peace
  Come unto us; for we, unless it come,
  With all our striving, thither tend in vain. 
  As, of their will, the angels unto thee
  Tender meet sacrifice, circling thy throne
  With loud hosannas; so of theirs be done
  By saintly men on earth.  Grant us, this day,
  Our daily manna, without which he roams
  Through this rough desert retrograde, who most
  Toils to advance his steps.  As we to each
  Pardon the evil done us, pardon thou
  Benign, and of our merit take no count. 
  ’Gainst the old adversary, prove thou not
  Our virtue, easily subdued; but free
  From his incitements, and defeat his wiles. 
  This last petition, dearest Lord! is made
  Not for ourselves; since that were needless now;
  But for their sakes who after us remain.”

* * * * *

    MAN’S FREE-WILL.

    CANTO XVI.

                                   “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 forms 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.”

* * * * *

    FIRE OF PURIFICATION.

    CANTO XXVII.

  Now was the sun so stationed, as when first
  His early radiance quivers on the heights,
  Where streamed his Maker’s blood; while Libra hangs
  Above Hesperian Ebro; and new fires,
  Meridian, flash on Ganges’ yellow tide. 
    So day was sinking, when the angel of God
  Appeared before us.  Joy was in his mien. 
  Forth of the flame he stood upon the brink;
  And with a voice, whose lively clearness far
  Surpassed our human, “Blessed are the pure
  In heart,” he sang:  then near him as we came,
  “Go ye not further, holy spirits!” he cried,
  “Ere the fire pierce you:  enter in; and list
  Attentive to the song ye hear from thence.” 
  I, when I heard his saying, was as one
  Laid in the grave.  My hands together clasped,
  And upward stretching, on the fire I looked;
  And busy fancy conjured up the forms
  Erewhile beheld alive consumed in flames. 
    The escorting spirits turned with gentle looks
  Toward me; and the Mantuan spake: