s: Another could endure, which needs must be


s: That essence, which discovers by what means


s: God and our nature join'd!  There will be seen


s: That which we hold through faith, not shown by proof,


s: E'en as the truth that man at first believes.


s: I answered: "Lady! I with thoughts devout,


s: Such as I best can frame, give thanks to Him,


s: Who hath remov'd me from the mortal world.


s: But tell, I pray thee, whence the gloomy spots


s: Give rise to talk of Cain in fabling quaint?"


s: She somewhat smil'd, then spake: "If mortals err


s: Unlocks not, surely wonder's weapon keen


s: Ought not to pierce thee; since thou find'st, the wings


s: Are short.  But what thy own thought is, declare."


s: Then I: "What various here above appears,


s: Is caus'd, I deem, by bodies dense or rare."


s: She then resum'd: "Thou certainly wilt see


s: In falsehood thy belief o'erwhelm'd, if well


s: Shall bring to face it.  The eighth sphere displays


s: Numberless lights, the which in kind and size


s: If rare or dense of that were cause alone,


s: Different virtues needs must be the fruits


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


s: Will by thy reasoning be destroy'd.  Beside,


s: Which thou inquirest, either in some part


s: That planet must throughout be void, nor fed


s: With its own matter; or, as bodies share


s: Their fat and leanness, in like manner this


s: Must in its volume change the leaves.  The first,


s: If it were true, had through the sun's eclipse


s: Of light, as through aught rare beside effus'd.


s: But this is not.  Therefore remains to see


s: Erroneous so must prove what seem'd to thee.


s: Pass through, there needs must be a limit, whence


s: And hence the beam, that from without proceeds,


s: Must be pour'd back, as colour comes, through glass


s: Reflected, which behind it lead conceals.


s: Now wilt thou say, that there of murkier hue


s: Than in the other part the ray is shown,


s: From this perplexity will free thee soon


s: The fountain whence your arts derive their streame.


s: Three mirrors shalt thou take, and two remove


s: From thee alike, and more remote the third.


s: Betwixt the former pair, shall meet thine eyes;


s: Then turn'd toward them, cause behind thy back


s: A light to stand, that on the three shall shine,


s: And thus reflected come to thee from all.


s: Though that beheld most distant do not stretch


s: A space so ample, yet in brightness thou


s: Will own it equaling the rest.  But now,


s: As under snow the ground, if the warm ray


s: Smites it, remains dismantled of the hue


s: And cold, that cover'd it before, so thee,


s: With light so lively, that the tremulous beam


s: Shall quiver where it falls.  Within the heaven,


s: Where peace divine inhabits, circles round


s: Of all that it contains.  The following heaven,


s: That hath so many lights, this being divides,


s: Through  different essences, from it distinct,


s: And yet contain'd within it.  The other orbs


s: Dispose, for their own seed and produce apt.


s: Thus do these organs of the world proceed,


s: As thou beholdest now, from step to step,


s: And thence transmitting downwards.  Mark me well,


s: How through this passage to the truth I ford,


s: The truth thou lov'st, that thou henceforth alone,


s: May'st know to keep the shallows, safe, untold.


s: "The virtue and motion of the sacred orbs,


s: As mallet by the workman's hand, must needs


s: By blessed movers be inspir'd.  This heaven,


s: From the deep spirit, that moves its circling sphere,


s: And as the soul, that dwells within your dust,


s: Through members different, yet together form'd,


s: In different pow'rs resolves itself; e'en so


s: Its goodness multiplied throughout the stars;


s: Makes with the precious body it enlivens,


s: With which it knits, as life in you is knit.


s: The virtue mingled through the body shines,


s: From hence proceeds, that which from light to light


s: Seems different, and not from dense or rare.


s: This is the formal cause, that generates


s: Proportion'd to its power, the dusk or clear."


s: That sun, which erst with love my bosom warm'd


s: Had of fair truth unveil'd the sweet aspect,


s: By proof of right, and of the false reproof;


s: Of doubt, as much as needed, rais'd my head


s: Erect for speech.  But soon a sight appear'd,


s: Which, so intent to mark it, held me fix'd,


s: As through translucent and smooth glass, or wave


s: Clear and unmov'd, and flowing not so deep


s: As that its bed is dark, the shape returns


s: That on white forehead set a pearl as strong


s: Comes to the eye: such saw I many a face,


s: All stretch'd to speak, from whence I straight conceiv'd


s: Between the man and fountain, amorous flame.


s: Sudden, as I perceiv'd them, deeming these


s: They were, I turn'd mine eyes, and nothing saw;


s: Then turn'd them back, directed on the light


s: Of my sweet guide, who smiling shot forth beams


s: From her celestial eyes.  "Wonder not thou,"


s: She cry'd, "at this my smiling, when I see


s: Thy childish judgment; since not yet on truth


s: It rests the foot, but, as it still is wont,


s: Makes thee fall back in unsound vacancy.


s: True substances are these, which thou behold'st,


s: Hither through failure of their vow exil'd.


s: But speak thou with them; listen, and believe,


s: That the true light, which fills them with desire,


s: Permits not from its beams their feet to stray."


s: Straight to the shadow which for converse seem'd


s: Most earnest, I addressed me, and began,


s: "O spirit, born for joy! who in the rays


s: Of life eternal, of that sweetness know'st


s: The flavour, which, not tasted, passes far


s: All apprehension, me it well would please,


s: If thou wouldst tell me of thy name, and this


s: Your station here." Whence she, with kindness prompt,


s: And eyes glist'ning with smiles: "Our charity,


s: Bars not the door, no more than she above,


s: Who would have all her court be like herself.


s: And if thy mind observe me well, this form,


s: With such addition grac'd of loveliness,


s: Will not conceal me long, but thou wilt know


s: Here 'mid these other blessed also blest.


s: Our hearts, whose high affections burn alone


s: With pleasure, from the Holy Spirit conceiv'd,


s: And this condition, which appears so low,


s: Is for this cause assign'd us, that our vows


s: Were in some part neglected and made void."


s: Whence I to her replied: "Something divine


s: Beams in your countenance, wond'rous fair,


s: From former knowledge quite transmuting you.


s: Given now such aid, that to retrace your forms


s: More to behold, and more in love to dwell?"


s: She with those other spirits gently smil'd,


s: Then answer'd with such gladness, that she seem'd


s: With love's first flame to glow: "Brother! our will


s: What we possess, and nought beyond desire;


s: Then must our wishes jar with the high will


s: Of him, who sets us here, which in these orbs


s: And if her nature well thou contemplate.


s: Of blessedness, to keep ourselves within


s: The divine will, by which our wills with his


s: Are one.  So that as we from step to step


s: Are plac'd throughout this kingdom, pleases all,


s: E'en as our King, who in us plants his will;


s: Then saw I clearly how each spot in heav'n


s: Is Paradise, though with like gracious dew


s: The appetite remains, that this is ask'd,


s: And thanks for that return'd; e'en so did I


s: In word and motion, bent from her to learn


s: What web it was, through which she had not drawn


s: The shuttle to its point.  She thus began:


s: By whose pure laws upon your nether earth


s: The robe and veil they wear, to that intent,


s: That e'en till death they may keep watch or sleep


s: With their great bridegroom, who accepts each vow,


s: Which to his gracious pleasure love conforms.


s: from the world, to follow her, when young


s: Escap'd; and, in her vesture mantling me,


s: Made promise of the way her sect enjoins.


s: Thereafter men, for ill than good more apt,


s: Forth snatch'd me from the pleasant cloister's pale.


s: God knows how after that my life was fram'd.


s: This other splendid shape, which thou beholdst


s: At my right side, burning with all the light


s: May to herself apply.  From her, like me


s: The saintly folds, that shaded her fair brows.


s: E'en when she to the world again was brought


s: In spite of her own will and better wont,


s: Yet not for that the bosom's inward veil


s: Of mighty Constance, who from that loud blast,


s: Which blew the second over Suabia's realm,


s: That power produc'd, which was the third and last."


s: She ceas'd from further talk, and then began


s: Vanish'd, as heavy substance through deep wave.


s: Pursued her, when in dimness she was lost,


s: Turn'd to the mark where greater want impell'd,


s: But she as light'ning beam'd upon my looks:


s: So that the sight sustain'd it not at first.


s: Whence I to question her became less prompt.


s: Remote and tempting, first a man might die


s: Of hunger, ere he one could freely choose.


s: E'en so would stand a lamb between the maw


s: Of two fierce wolves, in dread of both alike:


s: E'en so between two deer a dog would stand,


s: Wherefore, if I was silent, fault nor praise


s: Was painted in my looks; and thus I spake


s: My wish more earnestly than language could.


s: As Daniel, when the haughty king he freed


s: From ire, that spurr'd him on to deeds unjust


s: "Well I discern," she thus her words address'd,


s: "How contrary desires each way constrain thee,


s: So that thy anxious thought is in itself


s: Bound up and stifled, nor breathes freely forth.


