s: So forward stretch'd him (if of credence aught


s: Our greater muse may claim) the pious ghost


s: When he perceiv'd his son.  "O thou, my blood!


s: As now to thee, hath twice the heav'nly gate


s: Been e'er unclos'd?" so spake the light; whence I


s: Was lighted such a smile, I thought that mine


s: Mysterious; for his high conception scar'd


s: Beyond the mark of mortals.  When the flight


s: Of holy transport had so spent its rage,


s: The speech descended, the first sounds I heard


s: That hast such favour in my seed vouchsaf'd!"


s: Then follow'd: "No unpleasant thirst, tho' long,


s: Which took me reading in the sacred book,


s: Whose leaves or white or dusky never change,


s: Thou hast allay'd, my son, within this light,


s: From whence my voice thou hear'st; more thanks to her.


s: Who for such lofty mounting has with plumes


s: Begirt thee.  Thou dost deem thy thoughts to me


s: From him transmitted, who is first of all,


s: The truth is as thou deem'st; for in this hue


s: Both less and greater in that mirror look,


s: In which thy thoughts, or ere thou think'st, are shown.


s: But, that the love, which keeps me wakeful ever,


s: Urging with sacred thirst of sweet desire,


s: Fearless, and frank and jocund, utter forth


s: Thy will distinctly, utter forth the wish,


s: Whereto my ready answer stands decreed."


s: "To each among your tribe, what time ye kenn'd


s: The nature, in whom naught unequal dwells,


s: Wisdom and love were in one measure dealt;


s: From whence ye drew your radiance and your heat,


s: As makes all likeness scant.  But will and means,


s: In mortals, for the cause ye well discern,


s: With unlike wings are fledge.  A mortal I


s: And therefore give no thanks, but in the heart,


s: For thy paternal greeting.  This howe'er


s: I pray thee, living topaz! that ingemm'st


s: Even, hath pleas'd me:" thus the prompt reply


s: These hundred years and more, on its first ledge


s: And thy great grandsire.  Well befits, his long


s: Endurance should be shorten'd by thy deeds.


s: "Florence, within her ancient limit-mark,


s: Which calls her still to matin prayers and noon,


s: Was chaste and sober, and abode in peace.


s: She had no armlets and no head-tires then,


s: No purfled dames, no zone, that caught the eye


s: More than the person did.  Time was not yet,


s: When at his daughter's birth the sire grew pale.


s: For fear the age and dowry should exceed


s: On each side just proportion.  House was none


s: To be surpass in fall, as in its rising.


s: And, with no artful colouring on her cheeks,


s: His lady leave the glass.  The sons I saw


s: With unrob'd jerkin; and their good dames handling


s: And none left desolate a-bed for France!


s: One wak'd to tend the cradle, hushing it


s: With sounds that lull'd the parent's infancy:


s: The tresses from the distaff, lectur'd them


s: Had held as strange a marvel, as ye would


s: "In such compos'd and seemly fellowship,


s: Bestow'd me, call'd on with loud cries; and there


s: Christian at once and Cacciaguida; as were


s: And hence thy surname grew.  I follow'd then


s: The Emperor Conrad; and his knighthood he


s: Did gird on me; in such good part he took


s: Whose people, by the shepherd's fault, possess


s: Your right, usurping.  There, by that foul crew


s: Was I releas'd from the deceitful world,


s: Whose base affection many a spirit soils,


s: And from the martyrdom came to this peace."


s: Thou mov'st to boasting, when I could not choose,


s: In heav'n itself, but make my vaunt in thee!


s: Yet cloak thou art soon shorten'd, for that time,


s: Unless thou be eked out from day to day,


s: Goes round thee with his shears.  Resuming then


s: With greeting such, as Rome, was first to bear,


s: Was sever'd, smil'd reminding me of her,


s: Whose cough embolden'd (as the story holds)


s: "You are my sire," said I, "you give me heart


s: Freely to speak my thought: above myself


s: You raise me.  Through so many streams with joy


s: My soul is fill'd, that gladness wells from it;


s: So that it bears the mighty tide, and bursts not


s: Say then, my honour'd stem! what ancestors


s: Where those you sprang from, and what years were mark'd


s: In your first childhood?  Tell me of the fold,


s: That hath Saint John for guardian, what was then


s: Its state, and who in it were highest seated?"


