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And it began： 〃In this fifth resting…place Upon the tree that liveth by its
summit； And aye bears fruit； and never loses leaf；
Are blessed spirits that below； ere yet They came to Heaven； were of
such great renown That every Muse therewith would affluent be。
Therefore look thou upon the cross's horns； He whom I now shall
name will there enact What doth within a cloud its own swift fire。〃
I saw athwart the Cross a splendour drawn By naming Joshua； （even as
he did it；） Nor noted I the word before the deed；
And at the name of the great Maccabee I saw another move itself
revolving； And gladness was the whip unto that top。
Likewise for Charlemagne and for Orlando； Two of them my regard
attentive followed As followeth the eye its falcon flying。
William thereafterward； and Renouard； And the Duke Godfrey； did
attract my sight Along upon that Cross； and Robert Guiscard。
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Then； moved and mingled with the other lights； The soul that had
addressed me showed how great An artist 'twas among the heavenly
singers。
To my right side I turned myself around； My duty to behold in
Beatrice Either by words or gesture signified；
And so translucent I beheld her eyes； So full of pleasure； that her
countenance Surpassed its other and its latest wont。
And as； by feeling greater delectation； A man in doing good from day
to day Becomes aware his virtue is increasing；
So I became aware that my gyration With heaven together had
increased its arc； That miracle beholding more adorned。
And such as is the change； in little lapse Of time； in a pale woman；
when her face Is from the load of bashfulness unladen；
Such was it in mine eyes； when I had turned； Caused by the whiteness
of the temperate star； The sixth； which to itself had gathered me。
Within that Jovial torch did I behold The sparkling of the love which
was therein Delineate our language to mine eyes。
And even as birds uprisen from the shore； As in congratulation o'er
their food； Make squadrons of themselves； now round； now long；
So from within those lights the holy creatures Sang flying to and fro；
and in their figures Made of themselves now D； now I； now L。
First singing they to their own music moved； Then one becoming of
these characters； A little while they rested and were silent。
O divine Pegasea； thou who genius Dost glorious make； and render it
long…lived； And this through thee the cities and the kingdoms；
Illume me with thyself； that I may bring Their figures out as I have
them conceived！ Apparent be thy power in these brief verses！
Themselves then they displayed in five times seven Vowels and
consonants； and I observed The parts as they seemed spoken unto me。
'Diligite justitiam；' these were First verb and noun of all that was
depicted； 'Qui judicatis terram' were the last。
Thereafter in the M of the fifth word Remained they so arranged； that
Jupiter Seemed to be silver there with gold inlaid。
And other lights I saw descend where was The summit of the M； and
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
pause there singing The good； I think； that draws them to itself。
Then； as in striking upon burning logs Upward there fly innumerable
sparks； Whence fools are wont to look for auguries；
More than a thousand lights seemed thence to rise； And to ascend；
some more； and others less； Even as the Sun that lights them had allotted；
And； each one being quiet in its place； The head and neck beheld I of
an eagle Delineated by that inlaid fire。
He who there paints has none to be his guide； But Himself guides； and
is from Him remembered That virtue which is form unto the nest。
The other beatitude； that contented seemed At first to bloom a lily on
the M； By a slight motion followed out the imprint。
O gentle star！ what and how many gems Did demonstrate to me； that
all our justice Effect is of that heaven which thou ingemmest！
Wherefore I pray the Mind； in which begin Thy motion and thy virtue；
to regard Whence comes the smoke that vitiates thy rays；
So that a second time it now be wroth With buying and with selling in
the temple Whose walls were built with signs and martyrdoms！
O soldiery of heaven； whom I contemplate； Implore for those who are
upon the earth All gone astray after the bad example！
Once 'twas the custom to make war with swords； But now 'tis made by
taking here and there The bread the pitying Father shuts from none。
Yet thou； who writest but to cancel； think That Peter and that Paul；
who for this vineyard Which thou art spoiling died； are still alive！
Well canst thou say： 〃So steadfast my desire Is unto him who willed to
live alone； And for a dance was led to martyrdom；
That I know not the Fisherman nor Paul。〃
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Paradiso： Canto XIX
Appeared before me with its wings outspread The beautiful image
that in sweet fruition Made jubilant the interwoven souls；
Appeared a little ruby each； wherein Ray of the sun was burning so
enkindled That each into mine eyes refracted it。
And what it now behoves me to retrace Nor voice has e'er reported；
nor ink written； Nor was by fantasy e'er comprehended；
For speak I saw； and likewise heard； the beak； And utter with its voice
both 'I' and 'My；' When in conception it was 'We' and 'Our。'
And it began： 〃Being just and merciful Am I exalted here unto that
glory Which cannot be exceeded by desire；
And upon earth I left my memory Such； that the evil…minded people
there Commend it； but continue not the story。〃
So doth a single heat from many embers Make itself felt； even as from
many loves Issued a single sound from out that image。
Whence I thereafter： 〃O perpetual flowers Of the eternal joy； that only
one Make me perceive your odours manifold；
Exhaling； break within me the great fast Which a long season has in
hunger held me； Not finding for it any food on earth。
Well do I know； that if in heaven its mirror Justice Divine another
realm doth make； Yours apprehends it not through any veil。
You know how I attentively address me To listen； and you know what
is the doubt That is in me so very old a fast。〃
Even as a falcon； issuing from his hood； Doth move his head； and with
his wings applaud him； Showing desire； and making himself fine；
Saw I become that standard； which of lauds Was interwoven of the
grace divine； With such songs as he knows who there rejoices。
Then it began： 〃He who a compass turned On the world's outer verge；
and who within it Devised so much occult and manifest；
Could not the impress of his power so make On all the universe； as
that his Word Should not remain in infinite excess。
And this makes certain that the first proud being； Who was the
paragon of every creature； By not awaiting light fell immature。
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And hence appears it； that each minor nature Is scant receptacle unto
that good Which has no end； and by itself is measured。
In consequence our vision； which perforce Must be some ray of that
intelligence With which all things whatever are replete；
Cannot in its own nature be so potent； That it shall not its origin
discern Far beyond that which is apparent to it。
Therefore into the justice sempiternal The power of vision that your
world receives； As eye into the ocean； penetrates；
Which； though it see the bottom near the shore； Upon the deep
perceives it not； and yet 'Tis there； but it is hidden by the depth。
There is no light but comes from the serene That never is o'ercast； nay；
it is darkness Or shadow of the flesh； or else its poison。
Amply to thee is opened now the cavern Which has concealed from
thee the living justice Of which thou mad'st