s: Thou arguest; if the good intent remain;


s: Should stint the measure of my fair desert?


s: "Cause too thou findst for doubt, in that it seems,


s: That spirits to the stars, as Plato deem'd,


s: Return.  These are the questions which thy will


s: Of that will treat which hath the more of gall.


s: Choose which thou wilt, nor even Mary's self,


s: Have not in any other heav'n their seats,


s: Than have those spirits which so late thou saw'st;


s: Make the first circle beauteous, diversely


s: Partaking of sweet life, as more or less


s: Afflation of eternal bliss pervades them.


s: Here were they shown thee, not that fate assigns


s: This for their sphere, but for a sign to thee


s: Of that celestial furthest from the height.


s: Thus needs, that ye may apprehend, we speak:


s: Since from things sensible alone ye learn


s: That, which digested rightly after turns


s: To your perception, hands and feet to God


s: Attributes, nor so means: and holy church


s: Tobias whole.  Unlike what here thou seest,


s: Each soul restor'd to its particular star,


s: E'en what his words declare: or else to shun


s: That to the influencing of these orbs revert


s: Perchance he doth not wholly miss the truth.


s: Erewhile perverted well nigh all the world;


s: So that it fell to fabled names of Jove,


s: And Mercury, and Mars.  That other doubt,


s: Which moves thee, is less harmful; for it brings


s: "That, to the eye of man, our justice seems


s: This truth may stand more clearly in your view,


s: "If violence be, when that which suffers, nought


s: Consents to that which forceth, not for this


s: These spirits stood exculpate.  For the will,


s: That will not, still survives unquench'd, and doth


s: Wrest it a thousand times; for, if it yield


s: Or more or less, so far it follows force.


s: And thus did these, whom they had power to seek


s: The hallow'd place again.  In them, had will


s: Been perfect, such as once upon the bars


s: Held Laurence firm, or wrought in Scaevola


s: To his own hand remorseless, to the path,


s: Whence they were drawn, their steps had hasten'd back,


s: Resolve so steadfast dwells.  And by these words


s: Which oft might have perplex'd thee still.  But now


s: Another question thwarts thee, which to solve


s: Might try thy patience without better aid.


s: I have, no doubt, instill'd into thy mind,


s: That blessed spirit may not lie; since near


s: The source of primal truth it dwells for aye:


s: And thou might'st after of Piccarda learn


s: That Constance held affection to the veil;


s: So that she seems to contradict me here.


s: Not seldom, brother, it hath chanc'd for men


s: Not to lose pity.  On this point bethink thee,


s: That force and will are blended in such wise


s: From non-compliance, it agrees.  Of will


s: Of th' other; so that both have truly said."


s: Such was the flow of that pure rill, that well'd


s: From forth the fountain of all truth; and such


s: The rest, that to my wond'ring thoughts I found.


s: "O thou of primal love the prime delight!


s: Goddess!"  I straight reply'd, "whose lively words


s: Still shed new heat and vigour through my soul!


s: To recompense, who sees and can reward thee.


s: Well I discern, that by that truth alone


s: Enlighten'd, beyond which no truth may roam,


s: Our mind can satisfy her thirst to know:


s: Therein she resteth, e'en as in his lair


s: The wild beast, soon as she hath reach'd that bound,


s: And she hath power to reach it; else desire


s: Were given to no end.  And thence doth doubt


s: Spring, like a shoot, around the stock of truth;


s: And it is nature which from height to height


s: On to the summit prompts us.  This invites,


s: Is dark to me.  I fain would know, if man


s: The failure of his vows, that in your scale


s: They lack not weight."  I spake; and on me straight


s: Beatrice look'd with eyes that shot forth sparks


s: Of love celestial in such copious stream,


s: I turn'd, and downward bent confus'd my sight.


s: "If beyond earthly wont, the flame of love


s: Of vision, marvel not: but learn the cause


s: In that perfection of the sight, which soon


s: The good it apprehends.  I well discern,


s: Ne'er fails to kindle love; and if aught else


s: Your love seduces, 't is but that it shows


s: Some ill-mark'd vestige of that primal beam.


s: "This would'st thou know, if failure of the vow


s: As from self-question to assure the soul."


s: Thus she her words, not heedless of my wish,


s: Began; and thus, as one who breaks not off


s: Discourse, continued in her saintly strain.


s: "Supreme of gifts, which God creating gave


s: Of goodness, and in his account most priz'd,


s: All intellectual creatures, and them sole


s: He hath endow'd.  Hence now thou mayst infer


s: Of what high worth the vow, which so is fram'd


s: That when man offers, God well-pleas'd accepts;


s: This treasure, such as I describe it to thee,


s: He makes the victim, and of his own act.


s: What compensation therefore may he find?


s: If that, whereof thou hast oblation made,


s: By using well thou think'st to consecrate,


s: Thou would'st of theft do charitable deed.


s: Thus I resolve thee of the greater point.


s: Dispensing, seems to contradict the truth


s: Ere the crude aliment, which thou hast taken,


s: And give it inward keeping.  Knowledge comes


s: Of learning well retain'd, unfruitful else.


s: "This sacrifice in essence of two things


s: Consisteth; one is that, whereof 't is made,


s: It ne'er is cancell'd if not kept: and hence


s: I spake erewhile so strictly of its force.


s: For this it was enjoin'd the Israelites,


s: Though leave were giv'n them, as thou know'st, to change


s: The offering, still to offer.  Th' other part,


s: The matter and the substance of the vow,


s: May well be such, to that without offence


s: It may for other substance be exchang'd.


s: But at his own discretion none may shift


s: By either key, the yellow and the white.


s: Nor deem of any change, as less than vain,


s: For what so precious in the balance weighs,


s: That all in counterpoise must kick the beam.


s: Take then no vow at random: ta'en, with faith


s: Preserve it; yet not bent, as Jephthah once,


s: 'I have done ill,' than to redeem his pledge


s: In folly, that great leader of the Greeks:


s: Her virgin beauty, and hath since made mourn


s: Both wise and simple, even all, who hear


s: Of so fell sacrifice.  Be ye more staid,


s: O Christians, not, like feather, by each wind


s: Removable: nor think to cleanse ourselves


s: The old and new, is yours: and for your guide


s: The shepherd of the church let this suffice


s: To save you.  When by evil lust entic'd,


s: Remember ye be men, not senseless beasts;


s: Hold you in mock'ry.  Be not, as the lamb,


s: That, fickle wanton, leaves its mother's milk,


s: Such were the words that Beatrice spake:


s: These ended, to that region, where the world


s: Is liveliest, full of fond desire she turn'd.


s: Though mainly prompt new question to propose,


s: And as the arrow, ere the cord is still,


s: Grew brighter at her smiles; and, if the star


s: Were mov'd to gladness, what then was my cheer,


s: Whom nature hath made apt for every change!


s: If aught approach them from without, do draw


s: Towards it, deeming it their food; so drew


s: Full more than thousand splendours towards us,


s: And in each one was heard: "Lo! one arriv'd


s: To multiply our loves!" and as each came


s: The shadow, streaming forth effulgence new,


s: Witness'd augmented joy.  Here, reader! think,


s: If thou didst miss the sequel of my tale,


s: To know the rest how sorely thou wouldst crave;


s: Possess'd me, as soon as these had met my view,


s: To know their state.  "O born in happy hour!


s: Thou to whom grace vouchsafes, or ere thy close


s: Of fleshly warfare, to behold the thrones


s: The light communicated, which through heaven


s: Expatiates without bound.  Therefore, if aught


s: Thou of our beams wouldst borrow for thine aid,


s: Spare not; and of our radiance take thy fill."


s: Thus of those piteous spirits one bespake me;


s: As unto gods!"--"How in the light supreme


s: Thou harbour'st, and from thence the virtue bring'st,


s: That, sparkling in thine eyes, denotes thy joy,


s: I mark; but, who thou art, am still to seek;


s: Or wherefore, worthy spirit! for thy lot


s: This sphere assign'd, that oft from mortal ken


s: Is veil'd by others' beams."  I said, and turn'd


s: Toward the lustre, that with greeting, kind


s: Erewhile had hail'd me.  Forthwith brighter far


s: Than erst, it wax'd: and, as himself the sun


s: Hides through excess of light, when his warm gaze


s: Hath on the mantle of thick vapours prey'd;


s: Was, through increase of gladness, thus conceal'd;


s: And, shrouded so in splendour answer'd me,


s: "After that Constantine the eagle turn'd


s: Against the motions of the heav'n, that roll'd


s: Consenting with its course, when he of yore,


s: Lavinia's spouse, was leader of the flight,


s: A hundred years twice told and more, his seat


s: At Europe's extreme point, the bird of Jove


s: Held, near the mountains, whence he issued first.


s: There, under shadow of his sacred plumes


s: Swaying the world, till through successive hands


s: To mine he came devolv'd.  Caesar I was,


s: Of that prime love, whose influence I feel,


s: From vain excess to clear th' encumber'd laws.


