“Now to be satisfied my hunger grows,” I answered, “and my mind is more in doubt Than if no question I had asked of thee. How comes it, that a blessing parcelled out More rich its many owners makes to be Than if a few possessed it?” He replied: “Because thy mind its reasoning cannot stretch Beyond those things of earth to which ’tis tied; Thou from true light dost only darkness fetch. That Good ineffable and infinite Who dwells above there, runs to love as fleet As to a lucid body a ray of light, And so much giveth as it finds of heat. Broad as the flame of charity may burn, The eternal flame above it grows more great: And more their number is who heavenward yearn. More for his love there are, and they love more, Like mirrors that each other’s light return. Now, if thou hunger still, despite my lore, Thou shalt see Beatris, and sure, she will Give unto this and every wish repose; Only may those five wounds remaining still, That heal in aching, like the twain soon close.” Whiles I was musing, and would fain have said, “Thou hast contented me,” I looked, and, lo! To the next cornice we had come; here fled All power of speech, mine eyes were ravished so! For, seized with ecstasy, I seemed to be Rapt in a sudden vision of a crowd Met in a temple. I could also see That entering, 'mid those men, a woman stood With sweet mien of a mother, saying: “Why Hast thou so dealt with us, my darling son? Behold, in every place thy sire and I Have sought thee sorrowing.” Soon as she had done This vision vanished, and I next beheld Another lady, with such drops besprent As down the cheeks flow from a bosom swelled With scorn of some one and by anguish rent; Saying: “If thou be ruler of the town, About whose name the gods had such a strife And whence all knowledge gleams to give renown, Pisistratus! avenge thee on his life Whose bold embrace hath brought our daughter down!” And her lord seemed to me benign and mild, Answering with aspect that her fury stemmed: “What should we do to one that harmed our child, If one caressing her be so condemned?” Next I saw people raging hot in ire, Slaying a youth with stones, and shouting loud: “Martyr him! martyr him!” in tumult dire; And I saw him drop down before the crowd Dying, but lifting, ere he did expire, Looks that might win compassion for his foes; And with such eyes,—they seemed the doors of heaven! Praying the most high Father that, for those Who wrought such wrong, their sin might be forgiven.