s: Turning to me the point of her discourse,


s: That edgewise even had seemed to me so keen,


s: She recommenced, continuing without pause,


s: "Say, say if this be true; to such a charge,


s: Thy own confession needs must be conjoined."


s: My faculties were in so great confusion,


s: That the voice moved, but sooner was extinct


s: Awhile she waited; then she said: "What thinkest?


s: In thee not yet are by the waters injured."


s: Forced such a Yes! from out my mouth, that sight


s: Even as a cross-bow breaks, when 'tis discharged


s: Too tensely drawn the bowstring and the bow,


s: And with less force the arrow hits the mark,


s: So I gave way beneath that heavy burden,


s: Outpouring in a torrent tears and sighs,


s: And the voice flagged upon its passage forth.


s: Whence she to me: "In those desires of mine


s: Which led thee to the loving of that good,


s: Beyond which there is nothing to aspire to,


s: What trenches lying traverse or what chains


s: Didst thou discover, that of passing onward


s: Thou shouldst have thus despoiled thee of the hope?


s: That thou shouldst turn thy footsteps unto them?"


s: Hardly had I the voice to make response,


s: And with fatigue my lips did fashion it.


s: Weeping I said: "The things that present were


s: With their false pleasure turned aside my steps,


s: Soon as your countenance concealed itself."


s: And she: "Shouldst thou be silent, or deny


s: Would be thy fault, by such a Judge 'tis known.


s: But when from one's own cheeks comes bursting forth


s: Against the edge the wheel doth turn itself.


s: But still, that thou mayst feel a greater shame


s: Hearing the Sirens thou mayst be more strong,


s: Cast down the seed of weeping and attend;


s: So shalt thou hear, how in an opposite way


s: My buried flesh should have directed thee.


s: Pleasure so great as the fair limbs wherein


s: I was enclosed, which scattered are in earth.


s: And if the highest pleasure thus did fail thee


s: By reason of my death, what mortal thing


s: Should then have drawn thee into its desire?


s: Thou oughtest not to have stooped thy pinions downward


s: To wait for further blows, or little girl,


s: The callow birdlet waits for two or three,


s: But to the eyes of those already fledged,


s: In vain the net is spread or shaft is shot."


s: Stand listening with their eyes upon the ground,


s: And conscious of their fault, and penitent;


s: So was I standing; and she said: "If thou


s: In hearing sufferest pain, lift up thy beard


s: And thou shalt feel a greater pain in seeing."


s: And when she by the beard the face demanded,


s: Well I perceived the venom of her meaning.


s: Mine eye perceived those creatures beautiful


s: Had rested from the strewing of the flowers;


s: And, still but little reassured, mine eyes


s: Saw Beatrice turned round towards the monster,


s: Beneath her veil, beyond the margent green,


s: She seemed to me far more her ancient self


s: To excel, than others here, when she was here.


s: So pricked me then the thorn of penitence,


s: That of all other things the one which turned me


s: Most to its love became the most my foe.


s: Such self-conviction stung me at the heart


s: O'erpowered I fell, and what I then became


s: She knoweth who had furnished me the cause.


s: Then, when the heart restored my outward sense,


s: I saw, and she was saying, "Hold me, hold me."


s: Up to my throat she in the stream had drawn me,


s: And, dragging me behind her, she was moving


s: Remember it I cannot, much less write it.


s: The beautiful lady opened wide her arms,


s: Embraced my head, and plunged me underneath,


s: Where I was forced to swallow of the water.


s: Then forth she drew me, and all dripping brought


s: 'We here are Nymphs, and in the Heaven are stars;


s: We'll lead thee to her eyes; but for the pleasant


s: Light that within them is, shall sharpen thine


s: The three beyond, who more profoundly look.'


s: Unto the Griffin's breast they led me with them,


s: Where Beatrice was standing, turned towards us.


s: "See that thou dost not spare thine eyes," they said;


s: "Before the emeralds have we stationed thee,


s: Whence Love aforetime drew for thee his weapons."


s: A thousand longings, hotter than the flame,


s: Fastened mine eyes upon those eyes relucent,


s: That still upon the Griffin steadfast stayed.


s: Within them was the twofold monster shining,


s: Now with the one, now with the other nature.


s: Think, Reader, if within myself I marvelled,


s: When I beheld the thing itself stand still,


s: While with amazement filled and jubilant,


s: My soul was tasting of the food, that while


s: Themselves revealing of the highest rank


s: In bearing, did the other three advance,


s: Such was their song, "unto thy faithful one,


s: Who has to see thee ta'en so many steps.


s: In grace do us the grace that thou unveil


s: The second beauty which thou dost conceal."


s: O splendour of the living light eternal!


s: Has grown so pale, or drunk so at its cistern,


s: He would not seem to have his mind encumbered


s: Striving to paint thee as thou didst appear,


s: Where the harmonious heaven o'ershadowed thee,


s: So steadfast and attentive were mine eyes


s: Walls of indifference, so the holy smile


s: Towards my left hand by those goddesses,


s: Because I heard from them a "Too intently!"


s: And that condition of the sight which is


s: Bereft me of my vision some short while;


s: But to the less when sight re-shaped itself,


s: I say the less in reference to the greater


s: Splendour from which perforce I had withdrawn,


s: The glorious host returning with the sun


s: And with the sevenfold flames upon their faces.


s: As underneath its shields, to save itself,


s: A squadron turns, and with its banner wheels,


s: Before the whole thereof can change its front,


s: Which marched in the advance had wholly passed us


s: Then to the wheels the maidens turned themselves,


s: And the Griffin moved his burden benedight,


s: But so that not a feather of him fluttered.


s: The lady fair who drew me through the ford


s: Followed with Statius and myself the wheel


s: Which made its orbit with the lesser arc.


s: So passing through the lofty forest, vacant


s: By fault of her who in the serpent trusted,


s: Perchance as great a space had in three flights


s: An arrow loosened from the string o'erpassed,


s: As we had moved when Beatrice descended.


s: Then circled they about a tree despoiled


s: Its tresses, which so much the more dilate


s: As higher they ascend, had been by Indians


s: Among their forests marvelled at for height.


s: "Blessed art thou, O Griffin, who dost not


s: Pluck with thy beak these branches sweet to taste,


s: Since appetite by this was turned to evil."


s: After this fashion round the tree robust


s: The others shouted; and the twofold creature:


s: "Thus is preserved the seed of all the just."


s: And turning to the pole which he had dragged,


s: He drew it close beneath the widowed bough,


s: In the same manner as our trees (when downward


s: Falls the great light, with that together mingled


s: Begin to swell, and then renew themselves,


s: Each one with its own colour, ere the Sun


s: Harness his steeds beneath another star:


s: That had erewhile its boughs so desolate.


s: The hymn which afterward that people sang,


s: Had I the power to paint how fell asleep


s: Those eyes compassionless, of Syrinx hearing,


s: Those eyes to which more watching cost so dear,


s: I would portray how I was lulled asleep;


s: He may, who well can picture drowsihood.


s: And say a splendour rent from me the veil


s: Of slumber, and a calling: "Rise, what dost thou?"


s: Which makes the Angels greedy for its fruit,


s: And keeps perpetual bridals in the Heaven,


s: Peter and John and James conducted were,


s: By which still greater slumbers have been broken,


s: And saw their school diminished by the loss


s: And the apparel of their Master changed;


s: Above me standing, who had been conductress


s: And all in doubt I said, "Where's Beatrice?"


s: The rest behind the Griffin are ascending


s: With more melodious song, and more profound."


s: And if her speech were more diffuse I know not,


s: Who from the hearing of aught else had shut me.


s: Which I had seen the biform monster fasten.


s: Encircling her, a cloister made themselves


s: The seven Nymphs, with those lights in their hands


s: Which are secure from Aquilon and Auster.


s: "Short while shalt thou be here a forester,


s: A citizen of that Rome where Christ is Roman.


s: Therefore, for that world's good which liveth ill,


s: Fix on the car thine eyes, and what thou seest,


s: Having returned to earth, take heed thou write."


s: My mind and eyes directed where she willed.


s: Fire from a heavy cloud, when it is raining


s: From out the region which is most remote,


s: Down through the tree, rending away the bark,


s: As well as blossoms and the foliage new,


s: And he with all his might the chariot smote,


s: Whereat it reeled, like vessel in a tempest


s: Tossed by the waves, now starboard and now larboard.


s: That seemed unfed with any wholesome food.


s: But for his hideous sins upbraiding him,


s: As such a fleshless skeleton could bear.


s: Then by the way that it before had come,


s: Into the chariot's chest I saw the Eagle


s: Descend, and leave it feathered with his plumes.


s: And such as issues from a heart that mourns,


s: A voice from Heaven there issued, and it said:


s: "My little bark, how badly art thou freighted!"


s: Methought, then, that the earth did yawn between


s: Both wheels, and I saw rise from it a Dragon,


s: Who through the chariot upward fixed his tail,


s: And as a wasp that draweth back its sting,


s: Drew out the floor, and went his way rejoicing.


s: That which remained behind, even as with grass


s: A fertile region, with the feathers, offered


s: Reclothed itself, and with them were reclothed


s: The pole and both the wheels so speedily,


s: Thrust forward heads upon the parts of it,


s: Three on the pole and one at either corner.


s: The first were horned like oxen; but the four


s: Had but a single horn upon the forehead;


s: And, as if not to have her taken from him,


s: And ever and anon they kissed each other.


s: Did scourge her from her head unto her feet.


s: Then full of jealousy, and fierce with wrath,


s: He loosed the monster, and across the forest


s: Dragged it so far, he made of that alone


s: The maidens in the midst of tears began;


s: And Beatrice, compassionate and sighing,


s: Listened to them with such a countenance,


s: That scarce more changed was Mary at the cross.


s: But when the other virgins place had given


s: With colour as of fire, she made response:


s: Then all the seven in front of her she placed;


s: Me and the lady and the sage who stayed.


s: That her tenth step was placed upon the ground,


s: When with her eyes upon mine eyes she smote,


s: And with a tranquil aspect, "Come more quickly,"


s: To me she said, "that, if I speak with thee,


s: To listen to me thou mayst be well placed."


s: As soon as I was with her as I should be,


s: She said to me: "Why, brother, dost thou not


s: Venture to question now, in coming with me?"


s: Who drag no living utterance to their teeth,


s: It me befell, that without perfect sound


s: You know, and that which thereunto is good."


s: Henceforward I will have thee strip thyself,


s: So that thou speak no more as one who dreams.


s: Know that the vessel which the serpent broke


s: Was, and is not; but let him who is guilty


s: Think that God's vengeance does not fear a sop.


s: The Eagle that left his plumes upon the car,


s: Whence it became a monster, then a prey;


s: The stars already near to bring the time,


s: From every hindrance safe, and every bar,


s: Within which a Five-hundred, Ten, and Five,


s: One sent from God, shall slay the thievish woman


s: And that same giant who is sinning with her.