s: Christ's nature merely human, with such faith


s: Who was chief shepherd, he with warning voice


s: To the true faith recall'd me.  I believ'd


s: His words: and what he taught, now plainly see,


s: The true and false oppos'd.  Soon as my feet


s: Were to the church reclaim'd, to my great task,


s: I gave me wholly, and consign'd mine arms


s: To Belisarius, with whom heaven's right hand


s: Was link'd in such conjointment, 't was a sign


s: That I should rest.  To thy first question thus


s: I shape mine answer, which were ended here,


s: But that its tendency doth prompt perforce


s: To some addition; that thou well, mayst mark


s: What reason on each side they have to plead,


s: By whom that holiest banner is withstood,


s: Both who pretend its power and who oppose.


s: "Beginning from that hour, when Pallas died


s: To give it rule, behold the valorous deeds


s: Have made it worthy reverence.  Not unknown


s: To thee, how for three hundred years and more


s: It dwelt in Alba, up to those fell lists


s: Where for its sake were met the rival three;


s: Nor aught unknown to thee, which it achiev'd


s: Down to the Sabines' wrong to Lucrece' woe,


s: With its sev'n kings conqu'ring the nation round;


s: Nor all it wrought, by Roman worthies home


s: 'Gainst Brennus and th' Epirot prince, and hosts


s: Of single chiefs, or states in league combin'd


s: Of social warfare; hence Torquatus stern,


s: And Quintius nam'd of his neglected locks,


s: Their fame, which I with duteous zeal embalm.


s: By it the pride of Arab hordes was quell'd,


s: The Alpine rocks, whence glide thy currents, Po!


s: Beneath its guidance, in their prime of days


s: Scipio and Pompey triumph'd; and that hill,


s: Under whose summit thou didst see the light,


s: Rued its stern bearing.  After, near the hour,


s: When heav'n was minded that o'er all the world


s: His own deep calm should brood, to Caesar's hand


s: Did Rome consign it; and what then it wrought


s: From Var unto the Rhine, saw Isere's flood,


s: Saw Loire and Seine, and every vale, that fills


s: The torrent Rhone.  What after that it wrought,


s: When from Ravenna it came forth, and leap'd


s: That tongue nor pen may follow it.  Tow'rds Spain


s: It wheel'd its bands, then tow'rd Dyrrachium smote,


s: And on Pharsalia with so fierce a plunge,


s: E'en the warm Nile was conscious to the pang;


s: Its native shores Antandros, and the streams


s: His pennons shook again; lightning thence fell


s: At sound of the Pompeian trump, return'd.


s: "What following and in its next bearer's gripe


s: It wrought, is now by Cassius and Brutus


s: Bark'd off in hell, and by Perugia's sons


s: And Modena's was mourn'd.  Hence weepeth still


s: Took from the adder black and sudden death.


s: With him it ran e'en to the Red Sea coast;


s: With him compos'd the world to such a peace,


s: That of his temple Janus barr'd the door.


s: "But all the mighty standard yet had wrought,


s: And was appointed to perform thereafter,


s: Throughout the mortal kingdom which it sway'd,


s: Falls in appearance dwindled and obscur'd,


s: If one with steady eye and perfect thought


s: On the third Caesar look; for to his hands,


s: The living Justice, in whose breath I move,


s: "Hear now and wonder at what next I tell.


s: Vengeance for vengeance of the ancient sin,


s: And, when the Lombard tooth, with fangs impure,


s: Sped to her rescue.  Judge then for thyself


s: Of those, whom I erewhile accus'd to thee,


s: What they are, and how grievous their offending,


s: Who are the cause of all your ills.  The one


s: So that 't is hard to see which more offends.


s: Be yours, ye Ghibellines, to veil your arts


s: Follow'd of him, who severs it and justice:


s: And let not with his Guelphs the new-crown'd Charles


s: Assail it, but those talons hold in dread,


s: Have rent the easing.  Many a time ere now


s: The sons have for the sire's transgression wail'd;


s: Nor let him trust the fond belief, that heav'n


s: Will truck its armour for his lilied shield.


s: "This little star is furnish'd with good spirits,


s: Whose mortal lives were busied to that end,


s: That honour and renown might wait on them:


s: And, when desires thus err in their intention,


s: True love must needs ascend with slacker beam.


s: But it is part of our delight, to measure


s: The close proportion.  Hence doth heav'nly justice


s: Render sweet harmony among these wheels.


s: "Within the pearl, that now encloseth us,


s: Shines Romeo's light, whose goodly deed and fair


s: Met ill acceptance.  But the Provencals,


s: That were his foes, have little cause for mirth.


s: Ill shapes that man his course, who makes his wrong


s: Of other's worth.  Four daughters were there born


s: Became a queen; and this for him did Romeo,


s: Though of mean state and from a foreign land.


s: A reckoning of that just one, who return'd


s: Twelve fold to him for ten.  Aged and poor


s: He parted thence: and if the world did know


s: The heart he had, begging his life by morsels,


s: 'T would deem the praise, it yields him, scantly dealt."


s: Thus chanting saw I turn that substance bright


s: Revolving; and the rest unto their dance


s: With it mov'd also; and like swiftest sparks,


s: In sudden distance from my sight were veil'd.


s: Me doubt possess'd, and "Speak," it whisper'd me,


s: "Speak, speak unto thy lady, that she quench


s: Thy thirst with drops of sweetness."  Yet blank awe,


s: Which lords it o'er me, even at the sound


s: As one in slumber held.  Not long that mood


s: Beatrice suffer'd: she, with such a smile,


s: As might have made one blest amid the flames,


s: "Thou in thy thought art pond'ring (as I deem),


s: And what I deem is truth how just revenge


s: Could be with justice punish'd: from which doubt


s: I soon will free thee; so thou mark my words;


s: For they of weighty matter shall possess thee.


s: "That man, who was unborn, himself condemn'd,


s: And, in himself, all, who since him have liv'd,


s: His offspring: whence, below, the human kind


s: Until it pleas'd the Word of God to come


s: Amongst them down, to his own person joining


s: The nature, from its Maker far estrang'd,


s: The nature with its Maker thus conjoin'd,


s: Created first was blameless, pure and good;


s: But through itself alone was driven forth


s: The way of truth and life, to evil turn'd.


s: The nature in assumption doom'd: ne'er wrong


s: Such nature on him, and endur'd the doom.


s: So different effects flow'd from one act,


s: And heav'n was open'd, though the earth did quake.


s: Count it not hard henceforth, when thou dost hear


s: That a just vengeance was by righteous court


s: Justly reveng'd.  But yet I see thy mind


s: By thought on thought arising sore perplex'd,


s: Solution of the maze.  What I have heard,


s: Is plain, thou sayst: but wherefore God this way


s: For our redemption chose, eludes my search.


s: In sooth, much aim'd at, and but little kenn'd:


s: And I will therefore show thee why such way


s: Was worthiest.  The celestial love, that spume


s: With such effulgence blazeth, as sends forth


s: All beauteous things eternal.  What distils


s: Immediate thence, no end of being knows,


s: Whatever thence immediate falls, is free,


s: More grateful to its author, whose bright beams,


s: Though all partake their shining, yet in those


s: Are liveliest, which resemble him the most.


s: No longer stainless.  Sin alone is that,


s: Which doth disfranchise him, and make unlike


s: To the chief good; for that its light in him


s: Is no return; unless, where guilt makes void,


s: He for ill pleasure pay with equal pain.


s: Trangress'd, from these distinctions fell, no less


s: Than from its state in Paradise; nor means


s: Found of recovery (search all methods out


s: As strickly as thou may) save one of these,


s: The only fords were left through which to wade,


s: Releas'd him merely, or else man himself


s: "Fix now thine eye, intently as thou canst,


s: On th' everlasting counsel, and explore,


s: Instructed by my words, the dread abyss.


s: "Man in himself had ever lack'd the means


s: As high he, disobeying, thought to soar:


s: That God should by his own ways lead him back


s: Unto the life, from whence he fell, restor'd:


s: But since the deed is ever priz'd the more,


s: The more the doer's good intent appears,


s: Goodness celestial, whose broad signature


s: To raise ye up, was fain to leave out none,


s: Between the last night and the primal day,


s: Was or can be.  For God more bounty show'd.


s: Of his return to life, than had the terms


s: Were all too scant, had not the Son of God


s: "Now, to fulfil each wish of thine, remains


s: That thou mayst see as clearly as myself.


s: "I see, thou sayst, the air, the fire I see,


s: The earth and water, and all things of them


s: Compounded, to corruption turn, and soon


s: Dissolve.  Yet these were also things create,


s: Because, if what were told me, had been true


s: They from corruption had been therefore free.


s: "The angels, O my brother! and this clime


s: In their whole being.  But the elements,


s: Which thou hast nam'd, and what of them is made,


s: Their substance, and create the' informing virtue


s: In these bright stars, that round them circling move


s: The soul of every brute and of each plant,


s: The ray and motion of the sacred lights,


s: But this our life the' eternal good inspires


s: "And hence thou mayst by inference conclude


s: Consider how the human flesh was fram'd,


s: When both our parents at the first were made."