s: As embers, at the breathing of the wind,


s: Their flame enliven, so that light I saw


s: Shine at my blandishments; and, as it grew


s: More fair to look on, so with voice more sweet,


s: Yet not in this our modern phrase, forthwith


s: It answer'd: "From the day, when it was said


s: 'Hail Virgin!' to the throes, by which my mother,


s: Whom she was heavy with, this fire had come,


s: Five hundred fifty times and thrice, its beams


s: Of its own lion.  They, of whom I sprang,


s: And I, had there our birth-place, where the last


s: By him, that runs her annual game.  Thus much


s: Suffice of my forefathers: who they were,


s: And whence they hither came, more honourable


s: All those, who in that time were there from Mars


s: Were but the fifth of them this day alive.


s: But then the citizen's blood, that now is mix'd


s: Ran purely through the last mechanic's veins.


s: O how much better were it, that these people


s: Were neighbours to you, and that at Galluzzo


s: And at Trespiano, ye should have your bound'ry,


s: Than to have them within, and bear the stench


s: That hath his eye already keen for bart'ring!


s: Had not the people, which of all the world


s: Degenerates most, been stepdame unto Caesar,


s: And trades and traffics, had been turn'd adrift


s: The beggar's craft.  The Conti were possess'd


s: And the blind bull falls with a steeper plunge,


s: Than the blind lamb; and oftentimes one sword


s: How they are gone, and after them how go


s: No longer new or strange to thee to hear,


s: That families fail, when cities have their end.


s: All things, that appertain t' ye, like yourselves,


s: Ye mark not, they endure so long, and you


s: Doth, by the rolling of her heav'nly sphere,


s: So fortune deals with Florence.  Hence admire not


s: At what of them I tell thee, whose renown


s: Time covers, the first Florentines.  I saw


s: Now in their wane, illustrious citizens:


s: And Ardinghi, and Bostichi.  At the poop,


s: So cumb'rous it may speedily sink the bark,


s: His title from the fam'd Bellincione ta'en.


s: Fair governance was yet an art well priz'd


s: The gilded hilt and pommel, in his house.


s: The column, cloth'd with verrey, still was seen


s: Unshaken: the Sacchetti still were great,


s: With them who blush to hear the bushel nam'd.


s: Was in its strength: and to the curule chairs


s: How mighty them I saw, whom since their pride


s: Hath undone! and in all her goodly deeds


s: Florence was by the bullets of bright gold


s: O'erflourish'd.  Such the sires of those, who now,


s: As surely as your church is vacant, flock


s: There stall them and grow fat.  The o'erweening brood,


s: That plays the dragon after him that flees,


s: But unto such, as turn and show the tooth,


s: Was on its rise, but yet so slight esteem'd,


s: His father-in-law should yoke him to its tribe.


s: The gateway, named from those of Pera, led


s: Each one, who bears the sightly quarterings


s: Of the great Baron (he whose name and worth


s: His knighthood and his privilege retain'd;


s: This day is mingled with the common herd.


s: Had it still lack'd of newer neighbourhood.


s: The house, from whence your tears have had their spring,


s: Through the just anger that hath murder'd ye


s: Was honour'd, it, and those consorted with it.


s: Prevail'd on thee to break the plighted bond


s: Many, who now are weeping, would rejoice,


s: Had God to Ema giv'n thee, the first time


s: Thou near our city cam'st.  But so was doom'd:


s: On that maim'd stone set up to guard the bridge,


s: At thy last peace, the victim, Florence! fell.


s: With these and others like to them, I saw


s: She had no cause at which to grieve: with these


s: Saw her so glorious and so just, that ne'er


s: The lily from the lance had hung reverse,


s: Or through division been with vermeil dyed."


s: Which had been fasten'd on him, (he whose end


s: Still makes the fathers chary to their sons),


s: E'en such was I; nor unobserv'd was such


s: Who had erewhile for me his station mov'd;


s: When thus by lady: "Give thy wish free vent,


s: Of the mind's impress; not that aught thy words


s: May to our knowledge add, but to the end,


s: That thou mayst use thyself to own thy thirst


s: And men may mingle for thee when they hear."


s: "O plant! from whence I spring! rever'd and lov'd!


