Likeuntoonewhohasitladenwiththought,
Whomakeshimselfthehalfarchofabridge,
WhenIheardsay, "Come, herethepassageis,"
Spokeninamannergentleandbenign,
Suchaswehearnotinthismortalregion.
Withopenwings, whichofaswanappeared,
Upwardheturneduswhothusspaketous,
Betweenthetwowallsofthesolidgranite.
Hemovedhispinionsafterwardsandfannedus,
Affirmingthose 'quilugent' tobeblessed,
Fortheyshallhavetheirsoulswithcomfortfilled.
"Whataileththee, thatayetoearththougazest?"
TomemyGuidebegantosay, weboth
SomewhatbeyondtheAngelhavingmounted.
AndI: "Withsuchmisgivingmakesmego
Avisionnew, whichbendsmetoitself,
SothatIcannotfromthethoughtwithdrawme."
"Didstthoubehold," hesaid, "thatoldenchantress,
Whosoleaboveushenceforthislamented?
Didstthoubeholdhowmanisfreedfromher?
Sufficeitthee, andsmiteearthwiththyheels,
Thineeyesliftupwardtothelure, thatwhirls
TheEternalKingwithrevolutionsvast."
Evenasthehawk, thatfirsthisfeetsurveys,
Thenturnshimtothecallandstretchesforward,
Throughthedesireoffoodthatdrawshimthither,
SuchIbecame, andsuch, asfarascleaves
Therocktogiveawaytohimwhomounts,
Wentontowherethecirclingdothbegin.
OnthefifthcirclewhenIhadcomeforth,
PeopleIsawuponitwhowereweeping,
Stretchedproneupontheground, alldownwardturned.
"Adhaesitpavimentoanimamea,"
Iheardthemsaywithsighingssoprofound,
Thathardlycouldthewordsbeunderstood.
"OyeelectofGod, whosesufferings
JusticeandHopebothrenderlesssevere,
Directyeustowardsthehighascents."
"Ifyearecomesecurefromthisprostration,
Andwishtofindthewaymostspeedily,