s: Like Themis and the Sphinx, may less persuade thee,


s: Since, in their mode, it clouds the intellect;


s: Without destruction of the flocks and harvests.


s: Note thou; and even as by me are uttered


s: These words, so teach them unto those who live


s: That life which is a running unto death;


s: And bear in mind, whene'er thou writest them,


s: Not to conceal what thou hast seen the plant,


s: That twice already has been pillaged here.


s: Five thousand years and more the first-born soul


s: Craved Him, who punished in himself the bite.


s: In height, and so inverted in its summit.


s: And Pyramus to the mulberry, their pleasure,


s: Converted into stone and stained with sin,


s: So that the light of my discourse doth daze thee,


s: I will too, if not written, at least painted,


s: Thou bear it back within thee, for the reason


s: That cinct with palm the pilgrim's staff is borne."


s: Which does not change the figure stamped upon it,


s: But wherefore so beyond my power of sight


s: Soars your desirable discourse, that aye


s: The more I strive, so much the more I lose it?"


s: "That thou mayst recognize," she said, "the school


s: Which thou hast followed, and mayst see how far


s: Its doctrine follows after my discourse,


s: And mayst behold your path from the divine


s: From earth the heaven that highest hastens on."


s: Whence her I answered: "I do not remember


s: Nor have I conscience of it that reproves me."


s: Smiling she answered, "recollect thee now


s: That thou this very day hast drunk of Lethe;


s: And if from smoke a fire may be inferred,


s: Some error in thy will elsewhere intent.


s: Truly from this time forward shall my words


s: And more coruscant and with slower steps


s: The sun was holding the meridian circle,


s: Which, with the point of view, shifts here and there


s: Who goes before a squadron as its escort,


s: The ladies seven at a dark shadow's edge,


s: Such as, beneath green leaves and branches black,


s: In front of them the Tigris and Euphrates


s: Methought I saw forth issue from one fountain,


s: And slowly part, like friends, from one another.


s: What stream is this which here unfolds itself


s: From out one source, and from itself withdraws?"


s: For such a prayer, 'twas said unto me, "Pray


s: Matilda that she tell thee;" and here answered,


s: As one does who doth free himself from blame,


s: The beautiful lady: "This and other things


s: The water of Lethe has not hid them from him."


s: Has made the vision of his mind obscure.


s: Lead him to it, and, as thou art accustomed,


s: Revive again the half-dead virtue in him."


s: Like gentle soul, that maketh no excuse,


s: But makes its own will of another's will


s: The beautiful lady moved, and unto Statius


s: Said, in her womanly manner, "Come with him."


s: For writing it, I yet would sing in part


s: Of the sweet draught that ne'er would satiate me;


s: Pure and disposed to mount unto the stars.


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: Within that heaven which most his light receives


s: Was I, and things beheld which to repeat


s: Nor knows, nor can, who from above descends;


s: Shall now become the subject of my song.


s: Has been enough for me, but now with both


s: As at the time when Marsyas thou didst draw


s: Out of the scabbard of those limbs of his.


s: O power divine, lend'st thou thyself to me


s: Stamped in my brain I can make manifest,


s: Thou'lt see me come unto thy darling tree,


s: And crown myself thereafter with those leaves


s: Of which the theme and thou shall make me worthy.


s: (The fault and shame of human inclinations,)


s: That the Peneian foliage should bring forth


s: A little spark is followed by great flame;


s: Shall prayer be made that Cyrrha may respond!


s: Uprises the world's lamp; but by that one


s: Which circles four uniteth with three crosses,


s: With better course and with a better star


s: Conjoined it issues, and the mundane wax


s: Tempers and stamps more after its own fashion.


s: Almost that passage had made morning there


s: And evening here, and there was wholly white


s: That hemisphere, and black the other part,


s: When Beatrice towards the left-hand side


s: I saw turned round, and gazing at the sun;


s: Like to a pilgrim who would fain return,


s: Thus of her action, through the eyes infused


s: And sunward fixed mine eyes beyond our wont.


s: There much is lawful which is here unlawful


s: Like iron that comes molten from the fire;


s: Had with another sun the heaven adorned.


s: Stood Beatrice all intent, and I, on her


s: As Glaucus, tasting of the herb that made him


s: Impossible were; the example, then, suffice


s: Him for whom Grace the experience reserves.


s: Createdst, Love who governest the heaven,


s: Thou knowest, who didst lift me with thy light!


s: When now the wheel, which thou dost make eternal


s: By harmony thou dost modulate and measure,


s: Then seemed to me so much of heaven enkindled


s: By the sun's flame, that neither rain nor river


s: E'er made a lake so widely spread abroad.


s: The newness of the sound and the great light


s: Kindled in me a longing for their cause,


s: Opened her mouth, ere I did mine to ask,


s: And she began: "Thou makest thyself so dull


s: With false imagining, that thou seest not


s: What thou wouldst see if thou hadst shaken it off.


s: Thou art not upon earth, as thou believest;


s: But lightning, fleeing its appropriate site,


s: Ne'er ran as thou, who thitherward returnest."


s: By these brief little words more smiled than spoken,


s: In what way I transcend these bodies light."


s: Her eyes directed tow'rds me with that look


s: And she began: "All things whate'er they be


s: Have order among themselves, and this is form,


s: Here do the higher creatures see the footprints


s: Whereto is made the law already mentioned.


s: In the order that I speak of are inclined


s: All natures, by their destinies diverse,


s: Hence they move onward unto ports diverse


s: O'er the great sea of being; and each one


s: With instinct given it which bears it on.


s: This bears away the fire towards the moon;


s: This is in mortal hearts the motive power


s: This binds together and unites the earth.


s: Without intelligence this bow shoots forth,


s: But those that have both intellect and love.


s: Makes with its light the heaven forever quiet,


s: Wherein that turns which has the greatest haste.


s: Accords not with the intention of the art,


s: So likewise from this course doth deviate


s: Sometimes the creature, who the power possesses,


s: Though thus impelled, to swerve some other way,


s: (In the same wise as one may see the fire


s: Fall from a cloud,) if the first impetus


s: Earthward is wrested by some false delight.


s: Thou shouldst not wonder more, if well I judge,


s: From some high mount descending to the lowland.


s: Of hindrance, thou wert seated down below,


s: As if on earth the living fire were quiet."


s: Thereat she heavenward turned again her face.


s: Behind my ship, that singing sails along,


s: Turn back to look again upon your shores;


s: Do not put out to sea, lest peradventure,


s: In losing me, you might yourselves be lost.


s: The sea I sail has never yet been passed;


s: And Muses nine point out to me the Bears.


s: Betimes to th' bread of Angels upon which


s: One liveth here and grows not sated by it,


s: Well may you launch upon the deep salt-sea


s: Your vessel, keeping still my wake before you


s: Those glorious ones who unto Colchos passed


s: Were not so wonder-struck as you shall be,


s: When Jason they beheld a ploughman made!


s: As swift almost as ye the heavens behold.


s: And in such space perchance as strikes a bolt


s: And flies, and from the notch unlocks itself,


s: Drew to itself my sight; and therefore she


s: From whom no care of mine could be concealed,


s: Towards me turning, blithe as beautiful,


s: On God, who unto the first star has brought us."


s: As adamant on which the sun is striking.


s: A ray of light, remaining still unbroken.


s: If I was body, (and we here conceive not


s: Which needs must be if body enter body,)


s: More the desire should be enkindled in us


s: There will be seen what we receive by faith,


s: In guise of the first truth that man believes.


s: Who has removed me from the mortal world.


s: Make people tell that fabulous tale of Cain?"


s: Somewhat she smiled; and then, "If the opinion


s: "Where'er the key of sense doth not unlock,


s: Certes, the shafts of wonder should not pierce thee


s: Now, forasmuch as, following the senses,


s: Thou seest that the reason has short wings.


s: But tell me what thou think'st of it thyself."


s: And I: "What seems to us up here diverse,


s: Is caused, I think, by bodies rare and dense."


s: And she: "Right truly shalt thou see immersed


s: In error thy belief, if well thou hearest


s: The argument that I shall make against it.


s: Lights many the eighth sphere displays to you


s: If this were caused by rare and dense alone,


s: Virtues diverse must be perforce the fruits


s: Of formal principles; and these, save one,


s: Of course would by thy reasoning be destroyed.


s: The cause thou askest, either through and through


s: This planet thus attenuate were of matter,


s: The fat and lean, so in like manner this


s: Would in its volume interchange the leaves.


s: Were it the former, in the sun's eclipse


s: It would be manifest by the shining through


s: Of light, as through aught tenuous interfused.


s: This is not so; hence we must scan the other,


s: But if this rarity go not through and through,


s: There needs must be a limit, beyond which


s: Its contrary prevents the further passing,


s: And thence the foreign radiance is reflected,


s: Even as a colour cometh back from glass,


s: The which behind itself concealeth lead.


s: Now thou wilt say the sunbeam shows itself


s: More dimly there than in the other parts,


s: From this reply experiment will free thee


s: If e'er thou try it, which is wont to be


s: The fountain to the rivers of your arts.


s: Three mirrors shalt thou take, and two remove


s: Between the former two shall meet thine eyes.


s: Turned towards these, cause that behind thy back


s: Be placed a light, illuming the three mirrors


s: And coming back to thee by all reflected.


s: The image most remote, there shalt thou see


s: Now, as beneath the touches of warm rays


s: That it shall tremble in its aspect to thee.


s: The following heaven, that has so many eyes,


s: Distinguished from it, and by it contained.


s: The other spheres, by various differences,


s: All the distinctions which they have within them


s: Dispose unto their ends and their effects.


s: Thus do these organs of the world proceed,


s: As thou perceivest now, from grade to grade;


s: Since from above they take, and act beneath.


s: Observe me well, how through this place I come


s: Unto the truth thou wishest, that hereafter


s: Thou mayst alone know how to keep the ford


s: The power and motion of the holy spheres,


s: Forth from the blessed motors must proceed.


s: The heaven, which lights so manifold make fair,


s: From the Intelligence profound, which turns it,


s: The image takes, and makes of it a seal.


s: Through members different and accommodated


s: Make with the precious body that it quickens,


s: In which, as life in you, it is combined.


s: From the glad nature whence it is derived,


s: The mingled virtue through the body shines,


s: Even as gladness through the living pupil.


s: From this proceeds whate'er from light to light


s: Appeareth different, not from dense and rare:


s: This is the formal principle that produces,


s: According to its goodness, dark and bright."


s: That Sun, which erst with love my bosom warmed,


s: Of beauteous truth had unto me discovered,


s: By proving and reproving, the sweet aspect.


s: And, that I might confess myself convinced


s: But there appeared a vision, which withdrew me


s: Such as through polished and transparent glass,


s: But not so deep as that their bed be lost,


s: Come back again the outlines of our faces


s: So feeble, that a pearl on forehead white


s: To that which kindled love 'twixt man and fountain.


