s: After the precious and pellucid crystals,


s: With which begemmed the sixth light I beheld,


s: I seemed to hear the murmuring of a river


s: That clear descendeth down from rock to rock,


s: Showing the affluence of its mountain-top.


s: And as the sound upon the cithern's neck


s: Even thus, relieved from the delay of waiting,


s: Along its neck, as if it had been hollow.


s: There it became a voice, and issued thence


s: From out its beak, in such a form of words


s: As the heart waited for wherein I wrote them.


s: "The part in me which sees and bears the sun


s: For of the fires of which I make my figure,


s: Those whence the eye doth sparkle in my head


s: Of five, that make a circle for my brow,


s: Did death postpone by penitence sincere;


s: Now knoweth he that the eternal judgment


s: The next who follows, with the laws and me,


s: Under the good intent that bore bad fruit


s: From his good action is not harmful to him,


s: Although the world thereby may be destroyed.


s: And he, whom in the downward arc thou seest,


s: Guglielmo was, whom the same land deplores


s: That weepeth Charles and Frederick yet alive;


s: With a just king; and in the outward show


s: Who would believe, down in the errant world,


s: That e'er the Trojan Ripheus in this round


s: Could be the fifth one of the holy lights?


s: Has not the power to see of grace divine,


s: Although his sight may not discern the bottom."


s: Like as a lark that in the air expatiates,


s: First singing and then silent with content


s: Of the last sweetness that doth satisfy her,


s: Such seemed to me the image of the imprint


s: As glass is to the colour that invests it,


s: To wait the time in silence it endured not,


s: But forth from out my mouth, "What things are these?"


s: Extorted with the force of its own weight;


s: Thereafterward with eye still more enkindled


s: "I see that thou believest in these things


s: Because I say them, but thou seest not how;


s: So that, although believed in, they are hidden.


s: Thou doest as he doth who a thing by name


s: Cannot perceive, unless another show it.


s: From fervent love, and from that living hope


s: Not in the guise that man o'ercometh man,


s: But conquers it because it will be conquered,


s: The first life of the eyebrow and the fifth


s: Cause thee astonishment, because with them


s: Thou seest the region of the angels painted.


s: They passed not from their bodies, as thou thinkest,


s: Gentiles, but Christians in the steadfast faith


s: Of feet that were to suffer and had suffered.


s: For one from Hell, where no one e'er turns back


s: Unto good will, returned unto his bones,


s: And that of living hope was the reward,--


s: Of living hope, that placed its efficacy


s: In prayers to God made to resuscitate him,


s: So that 'twere possible to move his will.


s: The glorious soul concerning which I speak,


s: Returning to the flesh, where brief its stay,


s: Believed in Him who had the power to aid it;


s: Of genuine love, that at the second death


s: The other one, through grace, that from so deep


s: A fountain wells that never hath the eye


s: Of any creature reached its primal wave,


s: Set all his love below on righteousness;


s: Wherefore from grace to grace did God unclose


s: Whence he believed therein, and suffered not


s: From that day forth the stench of paganism,


s: And he reproved therefor the folk perverse.


s: Those Maidens three, whom at the right-hand wheel


s: Thou didst behold, were unto him for baptism


s: More than a thousand years before baptizing.


s: Thy root is from the aspect of all those


s: Who the First Cause do not behold entire!


s: And you, O mortals! hold yourselves restrained


s: In judging; for ourselves, who look on God,


s: Because our good in this good is made perfect,


s: That whatsoe'er God wills, we also will."


s: To make clear in me my short-sightedness,


s: Accompanies with vibrations of the chords,


s: Whereby more pleasantness the song acquires,


s: That I beheld both of those blessed lights,


s: Even as the winking of the eyes concords,


s: Moving unto the words their little flames.


s: Again were fastened, and with these my mind,


s: And from all other purpose was withdrawn;


s: And she smiled not; but "If I were to smile,"


s: Like Semele, when she was turned to ashes.


s: Because my beauty, that along the stairs


s: As thou hast seen, the farther we ascend,


s: If it were tempered not, is so resplendent


s: That all thy mortal power in its effulgence


s: Would seem a leaflet that the thunder crushes.


s: We are uplifted to the seventh splendour,


s: That underneath the burning Lion's breast


s: Now radiates downward mingled with his power.


s: Fix in direction of thine eyes the mind,


s: And make of them a mirror for the figure


s: That in this mirror shall appear to thee."


s: He who could know what was the pasturage


s: My sight had in that blessed countenance,


s: By counterpoising one side with the other.


s: Within the crystal which, around the world


s: Revolving, bears the name of its dear leader,


s: Coloured like gold, on which the sunshine gleams,


s: Likewise beheld I down the steps descending


s: So many splendours, that I thought each light


s: That in the heaven appears was there diffused.


s: And as accordant with their natural custom


s: Bestir themselves to warm their feathers cold;


s: Then some of them fly off without return,


s: Others come back to where they started from,


s: And others, wheeling round, still keep at home;


s: Such fashion it appeared to me was there


s: Within the sparkling that together came,


s: Became so clear, that in my thought I said,


s: "Well I perceive the love thou showest me;


s: But she, from whom I wait the how and when


s: Of speech and silence, standeth still; whence I


s: In the sight of Him who seeth everything,


s: Said unto me, "Let loose thy warm desire."


s: Renders me worthy of response from thee;


s: But for her sake who granteth me the asking,


s: Thou blessed life that dost remain concealed


s: The cause which draweth thee so near my side;


s: That through the rest below sounds so devoutly."


s: "Thou hast thy hearing mortal as thy sight,"


s: It answer made to me; "they sing not here,


s: For the same cause that Beatrice has not smiled.


s: Thus far adown the holy stairway's steps


s: Have I descended but to give thee welcome


s: With words, and with the light that mantles me;


s: Nor did more love cause me to be more ready,


s: For love as much and more up there is burning,


s: But the high charity, that makes us servants


s: Prompt to the counsel which controls the world,


s: Allotteth here, even as thou dost observe."


s: "I see full well," said I, "O sacred lamp!


s: How love unfettered in this court sufficeth


s: But this is what seems hard for me to see,


s: Unto this office from among thy consorts."


s: Than of its middle made the light a centre,


s: Whirling itself about like a swift millstone.


s: When answer made the love that was therein:


s: Piercing through this in which I am embosomed,


s: Of which the virtue with my sight conjoined


s: The supreme essence from which this is drawn.


s: Hence comes the joyfulness with which I flame,


s: The clearness of the flame I equal make.


s: But that soul in the heaven which is most pure,


s: That seraph which his eye on God most fixes,


s: Of the eternal statute what thou askest,


s: And to the mortal world, when thou returnest,


s: This carry back, that it may not presume


s: Longer tow'rd such a goal to move its feet.


s: The mind, that shineth here, on earth doth smoke;


s: That which it cannot though the heaven assume it?"


s: Such limit did its words prescribe to me,


s: The question I relinquished, and restricted


s: "Between two shores of Italy rise cliffs,


s: And not far distant from thy native place,


s: So high, the thunders far below them sound,


s: Thus unto me the third speech recommenced,


s: Unto God's service I became so steadfast,


s: That feeding only on the juice of olives


s: Lightly I passed away the heats and frosts,


s: That cloister used to render to these heavens


s: So that perforce it soon must be revealed.


s: When I was called and dragged forth to the hat


s: Which shifteth evermore from bad to worse.


s: Of the Holy Spirit, meagre and barefooted,


s: Now some one to support them on each side


s: The modern shepherds need, and some to lead them,


s: So heavy are they, and to hold their trains.


s: They cover up their palfreys with their cloaks,


s: So that two beasts go underneath one skin;


s: O Patience, that dost tolerate so much!"


s: From step to step descending and revolving,


s: Round about this one came they and stood still,


s: Distinguished it, the thunder so o'ercame me.


s: Turned like a little child who always runs


s: For refuge there where he confideth most;


s: And she, even as a mother who straightway


s: Gives comfort to her pale and breathless boy


s: With voice whose wont it is to reassure him,


s: Said to me: "Knowest thou not thou art in heaven,


s: And knowest thou not that heaven is holy all


s: And what is done here cometh from good zeal?


s: After what wise the singing would have changed thee


s: And I by smiling, thou canst now imagine,


s: Since that the cry has startled thee so much,


s: In which if thou hadst understood its prayers


s: Already would be known to thee the vengeance


s: Which thou shalt look upon before thou diest.


s: The sword above here smiteth not in haste


s: But turn thee round towards the others now,


s: For very illustrious spirits shalt thou see,


s: As it seemed good to her mine eyes I turned,


s: And saw a hundred spherules that together


s: With mutual rays each other more embellished.


s: The point of his desire, and ventures not


s: To question, he so feareth the too much.


s: Among those pearls came forward, that it might


s: Within it then I heard: "If thou couldst see


s: Among us, thy conceits would be expressed;


s: But, that by waiting thou mayst not come late


s: To the high end, I will make answer even


s: Unto the thought of which thou art so chary.


s: That mountain on whose slope Cassino stands


s: The name of Him who brought upon the earth


s: That all the neighbouring towns I drew away


s: From the impious worship that seduced the world.


s: These other fires, each one of them, were men


s: Which maketh holy flowers and fruits spring up.


s: Here are my brethren, who within the cloisters


s: Their footsteps stayed and kept a steadfast heart."


s: And I to him: "The affection which thou showest


s: Speaking with me, and the good countenance


s: Which I behold and note in all your ardours,


s: As the sun doth the rose, when it becomes


s: Therefore I pray, and thou assure me, father,


s: May thee behold with countenance unveiled."


s: In the remotest sphere shall be fulfilled,


s: Where are fulfilled all others and my own.


s: There perfect is, and ripened, and complete,


s: For it is not in space, nor turns on poles,


s: Whence thus from out thy sight it steals away.


s: Up to that height the Patriarch Jacob saw it


s: So thronged with angels it appeared to him.


s: His feet from off the earth, and now my Rule


s: Below remaineth for mere waste of paper.


s: The walls that used of old to be an Abbey


s: Are changed to dens of robbers, and the cowls


s: Are sacks filled full of miserable flour.


s: So much against God's pleasure as that fruit


s: For whatsoever hath the Church in keeping


s: Is for the folk that ask it in God's name,


s: Not for one's kindred or for something worse.


s: That good beginnings down below suffice not


s: From springing of the oak to bearing acorns.


s: Peter began with neither gold nor silver,


s: And if thou lookest at each one's beginning,


s: Thou shalt behold the white changed into brown.


s: And the sea's fleeing, when God willed were more


s: To his own band, and the band closed together;


s: Then like a whirlwind all was upward rapt.


s: Nor here below, where one goes up and down


s: By natural law, was motion e'er so swift


s: Triumph return, on whose account I often


s: For my transgressions weep and beat my breast,--


s: Thou hadst not thrust thy finger in the fire


s: The sign that follows Taurus, and was in it.


