The one who guides my eyes towards the heights
is that same Virgil that you drew upon
to sing so strong of deities and men.
If you suppose I’d other cause to smile,
put that aside. It is not true. And think
those words you spoke of him were cause enough.’
He’d bowed at once to clasp my teacher’s feet.
But he, in that embrace, said: ‘Brother, don’t!
You are a shadow and you see a shade.'
— Purgatorio, Canto 21