• An evening hymn of the Church, sung at Complines, or the latest service of the day:⁠— “Te lucis ante terminum, Rerum creator, poscimus Ut pro tua dementia Sis presul ad custodiam. “Procul recedant somnia Et noxium phantasmata, Hostemque nostrum comprime, Ne polluantur corpora. “Presta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito Regnans per omne saeculum.” This hymn would seem to have no great applicability to disembodied spirits; and perhaps may have the same reference as the last petition in the Lord’s Prayer, Canto XI 19:⁠— “Our virtue, which is easily o’ercome, Put not to proof with the old Adversary, But thou from him who spurs it so, deliver. This last petition verily, dear Lord, Not for ourselves is made, who need it not, But for their sake who have remained behind us.” Dante seems to think his meaning very easy to penetrate. The commentators have found it uncommonly difficult. ↩
• Genesis 3:24:⁠— “And he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” ↩
• Justice tempered with mercy, say the commentators. ↩