"IndayswhenthegoodTitus, withtheaid

OfthesupremestKing, avengedthewounds

WhenceissuedforththebloodbyJudassold,

Underthenamethatmostenduresandhonours,

WasIonearth," thatspiritmadereply,

"Greatlyrenowned, butnotwithfaithasyet.

Myvocalspiritwassosweet, thatRome

Me, aThoulousian, drewuntoherself,

WhereIdeservedtodeckmybrowswithmyrtle.

Statiusthepeoplenamemestillonearth;

IsangofThebes, andthenofgreatAchilles;

Butonthewayfellwithmysecondburden.

Theseedsuntomyardourwerethesparks

Ofthatcelestialflamewhichheatedme,

Wherebymorethanathousandhavebeenfired;

OftheAeneidspeakI, whichtome

Amotherwas, andwasmynurseinsong;

WithoutthisweighedInotadrachma'sweight.

Andtohavelivedupontheearthwhattime

Virgiliuslived, Iwouldacceptonesun

MorethanImustereissuingfrommyban."

ThesewordstowardsmemadeVirgiliusturn

Withlooksthatintheirsilencesaid, "Besilent!"

Butyetthepowerthatwillscannotdoallthings;

Fortearsandlaughteraresuchpursuivants

Untothepassionfromwhicheachspringsforth,

Inthemosttruthfulleastthewilltheyfollow.

Ionlysmiled, asonewhogivesthewink;

Whereattheshadewassilent, anditgazed

Intomineeyes, wheremostexpressiondwells;

And, "Asthouwellmaystconsummatealabour

Sogreat," itsaid, "whydidthyfacejustnow

Displaytomethelightningofasmile?"

NowamIcaughtonthissideandonthat;

Onekeepsmesilent, onetospeakconjuresme,

WhereforeIsigh, andIamunderstood.

"Speak," saidmyMaster, "andbenotafraid

Ofspeaking, butspeakout, andsaytohim

Whathedemandswithsuchsolicitude."

WhenceI: "Thouperadventuremarvellest,