Has met with hindrance on his desert way, And, terror-smitten, can no further go, But turns; and that he is too far astray, And that I rose too late for help, I dread, From what in Heaven concerning him they say. Go, with thy speech persuasive him bestead, And with all needful help his guardian prove, That touching him I may be comforted. Know, it is Beatrice seeks thee thus to move. 70 Thence come I where I to return am fain: My coming and my plea are ruled by love. When I shall stand before my Lord again, Often to Him I will renew thy praise." And here she ceased, nor did I dumb remain: "O virtuous Lady, thou alone the race Of man exaltest 'bove all else that dwell Beneath the heaven which wheels in narrowest space.[193] To do thy bidding pleases me so well, Though 'twere already done 'twere all too slow; 80 Thy wish at greater length no need to tell. But say, what tempted thee to come thus low, Even to this centre, from the region vast,[194] Whither again thou art on fire to go?" "This much to learn since a desire thou hast," She answered, "briefly thee I'll satisfy, How, coming here, I through no terrors passed. We are, of right, such things alarmèd by, As have the power to hurt us; all beside Are harmless, and not fearful. Wherefore I-- 90 Thus formed by God, His bounty is so wide-- Am left untouched by all your miseries, And through this burning[195] unmolested glide. A noble lady[196] is in Heaven, who sighs O'er the obstruction where I'd have thee go, And breaks the rigid edict of the skies. Calling on Lucia,[197] thus she made her know What she desired: 'Thy vassal[198] now hath need Of help from thee; do thou then helpful show.' Lucia, who hates all cruelty, in speed 100 Rose, and approaching where I sat at rest, To venerable Rachel[199] giving heed, Me: 'Beatrice, true praise of God,' addressed; 'Why not help him who had such love for thee, And from the vulgar throng to win thee pressed? Dost thou not hear him weeping pitiably, Nor mark the death now threatening him upon A flood[200] than which less awful is the sea?' Never on earth did any ever run, Allured by profit or impelled by fear, 110 Swifter than I, when speaking she had done, From sitting 'mong the blest descended here, My trust upon thy comely rhetoric cast, Which honours thee and those who lend it ear." When of these words she spoken had the last, She turned aside bright eyes which tears[201] did fill, And I by this was urged to greater haste. And so it was I joined thee by her will, And from that raging beast delivered thee, Which barred the near way up the beauteous hill. 120 What ails thee then? Why thus a laggard be?