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Dante's Paradise
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Project Gutenberg's The Vision of Paradise, Complete, 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.net
Title: The Vision of Paradise, Complete
Author: Dante Alighieri
Release Date: August 2, 2004 [EBook #8799]
Last Updated: October 20, 2012
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE VISION OF PARADISE, COMPLETE ***
Produced by David Widger
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<p>
<br /><br />
</p>
<h1>
PARADISE
</h1>
<h3>
From:
</h3>
<h2>
THE VISION
</h2>
<h2>
OF
</h2>
<h2>
HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE
</h2>
<h2>
BY
</h2>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<h2>
DANTE ALIGHIERI
</h2>
<p>
<br /><br /><br />
</p>
<h1>
ILLUSTRATED BY GUSTAVE DORE
</h1>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />
</p>
<h3>
TRANSLATED BY
</h3>
<p>
<br />
</p>
<h2>
THE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A.
</h2>
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<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />
</p>
<h1>
PARADISE
</h1>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
LIST OF CANTOS
</h2>
<p>
<a href="#link1">Canto 1</a> <br /><br /> <a
href="#link2">Canto 2</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link3">Canto 3</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link4">Canto 4</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link5">Canto 5</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link6">Canto 6</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link7">Canto 7</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link8">Canto 8</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link9">Canto 9</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link10">Canto 10</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link11">Canto 11</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link12">Canto 12</a> <br /><br /> <a
href="#link13">Canto 13</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link14">Canto 14</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link15">Canto 15</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link16">Canto 16</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link17">Canto 17</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link18">Canto 18</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link19">Canto 19</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link20">Canto 20</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link21">Canto 21</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link22">Canto 22</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link23">Canto 23</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link24">Canto 24</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link25">Canto 25</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link26">Canto 26</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link27">Canto 27</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link28">Canto 28</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link29">Canto 29</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link30">Canto 30</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link31">Canto 31</a><br /><br /> <a href="#link32">Canto 32</a><br /><br />
<a href="#link33">Canto 33</a><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a
name="link1" id="link1"></a>
</p>
<h2>
CANTO I
</h2>
<p>
<br /> His glory, by whose might all things are mov'd,<br /> Pierces the
universe, and in one part<br /> Sheds more resplendence, elsewhere less.
In heav'n,<br /> That largeliest of his light partakes, was I,<br />
Witness of things, which to relate again<br /> Surpasseth power of him who
comes from thence;<br /> For that, so near approaching its desire<br /> Our
intellect is to such depth absorb'd,<br /> That memory cannot follow.
Nathless all,<br /> That in my thoughts I of that sacred realm<br />
Could store, shall now be matter of my song.<br /> <br /> Benign
Apollo! this last labour aid,<br /> And make me such a vessel of thy worth,<br />
As thy own laurel claims of me belov'd.<br /> Thus far hath one of steep
Parnassus' brows<br /> Suffic'd me; henceforth there is need of both<br />
For my remaining enterprise Do thou<br /> Enter into my bosom, and there
breathe<br /> So, as when Marsyas by thy hand was dragg'd<br /> Forth from
his limbs unsheath'd. O power divine!<br /> If thou to me of shine
impart so much,<br /> That of that happy realm the shadow'd form<br />
Trac'd in my thoughts I may set forth to view,<br /> Thou shalt behold me
of thy favour'd tree<br /> Come to the foot, and crown myself with leaves;<br />
For to that honour thou, and my high theme<br /> Will fit me. If but
seldom, mighty Sire!<br /> To grace his triumph gathers thence a wreath<br />
Caesar or bard (more shame for human wills<br /> Deprav'd) joy to the
Delphic god must spring<br /> From the Pierian foliage, when one breast<br />
Is with such thirst inspir'd. From a small spark<br /> Great flame
hath risen: after me perchance<br /> Others with better voice may pray, and
gain<br /> From the Cirrhaean city answer kind.<br /> <br /> Through
diver passages, the world's bright lamp<br /> Rises to mortals, but through
that which joins<br /> Four circles with the threefold cross, in best<br />
Course, and in happiest constellation set<br /> He comes, and to the
worldly wax best gives<br /> Its temper and impression. Morning
there,<br /> Here eve was by almost such passage made;<br /> And whiteness
had o'erspread that hemisphere,<br /> Blackness the other part; when to the
left<br /> I saw Beatrice turn'd, and on the sun<br /> Gazing, as never
eagle fix'd his ken.<br /> As from the first a second beam is wont<br /> To
issue, and reflected upwards rise,<br /> E'en as a pilgrim bent on his
return,<br /> So of her act, that through the eyesight pass'd<br /> Into my
fancy, mine was form'd; and straight,<br /> Beyond our mortal wont, I fix'd
mine eyes<br /> Upon the sun. Much is allowed us there,<br /> That
here exceeds our pow'r; thanks to the place<br /> Made for the dwelling of
the human kind<br /> <br /> I suffer'd it not
long, and yet so long<br /> That I beheld it bick'ring sparks around,<br />
As iron that comes boiling from the fire.<br /> And suddenly upon the day
appear'd<br /> A day new-ris'n, as he, who hath the power,<br /> Had with
another sun bedeck'd the sky.<br /> <br /> Her
eyes fast fix'd on the eternal wheels,<br /> Beatrice stood unmov'd; and I
with ken<br /> Fix'd upon her, from upward gaze remov'd<br /> At her aspect,
such inwardly became<br /> As Glaucus, when he tasted of the herb,<br />
That made him peer among the ocean gods;<br /> Words may not tell of that
transhuman change:<br /> And therefore let the example serve, though weak,<br />
For those whom grace hath better proof in store<br /> <br /> If
I were only what thou didst create,<br /> Then newly, Love! by whom the
heav'n is rul'd,<br /> Thou know'st, who by thy light didst bear me up.<br />
Whenas the wheel which thou dost ever guide,<br /> Desired Spirit! with its
harmony<br /> Temper'd of thee and measur'd, charm'd mine ear,<br /> Then
seem'd to me so much of heav'n to blaze<br /> With the sun's flame, that
rain or flood ne'er made<br /> A lake so broad. The newness of the
sound,<br /> And that great light, inflam'd me with desire,<br /> Keener
than e'er was felt, to know their cause.<br /> <br /> Whence
she who saw me, clearly as myself,<br /> To calm my troubled mind, before I
ask'd,<br /> Open'd her lips, and gracious thus began:<br /> "With false
imagination thou thyself<br /> Mak'st dull, so that thou seest not the
thing,<br /> Which thou hadst seen, had that been shaken off.<br /> Thou art
not on the earth as thou believ'st;<br /> For light'ning scap'd from its
own proper place<br /> Ne'er ran, as thou hast hither now return'd."<br />
<br /> Although divested of my first-rais'd
doubt,<br /> By those brief words, accompanied with smiles,<br /> Yet in new
doubt was I entangled more,<br /> And said: "Already satisfied, I rest<br />
From admiration deep, but now admire<br /> How I above those lighter bodies
rise."<br /> <br /> Whence, after utt'rance of
a piteous sigh,<br /> She tow'rds me bent her eyes, with such a look,<br />
As on her frenzied child a mother casts;<br /> Then thus began: "Among
themselves all things<br /> Have order; and from hence the form, which
makes<br /> The universe resemble God. In this<br /> The higher
creatures see the printed steps<br /> Of that eternal worth, which is the
end<br /> Whither the line is drawn. All natures lean,<br /> In this
their order, diversely, some more,<br /> Some less approaching to their
primal source.<br /> Thus they to different havens are mov'd on<br />
Through the vast sea of being, and each one<br /> With instinct giv'n, that
bears it in its course;<br /> This to the lunar sphere directs the fire,<br />
This prompts the hearts of mortal animals,<br /> This the brute earth
together knits, and binds.<br /> Nor only creatures, void of intellect,<br />
Are aim'd at by this bow; but even those,<br /> That have intelligence and
love, are pierc'd.<br /> That Providence, who so well orders all,<br /> With
her own light makes ever calm the heaven,<br /> In which the substance,
that hath greatest speed,<br /> Is turn'd: and thither now, as to our seat<br />
Predestin'd, we are carried by the force<br /> Of that strong cord, that
never looses dart,<br /> But at fair aim and glad. Yet is it true,<br />
That as ofttimes but ill accords the form<br /> To the design of art,
through sluggishness<br /> Of unreplying matter, so this course<br /> Is
sometimes quitted by the creature, who<br /> Hath power, directed thus, to
bend elsewhere;<br /> As from a cloud the fire is seen to fall,<br /> From
its original impulse warp'd, to earth,<br /> By vicious fondness. Thou
no more admire<br /> Thy soaring, (if I rightly deem,) than lapse<br /> Of
torrent downwards from a mountain's height.<br /> There would in thee for
wonder be more cause,<br /> If, free of hind'rance, thou hadst fix'd
thyself<br /> Below, like fire unmoving on the earth."<br /> <br /> So
said, she turn'd toward the heav'n her face. <br /><br /> <a name="link2"
id="link2"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO II
</h2>
<p>
<br /> All ye, who in small bark have following sail'd,<br /> Eager to
listen, on the advent'rous track<br /> Of my proud keel, that singing cuts
its way,<br /> Backward return with speed, and your own shores<br />
Revisit, nor put out to open sea,<br /> Where losing me, perchance ye may
remain<br /> Bewilder'd in deep maze. The way I pass<br /> Ne'er yet
was run: Minerva breathes the gale,<br /> Apollo guides me, and another
Nine<br /> To my rapt sight the arctic beams reveal.<br /> Ye other few, who
have outstretch'd the neck.<br /> Timely for food of angels, on which here<br />
They live, yet never know satiety,<br /> Through the deep brine ye fearless
may put out<br /> Your vessel, marking, well the furrow broad<br /> Before
you in the wave, that on both sides<br /> Equal returns. Those,
glorious, who pass'd o'er<br /> To Colchos, wonder'd not as ye will do,<br />
When they saw Jason following the plough.<br /> <br /> The
increate perpetual thirst, that draws<br /> Toward the realm of God's own
form, bore us<br /> Swift almost as the heaven ye behold.<br /> <br /> Beatrice
upward gaz'd, and I on her,<br /> And in such space as on the notch a dart<br />
Is plac'd, then loosen'd flies, I saw myself<br /> Arriv'd, where wond'rous
thing engag'd my sight.<br /> Whence she, to whom no work of mine was hid,<br />
Turning to me, with aspect glad as fair,<br /> Bespake me: "Gratefully
direct thy mind<br /> To God, through whom to this first star we come."<br />
<br /> Me seem'd as if a cloud had cover'd us,<br />
Translucent, solid, firm, and polish'd bright,<br /> Like adamant, which
the sun's beam had smit<br /> Within itself the ever-during pearl<br />
Receiv'd us, as the wave a ray of light<br /> Receives, and rests unbroken.
If I then<br /> Was of corporeal frame, and it transcend<br /> Our
weaker thought, how one dimension thus<br /> Another could endure, which
needs must be<br /> If body enter body, how much more<br /> Must the desire
inflame us to behold<br /> That essence, which discovers by what means<br />
God and our nature join'd! There will be seen<br /> That which we
hold through faith, not shown by proof,<br /> But in itself intelligibly
plain,<br /> E'en as the truth that man at first believes.<br /> <br /> I
answered: "Lady! I with thoughts devout,<br /> Such as I best can frame,
give thanks to Him,<br /> Who hath remov'd me from the mortal world.<br />
But tell, I pray thee, whence the gloomy spots<br /> Upon this body, which
below on earth<br /> Give rise to talk of Cain in fabling quaint?"<br />
<br /> She somewhat smil'd, then spake: "If
mortals err<br /> In their opinion, when the key of sense<br /> Unlocks not,
surely wonder's weapon keen<br /> Ought not to pierce thee; since thou
find'st, the wings<br /> Of reason to pursue the senses' flight<br /> Are
short. But what thy own thought is, declare."<br /> <br /> Then
I: "What various here above appears,<br /> Is caus'd, I deem, by bodies
dense or rare."<br /> <br /> She then resum'd:
"Thou certainly wilt see<br /> In falsehood thy belief o'erwhelm'd, if well<br />
Thou listen to the arguments, which I<br /> Shall bring to face it. The
eighth sphere displays<br /> Numberless lights, the which in kind and size<br />
May be remark'd of different aspects;<br /> If rare or dense of that were
cause alone,<br /> One single virtue then would be in all,<br /> Alike
distributed, or more, or less.<br /> Different virtues needs must be the
fruits<br /> Of formal principles, and these, save one,<br /> Will by thy
reasoning be destroy'd. Beside,<br /> If rarity were of that dusk the
cause,<br /> Which thou inquirest, either in some part<br /> That planet
must throughout be void, nor fed<br /> With its own matter; or, as bodies
share<br /> Their fat and leanness, in like manner this<br /> Must in its
volume change the leaves. The first,<br /> If it were true, had
through the sun's eclipse<br /> Been manifested, by transparency<br /> Of
light, as through aught rare beside effus'd.<br /> But this is not. Therefore
remains to see<br /> The other cause: and if the other fall,<br /> Erroneous
so must prove what seem'd to thee.<br /> If not from side to side this
rarity<br /> Pass through, there needs must be a limit, whence<br /> Its
contrary no further lets it pass.<br /> And hence the beam, that from
without proceeds,<br /> Must be pour'd back, as colour comes, through glass<br />
Reflected, which behind it lead conceals.<br /> Now wilt thou say, that
there of murkier hue<br /> Than in the other part the ray is shown,<br /> By
being thence refracted farther back.<br /> From this perplexity will free
thee soon<br /> Experience, if thereof thou trial make,<br /> The fountain
whence your arts derive their streame.<br /> Three mirrors shalt thou take,
and two remove<br /> From thee alike, and more remote the third.<br />
Betwixt the former pair, shall meet thine eyes;<br /> Then turn'd toward
them, cause behind thy back<br /> A light to stand, that on the three shall
shine,<br /> And thus reflected come to thee from all.<br /> Though that
beheld most distant do not stretch<br /> A space so ample, yet in
brightness thou<br /> Will own it equaling the rest. But now,<br /> As
under snow the ground, if the warm ray<br /> Smites it, remains dismantled
of the hue<br /> And cold, that cover'd it before, so thee,<br /> Dismantled
in thy mind, I will inform<br /> With light so lively, that the tremulous
beam<br /> Shall quiver where it falls. Within the heaven,<br /> Where
peace divine inhabits, circles round<br /> A body, in whose virtue dies the
being<br /> Of all that it contains. The following heaven,<br /> That
hath so many lights, this being divides,<br /> Through different
essences, from it distinct,<br /> And yet contain'd within it. The
other orbs<br /> Their separate distinctions variously<br /> Dispose, for
their own seed and produce apt.<br /> Thus do these organs of the world
proceed,<br /> As thou beholdest now, from step to step,<br /> Their
influences from above deriving,<br /> And thence transmitting downwards.
Mark me well,<br /> How through this passage to the truth I ford,<br />
The truth thou lov'st, that thou henceforth alone,<br /> May'st know to
keep the shallows, safe, untold.<br /> <br /> "The
virtue and motion of the sacred orbs,<br /> As mallet by the workman's
hand, must needs<br /> By blessed movers be inspir'd. This heaven,<br />
Made beauteous by so many luminaries,<br /> From the deep spirit, that
moves its circling sphere,<br /> Its image takes an impress as a seal:<br />
And as the soul, that dwells within your dust,<br /> Through members
different, yet together form'd,<br /> In different pow'rs resolves itself;
e'en so<br /> The intellectual efficacy unfolds<br /> Its goodness
multiplied throughout the stars;<br /> On its own unity revolving still.<br />
Different virtue compact different<br /> Makes with the precious body it
enlivens,<br /> With which it knits, as life in you is knit.<br /> From its
original nature full of joy,<br /> The virtue mingled through the body
shines,<br /> As joy through pupil of the living eye.<br /> From hence
proceeds, that which from light to light<br /> Seems different, and not
from dense or rare.<br /> This is the formal cause, that generates<br />
Proportion'd to its power, the dusk or clear." <br /><br /> <a name="link3"
id="link3"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO III
</h2>
<p>
<br /> That sun, which erst with love my bosom warm'd<br /> Had of fair
truth unveil'd the sweet aspect,<br /> By proof of right, and of the false
reproof;<br /> And I, to own myself convinc'd and free<br /> Of doubt, as
much as needed, rais'd my head<br /> Erect for speech. But soon a
sight appear'd,<br /> Which, so intent to mark it, held me fix'd,<br /> That
of confession I no longer thought.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a
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<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> As through
translucent and smooth glass, or wave<br /> Clear and unmov'd, and flowing
not so deep<br /> As that its bed is dark, the shape returns<br /> So faint
of our impictur'd lineaments,<br /> That on white forehead set a pearl as
strong<br /> Comes to the eye: such saw I many a face,<br /> All stretch'd
to speak, from whence I straight conceiv'd<br /> Delusion opposite to that,
which rais'd<br /> Between the man and fountain, amorous flame.<br /> <br /> Sudden,
as I perceiv'd them, deeming these<br /> Reflected semblances to see of
whom<br /> They were, I turn'd mine eyes, and nothing saw;<br /> Then turn'd
them back, directed on the light<br /> Of my sweet guide, who smiling shot
forth beams<br /> From her celestial eyes. "Wonder not thou,"<br />
She cry'd, "at this my smiling, when I see<br /> Thy childish judgment;
since not yet on truth<br /> It rests the foot, but, as it still is wont,<br />
Makes thee fall back in unsound vacancy.<br /> True substances are these,
which thou behold'st,<br /> Hither through failure of their vow exil'd.<br />
But speak thou with them; listen, and believe,<br /> That the true light,
which fills them with desire,<br /> Permits not from its beams their feet
to stray."<br /> <br /> Straight to the shadow
which for converse seem'd<br /> Most earnest, I addressed me, and began,<br />
As one by over-eagerness perplex'd:<br /> "O spirit, born for joy! who in
the rays<br /> Of life eternal, of that sweetness know'st<br /> The flavour,
which, not tasted, passes far<br /> All apprehension, me it well would
please,<br /> If thou wouldst tell me of thy name, and this<br /> Your
station here." Whence she, with kindness prompt,<br /> And eyes glist'ning
with smiles: "Our charity,<br /> To any wish by justice introduc'd,<br />
Bars not the door, no more than she above,<br /> Who would have all her
court be like herself.<br /> I was a virgin sister in the earth;<br /> And
if thy mind observe me well, this form,<br /> With such addition grac'd of
loveliness,<br /> Will not conceal me long, but thou wilt know<br />
Piccarda, in the tardiest sphere thus plac'd,<br /> Here 'mid these other
blessed also blest.<br /> Our hearts, whose high affections burn alone<br />
With pleasure, from the Holy Spirit conceiv'd,<br /> Admitted to his order
dwell in joy.<br /> And this condition, which appears so low,<br /> Is for
this cause assign'd us, that our vows<br /> Were in some part neglected and
made void."<br /> <br /> Whence I to her
replied: "Something divine<br /> Beams in your countenance, wond'rous fair,<br />
From former knowledge quite transmuting you.<br /> Therefore to recollect
was I so slow.<br /> But what thou sayst hath to my memory<br /> Given now
such aid, that to retrace your forms<br /> Is easier. Yet inform me,
ye, who here<br /> Are happy, long ye for a higher place<br /> More to
behold, and more in love to dwell?"<br /> <br /> She
with those other spirits gently smil'd,<br /> Then answer'd with such
gladness, that she seem'd<br /> With love's first flame to glow: "Brother!
