Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/189

Nor the high office, nor the sacred orders,
⁠In him regarded, nor in me that cord
⁠Which used to make those girt with it more meagre;
But even as Constantine sought out Sylvester
⁠To cure his leprosy, within Soracte, 95
⁠So this one sought me out as an adept
To cure him of the fever of his pride.
⁠Counsel he asked of me, and I was silent,
⁠Because his words appeared inebriate.
And then he said: 'Be not thy heart afraid; 100
⁠Henceforth I thee absolve; and thou instruct me
⁠How to raze Palestrina to the ground.
Heaven have I power to lock and to unlock,
⁠As thou dost know; therefore the keys are two,
⁠The which my predecessor held not dear.' 105
Then urged me on his weighty arguments
⁠There, where my silence was the worst advice;
⁠And said I: 'Father, since thou washest me
Of that sin into which I now must fall,
⁠The promise long with the fulfilment short 110
⁠Will make thee triumph in thy lofty seat.'
Francis came afterward, when I was dead,
⁠For me; but one of the black Cherubim
⁠Said to him: 'Take him not; do me no wrong;