s: Who soar'st so high a pitch, thou seest as clear,


s: As earthly thought determines two obtuse


s: Dost see contingencies, ere in themselves


s: All times are present, I, the whilst I scal'd


s: Words grievous, though I feel me on all sides


s: Well squar'd to fortune's blows.  Therefore my will


s: Were satisfied to know the lot awaits me,


s: The arrow, seen beforehand, slacks its flight."


s: So said I to the brightness, which erewhile


s: Such, as or ere the Lamb of God was slain,


s: Beguil'd the credulous nations; but, in terms


s: Yet in his smile apparent; and thus spake:


s: Is all depictur'd in the' eternal sight;


s: More then the tall ship, hurried down the flood,


s: Doth from the vision, that reflects the scene.


s: From thence, as to the ear sweet harmony


s: From organ comes, so comes before mine eye


s: The time prepar'd for thee.  Such as driv'n out


s: From Athens, by his cruel stepdame's wiles,


s: Depart from Florence.  This they wish, and this


s: Contrive, and will ere long effectuate, there,


s: Where gainful merchandize is made of Christ,


s: Throughout the livelong day.  The common cry,


s: Will, as 't is ever wont, affix the blame


s: Shall, in the vengeance it dispenseth, find


s: A faithful witness.  Thou shall leave each thing


s: Belov'd most dearly: this is the first shaft


s: Shot from the bow of exile.  Thou shalt prove


s: How salt the savour is of other's bread,


s: How hard the passage to descend and climb


s: By other's stairs, But that shall gall thee most


s: With whom thou must be thrown into these straits.


s: For all ungrateful, impious all and mad,


s: Shall turn 'gainst thee: but in a little while


s: Theirs and not thine shall be the crimson'd brow


s: Their course shall so evince their brutishness


s: T' have ta'en thy stand apart shall well become thee.


s: "First refuge thou must find, first place of rest,


s: In the great Lombard's courtesy, who bears


s: Upon the ladder perch'd the sacred bird.


s: He shall behold thee with such kind regard,


s: That 'twixt ye two, the contrary to that


s: Which falls 'twixt other men, the granting shall


s: Forerun the asking.  With him shalt thou see


s: That mortal, who was at his birth impress


s: So strongly from this star, that of his deeds


s: The nations shall take note.  His unripe age


s: Yet holds him from observance; for these wheels


s: But, ere the Gascon practice on great Harry,


s: Sparkles of virtue shall shoot forth in him,


s: His bounty shall be spread abroad so widely,


s: As not to let the tongues e'en of his foes


s: Be idle in its praise.  Look thou to him


s: Rich men and beggars interchanging fortunes.


s: And thou shalt bear this written in thy soul


s: Of him, but tell it not;" and things he told


s: What hath been told thee.--Lo! the ambushment


s: That a few circling seasons hide for thee!


s: Yet envy not thy neighbours: time extends


s: Thy span beyond their treason's chastisement."


s: Soon, as the saintly spirit, by his silence,


s: Had shown the web, which I had streteh'd for him


s: Counsel of other, wise, benign and friendly:


s: "My father! well I mark how time spurs on


s: Which falls most heavily on him, who most


s: Abandoned himself.  Therefore 't is good


s: I should forecast, that driven from the place


s: All others by my song.  Down through the world


s: Of infinite mourning, and along the mount


s: From whose fair height my lady's eyes did lift me,


s: And after through this heav'n from light to light,


s: Have I learnt that, which if I tell again,


s: To whom these days shall be of ancient date."


s: The brightness, where enclos'd the treasure smil'd,


s: Which I had found there, first shone glisteningly,


s: Next answer'd: "Conscience, dimm'd or by its own


s: Or other's shame, will feel thy saying sharp.


s: Thou, notwithstanding, all deceit remov'd,


s: And let them wince who have their withers wrung.