s: To see of whom they were, mine eyes I turned,


s: And nothing saw, and once more turned them forward


s: Direct into the light of my sweet Guide,


s: "Marvel thou not," she said to me, "because


s: Since on the truth it trusts not yet its foot,


s: But turns thee, as 'tis wont, on emptiness.


s: True substances are these which thou beholdest,


s: Therefore speak with them, listen and believe;


s: For the true light, which giveth peace to them,


s: Permits them not to turn from it their feet."


s: And I unto the shade that seemed most wishful


s: As one whom too great eagerness bewilders:


s: Of life eternal dost the sweetness taste


s: Which being untasted ne'er is comprehended,


s: Grateful 'twill be to me, if thou content me


s: Both with thy name and with your destiny."


s: Whereat she promptly and with laughing eyes:


s: Who wills that all her court be like herself.


s: And if thy mind doth contemplate me well,


s: The being more fair will not conceal me from thee,


s: Who, stationed here among these other blessed,


s: Myself am blessed in the slowest sphere.


s: And this allotment, which appears so low,


s: Have been neglected and in some part void."


s: Whence I to her: "In your miraculous aspects


s: There shines I know not what of the divine,


s: Which doth transform you from our first conceptions.


s: Therefore I was not swift in my remembrance;


s: But what thou tellest me now aids me so,


s: But tell me, ye who in this place are happy,


s: To see more or to make yourselves more friends?"


s: First with those other shades she smiled a little;


s: Thereafter answered me so full of gladness,


s: She seemed to burn in the first fire of love:


s: For what we have, nor gives us thirst for more.


s: Unto the will of Him who here secludes us;


s: Which thou shalt see finds no place in these circles,


s: And if thou lookest well into its nature;


s: Nay, 'tis essential to this blest existence


s: So that, as we are station above station


s: Throughout this realm, to all the realm 'tis pleasing,


s: As to the King, who makes his will our will.


s: And his will is our peace; this is the sea


s: It doth create, and all that nature makes."


s: In heaven is Paradise, although the grace


s: Of good supreme there rain not in one measure.


s: But as it comes to pass, if one food sates,


s: And for another still remains the longing,


s: We ask for this, and that decline with thanks,


s: E'en thus did I; with gesture and with word,


s: To learn from her what was the web wherein


s: "A perfect life and merit high in-heaven


s: A lady o'er us," said she, "by whose rule


s: Down in your world they vest and veil themselves,


s: That until death they may both watch and sleep


s: Beside that Spouse who every vow accepts


s: Which charity conformeth to his pleasure.


s: To follow her, in girlhood from the world


s: And pledged me to the pathway of her sect.


s: Than unto good, from the sweet cloister tore me;


s: God knows what afterward my life became.


s: This other splendour, which to thee reveals


s: Itself on my right side, and is enkindled


s: With all the illumination of our sphere,


s: A nun was she, and likewise from her head


s: Was ta'en the shadow of the sacred wimple.


s: But when she too was to the world returned


s: Against her wishes and against good usage,


s: Of the heart's veil she never was divested.


s: Of great Costanza this is the effulgence,


s: Brought forth the third and latest puissance."


s: Vanished, as through deep water something heavy.


s: My sight, that followed her as long a time


s: As it was possible, when it had lost her


s: Turned round unto the mark of more desire,


s: But she such lightnings flashed into mine eyes,


s: That at the first my sight endured it not;


s: And this in questioning more backward made me.


s: And tempting, a free man would die of hunger


s: Ere either he could bring unto his teeth.


s: Of two fierce wolves stand fearing both alike;


s: And so would stand a dog between two does.


s: Hence, if I held my peace, myself I blame not,


s: I held my peace; but my desire was painted


s: More fervent far than by articulate speech.


s: And said: "Well see I how attracteth thee


s: One and the other wish, so that thy care


s: Binds itself so that forth it does not breathe.


s: Thou arguest, if good will be permanent,


s: Doth it decrease the measure of my merit?


s: Again for doubting furnish thee occasion


s: These are the questions which upon thy wish


s: Are thrusting equally; and therefore first


s: Will I treat that which hath the most of gall.


s: He of the Seraphim most absorbed in God,


s: Thou mayst select, I say, and even Mary,


s: Have not in any other heaven their seats,


s: Than have those spirits that just appeared to thee,


s: But all make beautiful the primal circle,


s: And have sweet life in different degrees,


s: By feeling more or less the eternal breath.


s: They showed themselves here, not because allotted


s: This sphere has been to them, but to give sign


s: Of the celestial which is least exalted.


s: Since only through the sense it apprehendeth


s: On this account the Scripture condescends


s: To God attributes, and means something else;


s: Doth not resemble that which here is seen,


s: Because it seems that as he speaks he thinks.


s: Believing it to have been severed thence


s: Than the words sound, and possibly may be


s: If he doth mean that to these wheels return


s: The honour of their influence and the blame,


s: Perhaps his bow doth hit upon some truth.


s: This principle ill understood once warped


s: The whole world nearly, till it went astray


s: The other doubt which doth disquiet thee


s: Could never lead thee otherwhere from me.


s: That as unjust our justice should appear


s: But still, that your perception may be able


s: Co-operates not with him who uses force,


s: These souls were not on that account excused;


s: For will is never quenched unless it will,


s: If violence a thousand times distort it.


s: Hence, if it yieldeth more or less, it seconds


s: The force; and these have done so, having power


s: If their will had been perfect, like to that


s: Which Lawrence fast upon his gridiron held,


s: It would have urged them back along the road


s: Whence they were dragged, as soon as they were free;


s: And by these words, if thou hast gathered them


s: As thou shouldst do, the argument is refuted


s: That would have still annoyed thee many times.


s: Before thine eyes, and such that by thyself


s: Thou couldst not thread it ere thou wouldst be weary.


s: And then thou from Piccarda might'st have heard


s: So that she seemeth here to contradict me.


s: Many times, brother, has it come to pass,


s: That, to escape from peril, with reluctance


s: That has been done it was not right to do,


s: E'en as Alcmaeon (who, being by his father


s: That force with will commingles, and they cause


s: Hence when Piccarda uses this expression,


s: The other, so that both of us speak truth."


s: That issued from the fount whence springs all truth;


s: Said I forthwith, "whose speech inundates me


s: And warms me so, it more and more revives me,


s: As to suffice in rendering grace for grace;


s: Let Him, who sees and can, thereto respond.


s: Our intellect unless the Truth illume it,


s: Beyond which nothing true expands itself.


s: It rests therein, as wild beast in his lair,


s: When it attains it; and it can attain it;


s: If not, then each desire would frustrate be.


s: Therefore springs up, in fashion of a shoot,


s: Doubt at the foot of truth; and this is nature,


s: Which to the top from height to height impels us.


s: This doth invite me, this assurance give me


s: For broken vows with other good deeds, so


s: That in your balance they will not be light."


s: Full of the sparks of love, and so divine,


s: That, overcome my power, I turned my back


s: And almost lost myself with eyes downcast.


s: "If in the heat of love I flame upon thee


s: Beyond the measure that on earth is seen,


s: So that the valour of thine eyes I vanquish,


s: Marvel thou not thereat; for this proceeds


s: From perfect sight, which as it apprehends


s: And if some other thing your love seduce,


s: Ill understood, which there is shining through.


s: Thou fain wouldst know if with another service


s: As to secure the soul from further claim."


s: And, as a man who breaks not off his speech,


s: "The greatest gift that in his largess God


s: Creating made, and unto his own goodness


s: Nearest conformed, and that which he doth prize


s: Most highly, is the freedom of the will,


s: Now wilt thou see, if thence thou reasonest,


s: So that when thou consentest God consents:


s: For, closing between God and man the compact,


s: What can be rendered then as compensation?


s: Think'st thou to make good use of what thou'st offered,


s: With gains ill gotten thou wouldst do good deed.


s: Now art thou certain of the greater point;


s: But because Holy Church in this dispenses,


s: Which seems against the truth which I have shown thee,


s: Behoves thee still to sit awhile at table,


s: Because the solid food which thou hast taken


s: Requireth further aid for thy digestion.


s: And fix it there within; for 'tis not knowledge,


s: In the essence of this sacrifice two things


s: Of which 'tis made, the other is the agreement.


s: Unless complied with, and concerning this


s: With such precision has above been spoken.


s: Therefore it was enjoined upon the Hebrews


s: To offer still, though sometimes what was offered


s: Might be commuted, as thou ought'st to know.


s: The other, which is known to thee as matter,


s: May well indeed be such that one errs not


s: But let none shift the burden on his shoulder


s: Both of the white and of the yellow key;


s: If in the substitute the thing relinquished,


s: As the four is in six, be not contained.


s: Therefore whatever thing has so great weight


s: In value that it drags down every balance,


s: Cannot be satisfied with other spending.


s: Be faithful and not blind in doing that,


s: Whom more beseemed to say, 'I have done wrong,


s: Than to do worse by keeping; and as foolish


s: Thou the great leader of the Greeks wilt find,


s: And made for her both wise and simple weep,


s: Who heard such kind of worship spoken of.'


s: Christians, be ye more serious in your movements;


s: And the Pastor of the Church who guideth you


s: Let this suffice you unto your salvation.


s: Its mother's milk, and frolicsome and simple


s: Combats at its own pleasure with itself."


s: To that part where the world is most alive.


s: Her silence and her change of countenance


s: That had already in advance new questions;


s: Strikes ere the bowstring quiet hath become,


s: As into the brightness of that heaven she entered,


s: And if the star itself was changed and smiled,


s: As, in a fish-pond which is pure and tranquil,


s: The fishes draw to that which from without


s: Comes in such fashion that their food they deem it;


s: So I beheld more than a thousand splendours


s: Drawing towards us, and in each was heard:


s: "Lo, this is she who shall increase our love."


s: By the effulgence clear that issued from it.


s: Think, Reader, if what here is just beginning


s: No farther should proceed, how thou wouldst have


s: And of thyself thou'lt see how I from these


s: Was in desire of hearing their conditions,


s: "O thou well-born, unto whom Grace concedes


s: To see the thrones of the eternal triumph,


s: With light that through the whole of heaven is spread


s: Kindled are we, and hence if thou desirest


s: To know of us, at thine own pleasure sate thee."


s: Thus by some one among those holy spirits


s: Was spoken, and by Beatrice: "Speak, speak


s: Securely, and believe them even as Gods."


s: "Well I perceive how thou dost nest thyself


s: In thine own light, and drawest it from thine eyes,


s: Because they coruscate when thou dost smile,


s: But know not who thou art, nor why thou hast,


s: Spirit august, thy station in the sphere


s: That veils itself to men in alien rays."


s: Which first had spoken to me; whence it became


s: Even as the sun, that doth conceal himself


s: By too much light, when heat has worn away


s: The tempering influence of the vapours dense,


s: By greater rapture thus concealed itself


s: And thus close, close enfolded answered me


s: In fashion as the following Canto sings.


