Esteemed myself, yes, in my inmost mind This morn, a recreant to my race--mankind O'erlooked till now: why boast my spirit's force, --Such force denied its object? why divorce These, then admire my spirit's flight the same As though it bore up, helped some half-orbed flame Else quenched in the dead void, to living space? That orb cast off to chaos and disgrace, Why vaunt so much my unencumbered dance, Making a feat's facilities enhance Its marvel? But I front Taurello, one Of happier fate, and all I should have done, He does; the people's good being paramount With him, their progress may perhaps account For his abiding still; whereas you heard The talk with Tito--the excuse preferred For burning those five hostages,--and broached By way of blind, as you and I approached, I do believe." She spoke: then he, "My thought Plainlier expressed! All to your profit--naught Meantime of these, of conquests to achieve For them, of wretchedness he might relieve [Sidenote: And what Guelfs, approves of neither.] While profiting your party. Azzo, too, Supports a cause: what cause? Do Guelfs pursue Their ends by means like yours, or better?" When The Guelfs were proved alike, men weighed with men, And deed with deed, blaze, blood, with blood and blaze, Morn broke: "Once more, Sordello, meet its gaze Proudly--the people's charge against thee fails In every point, while either party quails! These are the busy ones: be silent thou! Two parties take the world up, and allow No third, yet have one principle, subsist By the same injustice; whoso shall enlist With either, ranks with man's inveterate foes. So there is one less quarrel to compose: The Guelf, the Ghibellin may be to curse-- I have done nothing, but both sides do worse Than nothing. Nay, to me, forgotten, reft Of insight, lapped by trees and flowers, was left The notion of a service--ha? What lured Me here, what mighty aim was I assured Must move Taurello? What if there remained [Sidenote: Have men a cause distinct from both?] A cause, intact, distinct from these, ordained For me, its true discoverer?" Some one pressed Before them here, a watcher, to suggest The subject for a ballad: "They must know The tale of the dead worthy, long ago Consul of Rome--that 's long ago for us, Minstrels and bowmen, idly squabbling thus In the world's corner--but too late no doubt, For the brave time he sought to bring about. [Sidenote: Who was the famed Roman Crescentius?] --Not know Crescentius Nomentanus?" Then He cast about for terms to tell him, when Sordello disavowed it, how they used Whenever their Superior introduced A novice to the Brotherhood--("for I