The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

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Cahto mi. PARADISE. 379

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Blind Avarice that does witch your common weal Has made je like the child who drives away Its nurse, and pining, dies of hunger. Still Such prefect will possess the Papal swav Who openly and with his frauds unjust 'Will walk not with him on his noble way, But for short period in his holy trust Will God allow him, hence will he be thrown Where Simon Magus has his meed, and thrust The prelate of Alagna lower down." Line 142. Pope Clement Y., who transferred the Holy See to Avig^non, and died in 1314, when he would relieve the prelate of Ala^a, Pope Boniface YIII., from the outer place in the pit in which simonuusal Popes are punished. See " Hell," Canto XIX.

CANTO XXXI. While Dante is rapt in the glorious vision of this triumph of the Blest, Beatrice returns to her tiirone in Paradise. Saint Bernard takes his place by Dante, and exhorts him to dwell on all the glories before him, that he may be prepared for the supreme reward of at last beholding the Deity. These then in fashion of a pure white Eose Displayed itself the holy Host of Heaven, Whom Christ in His dear blood had made His spouse. But the Angel Host on wing, by them perceiven, His glory sings, who filled their hearts with love '^ And goodness, who to them so much had given. So like a swarm of bees that now does move Over the flowers, now does again return There, where their labour does its sweetness prove, O'er the vast flower it settled now, adorn ^^ With leaves so many, and thence upwards flew There where its love does ever make its bourn. Of living flame were all their faces' hue, Their wings of gold, and all the rest so white, Driven snow so stainless never met the view. ^* When on the flower they dropt, from site to site They shed abroad the peace and ardent power Which they acquired in their transcendent flight. Nor did their passing 'twixt the height and flower In all the hovering of their swarming state ^ Hinder the vision and the splendour shower.

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380 PARADISE. Casio XXXL Because tlie light Diyine does penetrate Throughout the universe, as it is fain, So that its passage nothing can rebate. This safely harboured and rejoicing reign ^ Frequented by the new race and antique, Vision and love shared all throughout their train. tnnal light that in a star unique Shines on their vision with such perfect sway Ga.ze down in pity on our stormy peak ! If the barbarians from the Arctic Sea (O'er which there daily smiles Helice's smile, With her loved child careering round for aye). Beholding Eome and all its mighty pile, Were stupefied, what time in grand design The Lateran surpassed all mortal style ; 1 who from human unto the Divine From time unto eternity had come, And out of Florence to a race benign. With what surprise must I have been o'ercome ! Certes, 'twixt it and joy, I found it sweet Listeoing to nought to stand in rapture dumb. And like a pilgrim who does gazing greet With holy joy the temple of his vow, And hopes its description to repeat, So wandering o'er the light of living glow My eyes glanced onwards over every grade, Now circling round, now upwards, now below. Faces I saw that charity persuade. Adorned with God's own light and their own bliss, And acts with eveiy comeliness arrayed. The form in general of Paradise Already had my gaze all comprehended. Whilst on no special part were fixed my eyes, And with new-kindled ardour I intended ** To ask my lady of some mystery On which my mind was eagerly suspended : On one I thought, another answered me : An old man garbed like all that glorious race I saw when Beatrix I thought to see. ** There was diffused o'er his eyes and face Benignant gladness, piti^l his air, Such as a tender father well might grace. Line 26. The saints of the new and old dispensations. Line 32. Callisto and her son Areas, changed into the constellationB of Ursa Major and Bootes. — Ovid Metam., book ii.