Sofairahatchmentwillnotmakeforher
TheVipermarshallingtheMilanese
A-field, aswouldhavemadeGallura'sCock."
Inthiswisespakehe, withthestampimpressed
Uponhisaspectofthatrighteouszeal
Whichmeasurablyburnethintheheart.
Mygreedyeyesstillwandereduptoheaven,
Stilltothatpointwhereslowestarethestars,
Evenasawheelthenearesttoitsaxle.
AndmyConductor: "Son, whatdostthougazeat
Upthere?" AndItohim: "Atthosethreetorches
Withwhichthishitherpoleisallonfire."
Andhetome: "Thefourresplendentstars
Thousawestthismorningaredownyonderlow,
Andthesehavemounteduptowherethosewere."
Ashewasspeaking, tohimselfSordello
Drewhim, andsaid, "LothereourAdversary!"
Andpointedwithhisfingertolookthither.
Uponthesideonwhichthelittlevalley
Nobarrierhath, aserpentwas; perchance
ThesamewhichgavetoEvethebitterfood.
'Twixtgrassandflowerscameontheevilstreak,
Turningattimesitsheadabout, andlicking
Itsbackliketoabeastthatsmoothesitself.
Ididnotsee, andthereforecannotsay
Howthecelestialfalcons 'gantomove,
ButwellIsawthattheywerebothinmotion.
Hearingtheaircleftbytheirverdantwings,
Theserpentfled, androundtheAngelswheeled,
Uptotheirstationsflyingbackalike.
TheshadethattotheJudgehadnearapproached
Whenhehadcalled, throughoutthatwholeassault
Hadnotamomentlooseditsgazeonme.
"Somaythelightthatleadeththeeonhigh
Findinthineownfree-willasmuchofwax
Asneedfulisuptothehighestazure,"
Beganit, "ifsometrueintelligence
OfValdimagraoritsneighbourhood
Thouknowest, tellitme, whooncewasgreatthere.
CurradoMalaspinawasIcalled;
