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of my praise； With thirst already of the eighth thou waitest。
By seeing every good therein exults The sainted soul； which the
fallacious world Makes manifest to him who listeneth well；
The body whence 'twas hunted forth is lying Down in Cieldauro； and
from martyrdom And banishment it came unto this peace。
See farther onward flame the burning breath Of Isidore； of Beda； and
of Richard Who was in contemplation more than man。
This； whence to me returneth thy regard； The light is of a spirit unto
whom In his grave meditations death seemed slow。
It is the light eternal of Sigier； Who； reading lectures in the Street of
Straw； Did syllogize invidious verities。〃
Then； as a horologe that calleth us What time the Bride of God is
rising up With matins to her Spouse that he may love her；
Wherein one part the other draws and urges； Ting！ ting！ resounding
with so sweet a note； That swells with love the spirit well disposed；
Thus I beheld the glorious wheel move round； And render voice to
voice； in modulation And sweetness that can not be comprehended；
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Excepting there where joy is made eternal。
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Paradiso： Canto XI
O Thou insensate care of mortal men； How inconclusive are the
syllogisms That make thee beat thy wings in downward flight！
One after laws and one to aphorisms Was going； and one following the
priesthood； And one to reign by force or sophistry；
And one in theft； and one in state affairs； One in the pleasures of the
flesh involved Wearied himself； one gave himself to ease；
When I； from all these things emancipate； With Beatrice above there in
the Heavens With such exceeding glory was received！
When each one had returned unto that point Within the circle where it
was before； It stood as in a candlestick a candle；
And from within the effulgence which at first Had spoken unto me； I
heard begin Smiling while it more luminous became：
〃Even as I am kindled in its ray； So； looking into the Eternal Light；
The occasion of thy thoughts I apprehend。
Thou doubtest； and wouldst have me to resift In language so extended
and so open My speech； that to thy sense it may be plain；
Where just before I said； 'where well one fattens；' And where I said；
'there never rose a second；' And here 'tis needful we distinguish well。
The Providence； which governeth the world With counsel； wherein all
created vision Is vanquished ere it reach unto the bottom；
（So that towards her own Beloved might go The bride of Him who；
uttering a loud cry； Espoused her with his consecrated blood；
Self…confident and unto Him more faithful；） Two Princes did ordain in
her behoof； Which on this side and that might be her guide。
The one was all seraphical in ardour； The other by his wisdom upon
earth A splendour was of light cherubical。
One will I speak of； for of both is spoken In praising one； whichever
may be taken； Because unto one end their labours were。
Between Tupino and the stream that falls Down from the hill elect of
blessed Ubald； A fertile slope of lofty mountain hangs；
From which Perugia feels the cold and heat Through Porta Sole； and
behind it weep Gualdo and Nocera their grievous yoke。
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From out that slope； there where it breaketh most Its steepness； rose
upon the world a sun As this one does sometimes from out the Ganges；
Therefore let him who speaketh of that place； Say not Ascesi； for he
would say little； But Orient； if he properly would speak。
He was not yet far distant from his rising Before he had begun to make
the earth Some comfort from his mighty virtue feel。
For he in youth his father's wrath incurred For certain Dame； to whom；
as unto death； The gate of pleasure no one doth unlock；
And was before his spiritual court 'Et coram patre' unto her united；
Then day by day more fervently he loved her。
She； reft of her first husband； scorned； obscure； One thousand and one
hundred years and more； Waited without a suitor till he came。
Naught it availed to hear； that with Amyclas Found her unmoved at
sounding of his voice He who struck terror into all the world；
Naught it availed being constant and undaunted； So that； when Mary
still remained below； She mounted up with Christ upon the cross。
But that too darkly I may not proceed； Francis and Poverty for these
two lovers Take thou henceforward in my speech diffuse。
Their concord and their joyous semblances； The love； the wonder； and
the sweet regard； They made to be the cause of holy thoughts；
So much so that the venerable Bernard First bared his feet； and after so
great peace Ran； and； in running； thought himself too slow。
O wealth unknown！ O veritable good！ Giles bares his feet； and bares
his feet Sylvester Behind the bridegroom； so doth please the bride！
Then goes his way that father and that master； He and his Lady and
that family Which now was girding on the humble cord；
Nor cowardice of heart weighed down his brow At being son of Peter
Bernardone； Nor for appearing marvellously scorned；
But regally his hard determination To Innocent he opened； and from
him Received the primal seal upon his Order。
After the people mendicant increased Behind this man； whose
admirable life Better in glory of the heavens were sung；
Incoronated with a second crown Was through Honorius by the Eternal
Spirit The holy purpose of this Archimandrite。
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And when he had； through thirst of martyrdom； In the proud presence
of the Sultan preached Christ and the others who came after him；
And； finding for conversion too unripe The folk； and not to tarry there
in vain； Returned to fruit of the Italic grass；
On the rude rock 'twixt Tiber and the Arno From Christ did he receive
the final seal； Which during two whole years his members bore。
When He； who chose him unto so much good； Was pleased to draw
him up to the reward That he had merited by being lowly；
Unto his friars； as to the rightful heirs； His most dear Lady did he
recommend； And bade that they should love her faithfully；
And from her bosom the illustrious soul Wished to depart； returning to
its realm； And for its body wished no other bier。
Think now what man was he； who was a fit Companion over the high
seas to keep The bark of Peter to its proper bearings。
And this man was our Patriarch； hence whoever Doth follow him as he
commands can see That he is laden with good merchandise。
But for new pasturage his flock has grown So greedy； that it is
impossible They be not scattered over fields diverse；
And in proportion as his sheep remote And vagabond go farther off
from him； More void of milk return they to the fold。
Verily some there are that fear a hurt； And keep close to the shepherd；
but so few； That little cloth doth furnish forth their hoods。
Now if my utterance be not indistinct； If thine own hearing hath
attentive been； If thou recall to mind what I have said；
In part contented shall thy wishes be； For thou shalt see the plant that's
chipped away； And the rebuke that lieth in the words；
'Where well one fattens； if he strayeth not。'〃
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Paradiso： Canto XII
Soon as the blessed flame had taken up The final word to give it
utterance； Began the holy millstone to revolve；
And in its gyre had not turned wholly round； Before another in a ring
enclosed it； And motion joined to motion； song to song；
Song that as greatly doth transcend our Muses； Our Sirens； in those
dulcet clarions； As primal splendour that which is reflected。
And as are spanned athwart a tender cloud Two rainbows parallel and
like in colour； When Juno to her handmaid gives command；
（The one without born of the on