| 240 |
"Yet tel me," quod the somonour, "feithfully, |
| Make ye yow newe bodies thus alway |
| Of elementz?" The feend answerde, "Nay. |
| Somtyme we feyne, and somtyme we aryse |
| With dede bodyes, in ful sondry wyse, |
| 245 | And speke as renably and faire and wel |
| As to the Phitonissa dide Samuel. |
| (And yet wol som men seye it was nat he; |
| I do no fors of youre dyvynytee.) |
| But o thyng warne I thee, I wol nat jape, - |
| 250 | Thou wolt algates wite how we been shape; |
| Thou shalt herafterward, my brother deere, |
| Come there thee nedeth nat of me to leere. |
| For thou shalt, by thyn owene experience, |
| Konne in a chayer rede of this sentence |
| 255 | Bet than Virgile, while he was on lyve, |
| Or dant also. Now lat us ryde blyve, |
| For I wole holde compaignye with thee |
| Til it be so that thou forsake me." |
|
| 240 |
"Yet tell me," said the summoner, "faithfully, |
| Make you yourselves new bodies thus alway |
| Of elements?" The demon replied thus: "Nay. |
| Sometimes we feign them, sometimes we arise |
| In bodies that are dead, in various ways, |
| 245 | And speak as reasonably and fair and well |
| As to the witch at En-dor Samuel. |
| And yet some men maintain it was not he; |
| I do not care for your theology. |
| But of one thing I warn, nor will I jape, |
| 250 | You shall in all ways learn our proper shape; |
| You shall hereafter come, my brother dear, |
| Where you'll not need to ask of me, as here. |
| For you shall, of your own experience, |
| In a red chair have much more evidence |
| 255 | Than Virgil ever did while yet alive, |
| Or ever Dante; now let's swiftly drive. |
| For I will hold with you my company |
| Till it shall come to pass you part from me." |
|
