s: Thither the Patriarch Jacob saw it stretch


s: Its topmost round, when it appear'd to him


s: None lifts his foot from earth: and hence my rule


s: Is left a profitless stain upon the leaves;


s: The walls, for abbey rear'd, turned into dens,


s: The cowls to sacks choak'd up with musty meal.


s: Against God's pleasure, than that fruit which makes


s: The hearts of monks so wanton: for whate'er


s: Is in the church's keeping, all pertains.


s: To such, as sue for heav'n's sweet sake, and not


s: To those who in respect of kindred claim,


s: Or on more vile allowance.  Mortal flesh


s: Is grown so dainty, good beginnings last not


s: From the oak's birth, unto the acorn's setting.


s: Or silver; I with pray'rs and fasting mine;


s: And if thou note the point, whence each proceeds,


s: Then look what it hath err'd to, thou shalt find


s: The white grown murky.  Jordan was turn'd back;


s: And a less wonder, then the refluent sea,


s: May at God's pleasure work amendment here."


s: So saying, to his assembly back he drew:


s: Then all roll'd upward like an eddying wind.


s: The sweet dame beckon'd me to follow them:


s: And, by that influence only, so prevail'd


s: I ofttimes wail my sins, and smite my breast,


s: Thou hadst been longer drawing out and thrusting


s: The sign, that followeth Taurus, I beheld,


s: And enter'd its precinct.  O glorious stars!


s: O light impregnate with exceeding virtue!


s: The Tuscan air; and afterward, when grace


s: Vouchsaf'd me entrance to the lofty wheel


s: My passage at your clime.  To you my soul


s: To meet the hard emprize that draws me on.


s: "Thou art so near the sum of blessedness,"


s: Be vigilant and clear.  And, to this end,


s: Or even thou advance thee further, hence


s: Look downward, and contemplate, what a world


s: Already stretched under our feet there lies:


s: So as thy heart may, in its blithest mood,


s: Which through the' etherial concave comes rejoicing."


s: I straight obey'd; and with mine eye return'd


s: Through all the seven spheres, and saw this globe


s: It moved my smiles: and him in truth I hold


s: For wisest, who esteems it least: whose thoughts


s: Elsewhere are fix'd, him worthiest call and best.


s: Without the shadow, whereof late I deem'd


s: That dense and rare were cause.  Here I sustain'd


s: And mark'd, how near him with their circle, round


s: Jove's tempering 'twixt his sire and son; and hence


s: Distinctly scann'd.  Nor might I not descry


s: Of all the seven, how bulky each, how swift;


s: Nor of their several distances not learn.


s: This petty area (o'er the which we stride


s: So fiercely), as along the eternal twins


s: Forth from the havens stretch'd unto the hills.


s: Then to the beauteous eyes mine eyes return'd.


s: E'en as the bird, who midst the leafy bower


s: Has, in her nest, sat darkling through the night,


s: With her sweet brood, impatient to descry


s: Their wished looks, and to bring home their food,


s: In the fond quest unconscious of her toil:


s: She, of the time prevenient, on the spray,


s: That overhangs their couch, with wakeful gaze


s: Expects the sun; nor ever, till the dawn,


s: So stood the dame erect, and bent her glance


s: Abateth most his speed; that, seeing her


s: Suspense and wand'ring, I became as one,


s: Of somewhat new to come fills with delight.


s: Short space ensued; I was not held, I say,


s: Long in expectance, when I saw the heav'n


s: Wax more and more resplendent; and, "Behold,"


s: Of Christ, and all the harvest reap'd at length


s: Of thy ascending up these spheres."  Meseem'd,


s: That, while she spake her image all did burn,


s: And in her eyes such fullness was of joy,


s: As in the calm full moon, when Trivia smiles,


s: In peerless beauty, 'mid th' eternal nympus,


s: That paint through all its gulfs the blue profound


s: O'er million lamps a sun, from whom all drew


s: Their radiance as from ours the starry train:


s: And through the living light so lustrous glow'd


s: The substance, that my ken endur'd it not.


s: Who cheer'd me with her comfortable words!


s: "Against the virtue, that o'erpow'reth thee,


s: Avails not to resist.  Here is the might,


s: The path, that had been yearned for so long,


s: Betwixt the heav'n and earth."  Like to the fire,


s: That, in a cloud imprison'd doth break out


s: Expansive, so that from its womb enlarg'd,


s: It falleth against nature to the ground;


s: Thus in that heav'nly banqueting my soul


s: Outgrew herself; and, in the transport lost.


s: Holds now remembrance none of what she was.


s: "Ope thou thine eyes, and mark me: thou hast seen


s: Things, that empower thee to sustain my smile."


s: Doth come across him, and he strives in vain


s: Whenas that gracious boon was proffer'd me,


s: Which never may be cancel'd from the book,


s: Wherein the past is written.  Now were all


s: Those tongues to sound, that have on sweetest milk


s: And fatten'd, not with all their help to boot,


s: Unto the thousandth parcel of the truth,


s: My song might shadow forth that saintly smile,


s: flow merely in her saintly looks it wrought.


s: The sacred strain must leap, like one, that meets


s: But he, who thinks how ponderous the theme,


s: And that 't is lain upon a mortal shoulder,


s: May pardon, if it tremble with the burden.


s: The track, our ventrous keel must furrow, brooks


s: No unribb'd pinnace, no self-sparing pilot.


s: "Why doth my face," said Beatrice, "thus


s: Enamour thee, as that thou dost not turn


s: Beneath the rays of Christ?  Here is the rose,


s: Wherein the word divine was made incarnate;


s: And here the lilies, by whose odour known


s: The way of life was follow'd."  Prompt I heard


s: The strife of aching vision.  As erewhile,


s: Through glance of sunlight, stream'd through broken cloud,


s: Mine eyes a flower-besprinkled mead have seen,


s: Though veil'd themselves in shade; so saw I there


s: Legions of splendours, on whom burning rays


s: Shed lightnings from above, yet saw I not


s: The fountain whence they flow'd.  O gracious virtue!


s: Thou, whose broad stamp is on them, higher up


s: To my o'erlabour'd sight: when at the name


s: Both morn and eve, my soul, with all her might


s: Collected, on the goodliest ardour fix'd.


s: And, as the bright dimensions of the star


s: In heav'n excelling, as once here on earth


s: And girt the star, and hov'ring round it wheel'd.


s: Might seem a rent cloud when it grates the thunder,


s: Compar'd unto the sounding of that lyre,


s: Wherewith the goodliest sapphire, that inlays


s: The floor of heav'n, was crown'd. "Angelic Love


s: I am, who thus with hov'ring flight enwheel


s: The lofty rapture from that womb inspir'd,


s: Where our desire did dwell: and round thee so,


s: Lady of Heav'n! will hover; long as thou


s: Shall from thy presence gild the highest sphere."


s: Took up the strain, and echoed Mary's name.


s: The robe, that with its regal folds enwraps


s: The world, and with the nearer breath of God


s: Doth burn and quiver, held so far retir'd


s: Had stream'd unto me: therefore were mine eyes


s: That rose and sought its natal seed of fire;


s: And like to babe, that stretches forth its arms


s: After the milk is taken; so outstretch'd


s: Their wavy summits all the fervent band,


s: Through zealous love to Mary: then in view


s: So sweetly, the delight hath left me never.


s: In those rich-laden coffers, which below


s: Sow'd the good seed, whose harvest now they keep.


s: Here are the treasures tasted, that with tears


s: When gold had fail'd them.  Here in synod high


s: Of ancient council with the new conven'd,


s: To whom the keys of glory were assign'd.


s: To the great supper of the blessed Lamb,


s: Whereon who feeds hath every wish fulfill'd!


s: If to this man through God's grace be vouchsaf'd


s: Foretaste of that, which from your table falls,


s: But may some influence of your sacred dews


s: Sprinkle him.  Of the fount ye alway drink,


s: Whence flows what most he craves."  Beatrice spake,


s: And the rejoicing spirits, like to spheres


s: On firm-set poles revolving, trail'd a blaze


s: Of comet splendour; and as wheels, that wind


s: The stated rounds, that to th' observant eye


s: The first seems still, and, as it flew, the last;


s: E'en thus their carols weaving variously,


s: They by the measure pac'd, or swift, or slow,


s: Made me to rate the riches of their joy.


s: From that, which I did note in beauty most


s: So bright, as none was left more goodly there.


s: And leaves a blank: for that our mortal speech,


s: Nor e'en the inward shaping of the brain,


s: Hath colours fine enough to trace such folds.


s: "O saintly sister mine! thy prayer devout


s: Thou dost unbind me from that beauteous sphere."


s: Such were the accents towards my lady breath'd


s: From that blest ardour, soon as it was stay'd:


s: Of him, within whose mighty grasp our Lord


s: Did leave the keys, which of this wondrous bliss


s: He bare below! tent this man, as thou wilt,


s: With lighter probe or deep, touching the faith,


s: By the which thou didst on the billows walk.


s: Be steadfast, is not hid from thee: for thou


s: Hast there thy ken, where all things are beheld


s: In liveliest portraiture.  But since true faith


s: Has peopled this fair realm with citizens,


s: Thou in his audience shouldst thereof discourse."


s: And speaks not, till the master have propos'd


s: The question, to approve, and not to end it;


s: So I, in silence, arm'd me, while she spake,


s: And such profession: "As good Christian ought,


s: Declare thee, What is faith?"  Whereat I rais'd


s: My forehead to the light, whence this had breath'd,


s: Then turn'd to Beatrice, and in her looks


s: Approval met, that from their inmost fount


s: I should unlock the waters.  "May the grace,


s: That giveth me the captain of the church


s: For confessor," said I, "vouchsafe to me


s: Apt utterance for my thoughts!" then added: "Sire!


s: Of thy dear brother, who with thee conspir'd


s: Faith of things hop'd is substance, and the proof


s: Of things not seen; and herein doth consist


s: Methinks its essence,"--"Rightly hast thou deem'd,"


s: Was answer'd: "if thou well discern, why first


s: He hath defin'd it, substance, and then proof."


s: "The deep things," I replied, "which here I scan


s: Their being, on which credence hope sublime


s: Is built; and therefore substance it intends.


s: From such belief our reasoning, all respect


s: Th' intention is deriv'd."  Forthwith I heard:


s: "If thus, whate'er by learning men attain,


s: Were understood, the sophist would want room


s: To exercise his wit."  So breath'd the flame


s: Of love: then added: "Current is the coin


s: Thou utter'st, both in weight and in alloy.


