75
but Nature never can transmit this light in its full force—much like the artisan who knows his craft but has a trembling hand.
78
But if the Fervent Love moves the Clear Vision of the First Power and makes of that its seal, the thing it stamps is perfect in all ways.
81
And this is how the dust of earth was once made fit to form the perfect living being and how the Virgin came to be with child.
84
And so you see how right you are to think that human nature never has been since, nor ever will be such, as in those two.
87
Now, if I were to end my discourse here, you would be quick to ask: ‘Then, how can you say that the other was without an equal?’
90
To clearly understand what seems unclear, consider who he was and his request that time God said to him, ‘Ask what you will. ’
93
My words were meant to bring back to your mind the fact he was a king, and asked his Lord for wisdom to suffice a worthy king;
96
he did not ask to know so that he might count angels here, or know whether necesse with a conditioned premise yields necesse;
99
75. The “seal” is God’s Divine Plan.
76. Here “Nature” means the entire operation of the heavens.
nor si est dare primum motum esse, nor if without right angles, triangles in semicircles can be made to fit.
102
So, when I talked of unmatched wisdom then, royal prudence was the wisdom upon which I had my arrow of intention drawn.
105
If you recall the word I used, ‘arose, ’ it should be clear that only kings were meant, of which there are full many, but few good.
108
And if my words are taken in this sense, they will not contradict what you believe of our first father and of our High Bliss.
111
Let this be leaden weight upon your feet to make you move slow as a weary man both to the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ you do not see,
114
for he ranks low, indeed, among the fools, who rushes to affirm or to deny, no matter which, without distinguishing.
117
Opinions formed in haste will oftentimes lead in a wrong direction, and man’s pride then intervenes to bind his intellect.
120
Worse than useless it is to leave the shore to fish for truth unless you have the skill; you will return worse off than when you left.
123
Of this Parmenides offers clear proof and Bryson and Melissus and the rest who went their way but knew not where to go;
126
111. The “High Bliss” is Christ.
124. A Greek philosopher born at Elea in Italy (ca. 513 B.C.), Parmenides was the founder of the Eleatic school of philosophy, in which he was succeeded by Zeno.
125. Bryson, a Greek philosopher, is mentioned by Aristotle as having attempted to square the circle by using dishonest nongeometrical methods. Melissus, a philosopher of Samos, was a follower of Parmenides.
so did Sabellius and Arius and all those fools who were to Holy Scripture swordblades distorting images of truth.
129
Nor should one be too quick to trust his judgment; be not like him who walks his field and counts the ears of corn before the time is ripe,
132
for I have seen brier all winter long showing its tough and prickly stem, and then eventually produce a lovely rose,
135
and I have seen a ship sail straight and swift over the sea through all its course, and then, about to enter in the harbor, sink.
138
No Mr. or Miss Know-It-All should think, when they see one man steal and one give alms that they are seeing them through God’s own eyes,
141
for one may yet rise up, the other fall. ”
CANTO XIV
CONCHNTRIC RINGS OPEN this canto as well, this time with an image of water rippling in a round container, as Beatrice speaks from the center of the rings of lights. The Pilgrim has another question for these lights, and Beatrice expresses it for him: will the brilliant light of these souls remain with them after the resurrection of the body and, if so, how will their reacquired sight resist such splendor? The souls dance and sing with delight at being able to answer the Pilgrim’s question. Then from the inner circle Solomon reassures the Pilgrim that the light surrounding them will last eternally and always in proportion to the vision they have of God. And since they will be more perfect once they have their bodies back, their vision will be strong enough to support their great brilliance. Suddenly a third ring of bright lights begins to surround the other two concentric rings, but their intensity is too much for the eyes of the Pilgrim. Then, looking into Beatrice’s eyes, he finds himself rising, without realizing it, to the next sphere. Because of the red glow of this planet he knows that he is on Mars. Two enormous bands of light form, upon which for a brief moment flashes the image of Christ, and within the transparent arms of this cross specks of souls, like dust in shafts of light, move in all directions as a hymn is sung in praise of Christ. Never before, he says, has the Pilgrim been so overwhelmed by something as beautiful as this, and then he apologizes for making this remark since, he admits, he has yet to gaze into his lady’s eyes since arriving here!
The water in a round container moves center to rim rippling or rim to center, when struck first from within, then from without:
3
this image suddenly occurred to me the moment that the glorious, living light of Thomas had concluded its remarks
6
because of the resemblance that was born between his flow of words and Beatrice’s, she being moved to speak once he had spoken:
9
“This man, though he cannot express his need, and has not even thought the thought as yet, must dig the roots of yet another truth.
