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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:32:16 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8798-h.zip b/8798-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1077087 --- /dev/null +++ b/8798-h.zip diff --git a/8798-h/8798-h.htm b/8798-h/8798-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3bee9f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/8798-h/8798-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2331 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Dante's Paradise, Part 3.</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:15%; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; } + table {font-size: 120%;} + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + PRE { font-family: Times; font-size: 97%; margin-left: 15%;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + +<h2>THE VISION OF PARADISE, Part 3. +<br>By Dante Alighieri, Illustrated by Dore</h2> +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Vision of Paradise, Part 3., by Dante Alighieri + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Vision of Paradise, Part 3. + +Author: Dante Alighieri + +Release Date: August 2, 2004 [EBook #8798] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VISION OF PARADISE, PART 3. *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<br> +<hr> +<br><br><br><br><br><br> + + + +<center> +<h1>THE VISION</h1><br> +<h2>OF</h2><br> +<h1>HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE</h1><br> +<h2>BY</h2><br> +<h1>DANTE ALIGHIERI</h1> +<br><br><br> +<br><br><br> +<h2>PARADISE</h2> +<h3>Part Three</h3> +<br><br><br> +<h3>TRANSLATED BY</h3><br> +<h2>THE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A.</h2> +<br><br> +<h4>Click on Any Image to Enlarge It</h4> + +<br><br><br><br> +<a href="images/cover.jpg"><img alt="coverth.jpg (42K)" src="images/coverth.jpg" height="478" width="553"></a> +<br><br><br><br> +<a href="images/frontispiece.jpg"><img alt="front2.jpg (41K)" src="images/front2.jpg" height="477" width="431"></a> +<br><br><br><br> +<a href="images/titlepage.jpg"><img alt="title2.jpg (21K)" src="images/title2.jpg" height="535" width="416"></a> + +<br><br><br><br> +<br><br><br><br> +<h1>PARADISE</h1> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<h2>LIST OF CANTOS</h2> +</center> + +<center> +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr><td> + + +<a href="#22">Canto 22</a><br> +<a href="#23">Canto 23</a><br> +<a href="#24">Canto 24</a><br> +<a href="#25">Canto 25</a><br> +<a href="#26">Canto 26</a><br> +<a href="#27">Canto 27</a><br> +<a href="#28">Canto 28</a><br> +<a href="#29">Canto 29</a><br> +<a href="#30">Canto 30</a><br> +<a href="#31">Canto 31</a><br> +<a href="#32">Canto 32</a><br> +<a href="#33">Canto 33</a><br> + + + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<table summary="Paradise"> +<tr><td> + + + + + + +<br><br> +<a name="22"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXII</h2> +<br> + +<p>Astounded, to the guardian of my steps<br> +I turn'd me, like the chill, who always runs<br> +Thither for succour, where he trusteth most,<br> +And she was like the mother, who her son<br> +Beholding pale and breathless, with her voice<br> +Soothes him, and he is cheer'd; for thus she spake,<br> +Soothing me: "Know'st not thou, thou art in heav'n?<br> +And know'st not thou, whatever is in heav'n,<br> +Is holy, and that nothing there is done<br> +But is done zealously and well? Deem now,<br> +What change in thee the song, and what my smile<br> +had wrought, since thus the shout had pow'r to move thee.<br> +In which couldst thou have understood their prayers,<br> +The vengeance were already known to thee,<br> +Which thou must witness ere thy mortal hour,<br> +The sword of heav'n is not in haste to smite,<br> +Nor yet doth linger, save unto his seeming,<br> +Who in desire or fear doth look for it.<br> +But elsewhere now l bid thee turn thy view;<br> +So shalt thou many a famous spirit behold."<br> +Mine eyes directing, as she will'd, I saw<br> +A hundred little spheres, that fairer grew<br> +By interchange of splendour. I remain'd,<br> +As one, who fearful of o'er-much presuming,<br> +Abates in him the keenness of desire,<br> +Nor dares to question, when amid those pearls,<br> +One largest and most lustrous onward drew,<br> +That it might yield contentment to my wish;<br> +And from within it these the sounds I heard.<br> +<br> "If thou, like me, beheldst the charity<br> +That burns amongst us, what thy mind conceives,<br> +Were utter'd. But that, ere the lofty bound<br> +Thou reach, expectance may not weary thee,<br> +I will make answer even to the thought,<br> +Which thou hast such respect of. In old days,<br> +That mountain, at whose side Cassino rests,<br> +Was on its height frequented by a race<br> +Deceived and ill dispos'd: and I it was,<br> +Who thither carried first the name of Him,<br> +Who brought the soul-subliming truth to man.<br> +And such a speeding grace shone over me,<br> +That from their impious worship I reclaim'd<br> +The dwellers round about, who with the world<br> +Were in delusion lost. These other flames,<br> +The spirits of men contemplative, were all<br> +Enliven'd by that warmth, whose kindly force<br> +Gives birth to flowers and fruits of holiness.<br> +Here is Macarius; Romoaldo here:<br> +And here my brethren, who their steps refrain'd<br> +Within the cloisters, and held firm their heart."<br> +<br> I answ'ring, thus; "Thy gentle words and kind,<br> +And this the cheerful semblance, I behold<br> +Not unobservant, beaming in ye all,<br> +Have rais'd assurance in me, wakening it<br> +Full-blossom'd in my bosom, as a rose<br> +Before the sun, when the consummate flower<br> +Has spread to utmost amplitude. Of thee<br> +Therefore entreat I, father! to declare<br> +If I may gain such favour, as to gaze<br> +Upon thine image, by no covering veil'd."<br> +<br> "Brother!" he thus rejoin'd, "in the last sphere<br> +Expect completion of thy lofty aim,<br> +For there on each desire completion waits,<br> +And there on mine: where every aim is found<br> +Perfect, entire, and for fulfillment ripe.<br> +There all things are as they have ever been:<br> +For space is none to bound, nor pole divides,<br> +Our ladder reaches even to that clime,<br> +And so at giddy distance mocks thy view.<br> +Thither the Patriarch Jacob saw it stretch<br> +Its topmost round, when it appear'd to him<br> +With angels laden. But to mount it now<br> +None lifts his foot from earth: and hence my rule<br> +Is left a profitless stain upon the leaves;<br> +The walls, for abbey rear'd, turned into dens,<br> +The cowls to sacks choak'd up with musty meal.<br> +Foul usury doth not more lift itself<br> +Against God's pleasure, than that fruit which makes<br> +The hearts of monks so wanton: for whate'er<br> +Is in the church's keeping, all pertains.<br> +To such, as sue for heav'n's sweet sake, and not<br> +To those who in respect of kindred claim,<br> +Or on more vile allowance. Mortal flesh<br> +Is grown so dainty, good beginnings last not<br> +From the oak's birth, unto the acorn's setting.<br> +His convent Peter founded without gold<br> +Or silver; I with pray'rs and fasting mine;<br> +And Francis his in meek humility.<br> +And if thou note the point, whence each proceeds,<br> +Then look what it hath err'd to, thou shalt find<br> +The white grown murky. Jordan was turn'd back;<br> +And a less wonder, then the refluent sea,<br> +May at God's pleasure work amendment here."<br> +<br> So saying, to his assembly back he drew:<br> +And they together cluster'd into one,<br> +Then all roll'd upward like an eddying wind.<br> +<br> The sweet dame beckon'd me to follow them:<br> +And, by that influence only, so prevail'd<br> +Over my nature, that no natural motion,<br> +Ascending or descending here below,<br> +Had, as I mounted, with my pennon vied.<br> +<br> So, reader, as my hope is to return<br> +Unto the holy triumph, for the which<br> +I ofttimes wail my sins, and smite my breast,<br> +Thou hadst been longer drawing out and thrusting<br> +Thy finger in the fire, than I was, ere<br> +The sign, that followeth Taurus, I beheld,<br> +And enter'd its precinct. O glorious stars!<br> +O light impregnate with exceeding virtue!<br> +To whom whate'er of genius lifteth me<br> +Above the vulgar, grateful I refer;<br> +With ye the parent of all mortal life<br> +Arose and set, when I did first inhale<br> +The Tuscan air; and afterward, when grace<br> +Vouchsaf'd me entrance to the lofty wheel<br> +That in its orb impels ye, fate decreed<br> +My passage at your clime. To you my soul<br> +Devoutly sighs, for virtue even now<br> +To meet the hard emprize that draws me on.<br> +<br> "Thou art so near the sum of blessedness,"<br> +Said Beatrice, "that behooves thy ken<br> +Be vigilant and clear. And, to this end,<br> +Or even thou advance thee further, hence<br> +Look downward, and contemplate, what a world<br> +Already stretched under our feet there lies:<br> +So as thy heart may, in its blithest mood,<br> +Present itself to the triumphal throng,<br> +Which through the' etherial concave comes rejoicing."<br> +<br> I straight obey'd; and with mine eye return'd<br> +Through all the seven spheres, and saw this globe<br> +So pitiful of semblance, that perforce<br> +It moved my smiles: and him in truth I hold<br> +For wisest, who esteems it least: whose thoughts<br> +Elsewhere are fix'd, him worthiest call and best.<br> +I saw the daughter of Latona shine<br> +Without the shadow, whereof late I deem'd<br> +That dense and rare were cause. Here I sustain'd<br> +The visage, Hyperion! of thy sun;<br> +And mark'd, how near him with their circle, round<br> +Move Maia and Dione; here discern'd<br> +Jove's tempering 'twixt his sire and son; and hence<br> +Their changes and their various aspects<br> +Distinctly scann'd. Nor might I not descry<br> +Of all the seven, how bulky each, how swift;<br> +Nor of their several distances not learn.<br> +This petty area (o'er the which we stride<br> +So fiercely), as along the eternal twins<br> +I wound my way, appear'd before me all,<br> +Forth from the havens stretch'd unto the hills.<br> +Then to the beauteous eyes mine eyes return'd.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="23"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXIII</h2> +<br> + +<p>E'en as the bird, who midst the leafy bower<br> +Has, in her nest, sat darkling through the night,<br> +With her sweet brood, impatient to descry<br> +Their wished looks, and to bring home their food,<br> +In the fond quest unconscious of her toil:<br> +She, of the time prevenient, on the spray,<br> +That overhangs their couch, with wakeful gaze<br> +Expects the sun; nor ever, till the dawn,<br> +Removeth from the east her eager ken;<br> +So stood the dame erect, and bent her glance<br> +Wistfully on that region, where the sun<br> +Abateth most his speed; that, seeing her<br> +Suspense and wand'ring, I became as one,<br> +In whom desire is waken'd, and the hope<br> +Of somewhat new to come fills with delight.<br> +<br> Short space ensued; I was not held, I say,<br> +Long in expectance, when I saw the heav'n<br> +Wax more and more resplendent; and, "Behold,"<br> +Cried Beatrice, "the triumphal hosts<br> +Of Christ, and all the harvest reap'd at length<br> +Of thy ascending up these spheres." Meseem'd,<br> +That, while she spake her image all did burn,<br> +And in her eyes such fullness was of joy,<br> +And I am fain to pass unconstrued by.<br> +<br> As in the calm full moon, when Trivia smiles,<br> +In peerless beauty, 'mid th' eternal nympus,<br> +That paint through all its gulfs the blue profound<br> +In bright pre-eminence so saw I there,<br> +O'er million lamps a sun, from whom all drew<br> +Their radiance as from ours the starry train:<br> +And through the living light so lustrous glow'd<br> +The substance, that my ken endur'd it not.<br> +<br> O Beatrice! sweet and precious guide!<br> +Who cheer'd me with her comfortable words!<br> +"Against the virtue, that o'erpow'reth thee,<br> +Avails not to resist. Here is the might,<br> +And here the wisdom, which did open lay<br> +The path, that had been yearned for so long,<br> +Betwixt the heav'n and earth." Like to the fire,<br> +That, in a cloud imprison'd doth break out<br> +Expansive, so that from its womb enlarg'd,<br> +It falleth against nature to the ground;<br> +Thus in that heav'nly banqueting my soul<br> +Outgrew herself; and, in the transport lost.<br> +Holds now remembrance none of what she was.<br> +<br> "Ope thou thine eyes, and mark me: thou hast seen<br> +Things, that empower thee to sustain my smile."<br> +<br> I was as one, when a forgotten dream<br> +Doth come across him, and he strives in vain<br> +To shape it in his fantasy again,<br> +Whenas that gracious boon was proffer'd me,<br> +Which never may be cancel'd from the book,<br> +Wherein the past is written. Now were all<br> +Those tongues to sound, that have on sweetest milk<br> +Of Polyhymnia and her sisters fed<br> +And fatten'd, not with all their help to boot,<br> +Unto the thousandth parcel of the truth,<br> +My song might shadow forth that saintly smile,<br> +flow merely in her saintly looks it wrought.<br> +And with such figuring of Paradise<br> +The sacred strain must leap, like one, that meets<br> +A sudden interruption to his road.<br> +But he, who thinks how ponderous the theme,<br> +And that 't is lain upon a mortal shoulder,<br> +May pardon, if it tremble with the burden.<br> +The track, our ventrous keel must furrow, brooks<br> +No unribb'd pinnace, no self-sparing pilot.<br> +<br> "Why doth my face," said Beatrice, "thus<br> +Enamour thee, as that thou dost not turn<br> +Unto the beautiful garden, blossoming<br> +Beneath the rays of Christ? Here is the rose,<br> +Wherein the word divine was made incarnate;<br> +And here the lilies, by whose odour known<br> +The way of life was follow'd." Prompt I heard<br> +Her bidding, and encounter once again<br> +The strife of aching vision. As erewhile,<br> +Through glance of sunlight, stream'd through broken cloud,<br> +Mine eyes a flower-besprinkled mead have seen,<br> +Though veil'd themselves in shade; so saw I there<br> +Legions of splendours, on whom burning rays<br> +Shed lightnings from above, yet saw I not<br> +The fountain whence they flow'd. O gracious virtue!<br> +Thou, whose broad stamp is on them, higher up<br> +Thou didst exalt thy glory to give room<br> +To my o'erlabour'd sight: when at the name<br> +Of that fair flower, whom duly I invoke<br> +Both morn and eve, my soul, with all her might<br> +Collected, on the goodliest ardour fix'd.<br> +And, as the bright dimensions of the star<br> +In heav'n excelling, as once here on earth<br> +Were, in my eyeballs lively portray'd,<br> +Lo! from within the sky a cresset fell,<br> +Circling in fashion of a diadem,<br> +And girt the star, and hov'ring round it wheel'd.<br> +<br> Whatever melody sounds sweetest here,<br> +And draws the spirit most unto itself,<br> +Might seem a rent cloud when it grates the thunder,<br> +Compar'd unto the sounding of that lyre,<br> +Wherewith the goodliest sapphire, that inlays<br> +The floor of heav'n, was crown'd. "Angelic Love,<br> +I am, who thus with hov'ring flight enwheel<br> +The lofty rapture from that womb inspir'd,<br> +Where our desire did dwell: and round thee so,<br> +Lady of Heav'n! will hover; long as thou<br> +Thy Son shalt follow, and diviner joy<br> +Shall from thy presence gild the highest sphere."<br> +<br> Such close was to the circling melody:<br> +And, as it ended, all the other lights<br> +Took up the strain, and echoed Mary's name.<br> +<br> The robe, that with its regal folds enwraps<br> +The world, and with the nearer breath of God<br> +Doth burn and quiver, held so far retir'd<br> +Its inner hem and skirting over us,<br> +That yet no glimmer of its majesty<br> +Had stream'd unto me: therefore were mine eyes<br> +Unequal to pursue the crowned flame,<br> +That rose and sought its natal seed of fire;<br> +And like to babe, that stretches forth its arms<br> +For very eagerness towards the breast,<br> +After the milk is taken; so outstretch'd<br> +Their wavy summits all the fervent band,<br> +Through zealous love to Mary: then in view<br> +There halted, and "Regina Coeli" sang<br> +So sweetly, the delight hath left me never.<br> +<br> O what o'erflowing plenty is up-pil'd<br> +In those rich-laden coffers, which below<br> +Sow'd the good seed, whose harvest now they keep.<br> +<br> Here are the treasures tasted, that with tears<br> +Were in the Babylonian exile won,<br> +When gold had fail'd them. Here in synod high<br> +Of ancient council with the new conven'd,<br> +Under the Son of Mary and of God,<br> +Victorious he his mighty triumph holds,<br> +To whom the keys of glory were assign'd.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="24"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXIV</h2> +<br> + +<p>"O ye! in chosen fellowship advanc'd<br> +To the great supper of the blessed Lamb,<br> +Whereon who feeds hath every wish fulfill'd!<br> +If to this man through God's grace be vouchsaf'd<br> +Foretaste of that, which from your table falls,<br> +Or ever death his fated term prescribe;<br> +Be ye not heedless of his urgent will;<br> +But may some influence of your sacred dews<br> +Sprinkle him. Of the fount ye alway drink,<br> +Whence flows what most he craves." Beatrice spake,<br> +And the rejoicing spirits, like to spheres<br> +On firm-set poles revolving, trail'd a blaze<br> +Of comet splendour; and as wheels, that wind<br> +Their circles in the horologe, so work<br> +The stated rounds, that to th' observant eye<br> +The first seems still, and, as it flew, the last;<br> +E'en thus their carols weaving variously,<br> +They by the measure pac'd, or swift, or slow,<br> +Made me to rate the riches of their joy.<br> +<br> From that, which I did note in beauty most<br> +Excelling, saw I issue forth a flame<br> +So bright, as none was left more goodly there.<br> +Round Beatrice thrice it wheel'd about,<br> +With so divine a song, that fancy's ear<br> +Records it not; and the pen passeth on<br> +And leaves a blank: for that our mortal speech,<br> +Nor e'en the inward shaping of the brain,<br> +Hath colours fine enough to trace such folds.<br> +<br> "O saintly sister mine! thy prayer devout<br> +Is with so vehement affection urg'd,<br> +Thou dost unbind me from that beauteous sphere."<br> +<br> Such were the accents towards my lady breath'd<br> +From that blest ardour, soon as it was stay'd:<br> +To whom she thus: "O everlasting light<br> +Of him, within whose mighty grasp our Lord<br> +Did leave the keys, which of this wondrous bliss<br> +He bare below! tent this man, as thou wilt,<br> +With lighter probe or deep, touching the faith,<br> +By the which thou didst on the billows walk.<br> +If he in love, in hope, and in belief,<br> +Be steadfast, is not hid from thee: for thou<br> +Hast there thy ken, where all things are beheld<br> +In liveliest portraiture. But since true faith<br> +Has peopled this fair realm with citizens,<br> +Meet is, that to exalt its glory more,<br> +Thou in his audience shouldst thereof discourse."<br> +<br> Like to the bachelor, who arms himself,<br> +And speaks not, till the master have propos'd<br> +The question, to approve, and not to end it;<br> +So I, in silence, arm'd me, while she spake,<br> +Summoning up each argument to aid;<br> +As was behooveful for such questioner,<br> +And such profession: "As good Christian ought,<br> +Declare thee, What is faith?" Whereat I rais'd<br> +My forehead to the light, whence this had breath'd,<br> +Then turn'd to Beatrice, and in her looks<br> +Approval met, that from their inmost fount<br> +I should unlock the waters. "May the grace,<br> +That giveth me the captain of the church<br> +For confessor," said I, "vouchsafe to me<br> +Apt utterance for my thoughts!" then added: "Sire!<br> +E'en as set down by the unerring style<br> +Of thy dear brother, who with thee conspir'd<br> +To bring Rome in unto the way of life,<br> +Faith of things hop'd is substance, and the proof<br> +Of things not seen; and herein doth consist<br> +Methinks its essence,"—"Rightly hast thou deem'd,"<br> +Was answer'd: "if thou well discern, why first<br> +He hath defin'd it, substance, and then proof."<br> +<br> "The deep things," I replied, "which here I scan<br> +Distinctly, are below from mortal eye<br> +So hidden, they have in belief alone<br> +Their being, on which credence hope sublime<br> +Is built; and therefore substance it intends.<br> +And inasmuch as we must needs infer<br> +From such belief our reasoning, all respect<br> +To other view excluded, hence of proof<br> +Th' intention is deriv'd." Forthwith I heard:<br> +"If thus, whate'er by learning men attain,<br> +Were understood, the sophist would want room<br> +To exercise his wit." So breath'd the flame<br> +Of love: then added: "Current is the coin<br> +Thou utter'st, both in weight and in alloy.<br> +But tell me, if thou hast it in thy purse."<br> +<br> "Even so glittering and so round," said I,<br> +"I not a whit misdoubt of its assay."<br> +<br> Next issued from the deep imbosom'd splendour:<br> +"Say, whence the costly jewel, on the which<br> +Is founded every virtue, came to thee."<br> +"The flood," I answer'd, "from the Spirit of God<br> +Rain'd down upon the ancient bond and new,—<br> +Here is the reas'ning, that convinceth me<br> +So feelingly, each argument beside<br> +Seems blunt and forceless in comparison."<br> +Then heard I: "Wherefore holdest thou that each,<br> +The elder proposition and the new,<br> +Which so persuade thee, are the voice of heav'n?"<br> +<br> "The works, that follow'd, evidence their truth;"<br> +I answer'd: "Nature did not make for these<br> +The iron hot, or on her anvil mould them."<br> +"Who voucheth to thee of the works themselves,"<br> +Was the reply, "that they in very deed<br> +Are that they purport? None hath sworn so to thee."<br> +<br> "That all the world," said I, "should have been turn'd<br> +To Christian, and no miracle been wrought,<br> +Would in itself be such a miracle,<br> +The rest were not an hundredth part so great.<br> +E'en thou wentst forth in poverty and hunger<br> +To set the goodly plant, that from the vine,<br> +It once was, now is grown unsightly bramble."<br> +That ended, through the high celestial court<br> +Resounded all the spheres. "Praise we one God!"<br> +In song of most unearthly melody.<br> +And when that Worthy thus, from branch to branch,<br> +Examining, had led me, that we now<br> +Approach'd the topmost bough, he straight resum'd;<br> +"The grace, that holds sweet dalliance with thy soul,<br> +So far discreetly hath thy lips unclos'd<br> +That, whatsoe'er has past them, I commend.<br> +Behooves thee to express, what thou believ'st,<br> +The next, and whereon thy belief hath grown."<br> +<br> "O saintly sire and spirit!" I began,<br> +"Who seest that, which thou didst so believe,<br> +As to outstrip feet younger than thine own,<br> +Toward the sepulchre? thy will is here,<br> +That I the tenour of my creed unfold;<br> +And thou the cause of it hast likewise ask'd.<br> +And I reply: I in one God believe,<br> +One sole eternal Godhead, of whose love<br> +All heav'n is mov'd, himself unmov'd the while.<br> +Nor demonstration physical alone,<br> +Or more intelligential and abstruse,<br> +Persuades me to this faith; but from that truth<br> +It cometh to me rather, which is shed<br> +Through Moses, the rapt Prophets, and the Psalms.<br> +The Gospel, and that ye yourselves did write,<br> +When ye were gifted of the Holy Ghost.<br> +In three eternal Persons I believe,<br> +Essence threefold and one, mysterious league<br> +Of union absolute, which, many a time,<br> +The word of gospel lore upon my mind<br> +Imprints: and from this germ, this firstling spark,<br> +The lively flame dilates, and like heav'n's star<br> +Doth glitter in me." As the master hears,<br> +Well pleas'd, and then enfoldeth in his arms<br> +The servant, who hath joyful tidings brought,<br> +And having told the errand keeps his peace;<br> +Thus benediction uttering with song<br> +Soon as my peace I held, compass'd me thrice<br> +The apostolic radiance, whose behest<br> +Had op'd lips; so well their answer pleas'd.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="25"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXV</h2> +<br> + + +<p>If e'er the sacred poem that hath made<br> +Both heav'n and earth copartners in its toil,<br> +And with lean abstinence, through many a year,<br> +Faded my brow, be destin'd to prevail<br> +Over the cruelty, which bars me forth<br> +Of the fair sheep-fold, where a sleeping lamb<br> +The wolves set on and fain had worried me,<br> +With other voice and fleece of other grain<br> +I shall forthwith return, and, standing up<br> +At my baptismal font, shall claim the wreath<br> +Due to the poet's temples: for I there<br> +First enter'd on the faith which maketh souls<br> +Acceptable to God: and, for its sake,<br> +Peter had then circled my forehead thus.<br> +<br> Next from the squadron, whence had issued forth<br> +The first fruit of Christ's vicars on the earth,<br> +Toward us mov'd a light, at view whereof<br> +My Lady, full of gladness, spake to me:<br> +"Lo! lo! behold the peer of mickle might,<br> +That makes Falicia throng'd with visitants!"<br> +<br> As when the ring-dove by his mate alights,<br> +In circles each about the other wheels,<br> +And murmuring cooes his fondness; thus saw I<br> +One, of the other great and glorious prince,<br> +With kindly greeting hail'd, extolling both<br> +Their heavenly banqueting; but when an end<br> +Was to their gratulation, silent, each,<br> +Before me sat they down, so burning bright,<br> +I could not look upon them. Smiling then,<br> +Beatrice spake: "O life in glory shrin'd!"<br> +Who didst the largess of our kingly court<br> +Set down with faithful pen! let now thy voice<br> +Of hope the praises in this height resound.<br> +For thou, who figur'st them in shapes, as clear,<br> +As Jesus stood before thee, well can'st speak them."<br> +<br> "Lift up thy head, and be thou strong in trust:<br> +For that, which hither from the mortal world<br> +Arriveth, must be ripen'd in our beam."<br> +<br> Such cheering accents from the second flame<br> +Assur'd me; and mine eyes I lifted up<br> +Unto the mountains that had bow'd them late<br> +With over-heavy burden. "Sith our Liege<br> +Wills of his grace that thou, or ere thy death,<br> +In the most secret council, with his lords<br> +Shouldst be confronted, so that having view'd<br> +The glories of our court, thou mayst therewith<br> +Thyself, and all who hear, invigorate<br> +With hope, that leads to blissful end; declare,<br> +What is that hope, how it doth flourish in thee,<br> +And whence thou hadst it?" Thus proceeding still,<br> +The second light: and she, whose gentle love<br> +My soaring pennons in that lofty flight<br> +Escorted, thus preventing me, rejoin'd:<br> +Among her sons, not one more full of hope,<br> +Hath the church militant: so 't is of him<br> +Recorded in the sun, whose liberal orb<br> +Enlighteneth all our tribe: and ere his term<br> +Of warfare, hence permitted he is come,<br> +From Egypt to Jerusalem, to see.<br> +The other points, both which thou hast inquir'd,<br> +Not for more knowledge, but that he may tell<br> +How dear thou holdst the virtue, these to him<br> +Leave I; for he may answer thee with ease,<br> +And without boasting, so God give him grace."<br> +Like to the scholar, practis'd in his task,<br> +Who, willing to give proof of diligence,<br> +Seconds his teacher gladly, "Hope," said I,<br> +"Is of the joy to come a sure expectance,<br> +Th' effect of grace divine and merit preceding.<br> +This light from many a star visits my heart,<br> +But flow'd to me the first from him, who sang<br> +The songs of the Supreme, himself supreme<br> +Among his tuneful brethren. 'Let all hope<br> +In thee,' so speak his anthem, 'who have known<br> +Thy name;' and with my faith who know not that?<br> +From thee, the next, distilling from his spring,<br> +In thine epistle, fell on me the drops<br> +So plenteously, that I on others shower<br> +The influence of their dew." Whileas I spake,<br> +A lamping, as of quick and vollied lightning,<br> +Within the bosom of that mighty sheen,<br> +Play'd tremulous; then forth these accents breath'd:<br> +"Love for the virtue which attended me<br> +E'en to the palm, and issuing from the field,<br> +Glows vigorous yet within me, and inspires<br> +To ask of thee, whom also it delights;<br> +What promise thou from hope in chief dost win."<br> +<br> "Both scriptures, new and ancient," I reply'd;<br> +"Propose the mark (which even now I view)<br> +For souls belov'd of God. Isaias saith,<br> +<br> 'That, in their own land, each one must be clad<br> +In twofold vesture; and their proper lands this delicious life.'<br> +In terms more full,<br> +And clearer far, thy brother hath set forth<br> +This revelation to us, where he tells<br> +Of the white raiment destin'd to the saints."<br> +And, as the words were ending, from above,<br> +"They hope in thee," first heard we cried: whereto<br> +Answer'd the carols all. Amidst them next,<br> +A light of so clear amplitude emerg'd,<br> +That winter's month were but a single day,<br> +Were such a crystal in the Cancer's sign.<br> +<br> Like as a virgin riseth up, and goes,<br> +And enters on the mazes of the dance,<br> +Though gay, yet innocent of worse intent,<br> +Than to do fitting honour to the bride;<br> +So I beheld the new effulgence come<br> +Unto the other two, who in a ring<br> +Wheel'd, as became their rapture. In the dance<br> +And in the song it mingled. And the dame<br> +Held on them fix'd her looks: e'en as the spouse<br> +Silent and moveless. "This is he, who lay<br> +Upon the bosom of our pelican:<br> +This he, into whose keeping from the cross<br> +The mighty charge was given." Thus she spake,<br> +Yet therefore naught the more remov'd her Sight<br> +From marking them, or ere her words began,<br> +Or when they clos'd. As he, who looks intent,<br> +And strives with searching ken, how he may see<br> +The sun in his eclipse, and, through desire<br> +Of seeing, loseth power of sight: so I<br> +Peer'd on that last resplendence, while I heard:<br> +"Why dazzlest thou thine eyes in seeking that,<br> +Which here abides not? Earth my body is,<br> +In earth: and shall be, with the rest, so long,<br> +As till our number equal the decree<br> +Of the Most High. The two that have ascended,<br> +In this our blessed cloister, shine alone<br> +With the two garments. So report below."<br> +<br> As when, for ease of labour, or to shun<br> +Suspected peril at a whistle's breath,<br> +The oars, erewhile dash'd frequent in the wave,<br> +All rest; the flamy circle at that voice<br> +So rested, and the mingling sound was still,<br> +Which from the trinal band soft-breathing rose.<br> +I turn'd, but ah! how trembled in my thought,<br> +When, looking at my side again to see<br> +Beatrice, I descried her not, although<br> +Not distant, on the happy coast she stood.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="26"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXVI</h2> +<br> + +<p>With dazzled eyes, whilst wond'ring I remain'd,<br> +Forth of the beamy flame which dazzled me,<br> +Issued a breath, that in attention mute<br> +Detain'd me; and these words it spake: "'T were well,<br> +That, long as till thy vision, on my form<br> +O'erspent, regain its virtue, with discourse<br> +Thou compensate the brief delay. Say then,<br> +Beginning, to what point thy soul aspires:"<br> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a href="images/26-7.jpg"><img alt="26-7th.jpg (31K)" src="images/26-7th.jpg" height="476" width="410"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +"And meanwhile rest assur'd, that sight in thee<br> +Is but o'erpowered a space, not wholly quench'd:<br> +Since thy fair guide and lovely, in her look<br> +Hath potency, the like to that which dwelt<br> +In Ananias' hand.'' I answering thus:<br> +"Be to mine eyes the remedy or late<br> +Or early, at her pleasure; for they were<br> +The gates, at which she enter'd, and did light<br> +Her never dying fire. My wishes here<br> +Are centered; in this palace is the weal,<br> +That Alpha and Omega, is to all<br> +The lessons love can read me." Yet again<br> +The voice which had dispers'd my fear, when daz'd<br> +With that excess, to converse urg'd, and spake:<br> +"Behooves thee sift more narrowly thy terms,<br> +And say, who level'd at this scope thy bow."<br> +<br> "Philosophy," said I, ''hath arguments,<br> +And this place hath authority enough<br> +'T' imprint in me such love: for, of constraint,<br> +Good, inasmuch as we perceive the good,<br> +Kindles our love, and in degree the more,<br> +As it comprises more of goodness in 't.<br> +The essence then, where such advantage is,<br> +That each good, found without it, is naught else<br> +But of his light the beam, must needs attract<br> +The soul of each one, loving, who the truth<br> +Discerns, on which this proof is built. Such truth<br> +Learn I from him, who shows me the first love<br> +Of all intelligential substances<br> +Eternal: from his voice I learn, whose word<br> +Is truth, that of himself to Moses saith,<br> +'I will make all my good before thee pass.'<br> +Lastly from thee I learn, who chief proclaim'st,<br> +E'en at the outset of thy heralding,<br> +In mortal ears the mystery of heav'n."<br> +<br> "Through human wisdom, and th' authority<br> +Therewith agreeing," heard I answer'd, "keep<br> +The choicest of thy love for God. But say,<br> +If thou yet other cords within thee feel'st<br> +That draw thee towards him; so that thou report<br> +How many are the fangs, with which this love<br> +Is grappled to thy soul." I did not miss,<br> +To what intent the eagle of our Lord<br> +Had pointed his demand; yea noted well<br> +Th' avowal, which he led to; and resum'd:<br> +"All grappling bonds, that knit the heart to God,<br> +Confederate to make fast our clarity.<br> +The being of the world, and mine own being,<br> +The death which he endur'd that I should live,<br> +And that, which all the faithful hope, as I do,<br> +To the foremention'd lively knowledge join'd,<br> +Have from the sea of ill love sav'd my bark,<br> +And on the coast secur'd it of the right.<br> +As for the leaves, that in the garden bloom,<br> +My love for them is great, as is the good<br> +Dealt by th' eternal hand, that tends them all."<br> +<br> I ended, and therewith a song most sweet<br> +Rang through the spheres; and "Holy, holy, holy,"<br> +Accordant with the rest my lady sang.<br> +And as a sleep is broken and dispers'd<br> +Through sharp encounter of the nimble light,<br> +With the eye's spirit running forth to meet<br> +The ray, from membrane on to the membrane urg'd;<br> +And the upstartled wight loathes that he sees;<br> +So, at his sudden waking, he misdeems<br> +Of all around him, till assurance waits<br> +On better judgment: thus the saintly came<br> +Drove from before mine eyes the motes away,<br> +With the resplendence of her own, that cast<br> +Their brightness downward, thousand miles below.<br> +Whence I my vision, clearer shall before,<br> +Recover'd; and, well nigh astounded, ask'd<br> +Of a fourth light, that now with us I saw.<br> +<br> And Beatrice: "The first diving soul,<br> +That ever the first virtue fram'd, admires<br> +Within these rays his Maker." Like the leaf,<br> +That bows its lithe top till the blast is blown;<br> +By its own virtue rear'd then stands aloof;<br> +So I, the whilst she said, awe-stricken bow'd.<br> +Then eagerness to speak embolden'd me;<br> +And I began: "O fruit! that wast alone<br> +Mature, when first engender'd! Ancient father!<br> +That doubly seest in every wedded bride<br> +Thy daughter by affinity and blood!<br> +Devoutly as I may, I pray thee hold<br> +Converse with me: my will thou seest; and I,<br> +More speedily to hear thee, tell it not."<br> +<br> It chanceth oft some animal bewrays,<br> +Through the sleek cov'ring of his furry coat.<br> +The fondness, that stirs in him and conforms<br> +His outside seeming to the cheer within:<br> +And in like guise was Adam's spirit mov'd<br> +To joyous mood, that through the covering shone,<br> +Transparent, when to pleasure me it spake:<br> +"No need thy will be told, which I untold<br> +Better discern, than thou whatever thing<br> +Thou holdst most certain: for that will I see<br> +In Him, who is truth's mirror, and Himself<br> +Parhelion unto all things, and naught else<br> +To him. This wouldst thou hear; how long since God<br> +Plac'd me high garden, from whose hounds<br> +She led me up in this ladder, steep and long;<br> +What space endur'd my season of delight;<br> +Whence truly sprang the wrath that banish'd me;<br> +And what the language, which I spake and fram'd<br> +Not that I tasted of the tree, my son,<br> +Was in itself the cause of that exile,<br> +But only my transgressing of the mark<br> +Assign'd me. There, whence at thy lady's hest<br> +The Mantuan mov'd him, still was I debarr'd<br> +This council, till the sun had made complete,<br> +Four thousand and three hundred rounds and twice,<br> +His annual journey; and, through every light<br> +In his broad pathway, saw I him return,<br> +Thousand save sev'nty times, the whilst I dwelt<br> +Upon the earth. The language I did use<br> +Was worn away, or ever Nimrod's race<br> +Their unaccomplishable work began.<br> +For naught, that man inclines to, ere was lasting,<br> +Left by his reason free, and variable,<br> +As is the sky that sways him. That he speaks,<br> +Is nature's prompting: whether thus or thus,<br> +She leaves to you, as ye do most affect it.<br> +Ere I descended into hell's abyss,<br> +El was the name on earth of the Chief Good,<br> +Whose joy enfolds me: Eli then 't was call'd<br> +And so beseemeth: for, in mortals, use<br> +Is as the leaf upon the bough; that goes,<br> +And other comes instead. Upon the mount<br> +Most high above the waters, all my life,<br> +Both innocent and guilty, did but reach<br> +From the first hour, to that which cometh next<br> +(As the sun changes quarter), to the sixth."</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="27"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXVII</h2> + +<br><br><br><br> +<a href="images/27-1.jpg"><img alt="27-1th.jpg (39K)" src="images/27-1th.jpg" height="476" width="405"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>Then "Glory to the Father, to the Son,<br> +And to the Holy Spirit," rang aloud<br> +Throughout all Paradise, that with the song<br> +My spirit reel'd, so passing sweet the strain:<br> +And what I saw was equal ecstasy;<br> +One universal smile it seem'd of all things,<br> +Joy past compare, gladness unutterable,<br> +Imperishable life of peace and love,<br> +Exhaustless riches and unmeasur'd bliss.<br> +<br> Before mine eyes stood the four torches lit;<br> +And that, which first had come, began to wax<br> +In brightness, and in semblance such became,<br> +As Jove might be, if he and Mars were birds,<br> +And interchang'd their plumes. Silence ensued,<br> +Through the blest quire, by Him, who here appoints<br> +Vicissitude of ministry, enjoin'd;<br> +When thus I heard: "Wonder not, if my hue<br> +Be chang'd; for, while I speak, these shalt thou see<br> +All in like manner change with me. My place<br> +He who usurps on earth (my place, ay, mine,<br> +Which in the presence of the Son of God<br> +Is void), the same hath made my cemetery<br> +A common sewer of puddle and of blood:<br> +The more below his triumph, who from hence<br> +Malignant fell." Such colour, as the sun,<br> +At eve or morning, paints an adverse cloud,<br> +Then saw I sprinkled over all the sky.<br> +And as th' unblemish'd dame, who in herself<br> +Secure of censure, yet at bare report<br> +Of other's failing, shrinks with maiden fear;<br> +So Beatrice in her semblance chang'd:<br> +And such eclipse in heav'n methinks was seen,<br> +When the Most Holy suffer'd. Then the words<br> +Proceeded, with voice, alter'd from itself<br> +So clean, the semblance did not alter more.<br> +"Not to this end was Christ's spouse with my blood,<br> +With that of Linus, and of Cletus fed:<br> +That she might serve for purchase of base gold:<br> +But for the purchase of this happy life<br> +Did Sextus, Pius, and Callixtus bleed,<br> +And Urban, they, whose doom was not without<br> +Much weeping seal'd. No purpose was of our<br> +That on the right hand of our successors<br> +Part of the Christian people should be set,<br> +And part upon their left; nor that the keys,<br> +Which were vouchsaf'd me, should for ensign serve<br> +Unto the banners, that do levy war<br> +On the baptiz'd: nor I, for sigil-mark<br> +Set upon sold and lying privileges;<br> +Which makes me oft to bicker and turn red.<br> +In shepherd's clothing greedy wolves below<br> +Range wide o'er all the pastures. Arm of God!<br> +Why longer sleepst thou? Caorsines and Gascona<br> +Prepare to quaff our blood. O good beginning<br> +To what a vile conclusion must thou stoop!<br> +But the high providence, which did defend<br> +Through Scipio the world's glory unto Rome,<br> +Will not delay its succour: and thou, son,<br> +Who through thy mortal weight shall yet again<br> +Return below, open thy lips, nor hide<br> +What is by me not hidden." As a Hood<br> +Of frozen vapours streams adown the air,<br> +What time the she-goat with her skiey horn<br> +Touches the sun; so saw I there stream wide<br> +The vapours, who with us had linger'd late<br> +And with glad triumph deck th' ethereal cope.<br> +Onward my sight their semblances pursued;<br> +So far pursued, as till the space between<br> +From its reach sever'd them: whereat the guide<br> +Celestial, marking me no more intent<br> +On upward gazing, said, "Look down and see<br> +What circuit thou hast compass'd." From the hour<br> +When I before had cast my view beneath,<br> +All the first region overpast I saw,<br> +Which from the midmost to the bound'ry winds;<br> +That onward thence from Gades I beheld<br> +The unwise passage of Laertes' son,<br> +And hitherward the shore, where thou, Europa!<br> +Mad'st thee a joyful burden: and yet more<br> +Of this dim spot had seen, but that the sun,<br> +A constellation off and more, had ta'en<br> +His progress in the zodiac underneath.<br> +<br> Then by the spirit, that doth never leave<br> +Its amorous dalliance with my lady's looks,<br> +Back with redoubled ardour were mine eyes<br> +Led unto her: and from her radiant smiles,<br> +Whenas I turn'd me, pleasure so divine<br> +Did lighten on me, that whatever bait<br> +Or art or nature in the human flesh,<br> +Or in its limn'd resemblance, can combine<br> +Through greedy eyes to take the soul withal,<br> +Were to her beauty nothing. Its boon influence<br> +From the fair nest of Leda rapt me forth,<br> +And wafted on into the swiftest heav'n.<br> +<br> What place for entrance Beatrice chose,<br> +I may not say, so uniform was all,<br> +Liveliest and loftiest. She my secret wish<br> +Divin'd; and with such gladness, that God's love<br> +Seem'd from her visage shining, thus began:<br> +"Here is the goal, whence motion on his race<br> +Starts; motionless the centre, and the rest<br> +All mov'd around. Except the soul divine,<br> +Place in this heav'n is none, the soul divine,<br> +Wherein the love, which ruleth o'er its orb,<br> +Is kindled, and the virtue that it sheds;<br> +One circle, light and love, enclasping it,<br> +As this doth clasp the others; and to Him,<br> +Who draws the bound, its limit only known.<br> +Measur'd itself by none, it doth divide<br> +Motion to all, counted unto them forth,<br> +As by the fifth or half ye count forth ten.<br> +The vase, wherein time's roots are plung'd, thou seest,<br> +Look elsewhere for the leaves. O mortal lust!<br> +That canst not lift thy head above the waves<br> +Which whelm and sink thee down! The will in man<br> +Bears goodly blossoms; but its ruddy promise<br> +Is, by the dripping of perpetual rain,<br> +Made mere abortion: faith and innocence<br> +Are met with but in babes, each taking leave<br> +Ere cheeks with down are sprinkled; he, that fasts,<br> +While yet a stammerer, with his tongue let loose<br> +Gluts every food alike in every moon.<br> +One yet a babbler, loves and listens to<br> +His mother; but no sooner hath free use<br> +Of speech, than he doth wish her in her grave.<br> +So suddenly doth the fair child of him,<br> +Whose welcome is the morn and eve his parting,<br> +To negro blackness change her virgin white.<br> +<br> "Thou, to abate thy wonder, note that none<br> +Bears rule in earth, and its frail family<br> +Are therefore wand'rers. Yet before the date,<br> +When through the hundredth in his reck'ning drops<br> +Pale January must be shor'd aside<br> +From winter's calendar, these heav'nly spheres<br> +Shall roar so loud, that fortune shall be fain<br> +To turn the poop, where she hath now the prow;<br> +So that the fleet run onward; and true fruit,<br> +Expected long, shall crown at last the bloom!"</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="28"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXVII</h2> +<br> + +<p>So she who doth imparadise my soul,<br> +Had drawn the veil from off our pleasant life,<br> +And bar'd the truth of poor mortality;<br> +When lo! as one who, in a mirror, spies<br> +The shining of a flambeau at his back,<br> +Lit sudden ore he deem of its approach,<br> +And turneth to resolve him, if the glass<br> +Have told him true, and sees the record faithful<br> +As note is to its metre; even thus,<br> +I well remember, did befall to me,<br> +Looking upon the beauteous eyes, whence love<br> +Had made the leash to take me. As I turn'd;<br> +And that, which, in their circles, none who spies,<br> +Can miss of, in itself apparent, struck<br> +On mine; a point I saw, that darted light<br> +So sharp, no lid, unclosing, may bear up<br> +Against its keenness. The least star we view<br> +From hence, had seem'd a moon, set by its side,<br> +As star by side of star. And so far off,<br> +Perchance, as is the halo from the light<br> +Which paints it, when most dense the vapour spreads,<br> +There wheel'd about the point a circle of fire,<br> +More rapid than the motion, which first girds<br> +The world. Then, circle after circle, round<br> +Enring'd each other; till the seventh reach'd<br> +Circumference so ample, that its bow,<br> +Within the span of Juno's messenger,<br> +lied scarce been held entire. Beyond the sev'nth,<br> +Follow'd yet other two. And every one,<br> +As more in number distant from the first,<br> +Was tardier in motion; and that glow'd<br> +With flame most pure, that to the sparkle' of truth<br> +Was nearest, as partaking most, methinks,<br> +Of its reality. The guide belov'd<br> +Saw me in anxious thought suspense, and spake:<br> +"Heav'n, and all nature, hangs upon that point.<br> +The circle thereto most conjoin'd observe;<br> +And know, that by intenser love its course<br> +Is to this swiftness wing'd." To whom I thus:<br> +"It were enough; nor should I further seek,<br> +Had I but witness'd order, in the world<br> +Appointed, such as in these wheels is seen.<br> +But in the sensible world such diff'rence is,<br> +That is each round shows more divinity,<br> +As each is wider from the centre. Hence,<br> +If in this wondrous and angelic temple,<br> +That hath for confine only light and love,<br> +My wish may have completion I must know,<br> +Wherefore such disagreement is between<br> +Th' exemplar and its copy: for myself,<br> +Contemplating, I fail to pierce the cause."<br> +<br> "It is no marvel, if thy fingers foil'd<br> +Do leave the knot untied: so hard 't is grown<br> +For want of tenting." Thus she said: "But take,"<br> +She added, "if thou wish thy cure, my words,<br> +And entertain them subtly. Every orb<br> +Corporeal, doth proportion its extent<br> +Unto the virtue through its parts diffus'd.<br> +The greater blessedness preserves the more.<br> +The greater is the body (if all parts<br> +Share equally) the more is to preserve.<br> +Therefore the circle, whose swift course enwheels<br> +The universal frame answers to that,<br> +Which is supreme in knowledge and in love<br> +Thus by the virtue, not the seeming, breadth<br> +Of substance, measure, thou shalt see the heav'ns,<br> +Each to the' intelligence that ruleth it,<br> +Greater to more, and smaller unto less,<br> +Suited in strict and wondrous harmony."<br> +<br> As when the sturdy north blows from his cheek<br> +A blast, that scours the sky, forthwith our air,<br> +Clear'd of the rack, that hung on it before,<br> +Glitters; and, With his beauties all unveil'd,<br> +The firmament looks forth serene, and smiles;<br> +Such was my cheer, when Beatrice drove<br> +With clear reply the shadows back, and truth<br> +Was manifested, as a star in heaven.<br> +And when the words were ended, not unlike<br> +To iron in the furnace, every cirque<br> +Ebullient shot forth scintillating fires:<br> +And every sparkle shivering to new blaze,<br> +In number did outmillion the account<br> +Reduplicate upon the chequer'd board.<br> +Then heard I echoing on from choir to choir,<br> +"Hosanna," to the fixed point, that holds,<br> +And shall for ever hold them to their place,<br> +From everlasting, irremovable.<br> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a href="images/28-80.jpg"><img alt="28-80th.jpg (35K)" src="images/28-80th.jpg" height="477" width="434"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br> Musing awhile I stood: and she, who saw<br> +by inward meditations, thus began:<br> +"In the first circles, they, whom thou beheldst,<br> +Are seraphim and cherubim. Thus swift<br> +Follow their hoops, in likeness to the point,<br> +Near as they can, approaching; and they can<br> +The more, the loftier their vision. Those,<br> +That round them fleet, gazing the Godhead next,<br> +Are thrones; in whom the first trine ends. And all<br> +Are blessed, even as their sight descends<br> +Deeper into the truth, wherein rest is<br> +For every mind. Thus happiness hath root<br> +In seeing, not in loving, which of sight<br> +Is aftergrowth. And of the seeing such<br> +The meed, as unto each in due degree<br> +Grace and good-will their measure have assign'd.<br> +The other trine, that with still opening buds<br> +In this eternal springtide blossom fair,<br> +Fearless of bruising from the nightly ram,<br> +Breathe up in warbled melodies threefold<br> +Hosannas blending ever, from the three<br> +Transmitted. hierarchy of gods, for aye<br> +Rejoicing, dominations first, next then<br> +Virtues, and powers the third. The next to whom<br> +Are princedoms and archangels, with glad round<br> +To tread their festal ring; and last the band<br> +Angelical, disporting in their sphere.<br> +All, as they circle in their orders, look<br> +Aloft, and downward with such sway prevail,<br> +That all with mutual impulse tend to God.<br> +These once a mortal view beheld. Desire<br> +In Dionysius so intently wrought,<br> +That he, as I have done rang'd them; and nam'd<br> +Their orders, marshal'd in his thought. From him<br> +Dissentient, one refus'd his sacred read.<br> +But soon as in this heav'n his doubting eyes<br> +Were open'd, Gregory at his error smil'd<br> +Nor marvel, that a denizen of earth<br> +Should scan such secret truth; for he had learnt<br> +Both this and much beside of these our orbs,<br> +From an eye-witness to heav'n's mysteries."</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="29"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXIX</h2> +<br> + +<p>No longer than what time Latona's twins<br> +Cover'd of Libra and the fleecy star,<br> +Together both, girding the' horizon hang,<br> +In even balance from the zenith pois'd,<br> +Till from that verge, each, changing hemisphere,<br> +Part the nice level; e'en so brief a space<br> +Did Beatrice's silence hold. A smile<br> +Bat painted on her cheek; and her fix'd gaze<br> +Bent on the point, at which my vision fail'd:<br> +When thus her words resuming she began:<br> +"I speak, nor what thou wouldst inquire demand;<br> +For I have mark'd it, where all time and place<br> +Are present. Not for increase to himself<br> +Of good, which may not be increas'd, but forth<br> +To manifest his glory by its beams,<br> +Inhabiting his own eternity,<br> +Beyond time's limit or what bound soe'er<br> +To circumscribe his being, as he will'd,<br> +Into new natures, like unto himself,<br> +Eternal Love unfolded. Nor before,<br> +As if in dull inaction torpid lay.<br> +For not in process of before or aft<br> +Upon these waters mov'd the Spirit of God.<br> +Simple and mix'd, both form and substance, forth<br> +To perfect being started, like three darts<br> +Shot from a bow three-corded. And as ray<br> +In crystal, glass, and amber, shines entire,<br> +E'en at the moment of its issuing; thus<br> +Did, from th' eternal Sovran, beam entire<br> +His threefold operation, at one act<br> +Produc'd coeval. Yet in order each<br> +Created his due station knew: those highest,<br> +Who pure intelligence were made: mere power<br> +The lowest: in the midst, bound with strict league,<br> +Intelligence and power, unsever'd bond.<br> +Long tract of ages by the angels past,<br> +Ere the creating of another world,<br> +Describ'd on Jerome's pages thou hast seen.<br> +But that what I disclose to thee is true,<br> +Those penmen, whom the Holy Spirit mov'd<br> +In many a passage of their sacred book<br> +Attest; as thou by diligent search shalt find<br> +And reason in some sort discerns the same,<br> +Who scarce would grant the heav'nly ministers<br> +Of their perfection void, so long a space.<br> +Thus when and where these spirits of love were made,<br> +Thou know'st, and how: and knowing hast allay'd<br> +Thy thirst, which from the triple question rose.<br> +Ere one had reckon'd twenty, e'en so soon<br> +Part of the angels fell: and in their fall<br> +Confusion to your elements ensued.<br> +The others kept their station: and this task,<br> +Whereon thou lookst, began with such delight,<br> +That they surcease not ever, day nor night,<br> +Their circling. Of that fatal lapse the cause<br> +Was the curst pride of him, whom thou hast seen<br> +Pent with the world's incumbrance. Those, whom here<br> +Thou seest, were lowly to confess themselves<br> +Of his free bounty, who had made them apt<br> +For ministries so high: therefore their views<br> +Were by enlight'ning grace and their own merit<br> +Exalted; so that in their will confirm'd<br> +They stand, nor feel to fall. For do not doubt,<br> +But to receive the grace, which heav'n vouchsafes,<br> +Is meritorious, even as the soul<br> +With prompt affection welcometh the guest.<br> +Now, without further help, if with good heed<br> +My words thy mind have treasur'd, thou henceforth<br> +This consistory round about mayst scan,<br> +And gaze thy fill. But since thou hast on earth<br> +Heard vain disputers, reasoners in the schools,<br> +Canvas the' angelic nature, and dispute<br> +Its powers of apprehension, memory, choice;<br> +Therefore, 't is well thou take from me the truth,<br> +Pure and without disguise, which they below,<br> +Equivocating, darken and perplex.<br> +<br> "Know thou, that, from the first, these substances,<br> +Rejoicing in the countenance of God,<br> +Have held unceasingly their view, intent<br> +Upon the glorious vision, from the which<br> +Naught absent is nor hid: where then no change<br> +Of newness with succession interrupts,<br> +Remembrance there needs none to gather up<br> +Divided thought and images remote<br> +<br> "So that men, thus at variance with the truth<br> +Dream, though their eyes be open; reckless some<br> +Of error; others well aware they err,<br> +To whom more guilt and shame are justly due.<br> +Each the known track of sage philosophy<br> +Deserts, and has a byway of his own:<br> +So much the restless eagerness to shine<br> +And love of singularity prevail.<br> +Yet this, offensive as it is, provokes<br> +Heav'n's anger less, than when the book of God<br> +Is forc'd to yield to man's authority,<br> +Or from its straightness warp'd: no reck'ning made<br> +What blood the sowing of it in the world<br> +Has cost; what favour for himself he wins,<br> +Who meekly clings to it. The aim of all<br> +Is how to shine: e'en they, whose office is<br> +To preach the Gospel, let the gospel sleep,<br> +And pass their own inventions off instead.<br> +One tells, how at Christ's suffering the wan moon<br> +Bent back her steps, and shadow'd o'er the sun<br> +With intervenient disk, as she withdrew:<br> +Another, how the light shrouded itself<br> +Within its tabernacle, and left dark<br> +The Spaniard and the Indian, with the Jew.<br> +Such fables Florence in her pulpit hears,<br> +Bandied about more frequent, than the names<br> +Of Bindi and of Lapi in her streets.<br> +The sheep, meanwhile, poor witless ones, return<br> +From pasture, fed with wind: and what avails<br> +For their excuse, they do not see their harm?<br> +Christ said not to his first conventicle,<br> +'Go forth and preach impostures to the world,'<br> +But gave them truth to build on; and the sound<br> +Was mighty on their lips; nor needed they,<br> +Beside the gospel, other spear or shield,<br> +To aid them in their warfare for the faith.<br> +The preacher now provides himself with store<br> +Of jests and gibes; and, so there be no lack<br> +Of laughter, while he vents them, his big cowl<br> +Distends, and he has won the meed he sought:<br> +Could but the vulgar catch a glimpse the while<br> +Of that dark bird which nestles in his hood,<br> +They scarce would wait to hear the blessing said.<br> +Which now the dotards hold in such esteem,<br> +That every counterfeit, who spreads abroad<br> +The hands of holy promise, finds a throng<br> +Of credulous fools beneath. Saint Anthony<br> +Fattens with this his swine, and others worse<br> +Than swine, who diet at his lazy board,<br> +Paying with unstamp'd metal for their fare.<br> +<br> "But (for we far have wander'd) let us seek<br> +The forward path again; so as the way<br> +Be shorten'd with the time. No mortal tongue<br> +Nor thought of man hath ever reach'd so far,<br> +That of these natures he might count the tribes.<br> +What Daniel of their thousands hath reveal'd<br> +With finite number infinite conceals.<br> +The fountain at whose source these drink their beams,<br> +With light supplies them in as many modes,<br> +As there are splendours, that it shines on: each<br> +According to the virtue it conceives,<br> +Differing in love and sweet affection.<br> +Look then how lofty and how huge in breadth<br> +The' eternal might, which, broken and dispers'd<br> +Over such countless mirrors, yet remains<br> +Whole in itself and one, as at the first."</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="30"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXX</h2> +<br> + +<p>Noon's fervid hour perchance six thousand miles<br> +From hence is distant; and the shadowy cone<br> +Almost to level on our earth declines;<br> +When from the midmost of this blue abyss<br> +By turns some star is to our vision lost.<br> +And straightway as the handmaid of the sun<br> +Puts forth her radiant brow, all, light by light,<br> +Fade, and the spangled firmament shuts in,<br> +E'en to the loveliest of the glittering throng.<br> +Thus vanish'd gradually from my sight<br> +The triumph, which plays ever round the point,<br> +That overcame me, seeming (for it did)<br> +Engirt by that it girdeth. Wherefore love,<br> +With loss of other object, forc'd me bend<br> +Mine eyes on Beatrice once again.<br> +<br> If all, that hitherto is told of her,<br> +Were in one praise concluded, 't were too weak<br> +To furnish out this turn. Mine eyes did look<br> +On beauty, such, as I believe in sooth,<br> +Not merely to exceed our human, but,<br> +That save its Maker, none can to the full<br> +Enjoy it. At this point o'erpower'd I fail,<br> +Unequal to my theme, as never bard<br> +Of buskin or of sock hath fail'd before.<br> +For, as the sun doth to the feeblest sight,<br> +E'en so remembrance of that witching smile<br> +Hath dispossess my spirit of itself.<br> +Not from that day, when on this earth I first<br> +Beheld her charms, up to that view of them,<br> +Have I with song applausive ever ceas'd<br> +To follow, but not follow them no more;<br> +My course here bounded, as each artist's is,<br> +When it doth touch the limit of his skill.<br> +<br> She (such as I bequeath her to the bruit<br> +Of louder trump than mine, which hasteneth on,<br> +Urging its arduous matter to the close),<br> +Her words resum'd, in gesture and in voice<br> +Resembling one accustom'd to command:<br> +"Forth from the last corporeal are we come<br> +Into the heav'n, that is unbodied light,<br> +Light intellectual replete with love,<br> +Love of true happiness replete with joy,<br> +Joy, that transcends all sweetness of delight.<br> +Here shalt thou look on either mighty host<br> +Of Paradise; and one in that array,<br> +Which in the final judgment thou shalt see."<br> +<br> As when the lightning, in a sudden spleen<br> +Unfolded, dashes from the blinding eyes<br> +The visive spirits dazzled and bedimm'd;<br> +So, round about me, fulminating streams<br> +Of living radiance play'd, and left me swath'd<br> +And veil'd in dense impenetrable blaze.<br> +Such weal is in the love, that stills this heav'n;<br> +For its own flame the torch this fitting ever!<br> +<br> No sooner to my list'ning ear had come<br> +The brief assurance, than I understood<br> +New virtue into me infus'd, and sight<br> +Kindled afresh, with vigour to sustain<br> +Excess of light, however pure. I look'd;<br> +And in the likeness of a river saw<br> +Light flowing, from whose amber-seeming waves<br> +Flash'd up effulgence, as they glided on<br> +'Twixt banks, on either side, painted with spring,<br> +Incredible how fair; and, from the tide,<br> +There ever and anon, outstarting, flew<br> +Sparkles instinct with life; and in the flow'rs<br> +Did set them, like to rubies chas'd in gold;<br> +Then, as if drunk with odors, plung'd again<br> +Into the wondrous flood; from which, as one<br> +Re'enter'd, still another rose. "The thirst<br> +Of knowledge high, whereby thou art inflam'd,<br> +To search the meaning of what here thou seest,<br> +The more it warms thee, pleases me the more.<br> +But first behooves thee of this water drink,<br> +Or ere that longing be allay'd." So spake<br> +The day-star of mine eyes; then thus subjoin'd:<br> +"This stream, and these, forth issuing from its gulf,<br> +And diving back, a living topaz each,<br> +With all this laughter on its bloomy shores,<br> +Are but a preface, shadowy of the truth<br> +They emblem: not that, in themselves, the things<br> +Are crude; but on thy part is the defect,<br> +For that thy views not yet aspire so high."<br> +Never did babe, that had outslept his wont,<br> +Rush, with such eager straining, to the milk,<br> +As I toward the water, bending me,<br> +To make the better mirrors of mine eyes<br> +In the refining wave; and, as the eaves<br> +Of mine eyelids did drink of it, forthwith<br> +Seem'd it unto me turn'd from length to round,<br> +Then as a troop of maskers, when they put<br> +Their vizors off, look other than before,<br> +The counterfeited semblance thrown aside;<br> +So into greater jubilee were chang'd<br> +Those flowers and sparkles, and distinct I saw<br> +Before me either court of heav'n displac'd.<br> +<br> O prime enlightener! thou who crav'st me strength<br> +On the high triumph of thy realm to gaze!<br> +Grant virtue now to utter what I kenn'd,<br> + There is in heav'n a light, whose goodly shine<br> +Makes the Creator visible to all<br> +Created, that in seeing him alone<br> +Have peace; and in a circle spreads so far,<br> +That the circumference were too loose a zone<br> +To girdle in the sun. All is one beam,<br> +Reflected from the summit of the first,<br> +That moves, which being hence and vigour takes,<br> +And as some cliff, that from the bottom eyes<br> +Its image mirror'd in the crystal flood,<br> +As if 't admire its brave appareling<br> +Of verdure and of flowers: so, round about,<br> +Eyeing the light, on more than million thrones,<br> +Stood, eminent, whatever from our earth<br> +Has to the skies return'd. How wide the leaves<br> +Extended to their utmost of this rose,<br> +Whose lowest step embosoms such a space<br> +Of ample radiance! Yet, nor amplitude<br> +Nor height impeded, but my view with ease<br> +Took in the full dimensions of that joy.<br> +Near or remote, what there avails, where God<br> +Immediate rules, and Nature, awed, suspends<br> +Her sway? Into the yellow of the rose<br> +Perennial, which in bright expansiveness,<br> +Lays forth its gradual blooming, redolent<br> +Of praises to the never-wint'ring sun,<br> +As one, who fain would speak yet holds his peace,<br> +Beatrice led me; and, "Behold," she said,<br> +"This fair assemblage! stoles of snowy white<br> +How numberless! The city, where we dwell,<br> +Behold how vast! and these our seats so throng'd<br> +Few now are wanting here! In that proud stall,<br> +On which, the crown, already o'er its state<br> +Suspended, holds thine eyes—or ere thyself<br> +Mayst at the wedding sup,—shall rest the soul<br> +Of the great Harry, he who, by the world<br> +Augustas hail'd, to Italy must come,<br> +Before her day be ripe. But ye are sick,<br> +And in your tetchy wantonness as blind,<br> +As is the bantling, that of hunger dies,<br> +And drives away the nurse. Nor may it be,<br> +That he, who in the sacred forum sways,<br> +Openly or in secret, shall with him<br> +Accordant walk: Whom God will not endure<br> +I' th' holy office long; but thrust him down<br> +To Simon Magus, where Magna's priest<br> +Will sink beneath him: such will be his meed."</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="31"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXXI</h2> +<br> + +<br><br><br><br> +<a href="images/31-1.jpg"><img alt="31-1th.jpg (51K)" src="images/31-1th.jpg" height="476" width="429"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>In fashion, as a snow-white rose, lay then<br> +Before my view the saintly multitude,<br> +Which in his own blood Christ espous'd. Meanwhile<br> +That other host, that soar aloft to gaze<br> +And celebrate his glory, whom they love,<br> +Hover'd around; and, like a troop of bees,<br> +Amid the vernal sweets alighting now,<br> +Now, clustering, where their fragrant labour glows,<br> +Flew downward to the mighty flow'r, or rose<br> +From the redundant petals, streaming back<br> +Unto the steadfast dwelling of their joy.<br> +Faces had they of flame, and wings of gold;<br> +The rest was whiter than the driven snow.<br> +And as they flitted down into the flower,<br> +From range to range, fanning their plumy loins,<br> +Whisper'd the peace and ardour, which they won<br> +From that soft winnowing. Shadow none, the vast<br> +Interposition of such numerous flight<br> +Cast, from above, upon the flower, or view<br> +Obstructed aught. For, through the universe,<br> +Wherever merited, celestial light<br> +Glides freely, and no obstacle prevents.<br> +<br> All there, who reign in safety and in bliss,<br> +Ages long past or new, on one sole mark<br> +Their love and vision fix'd. O trinal beam<br> +Of individual star, that charmst them thus,<br> +Vouchsafe one glance to gild our storm below!<br> +<br> If the grim brood, from Arctic shores that roam'd,<br> +(Where helice, forever, as she wheels,<br> +Sparkles a mother's fondness on her son)<br> +Stood in mute wonder 'mid the works of Rome,<br> +When to their view the Lateran arose<br> +In greatness more than earthly; I, who then<br> +From human to divine had past, from time<br> +Unto eternity, and out of Florence<br> +To justice and to truth, how might I choose<br> +But marvel too? 'Twixt gladness and amaze,<br> +In sooth no will had I to utter aught,<br> +Or hear. And, as a pilgrim, when he rests<br> +Within the temple of his vow, looks round<br> +In breathless awe, and hopes some time to tell<br> +Of all its goodly state: e'en so mine eyes<br> +Cours'd up and down along the living light,<br> +Now low, and now aloft, and now around,<br> +Visiting every step. Looks I beheld,<br> +Where charity in soft persuasion sat,<br> +Smiles from within and radiance from above,<br> +And in each gesture grace and honour high.<br> +<br> So rov'd my ken, and its general form<br> +All Paradise survey'd: when round I turn'd<br> +With purpose of my lady to inquire<br> +Once more of things, that held my thought suspense,<br> +But answer found from other than I ween'd;<br> +For, Beatrice, when I thought to see,<br> +I saw instead a senior, at my side,<br> + Rob'd, as the rest, in glory. Joy benign<br> +Glow'd in his eye, and o'er his cheek diffus'd,<br> +With gestures such as spake a father's love.<br> +And, "Whither is she vanish'd?" straight I ask'd.<br> +<br> "By Beatrice summon'd," he replied,<br> +"I come to aid thy wish. Looking aloft<br> +To the third circle from the highest, there<br> +Behold her on the throne, wherein her merit<br> +Hath plac'd her." Answering not, mine eyes I rais'd,<br> +And saw her, where aloof she sat, her brow<br> +A wreath reflecting of eternal beams.<br> +Not from the centre of the sea so far<br> +Unto the region of the highest thunder,<br> +As was my ken from hers; and yet the form<br> +Came through that medium down, unmix'd and pure,<br> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a href="images/31-64.jpg"><img alt="31-64th.jpg (43K)" src="images/31-64th.jpg" height="469" width="429"></a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br> "O Lady! thou in whom my hopes have rest!<br> +Who, for my safety, hast not scorn'd, in hell<br> +To leave the traces of thy footsteps mark'd!<br> +For all mine eyes have seen, I, to thy power<br> +And goodness, virtue owe and grace. Of slave,<br> +Thou hast to freedom brought me; and no means,<br> +For my deliverance apt, hast left untried.<br> +Thy liberal bounty still toward me keep.<br> +That, when my spirit, which thou madest whole,<br> +Is loosen'd from this body, it may find<br> +Favour with thee." So I my suit preferr'd:<br> +And she, so distant, as appear'd, look'd down,<br> +And smil'd; then tow'rds th' eternal fountain turn'd.<br> +<br> And thus the senior, holy and rever'd:<br> +"That thou at length mayst happily conclude<br> +Thy voyage (to which end I was dispatch'd,<br> +By supplication mov'd and holy love)<br> +Let thy upsoaring vision range, at large,<br> +This garden through: for so, by ray divine<br> +Kindled, thy ken a higher flight shall mount;<br> +And from heav'n's queen, whom fervent I adore,<br> +All gracious aid befriend us; for that I<br> +Am her own faithful Bernard." Like a wight,<br> +Who haply from Croatia wends to see<br> +Our Veronica, and the while 't is shown,<br> +Hangs over it with never-sated gaze,<br> +And, all that he hath heard revolving, saith<br> +Unto himself in thought: "And didst thou look<br> +E'en thus, O Jesus, my true Lord and God?<br> +And was this semblance thine?" So gaz'd I then<br> +Adoring; for the charity of him,<br> +Who musing, in the world that peace enjoy'd,<br> +Stood lively before me. "Child of grace!"<br> +Thus he began: "thou shalt not knowledge gain<br> +Of this glad being, if thine eyes are held<br> +Still in this depth below. But search around<br> +The circles, to the furthest, till thou spy<br> +Seated in state, the queen, that of this realm<br> +Is sovran." Straight mine eyes I rais'd; and bright,<br> +As, at the birth of morn, the eastern clime<br> +Above th' horizon, where the sun declines;<br> +To mine eyes, that upward, as from vale<br> +To mountain sped, at th' extreme bound, a part<br> +Excell'd in lustre all the front oppos'd.<br> +And as the glow burns ruddiest o'er the wave,<br> +That waits the sloping beam, which Phaeton<br> +Ill knew to guide, and on each part the light<br> +Diminish'd fades, intensest in the midst;<br> +So burn'd the peaceful oriflame, and slack'd<br> +On every side the living flame decay'd.<br> +And in that midst their sportive pennons wav'd<br> +Thousands of angels; in resplendence each<br> +Distinct, and quaint adornment. At their glee<br> +And carol, smil'd the Lovely One of heav'n,<br> +That joy was in the eyes of all the blest.<br> +<br> Had I a tongue in eloquence as rich,<br> +As is the colouring in fancy's loom,<br> +'T were all too poor to utter the least part<br> +Of that enchantment. When he saw mine eyes<br> +Intent on her, that charm'd him, Bernard gaz'd<br> +With so exceeding fondness, as infus'd<br> +Ardour into my breast, unfelt before.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="32"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXXII</h2> +<br> + +<p>Freely the sage, though wrapt in musings high,<br> +Assum'd the teacher's part, and mild began:<br> +"The wound, that Mary clos'd, she open'd first,<br> +Who sits so beautiful at Mary's feet.<br> +The third in order, underneath her, lo!<br> +Rachel with Beatrice. Sarah next,<br> +Judith, Rebecca, and the gleaner maid,<br> +Meek ancestress of him, who sang the songs<br> +Of sore repentance in his sorrowful mood.<br> +All, as I name them, down from deaf to leaf,<br> +Are in gradation throned on the rose.<br> +And from the seventh step, successively,<br> +Adown the breathing tresses of the flow'r<br> +Still doth the file of Hebrew dames proceed.<br> +For these are a partition wall, whereby<br> +The sacred stairs are sever'd, as the faith<br> +In Christ divides them. On this part, where blooms<br> +Each leaf in full maturity, are set<br> +Such as in Christ, or ere he came, believ'd.<br> +On th' other, where an intersected space<br> +Yet shows the semicircle void, abide<br> +All they, who look'd to Christ already come.<br> +And as our Lady on her glorious stool,<br> +And they who on their stools beneath her sit,<br> +This way distinction make: e'en so on his,<br> +The mighty Baptist that way marks the line<br> +(He who endur'd the desert and the pains<br> +Of martyrdom, and for two years of hell,<br> +Yet still continued holy), and beneath,<br> +Augustin, Francis, Benedict, and the rest,<br> +Thus far from round to round. So heav'n's decree<br> +Forecasts, this garden equally to fill.<br> +With faith in either view, past or to come,<br> +Learn too, that downward from the step, which cleaves<br> +Midway the twain compartments, none there are<br> +Who place obtain for merit of their own,<br> +But have through others' merit been advanc'd,<br> +On set conditions: spirits all releas'd,<br> +Ere for themselves they had the power to choose.<br> +And, if thou mark and listen to them well,<br> +Their childish looks and voice declare as much.<br> +<br> "Here, silent as thou art, I know thy doubt;<br> +And gladly will I loose the knot, wherein<br> +Thy subtle thoughts have bound thee. From this realm<br> +Excluded, chalice no entrance here may find,<br> +No more shall hunger, thirst, or sorrow can.<br> +A law immutable hath establish'd all;<br> +Nor is there aught thou seest, that doth not fit,<br> +Exactly, as the finger to the ring.<br> +It is not therefore without cause, that these,<br> +O'erspeedy comers to immortal life,<br> +Are different in their shares of excellence.<br> +Our Sovran Lord—that settleth this estate<br> +In love and in delight so absolute,<br> +That wish can dare no further—every soul,<br> +Created in his joyous sight to dwell,<br> +With grace at pleasure variously endows.<br> +And for a proof th' effect may well suffice.<br> +And 't is moreover most expressly mark'd<br> +In holy scripture, where the twins are said<br> +To, have struggled in the womb. Therefore, as grace<br> +Inweaves the coronet, so every brow<br> +Weareth its proper hue of orient light.<br> +And merely in respect to his prime gift,<br> +Not in reward of meritorious deed,<br> +Hath each his several degree assign'd.<br> +In early times with their own innocence<br> +More was not wanting, than the parents' faith,<br> +To save them: those first ages past, behoov'd<br> +That circumcision in the males should imp<br> +The flight of innocent wings: but since the day<br> +Of grace hath come, without baptismal rites<br> +In Christ accomplish'd, innocence herself<br> +Must linger yet below. Now raise thy view<br> +Unto the visage most resembling Christ:<br> +For, in her splendour only, shalt thou win<br> +The pow'r to look on him." Forthwith I saw<br> +Such floods of gladness on her visage shower'd,<br> +From holy spirits, winging that profound;<br> +That, whatsoever I had yet beheld,<br> +Had not so much suspended me with wonder,<br> +Or shown me such similitude of God.<br> +And he, who had to her descended, once,<br> +On earth, now hail'd in heav'n; and on pois'd wing.<br> +"Ave, Maria, Gratia Plena," sang:<br> +To whose sweet anthem all the blissful court,<br> +From all parts answ'ring, rang: that holier joy<br> +Brooded the deep serene. "Father rever'd:<br> +Who deign'st, for me, to quit the pleasant place,<br> +Wherein thou sittest, by eternal lot!<br> +Say, who that angel is, that with such glee<br> +Beholds our queen, and so enamour'd glows<br> +Of her high beauty, that all fire he seems."<br> +So I again resorted to the lore<br> +Of my wise teacher, he, whom Mary's charms<br> +Embellish'd, as the sun the morning star;<br> +Who thus in answer spake: "In him are summ'd,<br> +Whatever of buxomness and free delight<br> +May be in Spirit, or in angel, met:<br> +And so beseems: for that he bare the palm<br> +Down unto Mary, when the Son of God<br> +Vouchsaf'd to clothe him in terrestrial weeds.<br> +Now let thine eyes wait heedful on my words,<br> +And note thou of this just and pious realm<br> +The chiefest nobles. Those, highest in bliss,<br> +The twain, on each hand next our empress thron'd,<br> +Are as it were two roots unto this rose.<br> +He to the left, the parent, whose rash taste<br> +Proves bitter to his seed; and, on the right,<br> +That ancient father of the holy church,<br> +Into whose keeping Christ did give the keys<br> +Of this sweet flow'r: near whom behold the seer,<br> +That, ere he died, saw all the grievous times<br> +Of the fair bride, who with the lance and nails<br> +Was won. And, near unto the other, rests<br> +The leader, under whom on manna fed<br> +Th' ungrateful nation, fickle and perverse.<br> +On th' other part, facing to Peter, lo!<br> +Where Anna sits, so well content to look<br> +On her lov'd daughter, that with moveless eye<br> +She chants the loud hosanna: while, oppos'd<br> +To the first father of your mortal kind,<br> +Is Lucia, at whose hest thy lady sped,<br> +When on the edge of ruin clos'd thine eye.<br> +<br> "But (for the vision hasteneth so an end)<br> +Here break we off, as the good workman doth,<br> +That shapes the cloak according to the cloth:<br> +And to the primal love our ken shall rise;<br> +That thou mayst penetrate the brightness, far<br> +As sight can bear thee. Yet, alas! in sooth<br> +Beating thy pennons, thinking to advance,<br> +Thou backward fall'st. Grace then must first be gain'd;<br> +Her grace, whose might can help thee. Thou in prayer<br> +Seek her: and, with affection, whilst I sue,<br> +Attend, and yield me all thy heart." He said,<br> +And thus the saintly orison began.</p> + +<br><br> +<a name="33"></a> +<br><br> +<h2>CANTO XXXIII</h2> +<br> + +<p>"O virgin mother, daughter of thy Son,<br> +Created beings all in lowliness<br> +Surpassing, as in height, above them all,<br> +Term by th' eternal counsel pre-ordain'd,<br> +Ennobler of thy nature, so advanc'd<br> +In thee, that its great Maker did not scorn,<br> +Himself, in his own work enclos'd to dwell!<br> +For in thy womb rekindling shone the love<br> +Reveal'd, whose genial influence makes now<br> +This flower to germin in eternal peace!<br> +Here thou to us, of charity and love,<br> +Art, as the noon-day torch: and art, beneath,<br> +To mortal men, of hope a living spring.<br> +So mighty art thou, lady! and so great,<br> +That he who grace desireth, and comes not<br> +To thee for aidance, fain would have desire<br> +Fly without wings. Nor only him who asks,<br> +Thy bounty succours, but doth freely oft<br> +Forerun the asking. Whatsoe'er may be<br> +Of excellence in creature, pity mild,<br> +Relenting mercy, large munificence,<br> +Are all combin'd in thee. Here kneeleth one,<br> +Who of all spirits hath review'd the state,<br> +From the world's lowest gap unto this height.