IturnedtomywiseGuide, hearingthename

Thatinmymemoryevermoreiswelling.

Whereathewaggedhishead, andsaid: "Hownow?

Shallwestayonthisside?" thensmiledasone

Doesatachildwho'svanquishedbyanapple.

Thenintothefireinfrontofmeheentered,

BeseechingStatiustocomeafterme,

Whoalongwaybeforedividedus.

WhenIwasinit, intomoltenglass

Iwouldhavecastmetorefreshmyself,

Sowithoutmeasurewastheburningthere!

AndmysweetFather, toencourageme,

DiscoursingstillofBeatricewenton,

Saying: "HereyesIseemtoseealready!"

Avoice, thatontheothersidewassinging,

Directedus, andwe, attentalone

Onthat, cameforthwheretheascentbegan.

"Venite, benedictiPatrismei,"

Soundedwithinasplendour, whichwasthere

Suchito'ercameme, andIcouldnotlook.

"Thesundeparts," itadded, "andnightcometh;

Tarryyenot, butonwardurgeyoursteps,

Solongasyetthewestbecomesnotdark."

Straightforwardthroughtherockthepathascended

InsuchawaythatIcutofftherays

Beforemeofthesun, thatnowwaslow.

Andoffewstairsweyethadmadeassay,

Erebythevanishedshadowthesun'ssetting

Behindusweperceived, IandmySages.

Andereinallitspartsimmeasurable

Thehorizonofoneaspecthadbecome,

AndNightherboundlessdispensationheld,

Eachofusofastairhadmadehisbed;

Becausethenatureofthemounttookfromus

Thepowerofclimbing, morethanthedelight.

Evenasinruminatingpassivegrow

Thegoats, whohavebeenswiftandventuresome

Uponthemountain-topseretheywerefed,

Beforethewallofflameswhichburnthelustful

Dante, VirgilandStatiuspreparingtomakeabedofthestairsforthenight