s: With mighty virtue, from which I acknowledge


s: With you was born, and hid himself with you,


s: And then when grace was freely given to me


s: To enter the high wheel which turns you round,


s: For the stern pass that draws it to itself.


s: "Thou art so near unto the last salvation,"


s: And therefore, ere thou enter farther in,


s: Look down once more, and see how vast a world


s: That comes rejoicing through this rounded ether."


s: I with my sight returned through one and all


s: The sevenfold spheres, and I beheld this globe


s: Such that I smiled at its ignoble semblance;


s: Which doth account it least; and he who thinks


s: Of something else may truly be called just.


s: Without that shadow, which to me was cause


s: That once I had believed her rare and dense.


s: Here I sustained, and saw how move themselves


s: Thence there appeared the temperateness of Jove


s: 'Twixt son and father, and to me was clear


s: The change that of their whereabout they make;


s: How great they are, and eke how swift they are,


s: And how they are in distant habitations.


s: The threshing-floor that maketh us so proud,


s: Was all apparent made from hill to harbour!


s: Then to the beauteous eyes mine eyes I turned.


s: Even as a bird, 'mid the beloved leaves,


s: Throughout the night, that hideth all things from us,


s: Who, that she may behold their longed-for looks


s: And find the food wherewith to nourish them,


s: In which, to her, grave labours grateful are,


s: And with an ardent longing waits the sun,


s: Gazing intent as soon as breaks the dawn:


s: And vigilant, turned round towards the zone


s: Underneath which the sun displays less haste;


s: So that beholding her distraught and wistful,


s: For something yearns, and hoping is appeased.


s: But brief the space from one When to the other;


s: The welkin grow resplendent more and more.


s: And Beatrice exclaimed: "Behold the hosts


s: Of Christ's triumphal march, and all the fruit


s: Harvested by the rolling of these spheres!"


s: It seemed to me her face was all aflame;


s: That I must needs pass on without describing.


s: As when in nights serene of the full moon


s: Who paint the firmament through all its gulfs,


s: A Sun that one and all of them enkindled,


s: E'en as our own doth the supernal sights,


s: And through the living light transparent shone


s: A virtue is from which naught shields itself.


s: There are the wisdom and the omnipotence


s: That oped the thoroughfares 'twixt heaven and earth,


s: For which there erst had been so long a yearning."


s: As fire from out a cloud unlocks itself,


s: And down, against its nature, falls to earth,


s: And that which it became cannot remember.


s: "Open thine eyes, and look at what I am:


s: Thou hast beheld such things, that strong enough


s: I was as one who still retains the feeling


s: Out of the book that chronicles the past.


s: If at this moment sounded all the tongues


s: Most lubrical with their delicious milk,


s: It would not reach, singing the holy smile


s: The sacred poem must perforce leap over,


s: Even as a man who finds his way cut off;


s: But whoso thinketh of the ponderous theme,


s: And of the mortal shoulder laden with it,


s: Should blame it not, if under this it tremble.


s: This which goes cleaving the audacious prow,


s: Nor for a pilot who would spare himself.


s: That to the garden fair thou turnest not,


s: Which under the rays of Christ is blossoming?


s: There is the Rose in which the Word Divine


s: By whose perfume the good way was discovered."


s: Thus Beatrice; and I, who to her counsels


s: As in the sunshine, that unsullied streams


s: Through fractured cloud, ere now a meadow of flowers


s: Mine eyes with shadow covered o'er have seen,


s: Beholding not the source of the effulgence.


s: O power benignant that dost so imprint them!


s: Thou didst exalt thyself to give more scope


s: There to mine eyes, that were not strong enough.


s: The name of that fair flower I e'er invoke


s: And when in both mine eyes depicted were


s: The glory and greatness of the living star


s: Which there excelleth, as it here excelled,


s: Athwart the heavens a little torch descended


s: And cinctured it, and whirled itself about it.


s: On earth, and to itself most draws the soul,


s: Would seem a cloud that, rent asunder, thunders,


s: Wherewith was crowned the sapphire beautiful,


s: Which gives the clearest heaven its sapphire hue.


s: The joy sublime which breathes from out the womb


s: And I shall circle, Lady of Heaven, while


s: Thou followest thy Son, and mak'st diviner


s: The sphere supreme, because thou enterest there."


s: Seal itself up; and all the other lights


s: Were making to resound the name of Mary.


s: Of that world, which most fervid is and living


s: With breath of God and with his works and ways,


s: So very distant, that the semblance of it


s: There where I was not yet appeared to me.


s: Therefore mine eyes did not possess the power


s: Which mounted upward near to its own seed.


s: And as a little child, that towards its mother


s: Stretches its arms, when it the milk has taken,


s: Through impulse kindled into outward flame,


s: Each of those gleams of whiteness upward reached


s: So with its summit, that the deep affection


s: Thereafter they remained there in my sight,


s: 'Regina coeli' singing with such sweetness,


s: That ne'er from me has the delight departed.


s: Within those richest coffers, which had been


s: There they enjoy and live upon the treasure


s: Which was acquired while weeping in the exile


s: There triumpheth, beneath the exalted Son


s: Both with the ancient council and the new,


s: He who doth keep the keys of such a glory.


s: If by the grace of God this man foretaste


s: Something of that which falleth from your table,


s: Or ever death prescribe to him the time,


s: For ever at the fount whence comes his thought."


s: Thus Beatrice; and those souls beatified


s: Transformed themselves to spheres on steadfast poles,


s: Flaming intensely in the guise of comets.


s: Revolve so that the first to the beholder


s: Motionless seems, and the last one to fly,


s: So in like manner did those carols, dancing


s: In different measure, of their affluence


s: Give me the gauge, as they were swift or slow.


s: From that one which I noted of most beauty


s: That none it left there of a greater brightness;


s: It whirled itself with so divine a song,


s: Therefore the pen skips, and I write it not,


s: Much more our speech, is of a tint too glaring.


s: With such devotion, by thine ardent love


s: Thou dost unbind me from that beautiful sphere!"


s: Thereafter, having stopped, the blessed fire


s: Which spake in fashion as I here have said.


s: And she: "O light eterne of the great man


s: This one examine on points light and grave,


s: By means of which thou on the sea didst walk.


s: If he love well, and hope well, and believe,


s: From thee 'tis hid not; for thou hast thy sight


s: There where depicted everything is seen.


s: But since this kingdom has made citizens


s: By means of the true Faith, to glorify it


s: 'Tis well he have the chance to speak thereof."


s: As baccalaureate arms himself, and speaks not


s: Until the master doth propose the question,


s: While she was speaking, that I might be ready


s: For such a questioner and such profession.


s: "Say, thou good Christian; manifest thyself;


s: What is the Faith?"  Whereat I raised my brow


s: Unto that light wherefrom was this breathed forth.


s: Then turned I round to Beatrice, and she


s: Prompt signals made to me that I should pour


s: The water forth from my internal fountain.


s: "May grace, that suffers me to make confession,"


s: Cause my conceptions all to be explicit!"


s: Father, of thy dear brother wrote of it,


s: Who put with thee Rome into the good way,


s: Faith is the substance of the things we hope for,


s: And evidence of those that are not seen;


s: Then heard I: "Very rightly thou perceivest,


s: If well thou understandest why he placed it


s: With substances and then with evidences."


s: And I thereafterward: "The things profound,


s: That here vouchsafe to me their apparition,


s: Upon the which is founded the high hope,


s: And hence it takes the nature of a substance.


s: And hence it has the nature of evidence."


s: No sophist's subtlety would there find place."


s: Thus was breathed forth from that enkindled love;


s: Then added: "Very well has been gone over


s: Already of this coin the alloy and weight;


s: But tell me if thou hast it in thy purse?"


s: And I: "Yes, both so shining and so round


s: That in its stamp there is no peradventure."


s: Thereafter issued from the light profound


s: Whence hadst thou it?"  And I: "The large outpouring


s: Upon the ancient parchments and the new,


s: With such acuteness, that, compared therewith,


s: And then I heard: "The ancient and the new


s: Postulates, that to thee are so conclusive,


s: Why dost thou take them for the word divine?"


s: And I: "The proofs, which show the truth to me,


s: Are the works subsequent, whereunto Nature


s: 'Twas answered me: "Say, who assureth thee


s: That those works ever were? the thing itself


s: That must be proved, nought else to thee affirms it."


s: "Were the world to Christianity converted,"


s: Is such, the rest are not its hundredth part;


s: Because that poor and fasting thou didst enter


s: Into the field to sow there the good plant,


s: Which was a vine and has become a thorn!"


s: This being finished, the high, holy Court


s: Resounded through the spheres, "One God we praise!"


s: And then that Baron, who from branch to branch,


s: Till the extremest leaves we were approaching,


s: Plays with thine intellect thy mouth has opened,


s: Up to this point, as it should opened be,


s: So that I do approve what forth emerged;


s: But now thou must express what thou believest,


s: And whence to thy belief it was presented."


s: What thou believedst so that thou o'ercamest,


s: Towards the sepulchre, more youthful feet,"


s: Began I, "thou dost wish me in this place


s: The form to manifest of my prompt belief,


s: And likewise thou the cause thereof demandest.


s: Sole and eterne, who moveth all the heavens


s: With love and with desire, himself unmoved;


s: And of such faith not only have I proofs


s: Physical and metaphysical, but gives them


s: Likewise the truth that from this place rains down


s: Through Moses, through the Prophets and the Psalms,


s: Through the Evangel, and through you, who wrote


s: In Persons three eterne believe, and these


s: They bear conjunction both with 'sunt' and 'est.'


s: Which now I touch upon, doth stamp my mind


s: This the beginning is, this is the spark


s: Which afterwards dilates to vivid flame,


s: And, like a star in heaven, is sparkling in me."


s: Even as a lord who hears what pleaseth him


s: His servant straight embraces, gratulating


s: For the good news as soon as he is silent;


s: Three times encircled me, when I was silent,


s: I spoken had, in speaking I so pleased him.


s: To which both heaven and earth have set their hand,


s: So that it many a year hath made me lean,


s: From the fair sheepfold, where a lamb I slumbered,


s: An enemy to the wolves that war upon it,


s: With other voice forthwith, with other fleece


s: Because into the Faith that maketh known


s: All souls to God there entered I, and then


s: Peter for her sake thus my brow encircled.


s: Out of that band whence issued the first-fruits


s: Which of his vicars Christ behind him left,


s: Said unto me: "Look, look! behold the Baron


s: Near his companion, both of them pour forth,


s: Circling about and murmuring, their affection,


s: Prince glorified to be with welcome greeted,


s: Lauding the food that there above is eaten.


s: But when their gratulations were complete,


s: Silently 'coram me' each one stood still,


s: "Illustrious life, by whom the benefactions


s: Thou knowest as oft thou dost personify it


s: As Jesus to the three gave greater clearness."--


s: "Lift up thy head, and make thyself assured;


s: For what comes hither from the mortal world


s: This comfort came to me from the second fire;


s: Wherefore mine eyes I lifted to the hills,


s: Which bent them down before with too great weight.


