Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DIVINA COMMEDIA: PURGATORIO. CANTO 16. MAN'S FREE WILL, by DANTE ALIGHIERI


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DIVINA COMMEDIA: PURGATORIO. CANTO 16. MAN'S FREE WILL, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Ye, who live / do so each cause refer to heaven above
Last Line: "seek in yourselves the cause, and find it there."
Alternate Author Name(s): Dante; Alighieri, Dante
Subject(s): Death; Purgatory; Dead, The


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 form 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."




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