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


s: "Even so glittering and so round," said I,


s: Next issued from the deep imbosom'd splendour:


s: "The flood," I answer'd, "from the Spirit of God


s: Rain'd down upon the ancient bond and new,--


s: Here is the reas'ning, that convinceth me


s: Seems blunt and forceless in comparison."


s: Then heard I: "Wherefore holdest thou that each,


s: Which so persuade thee, are the voice of heav'n?"


s: "The works, that follow'd, evidence their truth;"


s: I answer'd: "Nature did not make for these


s: The iron hot, or on her anvil mould them."


s: "Who voucheth to thee of the works themselves,"


s: Are that they purport?  None hath sworn so to thee."


s: "That all the world," said I, "should have been turn'd


s: To Christian, and no miracle been wrought,


s: The rest were not an hundredth part so great.


s: E'en thou wentst forth in poverty and hunger


s: To set the goodly plant, that from the vine,


s: It once was, now is grown unsightly bramble."


s: That ended, through the high celestial court


s: Resounded all the spheres.  "Praise we one God!"


s: And when that Worthy thus, from branch to branch,


s: Approach'd the topmost bough, he straight resum'd;


s: "The grace, that holds sweet dalliance with thy soul,


s: So far discreetly hath thy lips unclos'd


s: That, whatsoe'er has past them, I commend.


s: Behooves thee to express, what thou believ'st,


s: The next, and whereon thy belief hath grown."


s: "Who seest that, which thou didst so believe,


s: As to outstrip feet younger than thine own,


s: Toward the sepulchre?  thy will is here,


s: And thou the cause of it hast likewise ask'd.


s: All heav'n is mov'd, himself unmov'd the while.


s: Persuades me to this faith; but from that truth


s: Through Moses, the rapt Prophets, and the Psalms.


s: The Gospel, and that ye yourselves did write,


s: Essence threefold and one, mysterious league


s: Imprints: and from this germ, this firstling spark,


s: The lively flame dilates, and like heav'n's star


s: Doth glitter in me."  As the master hears,


s: Well pleas'd, and then enfoldeth in his arms


s: The servant, who hath joyful tidings brought,


s: And having told the errand keeps his peace;


s: Soon as my peace I held, compass'd me thrice


s: Had op'd lips; so well their answer pleas'd.


s: Both heav'n and earth copartners in its toil,


s: And with lean abstinence, through many a year,


s: Of the fair sheep-fold, where a sleeping lamb


s: The wolves set on and fain had worried me,


s: With other voice and fleece of other grain


s: I shall forthwith return, and, standing up


s: At my baptismal font, shall claim the wreath


s: First enter'd on the faith which maketh souls


s: Peter had then circled my forehead thus.


s: Next from the squadron, whence had issued forth


s: The first fruit of Christ's vicars on the earth,


s: Toward us mov'd a light, at view whereof


s: "Lo! lo! behold the peer of mickle might,


s: That makes Falicia throng'd with visitants!"


s: As when the ring-dove by his mate alights,


s: And murmuring cooes his fondness; thus saw I


s: One, of the other great and glorious prince,


s: With kindly greeting hail'd, extolling both


s: Their heavenly banqueting; but when an end


s: Before me sat they down, so burning bright,


s: I could not look upon them.  Smiling then,


s: Beatrice spake: "O life in glory shrin'd!"


s: Who didst the largess of our kingly court


s: Set down with faithful pen! let now thy voice


s: Of hope the praises in this height resound.


s: For thou, who figur'st them in shapes, as clear,


s: As Jesus stood before thee, well can'st speak them."


s: "Lift up thy head, and be thou strong in trust:


s: For that, which hither from the mortal world


s: Such cheering accents from the second flame


s: Unto the mountains that had bow'd them late


s: With over-heavy burden.  "Sith our Liege


s: Wills of his grace that thou, or ere thy death,


s: In the most secret council, with his lords


s: Shouldst be confronted, so that having view'd


s: The glories of our court, thou mayst therewith


s: With hope, that leads to blissful end; declare,


s: What is that hope, how it doth flourish in thee,


s: And whence thou hadst it?"  Thus proceeding still,


s: The second light: and she, whose gentle love


s: Among her sons, not one more full of hope,


s: Hath the church militant: so 't is of him


s: Enlighteneth all our tribe: and ere his term


s: The other points, both which thou hast inquir'd,


s: Not for more knowledge, but that he may tell


s: How dear thou holdst the virtue, these to him


s: Leave I; for he may answer thee with ease,


s: And without boasting, so God give him grace."


s: Like to the scholar, practis'd in his task,


s: Who, willing to give proof of diligence,


s: Seconds his teacher gladly, "Hope," said I,


s: "Is of the joy to come a sure expectance,


s: Th' effect of grace divine and merit preceding.


s: This light from many a star visits my heart,


s: But flow'd to me the first from him, who sang


s: The songs of the Supreme, himself supreme


s: Among his tuneful brethren.  'Let all hope


s: In thee,' so speak his anthem, 'who have known


s: Thy name;' and with my faith who know not that?


s: From thee, the next, distilling from his spring,


s: The influence of their dew."  Whileas I spake,


s: A lamping, as of quick and vollied lightning,


s: Play'd tremulous; then forth these accents breath'd:


s: E'en to the palm, and issuing from the field,


s: Glows vigorous yet within me, and inspires


s: What promise thou from hope in chief dost win."


s: "Both scriptures, new and ancient," I reply'd;


s: "Propose the mark (which even now I view)


s: That, in their own land, each one must be clad


s: In twofold vesture; and their proper lands this delicious life.


s: And clearer far, thy brother hath set forth


s: Of the white raiment destin'd to the saints."


s: And, as the words were ending, from above,


s: "They hope in thee," first heard we cried: whereto


s: Answer'd the carols all.  Amidst them next,


s: That winter's month were but a single day,


s: Were such a crystal in the Cancer's sign.


s: Though gay, yet innocent of worse intent,


s: Wheel'd, as became their rapture.  In the dance


s: And in the song it mingled.  And the dame


s: Held on them fix'd her looks: e'en as the spouse


s: Silent and moveless.  "This is he, who lay


s: This he, into whose keeping from the cross


s: The mighty charge was given."  Thus she spake,


s: Yet therefore naught the more remov'd her Sight


s: From marking them, or ere her words began,


s: Or when they clos'd.  As he, who looks intent,


s: And strives with searching ken, how he may see


s: The sun in his eclipse, and, through desire


s: Peer'd on that last resplendence, while I heard:


s: "Why dazzlest thou thine eyes in seeking that,


s: Which here abides not?  Earth my body is,


s: In earth: and shall be, with the rest, so long,


s: Of the Most High.  The two that have ascended,


s: In this our blessed cloister, shine alone


s: With the two garments.  So report below."


s: The oars, erewhile dash'd frequent in the wave,


s: All rest; the flamy circle at that voice


s: So rested, and the mingling sound was still,


s: Which from the trinal band soft-breathing rose.


s: I turn'd, but ah! how trembled in my thought,


s: Not distant, on the happy coast she stood.


s: With dazzled eyes, whilst wond'ring I remain'd,


s: Forth of the beamy flame which dazzled me,


s: Detain'd me; and these words it spake: "'T were well,


s: That, long as till thy vision, on my form


s: O'erspent, regain its virtue, with discourse


s: Thou compensate the brief delay.  Say then,


s: Beginning, to what point thy soul aspires:


s: "And meanwhile rest assur'd, that sight in thee


s: Is but o'erpowered a space, not wholly quench'd:


s: Since thy fair guide and lovely, in her look


s: Hath potency, the like to that which dwelt


s: Or early, at her pleasure; for they were


s: The gates, at which she enter'd, and did light


s: Are centered; in this palace is the weal,


s: The lessons love can read me."  Yet again


s: The voice which had dispers'd my fear, when daz'd


s: With that excess, to converse urg'd, and spake:


s: "Behooves thee sift more narrowly thy terms,


s: And say, who level'd at this scope thy bow."


s: 'T' imprint in me such love: for, of constraint,


s: Kindles our love, and in degree the more,


s: The essence then, where such advantage is,


s: That each good, found without it, is naught else


s: But of his light the beam, must needs attract


s: The soul of each one, loving, who the truth


s: Discerns, on which this proof is built.  Such truth


s: Learn I from him, who shows me the first love


s: Eternal: from his voice I learn, whose word


s: Is truth, that of himself to Moses saith,


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


s: Lastly from thee I learn, who chief proclaim'st,


s: "Through human wisdom, and th' authority


s: Therewith agreeing," heard I answer'd, "keep


s: The choicest of thy love for God.  But say,


s: If thou yet other cords within thee feel'st


s: That draw thee towards him; so that thou report


s: How many are the fangs, with which this love


s: Is grappled to thy soul."  I did not miss,


s: Th' avowal, which he led to; and resum'd:


s: "All grappling bonds, that knit the heart to God,


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


s: The death which he endur'd that I should live,


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


s: To the foremention'd lively knowledge join'd,


s: Have from the sea of ill love sav'd my bark,


s: And on the coast secur'd it of the right.


s: As for the leaves, that in the garden bloom,


s: My love for them is great, as is the good


s: Dealt by th' eternal hand, that tends them all."


s: I ended, and therewith a song most sweet


s: Rang through the spheres; and "Holy, holy, holy,"


s: Through sharp encounter of the nimble light,


s: With the eye's spirit running forth to meet


s: The ray, from membrane on to the membrane urg'd;


s: And the upstartled wight loathes that he sees;


s: On better judgment: thus the saintly came


s: Drove from before mine eyes the motes away,


s: With the resplendence of her own, that cast


s: Their brightness downward, thousand miles below.


s: Whence I my vision, clearer shall before,


s: Recover'd; and, well nigh astounded, ask'd


s: Of a fourth light, that now with us I saw.


s: That ever the first virtue fram'd, admires


s: Within these rays his Maker."  Like the leaf,


s: That bows its lithe top till the blast is blown;


s: By its own virtue rear'd then stands aloof;


s: So I, the whilst she said, awe-stricken bow'd.


s: Mature, when first engender'd!  Ancient father!


s: Converse with me: my will thou seest; and I,


s: More speedily to hear thee, tell it not."


s: Through the sleek cov'ring of his furry coat.


s: The fondness, that stirs in him and conforms


s: His outside seeming to the cheer within:


s: And in like guise was Adam's spirit mov'd


s: To joyous mood, that through the covering shone,


s: Transparent, when to pleasure me it spake:


s: "No need thy will be told, which I untold


s: Better discern, than thou whatever thing


s: Thou holdst most certain: for that will I see


s: In Him, who is truth's mirror, and Himself


s: Parhelion unto all things, and naught else


s: To him.  This wouldst thou hear; how long since God


s: Plac'd me high garden, from whose hounds


s: She led me up in this ladder, steep and long;


s: What space endur'd my season of delight;


s: Whence truly sprang the wrath that banish'd me;


s: And what the language, which I spake and fram'd


s: Assign'd me.  There, whence at thy lady's hest


s: The Mantuan mov'd him, still was I debarr'd


s: This council, till the sun had made complete,


s: Four thousand and three hundred rounds and twice,


s: His annual journey; and, through every light


s: Thousand save sev'nty times, the whilst I dwelt


s: For naught, that man inclines to, ere was lasting,


s: As is the sky that sways him.  That he speaks,


s: Is nature's prompting: whether thus or thus,


s: She leaves to you, as ye do most affect it.


