—

Where Nature comes upon discrepant fortune,

like any seed outside its proper region,

Nature will always yield results awry.

But if the world below would set its mind

on the foundation Nature lays as base

to follow, it would have its people worthy.

But you twist to religion one whose birth

made him fit to gird a sword, and make

a king of one more fit for sermoning,

so that the track you take is off the road.

(Paradiso, Canto VIII 139-148)