The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
Canto IX. PARADISE. 293 And now the visage of that holy light Was turned unto its sun, that fills it o*er, That good, sufficient all things to requite. Ah, souls deceived^ and impious to the core, ^° Who from such largess wrench your hearts away, Your brows directing to all idle lore !
And lo ! another splendour came straightway Towards me, and with kindling brilliance showed Its wish my thirst for knowledge to allay. ^^ The eyes of Beatrice o'er me glowed, And as the former time of dear assent Unto my wish the certainty avowed. *' Ah, the deep yearning of my heart prevent, blessed spirit ! I cried, " and prove to me ^^ 1 can reflect on thee my thoughts close pent.
On which that light that reached us recently From the star's deeps, in which it sang before. Joying in kindness thus continued free. " In that part of the vile Italian shore ^^ Which midway 'twixt the famed Rialto lies, And where the Brent and Piave their fountains pour, "Not very high, a little hill doth rise.
From whence of late a firebrand oft did flit, Tbat to that region caused sore miseries. ^^ From the same root were born both I and it : Cunizza was I called, and here I shine Because I yielded to this planet's light. But in myself I joy, nor e'er repine At the reason of my lot, nor it condemn, ^^ The which your vulgar herd may scarce divine. Of this most lustrous and transplendent gem Which here beside me doth our Heaven unfold.
Great fame remained on earth, nor will it dim Line 23. Between Venice and the sources of the Brent and Piave lies the castle of Bomano, the lord of which, Ezzelino, famous for his tyrannies, was introduced in Canto XII. of the " Hell," in the river of blood. The speaker is his sister Cunizza, celebrated for her amorous adventures, havinsr been mistress, amongst others, to Sordello the poet, introduced in Cantos YI. and VII. of the " Purgatory.
Line 32. The meaning is not that by yielding to the influence of Venus Cunizza won her place in Paradise, which would have been a forestalling of George Sand's famous doctrine on the subject, and curiouw interpretation of Christ's words to the Magdalen, but that through her failings in this respect she obtained no higher sphere, which, however, according to the laws of Paradise, can now cause her no 7 egret. Line 37.
Folco, the Provencal poet, bom at Genoa, to whom Dante here promised a reputation that should last five hundred years. It has lasted louger in his poem.
Until a hundred years five times have rolled : See if mankind ought not for worth to strive So that another life the first may hold. But thinks not thus the present human hive, Which Tagliamento and Adige inclose, Nor for their punishment their sins they shrive. But soon "will Padua in her mortal throes Crimson the water which Vincenza laves, Because her sons to right were ever foes.
And where the Sile joins Cagnano's waves One lords it, and now goes with head on high, Whom to enmesh the net even now one weaves. Feltro will also weep the infamy Of its own impious pastor, never once In Malta entered crime of such black dye.
That tub must hold a very large allowance That would receive the Ferrarese's blood, And weary work to weigh it ounce by ounce, Which by this courteous priest will be bestowed To show his party zeal : the country owns Such gifts conformed to its accustomed road. Above are mirrors, powers whom ye call thrones, From them Q-od's judgments shine upon our eyes, So that my parley only truth intones.
Here she grew sUent, and became in guise Intent on other thoughts, within the wheel. Wherein unto her former place she hies. The other joyaunce she did not reveal, Became a splendent glory in my sight. Like ruby, on the which the sun's rays steal.
With gladness there above the face grows bright As with a smile on earth ; in HeU grows black, The lost soul's shadow with the mind's despite. ** Thou seest all things in Good's visual track," I cried, " blest spirit, so that no wish springs Which to thy keen perception aye can lack. Line 44. The conntry then called the Marca Trivigiana. Line 46.
Alluding to the rout of the Fadaans by Can Grande della Scala at Yicenza in 1314, which shows that this must have been written after that date. Line 49. Kiocardo du Camino, who was killed in Trevigi while playing chess. Line 52. The Bishop of Feltro received, on a promise of protection, several fugitives of Ferrara who had rebelled against the Pope, and gave them up for slaughter* Line 54.
Malta was the name of the tower built by Cunizzo's brother Ezzelino, in which he confined his prisoners, and subjected them to nnheardof tortures. Line &I, The other joyaunce, Folco, the Provengal poet.