s: What though, when tasted first, thy voice shall prove


s: To vital nourishment.  The cry thou raisest,


s: Shall, as the wind doth, smite the proudest summits;


s: For this there only have been shown to thee,


s: Throughout these orbs, the mountain, and the deep,


s: Spirits, whom fame hath note of.  For the mind


s: And fix its faith, unless the instance brought


s: Now in his word, sole, ruminating, joy'd


s: Tempting the sweet with bitter: she meanwhile,


s: On other thoughts: bethink thee, that near Him


s: At the sweet sounds of comfort straight I turn'd;


s: And, in the saintly eyes what love was seen,


s: I leave in silence here: nor through distrust


s: Of my words only, but that to such bliss


s: The mind remounts not without aid.  Thus much


s: Yet may I speak; that, as I gaz'd on her,


s: While the everlasting pleasure, that did full


s: From her fair countenance my gladden'd soul


s: Of her soft smile, she spake: "Turn thee, and list.


s: As here we sometimes in the looks may see


s: Th' affection mark'd, when that its sway hath ta'en


s: The spirit wholly; thus the hallow'd light,


s: To whom I turn'd, flashing, bewray'd its will


s: "On this fifth lodgment of the tree, whose life


s: Is from its top, whose fruit is ever fair


s: And leaf unwith'ring, blessed spirits abide,


s: That were below, ere they arriv'd in heav'n,


s: Might grace her triumph with them.  On the horns


s: Look therefore of the cross: he, whom I name,


s: Shall there enact, as doth in summer cloud


s: Its nimble fire."  Along the cross I saw,


s: A splendour gliding; nor, the word was said,


s: Ere it was done: then, at the naming saw


s: With whirling speed; and gladness was the scourge


s: Unto that top.  The next for Charlemagne


s: A falcon flying.  Last, along the cross,


s: William, and Renard, and Duke Godfrey drew


s: My ken, and Robert Guiscard.  And the soul,


s: Who spake with me among the other lights


s: Did move away, and mix; and with the choir


s: Of heav'nly songsters prov'd his tuneful skill.


s: Or act, what next behoov'd; and did descry


s: Such mere effulgence in her eyes, such joy,


s: It past all former wont.  And, as by sense


s: In good deeds doth perceive from day to day


s: His virtue growing; I e'en thus perceiv'd


s: The circuit widen'd, noting the increase


s: Of beauty in that wonder.  Like the change


s: In a brief moment on some maiden's cheek,


s: Which from its fairness doth discharge the weight


s: Of pudency, that stain'd it; such in her,


s: And to mine eyes so sudden was the change,


s: Through silvery whiteness of that temperate star,


s: Whose sixth orb now enfolded us.  I saw,


s: Within that Jovial cresset, the clear sparks


s: Of love, that reign'd there, fashion to my view


s: Our language.  And as birds, from river banks


s: Arisen, now in round, now lengthen'd troop,


s: Array them in their flight, greeting, as seems,


s: Their new-found pastures; so, within the lights,


s: The saintly creatures flying, sang, and made


s: Now D. now I. now L. figur'd I' th' air.


s: First, singing, to their notes they mov'd, then one


s: Did rest them, and were mute.  O nymph divine


s: Of Pegasean race! whose souls, which thou


s: Inspir'st, mak'st glorious and long-liv'd, as they


s: Cities and realms by thee! thou with thyself


s: Inform me; that I may set forth the shapes,


s: As fancy doth present them.  Be thy power


s: Display'd in this brief song.  The characters,


s: Vocal and consonant, were five-fold seven.


s: In order each, as they appear'd, I mark'd.


s: Both verb and noun all blazon'd; and the extreme


s: Of the fifth word they held their station,


s: Making the star seem silver streak'd with gold.


s: Descending other lights, that rested there,


s: Singing, methinks, their bliss and primal good.


s: Rise scatter'd, source of augury to th' unwise;


s: Thus more than thousand twinkling lustres hence


s: Some mounting, and some less; e'en as the sun,


s: Which kindleth them, decreed.  And when each one


s: Had settled in his place, the head and neck


s: Grav'd in that streaky fire.  Who painteth there,


s: Hath none to guide him; of himself he guides;


s: Doth own from him the virtue, fashions it.


s: Erewhile, with lilied crowning, well content


s: Following gently the impress of the bird.


s: Sweet star! what glorious and thick-studded gems


s: To be the effluence of that heav'n, which thou,


s: Therefore I pray the Sovran Mind, from whom


s: That he would look from whence the fog doth rise,


s: He may put forth his hand 'gainst such, as drive


s: Their traffic in that sanctuary, whose walls


s: With miracles and martyrdoms were built.


