The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

CANTO XVIII. Cacciagaida names to Daate the souls of many renowned warriors in the planet Mars, and quitting him to join his comrades in their song of praise, Dante finds himself raised with Beatrice to the sphere of Jupiter. The souls of those who had administered justice rightly in the world form themselves into letters before him, exhorting rcuers to their own virtue, and finally settle into the shape of the head and neck of an eagle. Bapt in that vision of beatified justice, Dante calls on it to revisit earth and purify, where most wanted, the avaricious Court of Rome. Albeady in his word rejoiced apart That blessed spirit, on my thoughts I fed, Tempering the sweetness with the promised smart : When she, mj ladj, who me Godwards led, " Change now your train of thought ; think I am near * Him Who does recompense each wrong," she said. I turned me at that amorous voice so dear Of her my solace, and what I descried Of love in holy eyes I try not here : Not that I fear alone speech vainly tried, ^® But that my mind could never so return Above itself if others do not guide. This only of that fact can I discern, That gazing on her my desire was freed From every other longing there to yearn, ^^ Until the eternal peace, which straightly rayed On Beatrice in reflected guise From her fair face on me contentment laid. Cercoming me with light of smiling eyes, She said unto me ; " Turn you now and hear, *® Not in my eyes alone is Paradise." As many a time and oft is witnessed here The longing in the face when nourished so That all the mind is centered in the care. So in the flaming of that holy glow ^ To which I turned me then, the eager bent To speak to me once more I clear did know, And it began : ** In this the fifth ascent Of the tree which draws life downwards from its height, And aye bears fruit, while ne'er a leaf is rent, ^ Are blessM spirits on your earthly site. Or ere they came to Heaven was great their fame, To every Muse were each a chrysolite.

Gaze on the Cross's horns, as I will name Each spirit will glide there by me rehearsed, As in the cloud does flash the nimble flame." I saw along the Cross a glorj burst As Joshua was named ; as past it shone I know not whether speech or deed was first. At the name of Maccabee I saw thereon Another moving by in whirling train, And gladness was the whip that spurs it on. So for Orlando, and for Charlemain, Followed the twain my own intent regard, As on the falcon's flight the eye does strain. Along that Cross then William and Kenard, And the great leader Godfrey drew my sight, With the heroic chief, Eobert Guiscard. Thence moved, and mingling with each other light, The spirit who had spoken to me showed What artist he, 'mid singers in Heaven's height. To my right hand my vision then I bowed To see in Beatrix what course to steer. Either by spoken words or sign avowed, And I beheld her eyes so limpid clear, So filled with gladness that their semblance bright O'ercame all else, even her last wonted cheer. And as by more perception of delight, Doing good deeds, a man from day to day Perceives that his virtue grows in might, ^ So was I 'ware that with the whirling sway O' the whirling Heavens my circle was increased. Seeing that miracle's beauty clearer ray. And as in momentary time is chased The hue from maiden's cheek which lately burned ^ With burden of shame's blush, as quick displaced, So seemed it to my eyes when I had turned Into the whiteness of that tempered star, The sixth, which me within itself inumed. I saw within that torch of Jupiter fair. Before my eyes, the letters of our speech, Shaped by the lights of Love that revelled there. Line 46. Probably two of the comiades of Duke Godfrey of Boiiillon in the first Crnsade. Line 48. The conqaeror of the kingdom of Naples, alladed to in Canto XXVIII. of " Hell." Line 57. The beauty of her eyes surpassed what it had reached even in the last planet of Mars, as Uiey have entered a higher sphere. Line 67* From the ruddy planet Mars to the silvery Jupiter.

Cahto XVni. PARABISE. 331 And as birds risen from a river's beach, As 'twere with greeting to their new-found mead, Now in long line and now in circle stretch, So in those lights the holy creatures swayed, Wreathing new figures as they soared in song, And now a D, an I, an L they made. First singing to their notes they move along, Then having ranged themselves into a sign, A little while they paused, and silent throng. O Pegasean goddess ! who divine To genius, glory and long life do spare, As it, to realms and cities, by your line, Illume me with yourself, those shapes so fair ** That I may rise again as seen in Heaven : In these brief verses let your might appear. Thus were there shown before me five times seven Yowels and consonants, and as they past I noted them as they appeared engraven. ®° Diligite jusHtiam first were cast. The verb and noun full blazoned, nothing slurred : Qui jvdicatis terrain followed last. Thereafter on the M of the fifth word They stayed, in order ranged, so that Jove's star •* Like silver studded o'er with gold appeared. And other lights I saw descendiug, where Was the M's summit, and they then grew still, Singing, methinks, that Good, their onlv care. Then, just as burning firebrands shaken spill ^^ Innumerable sparks which seek the skies. Whence fools are wont to show their augur skill, More than a thousand lights seemed hence to rise, And soaring, mount above, some more, some less, As pleased that sun who gave their flaming dyes : And each one settled down into its place, An eagle's head and neck in fire descried Distinctly represented I could trace. He who paints there has no one for his guide. But guides himself, and from himself is lent ^^® The virtue which each station signified. Line 82. Muse that givest glory and long life to genius, as genius by your strains giTes the same to realms and cities, illume me, &c. Line 88. Thirty-fiTe letters, forming the sentence " Diligite justitiam, qui rudicatis terram" — " Love righteousness, you that be judges of the earth.— Wisdom of Solomon i. 1.