CANTO X WHEN we had crossed the threshold of the door Which the perverted love of souls disuses, Because it makes the crooked way seem straight, Reëchoing I heard it closed again; And if I had turned back mine eyes upon it, Began my Leader, "to adapt ourselves I wearied out, and both of us uncertain eye; About our way, we stopped upon a plain To foot of the high bank that ever rises, And far as eye of mine could wing its flight, Now on the left, and on the right flank now, 5 IO 15 20 25 Thereon our feet had not been moved as yet, With sculptures, that not only Polycletus, There sculptured in a gracious attitude, One would have sworn that he was saying, “Ave;" Who turned the key to ope the exalted love, And in her mien this language had impressed, "Ecce ancilla Dei," as distinctly As any figure stamps itself in wax. "Keep not thy mind upon one place alone," The gentle Master said, who had me standing In rear of Mary, and upon that side Wherefore I passed Virgilius and drew near, Into seven choirs divided, of two senses 30 35 41 45 50 55 Made one say, "No," the other, "Yes, they sing." Likewise unto the smoke of the frankincense, Which there was imaged forth, the eyes and nose Were in the yes and no discordant made. Preceded there the vessel benedight, 61 Dancing with girded loins, the humble Psalmist, 65 And more and less than King was he in this. Opposite, represented at the window Of a great palace, Michal looked upon him, 75 I moved my feet from where I had been standing, 70 80 85 I shall return." And she: "My Lord," like one In whom grief is impatient, "shouldst thou not Return?" And he: "Who shall be where I am Will give it thee." And she: "Good deed of others What boots it thee, if thou neglect thine own?" Line 76. 'Tis of the Emperor Trajan I am speaking; 90 Whence he "Now comfort thee, for it behoves me Justice so wills, and pity doth retain me." And dear to look on for their Maker's sake, "Behold, upon this side, but rare they make 95 100 Their steps," the Poet murmured, "many people; These will direct us to the lofty stairs." Mine eyes, that in beholding were intent To see new things, of which they curious are, In turning round towards him were not slow. But still I wish not, Reader, thou shouldst swerve From thy good purposes, because thou hearest How God ordaineth that the debt be paid; Attend not to the fashion of the torment, Think of what follows; think that at the worst It cannot reach beyond the mighty sentence. "Master," began I, " that which I behold Moving towards us seems to me not persons, And what I know not, so in sight I waver." And he to me: "The grievous quality Of this their torment bows them so to earth, By sight what cometh underneath those stones; Line 94. He who on no new thing has ever looked 105 109 115 120 |