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


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


s: There needs must be a limit, beyond which


s: Its contrary prevents the further passing,


s: And thence the foreign radiance is reflected,


s: Even as a colour cometh back from glass,


s: The which behind itself concealeth lead.


s: Now thou wilt say the sunbeam shows itself


s: More dimly there than in the other parts,


s: From this reply experiment will free thee


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


s: The fountain to the rivers of your arts.


s: Three mirrors shalt thou take, and two remove


s: Between the former two shall meet thine eyes.


s: Turned towards these, cause that behind thy back


s: Be placed a light, illuming the three mirrors


s: And coming back to thee by all reflected.


s: The image most remote, there shalt thou see


s: Now, as beneath the touches of warm rays


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


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


s: Distinguished from it, and by it contained.


s: The other spheres, by various differences,


s: All the distinctions which they have within them


s: Dispose unto their ends and their effects.


s: Thus do these organs of the world proceed,


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


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


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


s: Unto the truth thou wishest, that hereafter


s: Thou mayst alone know how to keep the ford


s: The power and motion of the holy spheres,


s: Forth from the blessed motors must proceed.


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


s: From the Intelligence profound, which turns it,


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


s: Through members different and accommodated


s: Make with the precious body that it quickens,


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


s: From the glad nature whence it is derived,


s: The mingled virtue through the body shines,


s: Even as gladness through the living pupil.


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


s: Appeareth different, not from dense and rare:


s: This is the formal principle that produces,


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


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


s: Of beauteous truth had unto me discovered,


s: By proving and reproving, the sweet aspect.


s: And, that I might confess myself convinced


s: But there appeared a vision, which withdrew me


s: Such as through polished and transparent glass,


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


s: Come back again the outlines of our faces


s: So feeble, that a pearl on forehead white


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


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


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


s: Direct into the light of my sweet Guide,


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


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


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


s: True substances are these which thou beholdest,


s: Therefore speak with them, listen and believe;


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


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


s: And I unto the shade that seemed most wishful


s: As one whom too great eagerness bewilders:


s: Of life eternal dost the sweetness taste


s: Which being untasted ne'er is comprehended,


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


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


s: Whereat she promptly and with laughing eyes:


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


s: And if thy mind doth contemplate me well,


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


s: Who, stationed here among these other blessed,


s: Myself am blessed in the slowest sphere.


s: And this allotment, which appears so low,


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


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


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


s: Which doth transform you from our first conceptions.


s: Therefore I was not swift in my remembrance;


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


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


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


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


s: Thereafter answered me so full of gladness,


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


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


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


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


s: And if thou lookest well into its nature;


s: Nay, 'tis essential to this blest existence


s: So that, as we are station above station


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


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


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


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


s: In heaven is Paradise, although the grace


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


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


s: And for another still remains the longing,


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


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


s: To learn from her what was the web wherein


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


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


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


s: That until death they may both watch and sleep


s: Beside that Spouse who every vow accepts


s: Which charity conformeth to his pleasure.


s: To follow her, in girlhood from the world


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


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


s: God knows what afterward my life became.


s: This other splendour, which to thee reveals


s: Itself on my right side, and is enkindled


s: With all the illumination of our sphere,


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


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


s: But when she too was to the world returned


s: Against her wishes and against good usage,


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


s: Of great Costanza this is the effulgence,


s: Brought forth the third and latest puissance."


s: Vanished, as through deep water something heavy.


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


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


s: Turned round unto the mark of more desire,


s: But she such lightnings flashed into mine eyes,


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


s: And this in questioning more backward made me.


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


s: Ere either he could bring unto his teeth.


s: Of two fierce wolves stand fearing both alike;


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


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


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


s: More fervent far than by articulate speech.


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


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


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


s: Thou arguest, if good will be permanent,


s: Doth it decrease the measure of my merit?


s: Again for doubting furnish thee occasion


s: These are the questions which upon thy wish


s: Are thrusting equally; and therefore first


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


s: He of the Seraphim most absorbed in God,


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


s: Have not in any other heaven their seats,


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


s: But all make beautiful the primal circle,


s: And have sweet life in different degrees,


s: By feeling more or less the eternal breath.


s: They showed themselves here, not because allotted


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


s: Of the celestial which is least exalted.


s: Since only through the sense it apprehendeth


s: On this account the Scripture condescends


s: To God attributes, and means something else;


s: Doth not resemble that which here is seen,


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


s: Believing it to have been severed thence


s: Than the words sound, and possibly may be


s: If he doth mean that to these wheels return


s: The honour of their influence and the blame,


s: Perhaps his bow doth hit upon some truth.


s: This principle ill understood once warped


s: The whole world nearly, till it went astray


s: The other doubt which doth disquiet thee


s: Could never lead thee otherwhere from me.


s: That as unjust our justice should appear


s: But still, that your perception may be able


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


s: These souls were not on that account excused;


s: For will is never quenched unless it will,


s: If violence a thousand times distort it.


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


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


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


s: Which Lawrence fast upon his gridiron held,


s: It would have urged them back along the road


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


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


s: As thou shouldst do, the argument is refuted


s: That would have still annoyed thee many times.


s: Before thine eyes, and such that by thyself


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


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


s: So that she seemeth here to contradict me.


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


s: That, to escape from peril, with reluctance


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


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


s: That force with will commingles, and they cause


s: Hence when Piccarda uses this expression,


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


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


s: Said I forthwith, "whose speech inundates me


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


s: As to suffice in rendering grace for grace;


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


s: Our intellect unless the Truth illume it,


s: Beyond which nothing true expands itself.


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: This doth invite me, this assurance give me


s: For broken vows with other good deeds, so


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


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


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


s: And almost lost myself with eyes downcast.


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


s: Beyond the measure that on earth is seen,


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


s: Marvel thou not thereat; for this proceeds


s: From perfect sight, which as it apprehends


s: And if some other thing your love seduce,


s: Ill understood, which there is shining through.


s: Thou fain wouldst know if with another service


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


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


s: "The greatest gift that in his largess God


s: Creating made, and unto his own goodness


s: Nearest conformed, and that which he doth prize


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


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


s: So that when thou consentest God consents:


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


s: What can be rendered then as compensation?


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


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


s: Now art thou certain of the greater point;


s: But because Holy Church in this dispenses,


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


s: Behoves thee still to sit awhile at table,


s: Because the solid food which thou hast taken


s: Requireth further aid for thy digestion.


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


s: In the essence of this sacrifice two things


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


s: Unless complied with, and concerning this


s: With such precision has above been spoken.


s: Therefore it was enjoined upon the Hebrews


s: To offer still, though sometimes what was offered


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


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


s: May well indeed be such that one errs not


s: But let none shift the burden on his shoulder


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


s: If in the substitute the thing relinquished,


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


s: Therefore whatever thing has so great weight


s: In value that it drags down every balance,


s: Cannot be satisfied with other spending.


s: Be faithful and not blind in doing that,


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: And the Pastor of the Church who guideth you


s: Let this suffice you unto your salvation.


