8 She was silent, and the angels sang of a sudden: In te, Domine, speravi; 84 but beyond pedes meos they did not pass. Even as the snow, among the living rafters upon the back of Italy, is congealed, 87 blown and packed by Sclavonian winds, then melting, trickles through itself, if only the land which loses shadow breathe, 90 so that it seems as fire melting the candle; thus was I without tears and sighs before the song of them who always sing 93 following the notes of the eternal spheres; but when I heard in their sweet melodies their compassion for me, more than if said 96 they had: “Lady, why dost thou so confound him?” the ice that was around my heart bound tight breath and water became, and with anguish through 99 my mouth and through my eyes issued from my breast. She, still motionless on the aforesaid side of the chariot standing, to those pious beings 102 turned her words thus then: “Ye watch in the eternal day, so that nor night nor slumber robs from you 105 one step the world may make along its ways; wherefore my reply is with greater care, that may understand me he who yonder is weeping, 108 in order that may be fault and grief of one measure.
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