s: By stream of potent radiance: therefore they


s: Of elder time, in their old error blind,


s: Her mother, and her son, him whom they feign'd


s: Whom I have sung preluding, borrow'd they


s: The appellation of that star, which views,


s: That grac'd my lady, gave me ample proof


s: That we had entered there.  And as in flame


s: A sparkle is distinct, or voice in voice


s: Discern'd, when one its even tenour keeps,


s: The other comes and goes; so in that light


s: Never was blast from vapour charged with cold,


s: Descended with such speed, it had not seem'd


s: To those celestial lights, that tow'rds us came,


s: Leaving the circuit of their joyous ring,


s: And after them, who in the van appear'd,


s: Desire, ne'er since extinct in me, to hear


s: Renew'd the strain.  Then parting from the rest


s: One near us drew, and sole began: "We all


s: Are ready at thy pleasure, well dispos'd


s: To do thee gentle service.  We are they,


s: To whom thou in the world erewhile didst Sing


s: Moves the third heaven!' and in one orb we roll,


s: One motion, one impulse, with those who rule


s: Princedoms in heaven; yet are of love so full,


s: That to please thee 't will be as sweet to rest."


s: Sought the celestial guide, and were by her


s: Assur'd, they turn'd again unto the light


s: Who had so largely promis'd, and with voice


s: That bare the lively pressure of my zeal,


s: "Tell who ye are," I cried.  Forthwith it grew


s: In size and splendour, through augmented joy;


s: And thus it answer'd: "A short date below


s: The world possess'd me.  Had the time been more,


s: Much evil, that will come, had never chanc'd.


s: My gladness hides thee from me, which doth shine


s: In its own silk unswath'd.  Thou lov'dst me well,


s: And had'st good cause; for had my sojourning


s: Been longer on the earth, the love I bare thee


s: Had put forth more than blossoms.  The left bank,


s: That Rhone, when he hath mix'd with Sorga, laves.


s: From where the Trento disembogues his waves,


s: With Verde mingled, to the salt sea-flood.


s: By Danube wash'd, whenas he strays beyond


s: The limits of his German shores.  The realm,


s: Where, on the gulf by stormy Eurus lash'd,


s: (Not through Typhaeus, but the vap'ry cloud


s: Bituminous upsteam'd), THAT too did look


s: Of monarchs, sprung through me from Charles and Rodolph;


s: had not ill lording which doth spirit up


s: The shout of 'death,' re-echo'd loud and long.


s: Had but my brother's foresight kenn'd as much,


s: And truly need there is, that he forecast,


s: Or other for him, lest more freight be laid


s: Nature in him, from bounty fall'n to thrift,


s: Would ask the  guard of braver arms, than such


s: As only care to have their coffers fill'd."


s: "My liege, it doth enhance the joy thy words


s: As to myself, who own it, when thou lookst


s: There, where thou markest that which thou dost speak,


s: Thence priz'd of me the more.  Glad thou hast made me.


s: Now make intelligent, clearing the doubt


s: Thy speech hath raised in me; for much I muse,


s: How bitter can spring up, when sweet is sown."


s: "If I have power to show one truth, soon that


s: Shall face thee, which thy questioning declares


s: Behind thee now conceal'd.  The Good, that guides


s: And blessed makes this realm, which thou dost mount,


s: In these great bodies: nor th' all perfect Mind


s: Upholds their nature merely, but in them


s: Their energy to save: for nought, that lies


s: Were it not thus, these heavens, thou dost visit,


s: Would their effect so work, it would not be


s: Art, but destruction; and this may not chance,


s: If th' intellectual powers, that move these stars,


s: Fail not, or who, first faulty made them fail.


s: Wilt thou this truth more clearly evidenc'd?"


s: I see, lest nature in her part should tire."


s: He straight rejoin'd: "Say, were it worse for man,


s: If he liv'd not in fellowship on earth?"


s: "Yea," answer'd I; "nor here a reason needs."


s: Grow not of different duties in your life?


s: Consult your teacher, and he tells you 'no."'


s: Thus did he come, deducing to this point,


s: And then concluded: "For this cause behooves,


s: The roots, from whence your operations come,


s: Must differ.  Therefore one is Solon born;


s: A third; and he a fourth, whose airy voyage


s: Cost him his son.  In her circuitous course,


s: Doth well her art, but no distinctions owns


s: 'Twixt one or other household.  Hence befalls


s: He dates from Mars his lineage.  Were it not


s: Unswervingly.  Thus place I in thy sight


s: That, which was late behind thee.  But, in sign


s: Of more affection for thee, 't is my will


s: Finding discordant fortune, like all seed


s: Out of its proper climate, thrives but ill.


s: And were the world below content to mark


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


s: And of the fluent phrasemen make your king;


s: Therefore your steps have wander'd from the paths."


s: After solution of my doubt, thy Charles,


s: That must befall his seed: but, "Tell it not,"


s: Said he, "and let the destin'd years come round."


s: Nor may I tell thee more, save that the meed


s: Of sorrow well-deserv'd shall quit your wrongs.


s: And now the visage of that saintly light


s: Was to the sun, that fills it, turn'd again,


s: As to the good, whose plenitude of bliss


s: Infatuate, who from such a good estrange


s: Your hearts, and bend your gaze on vanity,


s: Another of those splendent forms approach'd,


s: That, by its outward bright'ning, testified


s: The will it had to pleasure me.  The eyes


s: "Blest spirit! quickly be my will perform'd;


s: And prove thou to me, that my inmost thoughts


s: I can reflect on thee."  Thereat the light,


s: That yet was new to me, from the recess,


s: Where it before was singing, thus began,


s: As one who joys in kindness: "In that part


s: Of the deprav'd Italian land, which lies


s: Between Rialto, and the fountain-springs


s: Of Brenta and of Piava, there doth rise,


s: From whence erewhile a firebrand did descend,


s: That sorely sheet the region.  From one root


s: I and it sprang; my name on earth Cunizza:


s: And here I glitter, for that by its light


s: This star o'ercame me.  Yet I naught repine,


s: Nor grudge myself the cause of this my lot,


s: Which haply vulgar hearts can scarce conceive.


s: Lustrous and costly, great renown hath left,


s: And not to perish, ere these hundred years


s: Five times absolve their round.  Consider thou,


s: When such life may attend the first.  Yet they


s: Care not for this, the crowd that now are girt


s: Impenitent, tho' scourg'd.  The hour is near,


s: When for their stubbornness at Padua's marsh


s: The water shall be chang'd, that laves Vicena


s: Lords it, and bears his head aloft, for whom


s: Shall sorrow for its godless shepherd's fault,


s: Of so deep stain, that never, for the like,


s: Was Malta's bar unclos'd.  Too large should be


s: The skillet, that would hold Ferrara's blood,


s: And wearied he, who ounce by ounce would weight it,


s: The which this priest, in show of party-zeal,


s: Courteous will give; nor will the gift ill suit


s: Mirrors, ye call them thrones, from which to us


s: Reflected shine the judgments of our God:


s: Whence these our sayings we avouch for good."


s: She ended, and appear'd on other thoughts


s: Intent, re-ent'ring on the wheel she late


s: Had left.  That other joyance meanwhile wax'd


s: A thing to marvel at, in splendour glowing,


s: For, in that upper clime, effulgence comes


s: Of gladness, as here laughter: and below,


s: As the mind saddens, murkier grows the shade.


s: "God seeth all: and in him is thy sight,"


s: Said I, "blest Spirit!  Therefore will of his


s: Cannot to thee be dark.  Why then delays


s: That voice which joins the inexpressive song,


s: Pastime of heav'n, the which those ardours sing,


s: That cowl them with six shadowing wings outspread?


s: I would not wait thy asking, wert thou known


s: To me, as thoroughly I to thee am known."


s: He forthwith answ'ring, thus his words began:


s: "The valley' of waters, widest next to that


s: Which doth the earth engarland, shapes its course,


s: Between discordant shores, against the sun


s: Where was before th' horizon.  Of that vale


s: Dwelt I upon the shore, 'twixt Ebro's stream


s: And Macra's, that divides with passage brief


s: Genoan bounds from Tuscan.  East and west


s: Whose haven erst was with its own blood warm.