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


s: Combats at its own pleasure with itself."


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


s: Her silence and her change of countenance


s: That had already in advance new questions;


s: Strikes ere the bowstring quiet hath become,


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


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


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


s: The fishes draw to that which from without


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


s: So I beheld more than a thousand splendours


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


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


s: By the effulgence clear that issued from it.


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


s: No farther should proceed, how thou wouldst have


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


s: Was in desire of hearing their conditions,


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


s: To see the thrones of the eternal triumph,


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


s: Kindled are we, and hence if thou desirest


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


s: Thus by some one among those holy spirits


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


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


s: "Well I perceive how thou dost nest thyself


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


s: Because they coruscate when thou dost smile,


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


s: Spirit august, thy station in the sphere


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


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


s: Even as the sun, that doth conceal himself


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


s: The tempering influence of the vapours dense,


s: By greater rapture thus concealed itself


s: And thus close, close enfolded answered me


s: In fashion as the following Canto sings.


s: "After that Constantine the eagle turned


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


s: Two hundred years and more the bird of God


s: Near to the mountains whence it issued first;


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


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


s: Took from the laws the useless and redundant;


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


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


s: The supreme pastor, to the faith sincere


s: Him I believed, and what was his assertion


s: Each contradiction to be false and true.


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


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


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


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


s: Now here to the first question terminates


s: Constrains me to continue with a sequel,


s: In order that thou see with how great reason


s: Men move against the standard sacrosanct,


s: Behold how great a power has made it worthy


s: When Pallas died to give it sovereignty.


s: Three hundred years and upward, till at last


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


s: Thou knowest what it achieved from Sabine wrong


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


s: O'ercoming round about the neighboring nations;


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


s: Illustrious against Brennus, against Pyrrhus,


s: Against the other princes and confederates.


s: Torquatus thence and Quinctius, who from locks


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


s: Who, following Hannibal, had passed across


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


s: Beneath it triumphed while they yet were young


s: Beneath which thou wast born it bitter seemed;


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


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


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


s: What it achieved from Var unto the Rhine,


s: Isere beheld and Saone, beheld the Seine,


s: And every valley whence the Rhone is filled;


s: What it achieved when it had left Ravenna,


s: And leaped the Rubicon, was such a flight


s: That neither tongue nor pen could follow it.


s: Round towards Spain it wheeled its legions; then


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


s: Antandros and the Simois, whence it started,


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


s: From thence it came like lightning upon Juba;


s: Then wheeled itself again into your West,


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


s: Brutus and Cassius howl in Hell together,


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


s: Took from the adder sudden and black death.


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


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


s: But what the standard that has made me speak


s: Achieved before, and after should achieve


s: Throughout the mortal realm that lies beneath it,


s: Because the living Justice that inspires me


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


s: The glory of doing vengeance for its wrath.


s: And when the tooth of Lombardy had bitten


s: The Holy Church, then underneath its wings


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


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


s: Which are the cause of all your miseries.


s: To the public standard one the yellow lilies


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


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


s: Let, let the Ghibellines ply their handicraft


s: Beneath some other standard; for this ever


s: Ill follows he who it and justice parts.


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


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


s: That from a nobler lion stripped the fell.


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


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


s: With the good spirits that have active been,


s: That fame and honour might come after them;


s: And whensoever the desires mount thither,


s: Of the true love less vividly mount upward.


s: Because we see them neither less nor greater.


s: So in this life of ours the seats diverse


s: Render sweet harmony among these spheres;


s: And in the compass of this present pearl


s: The grand and beauteous work was ill rewarded.


s: But the Provencals who against him wrought,


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


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


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


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


s: Then he departed poor and stricken in years,


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


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


s: This substance, upon which a double light


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


s: And in the manner of swift-hurrying sparks


s: Veiled themselves from me with a sudden distance.


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


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


s: Who slakes my thirst with her sweet effluences;


s: And yet that reverence which doth lord it over


s: Bowed me again like unto one who drowses.


s: Short while did Beatrice endure me thus;


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


s: After what manner a just vengeance justly


s: Could be avenged has put thee upon thinking,


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


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


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


s: Lay sick for many centuries in great error,


s: Till to descend it pleased the Word of God


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


s: Estranged itself, he joined to him in person


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


s: Therefore the penalty the cross held out,


s: None ever yet with so great justice stung,


s: And none was ever of so great injustice,


s: Considering who the Person was that suffered,


s: Within whom such a nature was contracted.


s: From one act therefore issued things diverse;


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


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


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


s: With great desire it waits to free itself.


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


s: Wherefore this mode was worthiest will I say.


s: Goodness Divine, which from itself doth spurn


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


s: Is its impression when it sets its seal.


s: Whate'er from this immediately rains down


s: Is wholly free, because it is not subject


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


s: For the blest ardour that irradiates all things


s: In that most like itself is most vivacious.


s: With all of these things has advantaged been


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


s: 'Tis sin alone which doth disfranchise him,


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


s: Unless he fill up where transgression empties


s: With righteous pains for criminal delights.


s: Nor could itself recover, if thou notest


s: Except by passing one of these two fords:


s: And for this reason man has been from power


s: Therefore it God behoved in his own ways


s: So much more grateful, as it more presents


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


s: Goodness Divine, that doth imprint the world,


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


s: Such high and such magnificent proceeding


s: For God more bounteous was himself to give


s: Than if he only of himself had pardoned;


s: And all the other modes were insufficient


s: Himself had humbled to become incarnate.


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


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


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


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


s: Come to corruption, and short while endure;


s: And these things notwithstanding were created;'


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


s: They should have been secure against corruption.


s: The Angels, brother, and the land sincere


s: In which thou art, created may be called


s: Just as they are in their entire existence;


s: But all the elements which thou hast named,


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


s: Within these stars that round about them go.


s: The soul of every brute and of the plants


s: So with herself, it evermore desires her.


s: And thou from this mayst argue furthermore


s: How human flesh was fashioned at that time


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


s: Rayed out, in the third epicycle turning;


s: The ancient nations in the ancient error,


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


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


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


s: And as within a voice a voice discerned,


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


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


s: Methinks in measure of their inward vision.


s: From a cold cloud descended never winds,


s: Seen come towards us, leaving the gyration


s: And behind those that most in front appeared


s: Then unto us more nearly one approached,


s: We turn around with the celestial Princes,


s: One gyre and one gyration and one thirst,


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


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


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


s: After these eyes of mine themselves had offered


s: Content and certain of herself had made them,


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


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


s: My voice, imprinted with a great affection.


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


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


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


s: My gladness keepeth me concealed from thee,


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: And that horn of Ausonia, which is towned


s: Whence Tronto and Verde in the sea disgorge.


s: Of that dominion which the Danube waters


s: Which greatest scath from Eurus doth receive,)


s: Not through Typhoeus, but through nascent sulphur,


s: Would have awaited her own monarchs still,


s: Through me from Charles descended and from Rudolph,


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


s: And if my brother could but this foresee,


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


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


s: Already freighted no more freight be placed.


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


s: Where every good thing doth begin and end


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


s: That gazing upon God thou dost discern it.


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


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


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


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


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


s: The Good which all the realm thou art ascending


s: Turns and contents, maketh its providence


s: Within the mind that in itself is perfect,


s: But they together with their preservation.


s: For whatsoever thing this bow shoots forth


s: Falls foreordained unto an end foreseen,


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


s: Would in such manner its effects produce,


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: So came he with deductions to this point;


s: Then he concluded: "Therefore it behoves


s: The roots of your effects to be diverse.


s: Hence one is Solon born, another Xerxes,


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


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


s: But not one inn distinguish from another;


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


s: If Providence divine were not triumphant.


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


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


s: And if the world below would fix its mind


s: On the foundation which is laid by nature,


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


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


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


s: Therefore your footsteps wander from the road."


s: Beautiful Clemence, after that thy Charles


s: The treacheries his seed should undergo;


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


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


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


s: Ah, souls deceived, and creatures impious,


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


s: And now, behold, another of those splendours


s: Approached me, and its will to pleasure me


s: The eyes of Beatrice, that fastened were


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


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


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


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


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


s: "Within that region of the land depraved


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


s: That made upon that region great assault.


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


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


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


s: Which would perhaps seem strong unto your vulgar.


s: Great fame remained; and ere it die away


s: This hundredth year shall yet quintupled be.


s: So that another life the first may leave!


s: And thus thinks not the present multitude


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


s: Will change the water that Vicenza bathes,


s: Because the folk are stubborn against duty;


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


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


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


s: That for the like none ever entered Malta.


s: That of the Ferrarese could hold the blood,


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


s: Of which this courteous priest shall make a gift


s: To show himself a partisan; and such gifts


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


s: From which shines out on us God Judicant,


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


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


s: Of being turned elsewhither, by the wheel


s: Became a thing transplendent in my sight,


s: Through joy effulgence is acquired above,


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


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


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


s: Of his can possibly from thee be hidden;


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


s: Glad, with the singing of those holy fires


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


s: Wherefore does it not satisfy my longings?


s: Indeed, I would not wait thy questioning


s: "The greatest of the valleys where the water


s: Expands itself," forthwith its words began,


s: "That sea excepted which the earth engarlands,


s: Between discordant shores against the sun


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


s: 'Twixt Ebro and Magra that with journey short


s: With the same sunset and same sunrise nearly


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


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


s: For more the daughter of Belus never burned,


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


s: But at the power which ordered and foresaw.


s: With such affection, and the good discover


s: Whereby the world above turns that below.


s: But that thou wholly satisfied mayst bear


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


s: Thou fain wouldst know who is within this light


s: That here beside me thus is scintillating,


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


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


s: Into this heaven, where ends the shadowy cone


s: Cast by your world, before all other souls


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


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


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


s: Because she favoured the first glorious deed


s: That little stirs the memory of the Pope.


s: Who first upon his Maker turned his back,


s: Brings forth and scatters the accursed flower


s: Which both the sheep and lambs hath led astray


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


s: For this the Evangel and the mighty Doctors


s: So studied that it shows upon their margins.


s: There where his pinions Gabriel unfolded;


s: Which each of them eternally breathes forth,


s: Whate'er before the mind or eye revolves


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


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


s: With me thy vision straight unto that part


s: Where the one motion on the other strikes,


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


s: That never doth his eye depart therefrom.


s: Behold how from that point goes branching off


s: The oblique circle, which conveys the planets,


s: To satisfy the world that calls upon them;


s: And if their pathway were not thus inflected,


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


s: If from the straight line distant more or less


s: Were the departure, much would wanting be


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


s: In thought pursuing that which is foretasted,


s: If thou wouldst jocund be instead of weary.


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


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


s: The greatest of the ministers of nature,


s: Who with the power of heaven the world imprints


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


s: With that part which above is called to mind


s: Conjoined, along the spirals was revolving,


s: Where each time earlier he presents himself;


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


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


s: That not by time her action is expressed,


s: How lucent in herself must she have been!


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


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


s: Cannot so tell that it could be imagined;


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


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


s: Such in this place was the fourth family


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


s: Showing how he breathes forth and how begets.


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


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


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


s: So that the splendour of her laughing eyes


s: Lights many saw I, vivid and triumphant,


s: Make us a centre and themselves a circle,


s: More sweet in voice than luminous in aspect.


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


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


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


s: They cannot be transported from the realm;


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


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


s: As soon as singing thus those burning suns


s: Had round about us whirled themselves three times,


s: Like unto stars neighbouring the steadfast poles,


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


s: But who stop short, in silence listening


s: The radiance of grace, by which is kindled


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


s: Within thee multiplied is so resplendent


s: That it conducts thee upward by that stair,


s: Where without reascending none descends,


s: Who should deny the wine out of his vial


s: Except as water which descends not seaward.


s: Fain wouldst thou know with what plants is enflowered


s: This garland that encircles with delight


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


s: Where well one fattens if he strayeth not.


s: My brother and master was; and he Albertus


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


s: Follow behind my speaking with thy sight


s: Upward along the blessed garland turning.


s: That next effulgence issues from the smile


s: Of Gratian, who assisted both the courts


s: In such wise that it pleased in Paradise.


s: The other which near by adorns our choir


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


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


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


s: Within it is the lofty mind, where knowledge


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


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


s: Thou seest next the lustre of that taper,


s: Which in the flesh below looked most within


s: Within that other little light is smiling


s: The advocate of the Christian centuries,


s: Out of whose rhetoric Augustine was furnished.


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


s: From light to light pursuant of my praise,


s: With thirst already of the eighth thou waitest.


s: The sainted soul, which the fallacious world


s: Makes manifest to him who listeneth well;


s: The body whence 'twas hunted forth is lying


s: See farther onward flame the burning breath


s: This, whence to me returneth thy regard,


s: In his grave meditations death seemed slow.


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


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


s: Wherein one part the other draws and urges,


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


s: That swells with love the spirit well disposed,


s: Thus I beheld the glorious wheel move round,


s: And render voice to voice, in modulation


s: And sweetness that can not be comprehended,


s: Excepting there where joy is made eternal.


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


s: Was going, and one following the priesthood,


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


s: One in the pleasures of the flesh involved


s: Wearied himself, one gave himself to ease;


s: When I, from all these things emancipate,


s: With Beatrice above there in the Heavens


s: When each one had returned unto that point


s: And from within the effulgence which at first


s: The occasion of thy thoughts I apprehend.


s: Thou doubtest, and wouldst have me to resift


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


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


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


s: And here 'tis needful we distinguish well.


s: The Providence, which governeth the world


s: With counsel, wherein all created vision


s: Is vanquished ere it reach unto the bottom,


s: (So that towards her own Beloved might go


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


s: Espoused her with his consecrated blood,


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


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


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


s: In praising one, whichever may be taken,


s: Because unto one end their labours were.


s: Between Tupino and the stream that falls


s: Down from the hill elect of blessed Ubald,


s: A fertile slope of lofty mountain hangs,


s: From which Perugia feels the cold and heat


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


s: Its steepness, rose upon the world a sun


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


s: Therefore let him who speaketh of that place,


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


s: He was not yet far distant from his rising


s: Some comfort from his mighty virtue feel.