s: "After that Constantine the eagle turned


s: Against the course of heaven, which it had followed


s: Two hundred years and more the bird of God


s: Near to the mountains whence it issued first;


s: It governed there the world from hand to hand,


s: And, changing thus, upon mine own alighted.


s: Took from the laws the useless and redundant;


s: One nature to exist in Christ, not more,


s: Believed, and with such faith was I contented.


s: The supreme pastor, to the faith sincere


s: Him I believed, and what was his assertion


s: Each contradiction to be false and true.


s: As soon as with the Church I moved my feet,


s: God in his grace it pleased with this high task


s: To inspire me, and I gave me wholly to it,


s: The arms, to which was heaven's right hand so joined


s: Now here to the first question terminates


s: Constrains me to continue with a sequel,


s: In order that thou see with how great reason


s: Men move against the standard sacrosanct,


s: Behold how great a power has made it worthy


s: When Pallas died to give it sovereignty.


s: Three hundred years and upward, till at last


s: The three to three fought for it yet again.


s: Thou knowest what it achieved from Sabine wrong


s: Down to Lucretia's sorrow, in seven kings


s: O'ercoming round about the neighboring nations;


s: Thou knowest what it achieved, borne by the Romans


s: Illustrious against Brennus, against Pyrrhus,


s: Against the other princes and confederates.


s: Torquatus thence and Quinctius, who from locks


s: It struck to earth the pride of the Arabians,


s: Who, following Hannibal, had passed across


s: The Alpine ridges, Po, from which thou glidest;


s: Beneath it triumphed while they yet were young


s: Beneath which thou wast born it bitter seemed;


s: Then, near unto the time when heaven had willed


s: To bring the whole world to its mood serene,


s: Did Caesar by the will of Rome assume it.


s: What it achieved from Var unto the Rhine,


s: Isere beheld and Saone, beheld the Seine,


s: And every valley whence the Rhone is filled;


s: What it achieved when it had left Ravenna,


s: And leaped the Rubicon, was such a flight


s: That neither tongue nor pen could follow it.


s: Round towards Spain it wheeled its legions; then


s: That to the calid Nile was felt the pain.


s: Antandros and the Simois, whence it started,


s: It saw again, and there where Hector lies,


s: From thence it came like lightning upon Juba;


s: Then wheeled itself again into your West,


s: From what it wrought with the next standard-bearer


s: Brutus and Cassius howl in Hell together,


s: Because thereof, who, fleeing from before it,


s: Took from the adder sudden and black death.


s: With him it ran even to the Red Sea shore;


s: With him it placed the world in so great peace,


s: But what the standard that has made me speak


s: Achieved before, and after should achieve


s: Throughout the mortal realm that lies beneath it,


s: Because the living Justice that inspires me


s: Granted it, in the hand of him I speak of,


s: The glory of doing vengeance for its wrath.


s: And when the tooth of Lombardy had bitten


s: The Holy Church, then underneath its wings


s: Now hast thou power to judge of such as those


s: Whom I accused above, and of their crimes,


s: Which are the cause of all your miseries.


s: To the public standard one the yellow lilies


s: Opposes, the other claims it for a party,


s: So that 'tis hard to see which sins the most.


s: Let, let the Ghibellines ply their handicraft


s: Beneath some other standard; for this ever


s: Ill follows he who it and justice parts.


s: And let not this new Charles e'er strike it down,


s: He and his Guelfs, but let him fear the talons


s: That from a nobler lion stripped the fell.


s: The father's crime; and let him not believe


s: That God will change His scutcheon for the lilies.


s: With the good spirits that have active been,


s: That fame and honour might come after them;


s: And whensoever the desires mount thither,


s: Of the true love less vividly mount upward.


s: Because we see them neither less nor greater.


s: So in this life of ours the seats diverse


s: Render sweet harmony among these spheres;


s: And in the compass of this present pearl


s: The grand and beauteous work was ill rewarded.


s: But the Provencals who against him wrought,


s: They have not laughed, and therefore ill goes he


s: Who makes his hurt of the good deeds of others.


s: Four daughters, and each one of them a queen,


s: Who rendered to him seven and five for ten.


s: Then he departed poor and stricken in years,


s: And if the world could know the heart he had,


s: Though much it laud him, it would laud him more."


s: This substance, upon which a double light


s: And to their dance this and the others moved,


s: And in the manner of swift-hurrying sparks


s: Veiled themselves from me with a sudden distance.


s: Doubting was I, and saying, "Tell her, tell her,"


s: Within me, "tell her," saying, "tell my Lady,"


s: Who slakes my thirst with her sweet effluences;


s: And yet that reverence which doth lord it over


s: Bowed me again like unto one who drowses.


s: Short while did Beatrice endure me thus;


s: Such as would make one happy in the fire:


s: After what manner a just vengeance justly


s: Could be avenged has put thee upon thinking,


s: And do thou listen, for these words of mine


s: Of a great doctrine will a present make thee.


s: Curb for his good, that man who ne'er was born,


s: Lay sick for many centuries in great error,


s: Till to descend it pleased the Word of God


s: To where the nature, which from its own Maker


s: Estranged itself, he joined to him in person


s: Out of the way of truth and of its life.


s: Therefore the penalty the cross held out,


s: None ever yet with so great justice stung,


s: And none was ever of so great injustice,


s: Considering who the Person was that suffered,


s: Within whom such a nature was contracted.


s: From one act therefore issued things diverse;


s: Earth trembled at it and the Heaven was opened.


s: To thee, when it is said that a just vengeance


s: From thought to thought within a knot, from which


s: With great desire it waits to free itself.


s: Thou sayest, 'Well discern I what I hear;


s: Wherefore this mode was worthiest will I say.


s: Goodness Divine, which from itself doth spurn


s: Has afterwards no end, for ne'er removed


s: Is its impression when it sets its seal.


s: Whate'er from this immediately rains down


s: Is wholly free, because it is not subject


s: The more conformed thereto, the more it pleases;


s: For the blest ardour that irradiates all things


s: In that most like itself is most vivacious.


s: With all of these things has advantaged been


s: The human creature; and if one be wanting,


s: 'Tis sin alone which doth disfranchise him,


s: So that he little with its light is blanched,


s: Unless he fill up where transgression empties


s: With righteous pains for criminal delights.


s: Nor could itself recover, if thou notest


s: Except by passing one of these two fords:


s: And for this reason man has been from power


s: Therefore it God behoved in his own ways


s: So much more grateful, as it more presents


s: The goodness of the heart from which it issues,


s: Goodness Divine, that doth imprint the world,


s: Nor 'twixt the first day and the final night


s: Such high and such magnificent proceeding


s: For God more bounteous was himself to give


s: Than if he only of himself had pardoned;


s: And all the other modes were insufficient


s: Himself had humbled to become incarnate.


s: Now, to fill fully each desire of thine,


s: In order that thou there mayst see as I do.


s: Thou sayst: 'I see the air, I see the fire,


s: The water, and the earth, and all their mixtures


s: Come to corruption, and short while endure;


s: And these things notwithstanding were created;'


s: Therefore if that which I have said were true,


s: They should have been secure against corruption.


s: The Angels, brother, and the land sincere


s: In which thou art, created may be called


s: Just as they are in their entire existence;


s: But all the elements which thou hast named,


s: And all those things which out of them are made,


s: Within these stars that round about them go.


s: The soul of every brute and of the plants


s: So with herself, it evermore desires her.


s: And thou from this mayst argue furthermore


s: How human flesh was fashioned at that time


s: When the first parents both of them were made."


s: Rayed out, in the third epicycle turning;


s: The ancient nations in the ancient error,


s: That as her mother, this one as her son,


s: And they from her, whence I beginning take,


s: That woos the sun, now following, now in front.


s: And as within a voice a voice discerned,


s: When one is steadfast, and one comes and goes,


s: Move in a circle, speeding more and less,


s: Methinks in measure of their inward vision.


s: From a cold cloud descended never winds,


s: Seen come towards us, leaving the gyration


s: And behind those that most in front appeared


s: Then unto us more nearly one approached,


s: We turn around with the celestial Princes,


s: One gyre and one gyration and one thirst,


s: To whom thou in the world of old didst say,


s: 'Ye who, intelligent, the third heaven are moving;'


s: And are so full of love, to pleasure thee


s: After these eyes of mine themselves had offered


s: Content and certain of herself had made them,


s: Back to the light they turned, which so great promise


s: Made of itself, and "Say, who art thou?" was


s: My voice, imprinted with a great affection.


s: Thus changed, it said to me: "The world possessed me


s: Short time below; and, if it had been more,


s: Much evil will be which would not have been.


s: My gladness keepeth me concealed from thee,


s: Which rayeth round about me, and doth hide me


s: Like as a creature swathed in its own silk.


s: Much didst thou love me, and thou hadst good reason;


s: For had I been below, I should have shown thee


s: That left-hand margin, which doth bathe itself


s: In Rhone, when it is mingled with the Sorgue,


s: And that horn of Ausonia, which is towned


s: Whence Tronto and Verde in the sea disgorge.


s: Of that dominion which the Danube waters


s: Which greatest scath from Eurus doth receive,)


s: Not through Typhoeus, but through nascent sulphur,


s: Would have awaited her own monarchs still,


s: Through me from Charles descended and from Rudolph,


s: Palermo to the outcry of 'Death! death!'


s: And if my brother could but this foresee,


s: Straight would he flee, that it might not molest him;


s: Through him or other, so that on his bark


s: Already freighted no more freight be placed.


s: As should not care for hoarding in a chest."


s: Where every good thing doth begin and end


s: Thou seest as I see it, the more grateful


s: That gazing upon God thou dost discern it.


s: Glad hast thou made me; so make clear to me,


s: Since speaking thou hast stirred me up to doubt,


s: How from sweet seed can bitter issue forth."


s: Can show to thee a truth, to what thou askest


s: Thy face thou'lt hold as thou dost hold thy back.


s: The Good which all the realm thou art ascending


s: Turns and contents, maketh its providence


s: Within the mind that in itself is perfect,


s: But they together with their preservation.


s: For whatsoever thing this bow shoots forth


s: Falls foreordained unto an end foreseen,


s: If that were not, the heaven which thou dost walk


s: Would in such manner its effects produce,


s: That they no longer would be arts, but ruins.


s: That keep these stars in motion are not maimed,


s: And maimed the First that has not made them perfect.


s: Wilt thou this truth have clearer made to thee?"


s: That nature tire, I see, in what is needful."


s: Whence he again: "Now say, would it be worse


s: For men on earth were they not citizens?"


s: "Yes," I replied; "and here I ask no reason."


s: "And can they be so, if below they live not


s: No, if your master writeth well for you."


s: So came he with deductions to this point;


s: Then he concluded: "Therefore it behoves


s: The roots of your effects to be diverse.


