Where centres every When and every 'Ubi。'
Not to acquire some good unto himself；
Which is impossible； but that his splendour
In its resplendency may say； 'Subsisto；'
In his eternity outside of time；
Outside all other limits； as it pleased him；
Into new Loves the Eternal Love unfolded。
Nor as if torpid did he lie before；
For neither after nor before proceeded
The going forth of God upon these waters。
Matter and Form unmingled and conjoined
Came into being that had no defect；
E'en as three arrows from a three…stringed bow。
And as in glass； in amber； or in crystal
A sunbeam flashes so； that from its coming
To its full being is no interval；
So from its Lord did the triform effect
Ray forth into its being all together；
Without discrimination of beginning。
Order was con…created and constructed
In substances； and summit of the world
Were those wherein the pure act was produced。
Pure potentiality held the lowest part；
Midway bound potentiality with act
Such bond that it shall never be unbound。
Jerome has written unto you of angels
Created a long lapse of centuries
Or ever yet the other world was made；
But written is this truth in many places
By writers of the Holy Ghost； and thou
Shalt see it； if thou lookest well thereat。
And even reason seeth it somewhat；
For it would not concede that for so long
Could be the motors without their perfection。
Now dost thou know both where and when these Loves
Created were； and how； so that extinct
In thy desire already are three fires。
Nor could one reach； in counting； unto twenty
So swiftly； as a portion of these angels
Disturbed the subject of your elements。
The rest remained； and they began this art
Which thou discernest； with so great delight
That never from their circling do they cease。
The occasion of the fall was the accursed
Presumption of that One； whom thou hast seen
By all the burden of the world constrained。
Those whom thou here beholdest modest were
To recognise themselves as of that goodness
Which made them apt for so much understanding；
On which account their vision was exalted
By the enlightening grace and their own merit；
So that they have a full and steadfast will。
I would not have thee doubt； but certain be；
'Tis meritorious to receive this grace；
According as the affection opens to it。
Now round about in this consistory
Much mayst thou contemplate； if these my words
Be gathered up； without all further aid。
But since upon the earth； throughout your schools；
They teach that such is the angelic nature
That it doth hear； and recollect； and will；
More will I say； that thou mayst see unmixed
The truth that is confounded there below；
Equivocating in such like prelections。
These substances； since in God's countenance
They jocund were； turned not away their sight
From that wherefrom not anything is hidden；
Hence they have not their vision intercepted
By object new； and hence they do not need
To recollect； through interrupted thought。
So that below； not sleeping； people dream；
Believing they speak truth； and not believing；
And in the last is greater sin and shame。
Below you do not journey by one path
Philosophising； so transporteth you
Love of appearance and the thought thereof。
And even this above here is endured
With less disdain； than when is set aside
The Holy Writ； or when it is distorted。
They think not there how much of blood it costs
To sow it in the world； and how he pleases
Who in humility keeps close to it。
Each striveth for appearance； and doth make
His own inventions； and these treated are
By preachers； and the Evangel holds its peace。
One sayeth that the moon did backward turn；
In the Passion of Christ； and interpose herself
So that the sunlight reached not down below；
And lies； for of its own accord the light
Hid itself； whence to Spaniards and to Indians；
As to the Jews； did such eclipse respond。
Florence has not so many Lapi and Bindi
As fables such as these； that every year
Are shouted from the pulpit back and forth；
In such wise that the lambs； who do not know；
Come back from pasture fed upon the wind；
And not to see the harm doth not excuse them。
Christ did not to his first disciples say；
'Go forth； and to the world preach idle tales；'
But unto them a true foundation gave；
And this so loudly sounded from their lips；
That； in the warfare to enkindle Faith；
They made of the Evangel shields and lances。
Now men go forth with jests and drolleries
To preach； and if but well the people laugh；
The hood puffs out； and nothing more is asked。
But in the cowl there nestles such a bird；
That； if the common people were to see it；
They would perceive what pardons they confide in；
For which so great on earth has grown the folly；
That； without proof of any testimony；
To each indulgence they would flock together。
By this Saint Anthony his pig doth fatten；
And many others； who are worse than pigs；