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


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


s: The gate of pleasure no one doth unlock;


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


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


s: One thousand and one hundred years and more,


s: Naught it availed to hear, that with Amyclas


s: Found her unmoved at sounding of his voice


s: He who struck terror into all the world;


s: Naught it availed being constant and undaunted,


s: So that, when Mary still remained below,


s: She mounted up with Christ upon the cross.


s: Francis and Poverty for these two lovers


s: Take thou henceforward in my speech diffuse.


s: Their concord and their joyous semblances,


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Which now was girding on the humble cord;


s: Nor cowardice of heart weighed down his brow


s: Received the primal seal upon his Order.


s: Better in glory of the heavens were sung,


s: Was through Honorius by the Eternal Spirit


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


s: In the proud presence of the Sultan preached


s: Christ and the others who came after him,


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


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


s: From Christ did he receive the final seal,


s: Which during two whole years his members bore.


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


s: Was pleased to draw him up to the reward


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


s: And bade that they should love her faithfully;


s: Wished to depart, returning to its realm,


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


s: The bark of Peter to its proper bearings.


s: And this man was our Patriarch; hence whoever


s: But for new pasturage his flock has grown


s: They be not scattered over fields diverse;


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


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


s: That little cloth doth furnish forth their hoods.


s: If thine own hearing hath attentive been,


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


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


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


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


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


s: Song that as greatly doth transcend our Muses,


s: As primal splendour that which is reflected.


s: And as are spanned athwart a tender cloud


s: Two rainbows parallel and like in colour,


s: When Juno to her handmaid gives command,


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


s: Like to the speaking of that vagrant one


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


s: And make the people here, through covenant


s: God set with Noah, presageful of the world


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


s: The garlands twain encompassed us about,


s: And thus the outer to the inner answered.


s: After the dance, and other grand rejoicings,


s: Both of the singing, and the flaming forth


s: Effulgence with effulgence blithe and tender,


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


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


s: Must needs together shut and lift themselves,)


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


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


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


s: Draws me to speak about the other leader,


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


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


s: Together likewise may their glory shine.


s: The soldiery of Christ, which it had cost


s: So dear to arm again, behind the standard


s: Moved slow and doubtful and in numbers few,


s: Provided for the host that was in peril,


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


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


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


s: The straggling people were together drawn.


s: Within that region where the sweet west wind


s: Europe is seen to clothe herself afresh,


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


s: Sometimes conceals himself from every man,


s: In which the Lion subject is and sovereign.


s: Of Christian Faith, the athlete consecrate,


s: That in his mother her it made prophetic.


s: Where they with mutual safety dowered each other,


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


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


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


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


s: With His possessive whose he wholly was.


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


s: Envoy and servant sooth he seemed of Christ,


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


s: Discovered by his nurse upon the ground,


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


s: Not for the world which people toil for now


s: But through his longing after the true manna,


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


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


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


s: Unto the righteous poor, not through itself,


s: But him who sits there and degenerates,)


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


s: He asked for, but against the errant world


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


s: Then with the doctrine and the will together,


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


s: Wherever the resistance was the greatest.


s: Of him were made thereafter divers runnels,


s: So that more living its plantations stand.


s: In which the Holy Church itself defended


s: Thomas so courteous was before my coming.


s: But still the orbit, which the highest part


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


s: His family, that had straight forward moved


s: With feet upon his footprints, are turned round


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


s: And soon aware they will be of the harvest


s: Of this bad husbandry, when shall the tares


s: Complain the granary is taken from them.


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


s: Our volume through, would still some page discover


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


s: 'Twill not be from Casal nor Acquasparta,


s: From whence come such unto the written word


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


s: Who of the first barefooted beggars were


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


s: Hugh of Saint Victor is among them here,


s: Who down below in volumes twelve is shining;


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


s: And the discreet discourses of Friar Thomas,


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


s: Let him imagine, who would well conceive


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


s: The fifteen stars, that in their divers regions


s: That it transcends all clusters of the air;


s: Our vault of heaven sufficeth night and day,


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


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


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


s: Like unto that which Minos' daughter made,


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


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


s: And both to whirl themselves in such a manner


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


s: And he will have some shadowing forth of that


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


s: As swifter than the motion of the Chiana


s: Moveth the heaven that all the rest outspeeds.


s: There sang they neither Bacchus, nor Apollo,


s: The singing and the dance fulfilled their measure,


s: And unto us those holy lights gave need,


s: Then broke the silence of those saints concordant


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


s: Now that its seed is garnered up already,


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


s: Was drawn the rib to form the beauteous cheek


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


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


s: Before and since, such satisfaction made


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: And thou shalt see thy creed and my discourse


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


s: Are nothing but the splendour of the idea


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


s: Because that living Light, which from its fount


s: Effulgent flows, so that it disunites not


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


s: Through its own goodness reunites its rays


s: Thence it descends to the last potencies,


s: Things generated, which the heaven produces


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


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


s: The ideal signet more and less shines through;


s: Therefore it happens, that the selfsame tree


s: After its kind bears worse and better fruit,


s: And ye are born with characters diverse.


s: And were the heaven in its supremest virtue,


s: The brilliance of the seal would all appear;


s: In the like manner working as the artist,


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


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


s: Thus was of old the earth created worthy


s: And thus the Virgin was impregnate made;


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


s: Now if no farther forth I should proceed,


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


s: Would be the first beginning of thy words.


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Triangle so that it have no right angle.


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


s: A regal prudence is that peerless seeing


s: In which the shaft of my intention strikes.


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


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


s: With this distinction take thou what I said,


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


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


s: Who affirms without distinction, or denies,


s: Because it happens that full often bends


s: And then the feelings bind the intellect.


s: Far more than uselessly he leaves the shore,


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


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


s: And in the world proofs manifest thereof


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


s: Thus did Sabellius, Arius, and those fools


s: Who have been even as swords unto the Scriptures


s: In rendering distorted their straight faces.


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


s: For I have seen all winter long the thorn


s: First show itself intractable and fierce,


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


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


s: Let not Dame Bertha nor Ser Martin think,


s: Seeing one steal, another offering make,


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


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


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


s: Silent became the glorious life of Thomas,


s: Because of the resemblance that was born


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


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


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


s: Blossoms your substance shall remain with you


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


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


s: As by a greater gladness urged and drawn


s: They who are dancing in a ring sometimes


s: Uplift their voices and their motions quicken;


s: In their revolving and their wondrous song.


s: Seen the refreshment of the eternal rain.