s: Hence one is Solon born, another Xerxes,


s: Who, flying through the air, his son did lose.


s: To mortal wax, doth practise well her art,


s: But not one inn distinguish from another;


s: From sire so vile that he is given to Mars.


s: If Providence divine were not triumphant.


s: Now that which was behind thee is before thee;


s: But that thou know that I with thee am pleased,


s: And if the world below would fix its mind


s: On the foundation which is laid by nature,


s: Pursuing that, 'twould have the people good.


s: Him who was born to gird him with the sword,


s: And make a king of him who is for sermons;


s: Therefore your footsteps wander from the road."


s: Beautiful Clemence, after that thy Charles


s: The treacheries his seed should undergo;


s: But said: "Be still and let the years roll round;"


s: Had to the Sun which fills it turned again,


s: As to that good which for each thing sufficeth.


s: Ah, souls deceived, and creatures impious,


s: Who from such good do turn away your hearts,


s: And now, behold, another of those splendours


s: Approached me, and its will to pleasure me


s: The eyes of Beatrice, that fastened were


s: "Ah, bring swift compensation to my wish,


s: Thou blessed spirit," I said, "and give me proof


s: That what I think in thee I can reflect!"


s: Whereat the light, that still was new to me,


s: Out of its depths, whence it before was singing,


s: "Within that region of the land depraved


s: And fountain-heads of Brenta and of Piava,


s: That made upon that region great assault.


s: Out of one root were born both I and it;


s: Because the splendour of this star o'ercame me.


s: Of my allotment, and it does not grieve me;


s: Which would perhaps seem strong unto your vulgar.


s: Great fame remained; and ere it die away


s: This hundredth year shall yet quintupled be.


s: So that another life the first may leave!


s: And thus thinks not the present multitude


s: But soon 'twill be that Padua in the marsh


s: Will change the water that Vicenza bathes,


s: Because the folk are stubborn against duty;


s: One lordeth it, and goes with lofty head,


s: For catching whom e'en now the net is making.


s: Shall weep the crime, which shall so monstrous be


s: That for the like none ever entered Malta.


s: That of the Ferrarese could hold the blood,


s: And weary who should weigh it ounce by ounce,


s: Of which this courteous priest shall make a gift


s: To show himself a partisan; and such gifts


s: Above us there are mirrors, Thrones you call them,


s: From which shines out on us God Judicant,


s: So that this utterance seems good to us."


s: Here it was silent, and it had the semblance


s: Of being turned elsewhither, by the wheel


s: Became a thing transplendent in my sight,


s: Through joy effulgence is acquired above,


s: As here a smile; but down below, the shade


s: "God seeth all things, and in Him, blest spirit,


s: Thy sight is," said I, "so that never will


s: Of his can possibly from thee be hidden;


s: Thy voice, then, that for ever makes the heavens


s: Glad, with the singing of those holy fires


s: Which of their six wings make themselves a cowl,


s: Wherefore does it not satisfy my longings?


s: Indeed, I would not wait thy questioning


s: "The greatest of the valleys where the water


s: Expands itself," forthwith its words began,


s: "That sea excepted which the earth engarlands,


s: Between discordant shores against the sun


s: Where it was wont before to make the horizon.


s: 'Twixt Ebro and Magra that with journey short


s: With the same sunset and same sunrise nearly


s: That with its blood once made the harbour hot.


s: My name was known; and now with me this heaven


s: For more the daughter of Belus never burned,


s: Not at the fault, which comes not back to mind,


s: But at the power which ordered and foresaw.


s: With such affection, and the good discover


s: Whereby the world above turns that below.


s: But that thou wholly satisfied mayst bear


s: Thy wishes hence which in this sphere are born,


s: Thou fain wouldst know who is within this light


s: That here beside me thus is scintillating,


s: Then know thou, that within there is at rest


s: With her in its supremest grade 'tis sealed.


s: Into this heaven, where ends the shadowy cone


s: Cast by your world, before all other souls


s: First of Christ's triumph was she taken up.


s: Full meet it was to leave her in some heaven,


s: Which he acquired with one palm and the other,


s: Because she favoured the first glorious deed


s: That little stirs the memory of the Pope.


s: Who first upon his Maker turned his back,


s: Brings forth and scatters the accursed flower


s: Which both the sheep and lambs hath led astray


s: Since it has turned the shepherd to a wolf.


s: For this the Evangel and the mighty Doctors


s: So studied that it shows upon their margins.


s: There where his pinions Gabriel unfolded;


s: Which each of them eternally breathes forth,


s: Whate'er before the mind or eye revolves


s: With so much order made, there can be none


s: Lift up then, Reader, to the lofty wheels


s: With me thy vision straight unto that part


s: Where the one motion on the other strikes,


s: That Master's art, who in himself so loves it


s: That never doth his eye depart therefrom.


s: Behold how from that point goes branching off


s: The oblique circle, which conveys the planets,


s: To satisfy the world that calls upon them;


s: And if their pathway were not thus inflected,


s: Much virtue in the heavens would be in vain,


s: If from the straight line distant more or less


s: Were the departure, much would wanting be


s: Remain now, Reader, still upon thy bench,


s: In thought pursuing that which is foretasted,


s: If thou wouldst jocund be instead of weary.


s: I've set before thee; henceforth feed thyself,


s: That theme whereof I have been made the scribe.


s: The greatest of the ministers of nature,


s: Who with the power of heaven the world imprints


s: And measures with his light the time for us,


s: With that part which above is called to mind


s: Conjoined, along the spirals was revolving,


s: Where each time earlier he presents himself;


s: And I was with him; but of the ascending


s: Of a first thought is conscious ere it come;


s: That not by time her action is expressed,


s: How lucent in herself must she have been!


s: And what was in the sun, wherein I entered,


s: I, though I call on genius, art, and practice,


s: Cannot so tell that it could be imagined;


s: Believe one can, and let him long to see it.


s: Since o'er the sun was never eye could go.


s: Such in this place was the fourth family


s: Of the high Father, who forever sates it,


s: Showing how he breathes forth and how begets.


s: And Beatrice began: "Give thanks, give thanks


s: Sensible one has raised thee by his grace!"


s: Nor this displeased her; but she smiled at it


s: So that the splendour of her laughing eyes


s: Lights many saw I, vivid and triumphant,


s: Make us a centre and themselves a circle,


s: More sweet in voice than luminous in aspect.


s: We sometimes see, when pregnant is the air,


s: So that it holds the thread which makes her zone.


s: Within the court of Heaven, whence I return,


s: They cannot be transported from the realm;


s: And of them was the singing of those lights.


s: Who takes not wings that he may fly up thither,


s: As soon as singing thus those burning suns


s: Had round about us whirled themselves three times,


s: Like unto stars neighbouring the steadfast poles,


s: Ladies they seemed, not from the dance released,


s: But who stop short, in silence listening


s: The radiance of grace, by which is kindled


s: True love, and which thereafter grows by loving,


s: Within thee multiplied is so resplendent


s: That it conducts thee upward by that stair,


s: Where without reascending none descends,


s: Who should deny the wine out of his vial


s: Except as water which descends not seaward.


s: Fain wouldst thou know with what plants is enflowered


s: This garland that encircles with delight


s: The Lady fair who makes thee strong for heaven.


s: Where well one fattens if he strayeth not.


s: My brother and master was; and he Albertus


s: If thou of all the others wouldst be certain,


s: Follow behind my speaking with thy sight


s: Upward along the blessed garland turning.


s: That next effulgence issues from the smile


s: Of Gratian, who assisted both the courts


s: In such wise that it pleased in Paradise.


s: The other which near by adorns our choir


s: That Peter was who, e'en as the poor widow,


s: The fifth light, that among us is the fairest,


s: Breathes forth from such a love, that all the world


s: Within it is the lofty mind, where knowledge


s: So deep was put, that, if the true be true,


s: To see so much there never rose a second.


s: Thou seest next the lustre of that taper,


s: Which in the flesh below looked most within


s: Within that other little light is smiling


s: The advocate of the Christian centuries,


s: Out of whose rhetoric Augustine was furnished.


s: Now if thou trainest thy mind's eye along


s: From light to light pursuant of my praise,


s: With thirst already of the eighth thou waitest.


s: The sainted soul, which the fallacious world


s: Makes manifest to him who listeneth well;


s: The body whence 'twas hunted forth is lying


s: See farther onward flame the burning breath


s: This, whence to me returneth thy regard,


s: In his grave meditations death seemed slow.


s: Who, reading lectures in the Street of Straw,


s: With matins to her Spouse that he may love her,


s: Wherein one part the other draws and urges,


s: Ting! ting! resounding with so sweet a note,


s: That swells with love the spirit well disposed,


s: Thus I beheld the glorious wheel move round,


s: And render voice to voice, in modulation


s: And sweetness that can not be comprehended,


s: Excepting there where joy is made eternal.


s: That make thee beat thy wings in downward flight!


s: Was going, and one following the priesthood,


s: And one in theft, and one in state affairs,


s: One in the pleasures of the flesh involved


s: Wearied himself, one gave himself to ease;


s: When I, from all these things emancipate,


s: With Beatrice above there in the Heavens


s: When each one had returned unto that point


s: And from within the effulgence which at first


s: The occasion of thy thoughts I apprehend.


s: Thou doubtest, and wouldst have me to resift


s: My speech, that to thy sense it may be plain,


s: Where just before I said, 'where well one fattens,'


s: And where I said, 'there never rose a second;'


s: And here 'tis needful we distinguish well.


s: The Providence, which governeth the world


s: With counsel, wherein all created vision


s: Is vanquished ere it reach unto the bottom,


s: (So that towards her own Beloved might go


s: The bride of Him who, uttering a loud cry,


s: Espoused her with his consecrated blood,


s: Self-confident and unto Him more faithful,)


s: Which on this side and that might be her guide.


s: One will I speak of, for of both is spoken


s: In praising one, whichever may be taken,


s: Because unto one end their labours were.


s: Between Tupino and the stream that falls


s: Down from the hill elect of blessed Ubald,


s: A fertile slope of lofty mountain hangs,


s: From which Perugia feels the cold and heat


s: From out that slope, there where it breaketh most


s: Its steepness, rose upon the world a sun


s: As this one does sometimes from out the Ganges;


s: Therefore let him who speaketh of that place,


s: Say not Ascesi, for he would say little,


s: He was not yet far distant from his rising


s: Some comfort from his mighty virtue feel.


s: For he in youth his father's wrath incurred


s: For certain Dame, to whom, as unto death,


s: The gate of pleasure no one doth unlock;


s: Then day by day more fervently he loved her.


s: She, reft of her first husband, scorned, obscure,


s: One thousand and one hundred years and more,


s: Naught it availed to hear, that with Amyclas


s: Found her unmoved at sounding of his voice


s: He who struck terror into all the world;


s: Naught it availed being constant and undaunted,


s: So that, when Mary still remained below,


s: She mounted up with Christ upon the cross.


