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Title: The Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Paradise, Volume 2

Author: Dante Alighieri

Release Date: August 2, 2004 [EBook #8797]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by David Widger

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ***

THE VISION

OF,

HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE

BY

DANTE ALIGHIERI

PARADISE

Part Two

TRANSLATED BY

THE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A.

Click on Any Image to Enlarge It

PARADISE

LIST OF CANTOS

Canto 15

Canto 16

Canto 17

Canto 18

Canto 19

Canto 20

Canto 21

CANTO XV

True love, that ever shows itself as clear

In kindness, as loose appetite in wrong,

Silenced that lyre harmonious, and still'd

The sacred chords, that are by heav'n's right hand

Unwound and tighten'd, flow to righteous prayers

Should they not hearken, who, to give me will

For praying, in accordance thus were mute?

He hath in sooth good cause for endless grief,

Who, for the love of thing that lasteth not,

Despoils himself forever of that love.

As oft along the still and pure serene,

At nightfall, glides a sudden trail of fire,

Attracting with involuntary heed

The eye to follow it, erewhile at rest,

And seems some star that shifted place in heav'n,

Only that, whence it kindles, none is lost,

And it is soon extinct; thus from the horn,

That on the dexter of the cross extends,

Down to its foot, one luminary ran

From mid the cluster shone there; yet no gem

Dropp'd from its foil; and through the beamy list

Like flame in alabaster, glow'd its course.

So forward stretch'd him (if of credence aught

Our greater muse may claim) the pious ghost

Of old Anchises, in the' Elysian bower,

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

O most exceeding grace divine! to whom,

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

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

Turn'd me toward him; then unto my dame

My sight directed, and on either side

Amazement waited me; for in her eyes

Was lighted such a smile, I thought that mine

Had div'd unto the bottom of my grace

And of my bliss in Paradise.  Forthwith

To hearing and to sight grateful alike,

The spirit to his proem added things

I understood not, so profound he spake;

Yet not of choice but through necessity

Mysterious; for his high conception scar'd

Beyond the mark of mortals.  When the flight

Of holy transport had so spent its rage,

That nearer to the level of our thought

The speech descended, the first sounds I heard

Were, "Best he thou, Triunal Deity!

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

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

Which took me reading in the sacred book,

Whose leaves or white or dusky never change,

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

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

Who for such lofty mounting has with plumes

Begirt thee.  Thou dost deem thy thoughts to me

From him transmitted, who is first of all,

E'en as all numbers ray from unity;

And therefore dost not ask me who I am,

Or why to thee more joyous I appear,

Than any other in this gladsome throng.

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

Both less and greater in that mirror look,

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

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

Urging with sacred thirst of sweet desire,

May be contended fully, let thy voice,

Fearless, and frank and jocund, utter forth

Thy will distinctly, utter forth the wish,

Whereto my ready answer stands decreed."

I turn'd me to Beatrice; and she heard

Ere I had spoken, smiling, an assent,

That to my will gave wings; and I began

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

The nature, in whom naught unequal dwells,

Wisdom and love were in one measure dealt;

For that they are so equal in the sun,

From whence ye drew your radiance and your heat,

As makes all likeness scant.  But will and means,

In mortals, for the cause ye well discern,

With unlike wings are fledge.  A mortal I

Experience inequality like this,

And therefore give no thanks, but in the heart,

For thy paternal greeting.  This howe'er

I pray thee, living topaz! that ingemm'st

This precious jewel, let me hear thy name."

"I am thy root, O leaf! whom to expect

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

Prefacing, next it added: "he, of whom

Thy kindred appellation comes, and who,

These hundred years and more, on its first ledge

Hath circuited the mountain, was my son

And thy great grandsire.  Well befits, his long

Endurance should be shorten'd by thy deeds.

"Florence, within her ancient limit-mark,

Which calls her still to matin prayers and noon,

Was chaste and sober, and abode in peace.

She had no armlets and no head-tires then,

No purfled dames, no zone, that caught the eye

More than the person did.  Time was not yet,

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

For fear the age and dowry should exceed

On each side just proportion.  House was none

Void of its family; nor yet had come

Hardanapalus, to exhibit feats

Of chamber prowess.  Montemalo yet

O'er our suburban turret rose; as much

To be surpass in fall, as in its rising.

