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this too hold I dear,

       That gazing upon God thou dost discern it.

      Glad hast thou made me; so make clear to me,

       Since speaking thou hast stirred me up to doubt,

       How from sweet seed can bitter issue forth."

      This I to him; and he to me: "If I

       Can show to thee a truth, to what thou askest

       Thy face thou'lt hold as thou dost hold thy back.

      The Good which all the realm thou art ascending

       Turns and contents, maketh its providence

       To be a power within these bodies vast;

      And not alone the natures are foreseen

       Within the mind that in itself is perfect,

       But they together with their preservation.

      For whatsoever thing this bow shoots forth

       Falls foreordained unto an end foreseen,

       Even as a shaft directed to its mark.

      If that were not, the heaven which thou dost walk

       Would in such manner its effects produce,

       That they no longer would be arts, but ruins.

      This cannot be, if the Intelligences

       That keep these stars in motion are not maimed,

       And maimed the First that has not made them perfect.

      Wilt thou this truth have clearer made to thee?"

       And I: "Not so; for 'tis impossible

       That nature tire, I see, in what is needful."

      Whence he again: "Now say, would it be worse

       For men on earth were they not citizens?"

       "Yes," I replied; "and here I ask no reason."

      "And can they be so, if below they live not

       Diversely unto offices diverse?

       No, if your master writeth well for you."

      So came he with deductions to this point;

       Then he concluded: "Therefore it behoves

       The roots of your effects to be diverse.

      Hence one is Solon born, another Xerxes,

       Another Melchisedec, and another he

       Who, flying through the air, his son did lose.

      Revolving Nature, which a signet is

       To mortal wax, doth practise well her art,

       But not one inn distinguish from another;

      Thence happens it that Esau differeth

       In seed from Jacob; and Quirinus comes

       From sire so vile that he is given to Mars.

      A generated nature its own way

       Would always make like its progenitors,

       If Providence divine were not triumphant.

      Now that which was behind thee is before thee;

       But that thou know that I with thee am pleased,

       With a corollary will I mantle thee.

      Evermore nature, if it fortune find

       Discordant to it, like each other seed

       Out of its region, maketh evil thrift;

      And if the world below would fix its mind

       On the foundation which is laid by nature,

       Pursuing that, 'twould have the people good.

      But you unto religion wrench aside

       Him who was born to gird him with the sword,

       And make a king of him who is for sermons;

      Therefore your footsteps wander from the road."

      IX. Cunizza da Romano, Folco of Marseilles, and Rahab. Neglect of the Holy Land.

       Table of Contents

      Beautiful Clemence, after that thy Charles

       Had me enlightened, he narrated to me

       The treacheries his seed should undergo;

      But said: "Be still and let the years roll round;"

       So I can only say, that lamentation

       Legitimate shall follow on your wrongs.

      And of that holy light the life already

       Had to the Sun which fills it turned again,

       As to that good which for each thing sufficeth.

      Ah, souls deceived, and creatures impious,

       Who from such good do turn away your hearts,

       Directing upon vanity your foreheads!

      And now, behold, another of those splendours

       Approached me, and its will to pleasure me

       It signified by brightening outwardly.

      The eyes of Beatrice, that fastened were

       Upon me, as before, of dear assent

       To my desire assurance gave to me.

      "Ah, bring swift compensation to my wish,

       Thou blessed spirit," I said, "and give me proof

       That what I think in thee I can reflect!"

      Whereat the light, that still was new to me,

       Out of its depths, whence it before was singing,

       As one delighted to do good, continued:

      "Within that region of the land depraved

       Of Italy, that lies between Rialto

       And fountain-heads of Brenta and of Piava,

      Rises a hill, and mounts not very high,

       Wherefrom descended formerly a torch

       That made upon that region great assault.

      Out of one root were born both I and it;

       Cunizza was I called, and here I shine

       Because the splendour of this star o'ercame me.

      But gladly to myself the cause I pardon

       Of my allotment, and it does not grieve me;

       Which would perhaps seem strong unto your vulgar.

      Of this so luculent and precious jewel,

       Which of our heaven is nearest unto me,

       Great fame remained; and ere it die away

      This hundredth year shall yet quintupled be.

       See if man ought to make him excellent,

       So that another life the first may leave!

      And thus thinks not the present multitude

       Shut in by Adige and Tagliamento,

       Nor yet for being scourged is penitent.

      But soon 'twill be that Padua in the marsh

       Will change the water that Vicenza bathes,

       Because the folk are stubborn against duty;

      And where the Sile and Cagnano join

       One lordeth it, and goes with lofty head,

       For catching whom e'en now the net is making.

      Feltro moreover of her impious pastor

      

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