Page:The Commedia and Canzoniere of Dante Alighieri vol i.djvu/14

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thine the exile′s weary lot, to tread The stairs of others as with bleeding feet, Nor yet in lonely wanderings still to eat The doled-out bitter gifts of others′ bread: Thine rather is it to have nobly led When others halted or would fain retreat, To steer the State, though fierce the storm-winds beat, On to the wished-for haven, sails full spread. Unlike in outward fortunes, yet we trace In thee and in our Dante many a line Of inward likeness, sharing each the grace Of Life′s stern, loving, changeful discipline; The will that stands four-square to Fortune′s blows, Thoughts that age ripens, hope that wider grows.