The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
Gahto XXI. PARADISE. 343 But not that soul most lustrous upon high, That seraphin who most on Qod doth gaze. This thj demand could ever satisfy : For what thou askest, in the deepest maze Of the eternal law is hid, a bourn ^* Impossible to all created gaze. And when to mortal earth thou dost return, Report thou this, that they may ne'er presume To such a mark their mortal feet to turn.
The mind that here is light is smoky fume ^^ On earth, then think how can they fathom there What we can see not, though in Heaven we bloom.
As thus his words prescribed, I did forbear That question, and withdrew me, to demand Humbly that who he was he would declare. ^^* " 'Twixt the two shores of Italy there stand Mountains, so high the thunders never fall Upon their tops ; not distant from thy land, And make a hunch which people Catria call, Beneath the which is consecrate a cell, ^^^ Confined of old to Gk>d's pure worship all.
Thus for the third time recommenced the swell Of speech, continuing he told me, " There Unto Q-od's service did I bind me well. So that with olives for my only fare, ^^^ Begardless did I pass through heat and cold. Content in contemplation, and in prayer. Was wont to bear for Heaven, that cloister's fold.
With great luxuriance, now 'tis grown so vain That soon must Gk)d its worthlessness unfold. ^^ I, in that place was Peter Damiane : Peter, a sinner in Our Lady's hall. Beside the shore of the Adriatic main. Brief life was left me, when as cardinal I was importuned to accept the hat, ^^^ Which still from evil unto worse doth fall. Came Cephas, and then came the vessel great O' the Holy Spirit, barefooted and lean.
Taking their food at the first open gate : Line 106. Betwixt the shores of the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas, on a ridge of the Apennines, where is now tiie Abbey of Santa Croce, in the Duchy of Urbino. Line 121. A monk bom in- the early part of the eleventh century, who became a bishop and cardinal, and closed his career in retirement. Line 127. Saint Peter and Saint Paul, vas eleotionis.
344 PABADISfi. Casio XXII. Now on each side they must be propped between, ^^ These modem shepherds, and they must b^ led, And hoisted from behind their burly mien. With their own mantles are their palfreys clad. So that two beasts within one skin repair. Patience, thou indeed art sore bestead !" ^ Upon that word I saw from stair to stair The numerous flames descend, and whirl, renew^ At every whirl they seemed to grow more fair.
Around this flame they came, and there they stood, And raised a shout of such a mighty sound ^^ 1 cannot liken it here : I understood Nought, so the thunder all my senses drowned. Line 139. Arotmd Peter Damiano, their diout be]zi£r» m ezidained in the next Canto by Beatrice, on accoont of the approaching vBngeanoe for snch backsliding in the Church which they saw in the councils of Grod: alluding to the approaching fate of Boniâce YIII. See ''Purgatory/' Canto XX.
CANTO xxn. Beatrice clears away Dante's groundless alarm. He beholds many other spirits, and is addressed by Saint Benedict, who promises^ him that he uiall see his form without its covering of splendour in the highest sphere. The spirits then depart, and Dante follows Beatrice up the golden ladder to the eighth Heaven, the region of the fixed stars, which they enter in the constellation of the Twins. There they pause, and Dante looks down on all the seven spheres through which he has past to the diminished earth beneath. Opfbessed with stupor, to my loving guide I turned me, like a little child in tears Who seeketh her where most he doth confide. She, like a mother whose caressing cares Instantly soothe her pale and breathless son ^ With the sweet voice that wont to calm his fears. Told me, '' Know'st not that thou in Heaven dost wonne, And know'st thou not that Heaven is ever holy, And what is done here springs from zeal alone ? How would their singing have transformed thee wholly, Or I by smiling, thou canst now descry, Since has so moved thee this their shouting solely, In which, hadst thou but heard their prayers on high. Already would the vengeance be seen- clear Which thou wilt surely see ere thou dost die. Line 15. See the final note to the laat Canto.
