An Old Man habited like the glorious people。
O'erflowing was he in his eyes and cheeks
With joy benign； in attitude of pity
As to a tender father is becoming。
And 〃She； where is she？〃 instantly I said；
Whence he： 〃To put an end to thy desire；
Me Beatrice hath sent from mine own place。
And if thou lookest up to the third round
Of the first rank； again shalt thou behold her
Upon the throne her merits have assigned her。〃
Without reply I lifted up mine eyes；
And saw her； as she made herself a crown
Reflecting from herself the eternal rays。
Not from that region which the highest thunders
Is any mortal eye so far removed；
In whatsoever sea it deepest sinks；
As there from Beatrice my sight； but this
Was nothing unto me； because her image
Descended not to me by medium blurred。
〃O Lady； thou in whom my hope is strong；
And who for my salvation didst endure
In Hell to leave the imprint of thy feet；
Of whatsoever things I have beheld；
As coming from thy power and from thy goodness
I recognise the virtue and the grace。
Thou from a slave hast brought me unto freedom；
By all those ways； by all the expedients；
Whereby thou hadst the power of doing it。
Preserve towards me thy magnificence；
So that this soul of mine； which thou hast healed；
Pleasing to thee be loosened from the body。〃
Thus I implored； and she； so far away；
Smiled； as it seemed； and looked once more at me；
Then unto the eternal fountain turned。
And said the Old Man holy： 〃That thou mayst
Accomplish perfectly thy journeying；
Whereunto prayer and holy love have sent me；
Fly with thine eyes all round about this garden；
For seeing it will discipline thy sight
Farther to mount along the ray divine。
And she； the Queen of Heaven； for whom I burn
Wholly with love； will grant us every grace；
Because that I her faithful Bernard am。〃
As he who peradventure from Croatia
Cometh to gaze at our Veronica；
Who through its ancient fame is never sated；
But says in thought； the while it is displayed；
〃My Lord； Christ Jesus； God of very God；
Now was your semblance made like unto this？〃
Even such was I while gazing at the living
Charity of the man； who in this world
By contemplation tasted of that peace。
〃Thou son of grace； this jocund life；〃 began he；
〃Will not be known to thee by keeping ever
Thine eyes below here on the lowest place；
But mark the circles to the most remote；
Until thou shalt behold enthroned the Queen
To whom this realm is subject and devoted。〃
I lifted up mine eyes； and as at morn
The oriental part of the horizon
Surpasses that wherein the sun goes down；
Thus； as if going with mine eyes from vale
To mount； I saw a part in the remoteness
Surpass in splendour all the other front。
And even as there where we await the pole
That Phaeton drove badly； blazes more
The light； and is on either side diminished；
So likewise that pacific oriflamme
Gleamed brightest in the centre； and each side
In equal measure did the flame abate。
And at that centre； with their wings expanded；
More than a thousand jubilant Angels saw I；
Each differing in effulgence and in kind。
I saw there at their sports and at their songs
A beauty smiling； which the gladness was
Within the eyes of all the other saints；
And if I had in speaking as much wealth
As in imagining； I should not dare
To attempt the smallest part of its delight。
Bernard； as soon as he beheld mine eyes
Fixed and intent upon its fervid fervour；
His own with such affection turned to her
That it made mine more ardent to behold。
Paradiso： Canto XXXII
Absorbed in his delight； that contemplator
Assumed the willing office of a teacher；
And gave beginning to these holy words：
〃The wound that Mary closed up and anointed；
She at her feet who is so beautiful；
She is the one who opened it and pierced it。
Within that order which the third seats make
Is seated Rachel； lower than the other；
With Beatrice； in manner as thou seest。
Sarah； Rebecca； Judith； and her who was
Ancestress of the Singer； who for dole
Of the misdeed said； 'Miserere mei；'
Canst thou behold from seat to seat descending
Down in gradation； as with each one's name
I through the Rose go down from leaf to leaf。
And downward from the seventh row； even as
Above the same； succeed the Hebrew women；
Dividing all the tresses of the flower；
Because； according to the view which Faith
In Christ had taken； these are the partition
