The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
CANTO XXV. Saint James joins Saint Peter, and questions Dante as to the grounds of his Hope. After his reply, Saint John advances to his brother Apostles and Dante blinds himself by gazing too intently on his flame, to see whether he has risen to Heaven with his body, which Saint John declares to have been the case only with Christ and his Yirgin Mother.
956 PARADISE. Cahto XXV.
If it should hap this holy poem e'er, Which Heaven and earth have helped, and which did mar My frame with abstinence for many a year, Conquer the cruelty which me doth bar From the fair sheepfold where I slept a lamb ^ Hateful to wolves, who on me made their war ; With other voice henceforth, nor hair the same, A poet I'd return, and o'er the font Where I was christened, the wreathed laurel claim : For in the Faith, which only makes account ^" Souls unto God, I entered there, and then For it did Peter circle thus my front.
Thence towards us moved another denizen Out of the troop, from whence had issued The earliest vicar left by Christ o'er men. ^* And my dear lady full of gladness said, " Look up, look up, behold the holy peer For whom, below, Galicia's roads they tread.
As when a dove doth place itself anear Its comrade, one and other sheds abroad ^' Circling and murmuring their afEection dear : So I beheld the one with welcome good Greeting the other great and glorious chief. The while the food they feast in Heaven they laud. But when were closed their gratulations brief, " Silent, before me, each its place did take So blazing, they o'ercame my sight though lief.
Then with a smile did Beatrice speak : " life of glory ! by the whom was writ The hope-won gladness of our palace, make ^ Hope's praises now resound upon this height. How often thou didst shape it thou dost know, Since Christ to thee displayest Himself most bright," " Lift up thy head, and confidence avow : For what comes hither from the mortal earth ^ Must surely in our rays to ripeness grow.
This comfort from the second fire had birth : On which, unto those hills I raised my eyes. Which erst had bowed them with their too great worth. Line 5. The fair sheepfold, Florence, whence he was banished. Line 17. The Apostle St. James, whose shrine at Compostella was a favonrite resort for pilgrims from all Europe. Line 83.
When at the Transfigoratiou the three Apostles, Peter, James, and John, were present, representing the three spiritual virtues of Faith, Ho^, and Charity. Line 37. The second flame, St. James.
Cahto XXV. PARADISR. 357 " Since Grace doth will that thou in mortal gmse, *^ Ere Death has ta'en thee, shouldst our emperor see, Amidst his peers in secret'st mysteries, So that this Court's true glory seen by thee, Hope, that below wins love with amplest dower, In thee and others rise to certainty : ** Say what it is, and how its bloom doth flower Within thy mind, and whence to thee descried :" Thus did proceed that second flame of power.
And pious Beatrice, who did guide My pinions' plumage to such lofty flight, '^ Preventing my response, for me replied. " In the Church Militant no son doth fight With more of hope, as written in that sun, God, who aye rayeth o'er our cohorts bright. Therefore to come is granted him as boon ** From Egypt to Jerusalem, to see. Or ere his militant course on earth be run.
The other points, asked not to satisfy Mere knowledge, but that he may hence record How much this virtue ever pleascth thee, ^ I leave to him ; for they will not be hard. Nor cause him boasting ; let him now reply, And may God's grace its aid to him accord !
As a disciple, prompt and willingly In what he knows, that he may favour win, ®* Unto his master's questions makes reply : ** Hope is a certain waiting," I define, " Upon the future glory, built upon Preceding merit and the Grace Divine. From many stars this light to me did wonne : ^^ But he who first distilled it in my heart Was the sweet singer of God's heavenly throne.
In Thee will place their trust, in sacred art Of song said this one, they who know thy name. And who knows not, who hath my faith at heart ? Thou didst the next instil it, with the flame In thy Epistle, so that on the rest, I, who am full, pour o'er your holy stream. Lizie 56. From Egypt to Jerosalem, from earth to Heaven. Line 73. They that know thy name will put their trust in thee.— Psahn iz. 10. Line 77* The author of the E|)i8tle is allowed to be the younger James, and not the elder disciple here introduced.