s: Ye host of heaven! whose glory I survey!


s: O beg ye grace for those, that are on earth


s: War once had for its instrument the sword:


s: But now 't is made, taking the bread away


s: Which the good Father locks from none.  --And thou,


s: That writes but to cancel, think, that they,


s: Who for the vineyard, which thou wastest, died,


s: Peter and Paul live yet, and mark thy doings.


s: Thou hast good cause to cry, "My heart so cleaves


s: And from the wilds was dragg'd to martyrdom,


s: Before my sight appear'd, with open wings,


s: Gladdening the thronged spirits.  Each did seem


s: The sun-beam glow'd that to mine eyes it came


s: In clear refraction.  And that, which next


s: Befalls me to portray, voice hath not utter'd,


s: Was e'er conceiv'd.  For I beheld and heard


s: The beak discourse; and, what intention form'd


s: Beginning: "For that I was just and piteous,


s: The which no wish exceeds: and there on earth


s: Commended, while they leave its course untrod."


s: And one the voice, that issued from them all.


s: Whence I address them: "O perennial flowers


s: Breathe now; and let the hunger be appeas'd,


s: That with great craving long hath held my soul,


s: Finding no food on earth.  This well I know,


s: That if there be in heav'n a realm, that shows


s: In faithful mirror the celestial Justice,


s: Yours without veil reflects it.  Ye discern


s: With such inveterate craving."  Straight I saw,


s: That rears his head, and claps him with his wings,


s: So saw I move that stately sign, with praise


s: "Who turn'd his compass on the world's extreme,


s: And in that space so variously hath wrought,


s: Both openly, and in secret, in such wise


s: Could not through all the universe display


s: Of his omniscience should not still remain


s: He first through pride supplanted, who was sum


s: Whence needs each lesser nature is but scant


s: Therefore your sight, of th' omnipresent Mind


s: The ken, your world is gifted with, descends


s: As eye doth in the sea; which though it mark


s: The bottom from the shore, in the wide main


s: Discerns it not; and ne'ertheless it is,


s: But hidden through its deepness.  Light is none,


s: Save that which cometh from the pure serene


s: 'Tis darkness all, or shadow of the flesh,


s: Or else its poison.  Here confess reveal'd


s: That covert, which hath hidden from thy search


s: The living justice, of the which thou mad'st


s: Such frequent question; for thou saidst--'A man


s: Is born on Indus' banks, and none is there


s: Who speaks of Christ, nor who doth read nor write,


s: But unbaptiz'd he dies, and void of faith.


s: Where is the justice that condemns him?  where


s: His blame, if he believeth not?'--What then,


s: And who art thou, that on the stool wouldst sit


s: To judge at distance of a thousand miles


s: With the short-sighted vision of a span?


s: The primal will, that in itself is good,


s: Hath from itself, the chief Good, ne'er been mov'd.


s: Whose very cause depends upon its beam."


s: As on her nest the stork, that turns about


s: Unto her young, whom lately she hath fed,


s: While they with upward eyes do look on her;


s: Lab'ring with such deep counsel.  Wheeling round


s: It warbled, and did say: "As are my notes


s: To thee, who understand'st them not, such is


s: Then still abiding in that ensign rang'd,


s: Wherewith the Romans over-awed the world,


s: Those burning splendours of the Holy Spirit


s: Took up the strain; and thus it spake again:


s: Were nail'd upon the wood.  But lo! of those


s: Who call 'Christ, Christ,' there shall be many found,


s: In judgment, further off from him by far,


s: Than such, to whom his name was never known.


s: Christians like these the Ethiop shall condemn:


s: When that the two assemblages shall part;


s: "What may the Persians say unto your kings,


s: When they shall see that volume, in the which


s: All their dispraise is written, spread to view?


s: There amidst Albert's works shall that be read,


s: Which will give speedy motion to the pen,


s: When Prague shall mourn her desolated realm.


s: There shall be read the woe, that he doth work


s: Who by the tusk will perish: there be read


s: The thirsting pride, that maketh fool alike


s: The English and Scot, impatient of their bound.


s: There shall be seen the Spaniard's luxury,


s: The delicate living there of the Bohemian,


s: Who still to worth has been a willing stranger.