<br> +Suppliant to thee he kneels, imploring grace<br> +For virtue, yet more high to lift his ken<br> +Toward the bliss supreme. And I, who ne'er<br> +Coveted sight, more fondly, for myself,<br> +Than now for him, my prayers to thee prefer,<br> +(And pray they be not scant) that thou wouldst drive<br> +Each cloud of his mortality away;<br> +That on the sovran pleasure he may gaze.<br> +This also I entreat of thee, O queen!<br> +Who canst do what thou wilt! that in him thou<br> +Wouldst after all he hath beheld, preserve<br> +Affection sound, and human passions quell.<br> +Lo! Where, with Beatrice, many a saint<br> +Stretch their clasp'd hands, in furtherance of my suit!"<br> +<br> The eyes, that heav'n with love and awe regards,<br> +Fix'd on the suitor, witness'd, how benign<br> +She looks on pious pray'rs: then fasten'd they<br> +On th' everlasting light, wherein no eye<br> +Of creature, as may well be thought, so far<br> +Can travel inward. I, meanwhile, who drew<br> +Near to the limit, where all wishes end,<br> +The ardour of my wish (for so behooved),<br> +Ended within me. Beck'ning smil'd the sage,<br> +That I should look aloft: but, ere he bade,<br> +Already of myself aloft I look'd;<br> +For visual strength, refining more and more,<br> +Bare me into the ray authentical<br> +Of sovran light. Thenceforward, what I saw,<br> +Was not for words to speak, nor memory's self<br> +To stand against such outrage on her skill.<br> +As one, who from a dream awaken'd, straight,<br> +All he hath seen forgets; yet still retains<br> +Impression of the feeling in his dream;<br> +E'en such am I: for all the vision dies,<br> +As 't were, away; and yet the sense of sweet,<br> +That sprang from it, still trickles in my heart.<br> +Thus in the sun-thaw is the snow unseal'd;<br> +Thus in the winds on flitting leaves was lost<br> +The Sybil's sentence. O eternal beam!<br> +(Whose height what reach of mortal thought may soar?)<br> +Yield me again some little particle<br> +Of what thou then appearedst, give my tongue<br> +Power, but to leave one sparkle of thy glory,<br> +Unto the race to come, that shall not lose<br> +Thy triumph wholly, if thou waken aught<br> +Of memory in me, and endure to hear<br> +The record sound in this unequal strain.<br> +<br> Such keenness from the living ray I met,<br> +That, if mine eyes had turn'd away, methinks,<br> +I had been lost; but, so embolden'd, on<br> +I pass'd, as I remember, till my view<br> +Hover'd the brink of dread infinitude.<br> +<br> O grace! unenvying of thy boon! that gav'st<br> +Boldness to fix so earnestly my ken<br> +On th' everlasting splendour, that I look'd,<br> +While sight was unconsum'd, and, in that depth,<br> +Saw in one volume clasp'd of love, whatever<br> +The universe unfolds; all properties<br> +Of substance and of accident, beheld,<br> +Compounded, yet one individual light<br> +The whole. And of such bond methinks I saw<br> +The universal form: for that whenever<br> +I do but speak of it, my soul dilates<br> +Beyond her proper self; and, till I speak,<br> +One moment seems a longer lethargy,<br> +Than five-and-twenty ages had appear'd<br> +To that emprize, that first made Neptune wonder<br> +At Argo's shadow darkening on his flood.<br> +<br> With fixed heed, suspense and motionless,<br> +Wond'ring I gaz'd; and admiration still<br> +Was kindled, as I gaz'd. It may not be,<br> +That one, who looks upon that light, can turn<br> +To other object, willingly, his view.<br> +For all the good, that will may covet, there<br> +Is summ'd; and all, elsewhere defective found,<br> +Complete. My tongue shall utter now, no more<br> +E'en what remembrance keeps, than could the babe's<br> +That yet is moisten'd at his mother's breast.<br> +Not that the semblance of the living light<br> +Was chang'd (that ever as at first remain'd)<br> +But that my vision quickening, in that sole<br> +Appearance, still new miracles descry'd,<br> +And toil'd me with the change. In that abyss<br> +Of radiance, clear and lofty, seem'd methought,<br> +Three orbs of triple hue clipt in one bound:<br> +And, from another, one reflected seem'd,<br> +As rainbow is from rainbow: and the third<br> +Seem'd fire, breath'd equally from both. Oh speech<br> +How feeble and how faint art thou, to give<br> +Conception birth! Yet this to what I saw<br> +Is less than little. Oh eternal light!<br> +Sole in thyself that dwellst; and of thyself<br> +Sole understood, past, present, or to come!<br> +Thou smiledst; on that circling, which in thee<br> +Seem'd as reflected splendour, while I mus'd;<br> +For I therein, methought, in its own hue<br> +Beheld our image painted: steadfastly<br> +I therefore por'd upon the view. As one<br> +Who vers'd in geometric lore, would fain<br> +Measure the circle; and, though pondering long<br> +And deeply, that beginning, which he needs,<br> +Finds not; e'en such was I, intent to scan<br> +The novel wonder, and trace out the form,<br> +How to the circle fitted, and therein<br> +How plac'd: but the flight was not for my wing;<br> +Had not a flash darted athwart my mind,<br> +And in the spleen unfolded what it sought.<br> +<br> Here vigour fail'd the tow'ring fantasy:<br> +But yet the will roll'd onward, like a wheel<br> +In even motion, by the Love impell'd,<br> +That moves the sun in heav'n and all the stars.</p> + + + + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br><br> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Vision of Paradise, Part 3., by Dante Alighieri + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VISION OF PARADISE, PART 3. *** + +***** This file should be named 8798-h.htm or 8798-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/8/7/9/8798/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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H. F. Cary, Illustrated by Gustave Dore + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Vision of Paradise, Part 3. + Translated By The Rev. H. F. Cary, Illustrated by Gustave Dore + +Author: Dante Alighieri + +Release Date: August 2, 2004 [EBook #8798] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VISION OF PARADISE, PART 3. *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE VISION + +OF + +HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE + + +BY DANTE ALIGHIERI + + + +TRANSLATED BY + +THE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A. + + + +PARADISE + +Part 3 + + + +CANTO XXII + +Astounded, to the guardian of my steps +I turn'd me, like the chill, who always runs +Thither for succour, where he trusteth most, +And she was like the mother, who her son +Beholding pale and breathless, with her voice +Soothes him, and he is cheer'd; for thus she spake, +Soothing me: "Know'st not thou, thou art in heav'n? +And know'st not thou, whatever is in heav'n, +Is holy, and that nothing there is done +But is done zealously and well? Deem now, +What change in thee the song, and what my smile +had wrought, since thus the shout had pow'r to move thee. +In which couldst thou have understood their prayers, +The vengeance were already known to thee, +Which thou must witness ere thy mortal hour, +The sword of heav'n is not in haste to smite, +Nor yet doth linger, save unto his seeming, +Who in desire or fear doth look for it. +But elsewhere now l bid thee turn thy view; +So shalt thou many a famous spirit behold." +Mine eyes directing, as she will'd, I saw +A hundred little spheres, that fairer grew +By interchange of splendour. I remain'd, +As one, who fearful of o'er-much presuming, +Abates in him the keenness of desire, +Nor dares to question, when amid those pearls, +One largest and most lustrous onward drew, +That it might yield contentment to my wish; +And from within it these the sounds I heard. + +"If thou, like me, beheldst the charity +That burns amongst us, what thy mind conceives, +Were utter'd. But that, ere the lofty bound +Thou reach, expectance may not weary thee, +I will make answer even to the thought, +Which thou hast such respect of. In old days, +That mountain, at whose side Cassino rests, +Was on its height frequented by a race +Deceived and ill dispos'd: and I it was, +Who thither carried first the name of Him, +Who brought the soul-subliming truth to man. +And such a speeding grace shone over me, +That from their impious worship I reclaim'd +The dwellers round about, who with the world +Were in delusion lost. These other flames, +The spirits of men contemplative, were all +Enliven'd by that warmth, whose kindly force +Gives birth to flowers and fruits of holiness. +Here is Macarius; Romoaldo here: +And here my brethren, who their steps refrain'd +Within the cloisters, and held firm their heart." + +I answ'ring, thus; "Thy gentle words and kind, +And this the cheerful semblance, I behold +Not unobservant, beaming in ye all, +Have rais'd assurance in me, wakening it +Full-blossom'd in my bosom, as a rose +Before the sun, when the consummate flower +Has spread to utmost amplitude. Of thee +Therefore entreat I, father! to declare +If I may gain such favour, as to gaze +Upon thine image, by no covering veil'd." + +"Brother!" he thus rejoin'd, "in the last sphere +Expect completion of thy lofty aim, +For there on each desire completion waits, +And there on mine: where every aim is found +Perfect, entire, and for fulfillment ripe. +There all things are as they have ever been: +For space is none to bound, nor pole divides, +Our ladder reaches even to that clime, +And so at giddy distance mocks thy view. +Thither the Patriarch Jacob saw it stretch +Its topmost round, when it appear'd to him +With angels laden. But to mount it now +None lifts his foot from earth: and hence my rule +Is left a profitless stain upon the leaves; +The walls, for abbey rear'd, turned into dens, +The cowls to sacks choak'd up with musty meal. +Foul usury doth not more lift itself +Against God's pleasure, than that fruit which makes +The hearts of monks so wanton: for whate'er +Is in the church's keeping, all pertains. +To such, as sue for heav'n's sweet sake, and not +To those who in respect of kindred claim, +Or on more vile allowance. Mortal flesh +Is grown so dainty, good beginnings last not +From the oak's birth, unto the acorn's setting. +His convent Peter founded without gold +Or silver; I with pray'rs and fasting mine; +And Francis his in meek humility. +And if thou note the point, whence each proceeds, +Then look what it hath err'd to, thou shalt find +The white grown murky. Jordan was turn'd back; +And a less wonder, then the refluent sea, +May at God's pleasure work amendment here." + +So saying, to his assembly back he drew: +And they together cluster'd into one, +Then all roll'd upward like an eddying wind. + +The sweet dame beckon'd me to follow them: +And, by that influence only, so prevail'd +Over my nature, that no natural motion, +Ascending or descending here below, +Had, as I mounted, with my pennon vied. + +So, reader, as my hope is to return +Unto the holy triumph, for the which +I ofttimes wail my sins, and smite my breast, +Thou hadst been longer drawing out and thrusting +Thy finger in the fire, than I was, ere +The sign, that followeth Taurus, I beheld, +And enter'd its precinct. O glorious stars! +O light impregnate with exceeding virtue! +To whom whate'er of genius lifteth me +Above the vulgar, grateful I refer; +With ye the parent of all mortal life +Arose and set, when I did first inhale +The Tuscan air; and afterward, when grace +Vouchsaf'd me entrance to the lofty wheel +That in its orb impels ye, fate decreed +My passage at your clime. To you my soul +Devoutly sighs, for virtue even now +To meet the hard emprize that draws me on. + +"Thou art so near the sum of blessedness," +Said Beatrice, "that behooves thy ken +Be vigilant and clear. And, to this end, +Or even thou advance thee further, hence +Look downward, and contemplate, what a world +Already stretched under our feet there lies: +So as thy heart may, in its blithest mood, +Present itself to the triumphal throng, +Which through the' etherial concave comes rejoicing." + +I straight obey'd; and with mine eye return'd +Through all the seven spheres, and saw this globe +So pitiful of semblance, that perforce +It moved my smiles: and him in truth I hold +For wisest, who esteems it least: whose thoughts +Elsewhere are fix'd, him worthiest call and best. +I saw the daughter of Latona shine +Without the shadow, whereof late I deem'd +That dense and rare were cause. Here I sustain'd +The visage, Hyperion! of thy sun; +And mark'd, how near him with their circle, round +Move Maia and Dione; here discern'd +Jove's tempering 'twixt his sire and son; and hence +Their changes and their various aspects +Distinctly scann'd. Nor might I not descry +Of all the seven, how bulky each, how swift; +Nor of their several distances not learn. +This petty area (o'er the which we stride +So fiercely), as along the eternal twins +I wound my way, appear'd before me all, +Forth from the havens stretch'd unto the hills. +Then to the beauteous eyes mine eyes return'd. + + + + +CANTO XXIII + +E'en as the bird, who midst the leafy bower +Has, in her nest, sat darkling through the night, +With her sweet brood, impatient to descry +Their wished looks, and to bring home their food, +In the fond quest unconscious of her toil: +She, of the time prevenient, on the spray, +That overhangs their couch, with wakeful gaze +Expects the sun; nor ever, till the dawn, +Removeth from the east her eager ken; +So stood the dame erect, and bent her glance +Wistfully on that region, where the sun +Abateth most his speed; that, seeing her +Suspense and wand'ring, I became as one, +In whom desire is waken'd, and the hope +Of somewhat new to come fills with delight. + +Short space ensued; I was not held, I say, +Long in expectance, when I saw the heav'n +Wax more and more resplendent; and, "Behold," +Cried Beatrice, "the triumphal hosts +Of Christ, and all the harvest reap'd at length +Of thy ascending up these spheres." Meseem'd, +That, while she spake her image all did burn, +And in her eyes such fullness was of joy, +And I am fain to pass unconstrued by. + +As in the calm full moon, when Trivia smiles, +In peerless beauty, 'mid th' eternal nympus, +That paint through all its gulfs the blue profound +In bright pre-eminence so saw I there, +O'er million lamps a sun, from whom all drew +Their radiance as from ours the starry train: +And through the living light so lustrous glow'd +The substance, that my ken endur'd it not. + +O Beatrice! sweet and precious guide! +Who cheer'd me with her comfortable words! +"Against the virtue, that o'erpow'reth thee, +Avails not to resist. Here is the might, +And here the wisdom, which did open lay +The path, that had been yearned for so long, +Betwixt the heav'n and earth." Like to the fire, +That, in a cloud imprison'd doth break out +Expansive, so that from its womb enlarg'd, +It falleth against nature to the ground; +Thus in that heav'nly banqueting my soul +Outgrew herself; and, in the transport lost. +Holds now remembrance none of what she was. + +"Ope thou thine eyes, and mark me: thou hast seen +Things, that empower thee to sustain my smile." + +I was as one, when a forgotten dream +Doth come across him, and he strives in vain +To shape it in his fantasy again, +Whenas that gracious boon was proffer'd me, +Which never may be cancel'd from the book, +Wherein the past is written. Now were all +Those tongues to sound, that have on sweetest milk +Of Polyhymnia and her sisters fed +And fatten'd, not with all their help to boot, +Unto the thousandth parcel of the truth, +My song might shadow forth that saintly smile, +flow merely in her saintly looks it wrought. +And with such figuring of Paradise +The sacred strain must leap, like one, that meets +A sudden interruption to his road. +But he, who thinks how ponderous the theme, +And that 't is lain upon a mortal shoulder, +May pardon, if it tremble with the burden. +The track, our ventrous keel must furrow, brooks +No unribb'd pinnace, no self-sparing pilot. + +"Why doth my face," said Beatrice, "thus +Enamour thee, as that thou dost not turn +Unto the beautiful garden, blossoming +Beneath the rays of Christ? Here is the rose, +Wherein the word divine was made incarnate; +And here the lilies, by whose odour known +The way of life was follow'd." Prompt I heard +Her bidding, and encounter once again +The strife of aching vision. As erewhile, +Through glance of sunlight, stream'd through broken cloud, +Mine eyes a flower-besprinkled mead have seen, +Though veil'd themselves in shade; so saw I there +Legions of splendours, on whom burning rays +Shed lightnings from above, yet saw I not +The fountain whence they flow'd. O gracious virtue! +Thou, whose broad stamp is on them, higher up +Thou didst exalt thy glory to give room +To my o'erlabour'd sight: when at the name +Of that fair flower, whom duly I invoke +Both morn and eve, my soul, with all her might +Collected, on the goodliest ardour fix'd. +And, as the bright dimensions of the star +In heav'n excelling, as once here on earth +Were, in my eyeballs lively portray'd, +Lo! from within the sky a cresset fell, +Circling in fashion of a diadem, +And girt the star, and hov'ring round it wheel'd. + +Whatever melody sounds sweetest here, +And draws the spirit most unto itself, +Might seem a rent cloud when it grates the thunder, +Compar'd unto the sounding of that lyre, +Wherewith the goodliest sapphire, that inlays +The floor of heav'n, was crown'd. "Angelic Love +I am, who thus with hov'ring flight enwheel +The lofty rapture from that womb inspir'd, +Where our desire did dwell: and round thee so, +Lady of Heav'n! will hover; long as thou +Thy Son shalt follow, and diviner joy +Shall from thy presence gild the highest sphere." + +Such close was to the circling melody: +And, as it ended, all the other lights +Took up the strain, and echoed Mary's name. + +The robe, that with its regal folds enwraps +The world, and with the nearer breath of God +Doth burn and quiver, held so far retir'd +Its inner hem and skirting over us, +That yet no glimmer of its majesty +Had stream'd unto me: therefore were mine eyes +Unequal to pursue the crowned flame, +That rose and sought its natal seed of fire; +And like to babe, that stretches forth its arms +For very eagerness towards the breast, +After the milk is taken; so outstretch'd +Their wavy summits all the fervent band, +Through zealous love to Mary: then in view +There halted, and "Regina Coeli" sang +So sweetly, the delight hath left me never. + +O what o'erflowing plenty is up-pil'd +In those rich-laden coffers, which below +Sow'd the good seed, whose harvest now they keep. + +Here are the treasures tasted, that with tears +Were in the Babylonian exile won, +When gold had fail'd them. Here in synod high +Of ancient council with the new conven'd, +Under the Son of Mary and of God, +Victorious he his mighty triumph holds, +To whom the keys of glory were assign'd. + + + + +CANTO XXIV + +"O ye! in chosen fellowship advanc'd +To the great supper of the blessed Lamb, +Whereon who feeds hath every wish fulfill'd! +If to this man through God's grace be vouchsaf'd +Foretaste of that, which from your table falls, +Or ever death his fated term prescribe; +Be ye not heedless of his urgent will; +But may some influence of your sacred dews +Sprinkle him. Of the fount ye alway drink, +Whence flows what most he craves." Beatrice spake, +And the rejoicing spirits, like to spheres +On firm-set poles revolving, trail'd a blaze +Of comet splendour; and as wheels, that wind +Their circles in the horologe, so work +The stated rounds, that to th' observant eye +The first seems still, and, as it flew, the last; +E'en thus their carols weaving variously, +They by the measure pac'd, or swift, or slow, +Made me to rate the riches of their joy. + +From that, which I did note in beauty most +Excelling, saw I issue forth a flame +So bright, as none was left more goodly there. +Round Beatrice thrice it wheel'd about, +With so divine a song, that fancy's ear +Records it not; and the pen passeth on +And leaves a blank: for that our mortal speech, +Nor