I saw Bellincione Berti walk abroad

In leathern girdle and a clasp of bone;

And, with no artful colouring on her cheeks,

His lady leave the glass.  The sons I saw

Of Nerli and of Vecchio well content

With unrob'd jerkin; and their good dames handling

The spindle and the flax; O happy they!

Each sure of burial in her native land,

And none left desolate a-bed for France!

One wak'd to tend the cradle, hushing it

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

Another, with her maidens, drawing off

The tresses from the distaff, lectur'd them

Old tales of Troy and Fesole and Rome.

A Salterello and Cianghella we

Had held as strange a marvel, as ye would

A Cincinnatus or Cornelia now.

"In such compos'd and seemly fellowship,

Such faithful and such fair equality,

In so sweet household, Mary at my birth

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

In your old baptistery, I was made

Christian at once and Cacciaguida; as were

My brethren, Eliseo and Moronto.

"From Valdipado came to me my spouse,

And hence thy surname grew.  I follow'd then

The Emperor Conrad; and his knighthood he

Did gird on me; in such good part he took

My valiant service.  After him I went

To testify against that evil law,

Whose people, by the shepherd's fault, possess

Your right, usurping.  There, by that foul crew

Was I releas'd from the deceitful world,

Whose base affection many a spirit soils,

And from the martyrdom came to this peace."

CANTO XVI

O slight respect of man's nobility!

I never shall account it marvelous,

That our infirm affection here below

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

E'en in that region of unwarp'd desire,

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

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

Unless thou be eked out from day to day,

Goes round thee with his shears.  Resuming then

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

But since hath disaccustom'd I began;

And Beatrice, that a little space

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

Whose cough embolden'd (as the story holds)

To first offence the doubting Guenever.

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

Freely to speak my thought: above myself

You raise me.  Through so many streams with joy

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

So that it bears the mighty tide, and bursts not

Say then, my honour'd stem! what ancestors

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

In your first childhood?  Tell me of the fold,

That hath Saint John for guardian, what was then

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

As embers, at the breathing of the wind,

Their flame enliven, so that light I saw

Shine at my blandishments; and, as it grew

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

Yet not in this our modern phrase, forthwith

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

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

Who now is sainted, lighten'd her of me

Whom she was heavy with, this fire had come,

Five hundred fifty times and thrice, its beams

To reilumine underneath the foot

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

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

Partition of our city first is reach'd

By him, that runs her annual game.  Thus much

Suffice of my forefathers: who they were,

And whence they hither came, more honourable

It is to pass in silence than to tell.

All those, who in that time were there from Mars

Until the Baptist, fit to carry arms,

Were but the fifth of them this day alive.

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

From Campi and Certaldo and Fighine,

Ran purely through the last mechanic's veins.

O how much better were it, that these people

Were neighbours to you, and that at Galluzzo

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

Than to have them within, and bear the stench

Of Aguglione's hind, and Signa's, him,

That hath his eye already keen for bart'ring!

Had not the people, which of all the world

Degenerates most, been stepdame unto Caesar,

But, as a mother, gracious to her son;

Such one, as hath become a Florentine,

And trades and traffics, had been turn'd adrift

To Simifonte, where his grandsire ply'd

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

Of Montemurlo still: the Cerchi still

Were in Acone's parish; nor had haply

From Valdigrieve past the Buondelmonte.

The city's malady hath ever source

In the confusion of its persons, as

The body's, in variety of food:

And the blind bull falls with a steeper plunge,

Than the blind lamb; and oftentimes one sword

Doth more and better execution,

Than five.  Mark Luni, Urbisaglia mark,

How they are gone, and after them how go

Chiusi and Sinigaglia; and 't will seem

No longer new or strange to thee to hear,

That families fail, when cities have their end.

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

Are mortal: but mortality in some

Ye mark not, they endure so long, and you

Pass by so suddenly.  And as the moon

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

Hide and reveal the strand unceasingly;

So fortune deals with Florence.  Hence admire not

At what of them I tell thee, whose renown

Time covers, the first Florentines.  I saw

The Ughi, Catilini and Filippi,

The Alberichi, Greci and Ormanni,

Now in their wane, illustrious citizens:

And great as ancient, of Sannella him,

With him of Arca saw, and Soldanieri

And Ardinghi, and Bostichi.  At the poop,

That now is laden with new felony,

So cumb'rous it may speedily sink the bark,

The Ravignani sat, of whom is sprung

The County Guido, and whoso hath since

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

Fair governance was yet an art well priz'd

By him of Pressa: Galigaio show'd

The gilded hilt and pommel, in his house.

