My gentle father, tell me, what offense
Is purged here in the circle we are come to?
Although our steps halt, do not stop your speech.”

And he told me, “The love of good which falls
Short of its duty is in this place restored.
Here the idle oar is dipped once more.

“But that you may understand more clearly,
Turn your mind to me and you will gather
Some goodly fruit from our delaying here.

“My son, neither Creator nor his creature,”
He then began, “was ever without love,
Natural or rational, as you know.

“The natural is always without error,
But the other love may err by evil ends,
Or by too much or by too little ardor.

“While it’s directed toward the primal good
And toward the secondary goods keeps measure,
It cannot be the cause of sinful pleasure,

“But when it’s bent on evil or runs after
The good with more or less zeal than it should,
Those whom he made then work against their Maker.

“From this you can conceive how love must be
The seed in you of every other virtue
And every deed deserving punishment.