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thou hast thy sight There where depicted everything is seen。
But since this kingdom has made citizens By means of the true Faith；
to glorify it 'Tis well he have the chance to speak thereof。〃
As baccalaureate arms himself； and speaks not Until the master doth
propose the question； To argue it； and not to terminate it；
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So did I arm myself with every reason； While she was speaking； that I
might be ready For such a questioner and such profession。
〃Say； thou good Christian； manifest thyself； What is the Faith？〃
Whereat I raised my brow Unto that light wherefrom was this breathed
forth。
Then turned I round to Beatrice； and she Prompt signals made to me
that I should pour The water forth from my internal fountain。
〃May grace； that suffers me to make confession；〃 Began I； 〃to the
great centurion； Cause my conceptions all to be explicit！〃
And I continued： 〃As the truthful pen； Father； of thy dear brother wrote
of it； Who put with thee Rome into the good way；
Faith is the substance of the things we hope for； And evidence of those
that are not seen； And this appears to me its quiddity。〃
Then heard I： 〃Very rightly thou perceivest； If well thou understandest
why he placed it With substances and then with evidences。〃
And I thereafterward： 〃The things profound； That here vouchsafe to
me their apparition； Unto all eyes below are so concealed；
That they exist there only in belief； Upon the which is founded the
high hope； And hence it takes the nature of a substance。
And it behoveth us from this belief To reason without having other
sight； And hence it has the nature of evidence。〃
Then heard I： 〃If whatever is acquired Below by doctrine were thus
understood； No sophist's subtlety would there find place。〃
Thus was breathed forth from that enkindled love； Then added： 〃Very
well has been gone over Already of this coin the alloy and weight；
But tell me if thou hast it in thy purse？〃 And I： 〃Yes； both so shining
and so round That in its stamp there is no peradventure。〃
Thereafter issued from the light profound That there resplendent was：
〃This precious jewel； Upon the which is every virtue founded；
Whence hadst thou it？〃 And I： 〃The large outpouring Of Holy Spirit；
which has been diffused Upon the ancient parchments and the new；
A syllogism is； which proved it to me With such acuteness； that；
compared therewith； All demonstration seems to me obtuse。〃
And then I heard： 〃The ancient and the new Postulates； that to thee are
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so conclusive； Why dost thou take them for the word divine？〃
And I： 〃The proofs； which show the truth to me； Are the works
subsequent； whereunto Nature Ne'er heated iron yet； nor anvil beat。〃
'Twas answered me： 〃Say； who assureth thee That those works ever
were？ the thing itself That must be proved； nought else to thee affirms it。〃
〃Were the world to Christianity converted；〃 I said； 〃withouten miracles；
this one Is such； the rest are not its hundredth part；
Because that poor and fasting thou didst enter Into the field to sow
there the good plant； Which was a vine and has become a thorn！〃
This being finished； the high； holy Court Resounded through the
spheres； 〃One God we praise！〃 In melody that there above is chanted。
And then that Baron； who from branch to branch； Examining； had thus
conducted me； Till the extremest leaves we were approaching；
Again began： 〃The Grace that dallying Plays with thine intellect thy
mouth has opened； Up to this point； as it should opened be；
So that I do approve what forth emerged； But now thou must express
what thou believest； And whence to thy belief it was presented。〃
〃O holy father； spirit who beholdest What thou believedst so that thou
o'ercamest； Towards the sepulchre； more youthful feet；〃
Began I； 〃thou dost wish me in this place The form to manifest of my
prompt belief； And likewise thou the cause thereof demandest。
And I respond： In one God I believe； Sole and eterne； who moveth all
the heavens With love and with desire； himself unmoved；
And of such faith not only have I proofs Physical and metaphysical；
but gives them Likewise the truth that from this place rains down
Through Moses； through the Prophets and the Psalms； Through the
Evangel； and through you； who wrote After the fiery Spirit sanctified you；
In Persons three eterne believe； and these One essence I believe； so
one and trine They bear conjunction both with 'sunt' and 'est。'
With the profound condition and divine Which now I touch upon； doth
stamp my mind Ofttimes the doctrine evangelical。
This the beginning is； this is the spark Which afterwards dilates to
vivid flame； And； like a star in heaven； is sparkling in me。〃
Even as a lord who hears what pleaseth him His servant straight
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embraces； gratulating For the good news as soon as he is silent；
So； giving me its benediction； singing； Three times encircled me； when
I was silent； The apostolic light； at whose command
I spoken had； in speaking I so pleased him。
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Paradiso： Canto XXV
If e'er it happen that the Poem Sacred； To which both heaven and
earth have set their hand； So that it many a year hath made me lean；
O'ercome the cruelty that bars me out From the fair sheepfold； where a
lamb I slumbered； An enemy to the wolves that war upon it；
With other voice forthwith； with other fleece Poet will I return； and at
my font Baptismal will I take the laurel crown；
Because into the Faith that maketh known All souls to God there
entered I； and then Peter for her sake thus my brow encircled。
Thereafterward towards us moved a light Out of that band whence
issued the first…fruits Which of his vicars Christ behind him left；
And then my Lady； full of ecstasy； Said unto me： 〃Look； look！ behold
the Baron For whom below Galicia is frequented。〃
In the same way as； when a dove alights Near his companion； both of
them pour forth； Circling about and murmuring； their affection；
So one beheld I by the other grand Prince glorified to be with welcome
greeted； Lauding the food that there above is eaten。
But when their gratulations were complete； Silently 'coram me' each
one stood still； So incandescent it o'ercame my sight。
Smiling thereafterwards； said Beatrice： 〃Illustrious life； by whom the
benefactions Of our Basilica have been described；
Make Hope resound within this altitude； Thou knowest as oft thou dost
personify it As Jesus to the three gave greater clearness。〃
〃Lift up thy head； and make thyself assured； For what comes hither
from the mortal world Must needs be ripened in our radiance。〃
This comfort came to me from the second fire； Wherefore mine eyes I
lifted to the hills； Which bent them down before with too great weight。
〃Since； through his grace； our Emperor wills that thou Shouldst find
thee face to face； before thy death； In the most secret chamber； with his
Counts；
So that； the truth beholden of this court； Hope； which below there
rightfully enamours； Thereby thou strengthen in thyself and others；
Say what it is； and how is flowering with it Thy mind； and say from
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whence it came to thee。〃 Thus did the second light again continue。
And the Compassionate； who piloted The plumage of my wings in
such high flight； Did in reply anticipate me thus：
〃No child whatever the Church Militant Of greater hope possesses； as
is written In that Sun which irradiates all our band；
Therefore it is conceded him from Egypt To come into Jerusalem to
see； Or ever yet his warfare be completed。
The two remai