6 He drew out hence the shade of the first parent, of Abel his son, and that of Noah, 57 of Moses the law-giver and obedient, Abraham the patriarch, and David the King, Israel with his father and with his offspring, 60 and with Rachel, for whom he did so much, and many others; and He made them blessed: and I would have thee know that before these, 63 human spirits were not saved.” We ceased not going on because he spoke, but all the while were passing through the wood, 66 the wood, I mean, of crowded spirits; nor yet had our way been long from the place of my slumber, when I saw a fire, 69 which overcame a hemisphere of darkness. We were still a little distant from it, yet not so far but that I could in part 72 discern that honorable folk possessed that place. “O thou who honorest both science and art, who are these, who have such honor 75 that it separates them from the manner of the others?” And he to me: “The honorable renown of them which sounds above in thy life 78 wins grace in heaven which thus advances them.” At this a voice was heard by me: “Honor the loftiest Poet! 81 his shade returns which had departed.”
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