After this manner by a voice was spoken; Whereon my Master said: "Do thou reply, And ask if on this side the way go upward." And I: "O creature that dost cleanse thyself To return beautiful to Him who made thee, Thou shalt hear marvels if thou follow me." "Thee will I follow far as is allowed me," He answered; "and if smoke prevent our seeing, So that he wills that I behold his court Right for the pass, and be thy words our escort." "Lombard was I, and I was Marco called; 30 36 40 46 The world I knew, and loved that excellence, At which has each one now unbent his bow. For mounting upward, thou art going right." Thus he made answer, and subjoined: "I pray thee Το To do what thou dost ask me, but am bursting First it was simple, and is now made double By thy opinion, which makes certain to me, Here and elsewhere, that which I couple with it. The world forsooth is utterly deserted 50 55 By every virtue, as thou tellest me, 60 That I may see it, and to others show it; For one in the heavens, and here below one puts it." A sigh profound, that grief forced into Ai! 64 He first sent forth, and then began he: "Brother, The world is blind, and sooth thou comest from it! Ye who are living every cause refer Still upward to the heavens, as if all things They of necessity moved with themselves. If this were so, in you would be destroyed Free will, nor any justice would there be In having joy for good, or grief for evil. The heavens your movements do initiate, I say not all; but granting that I say it, Light has been given you for good and evil, And free volition; which, if some fatigue In the first battles with the heavens it suffers, Though free, ye subject are, and that creates Hence, if the present world doth go astray, Before it is, like to a little girl Weeping and laughing in her childish sport, 70 75 80 85 90 Of trivial good at first it tastes the savor; If guide or rein turn not aside its love. Behoved a king to have, who at the least Strike only at the good for which it hankers, 100 105 Rome, that reformed the world, accustomed was In the land laved by Po and Adige, Valor and courtesy used to be found, Before that Frederick had his controversy; Now in security can pass that way 115 Whoever will abstain, through sense of shame, From speaking with the good, or drawing near them. Line 104. The cause is that has made the world depraved, 120 True, three old men are left, in whom upbraids And Guido da Castel, who better named is, Falls in the mire, and soils itself and burden.” Unless I take it from his daughter Gaia. May God be with you, for I come no farther. Behold the dawn, that through the smoke rays out, Already whitening; and I must depart Yonder the Angel is — e'er he appear.' 125 130 135 140 Thus did he speak, and would no farther hear me. 145 CANTO XVII REMEMBER, Reader, if e'er in the Alps A mist o'ertook thee, through which thou couldst see Not otherwise than through its membrane mole, In coming to perceive how I re-saw 5 10 So from without sometimes, that man perceives not, Although around may sound a thousand trumpets, Who moveth thee, if sense impel thee not? 16 Moves thee a light, which in the heaven takes form, By self, or by a will that downward guides it. Of her impiety, who changed her form Into the bird that most delights in singing, Within itself, that from without there came One crucified, disdainful and ferocious 20 25 |