The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
CANTO xin. Tlie two cirolse of heatified saints join in a chorus of praise to God. Thomas Aquinas then explains the other difficulty, which his words concerning Solomon had raised in Dante's mind, adding that his superiority ovier all men in wisdom extended only to kings. He closes by warning Dante against rash judgments.
Cahto xni. p. 309Lbt him imagine who desires to know What then I saw (the image, too, retain Like firm-set rock, the while in words I show), Fifteen fair stars, which in its wide domain The Heavens enkindle, that thej overray * The vastest sweep of air with light serene. Let him imagine the bright wain, alway That in the bosom of our Heaven doth bum, Eevolving round its axle night and day, Let him imagine of the brilliant horn *° The summit, which points straightway to the Pole, Eound which the first wheel evermore doth turn, In Heaven as two new constellations roll. Like Ariadne, who in stars did blaze What time she felt the chill of death's control : ^* And one with the other mingle so their rays. Each within each their circles gliding through, That one still wendeth as the other strays ; And he will have some shadow of the true Bright constellation, and the double dance ^ That round me there aye circled in my view ; Though it transcendeth more mere human glance Than passeth Chiana's slowly- gliding stream The sky that swiftest whirls the Heaven's expanse. No Bacchic song they sing, no psan frame, But Persons Three in nature all Divine, And in one substance G-od and man the same. Their song they close, their measure cease to twine, And draw around us there those holy lights. Each service adding to the bliss they shrine. Then silence broke 'midst those accordant sprites The flame, by whom was told the wondrous life Of that meek pauper whom God now requites. He told me : " When the flail has threshed one sheaf. And when the gathered grain is laid aside, To the like labour then sweet love is lief.
p. 25
so
p. 85
Lines 1 — 21. To understand what follows in the motions of the fonr-andtwenty saints, one should imagine fifteen of the largest stars in Heaven, the seven of Ursa Major and the two pointers in Ursa Minor, revolving in two circles, formed into new constellations, like Ariadne, thus metamorphosed at her death. Line 34. See Canto XI., lines 26 and 27, where Thomas mentioned the two difficulties which had arisen in Dante's mind, the first of which he then answered, and now turns to the second, roused by his assertion " that no second to Solomon ever rose," Dante being rightly of opinion that Adam and Christ were both superior to him.
p. 40
CANTO xin. Tlie two cirolse of heatified saints join in a chorus of praise to God. Thomas Aquinas then explains the other difficulty, which his words concerning Solomon had raised in Dante's mind, adding that his superiority ovier all men in wisdom extended only to kings. He closes by warning Dante against rash judgments.
Cahto xni. PARADISE. 309 Lbt him imagine who desires to know What then I saw (the image, too, retain Like firm-set rock, the while in words I show), Fifteen fair stars, which in its wide domain The Heavens enkindle, that thej overray * The vastest sweep of air with light serene. Let him imagine the bright wain, alway That in the bosom of our Heaven does bum, Eevolving round its axle night and day, Let him imagine of the brilliant horn *° The summit, which points straightway to the Pole, Eound which the first wheel evermore does turn, In Heaven as two new constellations roll. Like Ariadne, who in stars did blaze What time she felt the chill of death's control : ^* And one with the other mingle so their rays. Each within each their circles gliding through, That one still wends as the other strays ; And he will have some shadow of the true Bright constellation, and the double dance ^ That round me there aye circled in my view ; Though it transcends more mere human glance Than passes Chiana's slowly- gliding stream The sky that swiftest whirls the Heaven's expanse. No Bacchic song they sing, no psan frame, But Persons Three in nature all Divine, And in one substance G-od and man the same. Their song they close, their measure cease to twine, And draw around us there those holy lights. Each service adding to the bliss they shrine. Then silence broke 'midst those accordant sprites The flame, by whom was told the wondrous life Of that meek pauper whom God now requites. He told me : " When the flail has threshed one sheaf. And when the gathered grain is laid aside, To the like labour then sweet love is lief.
p. 25
so
p. 85
Lines 1 — 21. To understand what follows in the motions of the fonr-andtwenty saints, one should imagine fifteen of the largest stars in Heaven, the seven of Ursa Major and the two pointers in Ursa Minor, revolving in two circles, formed into new constellations, like Ariadne, thus metamorphosed at her death. Line 34. See Canto XI., lines 26 and 27, where Thomas mentioned the two difficulties which had arisen in Dante's mind, the first of which he then answered, and now turns to the second, roused by his assertion " that no second to Solomon ever rose," Dante being rightly of opinion that Adam and Christ were both superior to him.
p. 40
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