CANTO XXV. Saint James joins Saint Peter, and questions Dante as to the grounds of his Hope. After his reply, Saint John advances to his brother Apostles and Dante blinds himself by gazing too intently on his flame, to see whether he has risen to Heaven with his body, which Saint John declares to have been the case only with Christ and his Yirgin Mother.
956 PARADISE. Cahto XXV. If it should hap this holy poem e'er, Which Heaven and earth have helped, and which did mar My frame with abstinence for many a year, Conquer the cruelty which me does bar From the fair sheepfold where I slept a lamb ^ Hateful to wolves, who on me made their war ; With other voice henceforth, nor hair the same, A poet I'd return, and o'er the font Where I was christened, the wreathed laurel claim : For in the Faith, which only makes account ^" Souls unto God, I entered there, and then For it did Peter circle thus my front. Thence towards us moved another denizen Out of the troop, from whence had issued The earliest vicar left by Christ o'er men. ^* And my dear lady full of gladness said, " Look up, look up, behold the holy peer For whom, below, Galicia's roads they tread." As when a dove does place itself anear Its comrade, one and other sheds abroad ^' Circling and murmuring their afEection dear : So I beheld the one with welcome good Greeting the other great and glorious chief. The while the food they feast in Heaven they laud. But when were closed their gratulations brief, " Silent, before me, each its place did take So blazing, they o'ercame my sight though lief. Then with a smile did Beatrice speak : " life of glory ! by the whom was writ The hope-won gladness of our palace, make ^ Hope's praises now resound upon this height. How often you did shape it you do know, Since Christ to you displayest Himself most bright," " Lift up your head, and confidence avow : For what comes hither from the mortal earth ^ Must surely in our rays to ripeness grow." This comfort from the second fire had birth : On which, unto those hills I raised my eyes. Which erst had bowed them with their too great worth. Line 5. The fair sheepfold, Florence, whence he was banished. Line 17. The Apostle St. James, whose shrine at Compostella was a favonrite resort for pilgrims from all Europe. Line 83. When at the Transfigoratiou the three Apostles, Peter, James, and John, were present, representing the three spiritual virtues of Faith, Ho^, and Charity. Line 37. The second flame, St. James.
Cahto XXV. PARADISR. 357 " Since Grace does will that you in mortal gmse, *^ Ere Death has ta'en you, should our emperor see, Amidst his peers in secret'st mysteries, So that this Court's true glory seen by you, Hope, that below wins love with amplest dower, In you and others rise to certainty : ** Say what it is, and how its bloom does flower Within your mind, and whence to you descried :" Thus did proceed that second flame of power. And pious Beatrice, who did guide My pinions' plumage to such lofty flight, '^ Preventing my response, for me replied. " In the Church Militant no son does fight With more of hope, as written in that sun, God, who aye rays o'er our cohorts bright. Therefore to come is granted him as boon ** From Egypt to Jerusalem, to see. Or ere his militant course on earth be run. The other points, asked not to satisfy Mere knowledge, but that he may hence record How much this virtue ever pleascth you, ^ I leave to him ; for they will not be hard. Nor cause him boasting ; let him now reply, And may God's grace its aid to him accord !" As a disciple, prompt and willingly In what he knows, that he may favour win, ®* Unto his master's questions makes reply : ** Hope is a certain waiting," I define, " Upon the future glory, built upon Preceding merit and the Grace Divine. From many stars this light to me did wonne : ^^ But he who first distilled it in my heart Was the sweet singer of God's heavenly throne. In You will place their trust, in sacred art Of song said this one, they who know your name. And who knows not, who has my faith at heart ? You did the next instil it, with the flame In your Epistle, so that on the rest, I, who am full, pour o'er your holy stream." Lizie 56. From Egypt to Jerosalem, from earth to Heaven. Line 73. They that know your name will put their trust in you.— Psahn iz. 10. Line 77* The author of the E|)i8tle is allowed to be the younger James, and not the elder disciple here introduced.
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