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

Unshaken: the Sacchetti still were great,

Giouchi, Sifanti, Galli and Barucci,

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

Of the Calfucci still the branchy trunk

Was in its strength: and to the curule chairs

Sizii and Arigucci yet were drawn.

How mighty them I saw, whom since their pride

Hath undone! and in all her goodly deeds

Florence was by the bullets of bright gold

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

As surely as your church is vacant, flock

Into her consistory, and at leisure

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

That plays the dragon after him that flees,

But unto such, as turn and show the tooth,

Ay or the purse, is gentle as a lamb,

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

That Ubertino of Donati grudg'd

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

Already Caponsacco had descended

Into the mart from Fesole: and Giuda

And Infangato were good citizens.

A thing incredible I tell, tho' true:

The gateway, named from those of Pera, led

Into the narrow circuit of your walls.

Each one, who bears the sightly quarterings

Of the great Baron (he whose name and worth

The festival of Thomas still revives)

His knighthood and his privilege retain'd;

Albeit one, who borders them With gold,

This day is mingled with the common herd.

In Borgo yet the Gualterotti dwelt,

And Importuni: well for its repose

Had it still lack'd of newer neighbourhood.

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

Through the just anger that hath murder'd ye

And put a period to your gladsome days,

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

O Buondelmonte! what ill counseling

Prevail'd on thee to break the plighted bond

Many, who now are weeping, would rejoice,

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

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

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

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

With these and others like to them, I saw

Florence in such assur'd tranquility,

She had no cause at which to grieve: with these

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

The lily from the lance had hung reverse,

Or through division been with vermeil dyed."

CANTO XVII

Such as the youth, who came to Clymene

To certify himself of that reproach,

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

Still makes the fathers chary to their sons),

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

Of Beatrice, and that saintly lamp,

Who had erewhile for me his station mov'd;

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

That it may issue, bearing true report

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

May to our knowledge add, but to the end,

That thou mayst use thyself to own thy thirst

And men may mingle for thee when they hear."

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

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

As earthly thought determines two obtuse

In one triangle not contain'd, so clear

Dost see contingencies, ere in themselves

Existent, looking at the point whereto

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

With Virgil the soul purifying mount,

And visited the nether world of woe,

Touching my future destiny have heard

Words grievous, though I feel me on all sides

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

Were satisfied to know the lot awaits me,

The arrow, seen beforehand, slacks its flight."

So said I to the brightness, which erewhile

To me had spoken, and my will declar'd,

As Beatrice will'd, explicitly.

Nor with oracular response obscure,

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

Beguil'd the credulous nations; but, in terms

Precise and unambiguous lore, replied

The spirit of paternal love, enshrin'd,

Yet in his smile apparent; and thus spake:

"Contingency, unfolded not to view

Upon the tablet of your mortal mold,

Is all depictur'd in the' eternal sight;

But hence deriveth not necessity,

More then the tall ship, hurried down the flood,

Doth from the vision, that reflects the scene.

From thence, as to the ear sweet harmony

From organ comes, so comes before mine eye

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

From Athens, by his cruel stepdame's wiles,

Hippolytus departed, such must thou

Depart from Florence.  This they wish, and this

Contrive, and will ere long effectuate, there,

Where gainful merchandize is made of Christ,

Throughout the livelong day.  The common cry,

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

Unto the party injur'd: but the truth

Shall, in the vengeance it dispenseth, find

A faithful witness.  Thou shall leave each thing

Belov'd most dearly: this is the first shaft

Shot from the bow of exile.  Thou shalt prove

How salt the savour is of other's bread,

How hard the passage to descend and climb

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

Will be the worthless and vile company,

With whom thou must be thrown into these straits.

For all ungrateful, impious all and mad,

Shall turn 'gainst thee: but in a little while

Theirs and not thine shall be the crimson'd brow

Their course shall so evince their brutishness

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

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

In the great Lombard's courtesy, who bears

Upon the ladder perch'd the sacred bird.