s: No less a mark than million.  He, who guards


s: The isle of fire by old Anchises honour'd


s: Shall find his avarice there and cowardice;


s: The writing must be letters maim'd, that speak


s: Much in a narrow space.  All there shall know


s: His uncle and his brother's filthy doings,


s: And Norway, there shall be expos'd with him


s: Thy ill-entreating! and, O blest Navarre!


s: If with thy mountainous girdle thou wouldst arm thee


s: In earnest of that day, e'en now are heard


s: Wailings and groans in Famagosta's streets


s: Who keepeth even footing with the rest."


s: When, disappearing, from our hemisphere,


s: The world's enlightener vanishes, and day


s: Of such vicissitude in heaven I thought,


s: As the great sign, that marshaleth the world


s: And the world's leaders, in the blessed beak


s: Was silent; for that all those living lights,


s: Waxing in splendour, burst forth into songs,


s: Such as from memory glide and fall away.


s: Sweet love! that dost apparel thee in smiles,


s: How lustrous was thy semblance in those sparkles,


s: Which merely are from holy thoughts inspir'd!


s: After the precious and bright beaming stones,


s: That did ingem the sixth light, ceas'd the chiming


s: Of their angelic bells; methought I heard


s: The murmuring of a river, that doth fall


s: From rock to rock transpicuous, making known


s: The richness of his spring-head: and as sound


s: Of cistern, at the fret-board, or of pipe,


s: Is, at the wind-hole, modulate and tun'd;


s: Thus up the neck, as it were hollow, rose


s: That murmuring of the eagle, and forthwith


s: Voice there assum'd, and thence along the beak


s: Issued in form of words, such as my heart


s: Did look for, on whose tables I inscrib'd them.


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


s: That figure me, those, glittering in mine eye,


s: Are chief of all the greatest.  This, that shines


s: Midmost for pupil, was the same, who sang


s: The ark from town to town; now doth he know


s: The merit of his soul-impassion'd strains


s: By their well-fitted guerdon.  Of the five,


s: How dear he costeth not to follow Christ,


s: Both from experience of this pleasant life,


s: And of its opposite.  He next, who follows


s: In the circumference, for the over arch,


s: By true repenting slack'd the pace of death:


s: Now knoweth he, that the degrees of heav'n


s: Alter not, when through pious prayer below


s: The other following, with the laws and me,


s: To yield the shepherd room, pass'd o'er to Greece,


s: Now knoweth he, how all the ill, deriv'd


s: From his well doing, doth not helm him aught,


s: Though it have brought destruction on the world.


s: That, which thou seest in the under bow,


s: Was William, whom that land bewails, which weeps


s: For Charles and Frederick living: now he knows


s: How well is lov'd in heav'n the righteous king,


s: Which he betokens by his radiant seeming.


s: Who in the erring world beneath would deem,


s: That Trojan Ripheus in this round was set


s: Fifth of the saintly splendours?  now he knows


s: Enough of that, which the world cannot see,


s: Reach not its utmost depth."  Like to the lark,


s: That warbling in the air expatiates long,


s: Then, trilling out his last sweet melody,


s: Drops satiate with the sweetness; such appear'd


s: That image stampt by the' everlasting pleasure,


s: Which fashions like itself all lovely things.


s: As is through glass the hue that mantles it,


s: "What things are these?"  involuntary rush'd,


s: And forc'd a passage out: whereat I mark'd


s: The eye was kindled: and the blessed sign


s: No more to keep me wond'ring and suspense,


s: Replied: "I see that thou believ'st these things,


s: Because I tell them, but discern'st not how;


s: So that thy knowledge waits not on thy faith:


s: As one who knows the name of thing by rote,


s: Till other's tongue reveal them.  Fervent love


s: The kingdom of the heavens, and overcome


s: The will of the Most high; not in such sort


s: As man prevails o'er man; but conquers it,


s: Because 't is willing to be conquer'd, still,


s: Though conquer'd, by its mercy conquering.


s: "Those, in the eye who live the first and fifth,


s: Cause thee to marvel, in that thou behold'st


s: The region of the angels deck'd with them.


s: They quitted not their bodies, as thou deem'st,


s: Gentiles but Christians, in firm rooted faith,


s: This of the feet in future to be pierc'd,


s: That of feet nail'd already to the cross.


