The Vision, or Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise of Dante Alighieri . st be straight Like Semele when into ashes turned : For, mounting these eternal palace-stairs. My beauty, which the loftier it climbs, As thou hast noted, still doth kindle more. So shines, that, were no tempering interposed, Thy mortal puissance would from its rays 10 Shrink, as the leaf doth from the thunderbolt. Into the seventh splendour are we wafted. That, underneath the burning lions breast. 312 THE VISION OF DANTE [Canto xxi Beams, in this hour, commingled with his might. Thy mind be with thine eyes ; and, in them, mirro
The Vision, or Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise of Dante Alighieri . st be straight Like Semele when into ashes turned : For, mounting these eternal palace-stairs. My beauty, which the loftier it climbs, As thou hast noted, still doth kindle more. So shines, that, were no tempering interposed, Thy mortal puissance would from its rays 10 Shrink, as the leaf doth from the thunderbolt. Into the seventh splendour are we wafted. That, underneath the burning lions breast. 312 THE VISION OF DANTE [Canto xxi Beams, in this hour, commingled with his might. Thy mind be with thine eyes ; and, in them, mirrored The shape, which in this mirror shall be shown. Whoso can deem, how fondly I had fedMy sight upon her blissful countenance,May know, when to new thoughts I changed, what joyTo do the bidding of my heavenly guide ; 20 In equal balance, poising either weight. Within the crystal, which records the name(As its remoter circle girds the world)Of that loved monarch, in whose happy reignNo ill had power to harm, I saw reared up,In colour like to sun-illumined gold,. A ladder, which my ken pursued in vain, So lofty was the summit; down whose steps I saw the splendours in such multitude Descending, every light in heaven, methought, 30 Was shed thence. As the rooks, at dawn of day. Bestirring them to dry their feathers chill. Some speed their way a-field ; and homeward some, Returning, cross their flight; while some abide, And wheel around their airy lodge: so seemed That glitterance, wafted on alternate wing, As upon certain stair it came, and clashed Its shining. And one, lingering near us, waxed So bright, that in my thought I said : The love, Which this betokens me, admits no doubt. 40 Lines 14-89] PARADISE 313 Unwillingly from question I refrain ;To her, by whom my silence and my speechAre ordered, looking for a sign : whence she,Who in the sight of Him, that seeth all,Saw wherefore I was silent, prompted meTo indulge the fervent wish ; and I began : I am not worthy, of my own de
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