"Ye, who live, Do so each cause refer to heaven above, E'en as its motion, of necessity, Drew with it all that moves. If this were so, Free choice in you were none; nor justice would There should be joy for virtue, woe for ill. Your movements have their primal bent from heaven; Not all: yet said I all; what then ensues? Light have ye still to follow evil or good, And of the will free power, which, if it stand Firm and unwearied in Heaven's first assay, Conquers at last, so it be cherished well, Triumphant over all. To mightier force, To better nature subject, ye abide Free, not constrained by that which forms in you The reasoning mind uninfluenced of the stars. If then the present race of mankind err, Seek in yourselves the cause, and find it there." * * * * * FIRE OF PURIFICATION. CANTO XXVII. Now was the sun so stationed, as when first His early radiance quivers on the heights, Where streamed his Maker's blood; while Libra hangs Above Hesperian Ebro; and new fires, Meridian, flash on Ganges' yellow tide. So day was sinking, when the angel of God Appeared before us. Joy was in his mien. Forth of the flame he stood upon the brink; And with a voice, whose lively clearness far Surpassed our human, "Blessed are the pure In heart," he sang: then near him as we came, "Go ye not further, holy spirits!" he cried, "Ere the fire pierce you: enter in; and list Attentive to the song ye hear from thence." I, when I heard his saying, was as one Laid in the grave. My hands together clasped, And upward stretching, on the fire I looked; And busy fancy conjured up the forms Erewhile beheld alive consumed in flames. The escorting spirits turned with gentle looks Toward me; and the Mantuan spake: "My son, Here torment thou may'st feel, but canst not death. Remember thee, remember thee, if I Safe e'en on Geryon brought thee; now I come More near to God, wilt thou not trust me now? Of this be sure; though in its womb that flame A thousand years contained thee, from thy head No hair should perish. If thou doubt my truth, Approach; and with thy hands thy vesture's hem Stretch forth, and for thyself confirm belief. Lay now all fear, oh! lay all fear aside. Turn hither, and come onward undismayed." I still, though conscience urged, no step advanced. * * * * *