e'en the inward shaping of the brain, +Hath colours fine enough to trace such folds. + +"O saintly sister mine! thy prayer devout +Is with so vehement affection urg'd, +Thou dost unbind me from that beauteous sphere." + +Such were the accents towards my lady breath'd +From that blest ardour, soon as it was stay'd: +To whom she thus: "O everlasting light +Of him, within whose mighty grasp our Lord +Did leave the keys, which of this wondrous bliss +He bare below! tent this man, as thou wilt, +With lighter probe or deep, touching the faith, +By the which thou didst on the billows walk. +If he in love, in hope, and in belief, +Be steadfast, is not hid from thee: for thou +Hast there thy ken, where all things are beheld +In liveliest portraiture. But since true faith +Has peopled this fair realm with citizens, +Meet is, that to exalt its glory more, +Thou in his audience shouldst thereof discourse." + +Like to the bachelor, who arms himself, +And speaks not, till the master have propos'd +The question, to approve, and not to end it; +So I, in silence, arm'd me, while she spake, +Summoning up each argument to aid; +As was behooveful for such questioner, +And such profession: "As good Christian ought, +Declare thee, What is faith?" Whereat I rais'd +My forehead to the light, whence this had breath'd, +Then turn'd to Beatrice, and in her looks +Approval met, that from their inmost fount +I should unlock the waters. "May the grace, +That giveth me the captain of the church +For confessor," said I, "vouchsafe to me +Apt utterance for my thoughts!" then added: "Sire! +E'en as set down by the unerring style +Of thy dear brother, who with thee conspir'd +To bring Rome in unto the way of life, +Faith of things hop'd is substance, and the proof +Of things not seen; and herein doth consist +Methinks its essence,"--"Rightly hast thou deem'd," +Was answer'd: "if thou well discern, why first +He hath defin'd it, substance, and then proof." + +"The deep things," I replied, "which here I scan +Distinctly, are below from mortal eye +So hidden, they have in belief alone +Their being, on which credence hope sublime +Is built; and therefore substance it intends. +And inasmuch as we must needs infer +From such belief our reasoning, all respect +To other view excluded, hence of proof +Th' intention is deriv'd." Forthwith I heard: +"If thus, whate'er by learning men attain, +Were understood, the sophist would want room +To exercise his wit." So breath'd the flame +Of love: then added: "Current is the coin +Thou utter'st, both in weight and in alloy. +But tell me, if thou hast it in thy purse." + +"Even so glittering and so round," said I, +"I not a whit misdoubt of its assay." + +Next issued from the deep imbosom'd splendour: +"Say, whence the costly jewel, on the which +Is founded every virtue, came to thee." +"The flood," I answer'd, "from the Spirit of God +Rain'd down upon the ancient bond and new,-- +Here is the reas'ning, that convinceth me +So feelingly, each argument beside +Seems blunt and forceless in comparison." +Then heard I: "Wherefore holdest thou that each, +The elder proposition and the new, +Which so persuade thee, are the voice of heav'n?" + +"The works, that follow'd, evidence their truth;" +I answer'd: "Nature did not make for these +The iron hot, or on her anvil mould them." +"Who voucheth to thee of the works themselves," +Was the reply, "that they in very deed +Are that they purport? None hath sworn so to thee." + +"That all the world," said I, "should have been turn'd +To Christian, and no miracle been wrought, +Would in itself be such a miracle, +The rest were not an hundredth part so great. +E'en thou wentst forth in poverty and hunger +To set the goodly plant, that from the vine, +It once was, now is grown unsightly bramble." +That ended, through the high celestial court +Resounded all the spheres. "Praise we one God!" +In song of most unearthly melody. +And when that Worthy thus, from branch to branch, +Examining, had led me, that we now +Approach'd the topmost bough, he straight resum'd; +"The grace, that holds sweet dalliance with thy soul, +So far discreetly hath thy lips unclos'd +That, whatsoe'er has past them, I commend. +Behooves thee to express, what thou believ'st, +The next, and whereon thy belief hath grown." + +"O saintly sire and spirit!" I began, +"Who seest that, which thou didst so believe, +As to outstrip feet younger than thine own, +Toward the sepulchre? thy will is here, +That I the tenour of my creed unfold; +And thou the cause of it hast likewise ask'd. +And I reply: I in one God believe, +One sole eternal Godhead, of whose love +All heav'n is mov'd, himself unmov'd the while. +Nor demonstration physical alone, +Or more intelligential and abstruse, +Persuades me to this faith; but from that truth +It cometh to me rather, which is shed +Through Moses, the rapt Prophets, and the Psalms. +The Gospel, and that ye yourselves did write, +When ye were gifted of the Holy Ghost. +In three eternal Persons I believe, +Essence threefold and one, mysterious league +Of union absolute, which, many a time, +The word of gospel lore upon my mind +Imprints: and from this germ, this firstling spark, +The lively flame dilates, and like heav'n's star +Doth glitter in me." As the master hears, +Well pleas'd, and then enfoldeth in his arms +The servant, who hath joyful tidings brought, +And having told the errand keeps his peace; +Thus benediction uttering with song +Soon as my peace I held, compass'd me thrice +The apostolic radiance, whose behest +Had op'd lips; so well their answer pleas'd. + + + + +CANTO XXV + +If e'er the sacred poem that hath made +Both heav'n and earth copartners in its toil, +And with lean abstinence, through many a year, +Faded my brow, be destin'd to prevail +Over the cruelty, which bars me forth +Of the fair sheep-fold, where a sleeping lamb +The wolves set on and fain had worried me, +With other voice and fleece of other grain +I shall forthwith return, and, standing up +At my baptismal font, shall claim the wreath +Due to the poet's temples: for I there +First enter'd on the faith which maketh souls +Acceptable to God: and, for its sake, +Peter had then circled my forehead thus. + +Next from the squadron, whence had issued forth +The first fruit of Christ's vicars on the earth, +Toward us mov'd a light, at view whereof +My Lady, full of gladness, spake to me: +"Lo! lo! behold the peer of mickle might, +That makes Falicia throng'd with visitants!" + +As when the ring-dove by his mate alights, +In circles each about the other wheels, +And murmuring cooes his fondness; thus saw I +One, of the other great and glorious prince, +With kindly greeting hail'd, extolling both +Their heavenly banqueting; but when an end +Was to their gratulation, silent, each, +Before me sat they down, so burning bright, +I could not look upon them. Smiling then, +Beatrice spake: "O life in glory shrin'd!" +Who didst the largess of our kingly court +Set down with faithful pen! let now thy voice +Of hope the praises in this height resound. +For thou, who figur'st them in shapes, as clear, +As Jesus stood before thee, well can'st speak them." + +"Lift up thy head, and be thou strong in trust: +For that, which hither from the mortal world +Arriveth, must be ripen'd in our beam." + +Such cheering accents from the second flame +Assur'd me; and mine eyes I lifted up +Unto the mountains that had bow'd them late +With over-heavy burden. "Sith our Liege +Wills of his grace that thou, or ere thy death, +In the most secret council, with his lords +Shouldst be confronted, so that having view'd +The glories of our court, thou mayst therewith +Thyself, and all who hear, invigorate +With hope, that leads to blissful end; declare, +What is that hope, how it doth flourish in thee, +And whence thou hadst it?" Thus proceeding still, +The second light: and she, whose gentle love +My soaring pennons in that lofty flight +Escorted, thus preventing me, rejoin'd: +Among her sons, not one more full of hope, +Hath the church militant: so 't is of him +Recorded in the sun, whose liberal orb +Enlighteneth all our tribe: and ere his term +Of warfare, hence permitted he is come, +From Egypt to Jerusalem, to see. +The other points, both which thou hast inquir'd, +Not for more knowledge, but that he may tell +How dear thou holdst the virtue, these to him +Leave I; for he may answer thee with ease, +And without boasting, so God give him grace." +Like to the scholar, practis'd in his task, +Who, willing to give proof of diligence, +Seconds his teacher gladly, "Hope," said I, +"Is of the joy to come a sure expectance, +Th' effect of grace divine and merit preceding. +This light from many a star visits my heart, +But flow'd to me the first from him, who sang +The songs of the Supreme, himself supreme +Among his tuneful brethren. 'Let all hope +In thee,' so speak his anthem, 'who have known +Thy name;' and with my faith who know not that? +From thee, the next, distilling from his spring, +In thine epistle, fell on me the drops +So plenteously, that I on others shower +The influence of their dew." Whileas I spake, +A lamping, as of quick and vollied lightning, +Within the bosom of that mighty sheen, +Play'd tremulous; then forth these accents breath'd: +"Love for the virtue which attended me +E'en to the palm, and issuing from the field, +Glows vigorous yet within me, and inspires +To ask of thee, whom also it delights; +What promise thou from hope in chief dost win." + +"Both scriptures, new and ancient," I reply'd; +"Propose the mark (which even now I view) +For souls belov'd of God. Isaias saith, +That, in their own land, each one must be clad +In twofold vesture; and their proper lands this delicious life. +In terms more full, +And clearer far, thy brother hath set forth +This revelation to us, where he tells +Of the white raiment destin'd to the saints." +And, as the words were ending, from above, +"They hope in thee," first heard we cried: whereto +Answer'd the carols all. Amidst them next, +A light of so clear amplitude emerg'd, +That winter's month were but a single day, +Were such a crystal in the Cancer's sign. + +Like as a virgin riseth up, and goes, +And enters on the mazes of the dance, +Though gay, yet innocent of worse intent, +Than to do fitting honour to the bride; +So I beheld the new effulgence come +Unto the other two, who in a ring +Wheel'd, as became their rapture. In the dance +And in the song it mingled. And the dame +Held on them fix'd her looks: e'en as the spouse +Silent and moveless. "This is he, who lay +Upon the bosom of our pelican: +This he, into whose keeping from the cross +The mighty charge was given." Thus she spake, +Yet therefore naught the more remov'd her Sight +From marking them, or ere her words began, +Or when they clos'd. As he, who looks intent, +And strives with searching ken, how he may see +The sun in his eclipse, and, through desire +Of seeing, loseth power of sight: so I +Peer'd on that last resplendence, while I heard: +"Why dazzlest thou thine eyes in seeking that, +Which here abides not? Earth my body is, +In earth: and shall be, with the rest, so long, +As till our number equal the decree +Of the Most High. The two that have ascended, +In this our blessed cloister, shine alone +With the two garments. So report below." + +As when, for ease of labour, or to shun +Suspected peril at a whistle's breath, +The oars, erewhile dash'd frequent in the wave, +All rest; the flamy circle at that voice +So rested, and the mingling sound was still, +Which from the trinal band soft-breathing rose. +I turn'd, but ah! how trembled in my thought, +When, looking at my side again to see +Beatrice, I descried her not, although +Not distant, on the happy coast she stood. + + + + +CANTO XXVI + +With dazzled eyes, whilst wond'ring I remain'd, +Forth of the beamy flame which dazzled me, +Issued a breath, that in attention mute +Detain'd me; and these words it spake: "'T were well, +That, long as till thy vision, on my form +O'erspent, regain its virtue, with discourse +Thou compensate the brief delay. Say then, +Beginning, to what point thy soul aspires: + +"And meanwhile rest assur'd, that sight in thee +Is but o'erpowered a space, not wholly quench'd: +Since thy fair guide and lovely, in her look +Hath potency, the like to that which dwelt +In Ananias' hand." I answering thus: +"Be to mine eyes the remedy or late +Or early, at her pleasure; for they were +The gates, at which she enter'd, and did light +Her never dying fire. My wishes here +Are centered; in this palace is the weal, +That Alpha and Omega, is to all +The lessons love can read me." Yet again +The voice which had dispers'd my fear, when daz'd +With that excess, to converse urg'd, and spake: +"Behooves thee sift more narrowly thy terms, +And say, who level'd at this scope thy bow." + +"Philosophy," said I, ''hath arguments, +And this place hath authority enough +'T' imprint in me such love: for, of constraint, +Good, inasmuch as we perceive the good, +Kindles our love, and in degree the more, +As it comprises more of goodness in 't. +The essence then, where such advantage is, +That each good, found without it, is naught else +But of his light the beam, must needs attract +The soul of each one, loving, who the truth +Discerns, on which this proof is built. Such truth +Learn I from him, who shows me the first love +Of all intelligential substances +Eternal: from his voice I learn, whose word +Is truth, that of himself to Moses saith, +'I will make all my good before thee pass.' +Lastly from thee I learn, who chief proclaim'st, +E'en at the outset of thy heralding, +In mortal ears the mystery of heav'n." + +"Through human wisdom, and th' authority +Therewith agreeing," heard I answer'd, "keep +The choicest of thy love for God. But say, +If thou yet other cords within thee feel'st +That draw thee towards him; so that thou report +How many are the fangs, with which this love +Is grappled to thy soul." I did not miss, +To what intent the eagle of our Lord +Had pointed his demand; yea noted well +Th' avowal, which he led to; and resum'd: +"All grappling bonds, that knit the heart to God, +Confederate to make fast our clarity. +The being of the world, and mine own being, +The death which he endur'd that I should live, +And that, which all the faithful hope, as I do, +To the foremention'd lively knowledge join'd, +Have from the sea of ill love sav'd my bark, +And on the coast secur'd it of the right. +As for the leaves, that in the garden bloom, +My love for them is great, as is the good +Dealt by th' eternal hand, that tends them all." + +I ended, and therewith a song most sweet +Rang through the spheres; and "Holy, holy, holy," +Accordant with the rest my lady sang. +And as a sleep is broken and dispers'd +Through sharp encounter of the nimble light, +With the eye's spirit running forth to meet +The ray, from membrane on to the membrane urg'd; +And the upstartled wight loathes that he sees; +So, at his sudden waking, he misdeems +Of all around him, till assurance waits +On better judgment: thus the saintly came +Drove from before mine eyes the motes away, +With the resplendence of her own, that cast +Their brightness downward, thousand miles below. +Whence I my vision, clearer shall before, +Recover'd; and, well nigh astounded, ask'd +Of a fourth light, that now with us I saw. + +And Beatrice: "The first diving soul, +That ever the first virtue fram'd, admires +Within these rays his Maker." Like the leaf, +That bows its lithe top till the blast is blown; +By its own virtue rear'd then stands aloof; +So I, the whilst she said, awe-stricken bow'd. +Then eagerness to speak embolden'd me; +And I began: "O fruit! that wast alone +Mature, when first engender'd! Ancient father! +That doubly seest in every wedded bride +Thy daughter by affinity and blood! +Devoutly as I may, I pray thee hold +Converse with me: my will thou seest; and I, +More speedily to hear thee, tell it not." + +It chanceth oft some animal bewrays, +Through the sleek cov'ring of his furry coat. +The fondness, that stirs in him and conforms +His outside seeming to the cheer within: +And in like guise was Adam's spirit mov'd +To joyous mood, that through the covering shone, +Transparent, when to pleasure me it spake: +"No need thy will be told, which I untold +Better discern, than thou whatever thing +Thou holdst most certain: for that will I see +In Him, who is truth's mirror, and Himself +Parhelion unto all things, and naught else +To him. This wouldst thou hear; how long since God +Plac'd me high garden, from whose hounds +She led me up in this ladder, steep and long; +What space endur'd my season of delight; +Whence truly sprang the wrath that banish'd me; +And what the language, which I spake and fram'd +Not that I tasted of the tree, my son, +Was in itself the cause of that exile, +But only my transgressing of the mark +Assign'd me. There, whence at thy lady's hest +The Mantuan mov'd him, still was I debarr'd +This council, till the sun had made complete, +Four thousand and three hundred rounds and twice, +His annual journey; and, through every light +In his broad pathway, saw I him return, +Thousand save sev'nty times, the whilst I dwelt +Upon the earth. The language I did use +Was worn away, or ever Nimrod's race +Their unaccomplishable work began. +For naught, that man inclines to, ere was lasting, +Left by his reason free, and variable, +As is the sky that sways him. That he speaks, +Is nature's prompting: whether thus or thus, +She leaves to you, as ye do most affect it. +Ere I descended into hell's abyss, +El was the name on earth of the Chief Good, +Whose joy enfolds me: Eli then 't was call'd +And so beseemeth: for, in mortals, use +Is as the leaf upon the bough; that goes, +And other comes instead. Upon the mount +Most high above the waters, all my life, +Both innocent and guilty, did but reach +From the first hour, to that which cometh next +(As the sun changes quarter), to the sixth." + + + + +CANTO XXVII + +Then "Glory to the Father, to the Son, +And to the Holy Spirit," rang aloud +Throughout all Paradise, that with the song +My spirit reel'd, so passing sweet the strain: +And what I saw was equal ecstasy; +One universal smile it seem'd of all things, +Joy past compare, gladness unutterable, +Imperishable life of peace and love, +Exhaustless riches and unmeasur'd bliss. + +Before mine eyes stood the four torches lit; +And that, which first had come, began to wax +In brightness, and in semblance such became, +As Jove might be, if he and Mars were birds, +And interchang'd their plumes. Silence ensued, +Through the blest quire, by Him, who here appoints +Vicissitude of ministry, enjoin'd; +When thus I heard: "Wonder not, if my hue +Be chang'd; for, while I speak, these shalt thou see +All in like manner change with me. My place +He who usurps on earth (my place, ay, mine, +Which in the presence of the Son of God +Is void), the same hath made my cemetery +A common sewer of puddle and of blood: +The more below his triumph, who from hence +Malignant fell." Such colour, as the sun, +At eve or morning, paints an adverse cloud, +Then saw I sprinkled over all the sky. +And as th' unblemish'd dame, who in herself +Secure of censure, yet at bare report +Of other's failing, shrinks with maiden fear; +So Beatrice in her semblance chang'd: +And such eclipse in heav'n methinks was seen, +When the Most Holy suffer'd. Then the words +Proceeded, with voice, alter'd from itself +So clean, the semblance did not alter more. +"Not to this end was Christ's spouse with my blood, +With that of Linus, and of Cletus fed: +That she might serve for purchase of base gold: +But for the purchase of this happy life +Did Sextus, Pius, and Callixtus bleed, +And Urban, they, whose doom was not without +Much weeping seal'd. No purpose was of our +That on the right hand of our successors +Part of the Christian people should be set, +And part upon their left; nor that the keys, +Which were vouchsaf'd me, should for ensign serve +Unto the banners, that do levy war +On the baptiz'd: nor I, for sigil-mark +Set upon sold and lying privileges; +Which makes me oft to