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


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


s: Not circumscribed and all things circumscribing,


s: Three several times was chanted by each one


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


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


s: Shall radiate round about us such a vesture.


s: Its brightness is proportioned to the ardour,


s: The ardour to the vision; and the vision


s: Equals what grace it has above its worth.


s: When, glorious and sanctified, our flesh


s: More pleasing by their being all complete;


s: For will increase whate'er bestows on us


s: Therefore the vision must perforce increase,


s: Increase the ardour which from that is kindled,


s: Increase the radiance which from this proceeds.


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


s: And by its vivid whiteness overpowers it


s: So that its own appearance it maintains,


s: Thus the effulgence that surrounds us now


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


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


s: For strong will be the organs of the body


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


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


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


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


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


s: And lo! all round about of equal brightness


s: So that the sight seems real and unreal,


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


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


s: Appeared to me, that with the other sights


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


s: Then to uplift themselves mine eyes resumed


s: The power, and I beheld myself translated


s: Well was I ware that I was more uplifted


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


s: Which is the same in all, such holocaust


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


s: This offering was accepted and auspicious;


s: Splendours appeared to me in twofold rays,


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


s: Even as distinct with less and greater lights


s: Glimmers between the two poles of the world


s: Thus constellated in the depths of Mars,


s: That quadrants joining in a circle make.


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


s: But he who takes his cross and follows Christ


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


s: Lights were in motion, brightly scintillating


s: As they together met and passed each other;


s: Thus level and aslant and swift and slow


s: We here behold, renewing still the sight,


s: Across the sunbeam move, wherewith is listed


s: Sometimes the shade, which for their own defence


s: People with cunning and with art contrive.


s: And as a lute and harp, accordant strung


s: With many strings, a dulcet tinkling make


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


s: So from the lights that there to me appeared


s: Which rapt me, not distinguishing the hymn.


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


s: As unto him who hears and comprehends not.


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


s: Perhaps my word appears somewhat too bold,


s: Postponing the delight of those fair eyes,


s: But who bethinks him that the living seals


s: Of every beauty grow in power ascending,


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


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


s: Ever the love that righteously inspires,


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


s: Those substances, which, to give me desire


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


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


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


s: As through the pure and tranquil evening air


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


s: Moving the eyes that steadfast were before,


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


s: Except that in the part where it is kindled


s: Nothing is missed, and this endureth little;


s: So from the horn that to the right extends


s: Nor was the gem dissevered from its ribbon,


s: So that fire seemed it behind alabaster.


s: Thus piteous did Anchises' shade reach forward,


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


s: Then round unto my Lady turned my sight,


s: And on this side and that was stupefied;


s: For in her eyes was burning such a smile


s: That with mine own methought I touched the bottom


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


s: The spirit joined to its beginning things


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


s: Was so far slackened, that its speech descended


s: The first thing that was understood by me


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


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


s: Drawn from the reading of the mighty volume


s: Wherein is never changed the white nor dark,


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


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


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


s: Thou thinkest that to me thy thought doth pass


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


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


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


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


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


s: With sight perpetual, and which makes me thirst


s: With sweet desire, may better be fulfilled,


s: Now let thy voice secure and frank and glad


s: Proclaim the wishes, the desire proclaim,


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


s: That made the wings of my desire increase;


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


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


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


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


s: Diversely feathered in their pinions are.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Well it behoves thee that the long fatigue


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


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


s: Nor ladies shod with sandal shoon, nor girdle


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


s: Not yet the daughter at her birth struck fear


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


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


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


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


s: Contented with their simple suits of buff


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


s: O fortunate women! and each one was certain


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


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


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


s: That first delights the fathers and the mothers;


s: Another, drawing tresses from her distaff,


s: As great a marvel then would have been held


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


s: And from that place thy surname was derived.


s: I followed afterward the Emperor Conrad,


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


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


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


s: Released from bonds of the fallacious world,


s: And came from martyrdom unto this peace."


s: If thou dost make the people glory in thee


s: Down here where our affection languishes,


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


s: For there where appetite is not perverted,


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


s: Truly thou art a cloak that quickly shortens,


s: Time goeth round about thee with his shears!


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


s: Whence Beatrice, who stood somewhat apart,


s: Smiling, appeared like unto her who coughed


s: Because it can endure this and not burst.


s: Then tell me, my beloved root ancestral,


s: Who were your ancestors, and what the years


s: That in your boyhood chronicled themselves?


s: Tell me about the sheepfold of Saint John,


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


s: Quickens to flame, so I beheld that light


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


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


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


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


s: Five hundred fifty times and thirty more,


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


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


s: Silence is more considerate than speech.


s: All those who at that time were there between


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


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


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


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


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


s: Who has sharp eyes for trickery already.


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


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


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


s: There where their grandsires went about as beggars.


s: At Montemurlo still would be the Counts,


s: Has been the source of malady in cities,


s: And a blind bull more headlong plunges down


s: Better and more a single sword than five.


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


s: To hear how races waste themselves away,


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


s: All things of yours have their mortality,


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


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


s: Covers and bares the shores without a pause,


s: In the like manner fortune does with Florence.


s: Therefore should not appear a marvellous thing


s: What I shall say of the great Florentines


s: Even in their fall illustrious citizens;


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


s: Near to the gate that is at present laden


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


s: Of the great Bellincione since hath taken.


s: Had hilt and pommel gilded in his house.


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


s: The stock from which were the Calfucci born


s: To curule chairs the Sizii and Arrigucci.


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


s: Florence enflowered in all their mighty deeds!


s: Who evermore, when vacant is your church,


s: The insolent race, that like a dragon follows


s: Already rising was, but from low people;


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


s: Which from the Della Pera took its name!


s: Each one that bears the beautiful escutcheon


s: Of the great baron whose renown and name


s: Knighthood and privilege from him received;


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


s: If with new neighbours it remained unfed.


s: The house from which is born your lamentation,


s: Through just disdain that death among you brought


s: Was honoured in itself and its companions.


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


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


s: Which guards the bridge, that Florence should provide


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


s: That no occasion had she whence to weep;


s: Never upon the spear was placed reversed,


s: Of that which he had heard against himself,


s: He who makes fathers chary still to children,


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


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


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


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


s: Not that our knowledge may be greater made


s: By speech of thine, but to accustom thee


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


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


s: Ere in themselves they are, fixing thine eyes


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


s: Upon the mountain that the souls doth heal,


s: And when descending into the dead world,


s: Some grievous words; although I feel myself


s: In sooth foursquare against the blows of chance.


s: On this account my wish would be content


s: Because foreseen an arrow comes more slowly."


s: That unto me had spoken before; and even


s: As Beatrice willed was my own will confessed.


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


s: Ensnared themselves of old, ere yet was slain


s: Hid and revealed by its own proper smile:


s: "Contingency, that outside of the volume


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


s: A ship that with the current down descends.


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


s: Sweet harmony from an organ, comes in sight


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


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


s: So thou from Florence must perforce depart.


