Part 19

Truly, since at this sign much is looked at and little discerned, I will say why such a way was more worthy.

The divine goodness, which from itself spurns all envy, burning in itself, sparkles such that it unfolds the eternal beauties.

That which distills from it without intermediary then has no end, because its imprint does not move when it seals.

That which rains from it without intermediary is all free, because it does not submit to the power of new things.

It is more conformed to it, and therefore more pleases it; for the holy ardor that rays all things is more lively in the most like.

With all these gifts the human creature is advantaged, and if one be lacking, it must fall from its nobility.

Only sin is that which disenfranchises it and makes it unlike the highest good, whereby it whitens little with its light;

and into its dignity it never returns, unless it fills, where fault emptied, against evil delight with just pains.

Your nature, when it sinned wholly in its seed, from these dignities, as from paradise, was removed;

nor could it recover, if you look subtly well, by any way, without passing through one of these fords:

either that God alone through his courtesy had remitted, or that man through himself had satisfied for his folly.

Now fix the eye through the abyss of the eternal counsel, as much as you can, closely fixed upon my speech.

Man could not in his terms ever satisfy, for not being able to go down with humility obeying then,

as much as in disobeying he understood to go up; and this is the cause why man was disclosed from being able to satisfy through himself.

Therefore it behooved God with his ways to repair man to his whole life, I say with the one, or truly with both.

But because the work is the more gratifying to the worker, as much as it presents of the goodness of the heart whence it issued,

the divine goodness that imprints the world, to proceed through all its ways, to raise you up, was content.

Nor between the last night and the first day was so high or so magnificent a process, by the one or the other, was or shall be:

for God was more liberal in giving himself to make man sufficient to raise himself, than if he had simply remitted of himself;

and all the other modes were scant to justice, if the Son of God had not been humbled to incarnate.

Now to fill well every desire of yours, I return to declare to you in some place, that you may see there as I do.

You say: “I see water, I see fire, the air and the earth and all their mixtures coming to corruption, and lasting little;

and these things were nevertheless creatures; wherefore, if what was said is true, they should be secure from corruption”.

The angels, brother, and the sincere land in which you are, may be said to be created, as they are, in their entire being;

but the nourishments that you have named and those things that are made of them are informed by created virtue.

Created was the matter that they have; created was the informing virtue in these stars that move around them.

The soul of every brute and of the plants, potentiated by complexion, draws the ray and the motion of the holy lights;

but your life breathes without intermediary the highest benignity, and enamors it of itself such that it ever then desires it.

And hence you can argue also your resurrection, if you rethink how the human flesh was made then

when the first parents both were made».

Paradiso Canto VIII

The world used to believe, in its peril, that fair Cyprian rayed mad love, turned in the third epicycle;

wherefore not only to her did the ancient folk in the ancient error do honor of sacrifice and of vowed cry;

but they honored Dione and Cupid, the one as mother, the other as son, and said that he sat in Dido’s lap;

and from her whence I take my beginning they took the name of the star that the sun woos now from brim now from brow.

I did not perceive the ascent into it; but that I was within it gave me good faith my lady whom I saw made more beautiful.

And as in flame spark is seen, and as in voice voice is discerned, when one is still and other goes and returns,

I saw in that light other lamps moving in circle more and less running, according to, I believe, their inner visions.

From cold cloud descended not winds, visible or no, so hasty, that they would not seem hindered and slow

to who had those divine lights seen coming to us, leaving the wheel first begun in the high Seraphim;

and within those that appeared most forward resounded “Osanna” so, that never after was I without desire to hear again.

Then one made himself nearer to us and alone began: “All are ready to your pleasure, that you may joy in us.

We turn with the celestial princes of one revolution and one turning and one thirst, to whom you of the world once said:

‘You who, understanding, move the third heaven’; and we are so full of love, that, to please you, not a little quiet shall be less sweet”.

After my eyes were offered reverent to my lady, and she had made them content and sure of herself,

they turned to the light that had promised so much, and “Ah, who are you?” was the voice of me impressed by great affection.

And how much and what saw I her make more for new gladness that increased, when I spoke, to her gladnesses!

Thus made, she said to me: “The world held me below a little time; and if it had been longer, much evil shall be that would not be.

My joy keeps me hidden from you that rays around me and hides me almost as animal wrapped in its silk.

You loved me much, and had good cause; for if I had been below, I would have shown you of my love further than the leaves.

That left shore which is bathed by Rhone after it is mixed with Sorgue, awaited me as its lord in time,

and that horn of Ausonia that embanks Bari and Gaeta and Catona, from where Tronto and Verde gush into sea.

