As was my understanding to his words；
Appeared to me with laden and living boughs
Another apple…tree； and not far distant；
From having but just then turned thitherward。
People I saw beneath it lift their hands；
And cry I know not what towards the leaves；
Like little children eager and deluded；
Who pray； and he they pray to doth not answer；
But； to make very keen their appetite；
Holds their desire aloft； and hides it not。
Then they departed as if undeceived；
And now we came unto the mighty tree
Which prayers and tears so manifold refuses。
〃Pass farther onward without drawing near；
The tree of which Eve ate is higher up；
And out of that one has this tree been raised。〃
Thus said I know not who among the branches；
Whereat Virgilius； Statius； and myself
Went crowding forward on the side that rises。
〃Be mindful；〃 said he； 〃of the accursed ones
Formed of the cloud…rack； who inebriate
Combated Theseus with their double breasts；
And of the Jews who showed them soft in drinking；
Whence Gideon would not have them for companions
When he tow'rds Midian the hills descended。〃
Thus； closely pressed to one of the two borders；
On passed we； hearing sins of gluttony；
Followed forsooth by miserable gains；
Then set at large upon the lonely road；
A thousand steps and more we onward went；
In contemplation； each without a word。
〃What go ye thinking thus； ye three alone？〃
Said suddenly a voice； whereat I started
As terrified and timid beasts are wont。
I raised my head to see who this might be；
And never in a furnace was there seen
Metals or glass so lucent and so red
As one I saw who said： 〃If it may please you
To mount aloft； here it behoves you turn；
This way goes he who goeth after peace。〃
His aspect had bereft me of my sight；
So that I turned me back unto my Teachers；
Like one who goeth as his hearing guides him。
And as； the harbinger of early dawn；
The air of May doth move and breathe out fragrance；
Impregnate all with herbage and with flowers；
So did I feel a breeze strike in the midst
My front； and felt the moving of the plumes
That breathed around an odour of ambrosia；
And heard it said： 〃Blessed are they whom grace
So much illumines； that the love of taste
Excites not in their breasts too great desire；
Hungering at all times so far as is just。〃
Purgatorio： Canto XXV
Now was it the ascent no hindrance brooked；
Because the sun had his meridian circle
To Taurus left； and night to Scorpio；
Wherefore as doth a man who tarries not；
But goes his way； whate'er to him appear；
If of necessity the sting transfix him；
In this wise did we enter through the gap；
Taking the stairway； one before the other；
Which by its narrowness divides the climbers。
And as the little stork that lifts its wing
With a desire to fly； and does not venture
To leave the nest； and lets it downward droop；
Even such was I； with the desire of asking
Kindled and quenched； unto the motion coming
He makes who doth address himself to speak。
Not for our pace； though rapid it might be；
My father sweet forbore； but said： 〃Let fly
The bow of speech thou to the barb hast drawn。〃
With confidence I opened then my mouth；
And I began： 〃How can one meagre grow
There where the need of nutriment applies not？〃
〃If thou wouldst call to mind how Meleager
Was wasted by the wasting of a brand；
This would not；〃 said he； 〃be to thee so sour；
And wouldst thou think how at each tremulous motion
Trembles within a mirror your own image；
That which seems hard would mellow seem to thee。
But that thou mayst content thee in thy wish
Lo Statius here； and him I call and pray
He now will be the healer of thy wounds。〃
〃If I unfold to him the eternal vengeance；〃
Responded Statius； 〃where thou present art；
Be my excuse that I can naught deny thee。〃
Then he began： 〃Son； if these words of mine
Thy mind doth contemplate and doth receive；
They'll be thy light unto the How thou sayest。
The perfect blood； which never is drunk up
Into the thirsty veins； and which remaineth
Like food that from the table thou removest；
Takes in the heart for all the human members
Virtue informative； as being that
Which to be changed to them goes through the veins
Again digest； descends it where 'tis better
Silent to be than say； and then drops thence
Upon another's blood in natural vase。
There one together with the other mingles；
One to be passive meant； the other active