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


s: Whose joy enfolds me: Eli then 't was call'd


s: Is as the leaf upon the bough; that goes,


s: And other comes instead.  Upon the mount


s: Most high above the waters, all my life,


s: From the first hour, to that which cometh next


s: (As the sun changes quarter), to the sixth."


s: Throughout all Paradise, that with the song


s: My spirit reel'd, so passing sweet the strain:


s: One universal smile it seem'd of all things,


s: Exhaustless riches and unmeasur'd bliss.


s: Before mine eyes stood the four torches lit;


s: And that, which first had come, began to wax


s: In brightness, and in semblance such became,


s: As Jove might be, if he and Mars were birds,


s: And interchang'd their plumes.  Silence ensued,


s: Through the blest quire, by Him, who here appoints


s: When thus I heard: "Wonder not, if my hue


s: Be chang'd; for, while I speak, these shalt thou see


s: All in like manner change with me.  My place


s: He who usurps on earth (my place, ay, mine,


s: Is void), the same hath made my cemetery


s: The more below his triumph, who from hence


s: Malignant fell."  Such colour, as the sun,


s: At eve or morning, paints an adverse cloud,


s: And as th' unblemish'd dame, who in herself


s: Of other's failing, shrinks with maiden fear;


s: And such eclipse in heav'n methinks was seen,


s: When the Most Holy suffer'd.  Then the words


s: Proceeded, with voice, alter'd from itself


s: So clean, the semblance did not alter more.


s: "Not to this end was Christ's spouse with my blood,


s: That she might serve for purchase of base gold:


s: And Urban, they, whose doom was not without


s: Much weeping seal'd.  No purpose was of our


s: That on the right hand of our successors


s: Part of the Christian people should be set,


s: And part upon their left; nor that the keys,


s: Which were vouchsaf'd me, should for ensign serve


s: Which makes me oft to bicker and turn red.


s: In shepherd's clothing greedy wolves below


s: Range wide o'er all the pastures.  Arm of God!


s: Why longer sleepst thou?  Caorsines and Gascona


s: Prepare to quaff our blood.  O good beginning


s: To what a vile conclusion must thou stoop!


s: But the high providence, which did defend


s: Through Scipio the world's glory unto Rome,


s: Will not delay its succour: and thou, son,


s: Who through thy mortal weight shall yet again


s: Of frozen vapours streams adown the air,


s: What time the she-goat with her skiey horn


s: Touches the sun; so saw I there stream wide


s: The vapours, who with us had linger'd late


s: And with glad triumph deck th' ethereal cope.


s: Onward my sight their semblances pursued;


s: So far pursued, as till the space between


s: From its reach sever'd them: whereat the guide


s: On upward gazing, said, "Look down and see


s: What circuit thou hast compass'd."  From the hour


s: Which from the midmost to the bound'ry winds;


s: And hitherward the shore, where thou, Europa!


s: Mad'st thee a joyful burden: and yet more


s: Of this dim spot had seen, but that the sun,


s: Then by the spirit, that doth never leave


s: Its amorous dalliance with my lady's looks,


s: Back with redoubled ardour were mine eyes


s: Led unto her: and from her radiant smiles,


s: Or in its limn'd resemblance, can combine


s: Through greedy eyes to take the soul withal,


s: Were to her beauty nothing.  Its boon influence


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


s: Liveliest and loftiest.  She my secret wish


s: Divin'd; and with such gladness, that God's love


s: Seem'd from her visage shining, thus began:


s: "Here is the goal, whence motion on his race


s: Starts; motionless the centre, and the rest


s: All mov'd around.  Except the soul divine,


s: Place in this heav'n is none, the soul divine,


s: Wherein the love, which ruleth o'er its orb,


s: Is kindled, and the virtue that it sheds;


s: One circle, light and love, enclasping it,


s: As this doth clasp the others; and to Him,


s: Who draws the bound, its limit only known.


s: As by the fifth or half ye count forth ten.


s: The vase, wherein time's roots are plung'd, thou seest,


s: Look elsewhere for the leaves.  O mortal lust!


s: That canst not lift thy head above the waves


s: Which whelm and sink thee down!  The will in man


s: Bears goodly blossoms; but its ruddy promise


s: Are met with but in babes, each taking leave


s: Ere cheeks with down are sprinkled; he, that fasts,


s: While yet a stammerer, with his tongue let loose


s: Of speech, than he doth wish her in her grave.


s: Whose welcome is the morn and eve his parting,


s: "Thou, to abate thy wonder, note that none


s: Bears rule in earth, and its frail family


s: Are therefore wand'rers.  Yet before the date,


s: When through the hundredth in his reck'ning drops


s: From winter's calendar, these heav'nly spheres


s: Shall roar so loud, that fortune shall be fain


s: To turn the poop, where she hath now the prow;


s: So that the fleet run onward; and true fruit,


s: Expected long, shall crown at last the bloom!"


s: Had drawn the veil from off our pleasant life,


s: And turneth to resolve him, if the glass


s: Have told him true, and sees the record faithful


s: Looking upon the beauteous eyes, whence love


s: Had made the leash to take me.  As I turn'd;


s: And that, which, in their circles, none who spies,


s: On mine; a point I saw, that darted light


s: So sharp, no lid, unclosing, may bear up


s: Against its keenness.  The least star we view


s: From hence, had seem'd a moon, set by its side,


s: As star by side of star.  And so far off,


s: Perchance, as is the halo from the light


s: Which paints it, when most dense the vapour spreads,


s: There wheel'd about the point a circle of fire,


s: More rapid than the motion, which first girds


s: The world.  Then, circle after circle, round


s: Enring'd each other; till the seventh reach'd


s: lied scarce been held entire. Beyond the sev'nth,


s: As more in number distant from the first,


s: With flame most pure, that to the sparkle' of truth


s: Was nearest, as partaking most, methinks,


s: Saw me in anxious thought suspense, and spake:


s: "Heav'n, and all nature, hangs upon that point.


s: The circle thereto most conjoin'd observe;


s: And know, that by intenser love its course


s: Is to this swiftness wing'd."  To whom I thus:


s: "It were enough; nor should I further seek,


s: Appointed, such as in these wheels is seen.


s: But in the sensible world such diff'rence is,


s: As each is wider from the centre.  Hence,


s: That hath for confine only light and love,


s: My wish may have completion I must know,


s: Contemplating, I fail to pierce the cause."


s: Do leave the knot untied: so hard 't is grown


s: For want of tenting."  Thus she said: "But take,"


s: She added, "if thou wish thy cure, my words,


s: Unto the virtue through its parts diffus'd.


s: The greater blessedness preserves the more.


s: Therefore the circle, whose swift course enwheels


s: Which is supreme in knowledge and in love


s: Thus by the virtue, not the seeming, breadth


s: Of substance, measure, thou shalt see the heav'ns,


s: Each to the' intelligence that ruleth it,


s: As when the sturdy north blows from his cheek


s: A blast, that scours the sky, forthwith our air,


s: Clear'd of the rack, that hung on it before,


s: Glitters; and, With his beauties all unveil'd,


s: The firmament looks forth serene, and smiles;


s: With clear reply the shadows back, and truth


s: And when the words were ended, not unlike


s: Ebullient shot forth scintillating fires:


s: And every sparkle shivering to new blaze,


s: Then heard I echoing on from choir to choir,


s: "Hosanna," to the fixed point, that holds,


s: And shall for ever hold them to their place,


s: "In the first circles, they, whom thou beheldst,


s: Follow their hoops, in likeness to the point,


s: Near as they can, approaching; and they can


s: The more, the loftier their vision.  Those,


s: That round them fleet, gazing the Godhead next,


s: Are thrones; in whom the first trine ends.  And all


s: Are blessed, even as their sight descends


s: For every mind.  Thus happiness hath root


s: In seeing, not in  loving, which of sight


s: Grace and good-will their measure have assign'd.


s: The other trine, that with still opening buds


s: In this eternal springtide blossom fair,


s: Fearless of bruising from the nightly ram,


s: Breathe up in warbled melodies threefold


s: Virtues, and powers the third.  The next to whom


s: Are princedoms and archangels, with glad round


s: To tread their festal ring; and last the band


s: All, as they circle in their orders, look


s: Aloft, and downward with such sway prevail,


s: That all with mutual impulse tend to God.


s: These once a mortal view beheld.  Desire


s: That he, as I have done rang'd them; and nam'd


s: Their orders, marshal'd in his thought.  From him


s: Dissentient, one refus'd his sacred read.


s: But soon as in this heav'n his doubting eyes


s: Were open'd, Gregory at his error smil'd


s: Should scan such secret truth; for he had learnt


s: Both this and much beside of these our orbs,


s: From an eye-witness to heav'n's mysteries."


s: Together both, girding the' horizon hang,


s: Till from that verge, each, changing hemisphere,


s: Part the nice level; e'en so brief a space


s: Bat painted on her cheek; and her fix'd gaze


s: Bent on the point, at which my vision fail'd:


s: "I speak, nor what thou wouldst inquire demand;


s: For I have mark'd it, where all time and place


s: Are present.  Not for increase to himself


s: Of good, which may not be increas'd, but forth


s: Beyond time's limit or what bound soe'er


s: To circumscribe his being, as he will'd,


s: Upon these waters mov'd the Spirit of God.


s: Simple and mix'd, both form and substance, forth


s: To perfect being started, like three darts


s: Shot from a bow three-corded.  And as ray


s: In crystal, glass, and amber, shines entire,


s: Did, from th' eternal Sovran, beam entire


s: Created his due station knew: those highest,


s: Who pure intelligence were made: mere power


s: The lowest: in the midst, bound with strict league,


s: Describ'd on Jerome's pages thou hast seen.


s: But that what I disclose to thee is true,


s: Those penmen, whom the Holy Spirit mov'd


s: Attest; as thou by diligent search shalt find


s: And reason in some sort discerns the same,


s: Who scarce would grant the heav'nly ministers


s: Of their perfection void, so long a space.


s: Thus when and where these spirits of love were made,


s: Thou know'st, and how: and knowing hast allay'd


s: Thy thirst, which from the triple question rose.


s: Ere one had reckon'd twenty, e'en so soon


s: Part of the angels fell: and in their fall


s: The others kept their station: and this task,


s: Whereon thou lookst, began with such delight,


s: That they surcease not ever, day nor night,


s: Their circling.  Of that fatal lapse the cause


s: Was the curst pride of him, whom thou hast seen


s: Pent with the world's incumbrance.  Those, whom here


s: Thou seest, were lowly to confess themselves


s: Of his free bounty, who had made them apt


s: For ministries so high: therefore their views


s: Were by enlight'ning grace and their own merit


s: Exalted; so that in their will confirm'd


s: They stand, nor feel to fall.  For do not doubt,


s: But to receive the grace, which heav'n vouchsafes,


s: With prompt affection welcometh the guest.


s: Now, without further help, if with good heed


s: My words thy mind have treasur'd, thou henceforth


s: And gaze thy fill.  But since thou hast on earth


s: Heard vain disputers, reasoners in the schools,


s: Its powers of apprehension, memory, choice;


s: Therefore, 't is well thou take from me the truth,


s: Pure and without disguise, which they below,


s: "Know thou, that, from the first, these substances,


s: Have held unceasingly their view, intent


s: Upon the glorious vision, from the which


s: Naught absent is nor hid: where then no change


s: Remembrance there needs none to gather up


s: "So that men, thus at variance with the truth


s: Dream, though their eyes be open; reckless some


s: To whom more guilt and shame are justly due.


s: Heav'n's anger less, than when the book of God


s: Or from its straightness warp'd: no reck'ning made


s: What blood the sowing of it in the world


s: Has cost; what favour for himself he wins,


s: Who meekly clings to it.  The aim of all


s: Is how to shine: e'en they, whose office is


s: To preach the Gospel, let the gospel sleep,


s: And pass their own inventions off instead.


s: One tells, how at Christ's suffering the wan moon


s: Bent back her steps, and shadow'd o'er the sun


s: With intervenient disk, as she withdrew:


s: Such fables Florence in her pulpit hears,


s: Bandied about more frequent, than the names


s: The sheep, meanwhile, poor witless ones, return


s: From pasture, fed with wind: and what avails


s: For their excuse, they do not see their harm?


s: Christ said not to his first conventicle,


s: 'Go forth and preach impostures to the world,'


s: But gave them truth to build on; and the sound


s: Was mighty on their lips; nor needed they,


s: Beside the gospel, other spear or shield,


s: To aid them in their warfare for the faith.


s: The preacher now provides himself with store


s: Of jests and gibes; and, so there be no lack


s: Of laughter, while he vents them, his big cowl


s: Distends, and he has won the meed he sought:


s: Could but the vulgar catch a glimpse the while


s: Of that dark bird which nestles in his hood,


s: They scarce would wait to hear the blessing said.


s: That every counterfeit, who spreads abroad


s: The hands of holy promise, finds a throng


s: Of credulous fools beneath.  Saint Anthony


s: Fattens with this his swine, and others worse


s: Paying with unstamp'd metal for their fare.