Canto DC. PARADISE. 295 Why then thy Heaven-delighting caroUings, Mixt ever with the song o' the pious fires, Who shroud their faces with six spreading wings, Do they not satisfy to my desires ? I would not thus have waited thy demand If thy thought thus, as mine, through thee transpires. " The greatest vale in which the waters stand," Then his celestial parley he began, ** Except that sea which garlands every land.
Betwixt discordant shores against the sun '* G-oes on so far, that its meridian With what was erst horizon grow to one. I dwelt beside that Mediterranean, 'Twixt Ebro and the Macra, which divide The shores of Q-enoa from the Tuscan plain. ^ Bises and sets alike the solar pride To Bezza, and the land which was my own. Which with its blood made warm its harbour's tide.
The people unto whom my name was known Did call me Folco, and this Heaven doth bear '^ My impress, as in life I bore its own ; For burned not ever Belus' daughter fair, Both to Sichseus and Oreusa's shame. Like I, while lasted youth's loose flowing hair. Nor she of Ehodope e'er nurst such flame '^^ For her Demophoon, nor Hercules When lole his mighty heart did tame.
Not that one here repents, one smiles at ease, Not at the &.ult, that never comes to mind, But at the power that causes and foresees. Here on that art we gaze that hath designed Such deep affection, and the good discern By which your world the path to ours doth find. But that each wish with which thou here dost yearn, Contented thou mayst carry from this sphere, ^^° It needs that somewhat further thou shouldst learn. Line 78. The seraphim.
Above it stood the seraphim ; each one had six wings. Isaiah vii. 2. Line 82. The Mediterranean, largest of all seas except the world-snrronnding ocean which extends betwecp the shores of Europe and Asia so far eastwards that what was tirst its horizon becomes its meridian. Line 91. Glenoa and Bezza lie in the same longitude, on the opposite shores of Europe and Africa.
The allusion in line 93 is to the naval victory of the Saracens over the Genoese in 936. Line 97. Dido, Sichseus being her former husband, and Creusa Eneas' former wife.
Canto IX. PARADISE. 293 And now the visage of that holy light Was turned unto its sun, that fills it o*er, That good, sufficient all things to requite. Ah, souls deceived^ and impious to the core, ^° Who from such largess wrench your hearts away, Your brows directing to all idle lore ! And lo ! another splendour came straightway Towards me, and with kindling brilliance showed Its wish my thirst for knowledge to allay. ^^ The eyes of Beatrice o'er me glowed, And as the former time of dear assent Unto my wish the certainty avowed. *' Ah, the deep yearning of my heart prevent, blessed spirit !" I cried, " and prove to me ^^ 1 can reflect on you my thoughts close pent." On which that light that reached us recently From the star's deeps, in which it sang before. Joying in kindness thus continued free. " In that part of the vile Italian shore ^^ Which midway 'twixt the famed Rialto lies, And where the Brent and Piave their fountains pour, "Not very high, a little hill does rise. From whence of late a firebrand oft did flit, Tbat to that region caused sore miseries. ^^ From the same root were born both I and it : Cunizza was I called, and here I shine Because I yielded to this planet's light. But in myself I joy, nor e'er repine At the reason of my lot, nor it condemn, ^^ The which your vulgar herd may scarce divine. Of this most lustrous and transplendent gem Which here beside me does our Heaven unfold. Great fame remained on earth, nor will it dim Line 23. Between Venice and the sources of the Brent and Piave lies the castle of Bomano, the lord of which, Ezzelino, famous for his tyrannies, was introduced in Canto XII. of the " Hell," in the river of blood. The speaker is his sister Cunizza, celebrated for her amorous adventures, havinsr been mistress, amongst others, to Sordello the poet, introduced in Cantos YI. and VII. of the " Purgatory." Line 32. The meaning is not that by yielding to the influence of Venus Cunizza won her place in Paradise, which would have been a forestalling of George Sand's famous doctrine on the subject, and curiouw interpretation of Christ's words to the Magdalen, but that through her failings in this respect she obtained no higher sphere, which, however, according to the laws of Paradise, can now cause her no 7 egret. Line 37. Folco, the Provencal poet, bom at Genoa, to whom Dante here promised a reputation that should last five hundred years. It has lasted louger in his poem.