By reason of the perfect place it springs from；
And being conjoined； begins to operate；
Coagulating first； then vivifying
What for its matter it had made consistent。
The active virtue； being made a soul
As of a plant； （in so far different；
This on the way is； that arrived already；）
Then works so much； that now it moves and feels
Like a sea…fungus； and then undertakes
To organize the powers whose seed it is。
Now； Son； dilates and now distends itself
The virtue from the generator's heart；
Where nature is intent on all the members。
But how from animal it man becomes
Thou dost not see as yet； this is a point
Which made a wiser man than thou once err
So far； that in his doctrine separate
He made the soul from possible intellect；
For he no organ saw by this assumed。
Open thy breast unto the truth that's coming；
And know that； just as soon as in the foetus
The articulation of the brain is perfect；
The primal Motor turns to it well pleased
At so great art of nature； and inspires
A spirit new with virtue all replete；
Which what it finds there active doth attract
Into its substance； and becomes one soul；
Which lives； and feels； and on itself revolves。
And that thou less may wonder at my word；
Behold the sun's heat； which becometh wine；
Joined to the juice that from the vine distils。
Whenever Lachesis has no more thread；
It separates from the flesh； and virtually
Bears with itself the human and divine；
The other faculties are voiceless all；
The memory； the intelligence； and the will
In action far more vigorous than before。
Without a pause it falleth of itself
In marvellous way on one shore or the other；
There of its roads it first is cognizant。
Soon as the place there circumscribeth it；
The virtue informative rays round about；
As； and as much as； in the living members。
And even as the air； when full of rain；
By alien rays that are therein reflected；
With divers colours shows itself adorned；
So there the neighbouring air doth shape itself
Into that form which doth impress upon it
Virtually the soul that has stood still。
And then in manner of the little flame；
Which followeth the fire where'er it shifts；
After the spirit followeth its new form。
Since afterwards it takes from this its semblance；
It is called shade； and thence it organizes
Thereafter every sense； even to the sight。
Thence is it that we speak； and thence we laugh；
Thence is it that we form the tears and sighs；
That on the mountain thou mayhap hast heard。
According as impress us our desires
And other affections； so the shade is shaped；
And this is cause of what thou wonderest at。〃
And now unto the last of all the circles
Had we arrived； and to the right hand turned；
And were attentive to another care。
There the embankment shoots forth flames of fire；
And upward doth the cornice breathe a blast
That drives them back； and from itself sequesters。
Hence we must needs go on the open side；
And one by one； and I did fear the fire
On this side； and on that the falling down。
My Leader said： 〃Along this place one ought
To keep upon the eyes a tightened rein；
Seeing that one so easily might err。〃
〃Summae Deus clementiae；〃 in the bosom
Of the great burning chanted then I heard；
Which made me no less eager to turn round；
And spirits saw I walking through the flame；
Wherefore I looked； to my own steps and theirs
Apportioning my sight from time to time。
After the close which to that hymn is made；
Aloud they shouted； 〃Virum non cognosco；〃
Then recommenced the hymn with voices low。
This also ended； cried they： 〃To the wood
Diana ran； and drove forth Helice
Therefrom； who had of Venus felt the poison。〃
Then to their song returned they； then the wives
They shouted； and the husbands who were chaste。
As virtue and the marriage vow imposes。
And I believe that them this mode suffices；
For all the time the fire is burning them；
With such care is it needful； and such food；
That the last wound of all should be closed up。
Purgatorio： Canto XXVI
While on the brink thus one before the other
We went upon our way； oft the good Master
Said： 〃Take thou heed！ suffice it that I warn thee。〃
On the right shoulder smote me now the sun；
That； raying out； already the whole west
Changed from its azure aspect into white。
And with my shadow did I make the flame
Appear more red； and even to such a sign
Shades saw I many； as they went； give heed。
This was the cause that ga