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Will they become against thee； but soon after
They； and not thou； shall have the forehead scarlet。
Of their bestiality their own proceedings
Shall furnish proof； so 'twill be well for thee
A party to have made thee by thyself。
Thine earliest refuge and thine earliest inn
Shall be the mighty Lombard's courtesy；
Who on the Ladder bears the holy bird；
Who such benign regard shall have for thee
That 'twixt you twain； in doing and in asking；
That shall be first which is with others last。
With him shalt thou see one who at his birth
Has by this star of strength been so impressed；
That notable shall his achievements be。
Not yet the people are aware of him
Through his young age； since only nine years yet
Around about him have these wheels revolved。
But ere the Gascon cheat the noble Henry；
Some sparkles of his virtue shall appear
In caring not for silver nor for toil。
So recognized shall his magnificence
Become hereafter； that his enemies
Will not have power to keep mute tongues about it。
On him rely； and on his benefits；
By him shall many people be transformed；
Changing condition rich and mendicant；
And written in thy mind thou hence shalt bear
Of him； but shalt not say it〃and things said he
Incredible to those who shall be present。
Then added： 〃Son； these are the commentaries
On what was said to thee； behold the snares
That are concealed behind few revolutions；
Yet would I not thy neighbours thou shouldst envy；
Because thy life into the future reaches
Beyond the punishment of their perfidies。〃
When by its silence showed that sainted soul
That it had finished putting in the woof
Into that web which I had given it warped；
Began I； even as he who yearneth after；
Being in doubt； some counsel from a person
Who seeth； and uprightly wills； and loves：
〃Well see I； father mine； how spurreth on
The time towards me such a blow to deal me
As heaviest is to him who most gives way。
Therefore with foresight it is well I arm me；
That； if the dearest place be taken from me；
I may not lose the others by my songs。
Down through the world of infinite bitterness；
And o'er the mountain； from whose beauteous summit
The eyes of my own Lady lifted me；
And afterward through heaven from light to light；
I have learned that which； if I tell again；
Will be a savour of strong herbs to many。
And if I am a timid friend to truth；
I fear lest I may lose my life with those
Who will hereafter call this time the olden。〃
The light in which was smiling my own treasure
Which there I had discovered； flashed at first
As in the sunshine doth a golden mirror；
Then made reply： 〃A conscience overcast
Or with its own or with another's shame；
Will taste forsooth the tartness of thy word；
But ne'ertheless； all falsehood laid aside；
Make manifest thy vision utterly；
And let them scratch wherever is the itch；
For if thine utterance shall offensive be
At the first taste； a vital nutriment
'Twill leave thereafter； when it is digested。
This cry of thine shall do as doth the wind；
Which smiteth most the most exalted summits；
And that is no slight argument of honour。
Therefore are shown to thee within these wheels；
Upon the mount and in the dolorous valley；
Only the souls that unto fame are known；
Because the spirit of the hearer rests not；
Nor doth confirm its faith by an example
Which has the root of it unknown and hidden；
Or other reason that is not apparent。〃
Paradiso： Canto XVIII
Now was alone rejoicing in its word
That soul beatified； and I was tasting
My own； the bitter tempering with the sweet；
And the Lady who to God was leading me
Said： 〃Change thy thought； consider that I am
Near unto Him who every wrong disburdens。〃
Unto the loving accents of my comfort
I turned me round； and then what love I saw
Within those holy eyes I here relinquish；
Not only that my language I distrust；
But that my mind cannot return so far
Above itself； unless another guide it。
Thus much upon that point can I repeat；
That； her again beholding； my affection
From every other longing was released。
While the eternal pleasure； which direct
Rayed upon Beatrice； from her fair face
Contented me with its reflected aspect；
Conquering me with the radiance of a smile；
She said to me； 〃Turn thee about and listen；
Not in mine eyes alone is Paradise。〃
Even as sometimes here do we behold
The affection in the look； if it be such
That all the soul is wrapt away by it；
So； by the flaming of the effulgence holy
To which I turned； I recognized therein
The wish of speaking to me somewhat farther。
And it began： 〃In this fifth resting…place
Upon the tree that liveth by its summit；
And aye bears fruit； and never loses leaf；
Are blessed spirits that below； ere yet
They came to Heaven； were of such great renown
That every Muse therewith would affluent be。
Therefore look thou upon the cross's horns；
He whom I now shall name will there enact
What doth within a cloud its own swift fire。〃
I saw athwart the Cross a splendour drawn
By naming Joshua； （even as he did it；）
Nor noted I the word before the deed；
And at the name of the great Maccabee
I saw another move itself revolving；
And gladness was the whip unto that top。
Likewise for Charlemagne and for Orlando；
Two of them my regard attentive followed
As followeth the eye its falcon flying。
William thereafterward； and Renouard；
And the Duke Godfrey； did attract my sight
Along upon that Cross； and Robert Guiscard。
Then； moved and mingled with the other lights；
The soul that had addressed me showed how great
An artist 'twas among the heavenly singers。
To my right side I turned myself around；
My duty to behold in Beatrice
Either by words or gesture signified；
And so translucent I beheld her eyes；
So full of pleasure； that her countenance
Surpassed its other and its latest wont。
And as； by feeling greater delectation；
A man in doing good from day to day
Becomes aware his virtue is increasing；
So I became aware that my gyration
With heaven together had increased its arc；
That miracle beholding more adorned。
And such as is the change； in little lapse
Of time； in a pale woman； when her face
Is from the load of bashfulness unladen；
Such was it in mine eyes； when I had turned；
Caused by the whiteness of the temperate star；
The sixth； which to itself had gathered me。
Within that Jovial torch did I behold
The sparkling of the love which was therein
Delineate our language to mine eyes。
And even as birds uprisen from the shore；
As in congratulation o'er their food；
Make squadrons of themselves； now round； now long；
So from within those lights the holy creatures
Sang flying to and fro； and in their figures
Made of themselves now D； now I； now L。
First singing they to their own music moved；
Then one becoming of these characters；
A little while they rested and were silent。
O divine Pegasea； thou who genius
Dost glorious make； and render it long…lived；
And this through thee the cities and the kingdoms；
Illume me with thyself； that I may bring
Their figures out as I have them conceived！
Apparent be thy power in these brief verses！
Themselves then they displayed in five times seven
Vowels and consonants； and I observed
The parts as they seemed spoken unto me。
'Diligite justitiam；' these were
First verb and noun of all that was depicted；
'Qui judicatis terram' were the last。
Thereafter in the M of the fifth word
Remained they so arranged； that Jupiter
Seemed to be silver there with gold inlaid。
And other lights I saw descend where was
The summit of the M； and pause there singing
The good； I think； that draws them to itself。
Then； as in striking upon burning logs
Upward there fly innumerable sparks；
Whence fools are wont to look for auguries；
More than a thousand lights seemed thence to rise；
And to ascend； some more； and others less；
Even as the Sun that lights them h