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And then； continuing； it said： 〃Therein
Unto God's service I became so steadfast；
That feeding only on the juice of olives
Lightly I passed away the heats and frosts；
Contented in my thoughts contemplative。
That cloister used to render to these heavens
Abundantly； and now is empty grown；
So that perforce it soon must be revealed。
I in that place was Peter Damiano；
And Peter the Sinner was I in the house
Of Our Lady on the Adriatic shore。
Little of mortal life remained to me；
When I was called and dragged forth to the hat
Which shifteth evermore from bad to worse。
Came Cephas； and the mighty Vessel came
Of the Holy Spirit； meagre and barefooted；
Taking the food of any hostelry。
Now some one to support them on each side
The modern shepherds need； and some to lead them；
So heavy are they； and to hold their trains。
They cover up their palfreys with their cloaks；
So that two beasts go underneath one skin；
O Patience； that dost tolerate so much！〃
At this voice saw I many little flames
From step to step descending and revolving；
And every revolution made them fairer。
Round about this one came they and stood still；
And a cry uttered of so loud a sound；
It here could find no parallel； nor I
Distinguished it； the thunder so o'ercame me。
Paradiso： Canto XXII
Oppressed with stupor； I unto my guide
Turned like a little child who always runs
For refuge there where he confideth most；
And she； even as a mother who straightway
Gives comfort to her pale and breathless boy
With voice whose wont it is to reassure him；
Said to me： 〃Knowest thou not thou art in heaven；
And knowest thou not that heaven is holy all
And what is done here cometh from good zeal？
After what wise the singing would have changed thee
And I by smiling； thou canst now imagine；
Since that the cry has startled thee so much；
In which if thou hadst understood its prayers
Already would be known to thee the vengeance
Which thou shalt look upon before thou diest。
The sword above here smiteth not in haste
Nor tardily； howe'er it seem to him
Who fearing or desiring waits for it。
But turn thee round towards the others now；
For very illustrious spirits shalt thou see；
If thou thy sight directest as I say。〃
As it seemed good to her mine eyes I turned；
And saw a hundred spherules that together
With mutual rays each other more embellished。
I stood as one who in himself represses
The point of his desire； and ventures not
To question； he so feareth the too much。
And now the largest and most luculent
Among those pearls came forward； that it might
Make my desire concerning it content。
Within it then I heard： 〃If thou couldst see
Even as myself the charity that burns
Among us； thy conceits would be expressed；
But； that by waiting thou mayst not come late
To the high end； I will make answer even
Unto the thought of which thou art so chary。
That mountain on whose slope Cassino stands
Was frequented of old upon its summit
By a deluded folk and ill…disposed；
And I am he who first up thither bore
The name of Him who brought upon the earth
The truth that so much sublimateth us。
And such abundant grace upon me shone
That all the neighbouring towns I drew away
From the impious worship that seduced the world。
These other fires； each one of them； were men
Contemplative； enkindled by that heat
Which maketh holy flowers and fruits spring up。
Here is Macarius； here is Romualdus；
Here are my brethren； who within the cloisters
Their footsteps stayed and kept a steadfast heart。〃
And I to him： 〃The affection which thou showest
Speaking with me； and the good countenance
Which I behold and note in all your ardours；
In me have so my confidence dilated
As the sun doth the rose； when it becomes
As far unfolded as it hath the power。
Therefore I pray； and thou assure me； father；
If I may so much grace receive； that I
May thee behold with countenance unveiled。〃
He thereupon： 〃Brother； thy high desire
In the remotest sphere shall be fulfilled；
Where are fulfilled all others and my own。
There perfect is； and ripened； and complete；
Every desire； within that one alone
Is every part where it has always been；
For it is not in space； nor turns on poles；
And unto it our stairway reaches up；
Whence thus from out thy sight it steals away。
Up to that height the Patriarch Jacob saw it
Extending its supernal part； what time
So thronged with angels it appeared to him。
But to ascend it now no one uplifts
His feet from off the earth； and now my Rule
Below remaineth for mere waste of paper。
The walls that used of old to be an Abbey
Are changed to dens of robbers； and the cowls
Are sacks filled full of miserable flour。
But heavy usury is not taken up
So much against God's pleasure as that fruit
Which maketh so insane the heart of monks；
For whatsoever hath the Church in keeping
Is for the folk that ask it in God's name；
Not for one's kindred or for something worse。
The flesh of mortals is so very soft；
That good beginnings down below suffice not
From springing of the oak to bearing acorns。
Peter began with neither gold nor silver；
And I with orison and abstinence；
And Francis with humility his convent。
And if thou lookest at each one's beginning；
And then regardest whither he has run；
Thou shalt behold the white changed into brown。
In verity the Jordan backward turned；
And the sea's fleeing； when God willed were more
A wonder to behold； than succour here。〃
Thus unto me he said； and then withdrew
To his own band； and the band closed together；
Then like a whirlwind all was upward rapt。
The gentle Lady urged me on behind them
Up o'er that stairway by a single sign；
So did her virtue overcome my nature；
Nor here below； where one goes up and down
By natural law； was motion e'er so swift
That it could be compared unto my wing。
Reader； as I may unto that devout
Triumph return； on whose account I often
For my transgressions weep and beat my breast；
Thou hadst not thrust thy finger in the fire
And drawn it out again； before I saw
The sign that follows Taurus； and was in it。
O glorious stars； O light impregnated
With mighty virtue； from which I acknowledge
All of my genius； whatsoe'er it be；
With you was born； and hid himself with you；
He who is father of all mortal life；
When first I tasted of the Tuscan air；
And then when grace was freely given to me
To enter the high wheel which turns you round；
Your region was allotted unto me。
To you devoutly at this hour my soul
Is sighing； that it virtue may acquire
For the stern pass that draws it to itself。
〃Thou art so near unto the last salvation；〃
Thus Beatrice began； 〃thou oughtest now
To have thine eves unclouded and acute；
And therefore； ere thou enter farther in；
Look down once more； and see how vast a world
Thou hast already put beneath thy feet；
So that thy heart； as jocund as it may；
Present itself to the triumphant