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


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


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


s: The blame shall follow the offended party


s: In outcry as is usual; but the vengeance


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


s: Which first the bow of banishment shoots forth.


s: Thou shalt have proof how savoureth of salt


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


s: And that which most shall weigh upon thy shoulders


s: With which into this valley thou shalt fall;


s: Will they become against thee; but soon after


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


s: Of their bestiality their own proceedings


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


s: Thine earliest refuge and thine earliest inn


s: Who such benign regard shall have for thee


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


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


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


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


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


s: Around about him have these wheels revolved.


s: But ere the Gascon cheat the noble Henry,


s: Some sparkles of his virtue shall appear


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


s: By him shall many people be transformed,


s: And written in thy mind thou hence shalt bear


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


s: Incredible to those who shall be present.


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


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


s: That are concealed behind few revolutions;


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


s: Because thy life into the future reaches


s: Beyond the punishment of their perfidies."


s: When by its silence showed that sainted soul


s: That it had finished putting in the woof


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


s: Being in doubt, some counsel from a person


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Down through the world of infinite bitterness,


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


s: And afterward through heaven from light to light,


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


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


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


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


s: The light in which was smiling my own treasure


s: Which there I had discovered, flashed at first


s: As in the sunshine doth a golden mirror;


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


s: Will taste forsooth the tartness of thy word;


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


s: And let them scratch wherever is the itch;


s: For if thine utterance shall offensive be


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


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


s: Which smiteth most the most exalted summits,


s: And that is no slight argument of honour.


s: Therefore are shown to thee within these wheels,


s: Upon the mount and in the dolorous valley,


s: Only the souls that unto fame are known;


s: Because the spirit of the hearer rests not,


s: Nor doth confirm its faith by an example


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


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


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


s: Near unto Him who every wrong disburdens."


s: I turned me round, and then what love I saw


s: Within those holy eyes I here relinquish;


s: While the eternal pleasure, which direct


s: Conquering me with the radiance of a smile,


s: She said to me, "Turn thee about and listen;


s: The affection in the look, if it be such


s: So, by the flaming of the effulgence holy


s: The wish of speaking to me somewhat farther.


s: And it began: "In this fifth resting-place


s: Upon the tree that liveth by its summit,


s: And aye bears fruit, and never loses leaf,


s: They came to Heaven, were of such great renown


s: That every Muse therewith would affluent be.


s: Therefore look thou upon the cross's horns;


s: He whom I now shall name will there enact


s: What doth within a cloud its own swift fire."


s: I saw athwart the Cross a splendour drawn


s: And gladness was the whip unto that top.


s: Two of them my regard attentive followed


s: And the Duke Godfrey, did attract my sight


s: Along upon that Cross, and Robert Guiscard.


s: Then, moved and mingled with the other lights,


s: The soul that had addressed me showed how great


s: An artist 'twas among the heavenly singers.


s: To my right side I turned myself around,


s: So full of pleasure, that her countenance


s: Surpassed its other and its latest wont.


s: With heaven together had increased its arc,


s: And such as is the change, in little lapse


s: Is from the load of bashfulness unladen,


s: Such was it in mine eyes, when I had turned,


s: Caused by the whiteness of the temperate star,


s: The sixth, which to itself had gathered me.


s: The sparkling of the love which was therein


s: And even as birds uprisen from the shore,


s: Make squadrons of themselves, now round, now long,


s: So from within those lights the holy creatures


s: Sang flying to and fro, and in their figures


s: First singing they to their own music moved;


s: A little while they rested and were silent.


s: Dost glorious make, and render it long-lived,


s: And this through thee the cities and the kingdoms,


s: Illume me with thyself, that I may bring


s: Their figures out as I have them conceived!


s: Apparent be thy power in these brief verses!


s: Themselves then they displayed in five times seven


s: The parts as they seemed spoken unto me.


s: First verb and noun of all that was depicted;


s: Seemed to be silver there with gold inlaid.


s: And other lights I saw descend where was


s: The summit of the M, and pause there singing


s: The good, I think, that draws them to itself.


s: Whence fools are wont to look for auguries,


s: More than a thousand lights seemed thence to rise,


s: And to ascend, some more, and others less,


s: Even as the Sun that lights them had allotted;


s: He who there paints has none to be his guide;


s: But Himself guides; and is from Him remembered


s: That virtue which is form unto the nest.


s: The other beatitude, that contented seemed


s: By a slight motion followed out the imprint.


s: Did demonstrate to me, that all our justice


s: Effect is of that heaven which thou ingemmest!


s: Wherefore I pray the Mind, in which begin


s: Whence comes the smoke that vitiates thy rays;


s: With buying and with selling in the temple


s: Whose walls were built with signs and martyrdoms!


s: O soldiery of heaven, whom I contemplate,


s: Implore for those who are upon the earth


s: Once 'twas the custom to make war with swords;


s: But now 'tis made by taking here and there


s: The bread the pitying Father shuts from none.


s: Yet thou, who writest but to cancel, think


s: That Peter and that Paul, who for this vineyard


s: Which thou art spoiling died, are still alive!


s: Well canst thou say: "So steadfast my desire


s: That I know not the Fisherman nor Paul."


s: Appeared before me with its wings outspread


s: The beautiful image that in sweet fruition


s: Nor voice has e'er reported, nor ink written,


s: For speak I saw, and likewise heard, the beak,


s: And utter with its voice both 'I' and 'My,'


s: When in conception it was 'We' and 'Our.'


s: Commend it, but continue not the story."


s: Make itself felt, even as from many loves


s: Issued a single sound from out that image.


s: Whence I thereafter: "O perpetual flowers


s: Exhaling, break within me the great fast


s: Which a long season has in hunger held me,


s: Well do I know, that if in heaven its mirror


s: Yours apprehends it not through any veil.


s: To listen; and you know what is the doubt


s: Even as a falcon, issuing from his hood,


s: Doth move his head, and with his wings applaud him,


s: Showing desire, and making himself fine,


s: Saw I become that standard, which of lauds


s: With such songs as he knows who there rejoices.


s: On the world's outer verge, and who within it


s: Could not the impress of his power so make


s: And this makes certain that the first proud being,


s: And hence appears it, that each minor nature


s: Which has no end, and by itself is measured.


s: In consequence our vision, which perforce


s: With which all things whatever are replete,


s: Far beyond that which is apparent to it.


s: The power of vision that your world receives,


s: Which, though it see the bottom near the shore,


s: 'Tis there, but it is hidden by the depth.


s: There is no light but comes from the serene


s: That never is o'ercast, nay, it is darkness


s: Or shadow of the flesh, or else its poison.


s: Which has concealed from thee the living justice


s: Of which thou mad'st such frequent questioning.


s: For saidst thou: 'Born a man is on the shore


s: Of Indus, and is none who there can speak


s: Of Christ, nor who can read, nor who can write;


s: And all his inclinations and his actions


s: Where is this justice that condemneth him?


s: Where is his fault, if he do not believe?'


s: Now who art thou, that on the bench wouldst sit


s: For doubting there were marvellous occasion.