s: Francis and Poverty for these two lovers


s: Take thou henceforward in my speech diffuse.


s: Their concord and their joyous semblances,


s: The love, the wonder, and the sweet regard,


s: They made to be the cause of holy thoughts;


s: First bared his feet, and after so great peace


s: Ran, and, in running, thought himself too slow.


s: Giles bares his feet, and bares his feet Sylvester


s: Behind the bridegroom, so doth please the bride!


s: Then goes his way that father and that master,


s: Which now was girding on the humble cord;


s: Nor cowardice of heart weighed down his brow


s: Received the primal seal upon his Order.


s: Better in glory of the heavens were sung,


s: Was through Honorius by the Eternal Spirit


s: And when he had, through thirst of martyrdom,


s: In the proud presence of the Sultan preached


s: Christ and the others who came after him,


s: The folk, and not to tarry there in vain,


s: On the rude rock 'twixt Tiber and the Arno


s: From Christ did he receive the final seal,


s: Which during two whole years his members bore.


s: When He, who chose him unto so much good,


s: Was pleased to draw him up to the reward


s: Unto his friars, as to the rightful heirs,


s: And bade that they should love her faithfully;


s: Wished to depart, returning to its realm,


s: Think now what man was he, who was a fit


s: The bark of Peter to its proper bearings.


s: And this man was our Patriarch; hence whoever


s: But for new pasturage his flock has grown


s: They be not scattered over fields diverse;


s: More void of milk return they to the fold.


s: And keep close to the shepherd; but so few,


s: That little cloth doth furnish forth their hoods.


s: If thine own hearing hath attentive been,


s: If thou recall to mind what I have said,


s: For thou shalt see the plant that's chipped away,


s: 'Where well one fattens, if he strayeth not.'"


s: And in its gyre had not turned wholly round,


s: And motion joined to motion, song to song;


s: Song that as greatly doth transcend our Muses,


s: As primal splendour that which is reflected.


s: And as are spanned athwart a tender cloud


s: Two rainbows parallel and like in colour,


s: When Juno to her handmaid gives command,


s: (The one without born of the one within,


s: Like to the speaking of that vagrant one


s: Whom love consumed as doth the sun the vapours,)


s: And make the people here, through covenant


s: God set with Noah, presageful of the world


s: That shall no more be covered with a flood,


s: The garlands twain encompassed us about,


s: And thus the outer to the inner answered.


s: After the dance, and other grand rejoicings,


s: Both of the singing, and the flaming forth


s: Effulgence with effulgence blithe and tender,


s: Together, at once, with one accord had stopped,


s: (Even as the eyes, that, as volition moves them,


s: Must needs together shut and lift themselves,)


s: Out of the heart of one of the new lights


s: There came a voice, that needle to the star


s: And it began: "The love that makes me fair


s: Draws me to speak about the other leader,


s: 'Tis right, where one is, to bring in the other,


s: That, as they were united in their warfare,


s: Together likewise may their glory shine.


s: The soldiery of Christ, which it had cost


s: So dear to arm again, behind the standard


s: Moved slow and doubtful and in numbers few,


s: Provided for the host that was in peril,


s: Through grace alone and not that it was worthy;


s: And, as was said, he to his Bride brought succour


s: With champions twain, at whose deed, at whose word


s: The straggling people were together drawn.


s: Within that region where the sweet west wind


s: Europe is seen to clothe herself afresh,


s: Not far off from the beating of the waves,


s: Sometimes conceals himself from every man,


s: In which the Lion subject is and sovereign.


s: Of Christian Faith, the athlete consecrate,


s: That in his mother her it made prophetic.


s: Where they with mutual safety dowered each other,


s: The woman, who for him had given assent,


s: That issue would from him and from his heirs;


s: And that he might be construed as he was,


s: A spirit from this place went forth to name him


s: With His possessive whose he wholly was.


s: Dominic was he called; and him I speak of


s: Envoy and servant sooth he seemed of Christ,


s: Was the first counsel that was given by Christ.


s: Discovered by his nurse upon the ground,


s: As if he would have said, 'For this I came.'


s: Not for the world which people toil for now


s: But through his longing after the true manna,


s: He in short time became so great a teacher,


s: Which fadeth soon, if faithless be the dresser;


s: And of the See, (that once was more benignant


s: Unto the righteous poor, not through itself,


s: But him who sits there and degenerates,)


s: Not to dispense or two or three for six,


s: He asked for, but against the errant world


s: Of which these four and twenty plants surround thee.


s: Then with the doctrine and the will together,


s: Like torrent which some lofty vein out-presses;


s: Wherever the resistance was the greatest.


s: Of him were made thereafter divers runnels,


s: So that more living its plantations stand.


s: In which the Holy Church itself defended


s: Thomas so courteous was before my coming.


s: But still the orbit, which the highest part


s: So that the mould is where was once the crust.


s: His family, that had straight forward moved


s: With feet upon his footprints, are turned round


s: So that they set the point upon the heel.


s: And soon aware they will be of the harvest


s: Of this bad husbandry, when shall the tares


s: Complain the granary is taken from them.


s: Yet say I, he who searcheth leaf by leaf


s: Our volume through, would still some page discover


s: Where he could read, 'I am as I am wont.'


s: 'Twill not be from Casal nor Acquasparta,


s: From whence come such unto the written word


s: That one avoids it, and the other narrows.


s: Who of the first barefooted beggars were


s: That with the cord the friends of God became.


s: Hugh of Saint Victor is among them here,


s: Who down below in volumes twelve is shining;


s: Who deigned to lay his hand to the first art;


s: And the discreet discourses of Friar Thomas,


s: And with me they have moved this company."


s: Let him imagine, who would well conceive


s: What now I saw, and let him while I speak


s: The fifteen stars, that in their divers regions


s: That it transcends all clusters of the air;


s: Our vault of heaven sufficeth night and day,


s: So that in turning of its pole it fails not;


s: Round about which the primal wheel revolves,--


s: To have fashioned of themselves two signs in heaven,


s: Like unto that which Minos' daughter made,


s: The moment when she felt the frost of death;


s: And one to have its rays within the other,


s: And both to whirl themselves in such a manner


s: That one should forward go, the other backward;


s: And he will have some shadowing forth of that


s: That circled round the point at which I was;


s: As swifter than the motion of the Chiana


s: Moveth the heaven that all the rest outspeeds.


s: There sang they neither Bacchus, nor Apollo,


s: The singing and the dance fulfilled their measure,


s: And unto us those holy lights gave need,


s: Then broke the silence of those saints concordant


s: And said: "Now that one straw is trodden out


s: Now that its seed is garnered up already,


s: Sweet love invites me to thresh out the other.


s: Was drawn the rib to form the beauteous cheek


s: Whose taste to all the world is costing dear,


s: And into that which, by the lance transfixed,


s: Before and since, such satisfaction made


s: That it weighs down the balance of all sin,


s: Whate'er of light it has to human nature


s: By the same power that both of them created;


s: And hence at what I said above dost wonder,


s: The good which in the fifth light is enclosed.


s: Now ope thine eyes to what I answer thee,


s: And thou shalt see thy creed and my discourse


s: That which can die, and that which dieth not,


s: Are nothing but the splendour of the idea


s: Which by his love our Lord brings into being;


s: Because that living Light, which from its fount


s: Effulgent flows, so that it disunites not


s: From Him nor from the Love in them intrined,


s: Through its own goodness reunites its rays


s: Thence it descends to the last potencies,


s: Things generated, which the heaven produces


s: By its own motion, with seed and without.


s: Neither their wax, nor that which tempers it,


s: The ideal signet more and less shines through;


s: Therefore it happens, that the selfsame tree


s: After its kind bears worse and better fruit,


s: And ye are born with characters diverse.


s: And were the heaven in its supremest virtue,


s: The brilliance of the seal would all appear;


s: In the like manner working as the artist,


s: Who has the skill of art and hand that trembles.


s: If then the fervent Love, the Vision clear,


s: Thus was of old the earth created worthy


s: And thus the Virgin was impregnate made;


s: Nor will be, what it was in those two persons.


s: Now if no farther forth I should proceed,


s: 'Then in what way was he without a peer?'


s: Would be the first beginning of thy words.


s: But, that may well appear what now appears not,


s: Think who he was, and what occasion moved him


s: To make request, when it was told him, 'Ask.'


s: I've not so spoken that thou canst not see


s: Clearly he was a king who asked for wisdom,


s: 'Twas not to know the number in which are


s: Triangle so that it have no right angle.


s: Whence, if thou notest this and what I said,


s: A regal prudence is that peerless seeing


s: In which the shaft of my intention strikes.


s: And if on 'rose' thou turnest thy clear eyes,


s: To kings who're many, and the good are rare.


s: With this distinction take thou what I said,


s: And lead shall this be always to thy feet,


s: To make thee, like a weary man, move slowly


s: Who affirms without distinction, or denies,


s: Because it happens that full often bends


s: And then the feelings bind the intellect.


s: Far more than uselessly he leaves the shore,


s: (Since he returneth not the same he went,)


s: Who fishes for the truth, and has no skill;


s: And in the world proofs manifest thereof


s: And many who went on and knew not whither;


s: Thus did Sabellius, Arius, and those fools


s: Who have been even as swords unto the Scriptures


s: In rendering distorted their straight faces.


s: In judging, even as he is who doth count


s: For I have seen all winter long the thorn


s: First show itself intractable and fierce,


s: Run o'er the sea throughout its course entire,


s: To perish at the harbour's mouth at last.


s: Let not Dame Bertha nor Ser Martin think,


s: Seeing one steal, another offering make,


s: For one may rise, and fall the other may."


s: From centre unto rim, from rim to centre,


s: As from without 'tis struck or from within.


s: Silent became the glorious life of Thomas,


s: Because of the resemblance that was born


s: Whom, after him, it pleased thus to begin:


s: "This man has need (and does not tell you so,


s: Nor with the voice, nor even in his thought)


s: Blossoms your substance shall remain with you


s: And if it do remain, say in what manner,


s: It can be that it injure not your sight."


s: As by a greater gladness urged and drawn


s: They who are dancing in a ring sometimes


s: Uplift their voices and their motions quicken;


s: In their revolving and their wondrous song.


s: Seen the refreshment of the eternal rain.


s: The One and Two and Three who ever liveth,


s: And reigneth ever in Three and Two and One,


s: Not circumscribed and all things circumscribing,


s: Three several times was chanted by each one


s: The lesser ring, I heard a modest voice,


s: Such as perhaps the Angel's was to Mary,


s: Shall radiate round about us such a vesture.


s: Its brightness is proportioned to the ardour,


s: The ardour to the vision; and the vision


s: Equals what grace it has above its worth.


s: When, glorious and sanctified, our flesh


s: More pleasing by their being all complete;


s: For will increase whate'er bestows on us


s: Therefore the vision must perforce increase,


s: Increase the ardour which from that is kindled,


s: Increase the radiance which from this proceeds.


