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Now unto what is said direct thy sight； This nature when united to its
Maker； Such as created； was sincere and good；
But by itself alone was banished forth From Paradise； because it
turned aside Out of the way of truth and of its life。
Therefore the penalty the cross held out； If measured by the nature
thus assumed； None ever yet with so great justice stung；
And none was ever of so great injustice； Considering who the Person
was that suffered； Within whom such a nature was contracted。
From one act therefore issued things diverse； To God and to the Jews
one death was pleasing； Earth trembled at it and the Heaven was opened。
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It should no longer now seem difficult To thee； when it is said that a
just vengeance By a just court was afterward avenged。
But now do I behold thy mind entangled From thought to thought
within a knot； from which With great desire it waits to free itself。
Thou sayest； 'Well discern I what I hear； But it is hidden from me why
God willed For our redemption only this one mode。'
Buried remaineth； brother； this decree Unto the eyes of every one
whose nature Is in the flame of love not yet adult。
Verily； inasmuch as at this mark One gazes long and little is discerned；
Wherefore this mode was worthiest will I say。
Goodness Divine； which from itself doth spurn All envy； burning in
itself so sparkles That the eternal beauties it unfolds。
Whate'er from this immediately distils Has afterwards no end； for ne'er
removed Is its impression when it sets its seal。
Whate'er from this immediately rains down Is wholly free； because it
is not subject Unto the influences of novel things。
The more conformed thereto； the more it pleases； For the blest ardour
that irradiates all things In that most like itself is most vivacious。
With all of these things has advantaged been The human creature； and
if one be wanting； From his nobility he needs must fall。
'Tis sin alone which doth disfranchise him； And render him unlike the
Good Supreme； So that he little with its light is blanched；
And to his dignity no more returns； Unless he fill up where
transgression empties With righteous pains for criminal delights。
Your nature when it sinned so utterly In its own seed； out of these
dignities Even as out of Paradise was driven；
Nor could itself recover； if thou notest With nicest subtilty； by any way；
Except by passing one of these two fords：
Either that God through clemency alone Had pardon granted； or that
man himself Had satisfaction for his folly made。
Fix now thine eye deep into the abyss Of the eternal counsel； to my
speech As far as may be fastened steadfastly！
Man in his limitations had not power To satisfy； not having power to
sink In his humility obeying then；
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Far as he disobeying thought to rise； And for this reason man has been
from power Of satisfying by himself excluded。
Therefore it God behoved in his own ways Man to restore unto his
perfect life； I say in one； or else in both of them。
But since the action of the doer is So much more grateful； as it more
presents The goodness of the heart from which it issues；
Goodness Divine； that doth imprint the world； Has been contented to
proceed by each And all its ways to lift you up again；
Nor 'twixt the first day and the final night Such high and such
magnificent proceeding By one or by the other was or shall be；
For God more bounteous was himself to give To make man able to
uplift himself； Than if he only of himself had pardoned；
And all the other modes were insufficient For justice； were it not the
Son of God Himself had humbled to become incarnate。
Now； to fill fully each desire of thine； Return I to elucidate one place；
In order that thou there mayst see as I do。
Thou sayst： 'I see the air； I see the fire； The water； and the earth； and all
their mixtures Come to corruption； and short while endure；
And these things notwithstanding were created；' Therefore if that
which I have said were true； They should have been secure against
corruption。
The Angels； brother； and the land sincere In which thou art； created
may be called Just as they are in their entire existence；
But all the elements which thou hast named； And all those things
which out of them are made； By a created virtue are informed。
Created was the matter which they have； Created was the informing
influence Within these stars that round about them go。
The soul of every brute and of the plants By its potential temperament
attracts The ray and motion of the holy lights；
But your own life immediately inspires Supreme Beneficence； and
enamours it So with herself； it evermore desires her。
And thou from this mayst argue furthermore Your resurrection； if thou
think again How human flesh was fashioned at that time
When the first parents both of them were made。〃
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Paradiso： Canto VIII
The world used in its peril to believe That the fair Cypria delirious
love Rayed out； in the third epicycle turning；
Wherefore not only unto her paid honour Of sacrifices and of votive
cry The ancient nations in the ancient error；
But both Dione honoured they and Cupid； That as her mother； this one
as her son； And said that he had sat in Dido's lap；
And they from her； whence I beginning take； Took the denomination
of the star That woos the sun； now following； now in front。
I was not ware of our ascending to it； But of our being in it gave full
faith My Lady whom I saw more beauteous grow。
And as within a flame a spark is seen； And as within a voice a voice
discerned； When one is steadfast； and one comes and goes；
Within that light beheld I other lamps Move in a circle； speeding more
and less； Methinks in measure of their inward vision。
From a cold cloud descended never winds； Or visible or not； so rapidly
They would not laggard and impeded seem
To any one who had those lights divine Seen come towards us； leaving
the gyration Begun at first in the high Seraphim。
And behind those that most in front appeared Sounded 〃Osanna！〃 so
that never since To hear again was I without desire。
Then unto us more nearly one approached； And it alone began： 〃We all
are ready Unto thy pleasure； that thou joy in us。
We turn around with the celestial Princes； One gyre and one gyration
and one thirst； To whom thou in the world of old didst say；
'Ye who； intelligent； the third heaven are moving；' And are so full of
love； to pleasure thee A little quiet will not be less sweet。〃
After these eyes of mine themselves had offered Unto my Lady
reverently； and she Content and certain of herself had made them；
Back to the light they turned； which so great promise Made of itself；
and 〃Say； who art thou？〃 was My voice； imprinted with a great affection。
O how and how much I beheld it grow With the new joy that
superadded was Unto its joys； as soon as I had spoken！
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Thus changed； it said to me： 〃The world possessed me Short time
below； and； if it had been more； Much evil will be which would not have
been。
My gladness keepeth me concealed from thee； Which rayeth round
about me； and doth hide me Like as a creature swathed in its own silk。
Much didst thou love me； and thou hadst good reason； For had I been
below； I should have shown thee Somewhat beyond the foliage of my
love。
That left…hand margin； which doth bathe itself In Rhone； when it is
mingled with the Sorgue； Me for its lord awaited in due time；
And that horn of Ausonia； which is towned With Bari； with Gaeta and
Catona； Whence Tronto and Verde in the sea disgorge。
Already flashed upon my brow the crown Of th