The going down and up another's stairs. And that which most shall weigh upon thy shoulders Will be the bad and foolish company With which into this valley thou shalt fall; For all ingrate, all mad and impious 60 65 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 't will be well for thee That 'twixt you twain, in doing and in asking, 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, In caring not for silver nor for toil. So recognized shall his magnificence 70 75 81 85 Will not have power to keep mute tongues about it. On him rely, and on his benefits; By him shall many people be transformed, Line 76. With him shalt thou see one who at his birth 90 95 Changing condition rich and mendicant; And written in thy mind thou hence shalt bear Of him, but shalt not say it" and things he said 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 neighbors 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 100 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, 115 And if I am a timid friend to truth, Line 92. Of him, but shalt not say it and things said he I fear lest I may lose my life with those Or with its own or with another's shame, Make manifest thy vision utterly, And let them scratch wherever is the itch; At the first taste, a vital nutriment 120 125 130 135 Nor doth confirm its faith by an example 140 Which has the root of it unknown and hidden, Or other reason that is not apparent." CANTO XVIII Now was alone rejoicing in its word My own, the bitter tempering with the sweet, 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 But that That, her again beholding, my affection Rayed upon Beatrice, from her fair face She said to me, "Turn thee about and listen; The affection in the look, if it be such To which I turned, I recognized therein. ΙΟ 15 20 25 And it began: "In this fifth resting-place And aye bears fruit, and never loseth leaf, 30 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 I saw athwart the Cross a splendor drawn By naming Joshua, even as he did it, 35 40 45 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 't was 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, 51 55 So full of pleasure, that her countenance Line 29. Upon the tree that liveth by its summit, Line 30. |