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Gahto XXI. PARADISE. 343 But not that soul most lustrous upon high, That seraphin who most on Qod does gaze. This thj demand could ever satisfy : For what you askest, in the deepest maze Of the eternal law is hid, a bourn ^* Impossible to all created gaze. And when to mortal earth you do return, Report you this, that they may ne'er presume To such a mark their mortal feet to turn. The mind that here is light is smoky fume ^^ On earth, then think how can they fathom there What we can see not, though in Heaven we bloom." As thus his words prescribed, I did forbear That question, and withdrew me, to demand Humbly that who he was he would declare. ^^* " 'Twixt the two shores of Italy there stand Mountains, so high the thunders never fall Upon their tops ; not distant from your land, And make a hunch which people Catria call, Beneath the which is consecrate a cell, ^^^ Confined of old to Gk>d's pure worship all." Thus for the third time recommenced the swell Of speech, continuing he told me, " There Unto Q-od's service did I bind me well. So that with olives for my only fare, ^^^ Begardless did I pass through heat and cold. Content in contemplation, and in prayer. Was wont to bear for Heaven, that cloister's fold. With great luxuriance, now 'tis grown so vain That soon must Gk)d its worthlessness unfold. ^^ I, in that place was Peter Damiane : Peter, a sinner in Our Lady's hall. Beside the shore of the Adriatic main. Brief life was left me, when as cardinal I was importuned to accept the hat, ^^^ Which still from evil unto worse does fall. Came Cephas, and then came the vessel great O' the Holy Spirit, barefooted and lean. Taking their food at the first open gate : Line 106. Betwixt the shores of the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas, on a ridge of the Apennines, where is now tiie Abbey of Santa Croce, in the Duchy of Urbino. Line 121. A monk bom in- the early part of the eleventh century, who became a bishop and cardinal, and closed his career in retirement. Line 127. Saint Peter and Saint Paul, vas eleotionis.
344 PABADISfi. Casio XXII. Now on each side they must be propped between, ^^ These modem shepherds, and they must b^ led, And hoisted from behind their burly mien. With their own mantles are their palfreys clad. So that two beasts within one skin repair. Patience, you indeed art sore bestead !" ^ Upon that word I saw from stair to stair The numerous flames descend, and whirl, renew^ At every whirl they seemed to grow more fair. Around this flame they came, and there they stood, And raised a shout of such a mighty sound ^^ 1 cannot liken it here : I understood Nought, so the thunder all my senses drowned. Line 139. Arotmd Peter Damiano, their diout be]zi£r» m ezidained in the next Canto by Beatrice, on accoont of the approaching vBngeanoe for snch backsliding in the Church which they saw in the councils of Grod: alluding to the approaching fate of Boni&ce YIII. See ''Purgatory/' Canto XX.
CANTO xxn. Beatrice clears away Dante's groundless alarm. He beholds many other spirits, and is addressed by Saint Benedict, who promises^ him that he uiall see his form without its covering of splendour in the highest sphere. The spirits then depart, and Dante follows Beatrice up the golden ladder to the eighth Heaven, the region of the fixed stars, which they enter in the constellation of the Twins. There they pause, and Dante looks down on all the seven spheres through which he has past to the diminished earth beneath. Opfbessed with stupor, to my loving guide I turned me, like a little child in tears Who seeks her where most he does confide. She, like a mother whose caressing cares Instantly soothe her pale and breathless son ^ With the sweet voice that wont to calm his fears. Told me, '' Know'st not that you in Heaven do wonne, And know'st you not that Heaven is ever holy, And what is done here springs from zeal alone ? How would their singing have transformed you wholly, Or I by smiling, you can now descry, Since has so moved you this their shouting solely, In which, had you but heard their prayers on high. Already would the vengeance be seen- clear Which you will surely see ere you do die. Line 15. See the final note to the laat Canto.
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