Ihadalreadyfromthoseshadesdeparted,
AndfollowedinthefootstepsofmyGuide,
Whenfrombehind, pointinghisfingeratme,
Oneshouted: "See, itseemsasifshonenot
Thesunshineontheleftofhimbelow,
Andlikeonelivingseemshetoconducthim."
MineeyesIturnedatutteranceofthesewords,
Andsawthemwatchingwithastonishment
Butme, butme, andthelightwhichwasbroken!
"Whydoththymindsooccupyitself,"
TheMastersaid, "thatthouthypacedostslacken?
Whatmattersittotheewhathereiswhispered?
Comeafterme, andletthepeopletalk;
Standlikeasteadfasttower, thatneverwags
Itstopforalltheblowingofthewinds;
Forevermorethemaninwhomisspringing
Thoughtuponthought, removesfromhimthemark,
Becausetheforceofonetheotherweakens."
WhatcouldIsayinanswerbut "Icome"?
Isaiditsomewhatwiththatcolourtinged
Whichmakesamanofpardonsometimesworthy.
Meanwhilealongthemountain-sideacross
Camepeopleinadvanceofusalittle,
SingingtheMiserereversebyverse.
DanteandVirgilamongthosewhodiedbyviolencewithoutlastrites
WhentheybecameawareIgavenoplace
Forpassageofthesunshinethroughmybody,
Theychangedtheirsongintoalong, hoarse "Oh!"
Andtwoofthem, informofmessengers,
Ranforthtomeetus, anddemandedofus,
"Ofyourconditionmakeuscognisant."
AndsaidmyMaster: "Yecangoyourway
Andcarrybackagaintothosewhosentyou,
Thatthisone'sbodyisofveryflesh.
Iftheystoodstillbecausetheysawhisshadow,
AsIsuppose, enoughisansweredthem;
Himletthemhonour, itmayprofitthem."
VapoursenkindledsawIne'ersoswiftly
Atearlynightfallcleavetheairserene,
Nor, atthesetofsun, thecloudsofAugust,