Already shone on my brow the crown of that land which the Danube waters after it leaves the German banks.

And fair Trinacria, that smokes between Pachynus and Pelorus, above the gulf that receives from Eurus greatest trouble,

not for Typhoeus but for rising sulfur, would have awaited its kings still, born for me of Charles and Rudolph,

if bad lordship, that ever afflicts the subject peoples, had not moved Palermo to cry: “Die, die!”.

And if my brother foresaw this, the avaricious poverty of Catalonia would already flee, that it not offend him;

for truly it behooves to provide for him, or for another, so that on his bark loaded more of burden be not put.

His nature, that from liberal parca descended, would have need of such soldiery that cares not to put in chest”.

“Because I believe that the high gladness that your speech infuses in me, my lord, there where every good is ended and begun,

by you is seen as I see it, is more grateful to me; and also this I hold dear because you discern it gazing in God.

You have made me glad, and thus make me clear, since, speaking, you have moved me to doubt how it can be, from sweet seed, bitter”.

This I to him; and he to me: “If I can show you a truth, to what you ask you shall hold the face as the back holds.

The good that turns and contents all the kingdom that you climb, makes its providence to be virtue in these great bodies.

And not only the natures provided are in the mind that is perfect of itself, but they together with their welfare:

wherefore whatsoever this bow shoots falls disposed to provided end, as thing directed to its mark.

If this were not, the heaven that you walk would produce its effects so, that they would not be arts, but ruins;

and this cannot be, if the intellects that move these stars are not lacking, and lacking the first, that perfected them not.

Will you that this truth whiten more to you?”. And I: “Not at all; for impossible I see that nature, in what is needful, tires”.

Whence he again: “Now say: would it be worse for man on earth, if he were not a citizen?”. “Yes”, answered I; “and here I ask no reason”.

“And can it be, if below one lives not diversely for diverse offices? No, if your master writes you well”.

So he came deducing even to this; then concluded: “Therefore diverse must be the roots of your effects:

wherefore one is born Solon and another Xerxes, another Melchisedech and another that one who, flying through the air, lost his son.

The circular nature, that is seal to the mortal wax, makes well its art, but distinguishes not one from other dwelling.

Thence it comes that Esau departs by seed from Jacob; and Quirinus comes from so vile father, that he yields to Mars.

Generated nature would its course always make like the begetters, if the divine providence prevailed not.

Now that which was behind you is before you: but that you know that I profit by you, a corollary I will that you mantle yourself with.

Ever nature, if it find fortune discordant to itself, as every other seed out of its region, makes bad proof.

And if the world below set mind to the foundation that nature lays, following it, the folk would have good.

But you turn to religion such that shall be born to gird the sword, and make kings of such as is for sermon;

wherefore your track is off the road”.

Paradiso Canto IX

After Charles your, fair Clemence, had clarified me, he narrated the deceits that his seed was to receive;

but said: “Be silent and let the years move”; so that I can say naught but that just lament shall come behind your harms.

And now the life of that holy light had turned to the Sun that refills it as that good that to everything is so much.

Ah souls deceived and impious creatures, that from so great good turn your hearts, directing your temples to vanity!

And behold another of those splendors made itself to me, and its will to please me signified in the clarifying outside.

The eyes of Beatrice, that were firm above me, as before, of dear assent to my desire certified firm.

“Ah, put to my will soon remedy, blessed spirit”, said I, “and make me proof that I can reflect in you that which I think!”.

Whence the light that was still new to me, from its depth, whence it first sang, followed as one whom doing good avails:

“In that part of the depraved Italian land that sits between Rialto and the founts of Brenta and Piave,

there rises a hill, and rises not very high, whence descended once a torch that made to the region a great assault.

Of one root were born both I and it: Cunizza was I called, and here I shine because the light of this star overcame me;

but gladly to myself I indulge the cause of my fate, and it irks me not; that would perhaps seem strong to your vulgar.

Of this lucent and dear jewel of our heaven that is nearest to me, great fame remained; and before it dies,

this hundredth year still shall quintuple: see if man ought be excellent, so that another life the first relinquish.

And this thinks not the present crowd that Tagliamento and Adige enclose, nor for being beaten yet repents;

but soon shall be that Padua to the marsh change the water that Vicenza bathes, for the folk being cruel to duty;

and where Sile and Cagnan join, such one lords and goes with head high, that already for him the net is made to catch.

Feltro shall yet weep the default of its impious shepherd, that shall be so foul that for like one entered not into mortar.

Too large would be the vat that received the Ferrarese blood, and weary he who weighed it ounce by ounce,

that this courteous priest shall give to show himself of party; and such gifts shall conform to the living of the land.