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


s: Ne'er from itself, the Good Supreme, has moved.


s: So much is just as is accordant with it;


s: But it, by raying forth, occasions that."


s: Even as above her nest goes circling round


s: The stork when she has fed her little ones,


s: And he who has been fed looks up at her,


s: Became the blessed image, which its wings


s: Circling around it sang, and said: "As are


s: My notes to thee, who dost not comprehend them,


s: Such is the eternal judgment to you mortals."


s: Those lucent splendours of the Holy Spirit


s: Grew quiet then, but still within the standard


s: That made the Romans reverend to the world.


s: It recommenced: "Unto this kingdom never


s: Ascended one who had not faith in Christ,


s: Before or since he to the tree was nailed.


s: But look thou, many crying are, 'Christ, Christ!'


s: Who at the judgment shall be far less near


s: To him than some shall be who knew not Christ.


s: Such Christians shall the Ethiop condemn,


s: When the two companies shall be divided,


s: What to your kings may not the Persians say,


s: When they that volume opened shall behold


s: In which are written down all their dispraises?


s: There shall be seen, among the deeds of Albert,


s: That which ere long shall set the pen in motion,


s: For which the realm of Prague shall be deserted.


s: There shall be seen the woe that on the Seine


s: Who by the blow of a wild boar shall die.


s: There shall be seen the pride that causes thirst,


s: Which makes the Scot and Englishman so mad


s: That they within their boundaries cannot rest;


s: Of him who guards the Island of the Fire,


s: Wherein Anchises finished his long life;


s: Shall be his record in contracted letters


s: Which shall make note of much in little space.


s: And shall appear to each one the foul deeds


s: So famous have dishonoured, and two crowns.


s: Shall there be known, and he of Rascia too,


s: Who saw in evil hour the coin of Venice.


s: Be wronged no farther! and Navarre the happy,


s: If with the hills that gird her she be armed!


s: And each one may believe that now, as hansel


s: Lament and rage because of their own beast,


s: Who from the others' flank departeth not."


s: That on all sides the daylight is consumed,


s: The heaven, that erst by him alone was kindled,


s: By many lights, wherein is one resplendent.


s: And came into my mind this act of heaven,


s: When the ensign of the world and of its leaders


s: O gentle Love, that with a smile dost cloak thee,


s: How ardent in those sparks didst thou appear,


s: That had the breath alone of holy thoughts!


s: After the precious and pellucid crystals,


s: With which begemmed the sixth light I beheld,


s: I seemed to hear the murmuring of a river


s: That clear descendeth down from rock to rock,


s: Showing the affluence of its mountain-top.


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


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


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


s: There it became a voice, and issued thence


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


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


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


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


s: Those whence the eye doth sparkle in my head


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


s: Did death postpone by penitence sincere;


s: Now knoweth he that the eternal judgment


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


s: Under the good intent that bore bad fruit


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


s: Although the world thereby may be destroyed.


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


s: Guglielmo was, whom the same land deplores


s: That weepeth Charles and Frederick yet alive;


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: First singing and then silent with content


s: Of the last sweetness that doth satisfy her,


s: Such seemed to me the image of the imprint


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


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


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


s: Extorted with the force of its own weight;


s: Thereafterward with eye still more enkindled


s: "I see that thou believest in these things


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


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


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


s: Cannot perceive, unless another show it.


s: From fervent love, and from that living hope


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


s: But conquers it because it will be conquered,


s: The first life of the eyebrow and the fifth


s: Cause thee astonishment, because with them


s: Thou seest the region of the angels painted.


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


s: Gentiles, but Christians in the steadfast faith


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


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


s: Unto good will, returned unto his bones,


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


s: Of living hope, that placed its efficacy


s: In prayers to God made to resuscitate him,


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


s: The glorious soul concerning which I speak,


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


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


s: Of genuine love, that at the second death


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


s: A fountain wells that never hath the eye


s: Of any creature reached its primal wave,


s: Set all his love below on righteousness;


s: Wherefore from grace to grace did God unclose


s: Whence he believed therein, and suffered not


s: From that day forth the stench of paganism,


s: And he reproved therefor the folk perverse.


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


s: Thou didst behold, were unto him for baptism


s: More than a thousand years before baptizing.


s: Thy root is from the aspect of all those


s: Who the First Cause do not behold entire!


s: And you, O mortals! hold yourselves restrained


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


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


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


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


s: Accompanies with vibrations of the chords,


s: Whereby more pleasantness the song acquires,


s: That I beheld both of those blessed lights,


s: Even as the winking of the eyes concords,


s: Moving unto the words their little flames.


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


s: And from all other purpose was withdrawn;


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


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


s: Because my beauty, that along the stairs


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


s: If it were tempered not, is so resplendent


s: That all thy mortal power in its effulgence


s: Would seem a leaflet that the thunder crushes.


s: We are uplifted to the seventh splendour,


s: That underneath the burning Lion's breast


s: Now radiates downward mingled with his power.


s: Fix in direction of thine eyes the mind,


s: And make of them a mirror for the figure


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


s: He who could know what was the pasturage


s: My sight had in that blessed countenance,


s: By counterpoising one side with the other.


s: Within the crystal which, around the world


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


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


s: Likewise beheld I down the steps descending


s: So many splendours, that I thought each light


s: That in the heaven appears was there diffused.


s: And as accordant with their natural custom


s: Bestir themselves to warm their feathers cold;


s: Then some of them fly off without return,


s: Others come back to where they started from,


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


s: Such fashion it appeared to me was there


s: Within the sparkling that together came,


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


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


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


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


s: In the sight of Him who seeth everything,


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


s: Renders me worthy of response from thee;


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


s: Thou blessed life that dost remain concealed


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


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


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


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


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


s: Thus far adown the holy stairway's steps


s: Have I descended but to give thee welcome


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


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


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


s: But the high charity, that makes us servants


s: Prompt to the counsel which controls the world,


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


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


s: How love unfettered in this court sufficeth


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


s: Unto this office from among thy consorts."


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


s: Whirling itself about like a swift millstone.


s: When answer made the love that was therein:


s: Piercing through this in which I am embosomed,


s: Of which the virtue with my sight conjoined


s: The supreme essence from which this is drawn.


s: Hence comes the joyfulness with which I flame,


s: The clearness of the flame I equal make.


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


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


s: Of the eternal statute what thou askest,


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


s: This carry back, that it may not presume


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


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


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


s: Such limit did its words prescribe to me,


s: The question I relinquished, and restricted


s: "Between two shores of Italy rise cliffs,


s: And not far distant from thy native place,


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


s: Thus unto me the third speech recommenced,


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


s: That feeding only on the juice of olives


s: Lightly I passed away the heats and frosts,


s: That cloister used to render to these heavens


s: So that perforce it soon must be revealed.