By which the sacred stairways are divided。
Upon this side； where perfect is the flower
With each one of its petals； seated are
Those who believed in Christ who was to come。
Upon the other side； where intersected
With vacant spaces are the semicircles；
Are those who looked to Christ already come。
And as； upon this side； the glorious seat
Of the Lady of Heaven； and the other seats
Below it； such a great division make；
So opposite doth that of the great John；
Who； ever holy； desert and martyrdom
Endured； and afterwards two years in Hell。
And under him thus to divide were chosen
Francis； and Benedict； and Augustine；
And down to us the rest from round to round。
Behold now the high providence divine；
For one and other aspect of the Faith
In equal measure shall this garden fill。
And know that downward from that rank which cleaves
Midway the sequence of the two divisions；
Not by their proper merit are they seated；
But by another's under fixed conditions；
For these are spirits one and all assoiled
Before they any true election had。
Well canst thou recognise it in their faces；
And also in their voices puerile；
If thou regard them well and hearken to them。
Now doubtest thou； and doubting thou art silent；
But I will loosen for thee the strong bond
In which thy subtile fancies hold thee fast。
Within the amplitude of this domain
No casual point can possibly find place；
No more than sadness can； or thirst； or hunger；
For by eternal law has been established
Whatever thou beholdest； so that closely
The ring is fitted to the finger here。
And therefore are these people； festinate
Unto true life； not 'sine causa' here
More and less excellent among themselves。
The King； by means of whom this realm reposes
In so great love and in so great delight
That no will ventureth to ask for more；
In his own joyous aspect every mind
Creating； at his pleasure dowers with grace
Diversely； and let here the effect suffice。
And this is clearly and expressly noted
For you in Holy Scripture； in those twins
Who in their mother had their anger roused。
According to the colour of the hair；
Therefore； with such a grace the light supreme
Consenteth that they worthily be crowned。
Without； then； any merit of their deeds；
Stationed are they in different gradations；
Differing only in their first acuteness。
'Tis true that in the early centuries；
With innocence； to work out their salvation
Sufficient was the faith of parents only。
After the earlier ages were completed；
Behoved it that the males by circumcision
Unto their innocent wings should virtue add；
But after that the time of grace had come
Without the baptism absolute of Christ；
Such innocence below there was retained。
Look now into the face that unto Christ
Hath most resemblance； for its brightness only
Is able to prepare thee to see Christ。〃
On her did I behold so great a gladness
Rain down； borne onward in the holy minds
Created through that altitude to fly；
That whatsoever I had seen before
Did not suspend me in such admiration；
Nor show me such similitude of God。
And the same Love that first descended there；
〃Ave Maria； gratia plena；〃 singing；
In front of her his wings expanded wide。
Unto the canticle divine responded
From every part the court beatified；
So that each sight became serener for it。
〃O holy father； who for me endurest
To be below here； leaving the sweet place
In which thou sittest by eternal lot；
Who is the Angel that with so much joy
Into the eyes is looking of our Queen；
Enamoured so that he seems made of fire？〃
Thus I again recourse had to the teaching
Of that one who delighted him in Mary
As doth the star of morning in the sun。
And he to me： 〃Such gallantry and grace
As there can be in Angel and in soul；
All is in him； and thus we fain would have it；
Because he is the one who bore the palm
Down unto Mary； when the Son of God
To take our burden on himself decreed。
But now come onward with thine eyes； as I
Speaking shall go； and note the great patricians
Of this most just and merciful of empires。
Those two that sit above there most enrapture
As being very near unto Augusta；
Are as it were the two roots of this Rose。
He who upon the left is near her placed
The father is； by whose audacious taste
The human species so much bitter tastes。
Upon the right thou seest that ancient father
Of Holy Church； into whose keeping Christ
The keys committed of this lo