The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

CANTO XXIX. Beatrice satisfies the onriositv of Dante on certain^ points concerning the creation of Angels and the universe, and explains to him the truth as to the Angelic nature. She then vigorously blames the practice of modem preachers, who, forsaking the simplicity of the Gospel, teach as truths their owu idle inventions concerning Divine mysteries. When of Latona's offspring, either one 'Neath Aries' sign, and Libra's, in the skies Together of the horizon make their zone. Such time as each in equilibrium lies, Until exchanging hemispheres there dips '^ The sun's vast orb the while the moon does rise, So long a time with bright smile on her lips Was silent Beatrice, gazing on That point, which o'er my senses cast eclipse. Then she began : " I ask not, but make known What you would wish to hear, which I have seen There, where all place and time does meet alone.

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Line 1. So long as the sun and moon hang on the verge of the horizon opposite to each otiier, while one is setting and the other rising, for such a momentary duration Beatrice was silent.

372 PARADISE. Gijrro ZXIX. Not to increase its excellence, I ween That cannot be, but that its splendour might Shining in power, assert its life serene : ^* The eternal love, beyond Time's £nite sight, Or comprehension, in eternity, New loves created for its own delight. Nor did it lie in torpor previously ; For not in dates of after and before " Went forth God's spirit, brooding o'er this sea. Both form and substance, mixed as well as pure, Sprang into being, from all error free As arrows three from thrice-stringed bow made sure. And as on crystal, amber, glass, the ray ^ So shines in passing through, that in the beam When issuing forth no interval we see. So issuing from its sire, the threefold stream Launched into being, all together rayed Without distinction as to whence it came. '^ Together with the substances was made This order, of pure intellect the Eace, Over the world their sovranty arrayed. Pure power, or chaos held the lowest place ; Betwixt them, power with intellect was whirled ^ In such firm bond, that nought can e'er imlaoe. St. Jerome in his pages has unfurled That through long ages Angels were created. Ere the creation of another world. But this my truth in many texts is stated ^ By writers, through the Holy Spirit taught. Which you will see if carefully collated : And even reason this has somewhat caught, Since one cannot conceive those powers I trow Short of perfection could so long be wrought. ** Now you do know the where, the when, the how, These Angels were created, so that three Are satisfied of your heart-longings now. Line 22. Form applies to pure intelligence, the highest order of created beings, substance to power or matter, the lowest, and between them intelligence mixed with power, forming the three arrows simnltaneoosly shot from the tluree-stringed bow. As explained more fully in lines 28 to 37* this describes the simultaneous creation of the Ang^, Chaos, and tb^ Celestial Spheres composed of matter and Angelic nature mixed. Line 37. St. Jerome had advanced the contrary opinion that Angels were created loDg anterior to the universe, which was controverted by St. Thomtf Aouinas, whose views are adopted by Dante. Line 45. It was impossible to conceive that the Angels could have be6B created before the Celestial Spheres, of which they were the motors^ as thBj would iiieu have existed without object, and consequent perfectaon.

Casto ZXIX. paradise. 873 You could not twenty count so rapidly, As of the Angel throng there fell a part, '^ Troubling your elemental mystery. The rest remained, and then began this art Which you discernest, with such deep delight That never from this circling they depart. The reason of the fall was his despite ** And pride accurst whom you beheldest bound *Neath the world's weight, within the lowest pit. Those whom you seest here were lowly found To know they all things to his goodness owe, Who them with aptness for such knowledge crowned. ^ Therefore their vision was exalted so With their own merit, and illuming grace, That will complete, which cannot fall, they know. And doubt not, but as certainty embrace, That to receive Q-od's grace is meritorious, •* According as the affection gives it place. Henceforth around their hierarchies glorious Gaze at your will, if you my words do store You need'st no other aid to be victorious. But since according to the schoolmen's lore, ^® They read on earth, the Angelic nature made To understand, remember, will, yet more I'll tell you, that the truth all naked laid You mayst behold, confounded all below Equivocating in such studied braid. ^* Since first those substances delight did know Before the face of Q-od, they never turned From it, where nought was hid for evermo*. Therefore on novel objects never yearned Their vision, and they therefore never claim ^ The help of memory for thought returned. So that on earth do men, while waking dream. And some believe, some not, that truth they speak, Unto the last is greater sin and shame. Philosophy's straight path you do not take ** On earth : so much the mundane love of show And singularity you ever seek. And even this far less of blame does know In Heaven, than when the Holy Scriptures good Are overruled, and strained aside below. ^ Line 72. It is an error to attribute to Angels the gift of memory : as they always see all things in God's mirror, they can never require memory to call back an object that has past away. See line 81.