The Angel of God, upon the threshold seated, Which seemed to me a stone of diamond. 692 Along the three stairs upward with good will Did my Conductor draw me, saying: “Ask Humbly that he the fastening may undo.” Devoutly at the holy feet I cast me, For mercy’s sake besought that he would open, But first upon my breast three times I smote. Seven P’s upon my forehead he described 693 With the sword’s point, and, “Take heed that thou wash These wounds, when thou shalt be within,” he said. Ashes, or earth that dry is excavated, Of the same color were with his attire, And from beneath it he drew forth two keys. One was of gold, and the other was of silver; 694 First with the white, and after with the yellow, Plied he the door, so that I was content. “Whenever faileth either of these keys So that it turn not rightly in the lock,” He said to us, “this entrance doth not open. More precious one is, but the other needs