Wherein one part the other draws and urges, And sweetness that cannot be comprehended, 145 CANTO XI. 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, One in the pleasures of the flesh involved 5 10 15 "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 20 My speech, that to thy sense it may be plain, Where just before I said, 'where well one fattens,' 25 And where I said, 'there never rose a second'; And here 't is 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 ardor; The other by his wisdom upon earth In praising one, whichever may be taken, 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. 30 35 40 45 From out that slope, there where it breaketh most Et coram patre unto her united; 50 55 60 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, 65 Waited without a suitor till he came. Naught it availed to hear, that with Amyclas Francis and Poverty for these two lovers 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! 80 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 halter; To Innocent he opened, and from him After the people mendicant increased Behind this man, whose admirable life Was through Honorius by the Eternal Spirit In the proud presence of the Sultan preached The folk, and not to tarry there in vain, 85 90 95 100 105 On the rude rock 'twixt Tiber and the Arno When He, who chose him unto so much good, 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, They be not scattered over fields diverse; 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.' |