Hence, if the present world doth go astray, Weeping and laughing in her childish sport, 85 Save that, proceeding from a joyous Maker, Gladly it turns to that which gives it pleasure. 90 Of trivial good at first it tastes the savor; Is cheated by it, and runs after it, If guide or rein turn not aside its love. Behoved a king to have, who at the least 95 100 105 The cause is that hath made the world depraved, Line 104. The cause is that has made the world depraved, For by its seed each herb is recognized. 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. 120 True, three old men are left, in whom upbraids The ancient age the new, and late they deem it That God restore them to the better life: Currado da Palazzo, and good Gherardo, And Guido da Castel, who better named is, 125 In fashion of the French, the simple Lombard : Say thou henceforward that the Church of Rome, Confounding in itself two governments, 66 Falls in the mire, and soils itself and burden." "O Marco mine," I said, "thou reasonest well; 130 And now discern I why the sons of Levi Have been excluded from the heritage. But what Gherardo is it, who, as sample Of a lost race, thou sayest hath remained In reprobation of the barbarous age?" "Either thy speech deceives me, or it tempts me,' He answered me; "for speaking Tuscan to me, It seems of good Gherardo naught thou knowest. By other surname do I know him not, Unless I take it from his daughter Gaia. 135 140 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." 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, How, when the vapors humid and condensed Begin to dissipate themselves, the sphere Of the sun feebly enters in among them, And thy imagination will be swift In coming to perceive how I re-saw The sun at first, that was already setting. Thus, to the faithful footsteps of my Master Mating mine own, I issued from that cloud To rays already dead on the low shores. O thou, Imagination, that dost steal us 10 So from without sometimes, that man perceives not, Although around may sound a thousand trum pets, Who moveth thee, if sense impel thee not? 15 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, One crucified, disdainful and ferocious 20 25 Around him were the great Ahasuerus, Esther his wife, and the just Mordecai, Who was in word and action so entire. And even as this image burst asunder Of its own self, in fashion of a bubble In which the water it was made of fails, There rose up in my vision a young maiden Bitterly weeping, and she said: "O queen, Why hast thou wished in anger to be naught? Thou 'st slain thyself, Lavinia not to lose ; Now hast thou lost me; I am she who mourns, New light strikes in upon the eyelids closed, 30 35 40 45 As soon as the effulgence smote my face, But as before the sun, which quells the sight, 55 60 Accord we now our feet to such inviting, Let us make haste to mount ere it grow dark ; For then we could not till the day return." Thus my Conductor said; and I and he Together turned our footsteps to a stairway; 66 The latest sunbeams, which the night pursues, That upon many sides the stars appeared. “O manhood mine, why dost thou vanish so?” I said within myself; for I perceived The vigor of my legs was put in truce. We at the point were where no more ascends The stairway upward, and were motionless, Even as a ship, which at the shore arrives; And I gave heed a little, if I might hear 66 Aught whatsoever in the circle new; 65 70 75 80 Is purged here in the circle where we are? Although our feet may pause, pause not thy speech." And he to me: "The love of good, remiss In what it should have done, is here restored; Here plied again the ill-belated oar; But still more openly to understand, Turn unto me thy mind, and thou shalt gather Some profitable fruit from our delay. Neither Creator nor a creature ever, Son," he began, "was destitute of love 85 90 |