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Upon the mountain that the souls doth heal,

       And when descending into the dead world,

      Were spoken to me of my future life

       Some grievous words; although I feel myself

       In sooth foursquare against the blows of chance.

      On this account my wish would be content

       To hear what fortune is approaching me,

       Because foreseen an arrow comes more slowly."

      Thus did I say unto that selfsame light

       That unto me had spoken before; and even

       As Beatrice willed was my own will confessed.

      Not in vague phrase, in which the foolish folk

       Ensnared themselves of old, ere yet was slain

       The Lamb of God who taketh sins away,

      But with clear words and unambiguous

       Language responded that paternal love,

       Hid and revealed by its own proper smile:

      "Contingency, that outside of the volume

       Of your materiality extends not,

       Is all depicted in the eternal aspect.

      Necessity however thence it takes not,

       Except as from the eye, in which 'tis mirrored,

       A ship that with the current down descends.

      From thence, e'en as there cometh to the ear

       Sweet harmony from an organ, comes in sight

       To me the time that is preparing for thee.

      As forth from Athens went Hippolytus,

       By reason of his step-dame false and cruel,

       So thou from Florence must perforce depart.

      Already this is willed, and this is sought for;

       And soon it shall be done by him who thinks it,

       Where every day the Christ is bought and sold.

      The blame shall follow the offended party

       In outcry as is usual; but the vengeance

       Shall witness to the truth that doth dispense it.

      Thou shalt abandon everything beloved

       Most tenderly, and this the arrow is

       Which first the bow of banishment shoots forth.

      Thou shalt have proof how savoureth of salt

       The bread of others, and how hard a road

       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

       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

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