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


s: Which shifteth evermore from bad to worse.


s: Of the Holy Spirit, meagre and barefooted,


s: Now some one to support them on each side


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


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


s: They cover up their palfreys with their cloaks,


s: So that two beasts go underneath one skin;


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


s: From step to step descending and revolving,


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


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


s: Turned like a little child who always runs


s: For refuge there where he confideth most;


s: And she, even as a mother who straightway


s: Gives comfort to her pale and breathless boy


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


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


s: And knowest thou not that heaven is holy all


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


s: After what wise the singing would have changed thee


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


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


s: In which if thou hadst understood its prayers


s: Already would be known to thee the vengeance


s: Which thou shalt look upon before thou diest.


s: The sword above here smiteth not in haste


s: But turn thee round towards the others now,


s: For very illustrious spirits shalt thou see,


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


s: And saw a hundred spherules that together


s: With mutual rays each other more embellished.


s: The point of his desire, and ventures not


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


s: Among those pearls came forward, that it might


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


s: Among us, thy conceits would be expressed;


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


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


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


s: That mountain on whose slope Cassino stands


s: The name of Him who brought upon the earth


s: That all the neighbouring towns I drew away


s: From the impious worship that seduced the world.


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


s: Which maketh holy flowers and fruits spring up.


s: Here are my brethren, who within the cloisters


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


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


s: Speaking with me, and the good countenance


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


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


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


s: May thee behold with countenance unveiled."


s: In the remotest sphere shall be fulfilled,


s: Where are fulfilled all others and my own.


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


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


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


s: Up to that height the Patriarch Jacob saw it


s: So thronged with angels it appeared to him.


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


s: Below remaineth for mere waste of paper.


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


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


s: Are sacks filled full of miserable flour.


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


s: For whatsoever hath the Church in keeping


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


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


s: That good beginnings down below suffice not


s: From springing of the oak to bearing acorns.


s: Peter began with neither gold nor silver,


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


s: Thou shalt behold the white changed into brown.


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


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


s: Then like a whirlwind all was upward rapt.


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


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


s: Triumph return, on whose account I often


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


s: Thou hadst not thrust thy finger in the fire


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


s: With mighty virtue, from which I acknowledge


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


s: And then when grace was freely given to me


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


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


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


s: And therefore, ere thou enter farther in,


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


s: That comes rejoicing through this rounded ether."


s: I with my sight returned through one and all


s: The sevenfold spheres, and I beheld this globe


s: Such that I smiled at its ignoble semblance;


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


s: Of something else may truly be called just.


s: Without that shadow, which to me was cause


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


s: Here I sustained, and saw how move themselves


s: Thence there appeared the temperateness of Jove


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


s: The change that of their whereabout they make;


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


s: And how they are in distant habitations.


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


s: Was all apparent made from hill to harbour!


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


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


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


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


s: And find the food wherewith to nourish them,


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


s: And with an ardent longing waits the sun,


s: Gazing intent as soon as breaks the dawn:


s: And vigilant, turned round towards the zone


s: Underneath which the sun displays less haste;


s: So that beholding her distraught and wistful,


s: For something yearns, and hoping is appeased.


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


s: The welkin grow resplendent more and more.


s: And Beatrice exclaimed: "Behold the hosts


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


s: Harvested by the rolling of these spheres!"


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


s: That I must needs pass on without describing.


s: As when in nights serene of the full moon


s: Who paint the firmament through all its gulfs,


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


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


s: And through the living light transparent shone


s: A virtue is from which naught shields itself.


s: There are the wisdom and the omnipotence


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


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


s: As fire from out a cloud unlocks itself,


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


s: And that which it became cannot remember.


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


s: Thou hast beheld such things, that strong enough


s: I was as one who still retains the feeling


s: Out of the book that chronicles the past.


s: If at this moment sounded all the tongues


s: Most lubrical with their delicious milk,


s: It would not reach, singing the holy smile


s: The sacred poem must perforce leap over,


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


s: But whoso thinketh of the ponderous theme,


s: And of the mortal shoulder laden with it,


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


s: This which goes cleaving the audacious prow,


s: Nor for a pilot who would spare himself.


s: That to the garden fair thou turnest not,


s: Which under the rays of Christ is blossoming?


s: There is the Rose in which the Word Divine


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


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


s: As in the sunshine, that unsullied streams


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


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


s: Beholding not the source of the effulgence.


s: O power benignant that dost so imprint them!


s: Thou didst exalt thyself to give more scope


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


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


s: And when in both mine eyes depicted were


s: The glory and greatness of the living star


s: Which there excelleth, as it here excelled,


s: Athwart the heavens a little torch descended


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


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


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


s: Wherewith was crowned the sapphire beautiful,


s: Which gives the clearest heaven its sapphire hue.


s: The joy sublime which breathes from out the womb


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


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


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


s: Seal itself up; and all the other lights


s: Were making to resound the name of Mary.


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


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


s: So very distant, that the semblance of it


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


s: Therefore mine eyes did not possess the power


s: Which mounted upward near to its own seed.


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


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


s: Through impulse kindled into outward flame,


s: Each of those gleams of whiteness upward reached


s: So with its summit, that the deep affection


s: Thereafter they remained there in my sight,


s: 'Regina coeli' singing with such sweetness,


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


s: Within those richest coffers, which had been


s: There they enjoy and live upon the treasure


s: Which was acquired while weeping in the exile


s: There triumpheth, beneath the exalted Son


s: Both with the ancient council and the new,


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


s: If by the grace of God this man foretaste


s: Something of that which falleth from your table,


s: Or ever death prescribe to him the time,


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


s: Thus Beatrice; and those souls beatified


s: Transformed themselves to spheres on steadfast poles,


s: Flaming intensely in the guise of comets.


s: Revolve so that the first to the beholder


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


s: So in like manner did those carols, dancing


s: In different measure, of their affluence


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


s: From that one which I noted of most beauty


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


s: It whirled itself with so divine a song,


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


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


s: With such devotion, by thine ardent love


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


s: Thereafter, having stopped, the blessed fire


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


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


s: This one examine on points light and grave,


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


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


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


s: There where depicted everything is seen.


s: But since this kingdom has made citizens


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


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


s: As baccalaureate arms himself, and speaks not


s: Until the master doth propose the question,


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


s: For such a questioner and such profession.


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


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


s: Unto that light wherefrom was this breathed forth.


s: Then turned I round to Beatrice, and she


s: Prompt signals made to me that I should pour


s: The water forth from my internal fountain.


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


s: Cause my conceptions all to be explicit!"


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


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


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


s: And evidence of those that are not seen;


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


s: If well thou understandest why he placed it


s: With substances and then with evidences."


s: And I thereafterward: "The things profound,


s: That here vouchsafe to me their apparition,


s: Upon the which is founded the high hope,


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


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


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


s: Thus was breathed forth from that enkindled love;


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


s: Already of this coin the alloy and weight;


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


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


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


s: Thereafter issued from the light profound


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


s: Upon the ancient parchments and the new,


s: With such acuteness, that, compared therewith,


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


s: Postulates, that to thee are so conclusive,


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


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


s: Are the works subsequent, whereunto Nature


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


s: That those works ever were? the thing itself


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


s: "Were the world to Christianity converted,"


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


s: Because that poor and fasting thou didst enter


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


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