our will<br /> Is in composure settled by the power<br /> Of charity, who
makes us will alone<br /> What we possess, and nought beyond desire;<br />
If we should wish to be exalted more,<br /> Then must our wishes jar with
the high will<br /> Of him, who sets us here, which in these orbs<br /> Thou
wilt confess not possible, if here<br /> To be in charity must needs
befall,<br /> And if her nature well thou contemplate.<br /> Rather it is
inherent in this state<br /> Of blessedness, to keep ourselves within<br />
The divine will, by which our wills with his<br /> Are one. So that
as we from step to step<br /> Are plac'd throughout this kingdom, pleases
all,<br /> E'en as our King, who in us plants his will;<br /> And in his
will is our tranquillity;<br /> It is the mighty ocean, whither tends<br />
Whatever it creates and nature makes."<br /> <br /> Then
saw I clearly how each spot in heav'n<br /> Is Paradise, though with like
gracious dew<br /> The supreme virtue show'r not over all.<br /> <br /> But
as it chances, if one sort of food<br /> Hath satiated, and of another
still<br /> The appetite remains, that this is ask'd,<br /> And thanks for
that return'd; e'en so did I<br /> In word and motion, bent from her to
learn<br /> What web it was, through which she had not drawn<br /> The
shuttle to its point. She thus began:<br /> "Exalted worth and
perfectness of life<br /> The Lady higher up enshrine in heaven,<br /> By
whose pure laws upon your nether earth<br /> The robe and veil they wear,
to that intent,<br /> That e'en till death they may keep watch or sleep<br />
With their great bridegroom, who accepts each vow,<br /> Which to his
gracious pleasure love conforms.<br /> from the world, to follow her, when
young<br /> Escap'd; and, in her vesture mantling me,<br /> Made promise of
the way her sect enjoins.<br /> Thereafter men, for ill than good more apt,<br />
Forth snatch'd me from the pleasant cloister's pale.<br /> God knows how
after that my life was fram'd.<br /> This other splendid shape, which thou
beholdst<br /> At my right side, burning with all the light<br /> Of this
our orb, what of myself I tell<br /> May to herself apply. From her,
like me<br /> A sister, with like violence were torn<br /> The saintly
folds, that shaded her fair brows.<br /> E'en when she to the world again
was brought<br /> In spite of her own will and better wont,<br /> Yet not
for that the bosom's inward veil<br /> Did she renounce. This is the
luminary<br /> Of mighty Constance, who from that loud blast,<br /> Which
blew the second over Suabia's realm,<br /> That power produc'd, which was
the third and last."<br /> <br /> She ceas'd
from further talk, and then began<br /> "Ave Maria" singing, and with that
song<br /> Vanish'd, as heavy substance through deep wave.<br /> <br /> Mine
eye, that far as it was capable,<br /> Pursued her, when in dimness she was
lost,<br /> Turn'd to the mark where greater want impell'd,<br /> And bent
on Beatrice all its gaze.<br /> But she as light'ning beam'd upon my looks:<br />
So that the sight sustain'd it not at first.<br /> Whence I to question her
became less prompt. <br /><br /> <a name="link4" id="link4"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO IV
</h2>
<p>
<br /> Between two kinds of food, both equally<br /> Remote and tempting,
first a man might die<br /> Of hunger, ere he one could freely choose.<br />
E'en so would stand a lamb between the maw<br /> Of two fierce wolves, in
dread of both alike:<br /> E'en so between two deer a dog would stand,<br />
Wherefore, if I was silent, fault nor praise<br /> I to myself impute, by
equal doubts<br /> Held in suspense, since of necessity<br /> It happen'd.
Silent was I, yet desire<br /> Was painted in my looks; and thus I
spake<br /> My wish more earnestly than language could.<br /> <br /> As
Daniel, when the haughty king he freed<br /> From ire, that spurr'd him on
to deeds unjust<br /> And violent; so look'd Beatrice then.<br /> <br /> "Well
I discern," she thus her words address'd,<br /> "How contrary desires each
way constrain thee,<br /> So that thy anxious thought is in itself<br />
Bound up and stifled, nor breathes freely forth.<br /> Thou arguest; if the
good intent remain;<br /> What reason that another's violence<br /> Should
stint the measure of my fair desert?<br /> <br /> "Cause
too thou findst for doubt, in that it seems,<br /> That spirits to the
stars, as Plato deem'd,<br /> Return. These are the questions which
thy will<br /> Urge equally; and therefore I the first<br /> Of that will
treat which hath the more of gall.<br /> Of seraphim he who is most
ensky'd,<br /> Moses and Samuel, and either John,<br /> Choose which thou
wilt, nor even Mary's self,<br /> Have not in any other heav'n their seats,<br />
Than have those spirits which so late thou saw'st;<br /> Nor more or fewer
years exist; but all<br /> Make the first circle beauteous, diversely<br />
Partaking of sweet life, as more or less<br /> Afflation of eternal bliss
pervades them.<br /> Here were they shown thee, not that fate assigns<br />
This for their sphere, but for a sign to thee<br /> Of that celestial
furthest from the height.<br /> Thus needs, that ye may apprehend, we
speak:<br /> Since from things sensible alone ye learn<br /> That, which
digested rightly after turns<br /> To intellectual. For no other
cause<br /> The scripture, condescending graciously<br /> To your
perception, hands and feet to God<br /> Attributes, nor so means: and holy
church<br /> Doth represent with human countenance<br /> Gabriel, and
Michael, and him who made<br /> Tobias whole. Unlike what here thou
seest,<br /> The judgment of Timaeus, who affirms<br /> Each soul restor'd
to its particular star,<br /> Believing it to have been taken thence,<br />
When nature gave it to inform her mold:<br /> Since to appearance his
intention is<br /> E'en what his words declare: or else to shun<br />
Derision, haply thus he hath disguis'd<br /> His true opinion. If his
meaning be,<br /> That to the influencing of these orbs revert<br /> The
honour and the blame in human acts,<br /> Perchance he doth not wholly miss
the truth.<br /> This principle, not understood aright,<br /> Erewhile
perverted well nigh all the world;<br /> So that it fell to fabled names of
Jove,<br /> And Mercury, and Mars. That other doubt,<br /> Which moves
thee, is less harmful; for it brings<br /> No peril of removing thee from
me.<br /> <br /> "That, to the eye of man, our
justice seems<br /> Unjust, is argument for faith, and not<br /> For heretic
declension. To the end<br /> This truth may stand more clearly in
your view,<br /> I will content thee even to thy wish<br /> <br /> "If
violence be, when that which suffers, nought<br /> Consents to that which
forceth, not for this<br /> These spirits stood exculpate. For the
will,<br /> That will not, still survives unquench'd, and doth<br /> As
nature doth in fire, tho' violence<br /> Wrest it a thousand times; for, if
it yield<br /> Or more or less, so far it follows force.<br /> And thus did
these, whom they had power to seek<br /> The hallow'd place again. In
them, had will<br /> Been perfect, such as once upon the bars<br /> Held
Laurence firm, or wrought in Scaevola<br /> To his own hand remorseless, to
the path,<br /> Whence they were drawn, their steps had hasten'd back,<br />
When liberty return'd: but in too few<br /> Resolve so steadfast dwells.
And by these words<br /> If duly weigh'd, that argument is void,<br />
Which oft might have perplex'd thee still. But now<br /> Another
question thwarts thee, which to solve<br /> Might try thy patience without
better aid.<br /> I have, no doubt, instill'd into thy mind,<br /> That
blessed spirit may not lie; since near<br /> The source of primal truth it
dwells for aye:<br /> And thou might'st after of Piccarda learn<br /> That
Constance held affection to the veil;<br /> So that she seems to contradict
me here.<br /> Not seldom, brother, it hath chanc'd for men<br /> To do what
they had gladly left undone,<br /> Yet to shun peril they have done amiss:<br />
E'en as Alcmaeon, at his father's suit<br /> Slew his own mother, so made
pitiless<br /> Not to lose pity. On this point bethink thee,<br />
That force and will are blended in such wise<br /> As not to make the'
offence excusable.<br /> Absolute will agrees not to the wrong,<br /> That
inasmuch as there is fear of woe<br /> From non-compliance, it agrees.
Of will<br /> Thus absolute Piccarda spake, and I<br /> Of th' other;
so that both have truly said."<br /> <br /> Such
was the flow of that pure rill, that well'd<br /> From forth the fountain
of all truth; and such<br /> The rest, that to my wond'ring thoughts I
found.<br /> <br /> "O thou of primal
love the prime delight!<br /> Goddess!" I straight reply'd, "whose
lively words<br /> Still shed new heat and vigour through my soul!<br />
Affection fails me to requite thy grace<br /> With equal sum of gratitude:
be his<br /> To recompense, who sees and can reward thee.<br /> Well I
discern, that by that truth alone<br /> Enlighten'd, beyond which no truth
may roam,<br /> Our mind can satisfy her thirst to know:<br /> Therein she
resteth, e'en as in his lair<br /> The wild beast, soon as she hath reach'd
that bound,<br /> And she hath power to reach it; else desire<br /> Were
given to no end. And thence doth doubt<br /> Spring, like a shoot,
around the stock of truth;<br /> And it is nature which from height to
height<br /> On to the summit prompts us. This invites,<br /> This
doth assure me, lady, rev'rently<br /> To ask thee of other truth, that yet<br />
Is dark to me. I fain would know, if man<br /> By other works well
done may so supply<br /> The failure of his vows, that in your scale<br />
They lack not weight." I spake; and on me straight<br /> Beatrice
look'd with eyes that shot forth sparks<br /> Of love celestial in such
copious stream,<br /> That, virtue sinking in me overpower'd,<br /> I
turn'd, and downward bent confus'd my sight. <br /><br /> <a name="link5"
id="link5"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO V
</h2>
<p>
<br /> "If beyond earthly wont, the flame of love<br /> Illume me, so that I
o'ercome thy power<br /> Of vision, marvel not: but learn the cause<br /> In
that perfection of the sight, which soon<br /> As apprehending, hasteneth
on to reach<br /> The good it apprehends. I well discern,<br /> How in
thine intellect already shines<br /> The light eternal, which to view alone<br />
Ne'er fails to kindle love; and if aught else<br /> Your love seduces, 't
is but that it shows<br /> Some ill-mark'd vestige of that primal beam.<br />
<br /> "This would'st thou know, if failure of
the vow<br /> By other service may be so supplied,<br /> As from
self-question to assure the soul."<br /> <br /> Thus
she her words, not heedless of my wish,<br /> Began; and thus, as one who
breaks not off<br /> Discourse, continued in her saintly strain.<br />
"Supreme of gifts, which God creating gave<br /> Of his free bounty, sign
most evident<br /> Of goodness, and in his account most priz'd,<br /> Was
liberty of will, the boon wherewith<br /> All intellectual creatures, and
them sole<br /> He hath endow'd. Hence now thou mayst infer<br /> Of
what high worth the vow, which so is fram'd<br /> That when man offers, God
well-pleas'd accepts;<br /> For in the compact between God and him,<br />
This treasure, such as I describe it to thee,<br /> He makes the victim,
and of his own act.<br /> What compensation therefore may he find?<br /> If
that, whereof thou hast oblation made,<br /> By using well thou think'st to
consecrate,<br /> Thou would'st of theft do charitable deed.<br /> Thus I
resolve thee of the greater point.<br /> <br /> "But
forasmuch as holy church, herein<br /> Dispensing, seems to contradict the
truth<br /> I have discover'd to thee, yet behooves<br /> Thou rest a little
longer at the board,<br /> Ere the crude aliment, which thou hast taken,<br />
Digested fitly to nutrition turn.<br /> Open thy mind to what I now unfold,<br />
And give it inward keeping. Knowledge comes<br /> Of learning well
retain'd, unfruitful else.<br /> <br /> "This
sacrifice in essence of two things<br /> Consisteth; one is that, whereof
't is made,<br /> The covenant the other. For the last,<br /> It ne'er
is cancell'd if not kept: and hence<br /> I spake erewhile so strictly of
its force.<br /> For this it was enjoin'd the Israelites,<br /> Though leave
were giv'n them, as thou know'st, to change<br /> The offering, still to
offer. Th' other part,<br /> The matter and the substance of the vow,<br />
May well be such, to that without offence<br /> It may for other substance
be exchang'd.<br /> But at his own discretion none may shift<br /> The
burden on his shoulders, unreleas'd<br /> By either key, the yellow and the
white.<br /> Nor deem of any change, as less than vain,<br /> If the last
bond be not within the new<br /> Included, as the quatre in the six.<br />
No satisfaction therefore can be paid<br /> For what so precious in the
balance weighs,<br /> That all in counterpoise must kick the beam.<br />
Take then no vow at random: ta'en, with faith<br /> Preserve it; yet not
bent, as Jephthah once,<br /> Blindly to execute a rash resolve,<br /> Whom
better it had suited to exclaim,<br /> 'I have done ill,' than to redeem
his pledge<br /> By doing worse or, not unlike to him<br /> In folly, that
great leader of the Greeks:<br /> Whence, on the alter, Iphigenia mourn'd<br />
Her virgin beauty, and hath since made mourn<br /> Both wise and simple,
even all, who hear<br /> Of so fell sacrifice. Be ye more staid,<br />
O Christians, not, like feather, by each wind<br /> Removable: nor think to
cleanse ourselves<br /> In every water. Either testament,<br /> The
old and new, is yours: and for your guide<br /> The shepherd of the church
let this suffice<br /> To save you. When by evil lust entic'd,<br />
Remember ye be men, not senseless beasts;<br /> Nor let the Jew, who
dwelleth in your streets,<br /> Hold you in mock'ry. Be not, as the
lamb,<br /> That, fickle wanton, leaves its mother's milk,<br /> To dally
with itself in idle play."<br /> <br /> Such
were the words that Beatrice spake:<br /> These ended, to that region,
where the world<br /> Is liveliest, full of fond desire she turn'd.<br />
<br /> Though mainly prompt new question to
propose,<br /> Her silence and chang'd look did keep me dumb.<br /> And as
the arrow, ere the cord is still,<br /> Leapeth unto its mark; so on we
sped<br /> Into the second realm. There I beheld<br /> The dame, so
joyous enter, that the orb<br /> Grew brighter at her smiles; and, if the
star<br /> Were mov'd to gladness, what then was my cheer,<br /> Whom nature
hath made apt for every change!<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a
href="images/05-99.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="05-99th.jpg (38K)" src="images/05-99th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> As in a quiet and
clear lake the fish,<br /> If aught approach them from without, do draw<br />
Towards it, deeming it their food; so drew<br /> Full more than thousand
splendours towards us,<br /> And in each one was heard: "Lo! one arriv'd<br />
To multiply our loves!" and as each came<br /> The shadow, streaming forth
effulgence new,<br /> Witness'd augmented joy. Here, reader! think,<br />
If thou didst miss the sequel of my tale,<br /> To know the rest how sorely
thou wouldst crave;<br /> And thou shalt see what vehement desire<br />
Possess'd me, as soon as these had met my view,<br /> To know their state.
"O born in happy hour!<br /> Thou to whom grace vouchsafes, or ere
thy close<br /> Of fleshly warfare, to behold the thrones<br /> Of that
eternal triumph, know to us<br /> The light communicated, which through
heaven<br /> Expatiates without bound. Therefore, if aught<br /> Thou
of our beams wouldst borrow for thine aid,<br /> Spare not; and of our
radiance take thy fill."<br /> <br /> Thus of
those piteous spirits one bespake me;<br /> And Beatrice next: "Say on; and
trust<br /> As unto gods!"—"How in the light supreme<br /> Thou
harbour'st, and from thence the virtue bring'st,<br /> That, sparkling in
thine eyes, denotes thy joy,<br /> l mark; but, who thou art, am still to
seek;<br /> Or wherefore, worthy spirit! for thy lot<br /> This sphere
assign'd, that oft from mortal ken<br /> Is veil'd by others' beams."