s: "But (for we far have wander'd) let us seek


s: Be shorten'd with the time.  No mortal tongue


s: Nor thought of man hath ever reach'd so far,


s: That of these natures he might count the tribes.


s: What Daniel of their thousands hath reveal'd


s: The fountain at whose source these drink their beams,


s: With light supplies them in as many modes,


s: As there are splendours, that it shines on: each


s: Look then how lofty and how huge in breadth


s: The' eternal might, which, broken and dispers'd


s: Over such countless mirrors, yet remains


s: Whole in itself and one, as at the first."


s: Noon's fervid hour perchance six thousand miles


s: From hence is distant; and the shadowy cone


s: When from the midmost of this blue abyss


s: By turns some star is to our vision lost.


s: And straightway as the handmaid of the sun


s: Puts forth her radiant brow, all, light by light,


s: Fade, and the spangled firmament shuts in,


s: E'en to the loveliest of the glittering throng.


s: The triumph, which plays ever round the point,


s: Engirt by that it girdeth.  Wherefore love,


s: With loss of other object, forc'd me bend


s: Were in one praise concluded, 't were too weak


s: To furnish out this turn.  Mine eyes did look


s: That save its Maker, none can to the full


s: Enjoy it.  At this point o'erpower'd I fail,


s: Of buskin or of sock hath fail'd before.


s: For, as the sun doth to the feeblest sight,


s: E'en so remembrance of that witching smile


s: Not from that day, when on this earth I first


s: Beheld her charms, up to that view of them,


s: My course here bounded, as each artist's is,


s: When it doth touch the limit of his skill.


s: She (such as I bequeath her to the bruit


s: Of louder trump than mine, which hasteneth on,


s: Urging its arduous matter to the close),


s: Her words resum'd, in gesture and in voice


s: "Forth from the last corporeal are we come


s: Into the heav'n, that is unbodied light,


s: Love of true happiness replete with joy,


s: Joy, that transcends all sweetness of delight.


s: Here shalt thou look on either mighty host


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


s: As when the lightning, in a sudden spleen


s: The visive spirits dazzled and bedimm'd;


s: Of living radiance play'd, and left me swath'd


s: Such weal is in the love, that stills this heav'n;


s: For its own flame the torch this fitting ever!


s: Excess of light, however pure.  I look'd;


s: Light flowing, from whose amber-seeming waves


s: Flash'd up effulgence, as they glided on


s: 'Twixt banks, on either side, painted with spring,


s: Incredible how fair; and, from the tide,


s: Sparkles instinct with life; and in the flow'rs


s: Did set them, like to rubies chas'd in gold;


s: Then, as if drunk with odors, plung'd again


s: Into the wondrous flood; from which, as one


s: Re'enter'd, still another rose.  "The thirst


s: Of knowledge high, whereby thou art inflam'd,


s: To search the meaning of what here thou seest,


s: The more it warms thee, pleases me the more.


s: But first behooves thee of this water drink,


s: Or ere that longing be allay'd."  So spake


s: The day-star of mine eyes; then thus subjoin'd:


s: "This stream, and these, forth issuing from its gulf,


s: With all this laughter on its bloomy shores,


s: They emblem: not that, in themselves, the things


s: Are crude; but on thy part is the defect,


s: For that thy views not yet aspire so high."


s: Never did babe, that had outslept his wont,


s: Rush, with such eager straining, to the milk,


s: Of mine eyelids did drink of it, forthwith


s: Seem'd it unto me turn'd from length to round,


s: Then as a troop of maskers, when they put


s: Their vizors off, look other than before,


s: The counterfeited semblance thrown aside;


s: Those flowers and sparkles, and distinct I saw


s: Before me either court of heav'n displac'd.


s: O prime enlightener! thou who crav'st me strength


s: On the high triumph of thy realm to gaze!


s: Grant virtue now to utter what I kenn'd,


s: There is in heav'n a light, whose goodly shine


s: Have peace; and in a circle spreads so far,


s: That the circumference were too loose a zone


s: That moves, which being hence and vigour takes,


s: And as some cliff, that from the bottom eyes


s: Its image mirror'd in the crystal flood,


s: Of verdure and of flowers: so, round about,


s: Eyeing the light, on more than million thrones,


s: Has to the skies return'd.  How wide the leaves


s: Nor height impeded, but my view with ease


s: Took in the full dimensions of that joy.


s: Near or remote, what there avails, where God


s: Immediate rules, and Nature, awed, suspends


s: Perennial, which in bright expansiveness,


s: Lays forth its gradual blooming, redolent


s: As one, who fain would speak yet holds his peace,


s: Beatrice led me; and, "Behold," she said,


s: "This fair assemblage! stoles of snowy white


s: How numberless!  The city, where we dwell,


s: Behold how vast! and these our seats so throng'd


s: Few now are wanting here!  In that proud stall,


s: On which, the crown, already o'er its state


s: Suspended, holds thine eyes--or ere thyself


s: Mayst at the wedding sup,--shall rest the soul


s: Of the great Harry, he who, by the world


s: Before her day be ripe.  But ye are sick,


s: As is the bantling, that of hunger dies,


s: And drives away the nurse.  Nor may it be,


s: Accordant walk: Whom God will not endure


s: I' th' holy office long; but thrust him down


s: Will sink beneath him: such will be his meed."


s: In fashion, as a snow-white rose, lay then


s: Which in his own blood Christ espous'd.  Meanwhile


s: That other host, that soar aloft to gaze


s: And celebrate his glory, whom they love,


s: Hover'd around; and, like a troop of bees,


s: Now, clustering, where their fragrant labour glows,


s: Flew downward to the mighty flow'r, or rose


s: From the redundant petals, streaming back


s: Unto the steadfast dwelling of their joy.


s: Faces had they of flame, and wings of gold;


s: The rest was whiter than the driven snow.


s: And as they flitted down into the flower,


s: From range to range, fanning their plumy loins,


s: Whisper'd the peace and ardour, which they won


s: From that soft winnowing.  Shadow none, the vast


s: Cast, from above, upon the flower, or view


s: Obstructed aught.  For, through the universe,


s: Glides freely, and no obstacle prevents.


s: All there, who reign in safety and in bliss,


s: Their love and vision fix'd.  O trinal beam


s: Of individual star, that charmst them thus,


s: Vouchsafe one glance to gild our storm below!


s: If the grim brood, from Arctic shores that roam'd,


s: Sparkles a mother's fondness on her son)


s: Stood in mute wonder 'mid the works of Rome,


s: In greatness more than earthly; I, who then


s: From human to divine had past, from time


s: To justice and to truth, how might I choose


s: But marvel too?  'Twixt gladness and amaze,


s: Or hear.  And, as a pilgrim, when he rests


s: Within the temple of his vow, looks round


s: In breathless awe, and hopes some time to tell


s: Of all its goodly state: e'en so mine eyes


s: Cours'd up and down along the living light,


s: Smiles from within and radiance from above,


s: And in each gesture grace and honour high.


s: All Paradise survey'd: when round I turn'd


s: Once more of things, that held my thought suspense,


s: But answer found from other than I ween'd;


s: Rob'd, as the rest, in glory.  Joy benign


s: Glow'd in his eye, and o'er his cheek diffus'd,


s: With gestures such as spake a father's love.


s: And, "Whither is she vanish'd?"  straight I ask'd.


s: To the third circle from the highest, there


s: Behold her on the throne, wherein her merit


s: Hath plac'd her."  Answering not, mine eyes I rais'd,


s: And saw her, where aloof she sat, her brow


s: As was my ken from hers; and yet the form


s: Came through that medium down, unmix'd and pure,


s: "O Lady! thou in whom my hopes have rest!


s: Who, for my safety, hast not scorn'd, in hell


s: To leave the traces of thy footsteps mark'd!


s: For all mine eyes have seen, I, to thy power


s: And goodness, virtue owe and grace.  Of slave,


s: Thou hast to freedom brought me; and no means,


s: For my deliverance apt, hast left untried.


s: Thy liberal bounty still toward me keep.


s: That, when my spirit, which thou madest whole,


s: Favour with thee."  So I my suit preferr'd:


s: And she, so distant, as appear'd, look'd down,


s: And smil'd; then tow'rds th' eternal fountain turn'd.


s: "That thou at length mayst happily conclude


s: Thy voyage (to which end I was dispatch'd,


s: Let thy upsoaring vision range, at large,


s: This garden through: for so, by ray divine


s: Kindled, thy ken a higher flight shall mount;


s: And from heav'n's queen, whom fervent I adore,


s: All gracious aid befriend us; for that I


s: Am her own faithful Bernard."  Like a wight,


s: Our Veronica, and the while 't is shown,


s: And, all that he hath heard revolving, saith


s: Unto himself in thought: "And didst thou look


s: E'en thus, O Jesus, my true Lord and God?


s: And was this semblance thine?"  So gaz'd I then


s: Who musing, in the world that peace enjoy'd,


s: Stood lively before me.  "Child of grace!"


s: Thus he began: "thou shalt not knowledge gain


s: Of this glad being, if thine eyes are held


s: Still in this depth below.  But search around


s: The circles, to the furthest, till thou spy


s: Seated in state, the queen, that of this realm


s: Is sovran."  Straight mine eyes I rais'd; and bright,


s: As, at the birth of morn, the eastern clime


s: Above th' horizon, where the sun declines;


s: To mountain sped, at th' extreme bound, a part


s: Excell'd in lustre all the front oppos'd.


s: And as the glow burns ruddiest o'er the wave,


s: That waits the sloping beam, which Phaeton


s: Ill knew to guide, and on each part the light


s: Diminish'd fades, intensest in the midst;


s: So burn'd the peaceful oriflame, and slack'd


s: And in that midst their sportive pennons wav'd


s: Thousands of angels; in resplendence each


s: Distinct, and quaint adornment. At their glee


s: And carol, smil'd the Lovely One of heav'n,


s: That joy was in the eyes of all the blest.


s: 'T were all too poor to utter the least part


s: Of that enchantment.  When he saw mine eyes


s: Intent on her, that charm'd him, Bernard gaz'd


s: Freely the sage, though wrapt in musings high,


s: Assum'd the teacher's part, and mild began:


s: "The wound, that Mary clos'd, she open'd first,


s: Meek ancestress of him, who sang the songs


s: Of sore repentance in his sorrowful mood.


s: All, as I name them, down from deaf to leaf,


s: And from the seventh step, successively,


s: Adown the breathing tresses of the flow'r


s: Still doth the file of Hebrew dames proceed.


s: The sacred stairs are sever'd, as the faith


s: In Christ divides them.  On this part, where blooms


s: Such as in Christ, or ere he came, believ'd.


s: On th' other, where an intersected space


s: All they, who look'd to Christ already come.


s: And they who on their stools beneath her sit,


s: This way distinction make: e'en so on his,


s: The mighty Baptist that way marks the line


s: (He who endur'd the desert and the pains


s: Of martyrdom, and for two years of hell,


s: Augustin, Francis, Benedict, and the rest,


s: Thus far from round to round.  So heav'n's decree


s: With faith in either view, past or to come,


s: Learn too, that downward from the step, which cleaves


s: Midway the twain compartments, none there are


s: Who place obtain for merit of their own,


s: But have through others' merit been advanc'd,


s: On set conditions: spirits all releas'd,


s: Ere for themselves they had the power to choose.


s: And, if thou mark and listen to them well,


s: Their childish looks and voice declare as much.


s: "Here, silent as thou art, I know thy doubt;


s: And gladly will I loose the knot, wherein


s: Thy subtle thoughts have bound thee.  From this realm


s: Excluded, chalice no entrance here may find,


s: No more shall hunger, thirst, or sorrow can.


s: Nor is there aught thou seest, that doth not fit,


s: It is not therefore without cause, that these,


s: Are different in their shares of excellence.


