When I was freed From all those spirits, who prayed for others' prayers To hasten on their state of blessedness; Straight I began: "O thou, my luminary! It seems expressly in thy text denied, That Heaven's supreme decree can ever bend To supplication; yet with this design Do these entreat. Can then their hope be vain? Or is thy saying not to be revealed?" He thus to me: "Both what I write is plain, And these deceived not in their hope; if well Thy mind consider, that the sacred height Of judgment doth not stoop, because love's flame In a short moment all fulfils, which he, Who sojourns here, in right should satisfy. Besides, when I this point concluded thus, By praying no defect could be supplied: Because the prayer had none access to God. Yet in this deep suspicion rest thou not Contented, unless she assure thee so, Betwixt truth and mind infuses light: Know not if thou take me right; I mean Beatrice. Her thou shalt behold above, Upon this mountain's crown, fair seat of joy." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE by JAMES GALVIN LETHE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON MEMORIAL DAY by WILLIAM E. BROOKS THE AMERICAN FOREST GIRL by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS FRINGED GENTIANS by AMY LOWELL HEART-SONG by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE |