The Porter opened unto them streight way:

He was an aged syre, all hory gray,

With lookes full lowly cast, and gate full slow,

Wont on a staffe his feeble steps to stay,

Hight Humiltà.[°] They passe in stouping low;

For streight and narrow was the way which he did show.

VI

Each goodly thing is hardest to begin,

But entred in a spacious court they see,