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run waste。 Come see the Capulets and Montagues； The Philippeschi and
Monaldi！ man Who car'st for nought！ those sunk in grief； and these
With dire suspicion rack'd。 Come； cruel one！ Come and behold the'
oppression of the nobles； And mark their injuries： and thou mayst see。
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THE VISION
What safety Santafiore can supply。 Come and behold thy Rome； who calls
on thee； Desolate widow！ day and night with moans： 〃My Caesar； why
dost thou desert my side？〃 Come and behold what love among thy people：
And if no pity touches thee for us； Come and blush for thine own report。
For me； If it be lawful； O Almighty Power； Who wast in earth for our
sakes crucified！ Are thy just eyes turn'd elsewhere？ or is this A
preparation in the wond'rous depth Of thy sage counsel made； for some
good end； Entirely from our reach of thought cut off？ So are the' Italian
cities all o'erthrong'd With tyrants； and a great Marcellus made Of every
petty factious villager。 My Florence！ thou mayst well remain
unmov'd At this digression； which affects not thee： Thanks to thy people；
who so wisely speed。 Many have justice in their heart； that long Waiteth
for counsel to direct the bow； Or ere it dart unto its aim： but shine Have it
on their lip's edge。 Many refuse To bear the common burdens： readier
thine Answer uneall'd； and cry； 〃Behold I stoop！〃 Make thyself glad；
for thou hast reason now； Thou wealthy！ thou at peace！ thou wisdom…
fraught！ Facts best witness if I speak the truth。 Athens and Lacedaemon；
who of old Enacted laws； for civil arts renown'd； Made little progress in
improving life Tow'rds thee； who usest such nice subtlety； That to the
middle of November scarce Reaches the thread thou in October weav'st。
How many times； within thy memory； Customs； and laws； and coins； and
offices Have been by thee renew'd； and people chang'd！ If thou
remember'st well and can'st see clear； Thou wilt perceive thyself like a
sick wretch； Who finds no rest upon her down； hut oft Shifting her side；
short respite seeks from pain。
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THE VISION
CANTO VII
After their courteous greetings joyfully Sev'n times exchang'd；
Sordello backward drew Exclaiming； 〃Who are ye？〃 〃Before this mount
By spirits worthy of ascent to God Was sought； my bones had by Octavius'
care Been buried。 I am Virgil； for no sin Depriv'd of heav'n； except for
lack of faith。〃 So answer'd him in few my gentle guide。 As one； who
aught before him suddenly Beholding； whence his wonder riseth； cries 〃It
is yet is not；〃 wav'ring in belief； Such he appear'd； then downward bent his
eyes； And drawing near with reverential step； Caught him； where of mean
estate might clasp His lord。 〃Glory of Latium！〃 he exclaim'd； 〃In whom
our tongue its utmost power display'd！ Boast of my honor'd birth…place！
what desert Of mine； what favour rather undeserv'd； Shows thee to me？
If I to hear that voice Am worthy； say if from below thou com'st And from
what cloister's pale？〃〃Through every orb Of that sad region；〃 he reply'd；
〃thus far Am I arriv'd； by heav'nly influence led And with such aid I come。
There is a place There underneath； not made by torments sad； But by dun
shades alone； where mourning's voice Sounds not of anguish sharp； but
breathes in sighs。 There I with little innocents abide； Who by death's fangs
were bitten； ere exempt From human taint。 There I with those abide；
Who the three holy virtues put not on； But understood the rest； and
without blame Follow'd them all。 But if thou know'st and canst； Direct
us； how we soonest may arrive； Where Purgatory its true beginning takes。〃
He answer'd thus： 〃We have no certain place Assign'd us： upwards I may
go or round； Far as I can； I join thee for thy guide。 But thou beholdest now
how day declines： And upwards to proceed by night； our power Excels：
therefore it may be well to choose A place of pleasant sojourn。 To the
right Some spirits sit apart retir'd。 If thou Consentest； I to these will lead
thy steps： And thou wilt know them； not without delight。〃 〃How
chances this？〃 was answer'd； 〃who so wish'd To ascend by night；
would he be thence debarr'd By other； or through his own weakness fail？〃
The good Sordello then； along the ground Trailing his finger； spoke： 〃Only
this line Thou shalt not overpass； soon as the sun Hath disappear'd； not
that aught else impedes Thy going upwards； save the shades of night。
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THE VISION
These with the wont of power perplex the will。 With them thou haply
mightst return beneath； Or to and fro around the mountain's side Wander；
while day is in the horizon shut。〃 My master straight； as wond'ring at
his speech； Exclaim'd： 〃Then lead us quickly； where thou sayst； That；
while we stay； we may enjoy delight。〃 A little space we were remov'd
from thence； When I perceiv'd the mountain hollow'd out。 Ev'n as large
valleys hollow'd out on earth； 〃That way；〃 the' escorting spirit cried；
〃we go； Where in a bosom the high bank recedes： And thou await renewal
of the day。〃 Betwixt the steep and plain a crooked path Led us traverse
into the ridge's side； Where more than half the sloping edge expires。
Refulgent gold； and silver thrice refin'd； And scarlet grain and ceruse；
Indian wood Of lucid dye serene； fresh emeralds But newly broken； by the
herbs and flowers Plac'd in that fair recess； in color all Had been surpass'd；
as great surpasses less。 Nor nature only there lavish'd her hues； But of the
sweetness of a thousand smells A rare and undistinguish'd fragrance made。
〃Salve Regina；〃 on the grass and flowers Here chanting I beheld those
spirits sit Who not beyond the valley could be seen。 〃Before the
west'ring sun sink to his bed；〃 Began the Mantuan； who our steps had
turn'd； 〃'Mid those desire