Divine Comedy, Longfellow's Translation, Complete

And this man was our Patriarch; hence whoever Doth follow him as he commands can see That he is laden with good merchandise.

But for new pasturage his flock has grown So greedy, that it is impossible They be not scattered over fields diverse;

And in proportion as his sheep remote And vagabond go farther off from him, More void of milk return they to the fold.

Verily some there are that fear a hurt, And keep close to the shepherd; but so few, That little cloth doth furnish forth their hoods.

Now if my utterance be not indistinct, If thine own hearing hath attentive been, If thou recall to mind what I have said,

In part contented shall thy wishes be; For thou shalt see the plant that’s chipped away, And the rebuke that lieth in the words,

‘Where well one fattens, if he strayeth not.’”