s: "Since, through his grace, our Emperor wills that thou


s: Shouldst find thee face to face, before thy death,


s: In the most secret chamber, with his Counts,


s: So that, the truth beholden of this court,


s: Hope, which below there rightfully enamours,


s: Thereby thou strengthen in thyself and others,


s: Say what it is, and how is flowering with it


s: Thy mind, and say from whence it came to thee."


s: Thus did the second light again continue.


s: The plumage of my wings in such high flight,


s: Of greater hope possesses, as is written


s: In that Sun which irradiates all our band;


s: The two remaining points, that not for knowledge


s: How much this virtue unto thee is pleasing,


s: To him I leave; for hard he will not find them,


s: Nor of self-praise; and let him answer them;


s: And may the grace of God in this assist him!"


s: "Hope," said I, "is the certain expectation


s: From many stars this light comes unto me;


s: Who was chief singer unto the chief captain.


s: He sayeth, 'those who know thy name;' and who


s: Thou didst instil me, then, with his instilling


s: While I was speaking, in the living bosom


s: Of that combustion quivered an effulgence,


s: Sudden and frequent, in the guise of lightning;


s: Then breathed: "The love wherewith I am inflamed


s: Towards the virtue still which followed me


s: Wills that I breathe to thee that thou delight


s: In her; and grateful to me is thy telling


s: And I: "The ancient Scriptures and the new


s: The mark establish, and this shows it me,


s: Of all the souls whom God hath made his friends.


s: In his own land shall be with twofold garments,


s: And his own land is this delightful life.


s: There where he treateth of the robes of white,


s: And first, and near the ending of these words,


s: To which responsive answered all the carols.


s: Thereafterward a light among them brightened,


s: So that, if Cancer one such crystal had,


s: Winter would have a month of one sole day.


s: And as uprises, goes, and enters the dance


s: To the new bride, and not from any failing,


s: Even thus did I behold the brightened splendour


s: Approach the two, who in a wheel revolved


s: Into the song and music there it entered;


s: And fixed on them my Lady kept her look,


s: "This is the one who lay upon the breast


s: To the great office from the cross elected."


s: My Lady thus; but therefore none the more


s: Did move her sight from its attentive gaze


s: Before or afterward these words of hers.


s: To see the eclipsing of the sun a little,


s: And who, by seeing, sightless doth become,


s: While it was said, "Why dost thou daze thyself


s: To see a thing which here hath no existence?


s: Earth in the earth my body is, and shall be


s: With all the others there, until our number


s: With the two garments in the blessed cloister


s: Are the two lights alone that have ascended:


s: And this shalt thou take back into your world."


s: And at this utterance the flaming circle


s: Grew quiet, with the dulcet intermingling


s: Of sound that by the trinal breath was made,


s: The oars that erst were in the water beaten


s: Ah, how much in my mind was I disturbed,


s: When I turned round to look on Beatrice,


s: That her I could not see, although I was


s: Close at her side and in the Happy World!


s: While I was doubting for my vision quenched,


s: Out of the flame refulgent that had quenched it


s: Issued a breathing, that attentive made me,


s: Saying: "While thou recoverest the sense


s: Of seeing which in me thou hast consumed,


s: 'Tis well that speaking thou shouldst compensate it.


s: Begin then, and declare to what thy soul


s: Sight is in thee bewildered and not dead;


s: Because the Lady, who through this divine


s: I said: "As pleaseth her, or soon or late


s: Let the cure come to eyes that portals were


s: When she with fire I ever burn with entered.


s: The Good, that gives contentment to this Court,


s: The writing that love reads me low or loud."


s: The selfsame voice, that taken had from me


s: To speak still farther put it in my thought;


s: To say who aimed thy bow at such a target."


s: Such love must needs imprint itself in me;


s: For Good, so far as good, when comprehended


s: Doth straight enkindle love, and so much greater


s: Then to that Essence (whose is such advantage


s: That every good which out of it is found


s: More than elsewhither must the mind be moved


s: The truth in which this evidence is founded.


s: The voice reveals it of the truthful Author,


s: 'I will make all my goodness pass before thee.'


s: The loud Evangel, that proclaims the secret


s: Of heaven to earth above all other edict."


s: Of all thy loves reserve for God the highest.


s: But say again if other cords thou feelest,


s: Draw thee towards Him, that thou mayst proclaim


s: With how many teeth this love is biting thee."


s: Whither he fain would my profession lead.


s: Therefore I recommenced: "All of those bites


s: Which have the power to turn the heart to God


s: The being of the world, and my own being,


s: The death which He endured that I may live,


s: And that which all the faithful hope, as I do,


s: With the forementioned vivid consciousness


s: Have drawn me from the sea of love perverse,


s: And of the right have placed me on the shore.


s: The leaves, wherewith embowered is all the garden


s: As much as he has granted them of good."


s: As soon as I had ceased, a song most sweet


s: Throughout the heaven resounded, and my Lady


s: Said with the others, "Holy, holy, holy!"


s: And as at some keen light one wakes from sleep


s: By reason of the visual spirit that runs


s: Unto the splendour passed from coat to coat,


s: And he who wakes abhorreth what he sees,


s: So all unconscious is his sudden waking,


s: Chase every mote with radiance of her own,


s: That cast its light a thousand miles and more.


s: About a fourth light that I saw with us.


s: And said my Lady: "There within those rays


s: Even as the bough that downward bends its top


s: At transit of the wind, and then is lifted


s: By its own virtue, which inclines it upward,


s: Likewise did I, the while that she was speaking,


s: By a desire to speak wherewith I burned.


s: Alone hast been produced, O ancient father,


s: To whom each wife is daughter and daughter-in-law,


s: That thou wouldst speak to me; thou seest my wish;


s: And I, to hear thee quickly, speak it not."


s: Sometimes an animal, when covered, struggles


s: So that his impulse needs must be apparent,


s: How jubilant it was to give me pleasure.


s: Then breathed: "Without thy uttering it to me,


s: Than thou whatever thing is surest to thee;


s: That of Himself all things parhelion makes,


s: Thou fain wouldst hear how long ago God placed me


s: Within the lofty garden, where this Lady


s: And how long to mine eyes it was a pleasure,


s: And of the great disdain the proper cause,


s: And the language that I used and that I made.


s: Now, son of mine, the tasting of the tree


s: Not in itself was cause of so great exile,


s: But solely the o'erstepping of the bounds.


s: Four thousand and three hundred and two circuits


s: Made by the sun, this Council I desired;


s: Of his highway nine hundred times and thirty,


s: The language that I spake was quite extinct


s: (Because of human pleasure that doth change,


s: But whether thus or thus, doth nature leave


s: To your own art, as seemeth best to you.


s: Ere I descended to the infernal anguish,


s: 'El' was on earth the name of the Chief Good,


s: From whom comes all the joy that wraps me round


s: 'Eli' he then was called, and that is proper,


s: On bough, which goeth and another cometh.


s: Upon the mount that highest o'er the wave


s: From the first hour to that which is the second,


s: As the sun changes quadrant, to the sixth."


s: Found entrance through the hearing and the sight.


s: O perfect life of love and peacefulness!


s: Before mine eyes were standing the four torches


s: Enkindled, and the one that first had come


s: Were birds, and they should interchange their feathers.


s: That Providence, which here distributeth


s: Season and service, in the blessed choir


s: When I heard say: "If I my colour change,


s: Marvel not at it; for while I am speaking


s: Thou shalt behold all these their colour change.


s: My place, my place, which vacant has become


s: Of blood and stench, whereby the Perverse One,


s: Who fell from here, below there is appeased!"


s: With the same colour which, through sun adverse,


s: Painteth the clouds at evening or at morn,


s: Beheld I then the whole of heaven suffused.


s: Sure of herself, and at another's failing,


s: Even thus did Beatrice change countenance;


s: And I believe in heaven was such eclipse,


s: Thereafterward proceeded forth his words


s: With voice so much transmuted from itself,


s: The very countenance was not more changed.


s: "The spouse of Christ has never nurtured been


s: On blood of mine, of Linus and of Cletus,


s: After much lamentation, shed their blood.


s: Our purpose was not, that on the right hand


s: Of our successors should in part be seated


s: The Christian folk, in part upon the other;


s: Nor that the keys which were to me confided


s: Should e'er become the escutcheon on a banner,


s: That should wage war on those who are baptized;


s: Whereat I often redden and flash with fire.


s: In garb of shepherds the rapacious wolves


s: Are seen from here above o'er all the pastures!


s: O wrath of God, why dost thou slumber still?


s: To drink our blood the Caorsines and Gascons


s: Are making ready.  O thou good beginning,


s: Unto how vile an end must thou needs fall!


s: But the high Providence, that with Scipio


s: At Rome the glory of the world defended,


s: And thou, my son, who by thy mortal weight


s: Shalt down return again, open thy mouth;


s: What I conceal not, do not thou conceal."


s: As with its frozen vapours downward falls


s: In flakes our atmosphere, what time the horn


s: Of the celestial Goat doth touch the sun,


s: Become, and flaked with the triumphant vapours,


s: Which there together with us had remained.


s: My sight was following up their semblances,


s: And followed till the medium, by excess,


s: The passing farther onward took from it;


s: From gazing upward, said to me: "Cast down


s: Thy sight, and see how far thou art turned round."


s: Since the first time that I had downward looked,


s: I saw that I had moved through the whole arc


s: Which the first climate makes from midst to end;


s: Past Gades, and this side, well nigh the shore


s: And of this threshing-floor the site to me


s: Were more unveiled, but the sun was proceeding


s: At all times with my Lady, to bring back


s: To her mine eyes was more than ever ardent.


s: To catch the eyes and so possess the mind,


s: All joined together would appear as nought


s: To the divine delight which shone upon me


s: When to her smiling face I turned me round.


s: The virtue that her look endowed me with


s: From the fair nest of Leda tore me forth,


s: And up into the swiftest heaven impelled me.


s: Its parts exceeding full of life and lofty


s: That God seemed in her countenance to rejoice:


s: "The nature of that motion, which keeps quiet


s: The centre and all the rest about it moves,


s: From hence begins as from its starting point.


s: And in this heaven there is no other Where


s: Than in the Mind Divine, wherein is kindled


s: The love that turns it, and the power it rains.


s: Within a circle light and love embrace it,


s: Even as this doth the others, and that precinct


s: But all the others measured are by this,


s: May have its roots, and in the rest its leaves,


s: O Covetousness, that mortals dost ingulf


s: Beneath thee so, that no one hath the power


s: Of drawing back his eyes from out thy waves!


s: Full fairly blossoms in mankind the will;


s: Take flight or e'er the cheeks with down are covered.


s: One, while he prattles still, observes the fasts,


s: Who, when his tongue is loosed, forthwith devours


s: Another, while he prattles, loves and listens


s: Unto his mother, who when speech is perfect


s: Forthwith desires to see her in her grave.


s: Even thus is swarthy made the skin so white


s: In its first aspect of the daughter fair


s: Of him who brings the morn, and leaves the night.