He shall behold thee with such kind regard,

That 'twixt ye two, the contrary to that

Which falls 'twixt other men, the granting shall

Forerun the asking.  With him shalt thou see

That mortal, who was at his birth impress

So strongly from this star, that of his deeds

The nations shall take note.  His unripe age

Yet holds him from observance; for these wheels

Only nine years have compass him about.

But, ere the Gascon practice on great Harry,

Sparkles of virtue shall shoot forth in him,

In equal scorn of labours and of gold.

His bounty shall be spread abroad so widely,

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

Be idle in its praise.  Look thou to him

And his beneficence: for he shall cause

Reversal of their lot to many people,

Rich men and beggars interchanging fortunes.

And thou shalt bear this written in thy soul

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

Incredible to those who witness them;

Then added: "So interpret thou, my son,

What hath been told thee.—Lo! the ambushment

That a few circling seasons hide for thee!

Yet envy not thy neighbours: time extends

Thy span beyond their treason's chastisement."

Soon, as the saintly spirit, by his silence,

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

Upon the warp, was woven, I began,

As one, who in perplexity desires

Counsel of other, wise, benign and friendly:

"My father! well I mark how time spurs on

Toward me, ready to inflict the blow,

Which falls most heavily on him, who most

Abandoned himself.  Therefore 't is good

I should forecast, that driven from the place

Most dear to me, I may not lose myself

All others by my song.  Down through the world

Of infinite mourning, and along the mount

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

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

Have I learnt that, which if I tell again,

It may with many woefully disrelish;

And, if I am a timid friend to truth,

I fear my life may perish among those,

To whom these days shall be of ancient date."

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

Which I had found there, first shone glisteningly,

Like to a golden mirror in the sun;

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

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

Thou, notwithstanding, all deceit remov'd,

See the whole vision be made manifest.

And let them wince who have their withers wrung.

What though, when tasted first, thy voice shall prove

Unwelcome, on digestion it will turn

To vital nourishment.  The cry thou raisest,

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

Which is of honour no light argument,

For this there only have been shown to thee,

Throughout these orbs, the mountain, and the deep,

Spirits, whom fame hath note of.  For the mind

Of him, who hears, is loth to acquiesce

And fix its faith, unless the instance brought

Be palpable, and proof apparent urge."

CANTO XVIII

CANTO XVIII

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

That blessed spirit; and I fed on mine,

Tempting the sweet with bitter: she meanwhile,

Who led me unto God, admonish'd: "Muse

On other thoughts: bethink thee, that near Him

I dwell, who recompenseth every wrong."

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

And, in the saintly eyes what love was seen,

I leave in silence here: nor through distrust

Of my words only, but that to such bliss

The mind remounts not without aid.  Thus much

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

Affection found no room for other wish.

While the everlasting pleasure, that did full

On Beatrice shine, with second view

From her fair countenance my gladden'd soul

Contented; vanquishing me with a beam

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

These eyes are not thy only Paradise."

As here we sometimes in the looks may see

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

The spirit wholly; thus the hallow'd light,

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

To talk yet further with me, and began:

"On this fifth lodgment of the tree, whose life

Is from its top, whose fruit is ever fair

And leaf unwith'ring, blessed spirits abide,

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

So mighty in renown, as every muse

Might grace her triumph with them.  On the horns

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

Shall there enact, as doth in summer cloud

Its nimble fire."  Along the cross I saw,

At the repeated name of Joshua,

A splendour gliding; nor, the word was said,

Ere it was done: then, at the naming saw

Of the great Maccabee, another move

With whirling speed; and gladness was the scourge

Unto that top.  The next for Charlemagne

And for the peer Orlando, two my gaze

Pursued, intently, as the eye pursues

A falcon flying.  Last, along the cross,

William, and Renard, and Duke Godfrey drew

My ken, and Robert Guiscard.  And the soul,

Who spake with me among the other lights

Did move away, and mix; and with the choir

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

To Beatrice on my right l bent,

Looking for intimation or by word

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

Such mere effulgence in her eyes, such joy,

It past all former wont.  And, as by sense

Of new delight, the man, who perseveres

In good deeds doth perceive from day to day

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

Of my ascent, together with the heav'n

The circuit widen'd, noting the increase

Of beauty in that wonder.  Like the change

In a brief moment on some maiden's cheek,

Which from its fairness doth discharge the weight

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

And to mine eyes so sudden was the change,

Through silvery whiteness of that temperate star,

Whose sixth orb now enfolded us.  I saw,

Within that Jovial cresset, the clear sparks

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

Our language.  And as birds, from river banks

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

Array them in their flight, greeting, as seems,

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

The saintly creatures flying, sang, and made

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

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

Becoming of these signs, a little while

Did rest them, and were mute.  O nymph divine

Of Pegasean race! whose souls, which thou

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

Cities and realms by thee! thou with thyself

Inform me; that I may set forth the shapes,

As fancy doth present them.  Be thy power

Display'd in this brief song.  The characters,

Vocal and consonant, were five-fold seven.

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

Diligite Justitiam, the first,

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

Qui judicatis terram.  In the M.

Of the fifth word they held their station,

Making the star seem silver streak'd with gold.

And on the summit of the M. I saw

Descending other lights, that rested there,

Singing, methinks, their bliss and primal good.

Then, as at shaking of a lighted brand,

Sparkles innumerable on all sides

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

Thus more than thousand twinkling lustres hence

Seem'd reascending, and a higher pitch

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

Which kindleth them, decreed.  And when each one

Had settled in his place, the head and neck

Then saw I of an eagle, lively

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

Hath none to guide him; of himself he guides;

And every line and texture of the nest

Doth own from him the virtue, fashions it.

The other bright beatitude, that seem'd

Erewhile, with lilied crowning, well content

To over-canopy the M. mov'd forth,

Following gently the impress of the bird.

Sweet star! what glorious and thick-studded gems

Declar'd to me our justice on the earth

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

Thyself a costly jewel, dost inlay!

Therefore I pray the Sovran Mind, from whom

Thy motion and thy virtue are begun,

That he would look from whence the fog doth rise,

To vitiate thy beam: so that once more

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

Their traffic in that sanctuary, whose walls

With miracles and martyrdoms were built.

Ye host of heaven! whose glory I survey l

O beg ye grace for those, that are on earth

All after ill example gone astray.

War once had for its instrument the sword:

But now 't is made, taking the bread away

Which the good Father locks from none.  —And thou,

That writes but to cancel, think, that they,

Who for the vineyard, which thou wastest, died,

Peter and Paul live yet, and mark thy doings.

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

To him, that liv'd in solitude remote,

And from the wilds was dragg'd to martyrdom,

I wist not of the fisherman nor Paul."

CANTO XIX

Before my sight appear'd, with open wings,

The beauteous image, in fruition sweet

Gladdening the thronged spirits.  Each did seem

A little ruby, whereon so intense

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

In clear refraction.  And that, which next

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

Nor hath ink written, nor in fantasy

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

The beak discourse; and, what intention form'd

Of many, singly as of one express,

Beginning: "For that I was just and piteous,

l am exalted to this height of glory,

The which no wish exceeds: and there on earth

Have I my memory left, e'en by the bad

Commended, while they leave its course untrod."

Thus is one heat from many embers felt,

As in that image many were the loves,

And one the voice, that issued from them all.

Whence I address them: "O perennial flowers

Of gladness everlasting! that exhale

In single breath your odours manifold!

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

That with great craving long hath held my soul,

Finding no food on earth.  This well I know,

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

In faithful mirror the celestial Justice,

Yours without veil reflects it.  Ye discern

The heed, wherewith I do prepare myself

To hearken; ye the doubt that urges me

With such inveterate craving."  Straight I saw,

Like to a falcon issuing from the hood,

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

His beauty and his eagerness bewraying.

So saw I move that stately sign, with praise

Of grace divine inwoven and high song

Of inexpressive joy.  "He," it began,

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

And in that space so variously hath wrought,

Both openly, and in secret, in such wise

Could not through all the universe display

Impression of his glory, that the Word

Of his omniscience should not still remain

In infinite excess.  In proof whereof,

He first through pride supplanted, who was sum

Of each created being, waited not

For light celestial, and abortive fell.

Whence needs each lesser nature is but scant

Receptacle unto that Good, which knows

No limit, measur'd by itself alone.