Until a hundred years five times have rolled : See if mankind ought not for worth to strive So that another life the first may hold. But thinks not thus the present human hive, Which Tagliamento and Adige inclose, Nor for their punishment their sins they shrive. But soon "will Padua in her mortal throes Crimson the water which Vincenza laves, Because her sons to right were ever foes. And where the Sile joins Cagnano's waves One lords it, and now goes with head on high, Whom to enmesh the net even now one weaves. Feltro will also weep the infamy Of its own impious pastor, never once In Malta entered crime of such black dye. That tub must hold a very large allowance That would receive the Ferrarese's blood, And weary work to weigh it ounce by ounce, Which by this courteous priest will be bestowed To show his party zeal : the country owns Such gifts conformed to its accustomed road. Above are mirrors, powers whom you call thrones, From them Q-od's judgments shine upon our eyes, So that my parley only truth intones." Here she grew sUent, and became in guise Intent on other thoughts, within the wheel. Wherein unto her former place she hies. The other joyaunce she did not reveal, Became a splendent glory in my sight. Like ruby, on the which the sun's rays steal. With gladness there above the face grows bright As with a smile on earth ; in HeU grows black, The lost soul's shadow with the mind's despite. ** You seest all things in Good's visual track," I cried, " blest spirit, so that no wish springs Which to your keen perception aye can lack. Line 44. The conntry then called the Marca Trivigiana. Line 46. Alluding to the rout of the Fadaans by Can Grande della Scala at Yicenza in 1314, which shows that this must have been written after that date. Line 49. Kiocardo du Camino, who was killed in Trevigi while playing chess. Line 52. The Bishop of Feltro received, on a promise of protection, several fugitives of Ferrara who had rebelled against the Pope, and gave them up for slaughter* Line 54. Malta was the name of the tower built by Cunizzo's brother Ezzelino, in which he confined his prisoners, and subjected them to nnheardof tortures. Line &I, The other joyaunce, Folco, the Provengal poet.
Canto DC. PARADISE. 295 Why then your Heaven-delighting caroUings, Mixt ever with the song o' the pious fires, Who shroud their faces with six spreading wings, Do they not satisfy to my desires ? I would not thus have waited your demand If your thought thus, as mine, through you transpires. " The greatest vale in which the waters stand," Then his celestial parley he began, ** Except that sea which garlands every land. Betwixt discordant shores against the sun '* G-oes on so far, that its meridian With what was erst horizon grow to one. I dwelt beside that Mediterranean, 'Twixt Ebro and the Macra, which divide The shores of Q-enoa from the Tuscan plain. ^ Bises and sets alike the solar pride To Bezza, and the land which was my own. Which with its blood made warm its harbour's tide. The people unto whom my name was known Did call me Folco, and this Heaven does bear '^ My impress, as in life I bore its own ; For burned not ever Belus' daughter fair, Both to Sichseus and Oreusa's shame. Like I, while lasted youth's loose flowing hair. Nor she of Ehodope e'er nurst such flame '^^ For her Demophoon, nor Hercules When lole his mighty heart did tame. Not that one here repents, one smiles at ease, Not at the &.ult, that never comes to mind, But at the power that causes and foresees. Here on that art we gaze that has designed Such deep affection, and the good discern By which your world the path to ours does find. But that each wish with which you here do yearn, Contented you mayst carry from this sphere, ^^° It needs that somewhat further you should learn. Line 78. The seraphim. Above it stood the seraphim ; each one had six wings. Isaiah vii. 2. Line 82. The Mediterranean, largest of all seas except the world-snrronnding ocean which extends betwecp the shores of Europe and Asia so far eastwards that what was tirst its horizon becomes its meridian. Line 91. Glenoa and Bezza lie in the same longitude, on the opposite shores of Europe and Africa. The allusion in line 93 is to the naval victory of the Saracens over the Genoese in 936. Line 97. Dido, Sichseus being her former husband, and Creusa Eneas' former wife.
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