The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
826 PABADISE. Cahto TVIL The while that I with Virgil was conjoint, Upon that mountain where the souls grow clear, * And while descending in the world defunct, Were told me of my future life severe And mournful words ; albeit every blow Of chance I feel myself well squared to bear. Therefore my wish would be content to know ^ For me what fortune has the future drest, Since dart foreseen in flight is ever slow.
Thus I that beaming light itself addrest, That first had spoken to me, and as willed My Beatrix, my longing was confest. ^ Not with such riddles, in whose snares was held The credulous world of old, or ere was slain The Lamb of God, who every sin repealed, But with clear words and open parlance plain That love paternal unto me replied, ^ Inclosed, and beaming in his smile so fain.
" Contingency, which ne'er beyond the tide Of your material world can ever reach. On the eternal sight is wholly dyed. Not that from hence necessity I teach, * More than from sight, a vessel glideth fair Adown the current, gazed on from the beach.
From that eternal sight, as fills the ear Organs' sweet harmony, to me doth come In sight that time which towards thee draweth near. *^ As left Hippolytus his Athens' home, Through his perfidious stepdame, passion fraught, So to depart from Florence is thy doom. Thus is it willed, and thus already sought ; And soon they'll bring to pass what now they scheme, '^ There, where Christ every day is sold and bought.
Upon the injured side will cast the blame The wonted cry ; but vengeance will achieve Witness to truth, whichever it doth claim. Line 20. In " Purgatory" Conrad Malaspina, Canto VIII., and Oderisi the Illuminator in Canto XI., had hinted to Dante of his coming hanishment, and in " Hell" Farinata degli Uberti, Canto X., and Sir Brunetti in Canto XV», had done the same. He now asks for clearer warnings. Line 40.
Necessity does not follow from God's knowledge more than when one gazes on a ship floating down the tide the sight causes it to descend. Line 46. Owing to the unnatural passion of his stepmother Fhsedra. Line 51. In Rome, where they were plotting the expulsion of the Ghibeline party from Florence. Line 54. According to the then belief in the trial by duellum, that vengeance would declare itself always on the side of truth.
Canto XVII. PARADISE. 327 Each thing beloved most dearly thou wilt leave : ^'^ And this is but the earliest dart which fares From the bow of exile, when it shoots to grieve. Thyself wilt prove what bitter taste there bears The alien's bread, andjwhat a weary road Is climbing and descending alien stairs. ^ And that which most of all thy back will load, Will be the evil troop, with whom thou'lt fall Into this valley, scattered all abroad.
For all ungrateful, mad, and impious all. Against thee will they act, but very soon ^^ Their brows, not thine, will bear shame's reddened pall. Of their bestiality the progress on Will be the proof, to thee it will be fair To have made thy party by thyself alone. Thy earliest refuge and thy first repair '^ Will be the courtesy of the great Lombard, Who bears the holy bird above the stair.
For he on thee will show such kind regard, That between act and asking 'twixt ye twain, That will be first which others most retard. ^^ With him thou' It see the youth who bears such strain Of this strong planet, even from his birth, That notable will be his actions' train. Not yet have people knowledge of his worth, By his young age, since yet have wheeled these starry ®^ Spheres round him but nine years since he went forth.
But ere the Gascon shall deceive great Harry, Such sparks of his high virtue will be shown, In that for coin or toil he will not tarry. His liberalities will then be known, ^ So that his very enemies who hate, Will not be able to shun speech thereon.
For him and for his favours do thou wait : By him much people will be changed in lot, Altering alike of rich and poor the state : *^ And do thou bear it written in thy thought Of him, but tell it not :" and things he said Incredible to those who see it wrought. " These are the glosses, son," he then did add, " On that which has been told thee, lo ! the snares ** Which 'neath a few short years are hidden laid. Line 71.
Alboino della Soala, whose arms were an eagle on a stair of gold. Line 76. Can Grande, brother of the above. See ''Hell," Canto I. Line 82. Before the Pope Clement Y. shall deceive the Emperor Henry VII.
p. 328Cakto XVII. I would not thou sliouldst envj thence thy peers, Since thy own life will in the future grow Beyond their punishment, through distant years.*' In silence then completed did he show, ^^ That holy spirit, all the woof which I Had placed before him to be woven through.
Then I began, like one who doubtingly Longeth for counsel from a person wise, Who seeth true and wisheth lovingly : ^^ " My sire, I clearly see how spurring hies Towards me Time, to inflict on me a blow. Heaviest to him who self -abandoned lies. Therefore with foresight I must arm me now. So that when ta'en from me the place most dear, "® My verse may lose me not all others too.
Down in that world of never-ending care, And on the mountain, from whose beauteous height The sweet eyes of my lady me did rear. And afterwards in Heaven, from light to light, "* That have I learnt, which should I say again. To many would have savour of despite : And if from truth I timidly refrain.
Midst those I fear to forfeit life alwav " ion Who'll call the present times the antique strain." ^ The light where smiled my treasure, which that day I there had foand, first made a sparkling gleam Like golden mirror in the solar ray. Then answered me : ** That conscience, which with shame Or of itself or others may be stained, ^^ Will surely feel the stinging of thy theme. But ne'ertheless be every lie refrained.
Let all thy vision be made manifest. And let him wince who feels his withers strained : For if thy voice in any way molest ^** At the first taste, a vital nutriment 'Twill leave behind to him who doth digest. This cry of thine will be like winds unpent.
That strongest smite against the loftiest peaks : This to thy honour is some argument. ^^ Hence in those spheres upon thy vision breaks, Upon the mount, and in the dolorous vale, Those souls alone of whom Fame's trumpet speaks ; Because his mind, who heareth, would not hail With trust the given example, if its root ^^ Were hidden and unknown, and ever fail Mere barren arguments to bring forth fruit."
