123.—Beatrice is gone up into high heavendetails

“Beatrice is gone up into high heaven,
The kingdom where the angels are at peace;
And lives with them; and to her friends is dead.
Not by the frost of winter was she driven
Away, like others; nor by summer-heats;
But through a perfect gentleness, instead.
For from the lamp of her meek lowlihead
Such an exceeding glory went up hence
    That it woke wonder in the Eternal Sire,
    Until a sweet desire
Entererd Him for that lovely excellence,
  So that He bade her to Himself aspire:
counting this weary and most evil place
Unworthy of a thing so full of grace.