s: Who knew my name were wont to call me Folco:


s: And I did bear impression of this heav'n,


s: That now bears mine: for not with fiercer flame


s: That fledg'd my cheek: nor she of Rhodope,


s: Were shrin'd within his heart.  And yet there hides


s: No sorrowful repentance here, but mirth,


s: Not for the fault (that doth not come to mind),


s: But for the virtue, whose o'erruling sway


s: And providence have wrought thus quaintly.  Here


s: The skill is look'd into, that fashioneth


s: With such effectual working, and the good


s: Thy wishes, all that in this sphere have birth,


s: Demands my further parle.  Inquire thou wouldst,


s: Beside me sparkles, as the sun-beam doth


s: On the clear wave.  Know then, the soul of Rahab


s: Is in that gladsome harbour, to our tribe


s: He to that heav'n, at which the shadow ends


s: First, in Christ's triumph, of all souls redeem'd:


s: For well behoov'd, that, in some part of heav'n,


s: The mighty contest won with either palm;


s: For that she favour'd first the high exploit


s: The Pope recks little now.  Thy city, plant


s: Of him, that on his Maker turn'd the back,


s: And of whose envying so much woe hath sprung,


s: Engenders and expands the cursed flower,


s: That hath made wander both the sheep and lambs,


s: Turning the shepherd to a wolf.  For this,


s: The gospel and great teachers laid aside,


s: The decretals, as their stuft margins show,


s: Are the sole study.  Pope and Cardinals,


s: Intent on these, ne'er journey but in thought


s: To Nazareth, where Gabriel op'd his wings.


s: Yet it may chance, erelong, the Vatican,


s: That were the grave of Peter's soldiery,


s: Shall be deliver'd from the adult'rous bond."


s: Looking into his first-born with the love,


s: Which breathes from both eternal, the first Might


s: Can roam, hath in such order all dispos'd,


s: As none may see and fail to enjoy.  Raise, then,


s: One motion strikes on th' other.  There begin


s: Doth ever watch it.  See, how thence oblique


s: Brancheth the circle, where the planets roll


s: To pour their wished influence on the world;


s: Whose path not bending thus, in heav'n above


s: Much virtue would be lost, and here on earth,


s: All power well nigh extinct: or, from direct


s: Were its departure distant more or less,


s: Must, both in heav'n and here beneath, ensue.


s: Now rest thee, reader! on thy bench, and muse


s: So shall delight make thee not feel thy toil.


s: Feed now: the matter I indite, henceforth


s: Demands entire my thought.  Join'd with the part,


s: Which late we told of, the great minister


s: Time for us with his beam, went circling on


s: Along the spires, where each hour sooner comes;


s: As one, who till arriv'd, weets not his coming.


s: Counts not the act, oh then how great must needs


s: Have been her brightness!  What she was i' th' sun


s: (Where I had enter'd), not through change of hue,


s: Genius, art, practice--I might not so speak,


s: It should be e'er imagin'd: yet believ'd


s: It may be, and the sight be justly crav'd.


s: Hath ever travel'd?  Such are they dwell here,


s: Who of his spirit and of his offspring shows;


s: And holds them still enraptur'd with the view.


s: And thus to me Beatrice: "Thank, oh thank,


s: The Sun of angels, him, who by his grace


s: As mine was at those words: and so entire


s: The love for Him, that held me, it eclips'd


s: Beatrice in oblivion.  Naught displeas'd


s: Was she, but smil'd thereat so joyously,


s: That of her laughing eyes the radiance brake


s: Surpassing, who themselves did make the crown,


s: And us their centre: yet more sweet in voice,


s: Than in their visage beaming.  Cinctur'd thus,


s: When the impregnate air retains the thread,


s: That weaves her zone.  In the celestial court,


s: So dear and beautiful, they cannot brook


s: Transporting from that realm: and of these lights


s: Such was the song.  Who doth not prune his wing


s: To soar up thither, let him look from thence


s: Those burning suns that circled round us thrice,


s: Then seem'd they like to ladies, from the dance


s: Not ceasing, but suspense, in silent pause,


s: List'ning, till they have caught the strain anew:


s: Suspended so they stood: and, from within,


s: Thus heard I one, who spake: "Since with its beam


s: The grace, whence true love lighteth first his flame,


s: That after doth increase by loving, shines


s: Along this ladder, down whose hallow'd steps


s: None e'er descend, and mount them not again,


s: Who from his phial should refuse thee wine


s: To slake thy thirst, no less constrained were,


s: Thou fain wouldst hear, what plants are these, that bloom


s: In the bright garland, which, admiring, girds


s: This fair dame round, who strengthens thee for heav'n.


s: Leads, for his saintly flock, along the way,


s: Where well they thrive, not sworn with vanity.


s: He, nearest on my right hand, brother was,


s: If thou of all the rest wouldst be assur'd,


s: Let thine eye, waiting on the words I speak,


s: In circuit journey round the blessed wreath.


s: That next resplendence issues from the smile


s: The other, nearest, who adorns our quire,


s: To holy church his treasure.  The fifth light,


s: Goodliest of all, is by such love inspired,


s: That all your world craves tidings of its doom:


s: Within, there is the lofty light, endow'd


s: With sapience so profound, if truth be truth,


s: That taper's radiance, to whose view was shown,


s: In the other little light serenely smiles


s: That pleader for the Christian temples, he


s: Now, if thy mind's eye pass from light to light,


s: Upon my praises following, of the eighth


s: Thy thirst is next.  The saintly soul, that shows


s: The world's deceitfulness, to all who hear him,


s: Is, with the sight of all the good, that is,


s: Blest there.  The limbs, whence it was driven, lie


s: And exile came it here.  Lo! further on,


s: Where flames the arduous Spirit of Isidore,


s: Of Bede, and Richard, more than man, erewhile,


s: In deep discernment.  Lastly this, from whom


s: Of one, whose spirit, on high musings bent,


s: Who 'scap'd not envy, when of truth he argued,


s: Reading in the straw-litter'd street."  Forthwith,


s: As clock, that calleth up the spouse of God


s: To win her bridegroom's love at matin's hour,


s: Each part of other fitly drawn and urg'd,


s: Sends out a tinkling sound, of note so sweet,


s: Affection springs in well-disposed breast;


s: Thus saw I move the glorious wheel, thus heard


s: Voice answ'ring voice, so musical and soft,


s: It can be known but where day endless shines.


s: Are those, which make thee beat thy wings below


s: Was hunting; this the priesthood follow'd, that


s: By civil business wealth; one moiling lay


s: What time from all these empty things escap'd,


s: Was rais'd aloft, and made the guest of heav'n.


s: They of the circle to that point, each one.


s: Where erst it was, had turn'd; and steady glow'd,


s: The lustre, that erewhile bespake me, smiling


s: With merer gladness, heard I thus begin:


s: Into the eternal light, and clearly mark


s: Thy thoughts, from whence they rise.  Thou art in doubt,


s: And wouldst, that I should bolt my words afresh


s: In such plain open phrase, as may be smooth


s: To thy perception, where I told thee late


s: That 'well they thrive;' and that 'no second such


s: Hath risen,' which no small distinction needs.


s: "The providence, that governeth the world,


s: Who with loud cries was 'spous'd in precious blood,


s: Might keep her footing towards her well-belov'd,


s: Hath two ordain'd, who should on either hand


s: I but of one will tell: he tells of both,


s: Be taken: for their deeds were to one end.


s: "Between Tupino, and the wave, that falls


s: From blest Ubaldo's chosen hill, there hangs


s: Rich slope of mountain high, whence heat and cold


s: Are wafted through Perugia's eastern gate:


s: Mourn for their heavy yoke.  Upon that side,


s: Where it doth break its steepness most, arose


s: From Ganges doth: therefore let none, who speak


s: To call things rightly, be it henceforth styl'd.


s: He was not yet much distant from his rising,


s: When his good influence 'gan to bless the earth.


s: A dame to whom none openeth pleasure's gate


s: More than to death, was, 'gainst his father's will,


s: His stripling choice: and he did make her his,


s: Before the Spiritual court, by nuptial bonds,


s: And in his father's sight: from day to day,


s: Then lov'd her more devoutly.  She, bereav'd


s: Of her first husband, slighted and obscure,


s: Thousand and hundred years and more, remain'd


s: Nor aught avail'd, that, with Amyclas, she


s: Was found unmov'd at rumour of his voice,


s: Who shook the world: nor aught her constant boldness


s: Whereby with Christ she mounted on the cross,


s: When Mary stay'd beneath.  But not to deal


s: Thus closely with thee longer, take at large


s: The rovers' titles--Poverty and Francis.


s: Their concord and glad looks, wonder and love,


s: And sweet regard gave birth to holy thoughts,


s: Did bare his feet, and, in pursuit of peace


s: So heavenly, ran, yet deem'd his footing slow.


s: Egidius bares him next, and next Sylvester,


s: And follow both the bridegroom; so the bride


s: Can please them.  Thenceforth goes he on his way,


s: The father and the master, with his spouse,


s: Girt humbly: nor did abjectness of heart


s: Weigh down his eyelids, for that he was son


s: In wond'rous sort despis'd.  But royally


s: Set forth, and from him first receiv'd the seal


s: On his religion.  Then, when numerous flock'd


s: The tribe of lowly ones, that trac'd HIS steps,


s: Whose marvellous life deservedly were sung


s: In heights empyreal, through Honorius' hand


s: A second crown, to deck their Guardian's virtues,


s: Was by the eternal Spirit inwreath'd: and when


s: He had, through thirst of martyrdom, stood up


s: In the proud Soldan's presence, and there preach'd


s: Christ and his followers; but found the race


s: Unripen'd for conversion: back once more


s: And reap'd Ausonian lands.  On the hard rock,


s: 'Twixt Arno and the Tyber, he from Christ


s: Took the last Signet, which his limbs two years


s: Did carry.  Then the season come, that he,


s: Who to such good had destin'd him, was pleas'd


s: T' advance him to the meed, which he had earn'd


s: By his self-humbling, to his brotherhood,


s: As their just heritage, he gave in charge


s: His dearest lady, and enjoin'd their love


s: And faith to her: and, from her bosom, will'd


s: His goodly spirit should move forth, returning


s: To its appointed kingdom, nor would have


s: "Think now of one, who were a fit colleague,


s: Helm'd to right point; and such our Patriarch was.


s: Therefore who follow him, as he enjoins,


s: Thou mayst be certain, take good lading in.


s: But hunger of new viands tempts his flock,


s: So that they needs into strange pastures wide


s: Must spread them: and the more remote from him


s: The stragglers wander, so much mole they come


s: Home to the sheep-fold, destitute of milk.


s: There are of them, in truth, who fear their harm,


s: And to the shepherd cleave; but these so few,


s: A little stuff may furnish out their cloaks.


s: "Now, if my words be clear, if thou have ta'en


s: Good heed, if that, which I have told, recall


s: To mind, thy wish may be in part fulfill'd:


s: For thou wilt see the point from whence they split,


s: Nor miss of the reproof, which that implies,


s: 'That well they thrive not sworn with vanity."'


s: Soon as its final word the blessed flame


s: Had rais'd for utterance, straight the holy mill


s: Began to wheel, nor yet had once revolv'd,


s: Motion to motion, song to song, conjoining,


s: Song, that as much our muses doth excel,


s: Our Sirens with their tuneful pipes, as ray


s: Of primal splendour doth its faint reflex.


s: As when, if Juno bid her handmaid forth,


s: Span the thin cloud, the outer taking birth


s: From that within (in manner of that voice


s: Whom love did melt away, as sun the mist),


s: And they who gaze, presageful call to mind


s: The compact, made with Noah, of the world


s: Those garlands twain, and to the innermost


s: E'en thus th' external answered.  When the footing,


s: And radiance, light with light accordant, each


s: Jocund and blythe, had at their pleasure still'd


s: (E'en as the eyes by quick volition mov'd,


s: Are shut and rais'd together), from the heart


s: Of one amongst the new lights mov'd a voice,


s: That made me seem like needle to the star,


s: Began: "The love, that makes me beautiful,


s: Prompts me to tell of th' other guide, for whom


s: Such good of mine is spoken.  Where one is,


s: Should be their glory.  Slow, and full of doubt,


s: And with thin ranks, after its banner mov'd


s: The army of Christ (which it so clearly cost


s: Who reigneth ever, for the drooping host


s: Did make provision, thorough grace alone,


s: And not through its deserving.  As thou heard'st,


s: Two champions to the succour of his spouse


s: He sent, who by their deeds and words might join


s: Again his scatter'd people.  In that clime,


s: Where springs the pleasant west-wind to unfold


s: The fresh leaves, with which Europe sees herself


s: New-garmented; nor from those billows far,


s: Beyond whose chiding, after weary course,


s: The sun doth sometimes hide him, safe abides


s: Of the great shield, wherein the lion lies


s: Subjected and supreme.  And there was born


s: The loving million of the Christian faith,


s: The hollow'd wrestler, gentle to his own,


s: And to his enemies terrible.  So replete


s: His soul with lively virtue, that when first


s: It prophesied.  When, at the sacred font,


s: The spousals were complete 'twixt faith and him,


s: Where pledge of mutual safety was exchang'd,


s: The dame, who was his surety, in her sleep


s: Beheld the wondrous fruit, that was from him


s: And from his heirs to issue.  And that such


s: He might be construed, as indeed he was,


s: She was inspir'd to name him of his owner,


s: Whose he was wholly, and so call'd him Dominic.


s: Whom Christ in his own garden chose to be


s: His help-mate.  Messenger he seem'd, and friend


s: Fast-knit to Christ; and the first love he show'd,


s: Was after the first counsel that Christ gave.


s: Many a time his nurse, at entering found


s: That he had ris'n in silence, and was prostrate,


s: As who should say, "My errand was for this."


s: O favour'd mother! rightly nam'd Joanna!


s: Not for the world's sake, for which now they pore


s: To go about the vineyard, that soon turns


s: To wan and wither'd, if not tended well:


s: And from the see (whose bounty to the just


s: And needy is gone by, not through its fault,


s: But his who fills it basely, he besought,


s: Nor the first vacant fortune, nor the tenth),


s: That to God's paupers rightly appertain,


s: But, 'gainst an erring and degenerate world,


s: Licence to fight, in favour of that seed,


s: From which the twice twelve cions gird thee round.


s: Then, with sage doctrine and good will to help,


s: Forth on his great apostleship he far'd,


s: Like torrent bursting from a lofty vein;


s: And, dashing 'gainst the stocks of heresy,


s: Smote fiercest, where resistance was most stout.


s: Thence many rivulets have since been turn'd,


s: Their living waters, and have fed its plants.


s: "If such one wheel of that two-yoked car,


s: And rode triumphant through the civil broil.


s: Thou canst not doubt its fellow's excellence,


s: Which Thomas, ere my coming, hath declar'd


s: So courteously unto thee.  But the track,


s: Which its smooth fellies made, is now deserted:


s: That mouldy mother is where late were lees.


s: His family, that wont to trace his path,


s: Turn backward, and invert their steps; erelong


s: To rue the gathering in of their ill crop,


s: When the rejected tares in vain shall ask


s: But he, who search'd our volume, leaf by leaf,


s: Might still find page with this inscription on't,


s: 'I am as I was wont.'  Yet such were not


s: Of those, who come to meddle with the text,


s: One stretches and another cramps its rule.


s: From Bagnororegio, one, who in discharge


s: Among the first of those barefooted meek ones,


s: Who sought God's friendship in the cord: with them


s: And he of Spain in his twelve volumes shining,


s: Chrysostom, and Anselmo, and, who deign'd


s: To put his hand to the first art, Donatus.


s: Raban is here: and at my side there shines


s: With soul prophetic.  The bright courtesy


s: So worthy, and with me have mov'd this throng."


s: Let him, who would conceive what now I saw,


s: As mountain rock, the whilst he hears me speak),


s: Of stars fifteen, from midst the ethereal host


s: O'ercome the massiest air: thereto imagine


s: The wain, that, in the bosom of our sky,


s: With the bright summit of that horn which swells


s: Due from the pole, round which the first wheel rolls,


s: T' have rang'd themselves in fashion of two signs


s: When death's chill seized her; and that one of them


s: Did compass in the other's beam; and both


s: In such sort whirl around, that each should tend


s: With opposite motion and, conceiving thus,


s: Of that true constellation, and the dance


s: Twofold, that circled me, he shall attain


s: As 't were the shadow; for things there as much


s: Surpass our usage, as the swiftest heav'n


s: Is swifter than the Chiana.  There was sung


s: Substance that nature and the human join'd.


s: The song fulfill'd its measure; and to us


s: Those saintly lights attended, happier made


s: At each new minist'ring.  Then silence brake,


s: That luminary, in which the wondrous life


s: And thus it spake: "One ear o' th' harvest thresh'd,


s: And its grain safely stor'd, sweet charity


s: "Thou know'st, that in the bosom, whence the rib


s: Was ta'en to fashion that fair cheek, whose taste


s: All the world pays for, and in that, which pierc'd


s: By the keen lance, both after and before


s: Each evil in the scale, whate'er of light


s: Have by his virtue been infus'd, who form'd


s: Both one and other: and thou thence admir'st


s: A second, there is none, to his enclos'd


s: In the fifth radiance.  Open now thine eyes


s: To what I answer thee; and thou shalt see


s: Thy deeming and my saying meet in truth,


s: As centre in the round.  That which dies not,


s: And that which can die, are but each the beam


s: Engendereth loving; for that lively light,


s: Which passeth from his brightness; not disjoin'd


s: From him, nor from his love triune with them,


s: Doth, through his bounty, congregate itself,


s: "Descending hence unto the lowest powers,


s: Things generated, which the heav'nly orbs


s: Moving, with seed or without seed, produce.


s: Their wax, and that which molds it, differ much:


s: And thence with lustre, more or less, it shows


s: Th' ideal stamp impress: so that one tree


s: According to his kind, hath better fruit,


s: And worse: and, at your birth, ye, mortal men,


s: Are in your talents various.  Were the wax


s: Molded with nice exactness, and the heav'n


s: The lustre of the seal should be complete:


s: Whose faultering hand is faithless to his skill.


s: Howe'er, if love itself dispose, and mark


s: The primal virtue, kindling with bright view,


s: There all perfection is vouchsafed; and such


s: The clay was made, accomplish'd with each gift,


s: That life can teem with; such the burden fill'd


s: Thy judgment, that the human nature ne'er


s: "Did I advance no further than this point,


s: 'How then had he no peer?'  thou might'st reply.