s: Came back unto his bones.  Of lively hope


s: Such was the meed; of lively hope, that wing'd


s: The prayers sent up to God for his release,


s: And put power into them to bend his will.


s: The glorious Spirit, of whom I speak to thee,


s: Believ'd in him, who had the means to help,


s: And, in believing, nourish'd such a flame


s: He was made sharer in our gamesome mirth.


s: The other, through the riches of that grace,


s: Which from so deep a fountain doth distil,


s: Plac'd all his love below on just and right:


s: Wherefore of grace God op'd in him the eye


s: The filth of paganism, and for their ways


s: Rebuk'd the stubborn nations.  The three nymphs,


s: Whom at the right wheel thou beheldst advancing,


s: Were sponsors for him more than thousand years


s: As see not the First cause entire: and ye,


s: Such scantiness of knowledge our delight:


s: Concentrate, and God's will and ours are one."


s: So, by that form divine, was giv'n to me


s: Sweet medicine to clear and strengthen sight,


s: And, as one handling skillfully the harp,


s: Attendant on some skilful songster's voice


s: Bids the chords vibrate, and therein the song


s: Acquires more pleasure; so, the whilst it spake,


s: Like the accordant twinkling of two eyes,


s: Their beamy circlets, dancing to the sounds.


s: And with mine eyes my soul, that in her looks


s: Found all contentment.  Yet no smile she wore


s: And, "Did I smile," quoth she, "thou wouldst be straight


s: For, mounting these eternal palace-stairs,


s: As thou hast noted, still doth kindle more,


s: So shines, that, were no temp'ring interpos'd,


s: Thy mortal puissance would from its rays


s: Shrink, as the leaf doth from the thunderbolt.


s: Into the seventh splendour are we wafted,


s: That underneath the burning lion's breast


s: Beams, in this hour, commingled with his might,


s: Thy mind be with thine eyes: and in them mirror'd


s: The shape, which in this mirror shall be shown."


s: May know, when to new thoughts I chang'd, what joy


s: Within the crystal, which records the name,


s: Of that lov'd monarch, in whose happy reign


s: No ill had power to harm, I saw rear'd up,


s: So lofty was the summit; down whose steps


s: Descending, ev'ry light in heav'n, methought,


s: Was shed thence.  As the rooks, at dawn of day


s: Bestirring them to dry their feathers chill,


s: Some speed their way a-field, and homeward some,


s: Returning, cross their flight, while some abide


s: And wheel around their airy lodge; so seem'd


s: That glitterance, wafted on alternate wing,


s: As upon certain stair it met, and clash'd


s: Its shining. And one ling'ring near us, wax'd


s: So bright, that in my thought: said: "The love,


s: Which this betokens me, admits no doubt."


s: To her, by whom my silence and my speech


s: Are order'd, looking for a sign: whence she,


s: Who in the sight of Him, that seeth all,


s: T' indulge the fervent wish; and I began:


s: That thou shouldst answer me; but for her sake,


s: Who hath vouchsaf'd my asking, spirit blest!


s: That in thy joy art shrouded! say the cause,


s: Which bringeth thee so near: and wherefore, say,


s: Keep silence here, pervading with such sounds


s: "Mortal art thou in hearing as in sight;"


s: Was the reply: "and what forbade the smile


s: Only to yield thee gladness of my voice,


s: And of the light that vests me, I thus far


s: Descend these hallow'd steps: not that more love


s: Invites me; for lo! there aloft, as much


s: Or more of love is witness'd in those flames:


s: That makes us ready servants, as thou seest,


s: "That in this court," said I, "O sacred lamp!


s: Love no compulsion needs, but follows free


s: This harder find to deem, why of thy peers


s: Thou only to this office wert foredoom'd."


s: Upon its centre whirl'd the light; and then


s: The love, that did inhabit there, replied:


s: "Splendour eternal, piercing through these folds,


s: That on the sov'ran essence, which it wells from,


s: I have the power to gaze: and hence the joy,


s: Wherewith I sparkle, equaling with my blaze


s: The keenness of my sight.  But not the soul,


s: That is in heav'n most lustrous, nor the seraph


s: That hath his eyes most fix'd on God, shall solve


s: What thou hast ask'd: for in th' abyss it lies


s: And, to the mortal world when thou return'st,


s: Be this reported; that none henceforth dare


s: Direct his footsteps to so dread a bourn.