s: But even as a coal that sends forth flame,


s: And by its vivid whiteness overpowers it


s: So that its own appearance it maintains,


s: Thus the effulgence that surrounds us now


s: Shall be o'erpowered in aspect by the flesh,


s: Which still to-day the earth doth cover up;


s: For strong will be the organs of the body


s: To everything which hath the power to please us."


s: Both one and the other choir to say Amen,


s: That well they showed desire for their dead bodies;


s: Nor sole for them perhaps, but for the mothers,


s: The fathers, and the rest who had been dear


s: And lo! all round about of equal brightness


s: So that the sight seems real and unreal,


s: Began there to be seen, and make a circle


s: Unto mine eyes, that vanquished bore it not!


s: Appeared to me, that with the other sights


s: That followed not my memory I must leave her.


s: Then to uplift themselves mine eyes resumed


s: The power, and I beheld myself translated


s: Well was I ware that I was more uplifted


s: That seemed to me more ruddy than its wont.


s: Which is the same in all, such holocaust


s: To God I made as the new grace beseemed;


s: This offering was accepted and auspicious;


s: Splendours appeared to me in twofold rays,


s: I said: "O Helios who dost so adorn them!"


s: Even as distinct with less and greater lights


s: Glimmers between the two poles of the world


s: Thus constellated in the depths of Mars,


s: That quadrants joining in a circle make.


s: For on that cross as levin gleamed forth Christ,


s: But he who takes his cross and follows Christ


s: From horn to horn, and 'twixt the top and base,


s: Lights were in motion, brightly scintillating


s: As they together met and passed each other;


s: Thus level and aslant and swift and slow


s: We here behold, renewing still the sight,


s: Across the sunbeam move, wherewith is listed


s: Sometimes the shade, which for their own defence


s: People with cunning and with art contrive.


s: And as a lute and harp, accordant strung


s: With many strings, a dulcet tinkling make


s: To him by whom the notes are not distinguished,


s: So from the lights that there to me appeared


s: Which rapt me, not distinguishing the hymn.


s: Because there came to me, "Arise and conquer!"


s: As unto him who hears and comprehends not.


s: That e'er had fettered me with such sweet bonds.


s: Perhaps my word appears somewhat too bold,


s: Postponing the delight of those fair eyes,


s: But who bethinks him that the living seals


s: Of every beauty grow in power ascending,


s: And that I there had not turned round to those,


s: To excuse myself, and see that I speak truly:


s: Ever the love that righteously inspires,


s: That Heaven's right hand doth tighten and relax.


s: Those substances, which, to give me desire


s: Of praying them, with one accord grew silent?


s: 'Tis well that without end he should lament,


s: Who for the love of thing that doth not last


s: As through the pure and tranquil evening air


s: There shoots from time to time a sudden fire,


s: Moving the eyes that steadfast were before,


s: And seems to be a star that changeth place,


s: Except that in the part where it is kindled


s: Nothing is missed, and this endureth little;


s: So from the horn that to the right extends


s: Nor was the gem dissevered from its ribbon,


s: So that fire seemed it behind alabaster.


s: Thus piteous did Anchises' shade reach forward,


s: Thus that effulgence; whence I gave it heed;


s: Then round unto my Lady turned my sight,


s: And on this side and that was stupefied;


s: For in her eyes was burning such a smile


s: That with mine own methought I touched the bottom


s: Then, pleasant to the hearing and the sight,


s: The spirit joined to its beginning things


s: Nor did it hide itself from me by choice,


s: Was so far slackened, that its speech descended


s: The first thing that was understood by me


s: Who hast unto my seed so courteous been!"


s: And it continued: "Hunger long and grateful,


s: Drawn from the reading of the mighty volume


s: Wherein is never changed the white nor dark,


s: Thou hast appeased, my son, within this light


s: In which I speak to thee, by grace of her


s: Who to this lofty flight with plumage clothed thee.


s: Thou thinkest that to me thy thought doth pass


s: From Him who is the first, as from the unit,


s: If that be known, ray out the five and six;


s: Thou think'st the truth; because the small and great


s: Wherein, before thou think'st, thy thought thou showest.


s: But that the sacred love, in which I watch


s: With sight perpetual, and which makes me thirst


s: With sweet desire, may better be fulfilled,


s: Now let thy voice secure and frank and glad


s: Proclaim the wishes, the desire proclaim,


s: Before I spake, and smiled to me a sign,


s: That made the wings of my desire increase;


s: Then in this wise began I: "Love and knowledge,


s: Of the same weight for each of you became;


s: For in the Sun, which lighted you and burned


s: With heat and radiance, they so equal are,


s: Diversely feathered in their pinions are.


s: Save in my heart, for this paternal welcome.


s: That thou wilt satisfy me with thy name."


s: "O leaf of mine, in whom I pleasure took


s: E'en while awaiting, I was thine own root!"


s: Then said to me: "That one from whom is named


s: Thy race, and who a hundred years and more


s: Has circled round the mount on the first cornice,


s: A son of mine and thy great-grandsire was;


s: Well it behoves thee that the long fatigue


s: Thou shouldst for him make shorter with thy works.


s: From which she taketh still her tierce and nones,


s: Nor ladies shod with sandal shoon, nor girdle


s: That caught the eye more than the person did.


s: Not yet the daughter at her birth struck fear


s: Did not o'errun this side or that the measure.


s: Shall in its downfall be as in its rise.


s: With leather and with bone, and from the mirror


s: And him of Nerli saw, and him of Vecchio,


s: Contented with their simple suits of buff


s: And with the spindle and the flax their dames.


s: O fortunate women! and each one was certain


s: Of her own burial-place, and none as yet


s: For sake of France was in her bed deserted.


s: One o'er the cradle kept her studious watch,


s: That first delights the fathers and the mothers;


s: Another, drawing tresses from her distaff,


s: As great a marvel then would have been held


s: Did Mary give me, with loud cries invoked,


s: And from that place thy surname was derived.


s: I followed afterward the Emperor Conrad,


s: So much I pleased him with my noble deeds.


s: I followed in his train against that law's


s: Your just possession, through your Pastor's fault.


s: Released from bonds of the fallacious world,


s: And came from martyrdom unto this peace."


s: If thou dost make the people glory in thee


s: Down here where our affection languishes,


s: A marvellous thing it ne'er will be to me;


s: For there where appetite is not perverted,


s: I say in Heaven, of thee I made a boast!


s: Truly thou art a cloak that quickly shortens,


s: Time goeth round about thee with his shears!


s: With 'You,' which Rome was first to tolerate,


s: Whence Beatrice, who stood somewhat apart,


s: Smiling, appeared like unto her who coughed


s: Because it can endure this and not burst.


s: Then tell me, my beloved root ancestral,


s: Who were your ancestors, and what the years


s: That in your boyhood chronicled themselves?


s: Tell me about the sheepfold of Saint John,


s: How large it was, and who the people were


s: Quickens to flame, so I beheld that light


s: And as unto mine eyes it grew more fair,


s: With voice more sweet and tender, but not in


s: "From uttering of the 'Ave,' till the birth


s: Of me was lightened who had been her burden,


s: Five hundred fifty times and thirty more,


s: Where first is found the last ward of the city


s: But who they were, and whence they thither came,


s: Silence is more considerate than speech.


s: All those who at that time were there between


s: Mars and the Baptist, fit for bearing arms,


s: Were a fifth part of those who now are living;


s: O how much better 'twere to have as neighbours


s: The folk of whom I speak, and at Galluzzo


s: Than have them in the town, and bear the stench


s: Who has sharp eyes for trickery already.


s: Had not the folk, which most of all the world


s: Degenerates, been a step-dame unto Caesar,


s: Some who turn Florentines, and trade and discount,


s: There where their grandsires went about as beggars.


s: At Montemurlo still would be the Counts,


s: Has been the source of malady in cities,


s: And a blind bull more headlong plunges down


s: Better and more a single sword than five.


s: How they have passed away, and how are passing


s: To hear how races waste themselves away,


s: Will seem to thee no novel thing nor hard,


s: All things of yours have their mortality,


s: Even as yourselves; but it is hidden in some


s: That a long while endure, and lives are short;


s: Covers and bares the shores without a pause,


s: In the like manner fortune does with Florence.


s: Therefore should not appear a marvellous thing


s: What I shall say of the great Florentines


s: Even in their fall illustrious citizens;


s: And saw, as mighty as they ancient were,


s: Near to the gate that is at present laden


s: That soon it shall be jetsam from the bark,


s: Of the great Bellincione since hath taken.


s: Had hilt and pommel gilded in his house.


s: And Galli, and they who for the bushel blush.


s: The stock from which were the Calfucci born


s: To curule chairs the Sizii and Arrigucci.


s: By their own pride! and how the Balls of Gold


s: Florence enflowered in all their mighty deeds!


s: Who evermore, when vacant is your church,


s: The insolent race, that like a dragon follows


s: Already rising was, but from low people;


s: That his wife's father should make him their kin.


s: Which from the Della Pera took its name!


s: Each one that bears the beautiful escutcheon


s: Of the great baron whose renown and name


s: Knighthood and privilege from him received;


s: To-day the man who binds it with a border.


s: If with new neighbours it remained unfed.


s: The house from which is born your lamentation,


s: Through just disdain that death among you brought


s: Was honoured in itself and its companions.


s: Thou fled'st the bridal at another's promptings!


s: The first time that thou camest to the city.


s: Which guards the bridge, that Florence should provide


s: With all these families, and others with them,


s: That no occasion had she whence to weep;


s: Never upon the spear was placed reversed,


s: Of that which he had heard against himself,


s: He who makes fathers chary still to children,


s: Even such was I, and such was I perceived


s: That first on my account had changed its place.


s: Therefore my Lady said to me: "Send forth


s: The flame of thy desire, so that it issue


s: Not that our knowledge may be greater made


s: By speech of thine, but to accustom thee


s: To tell thy thirst, that we may give thee drink."


s: "O my beloved tree, (that so dost lift thee,


s: Ere in themselves they are, fixing thine eyes


s: Upon the point in which all times are present,)


s: Upon the mountain that the souls doth heal,


s: And when descending into the dead world,


s: Some grievous words; although I feel myself


s: In sooth foursquare against the blows of chance.


s: On this account my wish would be content


s: Because foreseen an arrow comes more slowly."


s: That unto me had spoken before; and even


s: As Beatrice willed was my own will confessed.


s: Not in vague phrase, in which the foolish folk


s: Ensnared themselves of old, ere yet was slain


s: Hid and revealed by its own proper smile:


s: "Contingency, that outside of the volume


s: Except as from the eye, in which 'tis mirrored,


s: A ship that with the current down descends.


s: From thence, e'en as there cometh to the ear


s: Sweet harmony from an organ, comes in sight


s: To me the time that is preparing for thee.


