Thosewhosedesirewouldhavebeenquieted,
Whichevermoreisgiventhemforagrief.
IspeakofAristotleandofPlato,
Andmanyothers;"—andherebowedhishead,
Andmorehesaidnot, andremaineddisturbed.
Wecamemeanwhileuntothemountain'sfoot;
Theresoprecipitatewefoundtherock,
Thatnimblelegswouldtherehavebeeninvain.
'TwixtLericiandTurbia, themostdesert,
Themostsecludedpathwayisastair
Easyandopen, ifcomparedwiththat.
"Whoknowethnowuponwhichhandthehill
Slopesdown," myMastersaid, hisfootstepsstaying,
"Sothatwhogoethwithoutwingsmaymount?"
Andwhileheheldhiseyesupontheground
Examiningthenatureofthepath,
AndIwaslookinguparoundtherock,
Onthelefthandappearedtomeathrong
Bandofsoulsaroundthewallofrock
Ofsouls, thatmovedtheirfeetinourdirection,
Anddidnotseemtomove, theycamesoslowly.
"Liftupthineeyes," ItotheMastersaid;
"Behold, onthisside, whowillgiveuscounsel,
Ifthouofthineownselfcanhaveitnot."
Thenhelookedatme, andwithfrankexpression
Replied: "Letusgothere, fortheycomeslowly,
Andthoubesteadfastinthyhope, sweetson."
Stillwasthatpeopleasfarofffromus,
AfterathousandstepsofoursIsay,
Asagoodthrowerwithhishandwouldreach,
Whentheyallcrowdeduntothehardmasses
Ofthehighbank, andmotionlessstoodandclose,
Ashestandsstilltolookwhogoesindoubt.
"Ohappydead!
Ospiritselectalready!"
Virgiliusmadebeginning, "bythatpeace
WhichIbelieveiswaitingforyouall,
Tellusuponwhatsidethemountainslopes,
Sothatthegoingupbepossible,
Fortolosetimeirkshimmostwhomostknows."