I said, and turn'd<br /> Toward the lustre, that with greeting, kind<br />
Erewhile had hail'd me. Forthwith brighter far<br /> Than erst, it
wax'd: and, as himself the sun<br /> Hides through excess of light, when
his warm gaze<br /> Hath on the mantle of thick vapours prey'd;<br /> Within
its proper ray the saintly shape<br /> Was, through increase of gladness,
thus conceal'd;<br /> And, shrouded so in splendour answer'd me,<br /> E'en
as the tenour of my song declares. <br /><br /> <a name="link6" id="link6"></a>
<br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO VI
</h2>
<p>
<br /> "After that Constantine the eagle turn'd<br /> Against the motions of
the heav'n, that roll'd<br /> Consenting with its course, when he of yore,<br />
Lavinia's spouse, was leader of the flight,<br /> A hundred years twice
told and more, his seat<br /> At Europe's extreme point, the bird of Jove<br />
Held, near the mountains, whence he issued first.<br /> There, under shadow
of his sacred plumes<br /> Swaying the world, till through successive hands<br />
To mine he came devolv'd. Caesar I was,<br /> And am Justinian;
destin'd by the will<br /> Of that prime love, whose influence I feel,<br />
From vain excess to clear th' encumber'd laws.<br /> Or ere that work
engag'd me, I did hold<br /> Christ's nature merely human, with such faith<br />
Contented. But the blessed Agapete,<br /> Who was chief shepherd, he
with warning voice<br /> To the true faith recall'd me. I believ'd<br />
His words: and what he taught, now plainly see,<br /> As thou in every
contradiction seest<br /> The true and false oppos'd. Soon as my feet<br />
Were to the church reclaim'd, to my great task,<br /> By inspiration of
God's grace impell'd,<br /> I gave me wholly, and consign'd mine arms<br />
To Belisarius, with whom heaven's right hand<br /> Was link'd in such
conjointment, 't was a sign<br /> That I should rest. To thy first
question thus<br /> I shape mine answer, which were ended here,<br /> But
that its tendency doth prompt perforce<br /> To some addition; that thou
well, mayst mark<br /> What reason on each side they have to plead,<br /> By
whom that holiest banner is withstood,<br /> Both who pretend its power and
who oppose.<br /> "Beginning from that hour, when
Pallas died<br /> To give it rule, behold the valorous deeds<br /> Have made
it worthy reverence. Not unknown<br /> To thee, how for three hundred
years and more<br /> It dwelt in Alba, up to those fell lists<br /> Where
for its sake were met the rival three;<br /> Nor aught unknown to thee,
which it achiev'd<br /> Down to the Sabines' wrong to Lucrece' woe,<br />
With its sev'n kings conqu'ring the nation round;<br /> Nor all it wrought,
by Roman worthies home<br /> 'Gainst Brennus and th' Epirot prince, and
hosts<br /> Of single chiefs, or states in league combin'd<br /> Of social
warfare; hence Torquatus stern,<br /> And Quintius nam'd of his neglected
locks,<br /> The Decii, and the Fabii hence acquir'd<br /> Their fame, which
I with duteous zeal embalm.<br /> By it the pride of Arab hordes was
quell'd,<br /> When they led on by Hannibal o'erpass'd<br /> The Alpine
rocks, whence glide thy currents, Po!<br /> Beneath its guidance, in their
prime of days<br /> Scipio and Pompey triumph'd; and that hill,<br /> Under
whose summit thou didst see the light,<br /> Rued its stern bearing. After,
near the hour,<br /> When heav'n was minded that o'er all the world<br />
His own deep calm should brood, to Caesar's hand<br /> Did Rome consign it;
and what then it wrought<br /> From Var unto the Rhine, saw Isere's flood,<br />
Saw Loire and Seine, and every vale, that fills<br /> The torrent Rhone.
What after that it wrought,<br /> When from Ravenna it came forth,
and leap'd<br /> The Rubicon, was of so bold a flight,<br /> That tongue nor
pen may follow it. Tow'rds Spain<br /> It wheel'd its bands, then
tow'rd Dyrrachium smote,<br /> And on Pharsalia with so fierce a plunge,<br />
E'en the warm Nile was conscious to the pang;<br /> Its native shores
Antandros, and the streams<br /> Of Simois revisited, and there<br /> Where
Hector lies; then ill for Ptolemy<br /> His pennons shook again; lightning
thence fell<br /> On Juba; and the next upon your west,<br /> At sound of
the Pompeian trump, return'd.<br /> <br /> "What
following and in its next bearer's gripe<br /> It wrought, is now by
Cassius and Brutus<br /> Bark'd off in hell, and by Perugia's sons<br /> And
Modena's was mourn'd. Hence weepeth still<br /> Sad Cleopatra, who,
pursued by it,<br /> Took from the adder black and sudden death.<br /> With
him it ran e'en to the Red Sea coast;<br /> With him compos'd the world to
such a peace,<br /> That of his temple Janus barr'd the door.<br /> <br /> "But
all the mighty standard yet had wrought,<br /> And was appointed to perform
thereafter,<br /> Throughout the mortal kingdom which it sway'd,<br /> Falls
in appearance dwindled and obscur'd,<br /> If one with steady eye and
perfect thought<br /> On the third Caesar look; for to his hands,<br /> The
living Justice, in whose breath I move,<br /> Committed glory, e'en into
his hands,<br /> To execute the vengeance of its wrath.<br /> <br /> "Hear
now and wonder at what next I tell.<br /> After with Titus it was sent to
wreak<br /> Vengeance for vengeance of the ancient sin,<br /> And, when the
Lombard tooth, with fangs impure,<br /> Did gore the bosom of the holy
church,<br /> Under its wings victorious, Charlemagne<br /> Sped to her
rescue. Judge then for thyself<br /> Of those, whom I erewhile
accus'd to thee,<br /> What they are, and how grievous their offending,<br />
Who are the cause of all your ills. The one<br /> Against the
universal ensign rears<br /> The yellow lilies, and with partial aim<br />
That to himself the other arrogates:<br /> So that 't is hard to see which
more offends.<br /> Be yours, ye Ghibellines, to veil your arts<br />
Beneath another standard: ill is this<br /> Follow'd of him, who severs it
and justice:<br /> And let not with his Guelphs the new-crown'd Charles<br />
Assail it, but those talons hold in dread,<br /> Which from a lion of more
lofty port<br /> Have rent the easing. Many a time ere now<br /> The
sons have for the sire's transgression wail'd;<br /> Nor let him trust the
fond belief, that heav'n<br /> Will truck its armour for his lilied shield.<br />
<br /> "This little star is furnish'd with
good spirits,<br /> Whose mortal lives were busied to that end,<br /> That
honour and renown might wait on them:<br /> And, when desires thus err in
their intention,<br /> True love must needs ascend with slacker beam.<br />
But it is part of our delight, to measure<br /> Our wages with the merit;
and admire<br /> The close proportion. Hence doth heav'nly justice<br />
Temper so evenly affection in us,<br /> It ne'er can warp to any
wrongfulness.<br /> Of diverse voices is sweet music made:<br /> So in our
life the different degrees<br /> Render sweet harmony among these wheels.<br />
<br /> "Within the pearl, that now encloseth
us,<br /> Shines Romeo's light, whose goodly deed and fair<br /> Met ill
acceptance. But the Provencals,<br /> That were his foes, have little
cause for mirth.<br /> Ill shapes that man his course, who makes his wrong<br />
Of other's worth. Four daughters were there born<br /> To Raymond
Berenger, and every one<br /> Became a queen; and this for him did Romeo,<br />
Though of mean state and from a foreign land.<br /> Yet envious tongues
incited him to ask<br /> A reckoning of that just one, who return'd<br />
Twelve fold to him for ten. Aged and poor<br /> He parted thence: and
if the world did know<br /> The heart he had, begging his life by morsels,<br />
'T would deem the praise, it yields him, scantly dealt." <br /><br /> <a
name="link7" id="link7"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO VII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> "Hosanna Sanctus Deus Sabaoth<br /> Superillustrans claritate tua<br />
Felices ignes horum malahoth!"<br /> Thus chanting saw I turn that
substance bright<br /> With fourfold lustre to its orb again,<br />
Revolving; and the rest unto their dance<br /> With it mov'd also; and like
swiftest sparks,<br /> In sudden distance from my sight were veil'd.<br />
<br /> Me doubt possess'd, and "Speak," it
whisper'd me,<br /> "Speak, speak unto thy lady, that she quench<br /> Thy
thirst with drops of sweetness." Yet blank awe,<br /> Which lords it
o'er me, even at the sound<br /> Of Beatrice's name, did bow me down<br />
As one in slumber held. Not long that mood<br /> Beatrice suffer'd:
she, with such a smile,<br /> As might have made one blest amid the flames,<br />
Beaming upon me, thus her words began:<br /> "Thou in thy thought art
pond'ring (as I deem),<br /> And what I deem is truth how just revenge<br />
Could be with justice punish'd: from which doubt<br /> I soon will free
thee; so thou mark my words;<br /> For they of weighty matter shall possess
thee.<br /> <br /> "That man, who was unborn,
himself condemn'd,<br /> And, in himself, all, who since him have liv'd,<br />
His offspring: whence, below, the human kind<br /> Lay sick in grievous
error many an age;<br /> Until it pleas'd the Word of God to come<br />
Amongst them down, to his own person joining<br /> The nature, from its
Maker far estrang'd,<br /> By the mere act of his eternal love.<br />
Contemplate here the wonder I unfold.<br /> The nature with its Maker thus
conjoin'd,<br /> Created first was blameless, pure and good;<br /> But
through itself alone was driven forth<br /> From Paradise, because it had
eschew'd<br /> The way of truth and life, to evil turn'd.<br /> Ne'er then
was penalty so just as that<br /> Inflicted by the cross, if thou regard<br />
The nature in assumption doom'd: ne'er wrong<br /> So great, in reference
to him, who took<br /> Such nature on him, and endur'd the doom.<br /> God
therefore and the Jews one sentence pleased:<br /> So different effects
flow'd from one act,<br /> And heav'n was open'd, though the earth did
quake.<br /> Count it not hard henceforth, when thou dost hear<br /> That a
just vengeance was by righteous court<br /> Justly reveng'd. But yet
I see thy mind<br /> By thought on thought arising sore perplex'd,<br /> And
with how vehement desire it asks<br /> Solution of the maze. What I
have heard,<br /> Is plain, thou sayst: but wherefore God this way<br /> For
our redemption chose, eludes my search.<br /> <br /> "Brother!
no eye of man not perfected,<br /> Nor fully ripen'd in the flame of love,<br />
May fathom this decree. It is a mark,<br /> In sooth, much aim'd at,
and but little kenn'd:<br /> And I will therefore show thee why such way<br />
Was worthiest. The celestial love, that spume<br /> All envying in
its bounty, in itself<br /> With such effulgence blazeth, as sends forth<br />
All beauteous things eternal. What distils<br /> Immediate thence, no
end of being knows,<br /> Bearing its seal immutably impress'd.<br />
Whatever thence immediate falls, is free,<br /> Free wholly, uncontrollable
by power<br /> Of each thing new: by such conformity<br /> More grateful to
its author, whose bright beams,<br /> Though all partake their shining, yet
in those<br /> Are liveliest, which resemble him the most.<br /> These
tokens of pre-eminence on man<br /> Largely bestow'd, if any of them fail,<br />
He needs must forfeit his nobility,<br /> No longer stainless. Sin
alone is that,<br /> Which doth disfranchise him, and make unlike<br /> To
the chief good; for that its light in him<br /> Is darken'd. And to
dignity thus lost<br /> Is no return; unless, where guilt makes void,<br />
He for ill pleasure pay with equal pain.<br /> Your nature, which entirely
in its seed<br /> Trangress'd, from these distinctions fell, no less<br />
Than from its state in Paradise; nor means<br /> Found of recovery (search
all methods out<br /> As strickly as thou may) save one of these,<br /> The
only fords were left through which to wade,<br /> Either that God had of
his courtesy<br /> Releas'd him merely, or else man himself<br /> For his
own folly by himself aton'd.<br /> <br /> "Fix
now thine eye, intently as thou canst,<br /> On th' everlasting counsel,
and explore,<br /> Instructed by my words, the dread abyss.<br /> <br /> "Man
in himself had ever lack'd the means<br /> Of satisfaction, for he could
not stoop<br /> Obeying, in humility so low,<br /> As high he, disobeying,
thought to soar:<br /> And for this reason he had vainly tried<br /> Out of
his own sufficiency to pay<br /> The rigid satisfaction. Then
behooved<br /> That God should by his own ways lead him back<br /> Unto the
life, from whence he fell, restor'd:<br /> By both his ways, I mean, or one
alone.<br /> But since the deed is ever priz'd the more,<br /> The more the
doer's good intent appears,<br /> Goodness celestial, whose broad signature<br />
Is on the universe, of all its ways<br /> To raise ye up, was fain to leave
out none,<br /> Nor aught so vast or so magnificent,<br /> Either for him
who gave or who receiv'd<br /> Between the last night and the primal day,<br />
Was or can be. For God more bounty show'd.<br /> Giving himself to
make man capable<br /> Of his return to life, than had the terms<br /> Been
mere and unconditional release.<br /> And for his justice, every method
else<br /> Were all too scant, had not the Son of God<br /> Humbled himself
to put on mortal flesh.<br /> <br /> "Now, to
fulfil each wish of thine, remains<br /> I somewhat further to thy view
unfold.<br /> That thou mayst see as clearly as myself.<br /> <br /> "I
see, thou sayst, the air, the fire I see,<br /> The earth and water, and
all things of them<br /> Compounded, to corruption turn, and soon<br />
Dissolve. Yet these were also things create,<br /> Because, if what
were told me, had been true<br /> They from corruption had been therefore
free.<br /> <br /> "The angels, O my brother!
and this clime<br /> Wherein thou art, impassible and pure,<br /> I call
created, as indeed they are<br /> In their whole being. But the
elements,<br /> Which thou hast nam'd, and what of them is made,<br /> Are
by created virtue' inform'd: create<br /> Their substance, and create the'
informing virtue<br /> In these bright stars, that round them circling move<br />
The soul of every brute and of each plant,<br /> The ray and motion of the
sacred lights,<br /> With complex potency attract and turn.<br /> But this
our life the' eternal good inspires<br /> Immediate, and enamours of
itself;<br /> So that our wishes rest for ever here.<br /> <br /> "And
hence thou mayst by inference conclude<br /> Our resurrection certain, if
thy mind<br /> Consider how the human flesh was fram'd,<br /> When both our
parents at the first were made." <br /><br /> <a name="link8" id="link8"></a>
<br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO VIII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> The world was in its day of peril dark<br /> Wont to believe the
dotage of fond love<br /> From the fair Cyprian deity, who rolls<br /> In
her third epicycle, shed on men<br /> By stream of potent radiance:
therefore they<br /> Of elder time, in their old error blind,<br /> Not her
alone with sacrifice ador'd<br /> And invocation, but like honours paid<br />
To Cupid and Dione, deem'd of them<br /> Her mother, and her son, him whom
they feign'd<br /> To sit in Dido's bosom: and from her,<br /> Whom I have
sung preluding, borrow'd they<br /> The appellation of that star, which
views,<br /> Now obvious and now averse, the sun.<br /> <br /> I
was not ware that I was wafted up<br /> Into its orb; but the new
loveliness<br /> That grac'd my lady, gave me ample proof<br /> That we had
entered there. And as in flame<br /> A sparkle is distinct, or voice
in voice<br /> Discern'd, when one its even tenour keeps,<br /> The other
comes and goes; so in that light<br /> I other luminaries saw, that cours'd<br />
In circling motion rapid more or less,<br /> As their eternal phases each
impels.<br /> <br /> Never was blast from
vapour charged with cold,<br /> Whether invisible to eye or no,<br />
Descended with such speed, it had not seem'd<br /> To linger in dull
tardiness, compar'd<br /> To those celestial lights, that tow'rds us came,<br />
Leaving the circuit of their joyous ring,<br /> Conducted by the lofty
seraphim.<br /> And after them, who in the van appear'd,<br /> Such an
hosanna sounded, as hath left<br /> Desire, ne'er since extinct in me, to
hear<br /> Renew'd the strain. Then parting from the rest<br /> One
near us drew, and sole began: "We all<br /> Are ready at thy pleasure, well
dispos'd<br /> To do thee gentle service. We are they,<br /> To whom
thou in the world erewhile didst Sing<br /> 'O ye! whose intellectual
ministry<br /> Moves the third heaven!' and in one orb we roll,<br /> One
motion, one impulse, with those who rule<br /> Princedoms in heaven; yet
are of love so full,<br /> That to please thee 't will be as sweet to
rest."<br /> <br /> After mine eyes had with
meek reverence<br /> Sought the celestial guide, and were by her<br />
Assur'd, they turn'd again unto the light<br /> Who had so largely
promis'd, and with voice<br /> That bare the lively pressure of my zeal,<br />
"Tell who ye are," I cried. Forthwith it grew<br /> In size and
splendour, through augmented joy;<br /> And thus it answer'd: "A short date
below<br /> The world possess'd me. Had the time been more,<br /> Much
evil, that will come, had never chanc'd.<br /> My gladness hides thee from
me, which doth shine<br /> Around, and shroud me, as an animal<br /> In its
own silk unswath'd. Thou lov'dst me well,<br /> And had'st good
cause; for had my sojourning<br /> Been longer on the earth, the love I
bare thee<br /> Had put forth more than blossoms. The left bank,<br />
That Rhone, when he hath mix'd with Sorga, laves."<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />
<a href="images/08-60.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="08-60th.jpg (32K)" src="images/08-60th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> "In me its lord expected, and that horn<br /> Of fair
Ausonia, with its boroughs old,<br /> Bari, and Croton, and Gaeta pil'd,<br />
From where the Trento disembogues his waves,<br /> With Verde mingled, to
the salt sea-flood.<br /> Already on my temples beam'd the crown,<br />
Which gave me sov'reignty over the land<br /> By Danube wash'd, whenas he
strays beyond<br /> The limits of his German shores. The realm,<br />
Where, on the gulf by stormy Eurus lash'd,<br /> Betwixt Pelorus and
Pachynian heights,<br /> The beautiful Trinacria lies in gloom<br /> (Not
through Typhaeus, but the vap'ry cloud<br /> Bituminous upsteam'd), THAT
too did look<br /> To have its scepter wielded by a race<br /> Of monarchs,
sprung through me from Charles and Rodolph;<br /> had not ill lording which
doth spirit up<br /> The people ever, in Palermo rais'd<br /> The shout of
'death,' re-echo'd loud and long.<br /> Had but my brother's foresight
kenn'd as much,<br /> He had been warier that the greedy want<br /> Of
Catalonia might not work his bale.<br /> And truly need there is, that he
forecast,<br /> Or other for him, lest more freight be laid<br /> On his
already over-laden bark.<br /> Nature in him, from bounty fall'n to thrift,<br />
Would ask the guard of braver arms, than such<br /> As only care to
have their coffers fill'd."<br /> <br /> "My
liege, it doth enhance the joy thy words<br /> Infuse into me, mighty as it
is,<br /> To think my gladness manifest to thee,<br /> As to myself, who own
it, when thou lookst<br /> Into the source and limit of all good,<br />
There, where thou markest that which thou dost speak,<br /> Thence priz'd
of me the more. Glad thou hast made me.<br /> Now make intelligent,
clearing the doubt<br /> Thy speech hath raised in me; for much I muse,<br />
How bitter can spring up, when sweet is sown."<br /> <br /> I
thus inquiring; he forthwith replied:<br /> "If I have power to show one
truth, soon that<br /> Shall face thee, which thy questioning declares<br />
Behind thee now conceal'd. The Good, that guides<br /> And blessed
makes this realm, which thou dost mount,<br /> Ordains its providence to be
the virtue<br /> In these great bodies: nor th' all perfect Mind<br />
Upholds their nature merely, but in them<br /> Their energy to save: for
nought, that lies<br /> Within the range of that unerring bow,<br /> But is
as level with the destin'd aim,<br /> As ever mark to arrow's point
oppos'd.<br /> Were it not thus, these heavens, thou dost visit,<br /> Would
their effect so work, it would not be<br /> Art, but destruction; and this
may not chance,<br /> If th' intellectual powers, that move these stars,<br />
Fail not, or who, first faulty made them fail.<br /> Wilt thou this truth
more clearly evidenc'd?"<br /> <br /> To whom I
thus: "It is enough: no fear,<br /> I see, lest nature in her part should
tire."<br /> <br /> He straight rejoin'd: "Say,
were it worse for man,<br /> If he liv'd not in fellowship on earth?"<br />
<br /> "Yea," answer'd I; "nor here a reason
needs."<br /> <br /> "And may that be, if
different estates<br /> Grow not of different duties in your life?<br />
Consult your teacher, and he tells you 'no."'<br /> <br /> Thus
did he come, deducing to this point,<br /> And then concluded: "For this
cause behooves,<br /> The roots, from whence your operations come,<br />
Must differ. Therefore one is Solon born;<br /> Another, Xerxes; and
Melchisidec<br /> A third; and he a fourth, whose airy voyage<br /> Cost him
his son. In her circuitous course,<br /> Nature, that is the seal to
mortal wax,<br /> Doth well her art, but no distinctions owns<br /> 'Twixt
one or other household. Hence befalls<br /> That Esau is so wide of
Jacob: hence<br /> Quirinus of so base a father springs,<br /> He dates from
Mars his lineage. Were it not<br /> That providence celestial
overrul'd,<br /> Nature, in generation, must the path<br /> Trac'd by the
generator, still pursue<br /> Unswervingly. Thus place I in thy sight<br />
That, which was late behind thee. But, in sign<br /> Of more
affection for thee, 't is my will<br /> Thou wear this corollary. Nature
ever<br /> Finding discordant fortune, like all seed<br /> Out of its proper
climate, thrives but ill.<br /> And were the world below content to mark<br />
And work on the foundation nature lays,<br /> It would not lack supply of
excellence.<br /> But ye perversely to religion strain<br /> Him, who was
born to gird on him the sword,<br /> And of the fluent phrasemen make your
king;<br /> Therefore your steps have wander'd from the paths." <br /><br />
<a name="link9" id="link9"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO IX
</h2>
<p>
<br /> After solution of my doubt, thy Charles,<br /> O fair Clemenza, of
the treachery spake<br /> That must befall his seed: but, "Tell it not,"<br />
Said he, "and let the destin'd years come round."<br /> Nor may I tell thee
more, save that the meed<br /> Of sorrow well-deserv'd shall quit your
wrongs.<br /> <br /> And now the visage of that
saintly light<br /> Was to the sun, that fills it, turn'd again,<br /> As to
the good, whose plenitude of bliss<br /> Sufficeth all. O ye
misguided souls!<br /> Infatuate, who from such a good estrange<br /> Your
hearts, and bend your gaze on vanity,<br /> Alas for you!—And lo!