bicker and turn red. +In shepherd's clothing greedy wolves below +Range wide o'er all the pastures. Arm of God! +Why longer sleepst thou? Caorsines and Gascona +Prepare to quaff our blood. O good beginning +To what a vile conclusion must thou stoop! +But the high providence, which did defend +Through Scipio the world's glory unto Rome, +Will not delay its succour: and thou, son, +Who through thy mortal weight shall yet again +Return below, open thy lips, nor hide +What is by me not hidden." As a Hood +Of frozen vapours streams adown the air, +What time the she-goat with her skiey horn +Touches the sun; so saw I there stream wide +The vapours, who with us had linger'd late +And with glad triumph deck th' ethereal cope. +Onward my sight their semblances pursued; +So far pursued, as till the space between +From its reach sever'd them: whereat the guide +Celestial, marking me no more intent +On upward gazing, said, "Look down and see +What circuit thou hast compass'd." From the hour +When I before had cast my view beneath, +All the first region overpast I saw, +Which from the midmost to the bound'ry winds; +That onward thence from Gades I beheld +The unwise passage of Laertes' son, +And hitherward the shore, where thou, Europa! +Mad'st thee a joyful burden: and yet more +Of this dim spot had seen, but that the sun, +A constellation off and more, had ta'en +His progress in the zodiac underneath. + +Then by the spirit, that doth never leave +Its amorous dalliance with my lady's looks, +Back with redoubled ardour were mine eyes +Led unto her: and from her radiant smiles, +Whenas I turn'd me, pleasure so divine +Did lighten on me, that whatever bait +Or art or nature in the human flesh, +Or in its limn'd resemblance, can combine +Through greedy eyes to take the soul withal, +Were to her beauty nothing. Its boon influence +From the fair nest of Leda rapt me forth, +And wafted on into the swiftest heav'n. + +What place for entrance Beatrice chose, +I may not say, so uniform was all, +Liveliest and loftiest. She my secret wish +Divin'd; and with such gladness, that God's love +Seem'd from her visage shining, thus began: +"Here is the goal, whence motion on his race +Starts; motionless the centre, and the rest +All mov'd around. Except the soul divine, +Place in this heav'n is none, the soul divine, +Wherein the love, which ruleth o'er its orb, +Is kindled, and the virtue that it sheds; +One circle, light and love, enclasping it, +As this doth clasp the others; and to Him, +Who draws the bound, its limit only known. +Measur'd itself by none, it doth divide +Motion to all, counted unto them forth, +As by the fifth or half ye count forth ten. +The vase, wherein time's roots are plung'd, thou seest, +Look elsewhere for the leaves. O mortal lust! +That canst not lift thy head above the waves +Which whelm and sink thee down! The will in man +Bears goodly blossoms; but its ruddy promise +Is, by the dripping of perpetual rain, +Made mere abortion: faith and innocence +Are met with but in babes, each taking leave +Ere cheeks with down are sprinkled; he, that fasts, +While yet a stammerer, with his tongue let loose +Gluts every food alike in every moon. +One yet a babbler, loves and listens to +His mother; but no sooner hath free use +Of speech, than he doth wish her in her grave. +So suddenly doth the fair child of him, +Whose welcome is the morn and eve his parting, +To negro blackness change her virgin white. + +"Thou, to abate thy wonder, note that none +Bears rule in earth, and its frail family +Are therefore wand'rers. Yet before the date, +When through the hundredth in his reck'ning drops +Pale January must be shor'd aside +From winter's calendar, these heav'nly spheres +Shall roar so loud, that fortune shall be fain +To turn the poop, where she hath now the prow; +So that the fleet run onward; and true fruit, +Expected long, shall crown at last the bloom!" + + + + +CANTO XXVII + +So she who doth imparadise my soul, +Had drawn the veil from off our pleasant life, +And bar'd the truth of poor mortality; +When lo! as one who, in a mirror, spies +The shining of a flambeau at his back, +Lit sudden ore he deem of its approach, +And turneth to resolve him, if the glass +Have told him true, and sees the record faithful +As note is to its metre; even thus, +I well remember, did befall to me, +Looking upon the beauteous eyes, whence love +Had made the leash to take me. As I turn'd; +And that, which, in their circles, none who spies, +Can miss of, in itself apparent, struck +On mine; a point I saw, that darted light +So sharp, no lid, unclosing, may bear up +Against its keenness. The least star we view +From hence, had seem'd a moon, set by its side, +As star by side of star. And so far off, +Perchance, as is the halo from the light +Which paints it, when most dense the vapour spreads, +There wheel'd about the point a circle of fire, +More rapid than the motion, which first girds +The world. Then, circle after circle, round +Enring'd each other; till the seventh reach'd +Circumference so ample, that its bow, +Within the span of Juno's messenger, +lied scarce been held entire. Beyond the sev'nth, +Follow'd yet other two. And every one, +As more in number distant from the first, +Was tardier in motion; and that glow'd +With flame most pure, that to the sparkle' of truth +Was nearest, as partaking most, methinks, +Of its reality. The guide belov'd +Saw me in anxious thought suspense, and spake: +"Heav'n, and all nature, hangs upon that point. +The circle thereto most conjoin'd observe; +And know, that by intenser love its course +Is to this swiftness wing'd." To whom I thus: +"It were enough; nor should I further seek, +Had I but witness'd order, in the world +Appointed, such as in these wheels is seen. +But in the sensible world such diff'rence is, +That is each round shows more divinity, +As each is wider from the centre. Hence, +If in this wondrous and angelic temple, +That hath for confine only light and love, +My wish may have completion I must know, +Wherefore such disagreement is between +Th' exemplar and its copy: for myself, +Contemplating, I fail to pierce the cause." + +"It is no marvel, if thy fingers foil'd +Do leave the knot untied: so hard 't is grown +For want of tenting." Thus she said: "But take," +She added, "if thou wish thy cure, my words, +And entertain them subtly. Every orb +Corporeal, doth proportion its extent +Unto the virtue through its parts diffus'd. +The greater blessedness preserves the more. +The greater is the body (if all parts +Share equally) the more is to preserve. +Therefore the circle, whose swift course enwheels +The universal frame answers to that, +Which is supreme in knowledge and in love +Thus by the virtue, not the seeming, breadth +Of substance, measure, thou shalt see the heav'ns, +Each to the' intelligence that ruleth it, +Greater to more, and smaller unto less, +Suited in strict and wondrous harmony." + +As when the sturdy north blows from his cheek +A blast, that scours the sky, forthwith our air, +Clear'd of the rack, that hung on it before, +Glitters; and, With his beauties all unveil'd, +The firmament looks forth serene, and smiles; +Such was my cheer, when Beatrice drove +With clear reply the shadows back, and truth +Was manifested, as a star in heaven. +And when the words were ended, not unlike +To iron in the furnace, every cirque +Ebullient shot forth scintillating fires: +And every sparkle shivering to new blaze, +In number did outmillion the account +Reduplicate upon the chequer'd board. +Then heard I echoing on from choir to choir, +"Hosanna," to the fixed point, that holds, +And shall for ever hold them to their place, +From everlasting, irremovable. + +Musing awhile I stood: and she, who saw +by inward meditations, thus began: +"In the first circles, they, whom thou beheldst, +Are seraphim and cherubim. Thus swift +Follow their hoops, in likeness to the point, +Near as they can, approaching; and they can +The more, the loftier their vision. Those, +That round them fleet, gazing the Godhead next, +Are thrones; in whom the first trine ends. And all +Are blessed, even as their sight descends +Deeper into the truth, wherein rest is +For every mind. Thus happiness hath root +In seeing, not in loving, which of sight +Is aftergrowth. And of the seeing such +The meed, as unto each in due degree +Grace and good-will their measure have assign'd. +The other trine, that with still opening buds +In this eternal springtide blossom fair, +Fearless of bruising from the nightly ram, +Breathe up in warbled melodies threefold +Hosannas blending ever, from the three +Transmitted. hierarchy of gods, for aye +Rejoicing, dominations first, next then +Virtues, and powers the third. The next to whom +Are princedoms and archangels, with glad round +To tread their festal ring; and last the band +Angelical, disporting in their sphere. +All, as they circle in their orders, look +Aloft, and downward with such sway prevail, +That all with mutual impulse tend to God. +These once a mortal view beheld. Desire +In Dionysius so intently wrought, +That he, as I have done rang'd them; and nam'd +Their orders, marshal'd in his thought. From him +Dissentient, one refus'd his sacred read. +But soon as in this heav'n his doubting eyes +Were open'd, Gregory at his error smil'd +Nor marvel, that a denizen of earth +Should scan such secret truth; for he had learnt +Both this and much beside of these our orbs, +From an eye-witness to heav'n's mysteries." + + + + +CANTO XXIX + +No longer than what time Latona's twins +Cover'd of Libra and the fleecy star, +Together both, girding the' horizon hang, +In even balance from the zenith pois'd, +Till from that verge, each, changing hemisphere, +Part the nice level; e'en so brief a space +Did Beatrice's silence hold. A smile +Bat painted on her cheek; and her fix'd gaze +Bent on the point, at which my vision fail'd: +When thus her words resuming she began: +"I speak, nor what thou wouldst inquire demand; +For I have mark'd it, where all time and place +Are present. Not for increase to himself +Of good, which may not be increas'd, but forth +To manifest his glory by its beams, +Inhabiting his own eternity, +Beyond time's limit or what bound soe'er +To circumscribe his being, as he will'd, +Into new natures, like unto himself, +Eternal Love unfolded. Nor before, +As if in dull inaction torpid lay. +For not in process of before or aft +Upon these waters mov'd the Spirit of God. +Simple and mix'd, both form and substance, forth +To perfect being started, like three darts +Shot from a bow three-corded. And as ray +In crystal, glass, and amber, shines entire, +E'en at the moment of its issuing; thus +Did, from th' eternal Sovran, beam entire +His threefold operation, at one act +Produc'd coeval. Yet in order each +Created his due station knew: those highest, +Who pure intelligence were made: mere power +The lowest: in the midst, bound with strict league, +Intelligence and power, unsever'd bond. +Long tract of ages by the angels past, +Ere the creating of another world, +Describ'd on Jerome's pages thou hast seen. +But that what I disclose to thee is true, +Those penmen, whom the Holy Spirit mov'd +In many a passage of their sacred book +Attest; as thou by diligent search shalt find +And reason in some sort discerns the same, +Who scarce would grant the heav'nly ministers +Of their perfection void, so long a space. +Thus when and where these spirits of love were made, +Thou know'st, and how: and knowing hast allay'd +Thy thirst, which from the triple question rose. +Ere one had reckon'd twenty, e'en so soon +Part of the angels fell: and in their fall +Confusion to your elements ensued. +The others kept their station: and this task, +Whereon thou lookst, began with such delight, +That they surcease not ever, day nor night, +Their circling. Of that fatal lapse the cause +Was the curst pride of him, whom thou hast seen +Pent with the world's incumbrance. Those, whom here +Thou seest, were lowly to confess themselves +Of his free bounty, who had made them apt +For ministries so high: therefore their views +Were by enlight'ning grace and their own merit +Exalted; so that in their will confirm'd +They stand, nor feel to fall. For do not doubt, +But to receive the grace, which heav'n vouchsafes, +Is meritorious, even as the soul +With prompt affection welcometh the guest. +Now, without further help, if with good heed +My words thy mind have treasur'd, thou henceforth +This consistory round about mayst scan, +And gaze thy fill. But since thou hast on earth +Heard vain disputers, reasoners in the schools, +Canvas the' angelic nature, and dispute +Its powers of apprehension, memory, choice; +Therefore, 't is well thou take from me the truth, +Pure and without disguise, which they below, +Equivocating, darken and perplex. + +"Know thou, that, from the first, these substances, +Rejoicing in the countenance of God, +Have held unceasingly their view, intent +Upon the glorious vision, from the which +Naught absent is nor hid: where then no change +Of newness with succession interrupts, +Remembrance there needs none to gather up +Divided thought and images remote + +"So that men, thus at variance with the truth +Dream, though their eyes be open; reckless some +Of error; others well aware they err, +To whom more guilt and shame are justly due. +Each the known track of sage philosophy +Deserts, and has a byway of his own: +So much the restless eagerness to shine +And love of singularity prevail. +Yet this, offensive as it is, provokes +Heav'n's anger less, than when the book of God +Is forc'd to yield to man's authority, +Or from its straightness warp'd: no reck'ning made +What blood the sowing of it in the world +Has cost; what favour for himself he wins, +Who meekly clings to it. The aim of all +Is how to shine: e'en they, whose office is +To preach the Gospel, let the gospel sleep, +And pass their own inventions off instead. +One tells, how at Christ's suffering the wan moon +Bent back her steps, and shadow'd o'er the sun +With intervenient disk, as she withdrew: +Another, how the light shrouded itself +Within its tabernacle, and left dark +The Spaniard and the Indian, with the Jew. +Such fables Florence in her pulpit hears, +Bandied about more frequent, than the names +Of Bindi and of Lapi in her streets. +The sheep, meanwhile, poor witless ones, return +From pasture, fed with wind: and what avails +For their excuse, they do not see their harm? +Christ said not to his first conventicle, +'Go forth and preach impostures to the world,' +But gave them truth to build on; and the sound +Was mighty on their lips; nor needed they, +Beside the gospel, other spear or shield, +To aid them in their warfare for the faith. +The preacher now provides himself with store +Of jests and gibes; and, so there be no lack +Of laughter, while he vents them, his big cowl +Distends, and he has won the meed he sought: +Could but the vulgar catch a glimpse the while +Of that dark bird which nestles in his hood, +They scarce would wait to hear the blessing said. +Which now the dotards hold in such esteem, +That every counterfeit, who spreads abroad +The hands of holy promise, finds a throng +Of credulous fools beneath. Saint Anthony +Fattens with this his swine, and others worse +Than swine, who diet at his lazy board, +Paying with unstamp'd metal for their fare. + +"But (for we far have wander'd) let us seek +The forward path again; so as the way +Be shorten'd with the time. No mortal tongue +Nor thought of man hath ever reach'd so far, +That of these natures he might count the tribes. +What Daniel of their thousands hath reveal'd +With finite number infinite conceals. +The fountain at whose source these drink their beams, +With light supplies them in as many modes, +As there are splendours, that it shines on: each +According to the virtue it conceives, +Differing in love and sweet affection. +Look then how lofty and how huge in breadth +The' eternal might, which, broken and dispers'd +Over such countless mirrors, yet remains +Whole in itself and one, as at the first." + + + + +CANTO XXX + +Noon's fervid hour perchance six thousand miles +From hence is distant; and the shadowy cone +Almost to level on our earth declines; +When from the midmost of this blue abyss +By turns some star is to our vision lost. +And straightway as the handmaid of the sun +Puts forth her radiant brow, all, light by light, +Fade, and the spangled firmament shuts in, +E'en to the loveliest of the glittering throng. +Thus vanish'd gradually from my sight +The triumph, which plays ever round the point, +That overcame me, seeming (for it did) +Engirt by that it girdeth. Wherefore love, +With loss of other object, forc'd me bend +Mine eyes on Beatrice once again. + +If all, that hitherto is told of her, +Were in one praise concluded, 't were too weak +To furnish out this turn. Mine eyes did look +On beauty, such, as I believe in sooth, +Not merely to exceed our human, but, +That save its Maker, none can to the full +Enjoy it. At this point o'erpower'd I fail, +Unequal to my theme, as never bard +Of buskin or of sock hath fail'd before. +For, as the sun doth to the feeblest sight, +E'en so remembrance of that witching smile +Hath dispossess my spirit of itself. +Not from that day, when on this earth I first +Beheld her charms, up to that view of them, +Have I with song applausive ever ceas'd +To follow, but not follow them no more; +My course here bounded, as each artist's is, +When it doth touch the limit of his skill. + +She (such as I bequeath her to the bruit +Of louder trump than mine, which hasteneth on, +Urging its arduous matter to the close), +Her words resum'd, in gesture and in voice +Resembling one accustom'd to command: +"Forth from the last corporeal are we come +Into the heav'n, that is unbodied light, +Light intellectual replete with love, +Love of true happiness replete with joy, +Joy, that transcends all sweetness of delight. +Here shalt thou look on either mighty host +Of Paradise; and one in that array, +Which in the final judgment thou shalt see." + +As when the lightning, in a sudden spleen +Unfolded, dashes from the blinding eyes +The visive spirits dazzled and bedimm'd; +So, round about me, fulminating streams +Of living radiance play'd, and left me swath'd +And veil'd in dense impenetrable blaze. +Such weal is in the love, that stills this heav'n; +For its own flame the torch this fitting ever! + +No sooner to my list'ning ear had come +The brief assurance, than I understood +New virtue into me infus'd, and sight +Kindled afresh, with vigour to sustain +Excess of light, however pure. I look'd; +And in the likeness of a river saw +Light flowing, from whose amber-seeming waves +Flash'd up effulgence, as they glided on +'Twixt banks, on either side, painted with spring, +Incredible how fair; and, from the tide, +There ever and anon, outstarting, flew +Sparkles instinct with life; and in the flow'rs +Did set them, like to rubies chas'd in gold; +Then, as if drunk with odors, plung'd again +Into the wondrous flood; from which, as one +Re'enter'd, still another rose. "The thirst +Of knowledge high, whereby thou art inflam'd, +To search the meaning of what here thou seest, +The more it warms thee, pleases me the more. +But first behooves thee of this water drink, +Or ere that longing be allay'd." So spake +The day-star of mine eyes; then thus subjoin'd: +"This stream, and these, forth issuing from its gulf, +And diving back, a living topaz each, +With all this laughter on its bloomy shores, +Are but a preface, shadowy of the truth +They emblem: not that, in themselves, the things +Are crude; but on thy part is the defect, +For that thy views not yet aspire so high." +Never did babe, that had outslept his wont, +Rush, with such eager straining, to the milk, +As I toward the water, bending me, +To make the better mirrors of mine eyes +In the refining wave; and, as the eaves +Of mine eyelids did drink of it, forthwith +Seem'd it unto me turn'd from length to round, +Then as a troop of maskers, when they put +Their vizors off, look other than before, +The counterfeited semblance