s: Our Sovran Lord--that settleth this estate


s: That wish can dare no further--every soul,


s: With grace at pleasure variously endows.


s: And for a proof th' effect may well suffice.


s: And 't is moreover most expressly mark'd


s: In holy scripture, where the twins are said


s: To, have struggled in the womb.  Therefore, as grace


s: And merely in respect to his prime gift,


s: More was not wanting, than the parents' faith,


s: To save them: those first ages past, behoov'd


s: That circumcision in the males should imp


s: The flight of innocent wings: but since the day


s: Of grace hath come, without baptismal rites


s: In Christ accomplish'd, innocence herself


s: Must linger yet below.  Now raise thy view


s: For, in her splendour only, shalt thou win


s: The pow'r to look on him."  Forthwith I saw


s: Such floods of gladness on her visage shower'd,


s: From holy spirits, winging that profound;


s: Had not so much suspended me with wonder,


s: On earth, now hail'd in heav'n; and on pois'd wing.


s: To whose sweet anthem all the blissful court,


s: From all parts answ'ring, rang: that holier joy


s: Brooded the deep serene.  "Father rever'd:


s: Who deign'st, for me, to quit the pleasant place,


s: Say, who that angel is, that with such glee


s: Beholds our queen, and so enamour'd glows


s: Of her high beauty, that all fire he seems."


s: Of my wise teacher, he, whom Mary's charms


s: Embellish'd, as the sun the morning star;


s: Who thus in answer spake: "In him are summ'd,


s: And so beseems: for that he bare the palm


s: Vouchsaf'd to clothe him in terrestrial weeds.


s: Now let thine eyes wait heedful on my words,


s: And note thou of this just and pious realm


s: The chiefest nobles.  Those, highest in bliss,


s: The twain, on each hand next our empress thron'd,


s: Are as it were two roots unto this rose.


s: He to the left, the parent, whose rash taste


s: Proves bitter to his seed; and, on the right,


s: Into whose keeping Christ did give the keys


s: Of this sweet flow'r: near whom behold the seer,


s: That, ere he died, saw all the grievous times


s: Of the fair bride, who with the lance and nails


s: Was won.  And, near unto the other, rests


s: Th' ungrateful nation, fickle and perverse.


s: Where Anna sits, so well content to look


s: On her lov'd daughter, that with moveless eye


s: She chants the loud hosanna: while, oppos'd


s: To the first father of your mortal kind,


s: When on the edge of ruin clos'd thine eye.


s: "But (for the vision hasteneth so an end)


s: Here break we off, as the good workman doth,


s: That shapes the cloak according to the cloth:


s: And to the primal love our ken shall rise;


s: That thou mayst penetrate the brightness, far


s: As sight can bear thee.  Yet, alas! in sooth


s: Beating thy pennons, thinking to advance,


s: Thou backward fall'st.  Grace then must first be gain'd;


s: Her grace, whose might can help thee.  Thou in prayer


s: Seek her: and, with affection, whilst I sue,


s: Attend, and yield me all thy heart."  He said,


s: Surpassing, as in height, above them all,


s: Term by th' eternal counsel pre-ordain'd,


s: In thee, that its great Maker did not scorn,


s: Himself, in his own work enclos'd to dwell!


s: For in thy womb rekindling shone the love


s: Reveal'd, whose genial influence makes now


s: Art, as the noon-day torch: and art, beneath,


s: That he who grace desireth, and comes not


s: To thee for aidance, fain would have desire


s: Fly without wings.  Nor only him who asks,


s: Thy bounty succours, but doth freely oft


s: Are all combin'd in thee.  Here kneeleth one,


s: Who of all spirits hath review'd the state,


s: From the world's lowest gap unto this height.


s: Suppliant to thee he kneels, imploring grace


s: For virtue, yet more high to lift his ken


s: Toward the bliss supreme.  And I, who ne'er


s: Than now for him, my prayers to thee prefer,


s: (And pray they be not scant) that thou wouldst drive


s: That on the sovran pleasure he may gaze.


s: Who canst do what thou wilt! that in him thou


s: Wouldst after all he hath beheld, preserve


s: Affection sound, and human passions quell.


s: Stretch their clasp'd hands, in furtherance of my suit!"


s: The eyes, that heav'n with love and awe regards,


s: Fix'd on the suitor, witness'd, how benign


s: She looks on pious pray'rs: then fasten'd they


s: On th' everlasting light, wherein no eye


s: Of creature, as may well be thought, so far


s: Can travel inward.  I, meanwhile, who drew


s: Near to the limit, where all wishes end,


s: The ardour of my wish (for so behooved),


s: Ended within me. Beck'ning smil'd the sage,


s: That I should look aloft: but, ere he bade,


s: For visual strength, refining more and more,


s: Of sovran light.  Thenceforward, what I saw,


s: Was not for words to speak, nor memory's self


s: To stand against such outrage on her skill.


s: As one, who from a dream awaken'd, straight,


s: All he hath seen forgets; yet still retains


s: E'en such am I: for all the vision dies,


s: As 't were, away; and yet the sense of sweet,


s: That sprang from it, still trickles in my heart.


s: Thus in the sun-thaw is the snow unseal'd;


s: Thus in the winds on flitting leaves was lost


s: (Whose height what reach of mortal thought may soar?)


s: Of what thou then appearedst, give my tongue


s: Power, but to leave one sparkle of thy glory,


s: Unto the race to come, that shall not lose


s: The record sound in this unequal strain.


s: Such keenness from the living ray I met,


s: That, if mine eyes had turn'd away, methinks,


s: O grace! unenvying of thy boon! that gav'st


s: On th' everlasting splendour, that I look'd,


s: While sight was unconsum'd, and, in that depth,


s: Saw in one volume clasp'd of love, whatever


s: The whole.  And of such bond methinks I saw


s: Beyond her proper self; and, till I speak,


s: To that emprize, that first made Neptune wonder


s: At Argo's shadow darkening on his flood.


s: With fixed heed, suspense and motionless,


s: Was kindled, as I gaz'd.  It may not be,


s: That one, who looks upon that light, can turn


s: For all the good, that will may covet, there


s: Is summ'd; and all, elsewhere defective found,


s: Complete.  My tongue shall utter now, no more


s: E'en what remembrance keeps, than could the babe's


s: That yet is moisten'd at his mother's breast.


s: Not that the semblance of the living light


s: Was chang'd (that ever as at first remain'd)


s: But that my vision quickening, in that sole


s: Appearance, still new miracles descry'd,


s: And toil'd me with the change.  In that abyss


s: Of radiance, clear and lofty, seem'd methought,


s: Three orbs of triple hue clipt in one bound:


s: And, from another, one reflected seem'd,


s: As rainbow is from rainbow: and the third


s: Seem'd fire, breath'd equally from both.  Oh speech


s: How feeble and how faint art thou, to give


s: Conception birth!  Yet this to what I saw


s: Sole in thyself that dwellst; and of thyself


s: Sole understood, past, present, or to come!


s: Thou smiledst; on that circling, which in thee


s: Seem'd as reflected splendour, while I mus'd;


s: For I therein, methought, in its own hue


s: I therefore por'd upon the view.  As one


s: Who vers'd in geometric lore, would fain


s: Measure the circle; and, though pondering long


s: And deeply, that beginning, which he needs,


s: Finds not; e'en such was I, intent to scan


s: The novel wonder, and trace out the form,


s: How plac'd: but the flight was not for my wing;


s: And in the spleen unfolded what it sought.


s: Here vigour fail'd the tow'ring fantasy:


s: But yet the will roll'd onward, like a wheel


s: That moves the sun in heav'n and all the stars.


s: His glory, by whose might all things are mov'd,


s: Sheds more resplendence, elsewhere less.  In heav'n,


s: That largeliest of his light partakes, was I,


s: Witness of things, which to relate again


s: Surpasseth power of him who comes from thence;


s: For that, so near approaching its desire


s: Our intellect is to such depth absorb'd,


s: That memory cannot follow.  Nathless all,


s: That in my thoughts I of that sacred realm


s: Could store, shall now be matter of my song.


s: Thus far hath one of steep Parnassus' brows


s: Suffic'd me; henceforth there is need of both


s: So, as when Marsyas by thy hand was dragg'd


s: Forth from his limbs unsheath'd.  O power divine!


s: That of that happy realm the shadow'd form


s: Trac'd in my thoughts I may set forth to view,


s: Thou shalt behold me of thy favour'd tree


s: Come to the foot, and crown myself with leaves;


s: For to that honour thou, and my high theme


s: Will fit me.  If but seldom, mighty Sire!


s: To grace his triumph gathers thence a wreath


s: Caesar or bard (more shame for human wills


s: Deprav'd) joy to the Delphic god must spring


s: From the Pierian foliage, when one breast


s: Is with such thirst inspir'd.  From a small spark


s: Great flame hath risen: after me perchance


s: Others with better voice may pray, and gain


s: Through diver passages, the world's bright lamp


s: Rises to mortals, but through that which joins


s: Four circles with the threefold cross, in best


s: Course, and in happiest constellation set


s: He comes, and to the worldly wax best gives


s: Its temper and impression.  Morning there,


s: Here eve was by almost such passage made;


s: And whiteness had o'erspread that hemisphere,


s: Blackness the other part; when to the left


s: So of her act, that through the eyesight pass'd


s: Into my fancy, mine was form'd; and straight,


s: Beyond our mortal wont, I fix'd mine eyes


s: Upon the sun.  Much is allowed us there,


s: That here exceeds our pow'r; thanks to the place


s: That I beheld it bick'ring sparks around,


s: As iron that comes boiling from the fire.


s: A day new-ris'n, as he, who hath the power,


s: Her eyes fast fix'd on the eternal wheels,


s: Fix'd upon her, from upward gaze remov'd


s: That made him peer among the ocean gods;


s: Words may not tell of that transhuman change:


s: And therefore let the example serve, though weak,


s: For those whom grace hath better proof in store


s: Then newly, Love! by whom the heav'n is rul'd,


s: Thou know'st, who by thy light didst bear me up.


s: Whenas the wheel which thou dost ever guide,


s: Temper'd of thee and measur'd, charm'd mine ear,


s: Then seem'd to me so much of heav'n to blaze


s: With the sun's flame, that rain or flood ne'er made


s: A lake so broad.  The newness of the sound,


s: And that great light, inflam'd me with desire,


s: Keener than e'er was felt, to know their cause.


s: Whence she who saw me, clearly as myself,


s: To calm my troubled mind, before I ask'd,


s: Open'd her lips, and gracious thus began:


s: Mak'st dull, so that thou seest not the thing,


s: Which thou hadst seen, had that been shaken off.


s: Thou art not on the earth as thou believ'st;


s: For light'ning scap'd from its own proper place


s: Ne'er ran, as thou hast hither now return'd."


s: Although divested of my first-rais'd doubt,


s: By those brief words, accompanied with smiles,


s: Whence, after utt'rance of a piteous sigh,


s: She tow'rds me bent her eyes, with such a look,


s: As on her frenzied child a mother casts;


s: Then thus began: "Among themselves all things


s: Have order; and from hence the form, which makes


s: The higher creatures see the printed steps


s: Whither the line is drawn.  All natures lean,


s: In this their order, diversely, some more,


s: Some less approaching to their primal source.


s: Thus they to different havens are mov'd on


s: Through the vast sea of being, and each one


s: With instinct giv'n, that bears it in its course;


s: This to the lunar sphere directs the fire,


s: This prompts the hearts of mortal animals,


s: This the brute earth together knits, and binds.


s: Are aim'd at by this bow; but even those,


s: That have intelligence and love, are pierc'd.