Up there are mirrors, you say Thrones, whence God judging refles us; so that these speeches seem good to us”.

Here she was silent; and made semblance that she was turned to other, for the wheel in which she put herself as she was before.

The other gladness, that was already known to me for dear thing, made itself in sight as fine balass struck by the sun.

To gladden up there splendor is acquired, as smile here; but below is darkened the outward shadow, as the mind is sad.

“God sees all, and your seeing is inlued”, said I, “blessed spirit, so that no will of itself from you can be fugitive.

Therefore your voice, that sports the heaven always with the song of those pious fires that of six wings made the cowl,

why satisfies it not my desires? I would not await your demand, if I intuited as you inme.

“The greatest valley wherein water spreads”, began then his words, “out of that sea that girlands the earth,

between discordant shores against the sun goes so far, that it makes meridian there where the horizon used to make it.

Of that valley was I littoral between Ebro and Macra, that by short path parts the Genoese from the Tuscan.

At one west almost and one east Buggea sits and the land whence I was, that made of its blood once warm the port.

Folco they called me, that folk to whom my name was known; and this heaven imprints itself of me, as I did of him;

for no more burned the daughter of Belus, annoying both Sichaeus and Creusa, of me, until it came to the hair;

nor that Rhodopean deceived by Demophoon, nor Alcides when Iole he had enclosed in heart.

Not therefore here one repents, but smiles, not of the fault, that returns not to mind, but of the valor that ordained and provided.

Here is regarded in the art that adorns so much affection, and is discerned the good whereby the world above that below returns.

But because all your wills full you bear that are born in this sphere, to proceed yet further behooves me.

You wish to know who is in this luminary that here near me thus scintillates as ray of sun in pure water.

Now know that there within is tranquilized Rahab; and to our order joined, of her in the highest grade is sealed.

From this heaven, in which the shadow is pointed that your world makes, before other soul of the triumph of Christ was assumed.

Well behooved her to leave as palm in some heaven of the high victory that was acquired with the one and other palm,

because she favored the first glory of Joshua upon the Holy Land, that little touches the pope the memory.

Your city, that is planted by him who first turned his back on his maker and of whom the envy is so wept,

produces and spreads the accursed flower that has led astray the sheep and the lambs, because it has made wolf of the shepherd.

For this the Gospel and the great doctors are abandoned, and only to the Decretals is studied, so that appears at their hems.

To this intends the pope and the cardinals; their thoughts go not to Nazareth, where Gabriel opened his wings.

But Vatican and the other elected parts of Rome that have been cemetery to the soldiery that Peter followed,

soon free shall be of the adulterer”.

Paradiso Canto X

Gazing in his Son with the Love that the one and other eternally breathes, the first and ineffable Valor

as much as through mind and through place is turned with such order made, that cannot be without tasting of him who regards this.

Lift therefore, reader, to the high wheels with me the sight, straight to that part where the one motion and the other strike;

and there begin to woo in the art of that master who within himself loves it, so that never from it the eye departs.

See how from thence branches the oblique circle that bears the planets, to satisfy the world that calls them.

For if their road were not twisted, much virtue in heaven would be in vain, and almost every power down here dead;

and if from the straight more or less distant were the departing, much would be lacking both down and up of the world’s order.

Now remain, reader, upon your bench, thinking behind to that which is prelibated, if you wish to be glad much before weary.

I have set before you: now for yourself feed; for to itself turns all my care that matter whereof I am made scribe.

The greatest minister of nature, that of the valor of heaven imprints the world and with its light measures for us the time,

with that part that above is remembered joined, was turning through the spirals in which more readily ever it presents;

and I was with him; but of the ascent I perceived not, save as man perceives, before the first thought, his coming.

It is Beatrice she who so leads from good to better, so suddenly that her act through time extends not.

As much as behooved to be of itself lucent that which was within the sun where I entered, not by color, but by light apparent!

Though I call genius and art and use, so I would not say that ever it imagined; but believe can and to see it bramed.

And if our fancies are low to so great height, not is marvel; for above the sun went no eye.

Such was there the fourth family of the high Father, that ever satiates it, showing how it breathes and how it daughters.

And Beatrice began: “Thank, thank the Sun of the angels, that to this sensible has raised you through his grace”.

Heart of mortal was never so digested to devotion and to rendering to God with all its favor so quickly,

as to those words I made myself; and so all my love in him was placed, that Beatrice eclipsed in oblivion.

Not displeased her; but so she smiled, that the splendor of her laughing eyes my mind united in more things divided.