Therefore your sight, of th' omnipresent Mind

A single beam, its origin must own

Surpassing far its utmost potency.

The ken, your world is gifted with, descends

In th' everlasting Justice as low down,

As eye doth in the sea; which though it mark

The bottom from the shore, in the wide main

Discerns it not; and ne'ertheless it is,

But hidden through its deepness.  Light is none,

Save that which cometh from the pure serene

Of ne'er disturbed ether: for the rest,

'Tis darkness all, or shadow of the flesh,

Or else its poison.  Here confess reveal'd

That covert, which hath hidden from thy search

The living justice, of the which thou mad'st

Such frequent question; for thou saidst—'A man

Is born on Indus' banks, and none is there

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

And all his inclinations and his acts,

As far as human reason sees, are good,

And he offendeth not in word or deed.

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

Where is the justice that condemns him?  where

His blame, if he believeth not?'—What then,

And who art thou, that on the stool wouldst sit

To judge at distance of a thousand miles

With the short-sighted vision of a span?

To him, who subtilizes thus with me,

There would assuredly be room for doubt

Even to wonder, did not the safe word

Of scripture hold supreme authority.

"O animals of clay!  O spirits gross I

The primal will, that in itself is good,

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

Justice consists in consonance with it,

Derivable by no created good,

Whose very cause depends upon its beam."

As on her nest the stork, that turns about

Unto her young, whom lately she hath fed,

While they with upward eyes do look on her;

So lifted I my gaze; and bending so

The ever-blessed image wav'd its wings,

Lab'ring with such deep counsel.  Wheeling round

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

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

Th' eternal judgment unto mortal ken."

Then still abiding in that ensign rang'd,

Wherewith the Romans over-awed the world,

Those burning splendours of the Holy Spirit

Took up the strain; and thus it spake again:

"None ever hath ascended to this realm,

Who hath not a believer been in Christ,

Either before or after the blest limbs

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

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

In judgment, further off from him by far,

Than such, to whom his name was never known.

Christians like these the Ethiop shall condemn:

When that the two assemblages shall part;

One rich eternally, the other poor.

"What may the Persians say unto your kings,

When they shall see that volume, in the which

All their dispraise is written, spread to view?

There amidst Albert's works shall that be read,

Which will give speedy motion to the pen,

When Prague shall mourn her desolated realm.

There shall be read the woe, that he doth work

With his adulterate money on the Seine,

Who by the tusk will perish: there be read

The thirsting pride, that maketh fool alike

The English and Scot, impatient of their bound.

There shall be seen the Spaniard's luxury,

The delicate living there of the Bohemian,

Who still to worth has been a willing stranger.

The halter of Jerusalem shall see

A unit for his virtue, for his vices

No less a mark than million.  He, who guards

The isle of fire by old Anchises honour'd

Shall find his avarice there and cowardice;

And better to denote his littleness,

The writing must be letters maim'd, that speak

Much in a narrow space.  All there shall know

His uncle and his brother's filthy doings,

Who so renown'd a nation and two crowns

Have bastardized.  And they, of Portugal

And Norway, there shall be expos'd with him

Of Ratza, who hath counterfeited ill

The coin of Venice.  O blest Hungary!

If thou no longer patiently abid'st

Thy ill-entreating! and, O blest Navarre!

If with thy mountainous girdle thou wouldst arm thee

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

Wailings and groans in Famagosta's streets

And Nicosia's, grudging at their beast,

Who keepeth even footing with the rest."

CANTO XX

When, disappearing, from our hemisphere,

The world's enlightener vanishes, and day

On all sides wasteth, suddenly the sky,

Erewhile irradiate only with his beam,

Is yet again unfolded, putting forth

Innumerable lights wherein one shines.

Of such vicissitude in heaven I thought,

As the great sign, that marshaleth the world

And the world's leaders, in the blessed beak

Was silent; for that all those living lights,

Waxing in splendour, burst forth into songs,

Such as from memory glide and fall away.

Sweet love! that dost apparel thee in smiles,

How lustrous was thy semblance in those sparkles,

Which merely are from holy thoughts inspir'd!

After the precious and bright beaming stones,

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

Of their angelic bells; methought I heard

The murmuring of a river, that doth fall

From rock to rock transpicuous, making known

The richness of his spring-head: and as sound

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

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

Thus up the neck, as it were hollow, rose

That murmuring of the eagle, and forthwith

Voice there assum'd, and thence along the beak

Issued in form of words, such as my heart

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

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

In mortal eagles," it began, "must now

Be noted steadfastly: for of the fires,

That figure me, those, glittering in mine eye,

Are chief of all the greatest.  This, that shines

Midmost for pupil, was the same, who sang

The Holy Spirit's song, and bare about

The ark from town to town; now doth he know

The merit of his soul-impassion'd strains

By their well-fitted guerdon.  Of the five,

That make the circle of the vision, he

Who to the beak is nearest, comforted

The widow for her son: now doth he know

How dear he costeth not to follow Christ,

Both from experience of this pleasant life,

And of its opposite.  He next, who follows

In the circumference, for the over arch,

By true repenting slack'd the pace of death:

Now knoweth he, that the degrees of heav'n

Alter not, when through pious prayer below

Today's is made tomorrow's destiny.

The other following, with the laws and me,

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

From good intent producing evil fruit:

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

From his well doing, doth not helm him aught,

Though it have brought destruction on the world.

That, which thou seest in the under bow,

Was William, whom that land bewails, which weeps

For Charles and Frederick living: now he knows

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

Which he betokens by his radiant seeming.

Who in the erring world beneath would deem,

That Trojan Ripheus in this round was set

Fifth of the saintly splendours?  now he knows

Enough of that, which the world cannot see,

The grace divine, albeit e'en his sight

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

That warbling in the air expatiates long,

Then, trilling out his last sweet melody,

Drops satiate with the sweetness; such appear'd

That image stampt by the' everlasting pleasure,

Which fashions like itself all lovely things.

I, though my doubting were as manifest,

As is through glass the hue that mantles it,

In silence waited not: for to my lips

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

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

A sudden lightening and new revelry.

The eye was kindled: and the blessed sign

No more to keep me wond'ring and suspense,

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

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

So that thy knowledge waits not on thy faith:

As one who knows the name of thing by rote,

But is a stranger to its properties,

Till other's tongue reveal them.  Fervent love

And lively hope with violence assail

The kingdom of the heavens, and overcome

The will of the Most high; not in such sort

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

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

Though conquer'd, by its mercy conquering.

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

Cause thee to marvel, in that thou behold'st

The region of the angels deck'd with them.

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

Gentiles but Christians, in firm rooted faith,

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

That of feet nail'd already to the cross.

One from the barrier of the dark abyss,

Where never any with good will returns,

Came back unto his bones.  Of lively hope

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

The prayers sent up to God for his release,

And put power into them to bend his will.

The glorious Spirit, of whom I speak to thee,

A little while returning to the flesh,

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

And, in believing, nourish'd such a flame

Of holy love, that at the second death

He was made sharer in our gamesome mirth.

The other, through the riches of that grace,

Which from so deep a fountain doth distil,

As never eye created saw its rising,

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

Wherefore of grace God op'd in him the eye

To the redemption of mankind to come;

Wherein believing, he endur'd no more

The filth of paganism, and for their ways

Rebuk'd the stubborn nations.  The three nymphs,

Whom at the right wheel thou beheldst advancing,

Were sponsors for him more than thousand years

Before baptizing.  O how far remov'd,

Predestination! is thy root from such

As see not the First cause entire: and ye,

O mortal men! be wary how ye judge:

For we, who see our Maker, know not yet

The number of the chosen: and esteem

Such scantiness of knowledge our delight:

For all our good is in that primal good

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

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

Sweet medicine to clear and strengthen sight,

And, as one handling skillfully the harp,

Attendant on some skilful songster's voice

Bids the chords vibrate, and therein the song

Acquires more pleasure; so, the whilst it spake,

It doth remember me, that I beheld

The pair of blessed luminaries move.

Like the accordant twinkling of two eyes,

Their beamy circlets, dancing to the sounds.

CANTO XXI

Again mine eyes were fix'd on Beatrice,

And with mine eyes my soul, that in her looks

Found all contentment.  Yet no smile she wore

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

Like Semele when into ashes turn'd:

For, mounting these eternal palace-stairs,

My beauty, which the loftier it climbs,

As thou hast noted, still doth kindle more,

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

Thy mortal puissance would from its rays

Shrink, as the leaf doth from the thunderbolt.