s: That Providence, who so well orders all,


s: With her own light makes ever calm the heaven,


s: In which the substance, that hath greatest speed,


s: Is turn'd: and thither now, as to our seat


s: Predestin'd, we are carried by the force


s: Of that strong cord, that never looses dart,


s: But at fair aim and glad.  Yet is it true,


s: That as ofttimes but ill accords the form


s: To the design of art, through sluggishness


s: Is sometimes quitted by the creature, who


s: Hath power, directed thus, to bend elsewhere;


s: As from a cloud the fire is seen to fall,


s: From its original impulse warp'd, to earth,


s: By vicious fondness.  Thou no more admire


s: Thy soaring, (if I rightly deem,) than lapse


s: Of torrent downwards from a mountain's height.


s: There would in thee for wonder be more cause,


s: If, free of hind'rance, thou hadst fix'd thyself


s: Below, like fire unmoving on the earth."


s: So said, she turn'd toward the heav'n her face.


s: All ye, who in small bark have following sail'd,


s: Eager to listen, on the advent'rous track


s: Of my proud keel, that singing cuts its way,


s: Backward return with speed, and your own shores


s: Where losing me, perchance ye may remain


s: Bewilder'd in deep maze.  The way I pass


s: Ne'er yet was run: Minerva breathes the gale,


s: To my rapt sight the arctic beams reveal.


s: Ye other few, who have outstretch'd the neck.


s: Timely for food of angels, on which here


s: Through the deep brine ye fearless may put out


s: Your vessel, marking, well the furrow broad


s: Before you in the wave, that on both sides


s: Equal returns.  Those, glorious, who pass'd o'er


s: When they saw Jason following the plough.


s: The increate perpetual thirst, that draws


s: Toward the realm of God's own form, bore us


s: And in such space as on the notch a dart


s: Is plac'd, then loosen'd flies, I saw myself


s: Arriv'd, where wond'rous thing engag'd my sight.


s: Whence she, to whom no work of mine was hid,


s: Turning to me, with aspect glad as fair,


s: To God, through whom to this first star we come."


s: Translucent, solid, firm, and polish'd bright,


s: Like adamant, which the sun's beam had smit


s: Receives, and rests unbroken.  If I then


s: Was of corporeal frame, and it transcend


s: Our weaker thought, how one dimension thus


s: Another could endure, which needs must be


s: That essence, which discovers by what means


s: God and our nature join'd!  There will be seen


s: That which we hold through faith, not shown by proof,


s: E'en as the truth that man at first believes.


s: I answered: "Lady! I with thoughts devout,


s: Such as I best can frame, give thanks to Him,


s: Who hath remov'd me from the mortal world.


s: But tell, I pray thee, whence the gloomy spots


s: Give rise to talk of Cain in fabling quaint?"


s: She somewhat smil'd, then spake: "If mortals err


s: Unlocks not, surely wonder's weapon keen


s: Ought not to pierce thee; since thou find'st, the wings


s: Are short.  But what thy own thought is, declare."


s: Then I: "What various here above appears,


s: Is caus'd, I deem, by bodies dense or rare."


s: She then resum'd: "Thou certainly wilt see


s: In falsehood thy belief o'erwhelm'd, if well


s: Shall bring to face it.  The eighth sphere displays


s: Numberless lights, the which in kind and size


s: If rare or dense of that were cause alone,


s: Different virtues needs must be the fruits


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


s: Will by thy reasoning be destroy'd.  Beside,


s: Which thou inquirest, either in some part


s: That planet must throughout be void, nor fed


s: With its own matter; or, as bodies share


s: Their fat and leanness, in like manner this


s: Must in its volume change the leaves.  The first,


s: If it were true, had through the sun's eclipse


s: Of light, as through aught rare beside effus'd.


s: But this is not.  Therefore remains to see


s: Erroneous so must prove what seem'd to thee.


s: Pass through, there needs must be a limit, whence


s: And hence the beam, that from without proceeds,


s: Must be pour'd back, as colour comes, through glass


s: Reflected, which behind it lead conceals.


s: Now wilt thou say, that there of murkier hue


s: Than in the other part the ray is shown,


s: From this perplexity will free thee soon


s: The fountain whence your arts derive their streame.


s: Three mirrors shalt thou take, and two remove


s: From thee alike, and more remote the third.


s: Betwixt the former pair, shall meet thine eyes;


s: Then turn'd toward them, cause behind thy back


s: A light to stand, that on the three shall shine,


s: And thus reflected come to thee from all.


s: Though that beheld most distant do not stretch


s: A space so ample, yet in brightness thou


s: Will own it equaling the rest.  But now,


s: As under snow the ground, if the warm ray


s: Smites it, remains dismantled of the hue


s: And cold, that cover'd it before, so thee,


s: With light so lively, that the tremulous beam


s: Shall quiver where it falls.  Within the heaven,


s: Where peace divine inhabits, circles round


s: Of all that it contains.  The following heaven,


s: That hath so many lights, this being divides,


s: Through  different essences, from it distinct,


s: And yet contain'd within it.  The other orbs


s: Dispose, for their own seed and produce apt.


s: Thus do these organs of the world proceed,


s: As thou beholdest now, from step to step,


s: And thence transmitting downwards.  Mark me well,


s: How through this passage to the truth I ford,


s: The truth thou lov'st, that thou henceforth alone,


s: May'st know to keep the shallows, safe, untold.


s: "The virtue and motion of the sacred orbs,


s: As mallet by the workman's hand, must needs


s: By blessed movers be inspir'd.  This heaven,


s: From the deep spirit, that moves its circling sphere,


s: And as the soul, that dwells within your dust,


s: Through members different, yet together form'd,


s: In different pow'rs resolves itself; e'en so


s: Its goodness multiplied throughout the stars;


s: Makes with the precious body it enlivens,


s: With which it knits, as life in you is knit.


s: The virtue mingled through the body shines,


s: From hence proceeds, that which from light to light


s: Seems different, and not from dense or rare.


s: This is the formal cause, that generates


s: Proportion'd to its power, the dusk or clear."


s: That sun, which erst with love my bosom warm'd


s: Had of fair truth unveil'd the sweet aspect,


s: By proof of right, and of the false reproof;


s: Of doubt, as much as needed, rais'd my head


s: Erect for speech.  But soon a sight appear'd,


s: Which, so intent to mark it, held me fix'd,


s: As through translucent and smooth glass, or wave


s: Clear and unmov'd, and flowing not so deep


s: As that its bed is dark, the shape returns


s: That on white forehead set a pearl as strong


s: Comes to the eye: such saw I many a face,


s: All stretch'd to speak, from whence I straight conceiv'd


s: Between the man and fountain, amorous flame.


s: Sudden, as I perceiv'd them, deeming these


s: They were, I turn'd mine eyes, and nothing saw;


s: Then turn'd them back, directed on the light


s: Of my sweet guide, who smiling shot forth beams


s: From her celestial eyes.  "Wonder not thou,"


s: She cry'd, "at this my smiling, when I see


s: Thy childish judgment; since not yet on truth


s: It rests the foot, but, as it still is wont,


s: Makes thee fall back in unsound vacancy.


s: True substances are these, which thou behold'st,


s: Hither through failure of their vow exil'd.


s: But speak thou with them; listen, and believe,


s: That the true light, which fills them with desire,


s: Permits not from its beams their feet to stray."


s: Straight to the shadow which for converse seem'd


s: Most earnest, I addressed me, and began,


s: "O spirit, born for joy! who in the rays


s: Of life eternal, of that sweetness know'st


s: The flavour, which, not tasted, passes far


s: All apprehension, me it well would please,


s: If thou wouldst tell me of thy name, and this


s: Your station here." Whence she, with kindness prompt,


s: And eyes glist'ning with smiles: "Our charity,


s: Bars not the door, no more than she above,


s: Who would have all her court be like herself.


s: And if thy mind observe me well, this form,


s: With such addition grac'd of loveliness,


s: Will not conceal me long, but thou wilt know


s: Here 'mid these other blessed also blest.


s: Our hearts, whose high affections burn alone


s: With pleasure, from the Holy Spirit conceiv'd,


s: And this condition, which appears so low,


s: Is for this cause assign'd us, that our vows


s: Were in some part neglected and made void."


s: Whence I to her replied: "Something divine


s: Beams in your countenance, wond'rous fair,


s: From former knowledge quite transmuting you.


s: Given now such aid, that to retrace your forms


s: More to behold, and more in love to dwell?"


s: She with those other spirits gently smil'd,


s: Then answer'd with such gladness, that she seem'd


s: With love's first flame to glow: "Brother! our will


s: What we possess, and nought beyond desire;


s: Then must our wishes jar with the high will


s: Of him, who sets us here, which in these orbs


s: And if her nature well thou contemplate.


s: Of blessedness, to keep ourselves within


s: The divine will, by which our wills with his


s: Are one.  So that as we from step to step


s: Are plac'd throughout this kingdom, pleases all,


s: E'en as our King, who in us plants his will;


s: Then saw I clearly how each spot in heav'n


s: Is Paradise, though with like gracious dew


s: The appetite remains, that this is ask'd,


s: And thanks for that return'd; e'en so did I


s: In word and motion, bent from her to learn


s: What web it was, through which she had not drawn


s: The shuttle to its point.  She thus began:


s: By whose pure laws upon your nether earth


s: The robe and veil they wear, to that intent,


s: That e'en till death they may keep watch or sleep


s: With their great bridegroom, who accepts each vow,


s: Which to his gracious pleasure love conforms.


s: from the world, to follow her, when young


s: Escap'd; and, in her vesture mantling me,


s: Made promise of the way her sect enjoins.


s: Thereafter men, for ill than good more apt,


s: Forth snatch'd me from the pleasant cloister's pale.


s: God knows how after that my life was fram'd.


s: This other splendid shape, which thou beholdst


s: At my right side, burning with all the light


s: May to herself apply.  From her, like me


s: The saintly folds, that shaded her fair brows.


s: E'en when she to the world again was brought


s: In spite of her own will and better wont,


s: Yet not for that the bosom's inward veil


s: Of mighty Constance, who from that loud blast,


s: Which blew the second over Suabia's realm,


s: That power produc'd, which was the third and last."


s: She ceas'd from further talk, and then began


s: Vanish'd, as heavy substance through deep wave.


s: Pursued her, when in dimness she was lost,


s: Turn'd to the mark where greater want impell'd,


s: But she as light'ning beam'd upon my looks:


s: So that the sight sustain'd it not at first.


s: Whence I to question her became less prompt.


s: Remote and tempting, first a man might die


s: Of hunger, ere he one could freely choose.


s: E'en so would stand a lamb between the maw


s: Of two fierce wolves, in dread of both alike:


s: E'en so between two deer a dog would stand,


s: Wherefore, if I was silent, fault nor praise


s: Was painted in my looks; and thus I spake


s: My wish more earnestly than language could.


s: As Daniel, when the haughty king he freed


s: From ire, that spurr'd him on to deeds unjust


s: "Well I discern," she thus her words address'd,


s: "How contrary desires each way constrain thee,


s: So that thy anxious thought is in itself


s: Bound up and stifled, nor breathes freely forth.


s: Thou arguest; if the good intent remain;


s: Should stint the measure of my fair desert?


s: "Cause too thou findst for doubt, in that it seems,


s: That spirits to the stars, as Plato deem'd,


s: Return.  These are the questions which thy will


s: Of that will treat which hath the more of gall.


s: Choose which thou wilt, nor even Mary's self,


s: Have not in any other heav'n their seats,


s: Than have those spirits which so late thou saw'st;


s: Make the first circle beauteous, diversely


s: Partaking of sweet life, as more or less


s: Afflation of eternal bliss pervades them.