thrown aside; +So into greater jubilee were chang'd +Those flowers and sparkles, and distinct I saw +Before me either court of heav'n displac'd. + +O prime enlightener! thou who crav'st me strength +On the high triumph of thy realm to gaze! +Grant virtue now to utter what I kenn'd, + There is in heav'n a light, whose goodly shine +Makes the Creator visible to all +Created, that in seeing him alone +Have peace; and in a circle spreads so far, +That the circumference were too loose a zone +To girdle in the sun. All is one beam, +Reflected from the summit of the first, +That moves, which being hence and vigour takes, +And as some cliff, that from the bottom eyes +Its image mirror'd in the crystal flood, +As if 't admire its brave appareling +Of verdure and of flowers: so, round about, +Eyeing the light, on more than million thrones, +Stood, eminent, whatever from our earth +Has to the skies return'd. How wide the leaves +Extended to their utmost of this rose, +Whose lowest step embosoms such a space +Of ample radiance! Yet, nor amplitude +Nor height impeded, but my view with ease +Took in the full dimensions of that joy. +Near or remote, what there avails, where God +Immediate rules, and Nature, awed, suspends +Her sway? Into the yellow of the rose +Perennial, which in bright expansiveness, +Lays forth its gradual blooming, redolent +Of praises to the never-wint'ring sun, +As one, who fain would speak yet holds his peace, +Beatrice led me; and, "Behold," she said, +"This fair assemblage! stoles of snowy white +How numberless! The city, where we dwell, +Behold how vast! and these our seats so throng'd +Few now are wanting here! In that proud stall, +On which, the crown, already o'er its state +Suspended, holds thine eyes--or ere thyself +Mayst at the wedding sup,--shall rest the soul +Of the great Harry, he who, by the world +Augustas hail'd, to Italy must come, +Before her day be ripe. But ye are sick, +And in your tetchy wantonness as blind, +As is the bantling, that of hunger dies, +And drives away the nurse. Nor may it be, +That he, who in the sacred forum sways, +Openly or in secret, shall with him +Accordant walk: Whom God will not endure +I' th' holy office long; but thrust him down +To Simon Magus, where Magna's priest +Will sink beneath him: such will be his meed." + + + + +CANTO XXXI + +In fashion, as a snow-white rose, lay then +Before my view the saintly multitude, +Which in his own blood Christ espous'd. Meanwhile +That other host, that soar aloft to gaze +And celebrate his glory, whom they love, +Hover'd around; and, like a troop of bees, +Amid the vernal sweets alighting now, +Now, clustering, where their fragrant labour glows, +Flew downward to the mighty flow'r, or rose +From the redundant petals, streaming back +Unto the steadfast dwelling of their joy. +Faces had they of flame, and wings of gold; +The rest was whiter than the driven snow. +And as they flitted down into the flower, +From range to range, fanning their plumy loins, +Whisper'd the peace and ardour, which they won +From that soft winnowing. Shadow none, the vast +Interposition of such numerous flight +Cast, from above, upon the flower, or view +Obstructed aught. For, through the universe, +Wherever merited, celestial light +Glides freely, and no obstacle prevents. + +All there, who reign in safety and in bliss, +Ages long past or new, on one sole mark +Their love and vision fix'd. O trinal beam +Of individual star, that charmst them thus, +Vouchsafe one glance to gild our storm below! + +If the grim brood, from Arctic shores that roam'd, +(Where helice, forever, as she wheels, +Sparkles a mother's fondness on her son) +Stood in mute wonder 'mid the works of Rome, +When to their view the Lateran arose +In greatness more than earthly; I, who then +From human to divine had past, from time +Unto eternity, and out of Florence +To justice and to truth, how might I choose +But marvel too? 'Twixt gladness and amaze, +In sooth no will had I to utter aught, +Or hear. And, as a pilgrim, when he rests +Within the temple of his vow, looks round +In breathless awe, and hopes some time to tell +Of all its goodly state: e'en so mine eyes +Cours'd up and down along the living light, +Now low, and now aloft, and now around, +Visiting every step. Looks I beheld, +Where charity in soft persuasion sat, +Smiles from within and radiance from above, +And in each gesture grace and honour high. + +So rov'd my ken, and its general form +All Paradise survey'd: when round I turn'd +With purpose of my lady to inquire +Once more of things, that held my thought suspense, +But answer found from other than I ween'd; +For, Beatrice, when I thought to see, +I saw instead a senior, at my side, + Rob'd, as the rest, in glory. Joy benign +Glow'd in his eye, and o'er his cheek diffus'd, +With gestures such as spake a father's love. +And, "Whither is she vanish'd?" straight I ask'd. + +"By Beatrice summon'd," he replied, +"I come to aid thy wish. Looking aloft +To the third circle from the highest, there +Behold her on the throne, wherein her merit +Hath plac'd her." Answering not, mine eyes I rais'd, +And saw her, where aloof she sat, her brow +A wreath reflecting of eternal beams. +Not from the centre of the sea so far +Unto the region of the highest thunder, +As was my ken from hers; and yet the form +Came through that medium down, unmix'd and pure, + +"O Lady! thou in whom my hopes have rest! +Who, for my safety, hast not scorn'd, in hell +To leave the traces of thy footsteps mark'd! +For all mine eyes have seen, I, to thy power +And goodness, virtue owe and grace. Of slave, +Thou hast to freedom brought me; and no means, +For my deliverance apt, hast left untried. +Thy liberal bounty still toward me keep. +That, when my spirit, which thou madest whole, +Is loosen'd from this body, it may find +Favour with thee." So I my suit preferr'd: +And she, so distant, as appear'd, look'd down, +And smil'd; then tow'rds th' eternal fountain turn'd. + +And thus the senior, holy and rever'd: +"That thou at length mayst happily conclude +Thy voyage (to which end I was dispatch'd, +By supplication mov'd and holy love) +Let thy upsoaring vision range, at large, +This garden through: for so, by ray divine +Kindled, thy ken a higher flight shall mount; +And from heav'n's queen, whom fervent I adore, +All gracious aid befriend us; for that I +Am her own faithful Bernard." Like a wight, +Who haply from Croatia wends to see +Our Veronica, and the while 't is shown, +Hangs over it with never-sated gaze, +And, all that he hath heard revolving, saith +Unto himself in thought: "And didst thou look +E'en thus, O Jesus, my true Lord and God? +And was this semblance thine?" So gaz'd I then +Adoring; for the charity of him, +Who musing, in the world that peace enjoy'd, +Stood lively before me. "Child of grace!" +Thus he began: "thou shalt not knowledge gain +Of this glad being, if thine eyes are held +Still in this depth below. But search around +The circles, to the furthest, till thou spy +Seated in state, the queen, that of this realm +Is sovran." Straight mine eyes I rais'd; and bright, +As, at the birth of morn, the eastern clime +Above th' horizon, where the sun declines; +To mine eyes, that upward, as from vale +To mountain sped, at th' extreme bound, a part +Excell'd in lustre all the front oppos'd. +And as the glow burns ruddiest o'er the wave, +That waits the sloping beam, which Phaeton +Ill knew to guide, and on each part the light +Diminish'd fades, intensest in the midst; +So burn'd the peaceful oriflame, and slack'd +On every side the living flame decay'd. +And in that midst their sportive pennons wav'd +Thousands of angels; in resplendence each +Distinct, and quaint adornment. At their glee +And carol, smil'd the Lovely One of heav'n, +That joy was in the eyes of all the blest. + +Had I a tongue in eloquence as rich, +As is the colouring in fancy's loom, +'T were all too poor to utter the least part +Of that enchantment. When he saw mine eyes +Intent on her, that charm'd him, Bernard gaz'd +With so exceeding fondness, as infus'd +Ardour into my breast, unfelt before. + + + + +CANTO XXXII + +Freely the sage, though wrapt in musings high, +Assum'd the teacher's part, and mild began: +"The wound, that Mary clos'd, she open'd first, +Who sits so beautiful at Mary's feet. +The third in order, underneath her, lo! +Rachel with Beatrice. Sarah next, +Judith, Rebecca, and the gleaner maid, +Meek ancestress of him, who sang the songs +Of sore repentance in his sorrowful mood. +All, as I name them, down from deaf to leaf, +Are in gradation throned on the rose. +And from the seventh step, successively, +Adown the breathing tresses of the flow'r +Still doth the file of Hebrew dames proceed. +For these are a partition wall, whereby +The sacred stairs are sever'd, as the faith +In Christ divides them. On this part, where blooms +Each leaf in full maturity, are set +Such as in Christ, or ere he came, believ'd. +On th' other, where an intersected space +Yet shows the semicircle void, abide +All they, who look'd to Christ already come. +And as our Lady on her glorious stool, +And they who on their stools beneath her sit, +This way distinction make: e'en so on his, +The mighty Baptist that way marks the line +(He who endur'd the desert and the pains +Of martyrdom, and for two years of hell, +Yet still continued holy), and beneath, +Augustin, Francis, Benedict, and the rest, +Thus far from round to round. So heav'n's decree +Forecasts, this garden equally to fill. +With faith in either view, past or to come, +Learn too, that downward from the step, which cleaves +Midway the twain compartments, none there are +Who place obtain for merit of their own, +But have through others' merit been advanc'd, +On set conditions: spirits all releas'd, +Ere for themselves they had the power to choose. +And, if thou mark and listen to them well, +Their childish looks and voice declare as much. + +"Here, silent as thou art, I know thy doubt; +And gladly will I loose the knot, wherein +Thy subtle thoughts have bound thee. From this realm +Excluded, chalice no entrance here may find, +No more shall hunger, thirst, or sorrow can. +A law immutable hath establish'd all; +Nor is there aught thou seest, that doth not fit, +Exactly, as the finger to the ring. +It is not therefore without cause, that these, +O'erspeedy comers to immortal life, +Are different in their shares of excellence. +Our Sovran Lord--that settleth this estate +In love and in delight so absolute, +That wish can dare no further--every soul, +Created in his joyous sight to dwell, +With grace at pleasure variously endows. +And for a proof th' effect may well suffice. +And 't is moreover most expressly mark'd +In holy scripture, where the twins are said +To, have struggled in the womb. Therefore, as grace +Inweaves the coronet, so every brow +Weareth its proper hue of orient light. +And merely in respect to his prime gift, +Not in reward of meritorious deed, +Hath each his several degree assign'd. +In early times with their own innocence +More was not wanting, than the parents' faith, +To save them: those first ages past, behoov'd +That circumcision in the males should imp +The flight of innocent wings: but since the day +Of grace hath come, without baptismal rites +In Christ accomplish'd, innocence herself +Must linger yet below. Now raise thy view +Unto the visage most resembling Christ: +For, in her splendour only, shalt thou win +The pow'r to look on him." Forthwith I saw +Such floods of gladness on her visage shower'd, +From holy spirits, winging that profound; +That, whatsoever I had yet beheld, +Had not so much suspended me with wonder, +Or shown me such similitude of God. +And he, who had to her descended, once, +On earth, now hail'd in heav'n; and on pois'd wing. +"Ave, Maria, Gratia Plena," sang: +To whose sweet anthem all the blissful court, +From all parts answ'ring, rang: that holier joy +Brooded the deep serene. "Father rever'd: +Who deign'st, for me, to quit the pleasant place, +Wherein thou sittest, by eternal lot! +Say, who that angel is, that with such glee +Beholds our queen, and so enamour'd glows +Of her high beauty, that all fire he seems." +So I again resorted to the lore +Of my wise teacher, he, whom Mary's charms +Embellish'd, as the sun the morning star; +Who thus in answer spake: "In him are summ'd, +Whatever of buxomness and free delight +May be in Spirit, or in angel, met: +And so beseems: for that he bare the palm +Down unto Mary, when the Son of God +Vouchsaf'd to clothe him in terrestrial weeds. +Now let thine eyes wait heedful on my words, +And note thou of this just and pious realm +The chiefest nobles. Those, highest in bliss, +The twain, on each hand next our empress thron'd, +Are as it were two roots unto this rose. +He to the left, the parent, whose rash taste +Proves bitter to his seed; and, on the right, +That ancient father of the holy church, +Into whose keeping Christ did give the keys +Of this sweet flow'r: near whom behold the seer, +That, ere he died, saw all the grievous times +Of the fair bride, who with the lance and nails +Was won. And, near unto the other, rests +The leader, under whom on manna fed +Th' ungrateful nation, fickle and perverse. +On th' other part, facing to Peter, lo! +Where Anna sits, so well content to look +On her lov'd daughter, that with moveless eye +She chants the loud hosanna: while, oppos'd +To the first father of your mortal kind, +Is Lucia, at whose hest thy lady sped, +When on the edge of ruin clos'd thine eye. + +"But (for the vision hasteneth so an end) +Here break we off, as the good workman doth, +That shapes the cloak according to the cloth: +And to the primal love our ken shall rise; +That thou mayst penetrate the brightness, far +As sight can bear thee. Yet, alas! in sooth +Beating thy pennons, thinking to advance, +Thou backward fall'st. Grace then must first be gain'd; +Her grace, whose might can help thee. Thou in prayer +Seek her: and, with affection, whilst I sue, +Attend, and yield me all thy heart." He said, +And thus the saintly orison began. + + + + +CANTO XXXIII + +"O virgin mother, daughter of thy Son, +Created beings all in lowliness +Surpassing, as in height, above them all, +Term by th' eternal counsel pre-ordain'd, +Ennobler of thy nature, so advanc'd +In thee, that its great Maker did not scorn, +Himself, in his own work enclos'd to dwell! +For in thy womb rekindling shone the love +Reveal'd, whose genial influence makes now +This flower to germin in eternal peace! +Here thou to us, of charity and love, +Art, as the noon-day torch: and art, beneath, +To mortal men, of hope a living spring. +So mighty art thou, lady! and so great, +That he who grace desireth, and comes not +To thee for aidance, fain would have desire +Fly without wings. Nor only him who asks, +Thy bounty succours, but doth freely oft +Forerun the asking. Whatsoe'er may be +Of excellence in creature, pity mild, +Relenting mercy, large munificence, +Are all combin'd in thee. Here kneeleth one, +Who of all spirits hath review'd the state, +From the world's lowest gap unto this height. +Suppliant to thee he kneels, imploring grace +For virtue, yet more high to lift his ken +Toward the bliss supreme. And I, who ne'er +Coveted sight, more fondly, for myself, +Than now for him, my prayers to thee prefer, +(And pray they be not scant) that thou wouldst drive +Each cloud of his mortality away; +That on the sovran pleasure he may gaze. +This also I entreat of thee, O queen! +Who canst do what thou wilt! that in him thou +Wouldst after all he hath beheld, preserve +Affection sound, and human passions quell. +Lo! Where, with Beatrice, many a saint +Stretch their clasp'd hands, in furtherance of my suit!" + +The eyes, that heav'n with love and awe regards, +Fix'd on the suitor, witness'd, how benign +She looks on pious pray'rs: then fasten'd they +On th' everlasting light, wherein no eye +Of creature, as may well be thought, so far +Can travel inward. I, meanwhile, who drew +Near to the limit, where all wishes end, +The ardour of my wish (for so behooved), +Ended within me. Beck'ning smil'd the sage, +That I should look aloft: but, ere he bade, +Already of myself aloft I look'd; +For visual strength, refining more and more, +Bare me into the ray authentical +Of sovran light. Thenceforward, what I saw, +Was not for words to speak, nor memory's self +To stand against such outrage on her skill. +As one, who from a dream awaken'd, straight, +All he hath seen forgets; yet still retains +Impression of the feeling in his dream; +E'en such am I: for all the vision dies, +As 't were, away; and yet the sense of sweet, +That sprang from it, still trickles in my heart. +Thus in the sun-thaw is the snow unseal'd; +Thus in the winds on flitting leaves was lost +The Sybil's sentence. O eternal beam! +(Whose height what reach of mortal thought may soar?) +Yield me again some little particle +Of what thou then appearedst, give my tongue +Power, but to leave one sparkle of thy glory, +Unto the race to come, that shall not lose +Thy triumph wholly, if thou waken aught +Of memory in me, and endure to hear +The record sound in this unequal strain. + +Such keenness from the living ray I met, +That, if mine eyes had turn'd away, methinks, +I had been lost; but, so embolden'd, on +I pass'd, as I remember, till my view +Hover'd the brink of dread infinitude. + +O grace! unenvying of thy boon! that gav'st +Boldness to fix so earnestly my ken +On th' everlasting splendour, that I look'd, +While sight was unconsum'd, and, in that depth, +Saw in one volume clasp'd of love, whatever +The universe unfolds; all properties +Of substance and of accident, beheld, +Compounded, yet one individual light +The whole. And of such bond methinks I saw +The universal form: for that whenever +I do but speak of it, my soul dilates +Beyond her proper self; and, till I speak, +One moment seems a longer lethargy, +Than five-and-twenty ages had appear'd +To that emprize, that first made Neptune wonder +At Argo's shadow darkening on his flood. + +With fixed heed, suspense and motionless, +Wond'ring I gaz'd; and admiration still +Was kindled, as I gaz'd. It may not be, +That one, who looks upon that light, can turn +To other object, willingly, his view. +For all the good, that will may covet, there +Is summ'd; and all, elsewhere defective found, +Complete. My tongue shall utter now, no more +E'en what remembrance keeps, than could the babe's +That yet is moisten'd at his mother's breast. +Not that the semblance of the living light +Was chang'd (that ever as at first remain'd) +But that my vision quickening, in that sole +Appearance, still new miracles descry'd, +And toil'd me with the change. In that abyss +Of radiance, clear and lofty, seem'd methought, +Three orbs of triple hue clipt in one bound: +And, from another, one reflected seem'd, +As rainbow is from rainbow: and the third +Seem'd fire, breath'd equally from both. Oh speech +How feeble and how faint art thou, to give +Conception birth! Yet this to what I saw +Is less than little. Oh eternal light! +Sole in thyself that dwellst; and of thyself +Sole understood, past, present, or to come! +Thou smiledst; on that circling, which in thee +Seem'd as reflected splendour, while I mus'd; +For I therein, methought, in its own hue +Beheld our image painted: steadfastly +I therefore por'd upon the view. As one +Who vers'd in geometric lore, would fain +Measure the circle; and, though pondering long +And deeply, that beginning, which he needs, +Finds not; e'en such was I, intent to scan +The novel wonder, and trace out the form, +How to the circle fitted, and therein +How plac'd: but the flight was not for my wing; +Had not a flash darted athwart my mind, +And in the spleen unfolded what it sought. + +Here vigour fail'd the tow'ring fantasy: +But yet the will roll'd onward, like a wheel +In even motion, by the Love impell'd, +That moves the sun in heav'n and all the stars. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Vision of Paradise, Part 3., by Dante Alighieri +Translated By The Rev. H. F. 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