toward me, next,<br /> Another of those splendent forms approach'd,<br />
That, by its outward bright'ning, testified<br /> The will it had to
pleasure me. The eyes<br /> Of Beatrice, resting, as before,<br />
Firmly upon me, manifested forth<br /> Approval of my wish. "And O,"
I cried,<br /> "Blest spirit! quickly be my will perform'd;<br /> And prove
thou to me, that my inmost thoughts<br /> I can reflect on thee." Thereat
the light,<br /> That yet was new to me, from the recess,<br /> Where it
before was singing, thus began,<br /> As one who joys in kindness: "In that
part<br /> Of the deprav'd Italian land, which lies<br /> Between Rialto,
and the fountain-springs<br /> Of Brenta and of Piava, there doth rise,<br />
But to no lofty eminence, a hill,<br /> From whence erewhile a firebrand
did descend,<br /> That sorely sheet the region. From one root<br /> I
and it sprang; my name on earth Cunizza:<br /> And here I glitter, for that
by its light<br /> This star o'ercame me. Yet I naught repine,<br />
Nor grudge myself the cause of this my lot,<br /> Which haply vulgar hearts
can scarce conceive.<br /> <br /> "This jewel,
that is next me in our heaven,<br /> Lustrous and costly, great renown hath
left,<br /> And not to perish, ere these hundred years<br /> Five times
absolve their round. Consider thou,<br /> If to excel be worthy man's
endeavour,<br /> When such life may attend the first. Yet they<br />
Care not for this, the crowd that now are girt<br /> By Adice and
Tagliamento, still<br /> Impenitent, tho' scourg'd. The hour is near,<br />
When for their stubbornness at Padua's marsh<br /> The water shall be
chang'd, that laves Vicena<br /> And where Cagnano meets with Sile, one<br />
Lords it, and bears his head aloft, for whom<br /> The web is now
a-warping. Feltro too<br /> Shall sorrow for its godless shepherd's
fault,<br /> Of so deep stain, that never, for the like,<br /> Was Malta's
bar unclos'd. Too large should be<br /> The skillet, that would hold
Ferrara's blood,<br /> And wearied he, who ounce by ounce would weight it,<br />
The which this priest, in show of party-zeal,<br /> Courteous will give;
nor will the gift ill suit<br /> The country's custom. We descry
above,<br /> Mirrors, ye call them thrones, from which to us<br /> Reflected
shine the judgments of our God:<br /> Whence these our sayings we avouch
for good."<br /> <br /> She ended, and appear'd
on other thoughts<br /> Intent, re-ent'ring on the wheel she late<br /> Had
left. That other joyance meanwhile wax'd<br /> A thing to marvel at,
in splendour glowing,<br /> Like choicest ruby stricken by the sun,<br />
For, in that upper clime, effulgence comes<br /> Of gladness, as here
laughter: and below,<br /> As the mind saddens, murkier grows the shade.<br />
<br /> "God seeth all: and in him is thy
sight,"<br /> Said I, "blest Spirit! Therefore will of his<br />
Cannot to thee be dark. Why then delays<br /> Thy voice to satisfy my
wish untold,<br /> That voice which joins the inexpressive song,<br />
Pastime of heav'n, the which those ardours sing,<br /> That cowl them with
six shadowing wings outspread?<br /> I would not wait thy asking, wert thou
known<br /> To me, as thoroughly I to thee am known."<br /> <br /> He
forthwith answ'ring, thus his words began:<br /> "The valley' of waters,
widest next to that<br /> Which doth the earth engarland, shapes its
course,<br /> Between discordant shores, against the sun<br /> Inward so
far, it makes meridian there,<br /> Where was before th' horizon. Of
that vale<br /> Dwelt I upon the shore, 'twixt Ebro's stream<br /> And
Macra's, that divides with passage brief<br /> Genoan bounds from Tuscan.
East and west<br /> Are nearly one to Begga and my land,<br /> Whose
haven erst was with its own blood warm.<br /> Who knew my name were wont to
call me Folco:<br /> And I did bear impression of this heav'n,<br /> That
now bears mine: for not with fiercer flame<br /> Glow'd Belus' daughter,
injuring alike<br /> Sichaeus and Creusa, than did I,<br /> Long as it
suited the unripen'd down<br /> That fledg'd my cheek: nor she of Rhodope,<br />
That was beguiled of Demophoon;<br /> Nor Jove's son, when the charms of
Iole<br /> Were shrin'd within his heart. And yet there hides<br /> No
sorrowful repentance here, but mirth,<br /> Not for the fault (that doth
not come to mind),<br /> But for the virtue, whose o'erruling sway<br /> And
providence have wrought thus quaintly. Here<br /> The skill is look'd
into, that fashioneth<br /> With such effectual working, and the good<br />
Discern'd, accruing to this upper world<br /> From that below. But
fully to content<br /> Thy wishes, all that in this sphere have birth,<br />
Demands my further parle. Inquire thou wouldst,<br /> Who of this
light is denizen, that here<br /> Beside me sparkles, as the sun-beam doth<br />
On the clear wave. Know then, the soul of Rahab<br /> Is in that
gladsome harbour, to our tribe<br /> United, and the foremost rank
assign'd.<br /> He to that heav'n, at which the shadow ends<br /> Of your
sublunar world, was taken up,<br /> First, in Christ's triumph, of all
souls redeem'd:<br /> For well behoov'd, that, in some part of heav'n,<br />
She should remain a trophy, to declare<br /> The mighty contest won with
either palm;<br /> For that she favour'd first the high exploit<br /> Of
Joshua on the holy land, whereof<br /> The Pope recks little now. Thy
city, plant<br /> Of him, that on his Maker turn'd the back,<br /> And of
whose envying so much woe hath sprung,<br /> Engenders and expands the
cursed flower,<br /> That hath made wander both the sheep and lambs,<br />
Turning the shepherd to a wolf. For this,<br /> The gospel and great
teachers laid aside,<br /> The decretals, as their stuft margins show,<br />
Are the sole study. Pope and Cardinals,<br /> Intent on these, ne'er
journey but in thought<br /> To Nazareth, where Gabriel op'd his wings.<br />
Yet it may chance, erelong, the Vatican,<br /> And other most selected
parts of Rome,<br /> That were the grave of Peter's soldiery,<br /> Shall be
deliver'd from the adult'rous bond." <br /><br /> <a name="link10"
id="link10"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO X
</h2>
<p>
<br /> Looking into his first-born with the love,<br /> Which breathes from
both eternal, the first Might<br /> Ineffable, whence eye or mind<br /> Can
roam, hath in such order all dispos'd,<br /> As none may see and fail to
enjoy. Raise, then,<br /> O reader! to the lofty wheels, with me,<br />
Thy ken directed to the point, whereat<br /> One motion strikes on th'
other. There begin<br /> Thy wonder of the mighty Architect,<br /> Who
loves his work so inwardly, his eye<br /> Doth ever watch it. See,
how thence oblique<br /> Brancheth the circle, where the planets roll<br />
To pour their wished influence on the world;<br /> Whose path not bending
thus, in heav'n above<br /> Much virtue would be lost, and here on earth,<br />
All power well nigh extinct: or, from direct<br /> Were its departure
distant more or less,<br /> I' th' universal order, great defect<br /> Must,
both in heav'n and here beneath, ensue.<br /> <br /> Now
rest thee, reader! on thy bench, and muse<br /> Anticipative of the feast
to come;<br /> So shall delight make thee not feel thy toil.<br /> Lo! I
have set before thee, for thyself<br /> Feed now: the matter I indite,
henceforth<br /> Demands entire my thought. Join'd with the part,<br />
Which late we told of, the great minister<br /> Of nature, that upon the
world imprints<br /> The virtue of the heaven, and doles out<br /> Time for
us with his beam, went circling on<br /> Along the spires, where each hour
sooner comes;<br /> And I was with him, weetless of ascent,<br /> As one,
who till arriv'd, weets not his coming.<br /> <br /> For
Beatrice, she who passeth on<br /> So suddenly from good to better, time<br />
Counts not the act, oh then how great must needs<br /> Have been her
brightness! What she was i' th' sun<br /> (Where I had enter'd), not
through change of hue,<br /> But light transparent—did I summon up<br />
Genius, art, practice—I might not so speak,<br /> It should be e'er
imagin'd: yet believ'd<br /> It may be, and the sight be justly crav'd.<br />
And if our fantasy fail of such height,<br /> What marvel, since no eye
above the sun<br /> Hath ever travel'd? Such are they dwell here,<br />
Fourth family of the Omnipotent Sire,<br /> Who of his spirit and of his
offspring shows;<br /> And holds them still enraptur'd with the view.<br />
And thus to me Beatrice: "Thank, oh thank,<br /> The Sun of angels, him,
who by his grace<br /> To this perceptible hath lifted thee."<br /> <br /> Never
was heart in such devotion bound,<br /> And with complacency so absolute<br />
Dispos'd to render up itself to God,<br /> As mine was at those words: and
so entire<br /> The love for Him, that held me, it eclips'd<br /> Beatrice
in oblivion. Naught displeas'd<br /> Was she, but smil'd thereat so
joyously,<br /> That of her laughing eyes the radiance brake<br /> And
scatter'd my collected mind abroad.<br /> <br /> Then
saw I a bright band, in liveliness<br /> Surpassing, who themselves did
make the crown,<br /> And us their centre: yet more sweet in voice,<br />
Than in their visage beaming. Cinctur'd thus,<br /> Sometime Latona's
daughter we behold,<br /> When the impregnate air retains the thread,<br />
That weaves her zone. In the celestial court,<br /> Whence I return,
are many jewels found,<br /> So dear and beautiful, they cannot brook<br />
Transporting from that realm: and of these lights<br /> Such was the song.
Who doth not prune his wing<br /> To soar up thither, let him look
from thence<br /> For tidings from the dumb. When, singing thus,<br />
Those burning suns that circled round us thrice,<br /> As nearest stars
around the fixed pole,<br /> Then seem'd they like to ladies, from the
dance<br /> Not ceasing, but suspense, in silent pause,<br /> List'ning,
till they have caught the strain anew:<br /> Suspended so they stood: and,
from within,<br /> Thus heard I one, who spake: "Since with its beam<br />
The grace, whence true love lighteth first his flame,<br /> That after doth
increase by loving, shines<br /> So multiplied in thee, it leads thee up<br />
Along this ladder, down whose hallow'd steps<br /> None e'er descend, and
mount them not again,<br /> Who from his phial should refuse thee wine<br />
To slake thy thirst, no less constrained were,<br /> Than water flowing not
unto the sea.<br /> Thou fain wouldst hear, what plants are these, that
bloom<br /> In the bright garland, which, admiring, girds<br /> This fair
dame round, who strengthens thee for heav'n.<br /> I then was of the lambs,
that Dominic<br /> Leads, for his saintly flock, along the way,<br /> Where
well they thrive, not sworn with vanity.<br /> He, nearest on my right
hand, brother was,<br /> And master to me: Albert of Cologne<br /> Is this:
and of Aquinum, Thomas I.<br /> If thou of all the rest wouldst be assur'd,<br />
Let thine eye, waiting on the words I speak,<br /> In circuit journey round
the blessed wreath.<br /> That next resplendence issues from the smile<br />
Of Gratian, who to either forum lent<br /> Such help, as favour wins in
Paradise.<br /> The other, nearest, who adorns our quire,<br /> Was Peter,
he that with the widow gave<br /> To holy church his treasure. The
fifth light,<br /> Goodliest of all, is by such love inspired,<br /> That
all your world craves tidings of its doom:<br /> Within, there is the lofty
light, endow'd<br /> With sapience so profound, if truth be truth,<br />
That with a ken of such wide amplitude<br /> No second hath arisen. Next
behold<br /> That taper's radiance, to whose view was shown,<br />
Clearliest, the nature and the ministry<br /> Angelical, while yet in flesh
it dwelt.<br /> In the other little light serenely smiles<br /> That pleader
for the Christian temples, he<br /> Who did provide Augustin of his lore.<br />
Now, if thy mind's eye pass from light to light,<br /> Upon my praises
following, of the eighth<br /> Thy thirst is next. The saintly soul,
that shows<br /> The world's deceitfulness, to all who hear him,<br /> Is,
with the sight of all the good, that is,<br /> Blest there. The
limbs, whence it was driven, lie<br /> Down in Cieldauro, and from
martyrdom<br /> And exile came it here. Lo! further on,<br /> Where
flames the arduous Spirit of Isidore,<br /> Of Bede, and Richard, more than
man, erewhile,<br /> In deep discernment. Lastly this, from whom<br />
Thy look on me reverteth, was the beam<br /> Of one, whose spirit, on high
musings bent,<br /> Rebuk'd the ling'ring tardiness of death.<br /> It is
the eternal light of Sigebert,<br /> Who 'scap'd not envy, when of truth he
argued,<br /> Reading in the straw-litter'd street." Forthwith,<br />
As clock, that calleth up the spouse of God<br /> To win her bridegroom's
love at matin's hour,<br /> Each part of other fitly drawn and urg'd,<br />
Sends out a tinkling sound, of note so sweet,<br /> Affection springs in
well-disposed breast;<br /> Thus saw I move the glorious wheel, thus heard<br />
Voice answ'ring voice, so musical and soft,<br /> It can be known but where
day endless shines. <br /><br /> <a name="link11" id="link11"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XI
</h2>
<p>
<br /> O fond anxiety of mortal men!<br /> How vain and inconclusive
arguments<br /> Are those, which make thee beat thy wings below<br /> For
statues one, and one for aphorisms<br /> Was hunting; this the priesthood
follow'd, that<br /> By force or sophistry aspir'd to rule;<br /> To rob
another, and another sought<br /> By civil business wealth; one moiling lay<br />
Tangled in net of sensual delight,<br /> And one to witless indolence
resign'd;<br /> What time from all these empty things escap'd,<br /> With
Beatrice, I thus gloriously<br /> Was rais'd aloft, and made the guest of
heav'n.<br /> <br /> They of the circle to that
point, each one.<br /> Where erst it was, had turn'd; and steady glow'd,<br />
As candle in his socket. Then within<br /> The lustre, that erewhile
bespake me, smiling<br /> With merer gladness, heard I thus begin:<br />
<br /> "E'en as his beam illumes me, so I look<br />
Into the eternal light, and clearly mark<br /> Thy thoughts, from whence
they rise. Thou art in doubt,<br /> And wouldst, that I should bolt
my words afresh<br /> In such plain open phrase, as may be smooth<br /> To
thy perception, where I told thee late<br /> That 'well they thrive;' and
that 'no second such<br /> Hath risen,' which no small distinction needs.<br />
<br /> "The providence, that governeth the
world,<br /> In depth of counsel by created ken<br /> Unfathomable, to the
end that she,<br /> Who with loud cries was 'spous'd in precious blood,<br />
Might keep her footing towards her well-belov'd,<br /> Safe in herself and
constant unto him,<br /> Hath two ordain'd, who should on either hand<br />
In chief escort her: one seraphic all<br /> In fervency; for wisdom upon
earth,<br /> The other splendour of cherubic light.<br /> I but of one will
tell: he tells of both,<br /> Who one commendeth which of them so'er<br />
Be taken: for their deeds were to one end.<br /> <br /> "Between
Tupino, and the wave, that falls<br /> From blest Ubaldo's chosen hill,
there hangs<br /> Rich slope of mountain high, whence heat and cold<br />
Are wafted through Perugia's eastern gate:<br /> And Norcera with Gualdo,
in its rear<br /> Mourn for their heavy yoke. Upon that side,<br />
Where it doth break its steepness most, arose<br /> A sun upon the world,
as duly this<br /> From Ganges doth: therefore let none, who speak<br /> Of
that place, say Ascesi; for its name<br /> Were lamely so deliver'd; but
the East,<br /> To call things rightly, be it henceforth styl'd.<br /> He
was not yet much distant from his rising,<br /> When his good influence
'gan to bless the earth.<br /> A dame to whom none openeth pleasure's gate<br />
More than to death, was, 'gainst his father's will,<br /> His stripling
choice: and he did make her his,<br /> Before the Spiritual court, by
nuptial bonds,<br /> And in his father's sight: from day to day,<br /> Then
lov'd her more devoutly. She, bereav'd<br /> Of her first husband,
slighted and obscure,<br /> Thousand and hundred years and more, remain'd<br />
Without a single suitor, till he came.<br /> Nor aught avail'd, that, with
Amyclas, she<br /> Was found unmov'd at rumour of his voice,<br /> Who shook
the world: nor aught her constant boldness<br /> Whereby with Christ she
mounted on the cross,<br /> When Mary stay'd beneath. But not to deal<br />
Thus closely with thee longer, take at large<br /> The rovers' titles—Poverty
and Francis.<br /> Their concord and glad looks, wonder and love,<br /> And
sweet regard gave birth to holy thoughts,<br /> So much, that venerable
Bernard first<br /> Did bare his feet, and, in pursuit of peace<br /> So
heavenly, ran, yet deem'd his footing slow.<br /> O hidden riches! O
prolific good!<br /> Egidius bares him next, and next Sylvester,<br /> And
follow both the bridegroom; so the bride<br /> Can please them. Thenceforth
goes he on his way,<br /> The father and the master, with his spouse,<br />
And with that family, whom now the cord<br /> Girt humbly: nor did
abjectness of heart<br /> Weigh down his eyelids, for that he was son<br />
Of Pietro Bernardone, and by men<br /> In wond'rous sort despis'd. But
royally<br /> His hard intention he to Innocent<br /> Set forth, and from
him first receiv'd the seal<br /> On his religion. Then, when
numerous flock'd<br /> The tribe of lowly ones, that trac'd HIS steps,<br />
Whose marvellous life deservedly were sung<br /> In heights empyreal,
through Honorius' hand<br /> A second crown, to deck their Guardian's
virtues,<br /> Was by the eternal Spirit inwreath'd: and when<br /> He had,
through thirst of martyrdom, stood up<br /> In the proud Soldan's presence,
and there preach'd<br /> Christ and his followers; but found the race<br />
Unripen'd for conversion: back once more<br /> He hasted (not to intermit
his toil),<br /> And reap'd Ausonian lands. On the hard rock,<br />
'Twixt Arno and the Tyber, he from Christ<br /> Took the last Signet, which
his limbs two years<br /> Did carry. Then the season come, that he,<br />
Who to such good had destin'd him, was pleas'd<br /> T' advance him to the
meed, which he had earn'd<br /> By his self-humbling, to his brotherhood,<br />
As their just heritage, he gave in charge<br /> His dearest lady, and
enjoin'd their love<br /> And faith to her: and, from her bosom, will'd<br />
His goodly spirit should move forth, returning<br /> To its appointed
kingdom, nor would have<br /> His body laid upon another bier.<br /> <br /> "Think
now of one, who were a fit colleague,<br /> To keep the bark of Peter in
deep sea<br /> Helm'd to right point; and such our Patriarch was.<br />
Therefore who follow him, as he enjoins,<br /> Thou mayst be certain, take
good lading in.<br /> But hunger of new viands tempts his flock,<br /> So
that they needs into strange pastures wide<br /> Must spread them: and the
more remote from him<br /> The stragglers wander, so much mole they come<br />
Home to the sheep-fold, destitute of milk.<br /> There are of them, in
truth, who fear their harm,<br /> And to the shepherd cleave; but these so
few,<br /> A little stuff may furnish out their cloaks.<br /> <br /> "Now,
if my words be clear, if thou have ta'en<br /> Good heed, if that, which I
have told, recall<br /> To mind, thy wish may be in part fulfill'd:<br />
For thou wilt see the point from whence they split,<br /> Nor miss of the