12
Explain to him about the radiance with which your substance blooms. Will it remain eternally, just as it shines forth now?
15
And if it does remain, explain to him how, once your sight has been restored, you can endure the brilliance of each other’s form. ”
18
As partners in a dance whirl in their reel, caught in a sudden surge of joy, will often quicken their steps and raise their voices high,
21
so at her eager and devout request the holy circles showed new happiness through their miraculous music and their dance.
24
Those who regret that we die here on earth to live above, have never known the freshening downpour of God’s eternal grace up here.
27
That One and Two and Three which never ends and ever reigns in Three and Two and One, uncircumscribed and circumscribing all,
30
three separate times was sung by all those spirits, and unbelievably melodious it sounded—Heaven’s consummate reward.
33
Then, from the brightest of the lights I heard come from the inner round a modest tone as was the angel’s voice that Mary heard:
36
“Long as the joyous feast of Paradise shall last, ” it said, “so long our burning love shall clothe us in this radiance you see.
39
Our brilliance is in ratio to our love, our ardor to our vision, and our vision to the degree of grace vouchsafed to us.
42
When our flesh, sanctified and glorious shall clothe our souls once more, our person then will be more pleasing since it is complete;
45
wherefore, the light, generously bestowed on us by the Supreme Good, is increased— the light of glory that shows Him to us.
48
It follows, then, that vision must increase, as must the ardor kindled by the vision, as must the radiance the ardor gives.
51
But as a coal burns white in its own fire whose inner glow outshin
es its outer flame so that its form is clearly visible,
54
so this effulgence that contains us now will be surpassed in brilliance by the flesh that for so long has lain beneath the ground;
57
34. This is the light of Solomon (see Paradise X, 109-114), author of the Canticle of Canticles, which celebrates the union of the human and the divine as well as the resurrection of the body.
nor will such light be difficult to bear, the organs of our bodies will be strengthened and ready for whatever gives us joy. ”
60
So quick and eager to cry out “Amen!” were both those choirs that it was very clear how much they yearned to have their bodies back—
63
not for themselves as much as for their mothers, their fathers, and for all those they held dear before they turned into eternal flame.
66
And suddenly! around us was a light growing as bright as all the light it circled, like an horizon brightening with the dawn.
69
Just as at twilight all across the heavens new things appear—the faint appearances of what we see or what we seem to see,
72
so I began to see, it seemed, new shapes of spirits forming there, making a ring around the other two circumferences.
75
Oh sparks of truth that are the Holy Spirit! How quick, how bright the brilliance of that light grew for my eyes, now overwhelmed by glory!
78
But Beatrice showed herself to me smiling so radiantly, it must be left among those sights the mind cannot retrace.
81
It gave me strength to raise my eyes again, and looking up I saw myself translated, alone with her, to more exalted bliss.
84
I was aware of having risen higher because I saw the star’s candescent smile glow redder than it ever had before.
87
Then in the language common to all men, with all my heart, I made an offering unto the Lord befitting His fresh grace.
90
Nor had the sacrifice within my breast ceased burning when I knew my prayer of thanks had been accepted, and propitiously,
93
for with such mighty sheen, such ruby glow, within twin rays, such splendor came to me, I cried: “O Helios, who adorns them so!”
96
Just as the Milky Way adorned with stars, some large, some small, gleams white between the Poles, baffling the wisest of astrologers,
99
so, constellated in the depths of Mars, these rays of light crossed in the holy sign which quadrants make when joining in a circle;
102
but here my memory defeats my art: I see that cross as it flames forth with Christ, yet cannot find the words that will describe it.
105
But who takes up his cross and follows Christ will pardon me for what I leave unsaid beholding Heaven’s whiteness glow with Christ.
108
From top to base, across from arm to arm bright lights were moving, sparkling brilliantly as they would meet and pass each other’s glow.
111
So, here on earth, along a shaft of light that sometimes streaks the shade that men devise by means of arts and crafts for their protection,
114
our eyes see particles of matter move straight or aslant, some swift, some floating slow— an ever-changing scene of shapes and patterns.
117
And as the viol and harp, their many strings
88-90. This is the unspoken language of the heart, expressing devotion and gratitude through silent prayer and thanksgiving.
tuned into harmony, will ring out sweetly even for the one who does not catch the tune,
120
so from the spread of lights along the cross there gathered in the air a melody that held me in a trance, though I could not
123
tell what the hymn was—only that it sang of highest praise: I heard “Arise” and “Conquer” as one who hears but does not understand.
