Has held the holy Church within his arms; So that for this I saw not one dark look. I saw for hunger bite the empty air Ubaldin dalla Pila, and Boniface, 25 Who with his crook had pastured many people. 3o I saw Messer Marchese, who had leisure Once at Forlì for drinking with less dryness, And he was one who ne'er felt satisfied. But as he does who scans, and then doth prize One more than others, did I him of Lucca, Who seemed to take most cognizance of me. He murmured, and I know not what Gentucca From that place heard I, where he felt the wound Of justice, that doth macerate them so. "O soul," I said, "that seemest so desirous To speak with me, do so that I may hear thee, And with thy speech appease thyself and me." "A maid is born, and wears not yet the veil," Began he, "who to thee shall pleasant make If by my murmuring thou hast been deceived, 35 40 45 50 And I to him: "One am I, who, whenever Which me, the Notary, and Guittone held 55 Go closely following after him who dictates, Which with our own forsooth came not to pass; 60 And he who sets himself to go beyond, No difference sees from one style to another " Turning their faces, hurried on their steps, ; 65 70 Pass by, and came with me behind it, saying, "When will it be that I again shall see thee?" 75 "How long," I answered, "I may live, I know not; Yet my return will not so speedy be, But I shall sooner in desire arrive ; "Now go," he said, " for him most guilty of it Increasing evermore until it smites him, Not long those wheels shall turn," and he uplifted A cavalier from out a troop that ride, Mine eyes became to him such pursuivants As was my understanding to his words, Appeared to me with laden and living boughs Another apple-tree, and not far distant, 85 90 95 100 From having but just then turned thitherward. 105 People I saw beneath it lift their hands, And cry I know not what towards the leaves, Who pray, and he they pray to doth not answer, 110 Then they departed as if undeceived; And now we came unto the mighty tree Which prayers and tears so manifold refuses. "Pass farther onward without drawing near; The tree of which Eve ate is higher up, And out of that one has this tree been raised." Thus said I know not who among the branches; Whereat Virgilius, Statius, and myself Went crowding forward on the side that rises. 120 "Be mindful," said he, "of the accursed ones Formed of the cloud-rack, who inebriate Combated Theseus with their double breasts; A thousand steps and more we onward went, 130 135 140 His aspect had bereft me of my sight, So that I turned me back unto my Teachers, Like one who goeth as his hearing guides him. 144 And as, the harbinger of early dawn, [grance, The air of May doth move and breathe out fraImpregnate all with herbage and with flowers, So did I feel a breeze strike in the midst 150 My front, and felt the moving of the plumes That breathed around an odor of ambrosia ; And heard it said: "Blessed are they whom grace So much illumines, that the love of taste Excites not in their breasts too great desire, Hungering at all times so far as is just." CANTO XXV. OW was it the ascent no hindrance brooked, NOW Because the sun had his meridian circle To Taurus left, and night to Scorpio ; Wherefore as doth a man who tarries not, But goes his way, whate'er to him appear, Taking the stairway, one before the other, And as the little stork that lifts its wing With a desire to fly, and doth not venture To leave the nest, and lets it downward drcop, 5 ΤΟ |