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...MY VERY PARTICULAR FRIEND by MARIA ABDY DRESSING THE BRIDE (A FRAGMENT) by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH LILIES: 8 by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) INTO THE SALIENT by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN OMEN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN FIVES'-COURT by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN |