Weregoingupward, andIthought, ingoing,

Someprofittoacquirefromwordsofhis;

AndItohimdirectedme, thusasking:

"WhatdidthespiritofRomagnamean,

Mentioninginterdictandpartnership?"

Whencehetome: "Ofhisowngreatestfailing

Heknowstheharm; andthereforewondernot

Ifhereproveus, thatwelessmayrueit.

Becausearethitherpointedyourdesires

Wherebycompanionshipeachshareislessened,

Envydothplythebellowstoyoursighs.

Butiftheloveofthesupernalsphere

Shouldupwardlydirectyouraspiration,

Therewouldnotbethatfearwithinyourbreast;

Forthere, asmuchthemoreasonesays 'Our,'

Somuchthemoreofgoodeachonepossesses,

Andmoreofcharityinthatcloisterburns."

"Iammorehungeringtobesatisfied,"

Isaid, "thanifIhadbeforebeensilent,

AndmoreofdoubtwithinmymindIgather.

Howcanitbe, thatboondistributed

Themorepossessorscanmorewealthymake

Therein, thanifbyfewitbepossessed?"

Andhetome: "Becausethoufixeststill

Thymindentirelyuponearthlythings,

Thoupluckestdarknessfromtheverylight.

Thatgoodnessinfiniteandineffable

Whichisabovethere, runnethuntolove,

Astoalucidbodycomesthesunbeam.

Somuchitgivesitselfasitfindsardour,

Sothatasfarascharityextends,

O'eritincreasestheeternalvalour.

Andthemorepeoplethitherwardaspire,

Morearetheretolovewell, andmoretheylovethere,

And, asamirror, onereflectstheother.

Andifmyreasoningappeasetheenot,

ThoushaltseeBeatrice; andshewillfully

Takefromtheethisandeveryotherlonging.

Endeavour, then, thatsoonmaybeextinct,

Asarethetwoalready, thefivewounds