Hiseyesashadeturnedonme, andlookedkeenly;
Thencriedaloud: "Whatgracetomeisthis?"
NevershouldIhaveknownhimbyhislook;
Butinhisvoicewasevidenttome
Thatwhichhisaspecthadsuppressedwithinit.
Thissparkwithinmewhollyre-enkindled
Dante, Virgil, andStatiusapproachingtheGluttons
Myrecognitionofhisalteredface,
AndIrecalledthefeaturesofForese.
"Ah, donotlookatthisdryleprosy,"
Entreatedhe, "whichdothmyskindiscolour,
NoratdefaultoffleshthatImayhave;
Buttellmetruthofthee, andwhoarethose
Twosouls, thatyondermakefortheeanescort;
Donotdelayinspeakinguntome."
"Thatfaceofthine, whichdeadIoncebewept,
Givesmeforweepingnownolessergrief,"
Iansweredhim, "beholdingitsochanged!
Buttellme, forGod'ssake, whatthusdenudesyou?
MakemenotspeakwhileIammarvelling,
Forillspeakshewho'sfullofotherlongings."
Andhetome: "Fromtheeternalcouncil
Fallspowerintothewaterandthetree
Behindusleft, wherebyIgrowsothin.
Allofthispeoplewholamentingsing,
Forfollowingbeyondmeasureappetite
Inhungerandthirstareherere-sanctified.
Desiretoeatanddrinkenkindlesinus
Thescentthatissuesfromtheapple-tree,
Andfromthespraythatsprinkleso'ertheverdure;
Andnotasingletimealone, thisground
Encompassing, isrefreshedourpain,—
Isayourpain, andoughttosayoursolace,—
Forthesamewishdothleadustothetree
WhichledtheChristrejoicingtosay 'Eli,'
Whenwithhisveinsheliberatedus."
AndItohim: "Forese, fromthatday
Whenforabetterlifethouchangedstworlds,
Uptothistimefiveyearshavenotrolledround.
Ifsoonerwerethepowerexhaustedinthee