s: Thou, that it may not be a marvel to thee,


s: Think that on earth there is no one who governs;


s: Shall these supernal circles roar so loud


s: The tempest that has been so long awaited


s: Shall whirl the poops about where are the prows;


s: So that the fleet shall run its course direct,


s: And the true fruit shall follow on the flower."


s: After the truth against the present life


s: He sees who from behind is lighted by it,


s: Before he has it in his sight or thought,


s: And turns him round to see if so the glass


s: Tell him the truth, and sees that it accords


s: Therewith as doth a music with its metre,


s: That I did, looking into those fair eyes,


s: Of which Love made the springes to ensnare me.


s: And as I turned me round, and mine were touched


s: By that which is apparent in that volume,


s: Light so acute, the sight which it enkindles


s: Must close perforce before such great acuteness.


s: Would seem to be a moon, if placed beside it.


s: As one star with another star is placed.


s: A halo cincturing the light that paints it,


s: When densest is the vapour that sustains it,


s: Thus distant round the point a circle of fire


s: So swiftly whirled, that it would have surpassed


s: Whatever motion soonest girds the world;


s: That by a third, the third then by a fourth,


s: By a fifth the fourth, and then by a sixth the fifth;


s: Entire would be too narrow to contain it.


s: Even so the eighth and ninth; and every one


s: In number distant farther from the first.


s: And that one had its flame most crystalline


s: From which less distant was the stainless spark,


s: I think because more with its truth imbued.


s: Beheld me much perplexed, said: "From that point


s: Behold that circle most conjoined to it,


s: And know thou, that its motion is so swift


s: Through burning love whereby it is spurred on."


s: And I to her: "If the world were arranged


s: In the order which I see in yonder wheels,


s: What's set before me would have satisfied me;


s: But in the world of sense we can perceive


s: That has for confines only love and light,


s: To hear behoves me still how the example


s: Since for myself in vain I contemplate it."


s: So hard hath it become for want of trying."


s: My Lady thus; then said she: "Do thou take


s: What I shall tell thee, if thou wouldst be sated,


s: The circles corporal are wide and narrow


s: Which is distributed through all their parts.


s: The greater goodness works the greater weal,


s: The greater weal the greater body holds,


s: Therefore this one which sweeps along with it


s: Unto the circle which most loves and knows.


s: On which account, if thou unto the virtue


s: Apply thy measure, not to the appearance


s: Of substances that unto thee seem round,


s: Thou wilt behold a marvellous agreement,


s: Of more to greater, and of less to smaller,


s: In every heaven, with its Intelligence."


s: Is blowing from that cheek where he is mildest,


s: Because is purified and resolved the rack


s: That erst disturbed it, till the welkin laughs


s: Had me provided with her clear response,


s: And like a star in heaven the truth was seen.


s: And soon as to a stop her words had come,


s: When molten, than those circles scintillated.


s: Their coruscation all the sparks repeated,


s: And they so many were, their number makes


s: More millions than the doubling of the chess.


s: I heard them sing hosanna choir by choir


s: To the fixed point which holds them at the 'Ubi,'


s: And ever will, where they have ever been.


s: And she, who saw the dubious meditations


s: Within my mind, "The primal circles," said,


s: Thus rapidly they follow their own bonds,


s: To be as like the point as most they can,


s: And can as far as they are high in vision.


s: Those other Loves, that round about them go,


s: Thrones of the countenance divine are called,


s: Because they terminate the primal Triad.


s: And thou shouldst know that they all have delight


s: The Truth, in which all intellect finds rest.


s: From this it may be seen how blessedness


s: And not in that which loves, and follows next;


s: And of this seeing merit is the measure,


s: Which is brought forth by grace, and by good will;


s: Thus on from grade to grade doth it proceed.


s: In such wise in this sempiternal spring,


s: With threefold melody, that sounds in three


s: Orders of joy, with which it is intrined.


s: First the Dominions, and the Virtues next;


s: And the third order is that of the Powers.


s: The Principalities and Archangels wheel;


s: These orders upward all of them are gazing,


s: To contemplate these Orders set himself,


s: He named them and distinguished them as I do.


s: But Gregory afterwards dissented from him;


s: Wherefore, as soon as he unclosed his eyes


s: Within this heaven, he at himself did smile.


s: Proffered on earth, I would not have thee marvel,


s: For he who saw it here revealed it to him,


s: With much more of the truth about these circles."


s: At what time both the children of Latona,


s: As long as from the time the zenith holds them


s: In equipoise, till from that girdle both


s: Changing their hemisphere disturb the balance,


s: So long, her face depicted with a smile,


s: Did Beatrice keep silence while she gazed


s: Fixedly at the point which had o'ercome me.


s: What thou dost wish to hear, for I have seen it


s: Where centres every When and every 'Ubi.'


s: Which is impossible, but that his splendour


s: In its resplendency may say, 'Subsisto,'


s: Outside all other limits, as it pleased him,


s: Into new Loves the Eternal Love unfolded.


s: The going forth of God upon these waters.


s: E'en as three arrows from a three-stringed bow.


s: And as in glass, in amber, or in crystal


s: A sunbeam flashes so, that from its coming


s: Were those wherein the pure act was produced.


s: Such bond that it shall never be unbound.


s: But written is this truth in many places


s: Shalt see it, if thou lookest well thereat.


s: For it would not concede that for so long


s: Could be the motors without their perfection.


s: Now dost thou know both where and when these Loves


s: Nor could one reach, in counting, unto twenty


s: So swiftly, as a portion of these angels


s: The rest remained, and they began this art


s: Which thou discernest, with so great delight


s: That never from their circling do they cease.


s: The occasion of the fall was the accursed


s: Presumption of that One, whom thou hast seen


s: By all the burden of the world constrained.


s: Those whom thou here beholdest modest were


s: To recognise themselves as of that goodness


s: Which made them apt for so much understanding;


s: On which account their vision was exalted


s: By the enlightening grace and their own merit,


s: So that they have a full and steadfast will.


s: I would not have thee doubt, but certain be,


s: Much mayst thou contemplate, if these my words


s: Be gathered up, without all further aid.


s: But since upon the earth, throughout your schools,


s: They teach that such is the angelic nature


s: That it doth hear, and recollect, and will,


s: More will I say, that thou mayst see unmixed


s: The truth that is confounded there below,


s: These substances, since in God's countenance


s: They jocund were, turned not away their sight


s: From that wherefrom not anything is hidden;


s: Hence they have not their vision intercepted


s: By object new, and hence they do not need


s: To recollect, through interrupted thought.


s: So that below, not sleeping, people dream,


s: Believing they speak truth, and not believing;


s: And in the last is greater sin and shame.


s: Love of appearance and the thought thereof.


s: With less disdain, than when is set aside


s: They think not there how much of blood it costs


s: To sow it in the world, and how he pleases


s: Each striveth for appearance, and doth make


s: His own inventions; and these treated are


s: By preachers, and the Evangel holds its peace.


s: One sayeth that the moon did backward turn,


s: In the Passion of Christ, and interpose herself


s: So that the sunlight reached not down below;


s: And lies; for of its own accord the light


s: Hid itself; whence to Spaniards and to Indians,


s: As fables such as these, that every year


s: Are shouted from the pulpit back and forth,


s: In such wise that the lambs, who do not know,


s: Come back from pasture fed upon the wind,


s: And not to see the harm doth not excuse them.


s: Christ did not to his first disciples say,


s: 'Go forth, and to the world preach idle tales,'


s: And this so loudly sounded from their lips,


s: They made of the Evangel shields and lances.


s: Now men go forth with jests and drolleries


s: To preach, and if but well the people laugh,


s: The hood puffs out, and nothing more is asked.


s: But in the cowl there nestles such a bird,


s: That, if the common people were to see it,


s: They would perceive what pardons they confide in,


s: For which so great on earth has grown the folly,


s: To each indulgence they would flock together.


s: By this Saint Anthony his pig doth fatten,


s: And many others, who are worse than pigs,


s: Paying in money without mark of coinage.


s: Turn back thine eyes forthwith to the right path,


s: So that the way be shortened with the time.


s: In numbers, that there never yet was speech


s: And if thou notest that which is revealed


s: By Daniel, thou wilt see that in his thousands


s: The primal light, that all irradiates it,


s: As are the splendours wherewith it is mated.


s: Hence, inasmuch as on the act conceptive


s: The affection followeth, of love the sweetness


s: Of the eternal power, since it hath made


s: Itself so many mirrors, where 'tis broken,


s: Perchance six thousand miles remote from us


s: Is glowing the sixth hour, and now this world


s: When the mid-heaven begins to make itself


s: So deep to us, that here and there a star


s: Ceases to shine so far down as this depth,


s: The handmaid of the sun, the heaven is closed


s: Light after light to the most beautiful;


s: Not otherwise the Triumph, which for ever


s: Plays round about the point that vanquished me,


s: Seeming enclosed by what itself encloses,


s: My seeing nothing and my love constrained me.


s: Scant would it be to serve the present turn.


s: Transcend ourselves, but truly I believe


s: Vanquished do I confess me by this passage


s: More than by problem of his theme was ever


s: For as the sun the sight that trembles most,


s: From the first day that I beheld her face


s: In this life, to the moment of this look,


s: The sequence of my song has ne'er been severed;


s: But now perforce this sequence must desist


s: From following her beauty with my verse,


s: Than any of my trumpet, which is bringing


s: With voice and gesture of a perfect leader


s: She recommenced: "We from the greatest body


s: Have issued to the heaven that is pure light;


s: Ecstasy that transcendeth every sweetness.


s: Here shalt thou see the one host and the other


s: Of Paradise, and one in the same aspects


s: Which at the final judgment thou shalt see."


s: Even as a sudden lightning that disperses


s: The eye of impress from the strongest objects,


s: Thus round about me flashed a living light,


s: And left me swathed around with such a veil


s: "Ever the Love which quieteth this heaven


s: To make the candle ready for its flame."


s: No sooner had within me these brief words


s: An entrance found, than I perceived myself


s: But that mine eyes were fortified against it.


s: Fulvid with its effulgence, 'twixt two banks


s: And on all sides sank down into the flowers,


s: And then, as if inebriate with the odours,


s: They plunged again into the wondrous torrent,


s: And as one entered issued forth another.


s: "The high desire, that now inflames and moves thee


s: To have intelligence of what thou seest,


s: Pleaseth me all the more, the more it swells.


s: Before so great a thirst in thee be slaked."


s: Thus said to me the sunshine of mine eyes;


s: Going in and out, and the laughing of the herbage,


s: Are of their truth foreshadowing prefaces;


s: Not that these things are difficult in themselves,


s: For yet thou hast not vision so exalted."


s: As I did, that I might make better mirrors


s: Still of mine eyes, down stooping to the wave


s: Which flows that we therein be better made.


s: And even as the penthouse of mine eyelids


s: Drank of it, it forthwith appeared to me


s: Out of its length to be transformed to round.


