The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

350 PARADISE. Canto XHn. To aid me, of the truth in thousandth part That holy smile would not be shown, nor how Beamed clear that holy face, with all their arfr. ^ Thus I, who Paradise am painting now. Must leap o'er much of this my holy theme, As one who finds his path cut off, I trow. But of the weighty object if one deem, And of the mortal shoulder that does bear, ^ Although it tremble, still one would not blame. This is no sea for little bark to steer, Cleaving through which goes on my daring prow. Nor for a helmsman who himself would spare. " Why does my face so wholly charm you now ^" That for this garden fair you do not pine, Which 'neath the rays of Christ does bloom and blow? Here is the Eose, in which the Word Divine The flesh became ; and here the Lilies rise, Win the true path who seek their odorous wine." " Thus Beatrix, and I, to her advice Who aye was ready, turned me once again Unto that strife for my poor dazzled eyes. As 'neath a sun ray which does glance between A broken cloud, of old a flowery field ^ My own eyes covered with a shade have seen, So the vast crowd of splendours I beheld Lit from above with lightning's burning rays, Nor saw the source from which the glory welled. Benignant virtue ! which did o'er them blaze, " You raisedst yourself above, to leave me room That my poor powerless eyes might hither gaze. The name of that fair flower, the Eose, to whom Morning and eventide I make my vow, Called to her flame my soul as to its home. ^ And while on both my eyeballs did it glow. The size and nature of that living star. Which conquers all above as erst below, Within the Heavens a light descended there, Formed in a circle like a coronal, ** And girt her round, and wheeled around her fair. Whatever melody most sweet does fall On earth, and mostly does the soul inspire, Would seem like thunder burst from cloudy pall Line 78. The Virgin Mary, termed by the Church Bosa Mjstica. Line 75. The Lilies are explained to mean the twelve Apostles. Line 94. Stated by the commentators to be intended for the Angel Gabriel, who first announced to the Virgin her high destiny.

Cakto XXIII. PARADISE. 351 Compared unto tlie sounding of that lyre *^ With which the beauteous Sapphire was encrowned, Through whom Heaven's Sapphire glows with brighter fire. " I am the angelic love that wheels around The rapture high, that breathes from the womb Where for our love a dwelling-place was found. ^^ And, Lady of the Sky, I'll you illume While following your Son ; the sphere most high You mak'st more Godlike when you there do come." Then was that sweet revolving melody Brought to a close, and every other light "^ The name of Mary sounded through the sky. That royal garb, which all the spheres with might Surrounds, and which glows most vivified Beneath the breathing of G-od's infinite, Was stretched above us, with its inner side "* So distant that its semblance at that hour Where we were stationed could not be descried- Therefore my eyes did not possess the power To follow after that crowned flame above. Which soared aloft behind the seed it bore. ^^ And like a little child its arms does move Towards its mother when it milk has ta'en Through that affection which its gestures prove, Each of those whitest flames did upwards strain Its soaring crest that the affection deep ^^ They bore for Mary unto me was plain. Thence in my" presence they their station keep, JRegina Codi with such sweetness singing That evermore the rapture do I reap. what a wealth of bliss is there upspringing ^^ In those rich storehouses, who erst below The seed of good deeds aye abroad were -flinging ! Here they enjoy that treasure evermo,' The which in exile and with tears they won In Babylon, whose gold they did not know. ^^* Here does there triumph, 'neath the lofty Son Of God and Mary, with the saints o' the Old And the New Testament in unison. He who the keys of glory here does hold. Line 103. The beauteous Sappliire is the Virgin. Line 112. The ninth Heaven, called the Primum Mobile, which enfolds and gives motion to the lower eight.

CANTO XXIV. ^i Beatrice's rCK^tnest Saint Peter qnestiooB Dante npon hia Faith, and approTes his exposition of hie belief and the gronndB on which it was fonnded. '* O GUESTS elected to the Supper high Of the Blessed Lamb, who spreads for you a feast, Which your desire does wholly satisfy ; If, by the grace of God, this one foretaste The crumbs which from your table you let fall, ^ Or ere that Death his bound of time has traced. Unto his will immense, attention call, And sprinkle him with dew, since eyer you Drink from that fount whence come his dreamings all/' So Beatrice, and those souls in glee, ^' Spheres on their firmly-fix^d poles became. Like comets, blazing yet more brilliantly. And as the wheels witlun some clockwork frame Go round in manner, that the first as still, The last as flying rapidly does seem, ^' So did those carol dances, as they wheel In different measure, unto me make known, Or swift, or slow, the wealth that each does fill. Out of that carol which the fairest shone I saw there issue forth such rapturous fire, ^ That none were left so bnlliant in their tone. And thrice around my Beatrix the spire BevolvM, with a song so all divine, Cannot repeat it fantasy's desire : My pen goes o'er it, nor records my line, ^ For our ima^^ation has no hues. Much less our speech, such rich folds to design. *^ saintly sister mine, what you do use Of prayer devoutly, through your ardent love. Me from that beauteous circle does unloose.'* ^ Then, when that blessed flame had ceased to move. Towards my lady grew erect the spire. Which spake as I have written it above. And she : " light eteme of the great sixe, To whom our Lord did leave the keys, which He ^ Carried below from this rejoicing choir, Line 16. The carol dance, as already explained, was formed by a set who while dancing sang to their measure. The spirits here formed sevenJ carol dances, in which the Tarious sets showed their amount of grace by the velocity of their movements.