s: By reason of his step-dame false and cruel,


s: So thou from Florence must perforce depart.


s: Already this is willed, and this is sought for;


s: And soon it shall be done by him who thinks it,


s: Where every day the Christ is bought and sold.


s: The blame shall follow the offended party


s: In outcry as is usual; but the vengeance


s: Shall witness to the truth that doth dispense it.


s: Which first the bow of banishment shoots forth.


s: Thou shalt have proof how savoureth of salt


s: The bread of others, and how hard a road


s: And that which most shall weigh upon thy shoulders


s: With which into this valley thou shalt fall;


s: Will they become against thee; but soon after


s: They, and not thou, shall have the forehead scarlet.


s: Of their bestiality their own proceedings


s: Shall furnish proof; so 'twill be well for thee


s: Thine earliest refuge and thine earliest inn


s: Who such benign regard shall have for thee


s: That 'twixt you twain, in doing and in asking,


s: That shall be first which is with others last.


s: With him shalt thou see one who at his birth


s: Has by this star of strength been so impressed,


s: Through his young age, since only nine years yet


s: Around about him have these wheels revolved.


s: But ere the Gascon cheat the noble Henry,


s: Some sparkles of his virtue shall appear


s: Will not have power to keep mute tongues about it.


s: By him shall many people be transformed,


s: And written in thy mind thou hence shalt bear


s: Of him, but shalt not say it"--and things said he


s: Incredible to those who shall be present.


s: Then added: "Son, these are the commentaries


s: On what was said to thee; behold the snares


s: That are concealed behind few revolutions;


s: Yet would I not thy neighbours thou shouldst envy,


s: Because thy life into the future reaches


s: Beyond the punishment of their perfidies."


s: When by its silence showed that sainted soul


s: That it had finished putting in the woof


s: Into that web which I had given it warped,


s: Being in doubt, some counsel from a person


s: Who seeth, and uprightly wills, and loves:


s: "Well see I, father mine, how spurreth on


s: The time towards me such a blow to deal me


s: As heaviest is to him who most gives way.


s: Therefore with foresight it is well I arm me,


s: That, if the dearest place be taken from me,


s: Down through the world of infinite bitterness,


s: And o'er the mountain, from whose beauteous summit


s: And afterward through heaven from light to light,


s: I have learned that which, if I tell again,


s: Will be a savour of strong herbs to many.


s: I fear lest I may lose my life with those


s: Who will hereafter call this time the olden."


s: The light in which was smiling my own treasure


s: Which there I had discovered, flashed at first


s: As in the sunshine doth a golden mirror;


s: Or with its own or with another's shame,


s: Will taste forsooth the tartness of thy word;


s: But ne'ertheless, all falsehood laid aside,


s: And let them scratch wherever is the itch;


s: For if thine utterance shall offensive be


s: 'Twill leave thereafter, when it is digested.


s: This cry of thine shall do as doth the wind,


s: Which smiteth most the most exalted summits,


s: And that is no slight argument of honour.


s: Therefore are shown to thee within these wheels,


s: Upon the mount and in the dolorous valley,


s: Only the souls that unto fame are known;


s: Because the spirit of the hearer rests not,


s: Nor doth confirm its faith by an example


s: Which has the root of it unknown and hidden,


s: My own, the bitter tempering with the sweet,


s: Said: "Change thy thought; consider that I am


s: Near unto Him who every wrong disburdens."


s: I turned me round, and then what love I saw


s: Within those holy eyes I here relinquish;


s: While the eternal pleasure, which direct


s: Conquering me with the radiance of a smile,


s: She said to me, "Turn thee about and listen;


s: The affection in the look, if it be such


s: So, by the flaming of the effulgence holy


s: The wish of speaking to me somewhat farther.


s: And it began: "In this fifth resting-place


s: Upon the tree that liveth by its summit,


s: And aye bears fruit, and never loses leaf,


s: They came to Heaven, were of such great renown


s: That every Muse therewith would affluent be.


s: Therefore look thou upon the cross's horns;


s: He whom I now shall name will there enact


s: What doth within a cloud its own swift fire."


s: I saw athwart the Cross a splendour drawn


s: And gladness was the whip unto that top.


s: Two of them my regard attentive followed


s: And the Duke Godfrey, did attract my sight


s: Along upon that Cross, and Robert Guiscard.


s: Then, moved and mingled with the other lights,


s: The soul that had addressed me showed how great


s: An artist 'twas among the heavenly singers.


s: To my right side I turned myself around,


s: So full of pleasure, that her countenance


s: Surpassed its other and its latest wont.


s: With heaven together had increased its arc,


s: And such as is the change, in little lapse


s: Is from the load of bashfulness unladen,


s: Such was it in mine eyes, when I had turned,


s: Caused by the whiteness of the temperate star,


s: The sixth, which to itself had gathered me.


s: The sparkling of the love which was therein


s: And even as birds uprisen from the shore,


s: Make squadrons of themselves, now round, now long,


s: So from within those lights the holy creatures


s: Sang flying to and fro, and in their figures


s: First singing they to their own music moved;


s: A little while they rested and were silent.


s: Dost glorious make, and render it long-lived,


s: And this through thee the cities and the kingdoms,


s: Illume me with thyself, that I may bring


s: Their figures out as I have them conceived!


s: Apparent be thy power in these brief verses!


s: Themselves then they displayed in five times seven


s: The parts as they seemed spoken unto me.


s: First verb and noun of all that was depicted;


s: Seemed to be silver there with gold inlaid.


s: And other lights I saw descend where was


s: The summit of the M, and pause there singing


s: The good, I think, that draws them to itself.


s: Whence fools are wont to look for auguries,


s: More than a thousand lights seemed thence to rise,


s: And to ascend, some more, and others less,


s: Even as the Sun that lights them had allotted;


s: He who there paints has none to be his guide;


s: But Himself guides; and is from Him remembered


s: That virtue which is form unto the nest.


s: The other beatitude, that contented seemed


s: By a slight motion followed out the imprint.


s: Did demonstrate to me, that all our justice


s: Effect is of that heaven which thou ingemmest!


s: Wherefore I pray the Mind, in which begin


s: Whence comes the smoke that vitiates thy rays;


s: With buying and with selling in the temple


s: Whose walls were built with signs and martyrdoms!


s: O soldiery of heaven, whom I contemplate,


s: Implore for those who are upon the earth


s: Once 'twas the custom to make war with swords;


s: But now 'tis made by taking here and there


s: The bread the pitying Father shuts from none.


s: Yet thou, who writest but to cancel, think


s: That Peter and that Paul, who for this vineyard


s: Which thou art spoiling died, are still alive!


s: Well canst thou say: "So steadfast my desire


s: That I know not the Fisherman nor Paul."


s: Appeared before me with its wings outspread


s: The beautiful image that in sweet fruition


s: Nor voice has e'er reported, nor ink written,


s: For speak I saw, and likewise heard, the beak,


s: And utter with its voice both 'I' and 'My,'


s: When in conception it was 'We' and 'Our.'


s: Commend it, but continue not the story."


s: Make itself felt, even as from many loves


s: Issued a single sound from out that image.


s: Whence I thereafter: "O perpetual flowers


s: Exhaling, break within me the great fast


s: Which a long season has in hunger held me,


s: Well do I know, that if in heaven its mirror


s: Yours apprehends it not through any veil.


s: To listen; and you know what is the doubt


s: Even as a falcon, issuing from his hood,


s: Doth move his head, and with his wings applaud him,


s: Showing desire, and making himself fine,


s: Saw I become that standard, which of lauds


s: With such songs as he knows who there rejoices.


s: On the world's outer verge, and who within it


s: Could not the impress of his power so make


s: And this makes certain that the first proud being,


s: And hence appears it, that each minor nature


s: Which has no end, and by itself is measured.


s: In consequence our vision, which perforce


s: With which all things whatever are replete,


s: Far beyond that which is apparent to it.


s: The power of vision that your world receives,


s: Which, though it see the bottom near the shore,


s: 'Tis there, but it is hidden by the depth.


s: There is no light but comes from the serene


s: That never is o'ercast, nay, it is darkness


s: Or shadow of the flesh, or else its poison.


s: Which has concealed from thee the living justice


s: Of which thou mad'st such frequent questioning.


s: For saidst thou: 'Born a man is on the shore


s: Of Indus, and is none who there can speak


s: Of Christ, nor who can read, nor who can write;


s: And all his inclinations and his actions


s: Where is this justice that condemneth him?


s: Where is his fault, if he do not believe?'


s: Now who art thou, that on the bench wouldst sit


s: For doubting there were marvellous occasion.


s: The primal will, that in itself is good,


s: Ne'er from itself, the Good Supreme, has moved.


s: So much is just as is accordant with it;


s: But it, by raying forth, occasions that."


s: Even as above her nest goes circling round


s: The stork when she has fed her little ones,


s: And he who has been fed looks up at her,


s: Became the blessed image, which its wings


s: Circling around it sang, and said: "As are


s: My notes to thee, who dost not comprehend them,


s: Such is the eternal judgment to you mortals."


s: Those lucent splendours of the Holy Spirit


s: Grew quiet then, but still within the standard


s: That made the Romans reverend to the world.


s: It recommenced: "Unto this kingdom never


s: Ascended one who had not faith in Christ,


s: Before or since he to the tree was nailed.


s: But look thou, many crying are, 'Christ, Christ!'


s: Who at the judgment shall be far less near


s: To him than some shall be who knew not Christ.


s: Such Christians shall the Ethiop condemn,


s: When the two companies shall be divided,


s: What to your kings may not the Persians say,


s: When they that volume opened shall behold


s: In which are written down all their dispraises?


s: There shall be seen, among the deeds of Albert,


s: That which ere long shall set the pen in motion,


s: For which the realm of Prague shall be deserted.


s: There shall be seen the woe that on the Seine


s: Who by the blow of a wild boar shall die.


s: There shall be seen the pride that causes thirst,


s: Which makes the Scot and Englishman so mad


s: That they within their boundaries cannot rest;


s: Of him who guards the Island of the Fire,


s: Wherein Anchises finished his long life;


s: Shall be his record in contracted letters


s: Which shall make note of much in little space.


s: And shall appear to each one the foul deeds


s: So famous have dishonoured, and two crowns.


s: Shall there be known, and he of Rascia too,


s: Who saw in evil hour the coin of Venice.


s: Be wronged no farther! and Navarre the happy,


s: If with the hills that gird her she be armed!


s: And each one may believe that now, as hansel


s: Lament and rage because of their own beast,


s: Who from the others' flank departeth not."


s: That on all sides the daylight is consumed,


s: The heaven, that erst by him alone was kindled,


s: By many lights, wherein is one resplendent.


s: And came into my mind this act of heaven,


s: When the ensign of the world and of its leaders


s: O gentle Love, that with a smile dost cloak thee,


s: How ardent in those sparks didst thou appear,


s: That had the breath alone of holy thoughts!