s: The mind, that here is radiant, on the earth


s: Is wrapt in mist.  Look then if she may do,


s: When she is ta'en to heav'n."  By words like these


s: Admonish'd, I the question urg'd no more;


s: T' instruct me of its state.  "'Twixt either shore


s: The thunder doth not lift his voice so high,


s: They call it Catria: at whose foot a cell


s: A third time thus it spake; then added: "There


s: That with no costlier viands than the juice


s: Of summer and the winter frosts, content


s: In heav'n-ward musings.  Rich were the returns


s: And fertile, which that cloister once was us'd


s: To render to these heavens: now 't is fall'n


s: Of mortal life, through much importuning


s: I was constrain'd to wear the hat that still


s: From bad to worse it shifted.--Cephas came;


s: He came, who was the Holy Spirit's vessel,


s: Barefoot and lean, eating their bread, as chanc'd,


s: At the first table.  Modern Shepherd's need


s: Those who on either hand may prop and lead them,


s: So burly are they grown: and from behind


s: Others to hoist them.  Down the palfrey's sides


s: Spread their broad mantles, so as both the beasts


s: Are cover'd with one skin.  O patience! thou


s: That lookst on this and doth endure so long."


s: I at those accents saw the splendours down


s: From step to step alight, and wheel, and wax,


s: Each circuiting, more beautiful.  Round this


s: They came, and stay'd them; uttered them a shout


s: So loud, it hath no likeness here: nor I


s: Wist what it spake, so deaf'ning was the thunder.


s: I turn'd me, like the chill, who always runs


s: Thither for succour, where he trusteth most,


s: And she was like the mother, who her son


s: Beholding pale and breathless, with her voice


s: Soothes him, and he is cheer'd; for thus she spake,


s: Soothing me: "Know'st not thou, thou art in heav'n?


s: And know'st not thou, whatever is in heav'n,


s: But is done zealously and well?  Deem now,


s: What change in thee the song, and what my smile


s: had wrought, since thus the shout had pow'r to move thee.


s: In which couldst thou have understood their prayers,


s: The vengeance were already known to thee,


s: Which thou must witness ere thy mortal hour,


s: The sword of heav'n is not in haste to smite,


s: Nor yet doth linger, save unto his seeming,


s: But elsewhere now l bid thee turn thy view;


s: So shalt thou many a famous spirit behold."


s: Mine eyes directing, as she will'd, I saw


s: A hundred little spheres, that fairer grew


s: By interchange of splendour.  I remain'd,


s: As one, who fearful of o'er-much presuming,


s: Nor dares to question, when amid those pearls,


s: One largest and most lustrous onward drew,


s: That it might yield contentment to my wish;


s: And from within it these the sounds I heard.


s: That burns amongst us, what thy mind conceives,


s: Were utter'd.  But that, ere the lofty bound


s: Thou reach, expectance may not weary thee,


s: Which thou hast such respect of.  In old days,


s: That mountain, at whose side Cassino rests,


s: Deceived and ill dispos'd: and I it was,


s: Who thither carried first the name of Him,


s: Who brought the soul-subliming truth to man.


s: And such a speeding grace shone over me,


s: That from their impious worship I reclaim'd


s: The dwellers round about, who with the world


s: Were in delusion lost.  These other flames,


s: The spirits of men contemplative, were all


s: Enliven'd by that warmth, whose kindly force


s: Gives birth to flowers and fruits of holiness.


s: And here my brethren, who their steps refrain'd


s: Within the cloisters, and held firm their heart."


s: I answ'ring, thus; "Thy gentle words and kind,


s: And this the cheerful semblance, I behold


s: Have rais'd assurance in me, wakening it


s: Before the sun, when the consummate flower


s: Has spread to utmost amplitude.  Of thee


s: Upon thine image, by no covering veil'd."


s: "Brother!"  he thus rejoin'd, "in the last sphere


s: For there on each desire completion waits,


s: And there on mine: where every aim is found


s: Perfect, entire, and for fulfillment ripe.


s: There all things are as they have ever been:


s: For space is none to bound, nor pole divides,


s: And so at giddy distance mocks thy view.


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