Paying in money without mark of coinage。
But since we have digressed abundantly；
Turn back thine eyes forthwith to the right path；
So that the way be shortened with the time。
This nature doth so multiply itself
In numbers； that there never yet was speech
Nor mortal fancy that can go so far。
And if thou notest that which is revealed
By Daniel； thou wilt see that in his thousands
Number determinate is kept concealed。
The primal light； that all irradiates it；
By modes as many is received therein；
As are the splendours wherewith it is mated。
Hence； inasmuch as on the act conceptive
The affection followeth； of love the sweetness
Therein diversely fervid is or tepid。
The height behold now and the amplitude
Of the eternal power； since it hath made
Itself so many mirrors； where 'tis broken；
One in itself remaining as before。〃
Paradiso： Canto XXX
Perchance six thousand miles remote from us
Is glowing the sixth hour； and now this world
Inclines its shadow almost to a level；
When the mid…heaven begins to make itself
So deep to us； that here and there a star
Ceases to shine so far down as this depth；
And as advances bright exceedingly
The handmaid of the sun； the heaven is closed
Light after light to the most beautiful；
Not otherwise the Triumph； which for ever
Plays round about the point that vanquished me；
Seeming enclosed by what itself encloses；
Little by little from my vision faded；
Whereat to turn mine eyes on Beatrice
My seeing nothing and my love constrained me。
If what has hitherto been said of her
Were all concluded in a single praise；
Scant would it be to serve the present turn。
Not only does the beauty I beheld
Transcend ourselves； but truly I believe
Its Maker only may enjoy it all。
Vanquished do I confess me by this passage
More than by problem of his theme was ever
O'ercome the comic or the tragic poet；
For as the sun the sight that trembles most；
Even so the memory of that sweet smile
My mind depriveth of its very self。
From the first day that I beheld her face
In this life； to the moment of this look；
The sequence of my song has ne'er been severed；
But now perforce this sequence must desist
From following her beauty with my verse；
As every artist at his uttermost。
Such as I leave her to a greater fame
Than any of my trumpet； which is bringing
Its arduous matter to a final close；
With voice and gesture of a perfect leader
She recommenced： 〃We from the greatest body
Have issued to the heaven that is pure light；
Light intellectual replete with love；
Love of true good replete with ecstasy；
Ecstasy that transcendeth every sweetness。
Here shalt thou see the one host and the other
Of Paradise； and one in the same aspects
Which at the final judgment thou shalt see。〃
Even as a sudden lightning that disperses
The visual spirits； so that it deprives
The eye of impress from the strongest objects；
Thus round about me flashed a living light；
And left me swathed around with such a veil
Of its effulgence； that I nothing saw。
〃Ever the Love which quieteth this heaven
Welcomes into itself with such salute；
To make the candle ready for its flame。〃
No sooner had within me these brief words
An entrance found； than I perceived myself
To be uplifted over my own power；
And I with vision new rekindled me；
Such that no light whatever is so pure
But that mine eyes were fortified against it。
And light I saw in fashion of a river
Fulvid with its effulgence； 'twixt two banks
Depicted with an admirable Spring。
Out of this river issued living sparks；
And on all sides sank down into the flowers；
Like unto rubies that are set in gold；
And then； as if inebriate with the odours；
They plunged again into the wondrous torrent；
And as one entered issued forth another。
〃The high desire； that now inflames and moves thee
To have intelligence of what thou seest；
Pleaseth me all the more； the more it swells。
But of this water it behoves thee drink
Before so great a thirst in thee be slaked。〃
Thus said to me the sunshine of mine eyes；
And added： 〃The river and the topazes
Going in and out； and the laughing of the herbage；
Are of their truth foreshadowing prefaces；
Not that these things are difficult in themselves；
But the deficiency is on thy side；
For yet thou hast not vision so exalted。〃
There is no babe that leaps so suddenly
With face towards the milk； if he awake
Much later than his usual custom is；
As I did； that I might make better mirrors
Still of mine eyes； down stooping to the wave
Which flows that we therein be better made。
And even as the penthouse of mine eyelids
Drank of it； it forthwith appeared to me
Out of its length to be transformed to round。
Then as a folk who have been under masks
Seem other than before； if they divest
The semblance not their own they disappeared in；
Thus into greater pomp were changed for me
The flowerets and the sparks； so that I s