s: Then as a folk who have been under masks


s: The semblance not their own they disappeared in,


s: Thus into greater pomp were changed for me


s: The flowerets and the sparks, so that I saw


s: Both of the Courts of Heaven made manifest.


s: O splendour of God! by means of which I saw


s: The lofty triumph of the realm veracious,


s: Would be too large a girdle for the sun.


s: Reflected from the top of Primal Motion,


s: Which takes therefrom vitality and power.


s: When affluent most in verdure and in flowers,


s: So, ranged aloft all round about the light,


s: Mirrored I saw in more ranks than a thousand


s: All who above there have from us returned.


s: So great a light, how vast the amplitude


s: Is of this Rose in its extremest leaves!


s: My vision in the vastness and the height


s: The quantity and quality of that gladness.


s: There near and far nor add nor take away;


s: For there where God immediately doth govern,


s: That spreads, and multiplies, and breathes an odour


s: As one who silent is and fain would speak,


s: Of the white stoles how vast the convent is!


s: Behold how vast the circuit of our city!


s: Behold our seats so filled to overflowing,


s: That here henceforward are few people wanting!


s: On that great throne whereon thine eyes are fixed


s: For the crown's sake already placed upon it,


s: Before thou suppest at this wedding feast


s: Shall sit the soul (that is to be Augustus


s: On earth) of noble Henry, who shall come


s: Blind covetousness, that casts its spell upon you,


s: Has made you like unto the little child,


s: Who dies of hunger and drives off the nurse.


s: On the same road he will not walk with him.


s: Displayed itself to me the saintly host,


s: Whom Christ in his own blood had made his bride,


s: But the other host, that flying sees and sings


s: And the goodness that created it so noble,


s: Even as a swarm of bees, that sinks in flowers


s: To where its labour is to sweetness turned,


s: Sank into the great flower, that is adorned


s: With leaves so many, and thence reascended


s: Their faces had they all of living flame,


s: And wings of gold, and all the rest so white


s: From bench to bench, into the flower descending,


s: They carried something of the peace and ardour


s: Which by the fanning of their flanks they won.


s: Nor did the interposing 'twixt the flower


s: Of flying shapes impede the sight and splendour;


s: That naught can be an obstacle against it.


s: This realm secure and full of gladsomeness,


s: Crowded with ancient people and with modern,


s: Unto one mark had all its look and love.


s: Sparkling upon their sight so satisfies them,


s: If the barbarians, coming from some region


s: Revolving with her son whom she delights in,


s: Were wonder-struck, what time the Lateran


s: From Florence to a people just and sane,


s: With what amazement must I have been filled!


s: My pleasure not to hear, and to be mute.


s: And hopes some day to retell how it was,


s: So through the living light my way pursuing


s: Directed I mine eyes o'er all the ranks,


s: Now up, now down, and now all round about.


s: Embellished by His light and their own smile,


s: And round I turned me with rekindled wish


s: Concerning which my mind was in suspense.


s: I thought I should see Beatrice, and saw


s: An Old Man habited like the glorious people.


s: O'erflowing was he in his eyes and cheeks


s: And "She, where is she?" instantly I said;


s: Whence he: "To put an end to thy desire,


s: Me Beatrice hath sent from mine own place.


s: And if thou lookest up to the third round


s: Of the first rank, again shalt thou behold her


s: Upon the throne her merits have assigned her."


s: And saw her, as she made herself a crown


s: Reflecting from herself the eternal rays.


s: Not from that region which the highest thunders


s: As there from Beatrice my sight; but this


s: "O Lady, thou in whom my hope is strong,


s: In Hell to leave the imprint of thy feet,


s: As coming from thy power and from thy goodness


s: Thou from a slave hast brought me unto freedom,


s: By all those ways, by all the expedients,


s: Whereby thou hadst the power of doing it.


s: So that this soul of mine, which thou hast healed,


s: Pleasing to thee be loosened from the body."


s: Smiled, as it seemed, and looked once more at me;


s: And said the Old Man holy: "That thou mayst


s: Whereunto prayer and holy love have sent me,


s: Fly with thine eyes all round about this garden;


s: And she, the Queen of Heaven, for whom I burn


s: Wholly with love, will grant us every grace,


s: Because that I her faithful Bernard am."


s: Who through its ancient fame is never sated,


s: But says in thought, the while it is displayed,


s: "My Lord, Christ Jesus, God of very God,


s: Now was your semblance made like unto this?"


s: Even such was I while gazing at the living


s: "Thou son of grace, this jocund life," began he,


s: "Will not be known to thee by keeping ever


s: Thine eyes below here on the lowest place;


s: But mark the circles to the most remote,


s: Until thou shalt behold enthroned the Queen


s: To whom this realm is subject and devoted."


s: Surpasses that wherein the sun goes down,


s: Thus, as if going with mine eyes from vale


s: To mount, I saw a part in the remoteness


s: Surpass in splendour all the other front.


s: And even as there where we await the pole


s: The light, and is on either side diminished,


s: Gleamed brightest in the centre, and each side


s: And at that centre, with their wings expanded,


s: More than a thousand jubilant Angels saw I,


s: Each differing in effulgence and in kind.


s: I saw there at their sports and at their songs


s: A beauty smiling, which the gladness was


s: Within the eyes of all the other saints;


s: To attempt the smallest part of its delight.


s: Fixed and intent upon its fervid fervour,


s: His own with such affection turned to her


s: That it made mine more ardent to behold.


s: Absorbed in his delight, that contemplator


s: Assumed the willing office of a teacher,


s: "The wound that Mary closed up and anointed,


s: She is the one who opened it and pierced it.


s: Within that order which the third seats make


s: Canst thou behold from seat to seat descending


s: Down in gradation, as with each one's name


s: I through the Rose go down from leaf to leaf.


s: And downward from the seventh row, even as


s: Above the same, succeed the Hebrew women,


s: Because, according to the view which Faith


s: In Christ had taken, these are the partition


s: By which the sacred stairways are divided.


s: Upon this side, where perfect is the flower


s: Those who believed in Christ who was to come.


s: Are those who looked to Christ already come.


s: And as, upon this side, the glorious seat


s: Of the Lady of Heaven, and the other seats


s: So opposite doth that of the great John,


s: Endured, and afterwards two years in Hell.


s: And under him thus to divide were chosen


s: And down to us the rest from round to round.


s: In equal measure shall this garden fill.


s: And know that downward from that rank which cleaves


s: Midway the sequence of the two divisions,


s: Not by their proper merit are they seated;


s: But by another's under fixed conditions;


s: For these are spirits one and all assoiled


s: Well canst thou recognise it in their faces,


s: If thou regard them well and hearken to them.


s: Now doubtest thou, and doubting thou art silent;


s: But I will loosen for thee the strong bond


s: In which thy subtile fancies hold thee fast.


s: No casual point can possibly find place,


s: No more than sadness can, or thirst, or hunger;


s: Whatever thou beholdest, so that closely


s: And therefore are these people, festinate


s: More and less excellent among themselves.


s: The King, by means of whom this realm reposes


s: In so great love and in so great delight


s: Creating, at his pleasure dowers with grace


s: Diversely; and let here the effect suffice.


s: For you in Holy Scripture, in those twins


s: Who in their mother had their anger roused.


s: Therefore, with such a grace the light supreme


s: Consenteth that they worthily be crowned.


s: Without, then, any merit of their deeds,


s: Stationed are they in different gradations,


s: Differing only in their first acuteness.


s: With innocence, to work out their salvation


s: Sufficient was the faith of parents only.


s: Behoved it that the males by circumcision


s: Unto their innocent wings should virtue add;


s: But after that the time of grace had come


s: Such innocence below there was retained.


s: Hath most resemblance; for its brightness only


s: Rain down, borne onward in the holy minds


s: And the same Love that first descended there,


s: In front of her his wings expanded wide.


s: So that each sight became serener for it.


s: To be below here, leaving the sweet place


s: Enamoured so that he seems made of fire?"


s: Thus I again recourse had to the teaching


s: All is in him; and thus we fain would have it;


s: But now come onward with thine eyes, as I


s: Speaking shall go, and note the great patricians


s: Of this most just and merciful of empires.


s: Those two that sit above there most enrapture


s: Are as it were the two roots of this Rose.


s: The human species so much bitter tastes.


s: Upon the right thou seest that ancient father


s: Of Holy Church, into whose keeping Christ


s: The keys committed of this lovely flower.


s: Before his death, of her the beauteous bride


s: Who with the spear and with the nails was won,


s: The people ingrate, fickle, and stiff-necked.


s: So well content to look upon her daughter,


s: Her eyes she moves not while she sings Hosanna.


s: And opposite the eldest household father


s: When to rush downward thou didst bend thy brows.


s: But since the moments of thy vision fly,


s: Here will we make full stop, as a good tailor


s: Who makes the gown according to his cloth,


s: And unto the first Love will turn our eyes,


s: As far as possible through his effulgence.


s: By prayer behoves it that grace be obtained;


s: Grace from that one who has the power to aid thee;


s: And thou shalt follow me with thy affection


s: That from my words thy heart turn not aside."


s: "Thou Virgin Mother, daughter of thy Son,


s: Humble and high beyond all other creature,


s: Did not disdain to make himself its creature.


s: After such wise this flower has germinated.


s: Of charity, and below there among mortals


s: Thou art the living fountain-head of hope.


s: Lady, thou art so great, and so prevailing,


s: That he who wishes grace, nor runs to thee,


s: His aspirations without wings would fly.


s: Forerunneth of its own accord the asking.


s: Whate'er of goodness is in any creature.


s: Now doth this man, who from the lowest depth


s: Supplicate thee through grace for so much power


s: That with his eyes he may uplift himself


s: And I, who never burned for my own seeing


s: More than I do for his, all of my prayers


s: Proffer to thee, and pray they come not short,


s: That thou wouldst scatter from him every cloud


s: That the Chief Pleasure be to him displayed.


s: Still farther do I pray thee, Queen, who canst


s: Whate'er thou wilt, that sound thou mayst preserve


s: Let thy protection conquer human movements;


s: My prayers to second clasp their hands to thee!"


s: How grateful unto her are prayers devout;


s: Then unto the Eternal Light they turned,


s: Bernard was beckoning unto me, and smiling,


s: That I should upward look; but I already


s: Of the High Light which of itself is true.


s: From that time forward what I saw was greater


s: Than our discourse, that to such vision yields,


s: And after dreaming the imprinted passion


s: Remains, and to his mind the rest returns not,


s: Within my heart the sweetness born of it;


s: Even thus the snow is in the sun unsealed,


s: Even thus upon the wind in the light leaves


s: Were the soothsayings of the Sibyl lost.


s: O Light Supreme, that dost so far uplift thee


s: From the conceits of mortals, to my mind


s: Of what thou didst appear re-lend a little,


s: And make my tongue of so great puissance,


s: And by a little sounding in these verses,


s: Which I endured would have bewildered me,


s: If but mine eyes had been averted from it;


s: On this account to bear, so that I joined


s: I saw that in its depth far down is lying


s: Bound up with love together in one volume,


s: What through the universe in leaves is scattered;


s: Substance, and accident, and their operations,


s: That what I speak of is one simple light.


