The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

GJlNTO XV. The hymn of the Crusaders subsides into silence, and a spirit srlides to the foot of the Cross and welcomes Dante as his descendant. He tells him that he is the spirit of his ancestor Cacoiaguida, describes the simple life of the Florentines in his days, and states how he died in Palestine, fighting for the Holy Land. Benignant will, which does exemplify Ever that love, which virtue's beams inspire, As will malignant, does cupidity, Silence imposed unto that dulcet lyre, And hushed to quiet every holy chord * Which Heaven's right hand attunes to notes of fire. How can be deaf to prayer for justice poured Those beings, who to give me wiU to pray. United all, that silence to accord ? He of a truth does nurture grief for aye, '° Who for the love of what can ne'er endure Eternally does cast that love away. As o'er the tranquil skies serene and pure. Oft and anon does glide a sudden blaze. Attracting careless eyes unto its lure, ^

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CiKTO XV. PARADISE. 817 And seems a star in Heaven that shifts its place Only from that part whence it kindles bright, Nothing is lost, and it so briefly stays : So from the Cross's horn, far on the right Unto its foot did sudden glide a star O' the constellation which there sheds its light. Nor from its riband fell that jewel rare ; But through the listed ray of light came down, Seeming a flame in alabaster fair : So did Anchises' pious shadow run (Unless to Virgil's Muse we now refuse a Faith) in Elysium when he saw his son. " O sanguis meus, super infusa Qratia Dei ; sicui tibi, cui Bis umqtuim cobU janua reclusa .'"' Thus spoke that light : to him I turned me free, Then to my lady turned once more my eyes, And here and there the marvel dazzled me. For in her eyes a beaming smile did rise Such that I thought that I the depths did near Of all my grace and all my Paradise. Then, pleasant both, to gaze on and to hear. Things far too deep for me to understand The spirit added to his proem clear. Nor was that mystery of election planned But of necessity beyond the aim Of mortals, his conception so far wonned. And when the flight of his high soaring flame Was so allayed, that once more in the rood Of human intellect his meaning came ; The first thing which by me was understood, " For ever blessfed be the Q-od Triune, Who in my seed to me such kindness showed." And he went on : ** The long sweet fast I've known While reading in the volume of Q-od's might, Whose pages never turn from white to brown, You'st satisfied my son, within this light. In which I speak to you, through grace divine That preened your plumage to such soaring flight. Line 26. Isque nbi tendentem adversam per gramina vidit ^aean, alacris palmas utrasque tetendit. — Virg. ^a., lib. vi., 684. Line 28. " you my blood, superabounding grace of God, to whom, as to you, was the gate of Heaven ever opened twice P" Twice, because Dante now enters it alive, a certain sign that it will finally open for him a^^ain. Line 61. In the not^ to Canto II. of the ** Paradise ' it was mentioned that the leaves of parchment were brown and white alternately : the Book of God knows no change.

318 PARADISE. Caitto XV. You think that your thoughts within me shine " From the first source, as evermore does ray From unity, all numbers we combine. And therefore do not ask who I may be, Nor why in you more joyous I appear Than any other in this concourse gay. ®* You deemest truth ; both less and greater here Of this life, ever on that mirror gaze In which ere you have thought, the thought stands clear. But that the sacred love on which delays My endless vigil, and from which I hold ** Such sweet desire, may better work its ways ; With your own joyous voice, secure and bold, Express your pleasure, your desire express, To which reply is ready ere 'tis told." I turned to Beatrix, whose smile did bless '* Ere her consent in speaking I could claim. Which added wings unto my eagerness. Thus I began : " Knowledge and love the same Since God*s equality first met your sight In each of you an equal poise reclaim : ^* Since in that sun which you with heat and light Lightened and warmed, so equal are the two That no similitude would show it right. But knowledge and desire in mortal crew, For reason that to you is manifest, ^ Have wings with d^ering plumage fledged untrue. Whence I, a mortal, see in me confest This inequality, nor thanks can rate Save with my heart for this paternal feast. O living Topaz, you I supplicate, ^ Who do ingem this precious jewel rare, My longing, with your name to satiate." ** O leaf of mine, in whom I bliss did share. Even while expecting you, your root was I :" With such commencement did he answer fair. ^ Then told me : " He, from whom you do apply Your surname, who a century and more Has turned the mountain's first ledge wearily^ Line 73. In Heaven fervour is measured by sight, or knowledge, as explained by Solomon ; amongst mortals love can exceed the power of expressing it, and Dante, therefore, can only offer his thanks in his heart. Line 91. Alighieri, Dante's great-grandfather, from whom the family name was taken, was the son of Cacoiagoida.