126
This music raised my soul to heights of love: until that moment nothing had existed that ever bound my soul in such sweet chains—
129
but this, perhaps, may seem too rash a statement, forgetting, as it were, those lovely eyes, the source of bliss in which my gaze finds rest,
132
but since those vivid crowning beauties grow in strength the higher they ascend, and since I had not turned to look at them as yet,
135
one must excuse me for what I accuse myself of to excuse myself, and see the truth: that sacred joy is not excluded,
138
since it grows in perfection as we rise.
CANTO XV
AS THE SOULS of the cross conclude their hymn, the Pilgrim perceives what he imagines to be a star falling from the right arm of the cross down to its base without leaving the arms of the cross. Then this light glowing like fire behind alabaster addresses him in Latin. At first the Pilgrim has difficulty comprehending the soul’s words, but gradually the language descends to his level of understanding. The light says that he understands why the Pilgrim does not ask him who he is or why he appears so joyful to him, because he rightly believes that souls in Paradise know the thoughts of mortals through the mirror of God’s love, but he asks the Pilgrim to be bold and speak just the same, since his answer is already decreed. With the approval of Beatrice he asks the light its name. The soul replies that he is Dante’s great-great-grandfather Cacciaguida and that Dante’s great-grandfather is on the first terrace of the mountain of Purgatory. He exhorts Dante to pray for his greatgrandfather and then begins a description of the Florence of his day, his birth, his marriage to a woman of the Alighieri line, and his death during the crusade led by Conrad.
133. The “vivid crowning beauties” are Beatrice’s eyes, which increase in brilliance as she and the Pilgrim rise from one heaven to the next.
The magnanimity in which true love always resolves itself (as does that other, self-seeking love into iniquity)
3
silenced the notes of that sweet-sounding harp and hushed the music of those holy strings tuned tight or loose by Heaven’s hand itself.
6
How could such beings be deaf to righteous prayers, those beings who to encourage my desire to beg of them fell silent, all of them?
9
And right it is that he forever mourn who out of love for what does not endure loses that other love eternally.
12
As now and then through calm and cloudless skies a sudden streak of fire cuts the dark, catching the eye that watches listlessly,
15
as if a star were changing places there (except that from the place where it flared up no star is missing, and the blaze dies down),
18
so, from the right arm of the cross a star belonging to that brilliant constellation sped to the center, then, down to the foot,
21
and as it coursed along the radial lines, this gem contained within its setting seemed like fire behind an alabaster screen.
24
With like affection did Anchises’ shade rush forth, if we may trust our greatest Muse, when in Elysium he beheld his son.
27
“O sanguis meus, o superinfusa gratïa Deï, sicut tibi, cui bis unquam celi ianüa reclusa?”
30
So spoke that brilliance, and I stared at him. Then I turned round to see my lady’s face; I stood amazed between the two of them,
33
for such a smile was glowing in her eyes, it seemed that with my own I touched the depths of my beatitude, my paradise.
36
And then this light of joy to eye and ear began to add to his first words such things I could not grasp, his speech was so profound.
39
It did not hide its thought deliberately; there was no other choice: its argument soared far beyond the target of man’s min
d.
42
Then once the bow of his affection had released its love, allowing what he said to hit the mark of human intellect,
45
the first words that I comprehended were: “Blessed be Thou, Three Persons in One Being, Who showest such great favor to my seed!”
48
Then he went on: “A long-felt, welcome thirst born from perusal of that mighty book whose black and white will never altered be,
51
25-27. Anchises, the father of Aeneas, joyously greeted his son when Aeneas visited the Elysian Fields. (See Aeneid VI, 684-688.)
you have assuaged, my son, within this flame from which I speak to you, thanks be to her who gave you wings to make this lofty flight.
54
Since you believe your thought flows forth to me from Primal thought, as five and six from one, if understood, ray forth from unity,
57
therefore, you do not ask me who I am or why I show more joy in seeing you than any other in this joyful throng.
60
What you believe is right. We in this life, greatest or least alike, gaze in that Mirror where thoughts are thought before they are expressed.
63
Yet, that the Sacred Love in which I gaze eternally on God, and which creates sweet thirstiness in me, be best fulfilled,
66
let your own voice, confident, bold, and joyous, express your will, express your heart’s desire— my answer has already been decreed. ”
69
I turned to Beatrice who had heard my words before I spoke, and with her smile she gave strength to the wings of my desire.
72
Then I began: “Love and intelligence achieved their equipoise in each of you once you saw plain the First Equality,
75
because the sun that warmed and lighted you with heat and light is poised so perfectly that all comparisons fall short of it.
78
But utterance and feeling among mortals for reasons which are evident to you, have different feathers making up their wings.
81
54. As his guide, Beatrice in her role of Revelation gives Dante the ability to ascend.
55-57. Dante’s thoughts, as all things, are reflected in God; in the same way, numbers have their source in unity.