reproof, which that implies,<br /> 'That well they thrive not sworn with
vanity."' <br /><br /> <a name="link12" id="link12"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> Soon as its final word the blessed flame<br /> Had rais'd for
utterance, straight the holy mill<br /> Began to wheel, nor yet had once
revolv'd,<br /> Or ere another, circling, compass'd it,<br /> Motion to
motion, song to song, conjoining,<br /> Song, that as much our muses doth
excel,<br /> Our Sirens with their tuneful pipes, as ray<br /> Of primal
splendour doth its faint reflex.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a
href="images/12-16.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="12-16th.jpg (37K)" src="images/12-16th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> As when, if Juno
bid her handmaid forth,<br /> Two arches parallel, and trick'd alike,<br />
Span the thin cloud, the outer taking birth<br /> From that within (in
manner of that voice<br /> Whom love did melt away, as sun the mist),<br />
And they who gaze, presageful call to mind<br /> The compact, made with
Noah, of the world<br /> No more to be o'erflow'd; about us thus<br /> Of
sempiternal roses, bending, wreath'd<br /> Those garlands twain, and to the
innermost<br /> E'en thus th' external answered. When the footing,<br />
And other great festivity, of song,<br /> And radiance, light with light
accordant, each<br /> Jocund and blythe, had at their pleasure still'd<br />
(E'en as the eyes by quick volition mov'd,<br /> Are shut and rais'd
together), from the heart<br /> Of one amongst the new lights mov'd a
voice,<br /> That made me seem like needle to the star,<br /> In turning to
its whereabout, and thus<br /> Began: "The love, that makes me beautiful,<br />
Prompts me to tell of th' other guide, for whom<br /> Such good of mine is
spoken. Where one is,<br /> The other worthily should also be;<br />
That as their warfare was alike, alike<br /> Should be their glory. Slow,
and full of doubt,<br /> And with thin ranks, after its banner mov'd<br />
The army of Christ (which it so clearly cost<br /> To reappoint), when its
imperial Head,<br /> Who reigneth ever, for the drooping host<br /> Did make
provision, thorough grace alone,<br /> And not through its deserving.
As thou heard'st,<br /> Two champions to the succour of his spouse<br />
He sent, who by their deeds and words might join<br /> Again his scatter'd
people. In that clime,<br /> Where springs the pleasant west-wind to
unfold<br /> The fresh leaves, with which Europe sees herself<br />
New-garmented; nor from those billows far,<br /> Beyond whose chiding,
after weary course,<br /> The sun doth sometimes hide him, safe abides<br />
The happy Callaroga, under guard<br /> Of the great shield, wherein the
lion lies<br /> Subjected and supreme. And there was born<br /> The
loving million of the Christian faith,<br /> The hollow'd wrestler, gentle
to his own,<br /> And to his enemies terrible. So replete<br /> His
soul with lively virtue, that when first<br /> Created, even in the
mother's womb,<br /> It prophesied. When, at the sacred font,<br />
The spousals were complete 'twixt faith and him,<br /> Where pledge of
mutual safety was exchang'd,<br /> The dame, who was his surety, in her
sleep<br /> Beheld the wondrous fruit, that was from him<br /> And from his
heirs to issue. And that such<br /> He might be construed, as indeed
he was,<br /> She was inspir'd to name him of his owner,<br /> Whose he was
wholly, and so call'd him Dominic.<br /> And I speak of him, as the
labourer,<br /> Whom Christ in his own garden chose to be<br /> His
help-mate. Messenger he seem'd, and friend<br /> Fast-knit to Christ;
and the first love he show'd,<br /> Was after the first counsel that Christ
gave.<br /> Many a time his nurse, at entering found<br /> That he had ris'n
in silence, and was prostrate,<br /> As who should say, "My errand was for
this."<br /> O happy father! Felix rightly nam'd!<br /> O favour'd
mother! rightly nam'd Joanna!<br /> If that do mean, as men interpret it.<br />
Not for the world's sake, for which now they pore<br /> Upon Ostiense and
Taddeo's page,<br /> But for the real manna, soon he grew<br /> Mighty in
learning, and did set himself<br /> To go about the vineyard, that soon
turns<br /> To wan and wither'd, if not tended well:<br /> And from the see
(whose bounty to the just<br /> And needy is gone by, not through its
fault,<br /> But his who fills it basely, he besought,<br /> No dispensation
for commuted wrong,<br /> Nor the first vacant fortune, nor the tenth),<br />
That to God's paupers rightly appertain,<br /> But, 'gainst an erring and
degenerate world,<br /> Licence to fight, in favour of that seed,<br /> From
which the twice twelve cions gird thee round.<br /> Then, with sage
doctrine and good will to help,<br /> Forth on his great apostleship he
far'd,<br /> Like torrent bursting from a lofty vein;<br /> And, dashing
'gainst the stocks of heresy,<br /> Smote fiercest, where resistance was
most stout.<br /> Thence many rivulets have since been turn'd,<br /> Over
the garden Catholic to lead<br /> Their living waters, and have fed its
plants.<br /> <br /> "If such one wheel of that
two-yoked car,<br /> Wherein the holy church defended her,<br /> And rode
triumphant through the civil broil.<br /> Thou canst not doubt its fellow's
excellence,<br /> Which Thomas, ere my coming, hath declar'd<br /> So
courteously unto thee. But the track,<br /> Which its smooth fellies
made, is now deserted:<br /> That mouldy mother is where late were lees.<br />
His family, that wont to trace his path,<br /> Turn backward, and invert
their steps; erelong<br /> To rue the gathering in of their ill crop,<br />
When the rejected tares in vain shall ask<br /> Admittance to the barn.
I question not<br /> But he, who search'd our volume, leaf by leaf,<br />
Might still find page with this inscription on't,<br /> 'I am as I was
wont.' Yet such were not<br /> From Acquasparta nor Casale, whence<br />
Of those, who come to meddle with the text,<br /> One stretches and another
cramps its rule.<br /> Bonaventura's life in me behold,<br /> From
Bagnororegio, one, who in discharge<br /> Of my great offices still laid
aside<br /> All sinister aim. Illuminato here,<br /> And Agostino join
me: two they were,<br /> Among the first of those barefooted meek ones,<br />
Who sought God's friendship in the cord: with them<br /> Hugues of Saint
Victor, Pietro Mangiadore,<br /> And he of Spain in his twelve volumes
shining,<br /> Nathan the prophet, Metropolitan<br /> Chrysostom, and
Anselmo, and, who deign'd<br /> To put his hand to the first art, Donatus.<br />
Raban is here: and at my side there shines<br /> Calabria's abbot, Joachim,
endow'd<br /> With soul prophetic. The bright courtesy<br /> Of friar
Thomas, and his goodly lore,<br /> Have mov'd me to the blazon of a peer<br />
So worthy, and with me have mov'd this throng." <br /><br /> <a name="link13"
id="link13"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XIII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> Let him, who would conceive what now I saw,<br /> Imagine (and retain
the image firm,<br /> As mountain rock, the whilst he hears me speak),<br />
Of stars fifteen, from midst the ethereal host<br /> Selected, that, with
lively ray serene,<br /> O'ercome the massiest air: thereto imagine<br />
The wain, that, in the bosom of our sky,<br /> Spins ever on its axle night
and day,<br /> With the bright summit of that horn which swells<br /> Due
from the pole, round which the first wheel rolls,<br /> T' have rang'd
themselves in fashion of two signs<br /> In heav'n, such as Ariadne made,<br />
When death's chill seized her; and that one of them<br /> Did compass in
the other's beam; and both<br /> In such sort whirl around, that each
should tend<br /> With opposite motion and, conceiving thus,<br /> Of that
true constellation, and the dance<br /> Twofold, that circled me, he shall
attain<br /> As 't were the shadow; for things there as much<br /> Surpass
our usage, as the swiftest heav'n<br /> Is swifter than the Chiana. There
was sung<br /> No Bacchus, and no Io Paean, but<br /> Three Persons in the
Godhead, and in one<br /> Substance that nature and the human join'd.<br />
<br /> The song fulfill'd its measure; and to
us<br /> Those saintly lights attended, happier made<br /> At each new
minist'ring. Then silence brake,<br /> Amid th' accordant sons of
Deity,<br /> That luminary, in which the wondrous life<br /> Of the meek man
of God was told to me;<br /> And thus it spake: "One ear o' th' harvest
thresh'd,<br /> And its grain safely stor'd, sweet charity<br /> Invites me
with the other to like toil.<br /> <br /> "Thou
know'st, that in the bosom, whence the rib<br /> Was ta'en to fashion that
fair cheek, whose taste<br /> All the world pays for, and in that, which
pierc'd<br /> By the keen lance, both after and before<br /> Such
satisfaction offer'd, as outweighs<br /> Each evil in the scale, whate'er
of light<br /> To human nature is allow'd, must all<br /> Have by his virtue
been infus'd, who form'd<br /> Both one and other: and thou thence admir'st<br />
In that I told thee, of beatitudes<br /> A second, there is none, to his
enclos'd<br /> In the fifth radiance. Open now thine eyes<br /> To
what I answer thee; and thou shalt see<br /> Thy deeming and my saying meet
in truth,<br /> As centre in the round. That which dies not,<br /> And
that which can die, are but each the beam<br /> Of that idea, which our
Soverign Sire<br /> Engendereth loving; for that lively light,<br /> Which
passeth from his brightness; not disjoin'd<br /> From him, nor from his
love triune with them,<br /> Doth, through his bounty, congregate itself,<br />
Mirror'd, as 't were in new existences,<br /> Itself unalterable and ever
one.<br /> <br /> "Descending hence unto the
lowest powers,<br /> Its energy so sinks, at last it makes<br /> But brief
contingencies: for so I name<br /> Things generated, which the heav'nly
orbs<br /> Moving, with seed or without seed, produce.<br /> Their wax, and
that which molds it, differ much:<br /> And thence with lustre, more or
less, it shows<br /> Th' ideal stamp impress: so that one tree<br />
According to his kind, hath better fruit,<br /> And worse: and, at your
birth, ye, mortal men,<br /> Are in your talents various. Were the
wax<br /> Molded with nice exactness, and the heav'n<br /> In its disposing
influence supreme,<br /> The lustre of the seal should be complete:<br />
But nature renders it imperfect ever,<br /> Resembling thus the artist in
her work,<br /> Whose faultering hand is faithless to his skill.<br />
Howe'er, if love itself dispose, and mark<br /> The primal virtue, kindling
with bright view,<br /> There all perfection is vouchsafed; and such<br />
The clay was made, accomplish'd with each gift,<br /> That life can teem
with; such the burden fill'd<br /> The virgin's bosom: so that I commend<br />
Thy judgment, that the human nature ne'er<br /> Was or can be, such as in
them it was.<br /> <br /> "Did I advance no
further than this point,<br /> 'How then had he no peer?' thou
might'st reply.<br /> But, that what now appears not, may appear<br /> Right
plainly, ponder, who he was, and what<br /> (When he was bidden 'Ask' ),
the motive sway'd<br /> To his requesting. I have spoken thus,<br />
That thou mayst see, he was a king, who ask'd<br /> For wisdom, to the end
he might be king<br /> Sufficient: not the number to search out<br /> Of the
celestial movers; or to know,<br /> If necessary with contingent e'er<br />
Have made necessity; or whether that<br /> Be granted, that first motion
is; or if<br /> Of the mid circle can, by art, be made<br /> Triangle with
each corner, blunt or sharp.<br /> <br /> "Whence,
noting that, which I have said, and this,<br /> Thou kingly prudence and
that ken mayst learn,<br /> At which the dart of my intention aims.<br />
And, marking clearly, that I told thee, 'Risen,'<br /> Thou shalt discern
it only hath respect<br /> To kings, of whom are many, and the good<br />
Are rare. With this distinction take my words;<br /> And they may
well consist with that which thou<br /> Of the first human father dost
believe,<br /> And of our well-beloved. And let this<br /> Henceforth
be led unto thy feet, to make<br /> Thee slow in motion, as a weary man,<br />
Both to the 'yea' and to the 'nay' thou seest not.<br /> For he among the
fools is down full low,<br /> Whose affirmation, or denial, is<br /> Without
distinction, in each case alike<br /> Since it befalls, that in most
instances<br /> Current opinion leads to false: and then<br /> Affection
bends the judgment to her ply.<br /> <br /> "Much
more than vainly doth he loose from shore,<br /> Since he returns not such
as he set forth,<br /> Who fishes for the truth and wanteth skill.<br /> And
open proofs of this unto the world<br /> Have been afforded in Parmenides,<br />
Melissus, Bryso, and the crowd beside,<br /> Who journey'd on, and knew not
whither: so did<br /> Sabellius, Arius, and the other fools,<br /> Who, like
to scymitars, reflected back<br /> The scripture-image, by distortion
marr'd.<br /> <br /> "Let not the people be too
swift to judge,<br /> As one who reckons on the blades in field,<br /> Or
ere the crop be ripe. For I have seen<br /> The thorn frown rudely
all the winter long<br /> And after bear the rose upon its top;<br /> And
bark, that all the way across the sea<br /> Ran straight and speedy, perish
at the last,<br /> E'en in the haven's mouth seeing one steal,<br /> Another
brine, his offering to the priest,<br /> Let not Dame Birtha and Sir Martin
thence<br /> Into heav'n's counsels deem that they can pry:<br /> For one of
these may rise, the other fall." <br /><br /> <a name="link14" id="link14"></a>
<br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XIV
</h2>
<p>
<br /> From centre to the circle, and so back<br /> From circle to the
centre, water moves<br /> In the round chalice, even as the blow<br />
Impels it, inwardly, or from without.<br /> Such was the image glanc'd into
my mind,<br /> As the great spirit of Aquinum ceas'd;<br /> And Beatrice
after him her words<br /> Resum'd alternate: "Need there is (tho' yet<br />
He tells it to you not in words, nor e'en<br /> In thought) that he should
fathom to its depth<br /> Another mystery. Tell him, if the light,<br />
Wherewith your substance blooms, shall stay with you<br /> Eternally, as
now: and, if it doth,<br /> How, when ye shall regain your visible forms,<br />
The sight may without harm endure the change,<br /> That also tell." As
those, who in a ring<br /> Tread the light measure, in their fitful mirth<br />
Raise loud the voice, and spring with gladder bound;<br /> Thus, at the
hearing of that pious suit,<br /> The saintly circles in their tourneying<br />
And wond'rous note attested new delight.<br /> <br /> Whoso
laments, that we must doff this garb<br /> Of frail mortality, thenceforth
to live<br /> Immortally above, he hath not seen<br /> The sweet refreshing,
of that heav'nly shower.<br /> <br /> Him, who
lives ever, and for ever reigns<br /> In mystic union of the Three in One,<br />
Unbounded, bounding all, each spirit thrice<br /> Sang, with such melody,
as but to hear<br /> For highest merit were an ample meed.<br /> And from
the lesser orb the goodliest light,<br /> With gentle voice and mild, such
as perhaps<br /> The angel's once to Mary, thus replied:<br /> "Long as the
joy of Paradise shall last,<br /> Our love shall shine around that raiment,
bright,<br /> As fervent; fervent, as in vision blest;<br /> And that as far
in blessedness exceeding,<br /> As it hath grave beyond its virtue great.<br />
Our shape, regarmented with glorious weeds<br /> Of saintly flesh, must,
being thus entire,<br /> Show yet more gracious. Therefore shall
increase,<br /> Whate'er of light, gratuitous, imparts<br /> The Supreme
Good; light, ministering aid,<br /> The better disclose his glory: whence<br />
The vision needs increasing, much increase<br /> The fervour, which it
kindles; and that too<br /> The ray, that comes from it. But as the
greed<br /> Which gives out flame, yet it its whiteness shines<br /> More
lively than that, and so preserves<br /> Its proper semblance; thus this
circling sphere<br /> Of splendour, shall to view less radiant seem,<br />
Than shall our fleshly robe, which yonder earth<br /> Now covers. Nor
will such excess of light<br /> O'erpower us, in corporeal organs made<br />
Firm, and susceptible of all delight."<br /> <br /> So
ready and so cordial an "Amen,"<br /> Followed from either choir, as
plainly spoke<br /> Desire of their dead bodies; yet perchance<br /> Not for
themselves, but for their kindred dear,<br /> Mothers and sires, and those
whom best they lov'd,<br /> Ere they were made imperishable flame.<br />
<br /> And lo! forthwith there rose up round
about<br /> A lustre over that already there,<br /> Of equal clearness, like
the brightening up<br /> Of the horizon. As at an evening hour<br />
Of twilight, new appearances through heav'n<br /> Peer with faint glimmer,
doubtfully descried;<br /> So there new substances, methought began<br /> To
rise in view; and round the other twain<br /> Enwheeling, sweep their
ampler circuit wide.<br /> <br /> O gentle
glitter of eternal beam!<br /> With what a such whiteness did it flow,<br />
O'erpowering vision in me! But so fair,<br /> So passing lovely,
Beatrice show'd,<br /> Mind cannot follow it, nor words express<br /> Her
infinite sweetness. Thence mine eyes regain'd<br /> Power to look up,
and I beheld myself,<br /> Sole with my lady, to more lofty bliss<br />
Translated: for the star, with warmer smile<br /> Impurpled, well denoted
our ascent.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a href="images/14-77.jpg">ENLARGE
TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="14-77th.jpg (33K)" src="images/14-77th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> With all the
heart, and with that tongue which speaks<br /> The same in all, an
holocaust I made<br /> To God, befitting the new grace vouchsaf'd.<br /> And
from my bosom had not yet upsteam'd<br /> The fuming of that incense, when
I knew<br /> The rite accepted. With such mighty sheen<br /> And
mantling crimson, in two listed rays<br /> The splendours shot before me,
that I cried,<br /> "God of Sabaoth! that does prank them thus!"<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br />
<a href="images/14-96.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="14-96th.jpg (38K)" src="images/14-96th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> As leads the
galaxy from pole to pole,<br /> Distinguish'd into greater lights and less,<br />
Its pathway, which the wisest fail to spell;<br /> So thickly studded, in
the depth of Mars,<br /> Those rays describ'd the venerable sign,<br /> That
quadrants in the round conjoining frame.<br /> Here memory mocks the toil
of genius. Christ<br /> Beam'd on that cross; and pattern fails me
now.<br /> But whoso takes his cross, and follows Christ<br /> Will pardon
me for that I leave untold,<br /> When in the flecker'd dawning he shall
spy<br /> The glitterance of Christ. From horn to horn,<br /> And
'tween the summit and the base did move<br /> Lights, scintillating, as
they met and pass'd.<br /> Thus oft are seen, with ever-changeful glance,<br />
Straight or athwart, now rapid and now slow,<br /> The atomies of bodies,
long or short,<br /> To move along the sunbeam, whose slant line<br />
Checkers the shadow, interpos'd by art<br /> Against the noontide heat.