826 PABADISE. Cahto TVIL The while that I with Virgil was conjoint, Upon that mountain where the souls grow clear, * And while descending in the world defunct, Were told me of my future life severe And mournful words ; albeit every blow Of chance I feel myself well squared to bear. Therefore my wish would be content to know ^ For me what fortune has the future drest, Since dart foreseen in flight is ever slow." Thus I that beaming light itself addrest, That first had spoken to me, and as willed My Beatrix, my longing was confest. ^ Not with such riddles, in whose snares was held The credulous world of old, or ere was slain The Lamb of God, who every sin repealed, But with clear words and open parlance plain That love paternal unto me replied, ^ Inclosed, and beaming in his smile so fain. " Contingency, which ne'er beyond the tide Of your material world can ever reach. On the eternal sight is wholly dyed. Not that from hence necessity I teach, * More than from sight, a vessel glides fair Adown the current, gazed on from the beach. From that eternal sight, as fills the ear Organs' sweet harmony, to me does come In sight that time which towards you draws near. *^ As left Hippolytus his Athens' home, Through his perfidious stepdame, passion fraught, So to depart from Florence is your doom. Thus is it willed, and thus already sought ; And soon they'll bring to pass what now they scheme, '^ There, where Christ every day is sold and bought. Upon the injured side will cast the blame The wonted cry ; but vengeance will achieve Witness to truth, whichever it does claim. Line 20. In " Purgatory" Conrad Malaspina, Canto VIII., and Oderisi the Illuminator in Canto XI., had hinted to Dante of his coming hanishment, and in " Hell" Farinata degli Uberti, Canto X., and Sir Brunetti in Canto XV», had done the same. He now asks for clearer warnings. Line 40. Necessity does not follow from God's knowledge more than when one gazes on a ship floating down the tide the sight causes it to descend. Line 46. Owing to the unnatural passion of his stepmother Fhsedra. Line 51. In Rome, where they were plotting the expulsion of the Ghibeline party from Florence. Line 54. According to the then belief in the trial by duellum, that vengeance would declare itself always on the side of truth.
Canto XVII. PARADISE. 327 Each thing beloved most dearly you will leave : ^'^ And this is but the earliest dart which fares From the bow of exile, when it shoots to grieve. Yourself will prove what bitter taste there bears The alien's bread, andjwhat a weary road Is climbing and descending alien stairs. ^ And that which most of all your back will load, Will be the evil troop, with whom you'lt fall Into this valley, scattered all abroad. For all ungrateful, mad, and impious all. Against you will they act, but very soon ^^ Their brows, not your, will bear shame's reddened pall. Of their bestiality the progress on Will be the proof, to you it will be fair To have made your party by yourself alone. Your earliest refuge and your first repair '^ Will be the courtesy of the great Lombard, Who bears the holy bird above the stair. For he on you will show such kind regard, That between act and asking 'twixt you twain, That will be first which others most retard. ^^ With him you' It see the youth who bears such strain Of this strong planet, even from his birth, That notable will be his actions' train. Not yet have people knowledge of his worth, By his young age, since yet have wheeled these starry ®^ Spheres round him but nine years since he went forth. But ere the Gascon shall deceive great Harry, Such sparks of his high virtue will be shown, In that for coin or toil he will not tarry. His liberalities will then be known, ^ So that his very enemies who hate, Will not be able to shun speech thereon. For him and for his favours do you wait : By him much people will be changed in lot, Altering alike of rich and poor the state : *^ And do you bear it written in your thought Of him, but tell it not :" and things he said Incredible to those who see it wrought. " These are the glosses, son," he then did add, " On that which has been told you, lo ! the snares ** Which 'neath a few short years are hidden laid. Line 71. Alboino della Soala, whose arms were an eagle on a stair of gold. Line 76. Can Grande, brother of the above. See ''Hell," Canto I. Line 82. Before the Pope Clement Y. shall deceive the Emperor Henry VII.
328 PARADISE. Cakto XVII. I would not you sliouldst envj thence your peers, Since your own life will in the future grow Beyond their punishment, through distant years.*' In silence then completed did he show, ^^ That holy spirit, all the woof which I Had placed before him to be woven through. Then I began, like one who doubtingly Longs for counsel from a person wise, Who sees true and wishes lovingly : ^^ " My sire, I clearly see how spurring hies Towards me Time, to inflict on me a blow. Heaviest to him who self -abandoned lies. Therefore with foresight I must arm me now. So that when ta'en from me the place most dear, "® My verse may lose me not all others too. Down in that world of never-ending care, And on the mountain, from whose beauteous height The sweet eyes of my lady me did rear. And afterwards in Heaven, from light to light, "* That have I learnt, which should I say again. To many would have savour of despite : And if from truth I timidly refrain. Midst those I fear to forfeit life alwav " ion Who'll call the present times the antique strain." ^ The light where smiled my treasure, which that day I there had foand, first made a sparkling gleam Like golden mirror in the solar ray. Then answered me : ** That conscience, which with shame Or of itself or others may be stained, ^^ Will surely feel the stinging of your theme. But ne'ertheless be every lie refrained. Let all your vision be made manifest. And let him wince who feels his withers strained : For if your voice in any way molest ^** At the first taste, a vital nutriment 'Twill leave behind to him who does digest. This cry of your will be like winds unpent. That strongest smite against the loftiest peaks : This to your honour is some argument. ^^ Hence in those spheres upon your vision breaks, Upon the mount, and in the dolorous vale, Those souls alone of whom Fame's trumpet speaks ; Because his mind, who hears, would not hail With trust the given example, if its root ^^ Were hidden and unknown, and ever fail Mere barren arguments to bring forth fruit."
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