The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

CANTO XXI. Dante ascends with Beatrice to the sphere of Satnm, where he finds a ladder of gold, BO lofty that he cannot see the top. Along the stairs ascend and descend the spirits of those who passed tiieir lives in holy contemplatioii* Saint Peter Damiano approaches them, and in answer to Dante^ questions states who he was, condnding by a vehement rebnke of the lozuiy of modem prelates, to which rises a shont of trininphant accord. My eyes already on that sweet face gazed Of her my lady, and my soul the while. And every other thought was all erased : And she smiled not : but, " Were I now to smile, Thus she began to tell me, " thou wouldst be Like Semele, who fell an ashen pile :

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Cahto XXI. PABADISE. 841 Because mj beauty more exceedingly Kindles along the Eternal Palace stair, As it ascends on high, erst proved to thee : So would it shine were it not tempered here, That thy poor mortal being in its blaze Would be like leaf the thunderbolt doth shear. In the seventh splendour now our soaring stays.

Which 'neath the lion's burning blazonries Its influence, somewhat mingled, downwards* rays. ^ Fix now thy mind intently in thy eyes, And be they to the shape a mirror made. Which in this mirror will to thee arise. Whoe'er perceiveth with what sweetness fed My sight ecstatic on that aspect blest, ^ When thus to other object I was led. Will recognise how I with grateful zest To my celestial guide obedience paid.

To pleasure counterpoising her behest. Within that crystal, which in circle swayed ^ Around the world, named after its dear king. Beneath whose rule all wickedness lay dead. Of golden <x>lour, where the sunrays cling In splendour, I beheld a mounting stair. Unto whose top my vision could not wing. ^ And on its steps I saw descending there Such splendours, that I thought that every light Was there diffused, which in the heavens shine fair.

And as in Nature at the fall of night, The choughs together at the dawn of day To warm their frozen plumage move in flight ; Then some without return go on their way. Others to whence they moved once more repair.

And others, wheeling round their nest delay, So did it seem to me was acted there ^ In all that glittering, which together came, Until it reached unto a certain stair : And one that lingered nearest us, in flame Became so bright, that in my thoughts I said, " Clearly I see the love which I may claim." *^ But she, on whom my how and when is laid Of speech and silence, resteth still, whence I Bightly, though loath, no questioning essayed. Line 14.

The planet Saturn being then in the constellation Leo. Line 18. Like what will be shown in the mirror if the planet Saturn be reflected in the mirror of thy eyes. Line 27. The sign of Satunii and the Golden Age of earth.

Whence she, who that my silence did descry In looking upon Him who all things sees, " Release thy fervent wish," to me did cry. And I began : ** My little worthiness Makes me unfit to merit thy reply, Save for her sake who sanctions my address : blessed life, who hidest in mystery Within thy rapturous joy, to me make known The cause that to my side brings thee so nigh : And say why silent in this sphere alone The dulcet symphony of Paradise, Which sounds in lower spheres such holy tone." ^ " Thy hearing is but mortal, like thine eyes," He answered me, " and hence one sings not here. As Beatrice now her smile denies. Down by the steps of this most holy stair With festival to greet thee am I come, " Of parley and of light that clothes me fair : Nor speeds me here my love's exceeding sum ; Above us more and equal love doth glow. As show to thee the flames that here illume. But the High Charity which makes us bow '® To serve his schemes in the world's governance, Electeth here, as thou mayst clearly know." '• holy light," I said, " doth see my glance How in this court sufficeth love most free To execute the Eternal Providence. " But this is what I find most hard to see. Wherefore wert thou predestined all alone, Unto this duty, midst this company." 1 had not to the latest word past on. Ere round its central soul the glory plied, Revolving like a swiftly- whirled millstone. And then the love that was within replied, " A light divine shed over me I find, Piercing through this one, in the which I hide ; Whose influence with my proper vision joined. So lifts me o'er myself, my sight doth claim The Highest Essence, from the which 'tis coined. Thence comes the rapturous joy with which I flame. For in proportion as we clear descry Shineth the brilliance of our light the same.

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