And as the chime<br /> Of minstrel music, dulcimer, and help<br />
With many strings, a pleasant dining makes<br /> To him, who heareth not
distinct the note;<br /> So from the lights, which there appear'd to me,<br />
Gather'd along the cross a melody,<br /> That, indistinctly heard, with
ravishment<br /> Possess'd me. Yet I mark'd it was a hymn<br /> Of
lofty praises; for there came to me<br /> "Arise and conquer," as to one
who hears<br /> And comprehends not. Me such ecstasy<br /> O'ercame,
that never till that hour was thing<br /> That held me in so sweet
imprisonment.<br /> <br /> Perhaps my saying
over bold appears,<br /> Accounting less the pleasure of those eyes,<br />
Whereon to look fulfilleth all desire.<br /> But he, who is aware those
living seals<br /> Of every beauty work with quicker force,<br /> The higher
they are ris'n; and that there<br /> I had not turn'd me to them; he may
well<br /> Excuse me that, whereof in my excuse<br /> I do accuse me, and
may own my truth;<br /> That holy pleasure here not yet reveal'd,<br />
Which grows in transport as we mount aloof. <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />
<a name="link15" id="link15"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XV
</h2>
<p>
<br /> True love, that ever shows itself as clear<br /> In kindness, as
loose appetite in wrong,<br /> Silenced that lyre harmonious, and still'd<br />
The sacred chords, that are by heav'n's right hand<br /> Unwound and
tighten'd, flow to righteous prayers<br /> Should they not hearken, who, to
give me will<br /> For praying, in accordance thus were mute?<br /> He hath
in sooth good cause for endless grief,<br /> Who, for the love of thing
that lasteth not,<br /> Despoils himself forever of that love.<br /> <br /> As
oft along the still and pure serene,<br /> At nightfall, glides a sudden
trail of fire,<br /> Attracting with involuntary heed<br /> The eye to
follow it, erewhile at rest,<br /> And seems some star that shifted place
in heav'n,<br /> Only that, whence it kindles, none is lost,<br /> And it is
soon extinct; thus from the horn,<br /> That on the dexter of the cross
extends,<br /> Down to its foot, one luminary ran<br /> From mid the cluster
shone there; yet no gem<br /> Dropp'd from its foil; and through the beamy
list<br /> Like flame in alabaster, glow'd its course.<br /> <br /> So
forward stretch'd him (if of credence aught<br /> Our greater muse may
claim) the pious ghost<br /> Of old Anchises, in the' Elysian bower,<br />
When he perceiv'd his son. "O thou, my blood!<br /> O most exceeding
grace divine! to whom,<br /> As now to thee, hath twice the heav'nly gate<br />
Been e'er unclos'd?" so spake the light; whence I<br /> Turn'd me toward
him; then unto my dame<br /> My sight directed, and on either side<br />
Amazement waited me; for in her eyes<br /> Was lighted such a smile, I
thought that mine<br /> Had div'd unto the bottom of my grace<br /> And of
my bliss in Paradise. Forthwith<br /> To hearing and to sight
grateful alike,<br /> The spirit to his proem added things<br /> I
understood not, so profound he spake;<br /> Yet not of choice but through
necessity<br /> Mysterious; for his high conception scar'd<br /> Beyond the
mark of mortals. When the flight<br /> Of holy transport had so spent
its rage,<br /> That nearer to the level of our thought<br /> The speech
descended, the first sounds I heard<br /> Were, "Best he thou, Triunal
Deity!<br /> That hast such favour in my seed vouchsaf'd!"<br /> Then
follow'd: "No unpleasant thirst, tho' long,<br /> Which took me reading in
the sacred book,<br /> Whose leaves or white or dusky never change,<br />
Thou hast allay'd, my son, within this light,<br /> From whence my voice
thou hear'st; more thanks to her.<br /> Who for such lofty mounting has
with plumes<br /> Begirt thee. Thou dost deem thy thoughts to me<br />
From him transmitted, who is first of all,<br /> E'en as all numbers ray
from unity;<br /> And therefore dost not ask me who I am,<br /> Or why to
thee more joyous I appear,<br /> Than any other in this gladsome throng.<br />
The truth is as thou deem'st; for in this hue<br /> Both less and greater
in that mirror look,<br /> In which thy thoughts, or ere thou think'st, are
shown.<br /> But, that the love, which keeps me wakeful ever,<br /> Urging
with sacred thirst of sweet desire,<br /> May be contended fully, let thy
voice,<br /> Fearless, and frank and jocund, utter forth<br /> Thy will
distinctly, utter forth the wish,<br /> Whereto my ready answer stands
decreed."<br /> <br /> I turn'd me to Beatrice;
and she heard<br /> Ere I had spoken, smiling, an assent,<br /> That to my
will gave wings; and I began<br /> "To each among your tribe, what time ye
kenn'd<br /> The nature, in whom naught unequal dwells,<br /> Wisdom and
love were in one measure dealt;<br /> For that they are so equal in the
sun,<br /> From whence ye drew your radiance and your heat,<br /> As makes
all likeness scant. But will and means,<br /> In mortals, for the
cause ye well discern,<br /> With unlike wings are fledge. A mortal I<br />
Experience inequality like this,<br /> And therefore give no thanks, but in
the heart,<br /> For thy paternal greeting. This howe'er<br /> I pray
thee, living topaz! that ingemm'st<br /> This precious jewel, let me hear
thy name."<br /> <br /> "I am thy root, O leaf!
whom to expect<br /> Even, hath pleas'd me:" thus the prompt reply<br />
Prefacing, next it added: "he, of whom<br /> Thy kindred appellation comes,
and who,<br /> These hundred years and more, on its first ledge<br /> Hath
circuited the mountain, was my son<br /> And thy great grandsire. Well
befits, his long<br /> Endurance should be shorten'd by thy deeds.<br />
<br /> "Florence, within her ancient
limit-mark,<br /> Which calls her still to matin prayers and noon,<br /> Was
chaste and sober, and abode in peace.<br /> She had no armlets and no
head-tires then,<br /> No purfled dames, no zone, that caught the eye<br />
More than the person did. Time was not yet,<br /> When at his
daughter's birth the sire grew pale.<br /> For fear the age and dowry
should exceed<br /> On each side just proportion. House was none<br />
Void of its family; nor yet had come<br /> Hardanapalus, to exhibit feats<br />
Of chamber prowess. Montemalo yet<br /> O'er our suburban turret
rose; as much<br /> To be surpass in fall, as in its rising.<br /> I saw
Bellincione Berti walk abroad<br /> In leathern girdle and a clasp of bone;<br />
And, with no artful colouring on her cheeks,<br /> His lady leave the
glass. The sons I saw<br /> Of Nerli and of Vecchio well content<br />
With unrob'd jerkin; and their good dames handling<br /> The spindle and
the flax; O happy they!<br /> Each sure of burial in her native land,<br />
And none left desolate a-bed for France!<br /> One wak'd to tend the
cradle, hushing it<br /> With sounds that lull'd the parent's infancy:<br />
Another, with her maidens, drawing off<br /> The tresses from the distaff,
lectur'd them<br /> Old tales of Troy and Fesole and Rome.<br /> A
Salterello and Cianghella we<br /> Had held as strange a marvel, as ye
would<br /> A Cincinnatus or Cornelia now.<br /> <br /> "In
such compos'd and seemly fellowship,<br /> Such faithful and such fair
equality,<br /> In so sweet household, Mary at my birth<br /> Bestow'd me,
call'd on with loud cries; and there<br /> In your old baptistery, I was
made<br /> Christian at once and Cacciaguida; as were<br /> My brethren,
Eliseo and Moronto.<br /> <br /> "From
Valdipado came to me my spouse,<br /> And hence thy surname grew. I
follow'd then<br /> The Emperor Conrad; and his knighthood he<br /> Did gird
on me; in such good part he took<br /> My valiant service. After him
I went<br /> To testify against that evil law,<br /> Whose people, by the
shepherd's fault, possess<br /> Your right, usurping. There, by that
foul crew<br /> Was I releas'd from the deceitful world,<br /> Whose base
affection many a spirit soils,<br /> And from the martyrdom came to this
peace." <br /><br /> <a name="link16" id="link16"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XVI
</h2>
<p>
<br /> O slight respect of man's nobility!<br /> I never shall account it
marvelous,<br /> That our infirm affection here below<br /> Thou mov'st to
boasting, when I could not choose,<br /> E'en in that region of unwarp'd
desire,<br /> In heav'n itself, but make my vaunt in thee!<br /> Yet cloak
thou art soon shorten'd, for that time,<br /> Unless thou be eked out from
day to day,<br /> Goes round thee with his shears. Resuming then<br />
With greeting such, as Rome, was first to bear,<br /> But since hath
disaccustom'd I began;<br /> And Beatrice, that a little space<br /> Was
sever'd, smil'd reminding me of her,<br /> Whose cough embolden'd (as the
story holds)<br /> To first offence the doubting Guenever.<br /> <br /> "You
are my sire," said I, "you give me heart<br /> Freely to speak my thought:
above myself<br /> You raise me. Through so many streams with joy<br />
My soul is fill'd, that gladness wells from it;<br /> So that it bears the
mighty tide, and bursts not<br /> Say then, my honour'd stem! what
ancestors<br /> Where those you sprang from, and what years were mark'd<br />
In your first childhood? Tell me of the fold,<br /> That hath Saint
John for guardian, what was then<br /> Its state, and who in it were
highest seated?"<br /> <br /> As embers, at the
breathing of the wind,<br /> Their flame enliven, so that light I saw<br />
Shine at my blandishments; and, as it grew<br /> More fair to look on, so
with voice more sweet,<br /> Yet not in this our modern phrase, forthwith<br />
It answer'd: "From the day, when it was said<br /> 'Hail Virgin!' to the
throes, by which my mother,<br /> Who now is sainted, lighten'd her of me<br />
Whom she was heavy with, this fire had come,<br /> Five hundred fifty times
and thrice, its beams<br /> To reilumine underneath the foot<br /> Of its
own lion. They, of whom I sprang,<br /> And I, had there our
birth-place, where the last<br /> Partition of our city first is reach'd<br />
By him, that runs her annual game. Thus much<br /> Suffice of my
forefathers: who they were,<br /> And whence they hither came, more
honourable<br /> It is to pass in silence than to tell.<br /> All those, who
in that time were there from Mars<br /> Until the Baptist, fit to carry
arms,<br /> Were but the fifth of them this day alive.<br /> But then the
citizen's blood, that now is mix'd<br /> From Campi and Certaldo and
Fighine,<br /> Ran purely through the last mechanic's veins.<br /> O how
much better were it, that these people<br /> Were neighbours to you, and
that at Galluzzo<br /> And at Trespiano, ye should have your bound'ry,<br />
Than to have them within, and bear the stench<br /> Of Aguglione's hind,
and Signa's, him,<br /> That hath his eye already keen for bart'ring!<br />
Had not the people, which of all the world<br /> Degenerates most, been
stepdame unto Caesar,<br /> But, as a mother, gracious to her son;<br />
Such one, as hath become a Florentine,<br /> And trades and traffics, had
been turn'd adrift<br /> To Simifonte, where his grandsire ply'd<br /> The
beggar's craft. The Conti were possess'd<br /> Of Montemurlo still:
the Cerchi still<br /> Were in Acone's parish; nor had haply<br /> From
Valdigrieve past the Buondelmonte.<br /> The city's malady hath ever source<br />
In the confusion of its persons, as<br /> The body's, in variety of food:<br />
And the blind bull falls with a steeper plunge,<br /> Than the blind lamb;
and oftentimes one sword<br /> Doth more and better execution,<br /> Than
five. Mark Luni, Urbisaglia mark,<br /> How they are gone, and after
them how go<br /> Chiusi and Sinigaglia; and 't will seem<br /> No longer
new or strange to thee to hear,<br /> That families fail, when cities have
their end.<br /> All things, that appertain t' ye, like yourselves,<br />
Are mortal: but mortality in some<br /> Ye mark not, they endure so long,
and you<br /> Pass by so suddenly. And as the moon<br /> Doth, by the
rolling of her heav'nly sphere,<br /> Hide and reveal the strand
unceasingly;<br /> So fortune deals with Florence. Hence admire not<br />
At what of them I tell thee, whose renown<br /> Time covers, the first
Florentines. I saw<br /> The Ughi, Catilini and Filippi,<br /> The
Alberichi, Greci and Ormanni,<br /> Now in their wane, illustrious
citizens:<br /> And great as ancient, of Sannella him,<br /> With him of
Arca saw, and Soldanieri<br /> And Ardinghi, and Bostichi. At the
poop,<br /> That now is laden with new felony,<br /> So cumb'rous it may
speedily sink the bark,<br /> The Ravignani sat, of whom is sprung<br /> The
County Guido, and whoso hath since<br /> His title from the fam'd
Bellincione ta'en.<br /> Fair governance was yet an art well priz'd<br /> By
him of Pressa: Galigaio show'd<br /> The gilded hilt and pommel, in his
house.<br /> The column, cloth'd with verrey, still was seen<br /> Unshaken:
the Sacchetti still were great,<br /> Giouchi, Sifanti, Galli and Barucci,<br />
With them who blush to hear the bushel nam'd.<br /> Of the Calfucci still
the branchy trunk<br /> Was in its strength: and to the curule chairs<br />
Sizii and Arigucci yet were drawn.<br /> How mighty them I saw, whom since
their pride<br /> Hath undone! and in all her goodly deeds<br /> Florence
was by the bullets of bright gold<br /> O'erflourish'd. Such the
sires of those, who now,<br /> As surely as your church is vacant, flock<br />
Into her consistory, and at leisure<br /> There stall them and grow fat.