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


s: Right plainly, ponder, who he was, and what


s: (When he was bidden 'Ask' ), the motive sway'd


s: That thou mayst see, he was a king, who ask'd


s: Sufficient: not the number to search out


s: Triangle with each corner, blunt or sharp.


s: "Whence, noting that, which I have said, and this,


s: Thou kingly prudence and that ken mayst learn,


s: And, marking clearly, that I told thee, 'Risen,'


s: To kings, of whom are many, and the good


s: Are rare.  With this distinction take my words;


s: And they may well consist with that which thou


s: Henceforth be led unto thy feet, to make


s: Both to the 'yea' and to the 'nay' thou seest not.


s: For he among the fools is down full low,


s: Since it befalls, that in most instances


s: Current opinion leads to false: and then


s: Affection bends the judgment to her ply.


s: "Much more than vainly doth he loose from shore,


s: Since he returns not such as he set forth,


s: Who fishes for the truth and wanteth skill.


s: Who journey'd on, and knew not whither: so did


s: The scripture-image, by distortion marr'd.


s: "Let not the people be too swift to judge,


s: As one who reckons on the blades in field,


s: Or ere the crop be ripe.  For I have seen


s: The thorn frown rudely all the winter long


s: And bark, that all the way across the sea


s: Ran straight and speedy, perish at the last,


s: E'en in the haven's mouth seeing one steal,


s: Another brine, his offering to the priest,


s: Let not Dame Birtha and Sir Martin thence


s: Into heav'n's counsels deem that they can pry:


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


s: Such was the image glanc'd into my mind,


s: Resum'd alternate: "Need there is (tho' yet


s: He tells it to you not in words, nor e'en


s: In thought) that he should fathom to its depth


s: Another mystery.  Tell him, if the light,


s: Wherewith your substance blooms, shall stay with you


s: How, when ye shall regain your visible forms,


s: The sight may without harm endure the change,


s: That also tell."  As those, who in a ring


s: Tread the light measure, in their fitful mirth


s: Raise loud the voice, and spring with gladder bound;


s: Thus, at the hearing of that pious suit,


s: And wond'rous note attested new delight.


s: Whoso laments, that we must doff this garb


s: The sweet refreshing, of that heav'nly shower.


s: Him, who lives ever, and for ever reigns


s: Unbounded, bounding all, each spirit thrice


s: And from the lesser orb the goodliest light,


s: With gentle voice and mild, such as perhaps


s: "Long as the joy of Paradise shall last,


s: Our love shall shine around that raiment, bright,


s: As fervent; fervent, as in vision blest;


s: And that as far in blessedness exceeding,


s: As it hath grave beyond its virtue great.


s: Our shape, regarmented with glorious weeds


s: Of saintly flesh, must, being thus entire,


s: Show yet more gracious.  Therefore shall increase,


s: The Supreme Good; light, ministering aid,


s: The vision needs increasing, much increase


s: The fervour, which it kindles; and that too


s: The ray, that comes from it.  But as the greed


s: Which gives out flame, yet it its whiteness shines


s: Its proper semblance; thus this circling sphere


s: Of splendour, shall to view less radiant seem,


s: Than shall our fleshly robe, which yonder earth


s: Now covers.  Nor will such excess of light


s: Followed from either choir, as plainly spoke


s: Desire of their dead bodies; yet perchance


s: Not for themselves, but for their kindred dear,


s: Mothers and sires, and those whom best they lov'd,


s: And lo! forthwith there rose up round about


s: Of equal clearness, like the brightening up


s: Of twilight, new appearances through heav'n


s: Peer with faint glimmer, doubtfully descried;


s: So there new substances, methought began


s: To rise in view; and round the other twain


s: Enwheeling, sweep their ampler circuit wide.


s: O'erpowering vision in me!  But so fair,


s: Mind cannot follow it, nor words express


s: Her infinite sweetness.  Thence mine eyes regain'd


s: Translated: for the star, with warmer smile


s: With all the heart, and with that tongue which speaks


s: To God, befitting the new grace vouchsaf'd.


s: The rite accepted.  With such mighty sheen


s: And mantling crimson, in two listed rays


s: The splendours shot before me, that I cried,


s: "God of Sabaoth! that does prank them thus!"


s: Distinguish'd into greater lights and less,


s: Its pathway, which the wisest fail to spell;


s: So thickly studded, in the depth of Mars,


s: Those rays describ'd the venerable sign,


s: That quadrants in the round conjoining frame.


s: Here memory mocks the toil of genius.  Christ


s: Beam'd on that cross; and pattern fails me now.


s: But whoso takes his cross, and follows Christ


s: When in the flecker'd dawning he shall spy


s: The glitterance of Christ.  From horn to horn,


s: And 'tween the summit and the base did move


s: Lights, scintillating, as they met and pass'd.


s: Thus oft are seen, with ever-changeful glance,


s: Straight or athwart, now rapid and now slow,


s: To move along the sunbeam, whose slant line


s: Against the noontide heat.  And as the chime


s: With many strings, a pleasant dining makes


s: To him, who heareth not distinct the note;


s: So from the lights, which there appear'd to me,


s: That, indistinctly heard, with ravishment


s: Possess'd me.  Yet I mark'd it was a hymn


s: "Arise and conquer," as to one who hears


s: O'ercame, that never till that hour was thing


s: Accounting less the pleasure of those eyes,


s: Of every beauty work with quicker force,


s: The higher they are ris'n; and that there


s: I had not turn'd me to them; he may well


s: That holy pleasure here not yet reveal'd,


s: Which grows in transport as we mount aloof.


s: True love, that ever shows itself as clear


s: In kindness, as loose appetite in wrong,


s: Silenced that lyre harmonious, and still'd


s: The sacred chords, that are by heav'n's right hand


s: Unwound and tighten'd, flow to righteous prayers


s: Should they not hearken, who, to give me will


s: For praying, in accordance thus were mute?


s: He hath in sooth good cause for endless grief,


s: Who, for the love of thing that lasteth not,


s: At nightfall, glides a sudden trail of fire,


s: And seems some star that shifted place in heav'n,


s: Only that, whence it kindles, none is lost,


s: And it is soon extinct; thus from the horn,


s: That on the dexter of the cross extends,


s: From mid the cluster shone there; yet no gem


s: Dropp'd from its foil; and through the beamy list


s: Like flame in alabaster, glow'd its course.


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


s: Our greater muse may claim) the pious ghost


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


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


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


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


s: Mysterious; for his high conception scar'd


s: Beyond the mark of mortals.  When the flight


s: Of holy transport had so spent its rage,


s: The speech descended, the first sounds I heard


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


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


s: Which took me reading in the sacred book,


s: Whose leaves or white or dusky never change,


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


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


s: Who for such lofty mounting has with plumes


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


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


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


s: Both less and greater in that mirror look,


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


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


s: Urging with sacred thirst of sweet desire,


s: Fearless, and frank and jocund, utter forth


s: Thy will distinctly, utter forth the wish,


s: Whereto my ready answer stands decreed."


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


s: The nature, in whom naught unequal dwells,


s: Wisdom and love were in one measure dealt;


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


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


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


s: With unlike wings are fledge.  A mortal I


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


s: For thy paternal greeting.  This howe'er


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: For fear the age and dowry should exceed


s: On each side just proportion.  House was none


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Christian at once and Cacciaguida; as were


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


s: The Emperor Conrad; and his knighthood he


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


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


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


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


s: Whose base affection many a spirit soils,


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


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


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


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


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


s: Goes round thee with his shears.  Resuming then


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


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


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


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


s: Freely to speak my thought: above myself


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Their flame enliven, so that light I saw


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


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


s: Yet not in this our modern phrase, forthwith


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


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


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


s: Five hundred fifty times and thrice, its beams


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


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


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


s: Suffice of my forefathers: who they were,


s: And whence they hither came, more honourable


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


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


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


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


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


s: Were neighbours to you, and that at Galluzzo


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


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


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


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


s: Degenerates most, been stepdame unto Caesar,


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


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


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


s: Than the blind lamb; and oftentimes one sword


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: So fortune deals with Florence.  Hence admire not


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


s: Time covers, the first Florentines.  I saw


s: Now in their wane, illustrious citizens:


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Unshaken: the Sacchetti still were great,


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


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


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


s: Hath undone! and in all her goodly deeds


s: Florence was by the bullets of bright gold


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


s: As surely as your church is vacant, flock


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


s: That plays the dragon after him that flees,


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


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


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


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


s: Each one, who bears the sightly quarterings


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


s: His knighthood and his privilege retain'd;


s: This day is mingled with the common herd.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: The lily from the lance had hung reverse,


s: Or through division been with vermeil dyed."


