"O thou, our Father, dwelling there in heaven! Not circumscribed, save by the larger love Which to thy love's first offspring must be given, Who from the first have dwelt with thee above! By every creature hallowed be thy name And praised thy goodness, as for man was meant To render thanks to thy benignant flame: May to our souls thy kingdom's peace be lent, For of ourselves we could not come thereto With all our intellect, unless 'twere sent: And even as of their will thine Angels do (Chanting Hosanna) sacrifice to thee, So to Thy Will may men their own subdue: Our daily manna give to us this day, Without which help, through this rough wilderness, Who strives to go falls backward on his way. And even as we forbear us to redress The wrong from others which we have to brook Pardon thou us, benignant One! and less On our deserving than our weakness look: Try not our virtue, ever prone to yield, 'Gainst the old enemy who spurs it so; Deliver us from him and be our shield: This last petition, dearest Lord! we know We have no need of;--but for them we plead Who after us amid temptation go." Thus praying for themselves and us God-speed, Those weary shadows, underneath a load Like that we sometimes dream that we endure, Toiled in unequal anguish[65] o'er the road Round the first cornice, all becoming pure From the world's tarnish. O if alway there For us they say such gracious words! for them What might be here performed in act or prayer By souls whose will is a sound-rooted stem: Well might we help them wash whatever stain They bore from _this_ world, that sublimed and fair They to the starry circles might attain. VIRGIL. "Ah so may pity soon, and justice spare You souls this load, that you may move the wing That lifts you upward to celestial air! Show us which way most speedily may bring Us towards the ascent. If more than one there be, Point us that pass the least precipitous; Since he who comes and fain would climb with me Through flesh of Adam is encumbered thus." Who made their answer to these words which he Whom I was following unto them addrest Was not discernible, but this was said: OMBERTO.