s: Than five and twenty centuries to the emprise


s: That startled Neptune with the shade of Argo!


s: My mind in this wise wholly in suspense,


s: And evermore with gazing grew enkindled.


s: In presence of that light one such becomes,


s: That to withdraw therefrom for other prospect


s: Because the good, which object is of will,


s: That is defective which is perfect there.


s: Shorter henceforward will my language fall


s: Of what I yet remember, than an infant's


s: Who still his tongue doth moisten at the breast.


s: Not because more than one unmingled semblance


s: Was in the living light on which I looked,


s: But through the sight, that fortified itself


s: Within the deep and luminous subsistence


s: Of the High Light appeared to me three circles,


s: Of threefold colour and of one dimension,


s: And by the second seemed the first reflected


s: Seemed fire that equally from both is breathed.


s: O how all speech is feeble and falls short


s: Is such, 'tis not enough to call it little!


s: O Light Eterne, sole in thyself that dwellest,


s: Sole knowest thyself, and, known unto thyself


s: And knowing, lovest and smilest on thyself!


s: That circulation, which being thus conceived


s: When somewhat contemplated by mine eyes,


s: Wherefore my sight was all absorbed therein.


s: To square the circle, and discovers not,


s: By taking thought, the principle he wants,


s: I wished to see how the image to the circle


s: Conformed itself, and how it there finds place;


s: But my own wings were not enough for this,


s: Had it not been that then my mind there smote


s: A flash of lightning, wherein came its wish.


s: The Love which moves the sun and the other stars.


s: A laborer, pausing in the dust and heat,


s: Lay down his burden, and with reverent feet


s: Enter, and cross himself, and on the floor


s: Far off the noises of the world retreat;


s: And leave my burden at this minster gate,


s: Kneeling in prayer, and not ashamed to pray,


s: How strange the sculptures that adorn these towers!


s: This crowd of statues, in whose folded sleeves


s: Birds build their nests; while canopied with leaves


s: Parvis and portal bloom like trellised bowers,


s: And the vast minster seems a cross of flowers!


s: But fiends and dragons on the gargoyled eaves


s: Watch the dead Christ between the living thieves,


s: And, underneath, the traitor Judas lowers!


s: Ah! from what agonies of heart and brain,


s: What tenderness, what tears, what hate of wrong,


s: What passionate outcry of a soul in pain,


s: And strive to make my steps keep pace with thine.


s: The air is filled with some unknown perfume;


s: For thee to pass; the votive tapers shine;


s: Like rooks that haunt Ravenna's groves of pine,


s: The hovering echoes fly from tomb to tomb.


s: With the pathetic words, "Although your sins


s: As scarlet be," and ends with "as the snow."


s: With snow-white veil, and garments as of flame,


s: Filled thy young heart with passion and the woe


s: From which thy song in all its splendors came;


s: And while with stern rebuke she speaks thy name,


s: The ice about thy heart melts as the snow


s: On mountain heights, and in swift overflow


s: Comes gushing from thy lips in sobs of shame.


s: Thou makest full confession; and a gleam


s: As of the dawn on some dark forest cast,


s: Seems on thy lifted forehead to increase;


s: That perfect pardon which is perfect peace.


s: I Lift mine eyes, and all the windows blaze


s: With forms of saints and holy men who died,


s: And the great Rose upon its leaves displays


s: Christ's Triumph, and the angelic roundelays,


s: No more rebukes, but smiles her words of praise.


s: And then the organ sounds, and unseen choirs


s: Sing the old Latin hymns of peace and love


s: And the melodious bells among the spires


s: O'er all the house-tops and through heaven above


s: O bringer of the light, whose splendor shines


s: The voices of the mountains and the pines,


s: Repeat thy song, till the familiar lines


s: Thy fame is blown abroad from all the heights,


s: Through all the nations; and a sound is heard,


s: Strangers of Rome, and the new proselytes,


s: In their own language hear thy wondrous word,


s: 'Ich habe unter meinen Papieren ein Blatt gefunden,


s: wo ich die Baukunst eine erstarrte Musik nenne.'


s: The poem is divided into three canticles of thirty-three cantos


s: each, plus one extra in the first, the Inferno, making a total of


s: beginning of the next tercet, establishing a kind of overlap,


s: levels, the vestibule makes a tenth.  Purgatory has seven


s: terraces, plus two ledges in an ante-purgatory; adding these to


s: the Earthly Paradise yields ten zones.  Paradise is composed of


s: nine heavens; Empyrean makes the tenth.  In the Inferno, sinners


s: are organized by three vices--Incontinence, Violence, and


s: Fraud--and further subdivided by the seven deadly sins.  In


s: Purgatory, penance is ordered on the basis of three types of


s: natural love.  Paradise is organized on the basis of three types


s: of Divine Love, and further subdivided according to the three


s: . . .this spiritual sense has a threefold division. . .so far as


s: the things of the Old Law signify the things of the New Law,


s: there is the allegorical sense; so far as the things done in


s: Christ, or so far as the things which signify Christ, are types


s: of what we ought to do, there is the moral sense.  But so far as


s: they signify what relates to eternal glory, there is the


s: anagogical sense.    (Summa Theologica I, 1, 10)


s: The River Phlegethon.  The Violent against their Neighbours.


s: against themselves.  Suicides.  Pier della Vigna.


s: Virgil reproaches Dante's Pity.  Mantua's Foundation.


s: Buoso degli Abati, Puccio Sciancato, Cianfa de' Donati,


s: Adam of Brescia, Potiphar's Wife, and Sinon of Troy.


s: First Division, Caina: Traitors to their Kindred.


s: Traitors to their Country.  Dante questions


s: of Count Ugolino's Sons.  Third Division of the Ninth Circle,


s: Ptolomaea: Traitors to their Friends.  Friar Alberigo,


s: Traitors to their Lords and Benefactors.  Lucifer,


s: who postponed Repentance till the last Hour.  Belacqua.


s: Prophecy of the Abduction of Pope Boniface VIII and


s: upon the Stairway, and his Dream of Leah and Rachel.


s: Sacred Vows, were forced to violate them.  The Lunar Spots.


s: over the State of the Franciscan Order.  The Second Circle.


s: for the true Faith.  The Celestial Cross.


s: The Celestial Eagle.  Dante's Invectives against


s: Condemnation of the vile Kings of A.D. 1300.


s: translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


s: (e-text courtesy ILT's Digital Dante Project)


s: For the straightforward pathway had been lost.


s: What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,


s: Which in the very thought renews the fear.


s: But of the good to treat, which there I found,


s: Speak will I of the other things I saw there.


s: I cannot well repeat how there I entered,


s: But after I had reached a mountain's foot,


s: At that point where the valley terminated,


s: Which had with consternation pierced my heart,


s: Upward I looked, and I beheld its shoulders,


s: Which leadeth others right by every road.


s: That in my heart's lake had endured throughout


s: The night, which I had passed so piteously.


s: And even as he, who, with distressful breath,


s: Forth issued from the sea upon the shore,


s: So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward,


s: So that the firm foot ever was the lower.


s: Which with a spotted skin was covered o'er!


s: And never moved she from before my face,


s: The time was the beginning of the morning,


s: And up the sun was mounting with those stars


s: That with him were, what time the Love Divine


s: At first in motion set those beauteous things;


s: The hour of time, and the delicious season;


s: But not so much, that did not give me fear


s: He seemed as if against me he were coming


s: With head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger,


s: So that it seemed the air was afraid of him;


s: And a she-wolf, that with all hungerings


s: And many folk has caused to live forlorn!


s: With the affright that from her aspect came,


s: That I the hope relinquished of the height.


s: And the time comes that causes him to lose,


s: Who weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent,


s: E'en such made me that beast withouten peace,


s: Thrust me back thither where the sun is silent.


s: While I was rushing downward to the lowland,


s: Before mine eyes did one present himself,


s: Who seemed from long-continued silence hoarse.


s: "Whiche'er thou art, or shade or real man!"


s: He answered me: "Not man; man once I was,


s: 'Sub Julio' was I born, though it was late,


s: And lived at Rome under the good Augustus,


s: During the time of false and lying gods.


s: Son of Anchises, who came forth from Troy,


s: But thou, why goest thou back to such annoyance?


s: Why climb'st thou not the Mount Delectable,


s: Which is the source and cause of every joy?"


s: "Now, art thou that Virgilius and that fountain


s: Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech?"


s: I made response to him with bashful forehead.


s: "O, of the other poets honour and light,


s: That have impelled me to explore thy volume!


s: The beautiful style that has done honour to me.


s: Behold the beast, for which I have turned back;


s: Do thou protect me from her, famous Sage,


s: For she doth make my veins and pulses tremble."


s: Responded he, when he beheld me weeping,


s: "If from this savage place thou wouldst escape;


s: Because this beast, at which thou criest out,


s: But so doth harass him, that she destroys him;


s: And has a nature so malign and ruthless,


s: That never doth she glut her greedy will,


s: And more they shall be still, until the Greyhound


s: Comes, who shall make her perish in her pain.


s: He shall not feed on either earth or pelf,


s: But upon wisdom, and on love and virtue;


s: 'Twixt Feltro and Feltro shall his nation be;


s: Of that low Italy shall he be the saviour,


s: Euryalus, Turnus, Nisus, of their wounds;


s: Through every city shall he hunt her down,


s: Until he shall have driven her back to Hell,


s: There from whence envy first did let her loose.


s: Therefore I think and judge it for thy best


s: Thou follow me, and I will be thy guide,


s: And lead thee hence through the eternal place,


s: Where thou shalt hear the desperate lamentations,


s: Shalt see the ancient spirits disconsolate,


s: Who cry out each one for the second death;


s: And thou shalt see those who contented are


s: Within the fire, because they hope to come,


s: Whene'er it may be, to the blessed people;


s: To whom, then, if thou wishest to ascend,


s: A soul shall be for that than I more worthy;


s: With her at my departure I will leave thee;


s: Wills that through me none come into his city.


s: He governs everywhere, and there he reigns;


s: By that same God whom thou didst never know,


s: So that I may escape this woe and worse,


s: Thou wouldst conduct me there where thou hast said,


s: That I may see the portal of Saint Peter,


s: Then he moved on, and I behind him followed.


s: Day was departing, and the embrowned air


s: Both of the way and likewise of the woe,


s: Which memory that errs not shall retrace.


s: O memory, that didst write down what I saw,


s: Ere to the arduous pass thou dost confide me.


s: Thou sayest, that of Silvius the parent,


s: Was courteous, thinking of the high effect


s: That issue would from him, and who, and what,


s: To men of intellect unmeet it seems not;


s: For he was of great Rome, and of her empire


s: In the empyreal heaven as father chosen;


s: The which and what, wishing to speak the truth,


s: Were stablished as the holy place, wherein


s: Sits the successor of the greatest Peter.