The o'erweening brood,<br /> That plays the dragon after him that
flees,<br /> But unto such, as turn and show the tooth,<br /> Ay or the
purse, is gentle as a lamb,<br /> Was on its rise, but yet so slight
esteem'd,<br /> That Ubertino of Donati grudg'd<br /> His father-in-law
should yoke him to its tribe.<br /> Already Caponsacco had descended<br />
Into the mart from Fesole: and Giuda<br /> And Infangato were good
citizens.<br /> A thing incredible I tell, tho' true:<br /> The gateway,
named from those of Pera, led<br /> Into the narrow circuit of your walls.<br />
Each one, who bears the sightly quarterings<br /> Of the great Baron (he
whose name and worth<br /> The festival of Thomas still revives)<br /> His
knighthood and his privilege retain'd;<br /> Albeit one, who borders them
With gold,<br /> This day is mingled with the common herd.<br /> In Borgo
yet the Gualterotti dwelt,<br /> And Importuni: well for its repose<br />
Had it still lack'd of newer neighbourhood.<br /> The house, from whence
your tears have had their spring,<br /> Through the just anger that hath
murder'd ye<br /> And put a period to your gladsome days,<br /> Was
honour'd, it, and those consorted with it.<br /> O Buondelmonte! what ill
counseling<br /> Prevail'd on thee to break the plighted bond<br /> Many,
who now are weeping, would rejoice,<br /> Had God to Ema giv'n thee, the
first time<br /> Thou near our city cam'st. But so was doom'd:<br />
On that maim'd stone set up to guard the bridge,<br /> At thy last peace,
the victim, Florence! fell.<br /> With these and others like to them, I saw<br />
Florence in such assur'd tranquility,<br /> She had no cause at which to
grieve: with these<br /> Saw her so glorious and so just, that ne'er<br />
The lily from the lance had hung reverse,<br /> Or through division been
with vermeil dyed." <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a href="images/16-143.jpg">ENLARGE
TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="16-143th.jpg (28K)" src="images/16-143th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <a name="link17" id="link17"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XVII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> Such as the youth, who came to Clymene<br /> To certify himself of
that reproach,<br /> Which had been fasten'd on him, (he whose end<br />
Still makes the fathers chary to their sons),<br /> E'en such was I; nor
unobserv'd was such<br /> Of Beatrice, and that saintly lamp,<br /> Who had
erewhile for me his station mov'd;<br /> When thus by lady: "Give thy wish
free vent,<br /> That it may issue, bearing true report<br /> Of the mind's
impress; not that aught thy words<br /> May to our knowledge add, but to
the end,<br /> That thou mayst use thyself to own thy thirst<br /> And men
may mingle for thee when they hear."<br /> <br /> "O
plant! from whence I spring! rever'd and lov'd!<br /> Who soar'st so high a
pitch, thou seest as clear,<br /> As earthly thought determines two obtuse<br />
In one triangle not contain'd, so clear<br /> Dost see contingencies, ere
in themselves<br /> Existent, looking at the point whereto<br /> All times
are present, I, the whilst I scal'd<br /> With Virgil the soul purifying
mount,<br /> And visited the nether world of woe,<br /> Touching my future
destiny have heard<br /> Words grievous, though I feel me on all sides<br />
Well squar'd to fortune's blows. Therefore my will<br /> Were
satisfied to know the lot awaits me,<br /> The arrow, seen beforehand,
slacks its flight."<br /> <br /> So said I to
the brightness, which erewhile<br /> To me had spoken, and my will
declar'd,<br /> As Beatrice will'd, explicitly.<br /> Nor with oracular
response obscure,<br /> Such, as or ere the Lamb of God was slain,<br />
Beguil'd the credulous nations; but, in terms<br /> Precise and unambiguous
lore, replied<br /> The spirit of paternal love, enshrin'd,<br /> Yet in his
smile apparent; and thus spake:<br /> "Contingency, unfolded not to view<br />
Upon the tablet of your mortal mold,<br /> Is all depictur'd in the'
eternal sight;<br /> But hence deriveth not necessity,<br /> More then the
tall ship, hurried down the flood,<br /> Doth from the vision, that
reflects the scene.<br /> From thence, as to the ear sweet harmony<br />
From organ comes, so comes before mine eye<br /> The time prepar'd for
thee. Such as driv'n out<br /> From Athens, by his cruel stepdame's
wiles,<br /> Hippolytus departed, such must thou<br /> Depart from Florence.
This they wish, and this<br /> Contrive, and will ere long
effectuate, there,<br /> Where gainful merchandize is made of Christ,<br />
Throughout the livelong day. The common cry,<br /> Will, as 't is
ever wont, affix the blame<br /> Unto the party injur'd: but the truth<br />
Shall, in the vengeance it dispenseth, find<br /> A faithful witness.
Thou shall leave each thing<br /> Belov'd most dearly: this is the
first shaft<br /> Shot from the bow of exile. Thou shalt prove<br />
How salt the savour is of other's bread,<br /> How hard the passage to
descend and climb<br /> By other's stairs, But that shall gall thee most<br />
Will be the worthless and vile company,<br /> With whom thou must be thrown
into these straits.<br /> For all ungrateful, impious all and mad,<br />
Shall turn 'gainst thee: but in a little while<br /> Theirs and not thine
shall be the crimson'd brow<br /> Their course shall so evince their
brutishness<br /> T' have ta'en thy stand apart shall well become thee.<br />
<br /> "First refuge thou must find, first
place of rest,<br /> In the great Lombard's courtesy, who bears<br /> Upon
the ladder perch'd the sacred bird.<br /> He shall behold thee with such
kind regard,<br /> That 'twixt ye two, the contrary to that<br /> Which
falls 'twixt other men, the granting shall<br /> Forerun the asking. With
him shalt thou see<br /> That mortal, who was at his birth impress<br /> So
strongly from this star, that of his deeds<br /> The nations shall take
note. His unripe age<br /> Yet holds him from observance; for these
wheels<br /> Only nine years have compass him about.<br /> But, ere the
Gascon practice on great Harry,<br /> Sparkles of virtue shall shoot forth
in him,<br /> In equal scorn of labours and of gold.<br /> His bounty shall
be spread abroad so widely,<br /> As not to let the tongues e'en of his
foes<br /> Be idle in its praise. Look thou to him<br /> And his
beneficence: for he shall cause<br /> Reversal of their lot to many people,<br />
Rich men and beggars interchanging fortunes.<br /> And thou shalt bear this
written in thy soul<br /> Of him, but tell it not;" and things he told<br />
Incredible to those who witness them;<br /> Then added: "So interpret thou,
my son,<br /> What hath been told thee.—Lo! the ambushment<br /> That
a few circling seasons hide for thee!<br /> Yet envy not thy neighbours:
time extends<br /> Thy span beyond their treason's chastisement."<br />
<br /> Soon, as the saintly spirit, by his
silence,<br /> Had shown the web, which I had streteh'd for him<br /> Upon
the warp, was woven, I began,<br /> As one, who in perplexity desires<br />
Counsel of other, wise, benign and friendly:<br /> "My father! well I mark
how time spurs on<br /> Toward me, ready to inflict the blow,<br /> Which
falls most heavily on him, who most<br /> Abandoned himself. Therefore
't is good<br /> I should forecast, that driven from the place<br /> Most
dear to me, I may not lose myself<br /> All others by my song. Down
through the world<br /> Of infinite mourning, and along the mount<br /> From
whose fair height my lady's eyes did lift me,<br /> And after through this
heav'n from light to light,<br /> Have I learnt that, which if I tell
again,<br /> It may with many woefully disrelish;<br /> And, if I am a timid
friend to truth,<br /> I fear my life may perish among those,<br /> To whom
these days shall be of ancient date."<br /> <br /> The
brightness, where enclos'd the treasure smil'd,<br /> Which I had found
there, first shone glisteningly,<br /> Like to a golden mirror in the sun;<br />
Next answer'd: "Conscience, dimm'd or by its own<br /> Or other's shame,
will feel thy saying sharp.<br /> Thou, notwithstanding, all deceit
remov'd,<br /> See the whole vision be made manifest.<br /> And let them
wince who have their withers wrung.<br /> What though, when tasted first,
thy voice shall prove<br /> Unwelcome, on digestion it will turn<br /> To
vital nourishment. The cry thou raisest,<br /> Shall, as the wind
doth, smite the proudest summits;<br /> Which is of honour no light
argument,<br /> For this there only have been shown to thee,<br />
Throughout these orbs, the mountain, and the deep,<br /> Spirits, whom fame
hath note of. For the mind<br /> Of him, who hears, is loth to
acquiesce<br /> And fix its faith, unless the instance brought<br /> Be
palpable, and proof apparent urge." <br /><br /> <a name="link18" id="link18"></a>
<br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XVIII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> <br /> CANTO XVIII Now in his word, sole, ruminating, joy'd<br /> That
blessed spirit; and I fed on mine,<br /> Tempting the sweet with bitter:
she meanwhile,<br /> Who led me unto God, admonish'd: "Muse<br /> On other
thoughts: bethink thee, that near Him<br /> I dwell, who recompenseth every
wrong."<br /> <br /> At the sweet sounds of
comfort straight I turn'd;<br /> And, in the saintly eyes what love was
seen,<br /> I leave in silence here: nor through distrust<br /> Of my words
only, but that to such bliss<br /> The mind remounts not without aid.
Thus much<br /> Yet may I speak; that, as I gaz'd on her,<br />
Affection found no room for other wish.<br /> While the everlasting
pleasure, that did full<br /> On Beatrice shine, with second view<br /> From
her fair countenance my gladden'd soul<br /> Contented; vanquishing me with
a beam<br /> Of her soft smile, she spake: "Turn thee, and list.<br /> These
eyes are not thy only Paradise."<br /> <br /> As
here we sometimes in the looks may see<br /> Th' affection mark'd, when
that its sway hath ta'en<br /> The spirit wholly; thus the hallow'd light,<br />
To whom I turn'd, flashing, bewray'd its will<br /> To talk yet further
with me, and began:<br /> "On this fifth lodgment of the tree, whose life<br />
Is from its top, whose fruit is ever fair<br /> And leaf unwith'ring,
blessed spirits abide,<br /> That were below, ere they arriv'd in heav'n,<br />
So mighty in renown, as every muse<br /> Might grace her triumph with them.
On the horns<br /> Look therefore of the cross: he, whom I name,<br />
Shall there enact, as doth in summer cloud<br /> Its nimble fire." Along
the cross I saw,<br /> At the repeated name of Joshua,<br /> A splendour
gliding; nor, the word was said,<br /> Ere it was done: then, at the naming
saw<br /> Of the great Maccabee, another move<br /> With whirling speed; and
gladness was the scourge<br /> Unto that top. The next for
Charlemagne<br /> And for the peer Orlando, two my gaze<br /> Pursued,
intently, as the eye pursues<br /> A falcon flying. Last, along the
cross,<br /> William, and Renard, and Duke Godfrey drew<br /> My ken, and
Robert Guiscard. And the soul,<br /> Who spake with me among the
other lights<br /> Did move away, and mix; and with the choir<br /> Of
heav'nly songsters prov'd his tuneful skill.<br /> <br /> To
Beatrice on my right l bent,<br /> Looking for intimation or by word<br />
Or act, what next behoov'd: and did descry<br /> Such mere effulgence in
her eyes, such joy,<br /> It past all former wont. And, as by sense<br />
Of new delight, the man, who perseveres<br /> In good deeds doth perceive
from day to day<br /> His virtue growing; I e'en thus perceiv'd<br /> Of my
ascent, together with the heav'n<br /> The circuit widen'd, noting the
increase<br /> Of beauty in that wonder. Like the change<br /> In a
brief moment on some maiden's cheek,<br /> Which from its fairness doth
discharge the weight<br /> Of pudency, that stain'd it; such in her,<br />
And to mine eyes so sudden was the change,<br /> Through silvery whiteness
of that temperate star,<br /> Whose sixth orb now enfolded us. I saw,<br />
Within that Jovial cresset, the clear sparks<br /> Of love, that reign'd
there, fashion to my view<br /> Our language. And as birds, from
river banks<br /> Arisen, now in round, now lengthen'd troop,<br /> Array
them in their flight, greeting, as seems,<br /> Their new-found pastures;
so, within the lights,<br /> The saintly creatures flying, sang, and made<br />
Now D. now I. now L. figur'd I' th' air.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a
href="images/18-70.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="18-70th.jpg (35K)" src="images/18-70th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> First, singing, to their notes they mov'd, then one<br />
Becoming of these signs, a little while<br /> Did rest them, and were mute.
O nymph divine<br /> Of Pegasean race! whose souls, which thou<br />
Inspir'st, mak'st glorious and long-liv'd, as they<br /> Cities and realms
by thee! thou with thyself<br /> Inform me; that I may set forth the
shapes,<br /> As fancy doth present them. Be thy power<br /> Display'd
in this brief song. The characters,<br /> Vocal and consonant, were
five-fold seven.<br /> In order each, as they appear'd, I mark'd.<br />
Diligite Justitiam, the first,<br /> Both verb and noun all blazon'd; and
the extreme<br /> Qui judicatis terram. In the M.<br /> Of the fifth
word they held their station,<br /> Making the star seem silver streak'd
with gold.<br /> And on the summit of the M. I saw<br /> Descending other
lights, that rested there,<br /> Singing, methinks, their bliss and primal
good.<br /> Then, as at shaking of a lighted brand,<br /> Sparkles
innumerable on all sides<br /> Rise scatter'd, source of augury to th'
unwise;<br /> Thus more than thousand twinkling lustres hence<br /> Seem'd
reascending, and a higher pitch<br /> Some mounting, and some less; e'en as
the sun,<br /> Which kindleth them, decreed. And when each one<br />
Had settled in his place, the head and neck<br /> Then saw I of an eagle,
lively<br /> Grav'd in that streaky fire. Who painteth there,<br />
Hath none to guide him; of himself he guides;<br /> And every line and
texture of the nest<br /> Doth own from him the virtue, fashions it.<br />
The other bright beatitude, that seem'd<br /> Erewhile, with lilied
crowning, well content<br /> To over-canopy the M. mov'd forth,<br />
Following gently the impress of the bird.<br /> <br /> Sweet
star! what glorious and thick-studded gems<br /> Declar'd to me our justice
on the earth<br /> To be the effluence of that heav'n, which thou,<br />
Thyself a costly jewel, dost inlay!<br /> Therefore I pray the Sovran Mind,
from whom<br /> Thy motion and thy virtue are begun,<br /> That he would
look from whence the fog doth rise,<br /> To vitiate thy beam: so that once
more<br /> He may put forth his hand 'gainst such, as drive<br /> Their
traffic in that sanctuary, whose walls<br /> With miracles and martyrdoms
were built.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a href="images/18-120.jpg">ENLARGE
TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="18-120th.jpg (29K)" src="images/18-120th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Ye host of heaven!
whose glory I survey l<br /> O beg ye grace for those, that are on earth<br />
All after ill example gone astray.<br /> War once had for its instrument
the sword:<br /> But now 't is made, taking the bread away<br /> Which the
good Father locks from none. —And thou,<br /> That writes but
to cancel, think, that they,<br /> Who for the vineyard, which thou
wastest, died,<br /> Peter and Paul live yet, and mark thy doings.<br />
Thou hast good cause to cry, "My heart so cleaves<br /> To him, that liv'd
in solitude remote,<br /> And from the wilds was dragg'd to martyrdom,<br />
I wist not of the fisherman nor Paul." <br /><br /> <a name="link19"
id="link19"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XIX
</h2>
<p>
<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a href="images/19-1.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="19-1th.jpg (29K)" src="images/19-1th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> Before my sight appear'd, with open wings,<br /> The
beauteous image, in fruition sweet<br /> Gladdening the thronged spirits.
Each did seem<br /> A little ruby, whereon so intense<br /> The
sun-beam glow'd that to mine eyes it came<br /> In clear refraction. And
that, which next<br /> Befalls me to portray, voice hath not utter'd,<br />
Nor hath ink written, nor in fantasy<br /> Was e'er conceiv'd. For I
beheld and heard<br /> The beak discourse; and, what intention form'd<br />
Of many, singly as of one express,<br /> Beginning: "For that I was just
and piteous,<br /> l am exalted to this height of glory,<br /> The which no
wish exceeds: and there on earth<br /> Have I my memory left, e'en by the
bad<br /> Commended, while they leave its course untrod."<br /> <br /> Thus
is one heat from many embers felt,<br /> As in that image many were the
loves,<br /> And one the voice, that issued from them all.<br /> Whence I
address them: "O perennial flowers<br /> Of gladness everlasting! that
exhale<br /> In single breath your odours manifold!<br /> Breathe now; and
let the hunger be appeas'd,<br /> That with great craving long hath held my
soul,<br /> Finding no food on earth. This well I know,<br /> That if
there be in heav'n a realm, that shows<br /> In faithful mirror the
celestial Justice,<br /> Yours without veil reflects it. Ye discern<br />
The heed, wherewith I do prepare myself<br /> To hearken; ye the doubt that
urges me<br /> With such inveterate craving." Straight I saw,<br />
Like to a falcon issuing from the hood,<br /> That rears his head, and
claps him with his wings,<br /> His beauty and his eagerness bewraying.<br />
So saw I move that stately sign, with praise<br /> Of grace divine inwoven
and high song<br /> Of inexpressive joy. "He," it began,<br /> "Who
turn'd his compass on the world's extreme,<br /> And in that space so
variously hath wrought,<br /> Both openly, and in secret, in such wise<br />
Could not through all the universe display<br /> Impression of his glory,
that the Word<br /> Of his omniscience should not still remain<br /> In
infinite excess. In proof whereof,<br /> He first through pride
supplanted, who was sum<br /> Of each created being, waited not<br /> For
light celestial, and abortive fell.<br /> Whence needs each lesser nature
is but scant<br /> Receptacle unto that Good, which knows<br /> No limit,
measur'd by itself alone.<br /> Therefore your sight, of th' omnipresent
Mind<br /> A single beam, its origin must own<br /> Surpassing far its
utmost potency.<br /> The ken, your world is gifted with, descends<br /> In
th' everlasting Justice as low down,<br /> As eye doth in the sea; which
though it mark<br /> The bottom from the shore, in the wide main<br />
Discerns it not; and ne'ertheless it is,<br /> But hidden through its
deepness. Light is none,<br /> Save that which cometh from the pure
serene<br /> Of ne'er disturbed ether: for the rest,<br /> 'Tis darkness
all, or shadow of the flesh,<br /> Or else its poison. Here confess
reveal'd<br /> That covert, which hath hidden from thy search<br /> The
living justice, of the which thou mad'st<br /> Such frequent question; for
thou saidst—'A man<br /> Is born on Indus' banks, and none is there<br />
Who speaks of Christ, nor who doth read nor write,<br /> And all his
inclinations and his acts,<br /> As far as human reason sees, are good,<br />
And he offendeth not in word or deed.<br /> But unbaptiz'd he dies, and
void of faith.<br /> Where is the justice that condemns him? where<br />
His blame, if he believeth not?'—What then,<br /> And who art thou,
that on the stool wouldst sit<br /> To judge at distance of a thousand
miles<br /> With the short-sighted vision of a span?<br /> To him, who
subtilizes thus with me,<br /> There would assuredly be room for doubt<br />
Even to wonder, did not the safe word<br /> Of scripture hold supreme
authority.<br /> <br /> "O animals of clay!
