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sweet brood Throughout the night； that hideth all things from us；
Who； that she may behold their longed…for looks And find the food
wherewith to nourish them； In which； to her； grave labours grateful are；
Anticipates the time on open spray And with an ardent longing waits
the sun； Gazing intent as soon as breaks the dawn：
Even thus my Lady standing was； erect And vigilant； turned round
towards the zone Underneath which the sun displays less haste；
So that beholding her distraught and wistful； Such I became as he is
who desiring For something yearns； and hoping is appeased。
But brief the space from one When to the other； Of my awaiting； say I；
and the seeing The welkin grow resplendent more and more。
And Beatrice exclaimed： 〃Behold the hosts Of Christ's triumphal
march； and all the fruit Harvested by the rolling of these spheres！〃
It seemed to me her face was all aflame； And eyes she had so full of
ecstasy That I must needs pass on without describing。
As when in nights serene of the full moon Smiles Trivia among the
nymphs eternal Who paint the firmament through all its gulfs；
Saw I； above the myriads of lamps； A Sun that one and all of them
enkindled； E'en as our own doth the supernal sights；
And through the living light transparent shone The lucent substance so
intensely clear Into my sight； that I sustained it not。
O Beatrice； thou gentle guide and dear！ To me she said： 〃What
overmasters thee A virtue is from which naught shields itself。
There are the wisdom and the omnipotence That oped the
thoroughfares 'twixt heaven and earth； For which there erst had been so
long a yearning。〃
As fire from out a cloud unlocks itself； Dilating so it finds not room
therein； And down； against its nature； falls to earth；
So did my mind； among those aliments Becoming larger； issue from
itself； And that which it became cannot remember。
〃Open thine eyes； and look at what I am： Thou hast beheld such things；
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that strong enough Hast thou become to tolerate my smile。〃
I was as one who still retains the feeling Of a forgotten vision； and
endeavours In vain to bring it back into his mind；
When I this invitation heard； deserving Of so much gratitude； it never
fades Out of the book that chronicles the past。
If at this moment sounded all the tongues That Polyhymnia and her
sisters made Most lubrical with their delicious milk；
To aid me； to a thousandth of the truth It would not reach； singing the
holy smile And how the holy aspect it illumed。
And therefore； representing Paradise； The sacred poem must perforce
leap over； Even as a man who finds his way cut off；
But whoso thinketh of the ponderous theme； And of the mortal
shoulder laden with it； Should blame it not； if under this it tremble。
It is no passage for a little boat This which goes cleaving the audacious
prow； Nor for a pilot who would spare himself。
〃Why doth my face so much enamour thee； That to the garden fair
thou turnest not； Which under the rays of Christ is blossoming？
There is the Rose in which the Word Divine Became incarnate； there
the lilies are By whose perfume the good way was discovered。〃
Thus Beatrice； and I； who to her counsels Was wholly ready； once
again betook me Unto the battle of the feeble brows。
As in the sunshine； that unsullied streams Through fractured cloud； ere
now a meadow of flowers Mine eyes with shadow covered o'er have seen；
So troops of splendours manifold I saw Illumined from above with
burning rays； Beholding not the source of the effulgence。
O power benignant that dost so imprint them！ Thou didst exalt thyself
to give more scope There to mine eyes； that were not strong enough。
The name of that fair flower I e'er invoke Morning and evening utterly
enthralled My soul to gaze upon the greater fire。
And when in both mine eyes depicted were The glory and greatness of
the living star Which there excelleth； as it here excelled；
Athwart the heavens a little torch descended Formed in a circle like a
coronal； And cinctured it； and whirled itself about it。
Whatever melody most sweetly soundeth On earth； and to itself most
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draws the soul； Would seem a cloud that； rent asunder； thunders；
Compared unto the sounding of that lyre Wherewith was crowned the
sapphire beautiful； Which gives the clearest heaven its sapphire hue。
〃I am Angelic Love； that circle round The joy sublime which breathes
from out the womb That was the hostelry of our Desire；
And I shall circle； Lady of Heaven； while Thou followest thy Son； and
mak'st diviner The sphere supreme； because thou enterest there。〃
Thus did the circulated melody Seal itself up； and all the other lights
Were making to resound the name of Mary。
The regal mantle of the volumes all Of that world； which most fervid
is and living With breath of God and with his works and ways；
Extended over us its inner border； So very distant； that the semblance
of it There where I was not yet appeared to me。
Therefore mine eyes did not possess the power Of following the
incoronated flame； Which mounted upward near to its own seed。
And as a little child； that towards its mother Stretches its arms； when it
the milk has taken； Through impulse kindled into outward flame；
Each of those gleams of whiteness upward reached So with its summit；
that the deep affection They had for Mary was revealed to me。
Thereafter they remained there in my sight； 'Regina coeli' singing with
such sweetness； That ne'er from me has the delight departed。
O； what exuberance is garnered up Within those richest coffers； which
had been Good husbandmen for sowing here below！
There they enjoy and live upon the treasure Which was acquired while
weeping in the exile Of Babylon； wherein the gold was left。
There triumpheth； beneath the exalted Son Of God and Mary； in his
victory； Both with the ancient council and the new；
He who doth keep the keys of such a glory。
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Paradiso： Canto XXIV
〃O company elect to the great supper Of the Lamb benedight； who
feedeth you So that for ever full is your desire；
If by the grace of God this man foretaste Something of that which
falleth from your table； Or ever death prescribe to him the time；
Direct your mind to his immense desire； And him somewhat bedew； ye
drinking are For ever at the fount whence comes his thought。〃
Thus Beatrice； and those souls beatified Transformed themselves to
spheres on steadfast poles； Flaming intensely in the guise of comets。
And as the wheels in works of horologes Revolve so that the first to
the beholder Motionless seems； and the last one to fly；
So in like manner did those carols； dancing In different measure； of
their affluence Give me the gauge； as they were swift or slow。
From that one which I noted of most beauty Beheld I issue forth a fire
so happy That none it left there of a greater brightness；
And around Beatrice three several times It whirled itself with so divine
a song； My fantasy repeats it not to me；
Therefore the pen skips； and I write it not； Since our imagination for
such folds； Much more our speech； is of a tint too glaring。
〃O holy sister mine； who us implorest With such devotion； by thine
ardent love Thou dost unbind me from that beautiful sphere！〃
Thereafter； having stopped； the blessed fire Unto my Lady did direct
its breath； Which spake in fashion as I here have said。
And she： 〃O light eterne of the great man To whom our Lord delivered
up the keys He carried down of this miraculous joy；
This one examine on points light and grave； As good beseemeth thee；
about the Faith By means of which thou on the sea didst walk。
If he love well； and hope well； and believe； From thee 'tis hid not； for
thou hast thy sight There where depicted everything is seen。
But since this kingdom has made citizens By mea