s: Upon this journey, whence thou givest him vaunt,


s: Things did he hear, which the occasion were


s: Both of his victory and the papal mantle.


s: Thither went afterwards the Chosen Vessel,


s: To bring back comfort thence unto that Faith,


s: Which of salvation's way is the beginning.


s: But I, why thither come, or who concedes it?


s: Nor I, nor others, think me worthy of it.


s: Thou'rt wise, and knowest better than I speak."


s: And as he is, who unwills what he willed,


s: And by new thoughts doth his intention change,


s: So that from his design he quite withdraws,


s: Because, in thinking, I consumed the emprise,


s: Which was so very prompt in the beginning.


s: "If I have well thy language understood,"


s: It turns him back from honoured enterprise,


s: As false sight doth a beast, when he is shy.


s: That thou mayst free thee from this apprehension,


s: I'll tell thee why I came, and what I heard


s: At the first moment when I grieved for thee.


s: In such wise, I besought her to command me.


s: Her eyes where shining brighter than the Star;


s: With voice angelical, in her own language:


s: Of whom the fame still in the world endures,


s: And shall endure, long-lasting as the world;


s: A friend of mine, and not the friend of fortune,


s: Upon his way, that he has turned through terror,


s: That I too late have risen to his succour,


s: From that which I have heard of him in Heaven.


s: Bestir thee now, and with thy speech ornate,


s: And with what needful is for his release,


s: I come from there, where I would fain return;


s: Love moved me, which compelleth me to speak.


s: Full often will I praise thee unto him.'


s: Then paused she, and thereafter I began:


s: 'O Lady of virtue, thou alone through whom


s: Within the heaven that has the lesser circles,


s: To obey, if 'twere already done, were late;


s: No farther need'st thou ope to me thy wish.


s: But the cause tell me why thou dost not shun


s: The here descending down into this centre,


s: From the vast place thou burnest to return to.'


s: 'Since thou wouldst fain so inwardly discern,


s: Briefly will I relate,' she answered me,


s: Of those things only should one be afraid


s: Which have the power of doing others harm;


s: Of the rest, no; because they are not fearful.


s: Nor any flame assails me of this burning.


s: At this impediment, to which I send thee,


s: So that stern judgment there above is broken.


s: And said, "Thy faithful one now stands in need


s: Of thee, and unto thee I recommend him."


s: Where I was sitting with the ancient Rachel.


s: "Beatrice" said she, "the true praise of God,


s: Why succourest thou not him, who loved thee so,


s: For thee he issued from the vulgar herd?


s: Dost thou not hear the pity of his plaint?


s: Dost thou not see the death that combats him


s: Beside that flood, where ocean has no vaunt?"


s: Never were persons in the world so swift


s: To work their weal and to escape their woe,


s: As I, after such words as these were uttered,


s: Came hither downward from my blessed seat,


s: Which honours thee, and those who've listened to it.'


s: Weeping, her shining eyes she turned away;


s: Whereby she made me swifter in my coming;


s: I have delivered thee from that wild beast,


s: Which barred the beautiful mountain's short ascent.


s: What is it, then?  Why, why dost thou delay?


s: Why is such baseness bedded in thy heart?


s: Are caring for thee in the court of Heaven,


s: And so much good my speech doth promise thee?"


s: Even as the flowerets, by nocturnal chill,


s: Bowed down and closed, when the sun whitens them,


s: Uplift themselves all open on their stems;


s: Such I became with my exhausted strength,


s: And such good courage to my heart there coursed,


s: And courteous thou, who hast obeyed so soon


s: The words of truth which she addressed to thee!


s: Thou hast my heart so with desire disposed


s: To the adventure, with these words of thine,


s: That to my first intent I have returned.


s: Now go, for one sole will is in us both,


s: Thou Leader, and thou Lord, and Master thou."


s: Thus said I to him; and when he had moved,


s: "Through me the way is to the city dolent;


s: Through me the way among the people lost.


s: Whence I: "Their sense is, Master, hard to me!"


s: "Here all suspicion needs must be abandoned,


s: All cowardice must needs be here extinct.


s: We to the place have come, where I have told thee


s: Who have foregone the good of intellect."


s: With joyful mien, whence I was comforted,


s: There sighs, complaints, and ululations loud


s: Resounded through the air without a star,


s: Whence I, at the beginning, wept thereat.


s: And voices high and hoarse, with sound of hands,


s: Even as the sand doth, when the whirlwind breathes.


s: And I, who had my head with horror bound,


s: Said: "Master, what is this which now I hear?


s: What folk is this, which seems by pain so vanquished?"


s: Commingled are they with that caitiff choir


s: Of Angels, who have not rebellious been,


s: Nor faithful were to God, but were for self.


s: The heavens expelled them, not to be less fair;


s: For glory none the damned would have from them."


s: To these, that maketh them lament so sore?"


s: He answered: "I will tell thee very briefly.


s: And this blind life of theirs is so debased,


s: No fame of them the world permits to be;


s: Misericord and Justice both disdain them.


s: Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass."


s: And I, who looked again, beheld a banner,


s: Which, whirling round, ran on so rapidly,


s: That of all pause it seemed to me indignant;


s: Of people, that I ne'er would have believed


s: Who made through cowardice the great refusal.


s: Forthwith I comprehended, and was certain,


s: That this the sect was of the caitiff wretches


s: By gadflies and by hornets that were there.


s: These did their faces irrigate with blood,


s: Which, with their tears commingled, at their feet


s: By the disgusting worms was gathered up.


s: Whence said I: "Master, now vouchsafe to me,


s: That I may know who these are, and what law


s: Makes them appear so ready to pass over,


s: And he to me: "These things shall all be known


s: To thee, as soon as we our footsteps stay


s: Then with mine eyes ashamed and downward cast,


s: Fearing my words might irksome be to him,


s: From speech refrained I till we reached the river.


s: Crying: "Woe unto you, ye souls depraved!


s: Hope nevermore to look upon the heavens;


s: To the eternal shades in heat and frost.


s: And thou, that yonder standest, living soul,


s: Withdraw thee from these people, who are dead!"


s: But when he saw that I did not withdraw,


s: Thou to the shore shalt come, not here, for passage;


s: A lighter vessel needs must carry thee."


s: And unto him the Guide: "Vex thee not, Charon;


s: It is so willed there where is power to do


s: That which is willed; and farther question not."


s: Who round about his eyes had wheels of flame.


s: But all those souls who weary were and naked


s: Their colour changed and gnashed their teeth together,


s: As soon as they had heard those cruel words.


s: God they blasphemed and their progenitors,


s: The human race, the place, the time, the seed


s: Of their engendering and of their birth!


s: Bitterly weeping, to the accursed shore,


s: Which waiteth every man who fears not God.


s: Charon the demon, with the eyes of glede,


s: Beckoning to them, collects them all together,


s: As in the autumn-time the leaves fall off,


s: First one and then another, till the branch


s: Unto the earth surrenders all its spoils;


s: Throw themselves from that margin one by one,


s: Again on this side a new troop assembles.


s: "My son," the courteous Master said to me,


s: "All those who perish in the wrath of God


s: And ready are they to pass o'er the river,


s: Because celestial Justice spurs them on,


s: So that their fear is turned into desire.


s: This way there never passes a good soul;


s: And hence if Charon doth complain of thee,


s: Well mayst thou know now what his speech imports."


s: This being finished, all the dusk champaign


s: Trembled so violently, that of that terror


s: The recollection bathes me still with sweat.


s: The land of tears gave forth a blast of wind,


s: And as a man whom sleep hath seized I fell.


s: Like to a person who by force is wakened;


s: True is it, that upon the verge I found me


s: That gathers thunder of infinite ululations.


s: So that by fixing on its depths my sight


s: "Let us descend now into the blind world,"


s: "I will be first, and thou shalt second be."


s: Said: "How shall I come, if thou art afraid,


s: Who'rt wont to be a comfort to my fears?"


s: And he to me: "The anguish of the people


s: That pity which for terror thou hast taken.


s: Let us go on, for the long way impels us."


s: Thus he went in, and thus he made me enter


s: The foremost circle that surrounds the abyss.


s: There, as it seemed to me from listening,


s: And this arose from sorrow without torment,


s: Which the crowds had, that many were and great,


s: To me the Master good: "Thou dost not ask


s: What spirits these, which thou beholdest, are?


s: Now will I have thee know, ere thou go farther,


s: That they sinned not; and if they merit had,


s: 'Tis not enough, because they had not baptism


s: Which is the portal of the Faith thou holdest;


s: In the right manner they adored not God;


s: For such defects, and not for other guilt,


s: Lost are we and are only so far punished,


s: That without hope we live on in desire."


s: Great grief seized on my heart when this I heard,


s: I knew, who in that Limbo were suspended.


s: "Tell me, my Master, tell me, thou my Lord,"


s: Of that Faith which o'ercometh every error,


s: Or by another's, who was blessed thereafter?"


s: And he, who understood my covert speech,


s: Hence he drew forth the shade of the First Parent,


s: Israel with his father and his children,


s: And Rachel, for whose sake he did so much,


s: And others many, and he made them blessed;


s: And thou must know, that earlier than these


s: We ceased not to advance because he spake,


s: But still were passing onward through the forest,


s: The forest, say I, of thick-crowded ghosts.


s: But not so far that I in part discerned not


s: "O thou who honourest every art and science,


s: Who may these be, which such great honour have,


s: That from the fashion of the rest it parts them?"


s: That sounds of them above there in thy life,


s: Wins grace in Heaven, that so advances them."


s: In the mean time a voice was heard by me:


s: His shade returns again, that was departed."


s: After the voice had ceased and quiet was,


s: Four mighty shades I saw approaching us;


s: Semblance had they nor sorrowful nor glad.


s: "Him with that falchion in his hand behold,


s: Who comes before the three, even as their lord.


s: He who comes next is Horace, the satirist;


s: The third is Ovid, and the last is Lucan.


s: Because to each of these with me applies


s: The name that solitary voice proclaimed,


s: They do me honour, and in that do well."


s: Who o'er the others like an eagle soars.


s: When they together had discoursed somewhat,


s: They turned to me with signs of salutation,


s: And on beholding this, my Master smiled;


s: And more of honour still, much more, they did me,


s: In that they made me one of their own band;


s: So that the sixth was I, 'mid so much wit.


s: Things saying 'tis becoming to keep silent,


s: Seven times encompassed with lofty walls,


s: This we passed over even as firm ground;


s: Through portals seven I entered with these Sages;


s: People were there with solemn eyes and slow,


s: Of great authority in their countenance;


s: They spake but seldom, and with gentle voices.


s: Thus we withdrew ourselves upon one side


s: Were pointed out to me the mighty spirits,


s: Whom to have seen I feel myself exalted.


s: 'Mongst whom I knew both Hector and Aeneas,


s: On the other side, and saw the King Latinus,


s: I saw that Brutus who drove Tarquin forth,


s: All gaze upon him, and all do him honour.