s: Here were they shown thee, not that fate assigns


s: This for their sphere, but for a sign to thee


s: Of that celestial furthest from the height.


s: Thus needs, that ye may apprehend, we speak:


s: Since from things sensible alone ye learn


s: That, which digested rightly after turns


s: To your perception, hands and feet to God


s: Attributes, nor so means: and holy church


s: Tobias whole.  Unlike what here thou seest,


s: Each soul restor'd to its particular star,


s: E'en what his words declare: or else to shun


s: That to the influencing of these orbs revert


s: Perchance he doth not wholly miss the truth.


s: Erewhile perverted well nigh all the world;


s: So that it fell to fabled names of Jove,


s: And Mercury, and Mars.  That other doubt,


s: Which moves thee, is less harmful; for it brings


s: "That, to the eye of man, our justice seems


s: This truth may stand more clearly in your view,


s: "If violence be, when that which suffers, nought


s: Consents to that which forceth, not for this


s: These spirits stood exculpate.  For the will,


s: That will not, still survives unquench'd, and doth


s: Wrest it a thousand times; for, if it yield


s: Or more or less, so far it follows force.


s: And thus did these, whom they had power to seek


s: The hallow'd place again.  In them, had will


s: Been perfect, such as once upon the bars


s: Held Laurence firm, or wrought in Scaevola


s: To his own hand remorseless, to the path,


s: Whence they were drawn, their steps had hasten'd back,


s: Resolve so steadfast dwells.  And by these words


s: Which oft might have perplex'd thee still.  But now


s: Another question thwarts thee, which to solve


s: Might try thy patience without better aid.


s: I have, no doubt, instill'd into thy mind,


s: That blessed spirit may not lie; since near


s: The source of primal truth it dwells for aye:


s: And thou might'st after of Piccarda learn


s: That Constance held affection to the veil;


s: So that she seems to contradict me here.


s: Not seldom, brother, it hath chanc'd for men


s: Not to lose pity.  On this point bethink thee,


s: That force and will are blended in such wise


s: From non-compliance, it agrees.  Of will


s: Of th' other; so that both have truly said."


s: Such was the flow of that pure rill, that well'd


s: From forth the fountain of all truth; and such


s: The rest, that to my wond'ring thoughts I found.


s: "O thou of primal love the prime delight!


s: Goddess!"  I straight reply'd, "whose lively words


s: Still shed new heat and vigour through my soul!


s: To recompense, who sees and can reward thee.


s: Well I discern, that by that truth alone


s: Enlighten'd, beyond which no truth may roam,


s: Our mind can satisfy her thirst to know:


s: Therein she resteth, e'en as in his lair


s: The wild beast, soon as she hath reach'd that bound,


s: And she hath power to reach it; else desire


s: Were given to no end.  And thence doth doubt


s: Spring, like a shoot, around the stock of truth;


s: And it is nature which from height to height


s: On to the summit prompts us.  This invites,


s: Is dark to me.  I fain would know, if man


s: The failure of his vows, that in your scale


s: They lack not weight."  I spake; and on me straight


s: Beatrice look'd with eyes that shot forth sparks


s: Of love celestial in such copious stream,


s: I turn'd, and downward bent confus'd my sight.


s: "If beyond earthly wont, the flame of love


s: Of vision, marvel not: but learn the cause


s: In that perfection of the sight, which soon


s: The good it apprehends.  I well discern,


s: Ne'er fails to kindle love; and if aught else


s: Your love seduces, 't is but that it shows


s: Some ill-mark'd vestige of that primal beam.


s: "This would'st thou know, if failure of the vow


s: As from self-question to assure the soul."


s: Thus she her words, not heedless of my wish,


s: Began; and thus, as one who breaks not off


s: Discourse, continued in her saintly strain.


s: "Supreme of gifts, which God creating gave


s: Of goodness, and in his account most priz'd,


s: All intellectual creatures, and them sole


s: He hath endow'd.  Hence now thou mayst infer


s: Of what high worth the vow, which so is fram'd


s: That when man offers, God well-pleas'd accepts;


s: This treasure, such as I describe it to thee,


s: He makes the victim, and of his own act.


s: What compensation therefore may he find?


s: If that, whereof thou hast oblation made,


s: By using well thou think'st to consecrate,


s: Thou would'st of theft do charitable deed.


s: Thus I resolve thee of the greater point.


s: Dispensing, seems to contradict the truth


s: Ere the crude aliment, which thou hast taken,


s: And give it inward keeping.  Knowledge comes


s: Of learning well retain'd, unfruitful else.


s: "This sacrifice in essence of two things


s: Consisteth; one is that, whereof 't is made,


s: It ne'er is cancell'd if not kept: and hence


s: I spake erewhile so strictly of its force.


s: For this it was enjoin'd the Israelites,


s: Though leave were giv'n them, as thou know'st, to change


s: The offering, still to offer.  Th' other part,


s: The matter and the substance of the vow,


s: May well be such, to that without offence


s: It may for other substance be exchang'd.


s: But at his own discretion none may shift


s: By either key, the yellow and the white.


s: Nor deem of any change, as less than vain,


s: For what so precious in the balance weighs,


s: That all in counterpoise must kick the beam.


s: Take then no vow at random: ta'en, with faith


s: Preserve it; yet not bent, as Jephthah once,


s: 'I have done ill,' than to redeem his pledge


s: In folly, that great leader of the Greeks:


s: Her virgin beauty, and hath since made mourn


s: Both wise and simple, even all, who hear


s: Of so fell sacrifice.  Be ye more staid,


s: O Christians, not, like feather, by each wind


s: Removable: nor think to cleanse ourselves


s: The old and new, is yours: and for your guide


s: The shepherd of the church let this suffice


s: To save you.  When by evil lust entic'd,


s: Remember ye be men, not senseless beasts;


s: Hold you in mock'ry.  Be not, as the lamb,


s: That, fickle wanton, leaves its mother's milk,


s: Such were the words that Beatrice spake:


s: These ended, to that region, where the world


s: Is liveliest, full of fond desire she turn'd.


s: Though mainly prompt new question to propose,


s: And as the arrow, ere the cord is still,


s: Grew brighter at her smiles; and, if the star


s: Were mov'd to gladness, what then was my cheer,


s: Whom nature hath made apt for every change!


s: If aught approach them from without, do draw


s: Towards it, deeming it their food; so drew


s: Full more than thousand splendours towards us,


s: And in each one was heard: "Lo! one arriv'd


s: To multiply our loves!" and as each came


s: The shadow, streaming forth effulgence new,


s: Witness'd augmented joy.  Here, reader! think,


s: If thou didst miss the sequel of my tale,


s: To know the rest how sorely thou wouldst crave;


s: Possess'd me, as soon as these had met my view,


s: To know their state.  "O born in happy hour!


s: Thou to whom grace vouchsafes, or ere thy close


s: Of fleshly warfare, to behold the thrones


s: The light communicated, which through heaven


s: Expatiates without bound.  Therefore, if aught


s: Thou of our beams wouldst borrow for thine aid,


s: Spare not; and of our radiance take thy fill."


s: Thus of those piteous spirits one bespake me;


s: As unto gods!"--"How in the light supreme


s: Thou harbour'st, and from thence the virtue bring'st,


s: That, sparkling in thine eyes, denotes thy joy,


s: I mark; but, who thou art, am still to seek;


s: Or wherefore, worthy spirit! for thy lot


s: This sphere assign'd, that oft from mortal ken


s: Is veil'd by others' beams."  I said, and turn'd


s: Toward the lustre, that with greeting, kind


s: Erewhile had hail'd me.  Forthwith brighter far


s: Than erst, it wax'd: and, as himself the sun


s: Hides through excess of light, when his warm gaze


s: Hath on the mantle of thick vapours prey'd;


s: Was, through increase of gladness, thus conceal'd;


s: And, shrouded so in splendour answer'd me,


s: "After that Constantine the eagle turn'd


s: Against the motions of the heav'n, that roll'd


s: Consenting with its course, when he of yore,


s: Lavinia's spouse, was leader of the flight,


s: A hundred years twice told and more, his seat


s: At Europe's extreme point, the bird of Jove


s: Held, near the mountains, whence he issued first.


s: There, under shadow of his sacred plumes


s: Swaying the world, till through successive hands


s: To mine he came devolv'd.  Caesar I was,


s: Of that prime love, whose influence I feel,


s: From vain excess to clear th' encumber'd laws.


s: Christ's nature merely human, with such faith


s: Who was chief shepherd, he with warning voice


s: To the true faith recall'd me.  I believ'd


s: His words: and what he taught, now plainly see,


s: The true and false oppos'd.  Soon as my feet


s: Were to the church reclaim'd, to my great task,


s: I gave me wholly, and consign'd mine arms


s: To Belisarius, with whom heaven's right hand


s: Was link'd in such conjointment, 't was a sign


s: That I should rest.  To thy first question thus


s: I shape mine answer, which were ended here,


s: But that its tendency doth prompt perforce


s: To some addition; that thou well, mayst mark


s: What reason on each side they have to plead,


s: By whom that holiest banner is withstood,


s: Both who pretend its power and who oppose.


s: "Beginning from that hour, when Pallas died


s: To give it rule, behold the valorous deeds


s: Have made it worthy reverence.  Not unknown


s: To thee, how for three hundred years and more


s: It dwelt in Alba, up to those fell lists


s: Where for its sake were met the rival three;


s: Nor aught unknown to thee, which it achiev'd


s: Down to the Sabines' wrong to Lucrece' woe,


s: With its sev'n kings conqu'ring the nation round;


s: Nor all it wrought, by Roman worthies home


s: 'Gainst Brennus and th' Epirot prince, and hosts


s: Of single chiefs, or states in league combin'd


s: Of social warfare; hence Torquatus stern,


s: And Quintius nam'd of his neglected locks,


s: Their fame, which I with duteous zeal embalm.


s: By it the pride of Arab hordes was quell'd,


s: The Alpine rocks, whence glide thy currents, Po!


s: Beneath its guidance, in their prime of days


s: Scipio and Pompey triumph'd; and that hill,


s: Under whose summit thou didst see the light,


s: Rued its stern bearing.  After, near the hour,


s: When heav'n was minded that o'er all the world


s: His own deep calm should brood, to Caesar's hand


s: Did Rome consign it; and what then it wrought


s: From Var unto the Rhine, saw Isere's flood,


s: Saw Loire and Seine, and every vale, that fills


s: The torrent Rhone.  What after that it wrought,


s: When from Ravenna it came forth, and leap'd


s: That tongue nor pen may follow it.  Tow'rds Spain


s: It wheel'd its bands, then tow'rd Dyrrachium smote,


s: And on Pharsalia with so fierce a plunge,


s: E'en the warm Nile was conscious to the pang;


s: Its native shores Antandros, and the streams


s: His pennons shook again; lightning thence fell


s: At sound of the Pompeian trump, return'd.


s: "What following and in its next bearer's gripe


s: It wrought, is now by Cassius and Brutus


s: Bark'd off in hell, and by Perugia's sons


s: And Modena's was mourn'd.  Hence weepeth still


s: Took from the adder black and sudden death.


s: With him it ran e'en to the Red Sea coast;


s: With him compos'd the world to such a peace,


s: That of his temple Janus barr'd the door.


s: "But all the mighty standard yet had wrought,


s: And was appointed to perform thereafter,


s: Throughout the mortal kingdom which it sway'd,


s: Falls in appearance dwindled and obscur'd,


s: If one with steady eye and perfect thought


s: On the third Caesar look; for to his hands,


s: The living Justice, in whose breath I move,


s: "Hear now and wonder at what next I tell.


