Innocence Once Lost - Religious Classics Collection. Джон Мильтон

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      XVIII. Virgil further discourses of Love and Free Will. The Abbot of San Zeno.

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      An end had put unto his reasoning

       The lofty Teacher, and attent was looking

       Into my face, if I appeared content;

      And I, whom a new thirst still goaded on,

       Without was mute, and said within: "Perchance

       The too much questioning I make annoys him."

      But that true Father, who had comprehended

       The timid wish, that opened not itself,

       By speaking gave me hardihood to speak.

      Whence I: "My sight is, Master, vivified

       So in thy light, that clearly I discern

       Whate'er thy speech importeth or describes.

      Therefore I thee entreat, sweet Father dear,

       To teach me love, to which thou dost refer

       Every good action and its contrary."

      "Direct," he said, "towards me the keen eyes

       Of intellect, and clear will be to thee

       The error of the blind, who would be leaders.

      The soul, which is created apt to love,

       Is mobile unto everything that pleases,

       Soon as by pleasure she is waked to action.

      Your apprehension from some real thing

       An image draws, and in yourselves displays it

       So that it makes the soul turn unto it.

      And if, when turned, towards it she incline,

       Love is that inclination; it is nature,

       Which is by pleasure bound in you anew

      Then even as the fire doth upward move

       By its own form, which to ascend is born,

       Where longest in its matter it endures,

      So comes the captive soul into desire,

       Which is a motion spiritual, and ne'er rests

       Until she doth enjoy the thing beloved.

      Now may apparent be to thee how hidden

       The truth is from those people, who aver

       All love is in itself a laudable thing;

      Because its matter may perchance appear

       Aye to be good; but yet not each impression

       Is good, albeit good may be the wax."

      "Thy words, and my sequacious intellect,"

       I answered him, "have love revealed to me;

       But that has made me more impregned with doubt;

      For if love from without be offered us,

       And with another foot the soul go not,

       If right or wrong she go, 'tis not her merit."

      And he to me: "What reason seeth here,

       Myself can tell thee; beyond that await

       For Beatrice, since 'tis a work of faith.

      Every substantial form, that segregate

       From matter is, and with it is united,

       Specific power has in itself collected,

      Which without act is not perceptible,

       Nor shows itself except by its effect,

       As life does in a plant by the green leaves.

      But still, whence cometh the intelligence

       Of the first notions, man is ignorant,

       And the affection for the first allurements,

      Which are in you as instinct in the bee

       To make its honey; and this first desire

       Merit of praise or blame containeth not.

      Now, that to this all others may be gathered,

       Innate within you is the power that counsels,

       And it should keep the threshold of assent.

      This is the principle, from which is taken

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