fix'd； Forthwith the saintly tribe； who in the van
Between the Gryphon and its radiance came； Did turn them to the car； as
to their rest： And one； as if commission'd from above； In holy chant thrice
shorted forth aloud： 〃Come； spouse； from Libanus！〃 and all the rest Took
up the songAt the last audit so The blest shall rise； from forth his cavern
each Uplifting lightly his new…vested flesh； As； on the sacred litter； at the
voice Authoritative of that elder； sprang A hundred ministers and
messengers Of life eternal。 〃Blessed thou！ who com'st！〃 And； 〃O；〃
they cried； 〃from full hands scatter ye Unwith'ring lilies；〃 and； so saying；
cast Flowers over head and round them on all sides。 I have beheld； ere
now； at break of day； The eastern clime all roseate； and the sky Oppos'd；
one deep and beautiful serene； And the sun's face so shaded； and with
mists Attemper'd at lids rising； that the eye Long while endur'd the sight：
thus in a cloud Of flowers； that from those hands angelic rose； And down；
within and outside of the car； Fell showering； in white veil with olive
wreath'd； A virgin in my view appear'd； beneath Green mantle； rob'd in hue
of living flame： And o'er my Spirit； that in former days Within her
presence had abode so long； No shudd'ring terror crept。 Mine eyes no
more Had knowledge of her； yet there mov'd from her A hidden virtue； at
whose touch awak'd； The power of ancient love was strong within me。
No sooner on my vision streaming； smote The heav'nly influence； which
years past； and e'en In childhood； thrill'd me； than towards Virgil I Turn'd
me to leftward； panting； like a babe； That flees for refuge to his mother's
breast； If aught have terrified or work'd him woe： And would have cried：
〃There is no dram of blood； That doth not quiver in me。 The old flame
Throws out clear tokens of reviving fire：〃 But Virgil had bereav'd us