s: Vengeance for vengeance of the ancient sin,


s: And, when the Lombard tooth, with fangs impure,


s: Sped to her rescue.  Judge then for thyself


s: Of those, whom I erewhile accus'd to thee,


s: What they are, and how grievous their offending,


s: Who are the cause of all your ills.  The one


s: So that 't is hard to see which more offends.


s: Be yours, ye Ghibellines, to veil your arts


s: Follow'd of him, who severs it and justice:


s: And let not with his Guelphs the new-crown'd Charles


s: Assail it, but those talons hold in dread,


s: Have rent the easing.  Many a time ere now


s: The sons have for the sire's transgression wail'd;


s: Nor let him trust the fond belief, that heav'n


s: Will truck its armour for his lilied shield.


s: "This little star is furnish'd with good spirits,


s: Whose mortal lives were busied to that end,


s: That honour and renown might wait on them:


s: And, when desires thus err in their intention,


s: True love must needs ascend with slacker beam.


s: But it is part of our delight, to measure


s: The close proportion.  Hence doth heav'nly justice


s: Render sweet harmony among these wheels.


s: "Within the pearl, that now encloseth us,


s: Shines Romeo's light, whose goodly deed and fair


s: Met ill acceptance.  But the Provencals,


s: That were his foes, have little cause for mirth.


s: Ill shapes that man his course, who makes his wrong


s: Of other's worth.  Four daughters were there born


s: Became a queen; and this for him did Romeo,


s: Though of mean state and from a foreign land.


s: A reckoning of that just one, who return'd


s: Twelve fold to him for ten.  Aged and poor


s: He parted thence: and if the world did know


s: The heart he had, begging his life by morsels,


s: 'T would deem the praise, it yields him, scantly dealt."


s: Thus chanting saw I turn that substance bright


s: Revolving; and the rest unto their dance


s: With it mov'd also; and like swiftest sparks,


s: In sudden distance from my sight were veil'd.


s: Me doubt possess'd, and "Speak," it whisper'd me,


s: "Speak, speak unto thy lady, that she quench


s: Thy thirst with drops of sweetness."  Yet blank awe,


s: Which lords it o'er me, even at the sound


s: As one in slumber held.  Not long that mood


s: Beatrice suffer'd: she, with such a smile,


s: As might have made one blest amid the flames,


s: "Thou in thy thought art pond'ring (as I deem),


s: And what I deem is truth how just revenge


s: Could be with justice punish'd: from which doubt


s: I soon will free thee; so thou mark my words;


s: For they of weighty matter shall possess thee.


s: "That man, who was unborn, himself condemn'd,


s: And, in himself, all, who since him have liv'd,


s: His offspring: whence, below, the human kind


s: Until it pleas'd the Word of God to come


s: Amongst them down, to his own person joining


s: The nature, from its Maker far estrang'd,


s: The nature with its Maker thus conjoin'd,


s: Created first was blameless, pure and good;


s: But through itself alone was driven forth


s: The way of truth and life, to evil turn'd.


s: The nature in assumption doom'd: ne'er wrong


s: Such nature on him, and endur'd the doom.


s: So different effects flow'd from one act,


s: And heav'n was open'd, though the earth did quake.


s: Count it not hard henceforth, when thou dost hear


s: That a just vengeance was by righteous court


s: Justly reveng'd.  But yet I see thy mind


s: By thought on thought arising sore perplex'd,


s: Solution of the maze.  What I have heard,


s: Is plain, thou sayst: but wherefore God this way


s: For our redemption chose, eludes my search.


s: In sooth, much aim'd at, and but little kenn'd:


s: And I will therefore show thee why such way


s: Was worthiest.  The celestial love, that spume


s: With such effulgence blazeth, as sends forth


s: All beauteous things eternal.  What distils


s: Immediate thence, no end of being knows,


s: Whatever thence immediate falls, is free,


s: More grateful to its author, whose bright beams,


s: Though all partake their shining, yet in those


s: Are liveliest, which resemble him the most.


s: No longer stainless.  Sin alone is that,


s: Which doth disfranchise him, and make unlike


s: To the chief good; for that its light in him


s: Is no return; unless, where guilt makes void,


s: He for ill pleasure pay with equal pain.


s: Trangress'd, from these distinctions fell, no less


s: Than from its state in Paradise; nor means


s: Found of recovery (search all methods out


s: As strickly as thou may) save one of these,


s: The only fords were left through which to wade,


s: Releas'd him merely, or else man himself


s: "Fix now thine eye, intently as thou canst,


s: On th' everlasting counsel, and explore,


s: Instructed by my words, the dread abyss.


s: "Man in himself had ever lack'd the means


s: As high he, disobeying, thought to soar:


s: That God should by his own ways lead him back


s: Unto the life, from whence he fell, restor'd:


s: But since the deed is ever priz'd the more,


s: The more the doer's good intent appears,


s: Goodness celestial, whose broad signature


s: To raise ye up, was fain to leave out none,


s: Between the last night and the primal day,


s: Was or can be.  For God more bounty show'd.


s: Of his return to life, than had the terms


s: Were all too scant, had not the Son of God


s: "Now, to fulfil each wish of thine, remains


s: That thou mayst see as clearly as myself.


s: "I see, thou sayst, the air, the fire I see,


s: The earth and water, and all things of them


s: Compounded, to corruption turn, and soon


s: Dissolve.  Yet these were also things create,


s: Because, if what were told me, had been true


s: They from corruption had been therefore free.


s: "The angels, O my brother! and this clime


s: In their whole being.  But the elements,


s: Which thou hast nam'd, and what of them is made,


s: Their substance, and create the' informing virtue


s: In these bright stars, that round them circling move


s: The soul of every brute and of each plant,


s: The ray and motion of the sacred lights,


s: But this our life the' eternal good inspires


s: "And hence thou mayst by inference conclude


s: Consider how the human flesh was fram'd,


s: When both our parents at the first were made."


s: By stream of potent radiance: therefore they


s: Of elder time, in their old error blind,


s: Her mother, and her son, him whom they feign'd


s: Whom I have sung preluding, borrow'd they


s: The appellation of that star, which views,


s: That grac'd my lady, gave me ample proof


s: That we had entered there.  And as in flame


s: A sparkle is distinct, or voice in voice


s: Discern'd, when one its even tenour keeps,


s: The other comes and goes; so in that light


s: Never was blast from vapour charged with cold,


s: Descended with such speed, it had not seem'd


s: To those celestial lights, that tow'rds us came,


s: Leaving the circuit of their joyous ring,


s: And after them, who in the van appear'd,


s: Desire, ne'er since extinct in me, to hear


s: Renew'd the strain.  Then parting from the rest


s: One near us drew, and sole began: "We all


s: Are ready at thy pleasure, well dispos'd


s: To do thee gentle service.  We are they,


s: To whom thou in the world erewhile didst Sing


s: Moves the third heaven!' and in one orb we roll,


s: One motion, one impulse, with those who rule


s: Princedoms in heaven; yet are of love so full,


s: That to please thee 't will be as sweet to rest."


s: Sought the celestial guide, and were by her


s: Assur'd, they turn'd again unto the light


s: Who had so largely promis'd, and with voice


s: That bare the lively pressure of my zeal,


s: "Tell who ye are," I cried.  Forthwith it grew


s: In size and splendour, through augmented joy;


s: And thus it answer'd: "A short date below


s: The world possess'd me.  Had the time been more,


s: Much evil, that will come, had never chanc'd.


s: My gladness hides thee from me, which doth shine


s: In its own silk unswath'd.  Thou lov'dst me well,


s: And had'st good cause; for had my sojourning


s: Been longer on the earth, the love I bare thee


s: Had put forth more than blossoms.  The left bank,


s: That Rhone, when he hath mix'd with Sorga, laves.


s: From where the Trento disembogues his waves,


s: With Verde mingled, to the salt sea-flood.


s: By Danube wash'd, whenas he strays beyond


s: The limits of his German shores.  The realm,


s: Where, on the gulf by stormy Eurus lash'd,


s: (Not through Typhaeus, but the vap'ry cloud


s: Bituminous upsteam'd), THAT too did look


s: Of monarchs, sprung through me from Charles and Rodolph;


s: had not ill lording which doth spirit up


s: The shout of 'death,' re-echo'd loud and long.


s: Had but my brother's foresight kenn'd as much,


s: And truly need there is, that he forecast,


s: Or other for him, lest more freight be laid


s: Nature in him, from bounty fall'n to thrift,


s: Would ask the  guard of braver arms, than such


s: As only care to have their coffers fill'd."


s: "My liege, it doth enhance the joy thy words


s: As to myself, who own it, when thou lookst


s: There, where thou markest that which thou dost speak,


s: Thence priz'd of me the more.  Glad thou hast made me.


s: Now make intelligent, clearing the doubt


s: Thy speech hath raised in me; for much I muse,


s: How bitter can spring up, when sweet is sown."


s: "If I have power to show one truth, soon that


s: Shall face thee, which thy questioning declares


s: Behind thee now conceal'd.  The Good, that guides


s: And blessed makes this realm, which thou dost mount,


s: In these great bodies: nor th' all perfect Mind


s: Upholds their nature merely, but in them


s: Their energy to save: for nought, that lies


s: Were it not thus, these heavens, thou dost visit,


s: Would their effect so work, it would not be


s: Art, but destruction; and this may not chance,


s: If th' intellectual powers, that move these stars,


s: Fail not, or who, first faulty made them fail.


s: Wilt thou this truth more clearly evidenc'd?"


s: I see, lest nature in her part should tire."


s: He straight rejoin'd: "Say, were it worse for man,


s: If he liv'd not in fellowship on earth?"


s: "Yea," answer'd I; "nor here a reason needs."


s: Grow not of different duties in your life?


s: Consult your teacher, and he tells you 'no."'


s: Thus did he come, deducing to this point,


s: And then concluded: "For this cause behooves,


s: The roots, from whence your operations come,


s: Must differ.  Therefore one is Solon born;


s: A third; and he a fourth, whose airy voyage


s: Cost him his son.  In her circuitous course,


s: Doth well her art, but no distinctions owns


s: 'Twixt one or other household.  Hence befalls


s: He dates from Mars his lineage.  Were it not


s: Unswervingly.  Thus place I in thy sight


s: That, which was late behind thee.  But, in sign


s: Of more affection for thee, 't is my will


s: Finding discordant fortune, like all seed


s: Out of its proper climate, thrives but ill.


s: And were the world below content to mark


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


s: And of the fluent phrasemen make your king;


s: Therefore your steps have wander'd from the paths."


s: After solution of my doubt, thy Charles,


s: That must befall his seed: but, "Tell it not,"


s: Said he, "and let the destin'd years come round."


s: Nor may I tell thee more, save that the meed


s: Of sorrow well-deserv'd shall quit your wrongs.


s: And now the visage of that saintly light


s: Was to the sun, that fills it, turn'd again,


s: As to the good, whose plenitude of bliss


s: Infatuate, who from such a good estrange


s: Your hearts, and bend your gaze on vanity,


s: Another of those splendent forms approach'd,


s: That, by its outward bright'ning, testified


s: The will it had to pleasure me.  The eyes


s: "Blest spirit! quickly be my will perform'd;


s: And prove thou to me, that my inmost thoughts


s: I can reflect on thee."  Thereat the light,


s: That yet was new to me, from the recess,


s: Where it before was singing, thus began,


s: As one who joys in kindness: "In that part


s: Of the deprav'd Italian land, which lies


s: Between Rialto, and the fountain-springs


s: Of Brenta and of Piava, there doth rise,


s: From whence erewhile a firebrand did descend,


s: That sorely sheet the region.  From one root


s: I and it sprang; my name on earth Cunizza:


s: And here I glitter, for that by its light


s: This star o'ercame me.  Yet I naught repine,