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breath'd sooner。 Thus transform'd； The holy structure； through its several
parts； Did put forth heads； three on the beam； and one On every side； the
first like oxen horn'd； But with a single horn upon their front The four。
Like monster sight hath never seen。 O'er it methought there sat； secure as
rock On mountain's lofty top； a shameless whore； Whose ken rov'd loosely
round her。 At her side； As 't were that none might bear her off； I saw A
giant stand； and ever； and anon They mingled kisses。 But； her lustful
eyes Chancing on me to wander； that fell minion Scourg'd her from head
to foot all o'er； then full Of jealousy； and fierce with rage； unloos'd The
monster； and dragg'd on； so far across The forest； that from me its shades
alone Shielded the harlot and the new…form'd brute。
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CANTO XXXIII
〃The heathen； Lord！ are come！〃 responsive thus； The trinal now； and
now the virgin band Quaternion； their sweet psalmody began； Weeping；
and Beatrice listen'd； sad And sighing； to the song'； in such a mood； That
Mary； as she stood beside the cross； Was scarce more chang'd。 But when
they gave her place To speak； then； risen upright on her feet； She； with a
colour glowing bright as fire； Did answer： 〃Yet a little while； and ye Shall
see me not； and； my beloved sisters； Again a little while； and ye shall see
me。〃 Before her then she marshall'd all the seven； And； beck'ning only
motion'd me； the dame； And that remaining sage； to follow her。 So on
she pass'd； and had not set； I ween； Her tenth step to the ground； when
with mine eyes Her eyes encounter'd； and； with visage mild； 〃So mend thy
pace；〃 she cried； 〃that if my words Address thee； thou mayst still be aptly
plac'd To hear them。〃 Soon as duly to her side I now had hasten'd：
〃Brother！〃 she began； 〃Why mak'st thou no attempt at questioning； As thus
we walk together？〃 Like to those Who； speaking with too reverent an
awe Before their betters； draw not forth the voice Alive unto their lips；
befell me shell That I in sounds imperfect thus began： 〃Lady！ what I
have need of； that thou know'st； And what will suit my need。〃 She
answering thus： 〃Of fearfulness and shame； I will； that thou Henceforth do
rid thee： that thou speak no more； As one who dreams。 Thus far be
taught of me： The vessel； which thou saw'st the serpent break； Was and is
not： let him； who hath the blame； Hope not to scare God's vengeance with
a sop。 Without an heir for ever shall not be That eagle； he； who left the
chariot plum'd； Which monster made it first and next a prey。 Plainly I view；
and therefore speak； the stars E'en now approaching； whose conjunction；
free From all impediment and bar； brings on A season； in the which； one
sent from God； （Five hundred； five； and ten； do mark him out） That foul
one； and th' accomplice of her guilt； The giant； both shall slay。 And if
perchance My saying； dark as Themis or as Sphinx； Fail to persuade thee；
（since like them it foils The intellect with blindness） yet ere long Events
shall be the Naiads； that will solve This knotty riddle； and no damage light
On flock or field。 Take heed； and as these words By me are utter'd； teach
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them even so To those who live that life； which is a race To death： and
when thou writ'st them； keep in mind Not to conceal how thou hast seen
the plant； That twice hath now been spoil'd。 This whoso robs； This
whoso plucks； with blasphemy of deed Sins against God； who for his use
alone Creating hallow'd it。 For taste of this； In pain and in desire； five
thousand years And upward； the first soul did yearn for him； Who punish'd
in himself the fatal gust。 〃Thy reason slumbers； if it deem this height
And summit thus inverted of the plant； Without due cause： and were not
vainer thoughts； As Elsa's numbing waters； to thy soul； And their fond
pleasures had not dyed it dark As Pyramus the mulberry； thou hadst seen；
In such momentous circumstance alone； God's equal justice morally
implied In the forbidden tree。 But since I mark thee In understanding
harden'd into stone； And； to that hardness； spotted too and stain'd； So that
thine eye is dazzled at my word； I will； that； if not written； yet at least
Painted thou take it in thee； for the cause； That one brings home his staff
inwreath'd with palm。 〃I thus： 〃As wax by seal； that changeth not Its
impress； now is stamp'd my brain by thee。 But wherefore soars thy wish'd…
for speech so high Beyond my sight； that loses it the more； The more it
strains to reach it？〃 〃To the end That thou mayst know；〃 she answer'd
straight； 〃the school； That thou hast follow'd； and how far behind； When
following my discourse； its learning halts： And mayst behold your art；
from the divine As distant； as the disagreement is 'Twixt earth and
heaven's most high and rapturous orb。〃 〃I not remember；〃 I replied；
〃that e'er I was estrang'd from thee； nor for such fault Doth conscience
chide me。〃 Smiling she return'd： 〃If thou canst； not remember； call to
mind How lately thou hast drunk of Lethe's wave； And； sure as smoke
doth indicate a flame； In that forgetfulness itself conclude Blame from thy
alienated will incurr'd。 From henceforth verily my words shall be As
naked as will suit them to appear In thy unpractis'd view。〃 More
sparkling now； And with retarded course the sun possess'd The circle of
mid…day； that varies still As th' aspect varies of each several clime； When；
as one； sent in vaward of a troop For escort； pauses； if perchance he spy
Vestige of somewhat strange and rare： so paus'd The sev'nfold band；
arriving at the verge Of a dun umbrage hoar； such as is seen； Beneath
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green leaves and gloomy branches； oft To overbrow a bleak and alpine
cliff。 And； where they stood； before them； as it seem'd；