Into the seventh splendour are we wafted,

That underneath the burning lion's breast

Beams, in this hour, commingled with his might,

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

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

Whoso can deem, how fondly I had fed

My sight upon her blissful countenance,

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

To do the bidding of my heav'nly guide:

In equal balance poising either weight.

Within the crystal, which records the name,

(As its remoter circle girds the world)

Of that lov'd monarch, in whose happy reign

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

In colour like to sun-illumin'd gold.

A ladder, which my ken pursued in vain,

So lofty was the summit; down whose steps

I saw the splendours in such multitude

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

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

Bestirring them to dry their feathers chill,

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

Returning, cross their flight, while some abide

And wheel around their airy lodge; so seem'd

That glitterance, wafted on alternate wing,

As upon certain stair it met, and clash'd

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

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

Which this betokens me, admits no doubt."

Unwillingly from question I refrain,

To her, by whom my silence and my speech

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

Who in the sight of Him, that seeth all,

Saw wherefore I was silent, prompted me

T' indulge the fervent wish; and I began:

"I am not worthy, of my own desert,

That thou shouldst answer me; but for her sake,

Who hath vouchsaf'd my asking, spirit blest!

That in thy joy art shrouded! say the cause,

Which bringeth thee so near: and wherefore, say,

Doth the sweet symphony of Paradise

Keep silence here, pervading with such sounds

Of rapt devotion ev'ry lower sphere?"

"Mortal art thou in hearing as in sight;"

Was the reply: "and what forbade the smile

Of Beatrice interrupts our song.

Only to yield thee gladness of my voice,

And of the light that vests me, I thus far

Descend these hallow'd steps: not that more love

Invites me; for lo! there aloft, as much

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

But such my lot by charity assign'd,

That makes us ready servants, as thou seest,

To execute the counsel of the Highest.

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

Love no compulsion needs, but follows free

Th' eternal Providence, I well discern:

This harder find to deem, why of thy peers

Thou only to this office wert foredoom'd."

I had not ended, when, like rapid mill,

Upon its centre whirl'd the light; and then

The love, that did inhabit there, replied:

"Splendour eternal, piercing through these folds,

Its virtue to my vision knits, and thus

Supported, lifts me so above myself,

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

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

Wherewith I sparkle, equaling with my blaze

The keenness of my sight.  But not the soul,

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

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

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

Of th' everlasting statute sunk so low,

That no created ken may fathom it.

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

Be this reported; that none henceforth dare

Direct his footsteps to so dread a bourn.

The mind, that here is radiant, on the earth

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

Below, what passeth her ability,

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

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

And of the spirit humbly sued alone

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

Of Italy, nor distant from thy land,

A stony ridge ariseth, in such sort,

The thunder doth not lift his voice so high,

They call it Catria: at whose foot a cell

Is sacred to the lonely Eremite,

For worship set apart and holy rites."

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

So firmly to God's service I adher'd,

That with no costlier viands than the juice

Of olives, easily I pass'd the heats

Of summer and the winter frosts, content

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

And fertile, which that cloister once was us'd

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

Into a waste so empty, that ere long

Detection must lay bare its vanity

Pietro Damiano there was I yclept:

Pietro the sinner, when before I dwelt

Beside the Adriatic, in the house

Of our blest Lady.  Near upon my close

Of mortal life, through much importuning

I was constrain'd to wear the hat that still

From bad to worse it shifted.—Cephas came;

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

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

At the first table.  Modern Shepherd's need

Those who on either hand may prop and lead them,

So burly are they grown: and from behind

Others to hoist them.  Down the palfrey's sides

Spread their broad mantles, so as both the beasts

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

That lookst on this and doth endure so long."

I at those accents saw the splendours down

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

Each circuiting, more beautiful.  Round this

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

So loud, it hath no likeness here: nor I

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

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Table of Contents

THE VISION

OF,

HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE

DANTE ALIGHIERI

PARADISE

Part Two

TRANSLATED BY

THE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A.

Click on Any Image to Enlarge It

PARADISE

LIST OF CANTOS

CANTO XV

CANTO XVI

CANTO XVII

CANTO XVIII

CANTO XIX

CANTO XX

CANTO XXI

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