s: Democritus, who puts the world on chance,


s: Because so drives me onward the long theme,


s: That many times the word comes short of fact.


s: Another way my sapient Guide conducts me


s: Forth from the quiet to the air that trembles;


s: And to a place I come where nothing shines.


s: Thus I descended out of the first circle


s: Down to the second, that less space begirds,


s: And so much greater dole, that goads to wailing.


s: There standeth Minos horribly, and snarls;


s: Examines the transgressions at the entrance;


s: Judges, and sends according as he girds him.


s: And this discriminator of transgressions


s: Seeth what place in Hell is meet for it;


s: Girds himself with his tail as many times


s: As grades he wishes it should be thrust down.


s: They go by turns each one unto the judgment;


s: They speak, and hear, and then are downward hurled.


s: Comest," said Minos to me, when he saw me,


s: Leaving the practice of so great an office,


s: "Look how thou enterest, and in whom thou trustest;


s: Let not the portal's amplitude deceive thee."


s: And unto him my Guide: "Why criest thou too?


s: Do not impede his journey fate-ordained;


s: It is so willed there where is power to do


s: That which is willed; and ask no further question."


s: And now begin the dolesome notes to grow


s: There where much lamentation strikes upon me.


s: Which bellows as the sea does in a tempest,


s: Hurtles the spirits onward in its rapine;


s: Whirling them round, and smiting, it molests them.


s: There are the shrieks, the plaints, and the laments,


s: There they blaspheme the puissance divine.


s: And as the wings of starlings bear them on


s: In the cold season in large band and full,


s: So doth that blast the spirits maledict;


s: It hither, thither, downward, upward, drives them;


s: And as the cranes go chanting forth their lays,


s: Making in air a long line of themselves,


s: Shadows borne onward by the aforesaid stress.


s: Whereupon said I: "Master, who are those


s: People, whom the black air so castigates?"


s: "The first of those, of whom intelligence


s: Thou fain wouldst have," then said he unto me,


s: To remove the blame to which she had been led.


s: That she succeeded Ninus, and was his spouse;


s: She held the land which now the Sultan rules.


s: The next is she who killed herself for love,


s: And broke faith with the ashes of Sichaeus;


s: Seasons revolved; and saw the great Achilles,


s: Who at the last hour combated with Love.


s: Paris I saw, Tristan; and more than a thousand


s: Shades did he name and point out with his finger,


s: After that I had listened to my Teacher,


s: Pity prevailed, and I was nigh bewildered.


s: Speak would I to those two, who go together,


s: And, he to me: "Thou'lt mark, when they shall be


s: Nearer to us; and then do thou implore them


s: By love which leadeth them, and they will come."


s: Soon as the wind in our direction sways them,


s: Come speak to us, if no one interdicts it."


s: As turtle-doves, called onward by desire,


s: With open and steady wings to the sweet nest


s: Fly through the air by their volition borne,


s: So came they from the band where Dido is,


s: "O living creature gracious and benignant,


s: Who visiting goest through the purple air


s: Us, who have stained the world incarnadine,


s: If were the King of the Universe our friend,


s: We would pray unto him to give thee peace,


s: Since thou hast pity on our woe perverse.


s: Of what it pleases thee to hear and speak,


s: That will we hear, and we will speak to you,


s: Upon the sea-shore where the Po descends


s: Love, that on gentle heart doth swiftly seize,


s: Seized this man for the person beautiful


s: That was ta'en from me, and still the mode offends me.


s: Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving,


s: Seized me with pleasure of this man so strongly,


s: That, as thou seest, it doth not yet desert me;


s: Caina waiteth him who quenched our life!"


s: These words were borne along from them to us.


s: As soon as I had heard those souls tormented,


s: I bowed my face, and so long held it down


s: Until the Poet said to me: "What thinkest?"


s: How many pleasant thoughts, how much desire,


s: Conducted these unto the dolorous pass!"


s: Then unto them I turned me, and I spake,


s: Sad and compassionate to weeping make me.


s: But tell me, at the time of those sweet sighs,


s: By what and in what manner Love conceded,


s: That you should know your dubious desires?"


s: And she to me: "There is no greater sorrow


s: Of love in us thou hast so great desire,


s: I will do even as he who weeps and speaks.


s: That reading, and drove the colour from our faces;


s: But one point only was it that o'ercame us.


s: When as we read of the much-longed-for smile


s: This one, who ne'er from me shall be divided,


s: Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating.


s: Galeotto was the book and he who wrote it.


s: That day no farther did we read therein."


s: And all the while one spirit uttered this,


s: The other one did weep so, that, for pity,


s: At the return of consciousness, that closed


s: Which utterly with sadness had confused me,


s: New torments I behold, and new tormented


s: Huge hail, and water sombre-hued, and snow,


s: Athwart the tenebrous air pour down amain;


s: Noisome the earth is, that receiveth this.


s: With his three gullets like a dog is barking


s: Over the people that are there submerged.


s: Red eyes he has, and unctuous beard and black,


s: And belly large, and armed with claws his hands;


s: He rends the spirits, flays, and quarters them.


s: Howl the rain maketh them like unto dogs;


s: One side they make a shelter for the other;


s: Oft turn themselves the wretched reprobates.


s: When Cerberus perceived us, the great worm!


s: His mouths he opened, and displayed his tusks;


s: And my Conductor, with his spans extended,


s: Took of the earth, and with his fists well filled,


s: He threw it into those rapacious gullets.


s: Such as that dog is, who by barking craves,


s: And quiet grows soon as his food he gnaws,


s: For to devour it he but thinks and struggles,


s: The like became those muzzles filth-begrimed


s: Over the souls that they would fain be deaf.


s: We passed across the shadows, which subdues


s: The heavy rain-storm, and we placed our feet


s: They all were lying prone upon the earth,


s: "O thou that art conducted through this Hell,"


s: He said to me, "recall me, if thou canst;


s: And I to him: "The anguish which thou hast


s: Perhaps doth draw thee out of my remembrance,


s: So that it seems not I have ever seen thee.


s: But tell me who thou art, that in so doleful


s: A place art put, and in such punishment,


s: If some are greater, none is so displeasing."


s: You citizens were wont to call me Ciacco;


s: I, as thou seest, am battered by this rain.


s: For the like sin;" and word no more spake he.


s: I answered him: "Ciacco, thy wretchedness


s: Weighs on me so that it to weep invites me;


s: But tell me, if thou knowest, to what shall come


s: Tell me why so much discord has assailed it."


s: And he to me: "They, after long contention,


s: Will come to bloodshed; and the rustic party


s: Will drive the other out with much offence.


s: Then afterwards behoves it this one fall


s: Within three suns, and rise again the other


s: By force of him who now is on the coast.


s: High will it hold its forehead a long while,


s: Howe'er it weeps thereat and is indignant.


s: The just are two, and are not understood there;


s: Are the three sparks that have all hearts enkindled."


s: And I to him: "I wish thee still to teach me,


s: And make a gift to me of further speech.


s: And others who on good deeds set their thoughts,


s: Say where they are, and cause that I may know them;


s: For great desire constraineth me to learn


s: If Heaven doth sweeten them, or Hell envenom."


s: And he: "They are among the blacker souls;


s: A different sin downweighs them to the bottom;


s: If thou so far descendest, thou canst see them.


s: But when thou art again in the sweet world,


s: I pray thee to the mind of others bring me;


s: No more I tell thee and no more I answer."


s: Then his straightforward eyes he turned askance,


s: Eyed me a little, and then bowed his head;


s: He fell therewith prone like the other blind.


s: And the Guide said to me: "He wakes no more


s: This side the sound of the angelic trumpet;


s: When shall approach the hostile Potentate,


s: Each one shall find again his dismal tomb,


s: Shall reassume his flesh and his own figure,


s: Shall hear what through eternity re-echoes."


s: So we passed onward o'er the filthy mixture


s: Of shadows and of rain with footsteps slow,


s: Wherefore I said: "Master, these torments here,


s: Will they increase after the mighty sentence,


s: Or lesser be, or will they be as burning?"


s: Which wills, that as the thing more perfect is,


s: The more it feels of pleasure and of pain.


s: Hereafter more than now they look to be."


s: Speaking much more, which I do not repeat;


s: We came unto the point where the descent is;


s: Thus Plutus with his clucking voice began;


s: And that benignant Sage, who all things knew,


s: Said, to encourage me: "Let not thy fear


s: Harm thee; for any power that he may have


s: Shall not prevent thy going down this crag."


s: Then he turned round unto that bloated lip,


s: And said: "Be silent, thou accursed wolf;


s: Consume within thyself with thine own rage.


s: Not causeless is this journey to the abyss;


s: Thus is it willed on high, where Michael wrought


s: Involved together fall when snaps the mast,


s: Thus we descended into the fourth chasm,


s: Gaining still farther on the dolesome shore


s: Which all the woe of the universe insacks.


s: Justice of God, ah! who heaps up so many


s: And why doth our transgression waste us so?


s: As doth the billow there upon Charybdis,


s: That breaks itself on that which it encounters,


s: So here the folk must dance their roundelay.


s: Here saw I people, more than elsewhere, many,


s: On one side and the other, with great howls,


s: Rolling weights forward by main force of chest.


s: They clashed together, and then at that point


s: Each one turned backward, rolling retrograde,


s: Crying, "Why keepest?" and, "Why squanderest thou?"


s: Thus they returned along the lurid circle


s: Then each, when he arrived there, wheeled about


s: Through his half-circle to another joust;


s: And I, who had my heart pierced as it were,


s: Exclaimed: "My Master, now declare to me


s: What people these are, and if all were clerks,


s: These shaven crowns upon the left of us."


s: That there with measure they no spending made.


s: Clearly enough their voices bark it forth,


s: Whene'er they reach the two points of the circle,


s: Have on the head, and Popes and Cardinals,


s: In whom doth Avarice practise its excess."


s: And he to me: "Vain thought thou entertainest;


s: The undiscerning life which made them sordid


s: Now makes them unto all discernment dim.


s: Forever shall they come to these two buttings;


s: These from the sepulchre shall rise again


s: With the fist closed, and these with tresses shorn.


s: Ill giving and ill keeping the fair world


s: Have ta'en from them, and placed them in this scuffle;


s: Whate'er it be, no words adorn I for it.


s: Now canst thou, Son, behold the transient farce


s: Of goods that are committed unto Fortune,


s: For which the human race each other buffet;


s: For all the gold that is beneath the moon,


s: "Master," I said to him, "now tell me also


s: What is this Fortune which thou speakest of,


s: That has the world's goods so within its clutches?"


s: What ignorance is this which doth beset you?


s: Now will I have thee learn my judgment of her.


s: He whose omniscience everything transcends


s: The heavens created, and gave who should guide them,


s: That every part to every part may shine,


s: Distributing the light in equal measure;


s: He in like manner to the mundane splendours


s: Ordained a general ministress and guide,


s: That she might change at times the empty treasures