The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

p. 120

p. 125

346 PARADISE. Cajito XXm.

p. 140

p. 145

I saw the daughter of Latona beam Without that shadow, which my reason won Falsely of old, of rare and dense to deem. The visage of your son, Hyperion, There I sustained, and there I saw how near Around him Maja and Dione wonne. The tempering of Jove did thence appear Betwixt his sire and son, and thence the change Their stations underwent to me was clear. And all the seven were shown me in their range. How vast in space, and how each swiftly sways, And how in distant grooves they onwards range, The area where we fiercely strive our days, I, with the eternal Twins revolving iJiere, Appeared to me with all its hills and bays : Thence turned my eyes unto those eyes so fair. Line 139. I saw the moon without its spots. See Gaato II. Line 144. Merouryand Yenoa, here named reepeotively after their muthers. Line 146. Between Sotom and Kan.

p. 150

CANTO xxni. Dante beholds the trinmph of Christ with His saints. The Savioor, followed by his Yiigin Mother, ascends out of sight into the higher Heavens. The body of the saints of both Testaments remains with I^te. As 'midst the loved leaves the small bird bides With her sweet young ones resting in the nest Throughout the night, which aU things from us hides, And both to see those objects loved the best. And for their pasture to find food enow, * For which all toil to her is sweet as rest, Forestals the time, and on the open bough With ardent longing waits for the sun, Fixed in her gaze, until the dawning, glow, So stood erect my lady, towards the moon *^ Of Heaven's nigh concave turned, with gaze intent, Where the sun seems least hurriedly to wonne ; So that beholding her suspense unpent, I then became like one who something new Desires, and in hope remains content. Line 12. The sun appearing to tmvel slowest when in mid-Heaven.

CorroXZin. PARADISE. 349 'Twixt one and other bnt brief spaoe I knew, I mean 'twixt expectation and 'twixt sight, When more and more the Heavens resplendent grew. ** Of Christ's high triumph, lo ! the serried flight, And all the fruit," did Beatrix exclaim, ^ '' TJpgathered from those spheres of whirling light." It seemed to me her face was all aflame. And in her eyes such store of gladness shone; All undeyelopt I must pass that theme. As in the nights serene of bright full moon ^ Fair Trivia smiles 'midst the nymphs eteme, Which paint the Heavens through all its glorious noon, Saw I, above the thousand lights that burn. One sun, that all the others kindled there, As does our own the starry train supeme, ^ And through that living light beyond compare The shining substance beamed so briUiant clear That in my eyes the sight I could not bear. Beatrice ! my sweet guide and dear. Who told me " He who overpowers your sight ^ Is power 'gainst which resistance 'vails not. Here Is the Etemdl Wisdom and the might Which sped the pathway 'twixt the sky and earth, For whidi was erst such longing infinite." Like fire expanding in a cloud takes birth *^ That cannot hold it longer, and released. Against its nature, down to earth flies forth, So did my mind 'midst that celestial feast Issue from out itself, enlarged the while, And memory knows not how it then increased. ^^ ^ Open your eyes to see me now awhile. Things you have now beheld to give you power Amply sufficient to sustain my smile." 1 was like one in truth who thinks o'er Some dream forgotten, and who strives in vain ^ Within his mind its image to restore, What time I heard that all-thankworthy strain Proffered unto me, to be rased no more From that book where the past is written plain. If all those tuneful tongues the chorus bore, '^^ Which, nourished with their sweetest milk apart, Fair Polyhymnia and her train of yore Line 26. A name of Diana, or the moon. Line 37. Jesns Christ. Line 57. The Muses.