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: That thou mayst use thyself to own thy thirst


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


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


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


s: As earthly thought determines two obtuse


s: Dost see contingencies, ere in themselves


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


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


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


s: Were satisfied to know the lot awaits me,


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


s: So said I to the brightness, which erewhile


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: From thence, as to the ear sweet harmony


s: From organ comes, so comes before mine eye


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


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


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


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


s: Where gainful merchandize is made of Christ,


s: Throughout the livelong day.  The common cry,


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


s: Shall, in the vengeance it dispenseth, find


s: A faithful witness.  Thou shall leave each thing


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


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


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


s: How hard the passage to descend and climb


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


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


s: For all ungrateful, impious all and mad,


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


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


s: Their course shall so evince their brutishness


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


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


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


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


s: He shall behold thee with such kind regard,


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


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


s: Forerun the asking.  With him shalt thou see


s: That mortal, who was at his birth impress


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


s: The nations shall take note.  His unripe age


s: Yet holds him from observance; for these wheels


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


s: Sparkles of virtue shall shoot forth in him,


s: His bounty shall be spread abroad so widely,


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


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


s: Rich men and beggars interchanging fortunes.


s: And thou shalt bear this written in thy soul


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


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


s: That a few circling seasons hide for thee!


s: Yet envy not thy neighbours: time extends


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


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


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


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


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


s: Which falls most heavily on him, who most


s: Abandoned himself.  Therefore 't is good


s: I should forecast, that driven from the place


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


s: Of infinite mourning, and along the mount


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: To vital nourishment.  The cry thou raisest,


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


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


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


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


s: And fix its faith, unless the instance brought


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


s: Tempting the sweet with bitter: she meanwhile,


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


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


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


s: I leave in silence here: nor through distrust


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


s: The mind remounts not without aid.  Thus much


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


s: While the everlasting pleasure, that did full


s: From her fair countenance my gladden'd soul


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


s: As here we sometimes in the looks may see


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Shall there enact, as doth in summer cloud


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


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


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


s: With whirling speed; and gladness was the scourge


s: Unto that top.  The next for Charlemagne


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


s: William, and Renard, and Duke Godfrey drew


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


s: Who spake with me among the other lights


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


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


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


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


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


s: In good deeds doth perceive from day to day


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


s: The circuit widen'd, noting the increase


s: Of beauty in that wonder.  Like the change


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


s: Which from its fairness doth discharge the weight


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


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


s: Through silvery whiteness of that temperate star,


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


s: Within that Jovial cresset, the clear sparks


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


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


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


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


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


s: The saintly creatures flying, sang, and made


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


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


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


s: Of Pegasean race! whose souls, which thou


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


s: Cities and realms by thee! thou with thyself


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


s: As fancy doth present them.  Be thy power


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


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


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


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


s: Of the fifth word they held their station,


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


s: Descending other lights, that rested there,


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


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


s: Thus more than thousand twinkling lustres hence


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Erewhile, with lilied crowning, well content


s: Following gently the impress of the bird.


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


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


s: Therefore I pray the Sovran Mind, from whom


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


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


s: Their traffic in that sanctuary, whose walls


s: With miracles and martyrdoms were built.


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


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


s: War once had for its instrument the sword:


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Gladdening the thronged spirits.  Each did seem


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


s: In clear refraction.  And that, which next


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Whence I address them: "O perennial flowers


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


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


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


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


s: In faithful mirror the celestial Justice,


s: Yours without veil reflects it.  Ye discern


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


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


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


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


s: And in that space so variously hath wrought,


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


s: Could not through all the universe display


s: Of his omniscience should not still remain


s: He first through pride supplanted, who was sum


s: Whence needs each lesser nature is but scant


s: Therefore your sight, of th' omnipresent Mind


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


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


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


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


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


s: Save that which cometh from the pure serene


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


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


s: That covert, which hath hidden from thy search


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


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


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


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


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


s: Where is the justice that condemns him?  where


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


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


s: To judge at distance of a thousand miles


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


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


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


s: Whose very cause depends upon its beam."


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Wherewith the Romans over-awed the world,


s: Those burning splendours of the Holy Spirit


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


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


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


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


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


s: Christians like these the Ethiop shall condemn:


s: When that the two assemblages shall part;


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


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


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


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


s: Which will give speedy motion to the pen,


s: When Prague shall mourn her desolated realm.


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


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


s: The thirsting pride, that maketh fool alike


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


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


s: The delicate living there of the Bohemian,


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


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


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


s: Shall find his avarice there and cowardice;


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


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


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


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


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


s: If with thy mountainous girdle thou wouldst arm thee


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


s: Wailings and groans in Famagosta's streets


s: Who keepeth even footing with the rest."


s: When, disappearing, from our hemisphere,


s: The world's enlightener vanishes, and day


s: Of such vicissitude in heaven I thought,


s: As the great sign, that marshaleth the world


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


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


s: Waxing in splendour, burst forth into songs,


s: Such as from memory glide and fall away.


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


s: How lustrous was thy semblance in those sparkles,


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


s: After the precious and bright beaming stones,


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


s: Of their angelic bells; methought I heard


s: The murmuring of a river, that doth fall


s: From rock to rock transpicuous, making known


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


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


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


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


s: That murmuring of the eagle, and forthwith


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: How dear he costeth not to follow Christ,


s: Both from experience of this pleasant life,


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


s: In the circumference, for the over arch,


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


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


s: Alter not, when through pious prayer below


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


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


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


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


s: Though it have brought destruction on the world.


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


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


s: For Charles and Frederick living: now he knows


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


s: Which he betokens by his radiant seeming.


s: Who in the erring world beneath would deem,


s: That Trojan Ripheus in this round was set


s: Fifth of the saintly splendours?  now he knows


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


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


s: That warbling in the air expatiates long,


s: Then, trilling out his last sweet melody,


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


s: That image stampt by the' everlasting pleasure,


s: Which fashions like itself all lovely things.


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


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


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


s: The eye was kindled: and the blessed sign


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: The kingdom of the heavens, and overcome


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Gentiles but Christians, in firm rooted faith,


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


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


s: Came back unto his bones.  Of lively hope


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: He was made sharer in our gamesome mirth.


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


s: Which from so deep a fountain doth distil,


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


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


s: The filth of paganism, and for their ways


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


s: Whom at the right wheel thou beheldst advancing,


s: Were sponsors for him more than thousand years


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


s: Such scantiness of knowledge our delight:


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


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


s: Sweet medicine to clear and strengthen sight,


s: And, as one handling skillfully the harp,


s: Attendant on some skilful songster's voice


s: Bids the chords vibrate, and therein the song


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


s: Like the accordant twinkling of two eyes,


s: Their beamy circlets, dancing to the sounds.


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


s: Found all contentment.  Yet no smile she wore


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


s: For, mounting these eternal palace-stairs,


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


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


s: Thy mortal puissance would from its rays


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


s: Into the seventh splendour are we wafted,


s: That underneath the burning lion's breast


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


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


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


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


s: Within the crystal, which records the name,


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


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


s: So lofty was the summit; down whose steps


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


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


s: Bestirring them to dry their feathers chill,


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


s: Returning, cross their flight, while some abide


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


s: That glitterance, wafted on alternate wing,


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Keep silence here, pervading with such sounds


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


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


s: Only to yield thee gladness of my voice,


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Love no compulsion needs, but follows free


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


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


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


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


s: "Splendour eternal, piercing through these folds,


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


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


s: Wherewith I sparkle, equaling with my blaze


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


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


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


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


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


s: Be this reported; that none henceforth dare


s: Direct his footsteps to so dread a bourn.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: That with no costlier viands than the juice


s: Of summer and the winter frosts, content


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


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


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


s: Of mortal life, through much importuning


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: So burly are they grown: and from behind


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


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


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


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


s: I at those accents saw the splendours down


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


s: Each circuiting, more beautiful.  Round this


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


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


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


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


s: Thither for succour, where he trusteth most,


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


s: Beholding pale and breathless, with her voice


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: In which couldst thou have understood their prayers,


s: The vengeance were already known to thee,


s: Which thou must witness ere thy mortal hour,


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


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


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


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


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


s: A hundred little spheres, that fairer grew


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


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


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


s: One largest and most lustrous onward drew,


s: That it might yield contentment to my wish;


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


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


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


s: Thou reach, expectance may not weary thee,


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


s: That mountain, at whose side Cassino rests,


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


s: Who thither carried first the name of Him,


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


s: And such a speeding grace shone over me,


s: That from their impious worship I reclaim'd


s: The dwellers round about, who with the world


s: Were in delusion lost.  These other flames,


s: The spirits of men contemplative, were all


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


s: Gives birth to flowers and fruits of holiness.


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


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


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


s: And this the cheerful semblance, I behold


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


s: Before the sun, when the consummate flower


s: Has spread to utmost amplitude.  Of thee


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


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


s: For there on each desire completion waits,


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


s: Perfect, entire, and for fulfillment ripe.


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


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


s: And so at giddy distance mocks thy view.