IturnedtomywiseGuide, hearingthename
Thatinmymemoryevermoreiswelling.
Whereathewaggedhishead, andsaid: "Hownow?
Shallwestayonthisside?" thensmiledasone
Doesatachildwho'svanquishedbyanapple.
Thenintothefireinfrontofmeheentered,
BeseechingStatiustocomeafterme,
Whoalongwaybeforedividedus.
WhenIwasinit, intomoltenglass
Iwouldhavecastmetorefreshmyself,
Sowithoutmeasurewastheburningthere!
AndmysweetFather, toencourageme,
DiscoursingstillofBeatricewenton,
Saying: "HereyesIseemtoseealready!"
Avoice, thatontheothersidewassinging,
Directedus, andwe, attentalone
Onthat, cameforthwheretheascentbegan.
"Venite, benedictiPatrismei,"
Soundedwithinasplendour, whichwasthere
Suchito'ercameme, andIcouldnotlook.
"Thesundeparts," itadded, "andnightcometh;
Tarryyenot, butonwardurgeyoursteps,
Solongasyetthewestbecomesnotdark."
Straightforwardthroughtherockthepathascended
InsuchawaythatIcutofftherays
Beforemeofthesun, thatnowwaslow.
Andoffewstairsweyethadmadeassay,
Erebythevanishedshadowthesun'ssetting
Behindusweperceived, IandmySages.
Andereinallitspartsimmeasurable
Thehorizonofoneaspecthadbecome,
AndNightherboundlessdispensationheld,
Eachofusofastairhadmadehisbed;
Becausethenatureofthemounttookfromus
Thepowerofclimbing, morethanthedelight.
Evenasinruminatingpassivegrow
Thegoats, whohavebeenswiftandventuresome
Uponthemountain-topseretheywerefed,
Beforethewallofflameswhichburnthelustful
Dante, VirgilandStatiuspreparingtomakeabedofthestairsforthenight