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THE DIVINE COMEDY
THE DIVINE COMEDY
DANTE ALIGHIERI （1265…1321）
TRANSLATED BY HENRY WADSWORTH
LONGFELLOW （1807…1882）
CANTICLE III： PARADISO
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto I
The glory of Him who moveth everything Doth penetrate the
universe； and shine In one part more and in another less。
Within that heaven which most his light receives Was I； and things
beheld which to repeat Nor knows； nor can； who from above descends；
Because in drawing near to its desire Our intellect ingulphs itself so far；
That after it the memory cannot go。
Truly whatever of the holy realm I had the power to treasure in my
mind Shall now become the subject of my song。
O good Apollo； for this last emprise Make of me such a vessel of thy
power As giving the beloved laurel asks！
One summit of Parnassus hitherto Has been enough for me； but now
with both I needs must enter the arena left。
Enter into my bosom； thou； and breathe As at the time when Marsyas
thou didst draw Out of the scabbard of those limbs of his。
O power divine； lend'st thou thyself to me So that the shadow of the
blessed realm Stamped in my brain I can make manifest；
Thou'lt see me come unto thy darling tree； And crown myself
thereafter with those leaves Of which the theme and thou shall make me
worthy。
So seldom； Father； do we gather them For triumph or of Caesar or of
Poet； （The fault and shame of human inclinations；）
That the Peneian foliage should bring forth Joy to the joyous Delphic
deity； When any one it makes to thirst for it。
A little spark is followed by great flame； Perchance with better voices
after me Shall prayer be made that Cyrrha may respond！
To mortal men by passages diverse Uprises the world's lamp； but by
that one Which circles four uniteth with three crosses；
With better course and with a better star Conjoined it issues； and the
mundane wax Tempers and stamps more after its own fashion。
Almost that passage had made morning there And evening here； and
there was wholly white That hemisphere； and black the other part；
When Beatrice towards the left…hand side I saw turned round； and
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
gazing at the sun； Never did eagle fasten so upon it！
And even as a second ray is wont To issue from the first and reascend；
Like to a pilgrim who would fain return；
Thus of her action； through the eyes infused In my imagination； mine I
made； And sunward fixed mine eyes beyond our wont。
There much is lawful which is here unlawful Unto our powers； by
virtue of the place Made for the human species as its own。
Not long I bore it； nor so little while But I beheld it sparkle round
about Like iron that comes molten from the fire；
And suddenly it seemed that day to day Was added； as if He who has
the power Had with another sun the heaven adorned。
With eyes upon the everlasting wheels Stood Beatrice all intent； and I；
on her Fixing my vision from above removed；
Such at her aspect inwardly became As Glaucus； tasting of the herb
that made him Peer of the other gods beneath the sea。
To represent transhumanise in words Impossible were； the example；
then； suffice Him for whom Grace the experience reserves。
If I was merely what of me thou newly Createdst； Love who governest
the heaven； Thou knowest； who didst lift me with thy light！
When now the wheel； which thou dost make eternal Desiring thee；
made me attentive to it By harmony thou dost modulate and measure；
Then seemed to me so much of heaven enkindled By the sun's flame；
that neither rain nor river E'er made a lake so widely spread abroad。
The newness of the sound and the great light Kindled in me a longing
for their cause； Never before with such acuteness felt；
Whence she； who saw me as I saw myself； To quiet in me my
perturbed mind； Opened her mouth； ere I did mine to ask；
And she began： 〃Thou makest thyself so dull With false imagining；
that thou seest not What thou wouldst see if thou hadst shaken it off。
Thou art not upon earth； as thou believest； But lightning； fleeing its
appropriate site； Ne'er ran as thou； who thitherward returnest。〃
If of my former doubt I was divested By these brief little words more
smiled than spoken； I in a new one was the more ensnared；
And said： 〃Already did I rest content From great amazement； but am
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
now amazed In what way I transcend these bodies light。〃
Whereupon she； after a pitying sigh； Her eyes directed tow'rds me with
that look A mother casts on a delirious child；
And she began： 〃All things whate'er they be Have order among
themselves； and this is form； That makes the universe resemble God。
Here do the higher creatures see the footprints Of the Eternal Power；
which is the end Whereto is made the law already mentioned。
In the order that I speak of are inclined All natures； by their destinies
diverse； More or less near unto their origin；
Hence they move onward unto ports diverse O'er the great sea of being；
and each one With instinct given it which bears it on。
This bears away the fire towards the moon； This is in mortal hearts the
motive power This binds together and unites the earth。
Nor only the created things that are Without intelligence this bow
shoots forth； But those that have both intellect and love。
The Providence that regulates all this Makes with its light the heaven
forever quiet； Wherein that turns which has the greatest haste。
And thither now； as to a site decreed； Bears us away the virtue of that
cord Which aims its arrows at a joyous mark。
True is it； that as oftentimes the form Accords not with the intention of
the art； Because in answering is matter deaf；
So likewise from this course doth deviate Sometimes the creature； who
the power possesses； Though thus impelled； to swerve some other way；
（In the same wise as one may see the fire Fall from a cloud；） if the first
impetus Earthward is wrested by some false delight。
Thou shouldst not wonder more； if well I judge； At thine ascent； than
at a rivulet From some high mount descending to the lowland。
Marvel it would be in thee； if deprived Of hindrance； thou wert seated
down below； As if on earth the living fire were quiet。〃
Thereat she heavenward turned again her face。
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Paradiso： Canto II
O Ye； who in some pretty little boat； Eager to listen； have been
following Behind my ship； that singing sails along；
Turn back to look again upon your shores； Do not put out to sea； lest
peradventure； In losing me； you might yourselves be lost。
The sea I sail has never yet been passed； Minerva breathes； and pilots
me Apollo； And Muses nine point out to me the Bears。
Ye other few who have the neck uplifted Betimes to th' bread of
Angels upon which One liveth here and grows not sated by it；
Well may you launch upon the deep salt…sea Your vessel； keeping still
my wake before you Upon the water that grows smooth again。
Those glorious ones who unto Colchos passed Were not so wonder…
struck as you shall be； When Jason they beheld a ploughman made！
The con…created and perpetual thirst For the realm deiform did bear us
on； As swift almost as ye the heavens behold。
Upward gazed Beatrice； and I at her； And in such space perchance as
strikes a bolt And flies； and from the notch unlocks itself；
Arrived I saw me where a wondrous thing Drew to itself my sight； and
therefore she From whom no care of mine could be concealed；
Towards me turning； blithe as beautiful； Said unto me： 〃Fix gratefully
thy mind On God； who unto the first star has brought us。〃
It seemed to me a cloud encompassed us； Luminous； dense；
consolidate and bright As adamant on which the sun is striking。