The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

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34 PARADISE. CAirro XIX. And this we know for sure, since he, the height Of all created things, the primal pride, Imperfect fell through waiting not for light. Hence every minor nature is implied A cramped receptacle for such a good Which knows no end, and to itself supplied Its only measurement. Our vision rude, Which can be but a raying from the mind With which all things in nature are imbued, Cannot such power in its own being find But that its source it ever must discern From what it is, far different in kind. Therefore, within the justice sempiteme, The vision granted to your worldly lore Enters as doth the eye in ocean's urn : For well one sees the bottom from the shore, But not in the midmain ; and ne'ertheless 'Tis there, although the far deeps shroud it o'er. All light must come from that serene recess Which ne'er is troubled, or it is but shade, ^ Or phantom, or the poison of the flesh. Enough the darkness has been now displayed Which hid from thee G-od's justice' living beam, Of which such frequent question thou hast made. For thou didst say, " A man by Indus' stream Is bom, and there is no one there to tell Of Christ, and none to read or write such theme : And all his wishes, and his deeds as well, Are good, as far as human nature seeth, Sinless in life, by act or syllable : Yet unbaptised he dies, and without faith : Where is the justice which would him impeach ? Where is his fault who, unbelieving, strayeth ? Now who art thou who wouldest sit and preach, To judge at distance of a thousand miles With sight beyond a span that cannot reach ?

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Line 56. Must see how God differs £rom itself. Line 70. It will be observed that no answer is attempted to be given to the difficulty which Dante so boldly proposes. The inquirer is put down, as usaal in such cases, by a reference to authority. This of course the advocate of Free Thought will not admit of as satisfactory — a fact Dante allows in the 84th line.

In truth the doctrine of eternal damnation out of the bounds of a particular faith is an insult to the justice of God and the sense of man. Dante, by the invention of his Limbo, attempted to save the doctiine from its worst shape.

Cakto XIX. PARADISE. 335 Certes to him who with me tries such guiles Were not the Holy Scripture o*er ye all, No wonder if he fell in doubt's defiles. O earthly beings, minds of grossest pall, ®* The Primal Will, that in itself is good, Prom its perfection never yet did fall.

Justice is solely as with it imbued ; No good created draws it e'er aside, But from its rays hath every good ensued." ^ As when the stork its young ones hath supplied With food, above its nest it slow doth soar. And as they gazing in its love confide, So did I raise my eyes, and so sailed o'er That blessed image, which did move its wings ** Borne by such host of counsellors galore.

And told me as it sang in circling rings : " As are my notes not understood by thee, Eternal justice such, to mortal things. Thus they continued their high minstrelsy, ^^^ Those lights of the Holy Spirit, in the sign Which gave the Romans their world victory. It recommenced : " Unto this realm Divine Never rose one who trusted not in Christ, Either before or since He died benign. '®* But many wilt thou see who cry, Christ, Christ !

Who in the judgment-day will be less near To Him than some who never heard of Christ : The Ethiop will condemn such Christians here. When shall be ranged apart the cohorts twain, "* One to eternal wealth, and one to care. What will the Persians of your kings maintain. When they shall see that volume opened wide.

In which their ^tilings are all written plain P There will be seen, midst Albert's deeds of pride, ^^* That which will soon give motion to the pen. When Prague is ruined 'neath his sword-blade's gride. There will be seen the grief which o'er the Seine, Debasing coin, that monarch shall array. Who 'neath a wild boar's tushes shall be slain. ^ There will be seen the pride which lusteth sway, And makes the Scot and Englishman so wild.

That they within their bounds can never stay. Line 115. The Emperor Albert I. See " Purgatory," Canto VI. Line 118. Philip le Bel, who died in 1314 by a fall from his horse, apset by the charge of a wild boar.