"IndayswhenthegoodTitus, withtheaid
OfthesupremestKing, avengedthewounds
WhenceissuedforththebloodbyJudassold,
Underthenamethatmostenduresandhonours,
WasIonearth," thatspiritmadereply,
"Greatlyrenowned, butnotwithfaithasyet.
Myvocalspiritwassosweet, thatRome
Me, aThoulousian, drewuntoherself,
WhereIdeservedtodeckmybrowswithmyrtle.
Statiusthepeoplenamemestillonearth;
IsangofThebes, andthenofgreatAchilles;
Butonthewayfellwithmysecondburden.
Theseedsuntomyardourwerethesparks
Ofthatcelestialflamewhichheatedme,
Wherebymorethanathousandhavebeenfired;
OftheAeneidspeakI, whichtome
Amotherwas, andwasmynurseinsong;
WithoutthisweighedInotadrachma'sweight.
Andtohavelivedupontheearthwhattime
Virgiliuslived, Iwouldacceptonesun
MorethanImustereissuingfrommyban."
ThesewordstowardsmemadeVirgiliusturn
Withlooksthatintheirsilencesaid, "Besilent!"
Butyetthepowerthatwillscannotdoallthings;
Fortearsandlaughteraresuchpursuivants
Untothepassionfromwhicheachspringsforth,
Inthemosttruthfulleastthewilltheyfollow.
Ionlysmiled, asonewhogivesthewink;
Whereattheshadewassilent, anditgazed
Intomineeyes, wheremostexpressiondwells;
And, "Asthouwellmaystconsummatealabour
Sogreat," itsaid, "whydidthyfacejustnow
Displaytomethelightningofasmile?"
NowamIcaughtonthissideandonthat;
Onekeepsmesilent, onetospeakconjuresme,
WhereforeIsigh, andIamunderstood.
"Speak," saidmyMaster, "andbenotafraid
Ofspeaking, butspeakout, andsaytohim
Whathedemandswithsuchsolicitude."
WhenceI: "Thouperadventuremarvellest,