I saw more living and winning lightnings make of us center and of themselves make crown, more sweet in voice than in sight lucent:

thus encircle the daughter of Latona we see at times, when the air is pregnant, so that it retains the thread that makes the zone.

In the court of heaven, whence I return, are found many jewels dear and fair so that they cannot be drawn from the kingdom;

and the song of those lights was of those; who plumes not himself so that up there he flies, from the mute await hence the news.

Then, so singing, those ardent suns were turned around us three times, like stars near the fixed poles,

women they seemed to me, not loosed from dance, but that stop silent, listening until the new notes they have gathered.

And within one I heard begin: “When the ray of grace, whence is enkindled veracious love and that then grows loving,

multiplied in you so resplends, that it conducts you up that stair where none descends without reascending;

who would deny you the wine of his phial for your thirst, in liberty would not be but as water that to the sea descends not.

You wish to know of what plants is inflowered this garland that around woos the fair lady that avails you to heaven.

I was of the lambs of the holy flock that Dominic leads by the way where well one fattens if one wanders not.

This one that is to my right most near, brother and master was to me, and he Albert is of Cologne, and I Thomas of Aquino.

If of all the others certain you wish to be, behind my speech come with the face turning up through the blessed wreath.

That other flaming issues from the smile of Gratian, that the one and other forum helped so that he pleases in paradise.

The other that next adorns our choir, that Peter was who with the poor little one offered to Holy Church his treasure.

The fifth light, that is among us most fair, breathes of such love, that all the world down there gapes to know news of it:

within is the high mind where so profound wisdom was put, that, if the truth is true, to see so much rose not the second.

Next see the light of that candle that down in flesh more inwardly saw the angelic nature and the ministry.

In the other little light laughs that advocate of Christian times of whose Latin Augustine provided.

Now if you draw the eye of the mind from light to light behind my praises, already of the eighth with thirst remain.

To see every good within enjoys the holy soul that the fallacious world makes manifest to who well hears of her.

The body whence she was chased lies down in Cieldauro; and she from martyrdom and from exile came to this peace.

See beyond flaming the ardent breath of Isidore, of Bede and of Richard, that to consider was more than man.

This one whence to me returns your regard, is the light of a spirit that in grave thoughts to die seemed to come slow:

this is the eternal light of Sigeri, who, reading in the Street of the Straws, syllogized invidious truths”.

Then, as clock that calls us in the hour that the bride of God rises to matins the spouse that he love her,

that the one part and the other draws and urges, tin tin sounding with so sweet note, that the well disposed spirit of love swells;

so saw I the glorious wheel move and render voice to voice in temper and in sweetness that cannot be noted

save there where joy is insempered.

Paradiso Canto XI

O senseless care of mortals, how defective syllogisms are those that make you beat low the wings!

Who after laws and who after aphorisms went, and who following priesthood, and who to reign by force or by sophisms,

and who to steal and who civil business, who in the delight of the flesh involved labored and who gave himself to sloth,

when, from all these things absolved, with Beatrice I was up in heaven so gloriously welcomed.

After each one was returned to the point of the circle in which before he was, he stayed, as candle to candlestick.

And I felt within that luminary that first had spoken to me, smiling begin, making itself more meager:

“As I of his ray resplend, so, regarding in the eternal light, your thoughts whence causes I apprehend.

You doubt, and have will that be sifted in so open and so spread tongue my saying, that to your sense be expanded,

where before I said: ‘where well one fattens’, and there where I said: ‘not born the second’; and here behooves that well be distinguished.

Providence, that governs the world with that counsel in which every aspect created is vanquished before it goes to the depth,

so that there might go toward its delight the bride of him who at high cries espoused her with blessed blood,

in itself secure and also to him more faithful, two princes ordained in its favor, that hence and hence might be for her guide.

The one was all seraphic in ardor; the other for wisdom on earth was of cherubic light a splendor.

Of the one I shall say, because of both the one is said praising, whichever one takes, for to one end were his works.

Between Tupino and the water that descends of the hill chosen by blessed Ubald, a fertile coast of high mountain hangs,

whence Perugia feels cold and hot from Porta Sole; and behind it weeps for heavy yoke Nocera with Gualdo.

Of this coast, there where it breaks more its steepness, was born to the world a sun, as this one sometimes of Ganges.

Wherefore who of that place makes words, say not Assisi, for he would say short, but Orient, if proper say he will.

Not yet was far from the east, when he began to make the earth feel of his great virtue some comfort;

for through such lady, young, in war of the father he ran, to whom, as to death, the gate of pleasure none unlocks;

“Stories of the world, in your language.”