Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v2.djvu/41

Rh How that may be wouldst thou have power to think,

Collected in thyself, imagine Zion

Together with this mount on earth to stand,

So that they both one sole horizon have,

And hemispheres diverse; whereby the road

Which Phaeton, alas! knew not to drive,

Thou 'lt see how of necessity must pass

This on one side, when that upon the other,

If thine intelligence right clearly heed."

"Truly, my Master," said I, "never yet

Saw I so clearly as I now discern,

There where my wit appeared incompetent,

That the mid-circle of supernal motion,

Which in some art is the Equator called,

And aye remains between the Sun and Winter,

For reason which thou sayest, departeth hence

Tow'rds the Septentrion, what time the Hebrews

Beheld it tow'rds the region of the heat.

But, if it pleaseth thee, I fain would learn

How far we have to go; for the hill rises

Higher than eyes of mine have power to rise.

And he to me: "This mount is such, that ever

At the beginning down below 't is tiresome,

And aye the more one climbs, the less it hurts.