O spirits gross I<br /> The primal will, that in itself is good,<br />
Hath from itself, the chief Good, ne'er been mov'd.<br /> Justice consists
in consonance with it,<br /> Derivable by no created good,<br /> Whose very
cause depends upon its beam."<br /> <br /> As
on her nest the stork, that turns about<br /> Unto her young, whom lately
she hath fed,<br /> While they with upward eyes do look on her;<br /> So
lifted I my gaze; and bending so<br /> The ever-blessed image wav'd its
wings,<br /> Lab'ring with such deep counsel. Wheeling round<br /> It
warbled, and did say: "As are my notes<br /> To thee, who understand'st
them not, such is<br /> Th' eternal judgment unto mortal ken."<br /> <br /> Then
still abiding in that ensign rang'd,<br /> Wherewith the Romans over-awed
the world,<br /> Those burning splendours of the Holy Spirit<br /> Took up
the strain; and thus it spake again:<br /> "None ever hath ascended to this
realm,<br /> Who hath not a believer been in Christ,<br /> Either before or
after the blest limbs<br /> Were nail'd upon the wood. But lo! of
those<br /> Who call 'Christ, Christ,' there shall be many found,<br />
In judgment, further off from him by far,<br /> Than such, to whom
his name was never known.<br /> Christians like these the Ethiop shall
condemn:<br /> When that the two assemblages shall part;<br /> One rich
eternally, the other poor.<br /> <br /> "What
may the Persians say unto your kings,<br /> When they shall see that
volume, in the which<br /> All their dispraise is written, spread to view?<br />
There amidst Albert's works shall that be read,<br /> Which will give
speedy motion to the pen,<br /> When Prague shall mourn her desolated
realm.<br /> There shall be read the woe, that he doth work<br /> With his
adulterate money on the Seine,<br /> Who by the tusk will perish: there be
read<br /> The thirsting pride, that maketh fool alike<br /> The English and
Scot, impatient of their bound.<br /> There shall be seen the Spaniard's
luxury,<br /> The delicate living there of the Bohemian,<br /> Who still to
worth has been a willing stranger.<br /> The halter of Jerusalem shall see<br />
A unit for his virtue, for his vices<br /> No less a mark than million.
He, who guards<br /> The isle of fire by old Anchises honour'd<br />
Shall find his avarice there and cowardice;<br /> And better to denote his
littleness,<br /> The writing must be letters maim'd, that speak<br /> Much
in a narrow space. All there shall know<br /> His uncle and his
brother's filthy doings,<br /> Who so renown'd a nation and two crowns<br />
Have bastardized. And they, of Portugal<br /> And Norway, there shall
be expos'd with him<br /> Of Ratza, who hath counterfeited ill<br /> The
coin of Venice. O blest Hungary!<br /> If thou no longer patiently
abid'st<br /> Thy ill-entreating! and, O blest Navarre!<br /> If with thy
mountainous girdle thou wouldst arm thee<br /> In earnest of that day, e'en
now are heard<br /> Wailings and groans in Famagosta's streets<br /> And
Nicosia's, grudging at their beast,<br /> Who keepeth even footing with the
rest." <br /><br /> <a name="link20" id="link20"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XX
</h2>
<p>
<br /> When, disappearing, from our hemisphere,<br /> The world's
enlightener vanishes, and day<br /> On all sides wasteth, suddenly the sky,<br />
Erewhile irradiate only with his beam,<br /> Is yet again unfolded, putting
forth<br /> Innumerable lights wherein one shines.<br /> Of such vicissitude
in heaven I thought,<br /> As the great sign, that marshaleth the world<br />
And the world's leaders, in the blessed beak<br /> Was silent; for that all
those living lights,<br /> Waxing in splendour, burst forth into songs,<br />
Such as from memory glide and fall away.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a
href="images/20-10.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="20-10th.jpg (34K)" src="images/20-10th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Sweet love! that
dost apparel thee in smiles,<br /> How lustrous was thy semblance in those
sparkles,<br /> Which merely are from holy thoughts inspir'd!<br /> <br /> After
the precious and bright beaming stones,<br /> That did ingem the sixth
light, ceas'd the chiming<br /> Of their angelic bells; methought I heard<br />
The murmuring of a river, that doth fall<br /> From rock to rock
transpicuous, making known<br /> The richness of his spring-head: and as
sound<br /> Of cistern, at the fret-board, or of pipe,<br /> Is, at the
wind-hole, modulate and tun'd;<br /> Thus up the neck, as it were hollow,
rose<br /> That murmuring of the eagle, and forthwith<br /> Voice there
assum'd, and thence along the beak<br /> Issued in form of words, such as
my heart<br /> Did look for, on whose tables I inscrib'd them.<br /> <br /> "The
part in me, that sees, and bears the sun,,<br /> In mortal eagles," it
began, "must now<br /> Be noted steadfastly: for of the fires,<br /> That
figure me, those, glittering in mine eye,<br /> Are chief of all the
greatest. This, that shines<br /> Midmost for pupil, was the same,
who sang<br /> The Holy Spirit's song, and bare about<br /> The ark from
town to town; now doth he know<br /> The merit of his soul-impassion'd
strains<br /> By their well-fitted guerdon. Of the five,<br /> That
make the circle of the vision, he<br /> Who to the beak is nearest,
comforted<br /> The widow for her son: now doth he know<br /> How dear he
costeth not to follow Christ,<br /> Both from experience of this pleasant
life,<br /> And of its opposite. He next, who follows<br /> In the
circumference, for the over arch,<br /> By true repenting slack'd the pace
of death:<br /> Now knoweth he, that the degrees of heav'n<br /> Alter not,
when through pious prayer below<br /> Today's is made tomorrow's destiny.<br />
The other following, with the laws and me,<br /> To yield the shepherd
room, pass'd o'er to Greece,<br /> From good intent producing evil fruit:<br />
Now knoweth he, how all the ill, deriv'd<br /> From his well doing, doth
not helm him aught,<br /> Though it have brought destruction on the world.<br />
That, which thou seest in the under bow,<br /> Was William, whom that land
bewails, which weeps<br /> For Charles and Frederick living: now he knows<br />
How well is lov'd in heav'n the righteous king,<br /> Which he betokens by
his radiant seeming.<br /> Who in the erring world beneath would deem,<br />
That Trojan Ripheus in this round was set<br /> Fifth of the saintly
splendours? now he knows<br /> Enough of that, which the world cannot
see,<br /> The grace divine, albeit e'en his sight<br /> Reach not its
utmost depth." Like to the lark,<br /> That warbling in the air
expatiates long,<br /> Then, trilling out his last sweet melody,<br /> Drops
satiate with the sweetness; such appear'd<br /> That image stampt by the'
everlasting pleasure,<br /> Which fashions like itself all lovely things.<br />
<br /> I, though my doubting were as manifest,<br />
As is through glass the hue that mantles it,<br /> In silence waited not:
for to my lips<br /> "What things are these?" involuntary rush'd,<br />
And forc'd a passage out: whereat I mark'd<br /> A sudden lightening and
new revelry.<br /> The eye was kindled: and the blessed sign<br /> No more
to keep me wond'ring and suspense,<br /> Replied: "I see that thou
believ'st these things,<br /> Because I tell them, but discern'st not how;<br />
So that thy knowledge waits not on thy faith:<br /> As one who knows the
name of thing by rote,<br /> But is a stranger to its properties,<br /> Till
other's tongue reveal them. Fervent love<br /> And lively hope with
violence assail<br /> The kingdom of the heavens, and overcome<br /> The
will of the Most high; not in such sort<br /> As man prevails o'er man; but
conquers it,<br /> Because 't is willing to be conquer'd, still,<br />
Though conquer'd, by its mercy conquering.<br /> <br /> "Those,
in the eye who live the first and fifth,<br /> Cause thee to marvel, in
that thou behold'st<br /> The region of the angels deck'd with them.<br />
They quitted not their bodies, as thou deem'st,<br /> Gentiles but
Christians, in firm rooted faith,<br /> This of the feet in future to be
pierc'd,<br /> That of feet nail'd already to the cross.<br /> One from the
barrier of the dark abyss,<br /> Where never any with good will returns,<br />
Came back unto his bones. Of lively hope<br /> Such was the meed; of
lively hope, that wing'd<br /> The prayers sent up to God for his release,<br />
And put power into them to bend his will.<br /> The glorious Spirit, of
whom I speak to thee,<br /> A little while returning to the flesh,<br />
Believ'd in him, who had the means to help,<br /> And, in believing,
nourish'd such a flame<br /> Of holy love, that at the second death<br /> He
was made sharer in our gamesome mirth.<br /> The other, through the riches
of that grace,<br /> Which from so deep a fountain doth distil,<br /> As
never eye created saw its rising,<br /> Plac'd all his love below on just
and right:<br /> Wherefore of grace God op'd in him the eye<br /> To the
redemption of mankind to come;<br /> Wherein believing, he endur'd no more<br />
The filth of paganism, and for their ways<br /> Rebuk'd the stubborn
nations. The three nymphs,<br /> Whom at the right wheel thou
beheldst advancing,<br /> Were sponsors for him more than thousand years<br />
Before baptizing. O how far remov'd,<br /> Predestination! is thy
root from such<br /> As see not the First cause entire: and ye,<br /> O
mortal men! be wary how ye judge:<br /> For we, who see our Maker, know not
yet<br /> The number of the chosen: and esteem<br /> Such scantiness of
knowledge our delight:<br /> For all our good is in that primal good<br />
Concentrate, and God's will and ours are one."<br /> <br /> So,
by that form divine, was giv'n to me<br /> Sweet medicine to clear and
strengthen sight,<br /> And, as one handling skillfully the harp,<br />
Attendant on some skilful songster's voice<br /> Bids the chords vibrate,
and therein the song<br /> Acquires more pleasure; so, the whilst it spake,<br />
It doth remember me, that I beheld<br /> The pair of blessed luminaries
move.<br /> Like the accordant twinkling of two eyes,<br /> Their beamy
circlets, dancing to the sounds. <br /><br /> <a name="link21" id="link21"></a>
<br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXI
</h2>
<p>
<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a href="images/21-1.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="21-1th.jpg (31K)" src="images/21-1th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> Again mine eyes were fix'd on Beatrice,<br /> And with
mine eyes my soul, that in her looks<br /> Found all contentment. Yet
no smile she wore<br /> And, "Did I smile," quoth she, "thou wouldst be
straight<br /> Like Semele when into ashes turn'd:<br /> For, mounting these
eternal palace-stairs,<br /> My beauty, which the loftier it climbs,<br />
As thou hast noted, still doth kindle more,<br /> So shines, that, were no
temp'ring interpos'd,<br /> Thy mortal puissance would from its rays<br />
Shrink, as the leaf doth from the thunderbolt.<br /> Into the seventh
splendour are we wafted,<br /> That underneath the burning lion's breast<br />
Beams, in this hour, commingled with his might,<br /> Thy mind be with
thine eyes: and in them mirror'd<br /> The shape, which in this mirror
shall be shown."<br /> Whoso can deem, how fondly I had fed<br /> My sight
upon her blissful countenance,<br /> May know, when to new thoughts I
chang'd, what joy<br /> To do the bidding of my heav'nly guide:<br /> In
equal balance poising either weight.<br /> <br /> Within
the crystal, which records the name,<br /> (As its remoter circle girds the
world)<br /> Of that lov'd monarch, in whose happy reign<br /> No ill had
power to harm, I saw rear'd up,<br /> In colour like to sun-illumin'd gold.<br />
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <a href="images/21-28.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="21-28th.jpg (35K)" src="images/21-28th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> A ladder, which my ken pursued in vain,<br /> So lofty
was the summit; down whose steps<br /> I saw the splendours in such
multitude<br /> Descending, ev'ry light in heav'n, methought,<br /> Was shed
thence. As the rooks, at dawn of day<br /> Bestirring them to dry
their feathers chill,<br /> Some speed their way a-field, and homeward
some,<br /> Returning, cross their flight, while some abide<br /> And wheel
around their airy lodge; so seem'd<br /> That glitterance, wafted on
alternate wing,<br /> As upon certain stair it met, and clash'd<br /> Its
shining. And one ling'ring near us, wax'd<br /> So bright, that in my
thought: said: "The love,<br /> Which this betokens me, admits no doubt."<br />
<br /> Unwillingly from question I refrain,<br />
To her, by whom my silence and my speech<br /> Are order'd, looking for a
sign: whence she,<br /> Who in the sight of Him, that seeth all,<br /> Saw
wherefore I was silent, prompted me<br /> T' indulge the fervent wish; and
I began:<br /> "I am not worthy, of my own desert,<br /> That thou shouldst
answer me; but for her sake,<br /> Who hath vouchsaf'd my asking, spirit
blest!<br /> That in thy joy art shrouded! say the cause,<br /> Which
bringeth thee so near: and wherefore, say,<br /> Doth the sweet symphony of
Paradise<br /> Keep silence here, pervading with such sounds<br /> Of rapt
devotion ev'ry lower sphere?"<br /> "Mortal art thou in hearing as in
sight;"<br /> Was the reply: "and what forbade the smile<br /> Of Beatrice
interrupts our song.<br /> Only to yield thee gladness of my voice,<br />
And of the light that vests me, I thus far<br /> Descend these hallow'd
steps: not that more love<br /> Invites me; for lo! there aloft, as much<br />
Or more of love is witness'd in those flames:<br /> But such my lot by
charity assign'd,<br /> That makes us ready servants, as thou seest,<br />
To execute the counsel of the Highest.<br /> "That in this court," said I,
"O sacred lamp!<br /> Love no compulsion needs, but follows free<br /> Th'
eternal Providence, I well discern:<br /> This harder find to deem, why of
thy peers<br /> Thou only to this office wert foredoom'd."<br /> I had not
ended, when, like rapid mill,<br /> Upon its centre whirl'd the light; and
then<br /> The love, that did inhabit there, replied:<br /> "Splendour
eternal, piercing through these folds,<br /> Its virtue to my vision knits,
and thus<br /> Supported, lifts me so above myself,<br /> That on the
sov'ran essence, which it wells from,<br /> I have the power to gaze: and
hence the joy,<br /> Wherewith I sparkle, equaling with my blaze<br /> The
keenness of my sight. But not the soul,<br /> That is in heav'n most
lustrous, nor the seraph<br /> That hath his eyes most fix'd on God, shall
solve<br /> What thou hast ask'd: for in th' abyss it lies<br /> Of th'
everlasting statute sunk so low,<br /> That no created ken may fathom it.<br />
And, to the mortal world when thou return'st,<br /> Be this reported; that
none henceforth dare<br /> Direct his footsteps to so dread a bourn.<br />
The mind, that here is radiant, on the earth<br /> Is wrapt in mist. Look
then if she may do,<br /> Below, what passeth her ability,<br /> When she is
ta'en to heav'n." By words like these<br /> Admonish'd, I the
question urg'd no more;<br /> And of the spirit humbly sued alone<br /> T'
instruct me of its state. "'Twixt either shore<br /> Of Italy, nor
distant from thy land,<br /> A stony ridge ariseth, in such sort,<br /> The
thunder doth not lift his voice so high,<br /> They call it Catria: at
whose foot a cell<br /> Is sacred to the lonely Eremite,<br /> For worship
set apart and holy rites."<br /> A third time thus it spake; then added:
"There<br /> So firmly to God's service I adher'd,<br /> That with no
costlier viands than the juice<br /> Of olives, easily I pass'd the heats<br />
Of summer and the winter frosts, content<br /> In heav'n-ward musings.
Rich were the returns<br /> And fertile, which that cloister once was
us'd<br /> To render to these heavens: now 't is fall'n<br /> Into a waste
so empty, that ere long<br /> Detection must lay bare its vanity<br />
Pietro Damiano there was I yclept:<br /> Pietro the sinner, when before I
dwelt<br /> Beside the Adriatic, in the house<br /> Of our blest Lady.
Near upon my close<br /> Of mortal life, through much importuning<br />
I was constrain'd to wear the hat that still<br /> From bad to worse it
shifted.—Cephas came;<br /> He came, who was the Holy Spirit's
vessel,<br /> Barefoot and lean, eating their bread, as chanc'd,<br /> At
the first table. Modern Shepherd's need<br /> Those who on either
hand may prop and lead them,<br /> So burly are they grown: and from behind<br />
Others to hoist them. Down the palfrey's sides<br /> Spread their
broad mantles, so as both the beasts<br /> Are cover'd with one skin.
O patience! thou<br /> That lookst on this and doth endure so long."<br />
I at those accents saw the splendours down<br /> From step to step alight,
and wheel, and wax,<br /> Each circuiting, more beautiful. Round this<br />
They came, and stay'd them; uttered them a shout<br /> So loud, it hath no
likeness here: nor I<br /> Wist what it spake, so deaf'ning was the
thunder." <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <a name="link22"
id="link22"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> 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. <br /><br /> <a name="link23"
id="link23"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXIII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> 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. <br /><br />
<a name="link24" id="link24"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXIV
</h2>
<p>
<br /> "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. <br /><br /> <a
name="link25" id="link25"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXV
</h2>
<p>
<br /> 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. <br /><br /> <a name="link26"
id="link26"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXVI
</h2>
<p>
<br /> 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">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="26-7th.jpg (31K)" src="images/26-7th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<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." <br /><br /> <a name="link27"
id="link27"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXVII
</h2>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> <a href="images/27-1.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
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<img alt="27-1th.jpg (39K)" src="images/27-1th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> 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!" <br /><br /> <a name="link28" id="link28"></a>
<br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXVIII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> 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">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
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<img alt="28-80th.jpg (35K)" src="images/28-80th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<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." <br /><br /> <a name="link29" id="link29"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXIX
</h2>
<p>
<br /> 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." <br /><br /> <a name="link30" id="link30"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXX
</h2>
<p>
<br /> 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." <br /><br /> <a name="link31" id="link31"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXXI
</h2>
<p>
<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <a href="images/31-1.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="31-1th.jpg (51K)" src="images/31-1th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<br /><br /><br /><br /> 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">ENLARGE TO FULL
SIZE</a>
</p>
<div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
<img alt="31-64th.jpg (43K)" src="images/31-64th.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
</div>
<p>
<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. <br /><br /> <a name="link32" id="link32"></a> <br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXXII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> 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. <br /><br /> <a name="link33" id="link33"></a>
<br /><br />
</p>
<h2>
CANTO XXXIII
</h2>
<p>
<br /> "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. <br /> <br />
</p>
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