The Vision, or Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise of Dante Alighieri . stration, and would urge your course with speed,See that ye still to rightward keep the brink. So them the bard besought; and such the words, 80Beyond us some short space, in answer came. I noted what remained yet hidden from them :Thence to my lieges eyes mine eyes I bent,And he, forthwith interpreting their suit,Beckoned his glad assent. Free then to act 188 THE VISION OF DANTE [Canto xix As pleased me, I drew near, and took my standOver that shade whose words I late had , Spirit ! I said, in whom repentant tearsMatu
The Vision, or Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise of Dante Alighieri . stration, and would urge your course with speed,See that ye still to rightward keep the brink. So them the bard besought; and such the words, 80Beyond us some short space, in answer came. I noted what remained yet hidden from them :Thence to my lieges eyes mine eyes I bent,And he, forthwith interpreting their suit,Beckoned his glad assent. Free then to act 188 THE VISION OF DANTE [Canto xix As pleased me, I drew near, and took my standOver that shade whose words I late had , Spirit ! I said, in whom repentant tearsMature that blessed hour when thou with GodShalt find acceptance, for a while suspendFor me that mightier care. Say who thou wast;Why thus ye grovel on your bellies prone ;And if, in aught, ye wish my service there,Whence living I am He answering spake: The cause why Heaven our back toward his copeReverses, shalt thou know : but me know successor of Peter, and the nameAnd title of my lineage, from that streamThat twixt Chiaveri and Siestri draws 90. His limpid waters through the lowly month and little more by proof 1 what a weight that robe of sovereigntyUpon his shoulder rests, who from the mireWould guard it; that each other fardel seemsBut feathers in the balance. Late, alas !Was my conversion : but, when 1 becameRomes pastor, I discerned at once the dreamAnd cozenage of life ; saw that the heartRested not there, and yet no jjrouder heightLured on the climber ; wherefore, of that lifeNo more enamoured, in my bosom loveOf purer being kindled. For till then1 was a soul in misery, alienateFrom God, and covetous of all earthly things ;Now, as thou saest, here punished for my cleansing from the taint of avarice, 100 no Canto XX] PURGATORY 189 Do spirits, converted, need. This mount inflicts No direr penalty. Een as our eyes Fastened below, nor eer to loftier clime Were lifted ; thus hath justice levelled us, 120 Here on the earth. As av
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