Dut of this river issued living sparks,

And on all sides sank down into the flowers,
Like unto rubies that are set in gold;
And then, as if inebriate with the odors,

They plunged again into the wondrous torrent, And as one entered issued forth another.

65

"The high desire, that now inflames and moves thee To have intelligence of what thou seest, Pleaseth me all the more, the more

But of this water it behoves thee drink

it swells.

Before so great a thirst in thee be slaked." Thus said to me the sunshine of mine eyes; And added: "The river and the topazes

71

75

Going in and out, and the laughing of the herbage, Are of their truth foreshadowing prefaces ; Not that these things are difficult in themselves, But the deficiency is on thy side,

For yet thou hast not vision so exalted."
There is no babe that leaps so suddenly

With face towards the milk, if he awake
Much later than his usual custom is,

As I did, that I might make better mirrors

Still of mine eyes, down stooping to the wave Which flows that we therein be better made. And even as the penthouse of mine eyelids

Drank of it, it forthwith appeared to me Out of its length to be transformed to round. Then as a folk who have been under masks

80

85

90

Seem other than before, if they divest The semblance not their own they disappeared in, Thus into greater pomp were changed for me

The flowerets and the sparks, so that I saw Both of the Courts of Heaven made manifest.

95

O splendor of God! by means of which I saw
The lofty triumph of the realm veracious,
Give me the power to say how it I saw !
There is a light above, which visible

Makes the Creator unto every creature,
Who only in beholding Him has peace,
And it expands itself in circular form

To such extent, that its circumference Would be too large a girdle for the sun. The semblance of it is all made of rays

Reflected from the top of Primal Motion, Which takes therefrom vitality and power. And as a hill in water at its base

Mirrors itself, as if to see its beauty

When affluent most in verdure and in flowers, So, ranged aloft all round about the light,

Mirrored I saw in more ranks than a thousand All who above there have from us returned.

And if the lowest row collect within it

So great a light, how vast the amplitude
Is of this Rose in its extremest leaves !

My vision in the vastness and the height

Lost not itself, but comprehended all
The quantity and quality of that gladness.
There near and far nor add nor take
away;

For there where God immediately doth govern,
The natural law in naught is relevant.

Into the yellow of the Rose Eternal

100

105

110

115

120

That spreads, and multiplies, and breathes an odor Of praise unto the ever-vernal Sun,

As one who silent is and fain would speak,

Me Beatrice drew on, and said: “Behold

Of the white stoles how vast the convent is!

120

Behold how vast the circuit of our city!
Behold our seats so filled to overflowing,

130

That here henceforward are few people wanting! On that great throne whereon thine eyes are fixed For the crown's sake already placed upon it, Before thou suppest at this wedding feast Shall sit the soul (that is to be Augustus

On earth) of noble Henry, who shall come To redress Italy ere she be ready. Blind covetousness, that casts its spell upon you, Has made you like unto the little child,

Who dies of hunger and drives off the nurse.
And in the sacred forum then shall be

A Prefect such, that openly or covert
On the same road he will not walk with him.
But long of God he will not be endured

In holy office; he shall be thrust down
Where Simon Magus is for his deserts,
And make him of Alagna lower go!"

135

140

145

CANTO XXXI.

5

In fashion then as of a snow-white rose
Displayed itself to me the saintly host,
Whom Christ in his own blood had made his bride,
But the other host, that flying sees and sings
The glory of Him who doth enamor it,
And the goodness that created it so noble,
Even as a swarm of bees, that sinks in flowers
One moment, and the next returns again
To where its labor is to sweetness turned,
Sank into the great flower, that is adorned

16

With leaves so many, and thence reascended

To where its love abideth evermore.

Their faces had they all of living flame,

And wings of gold, and all the rest so white
No snow unto that limit doth attain.

From bench to bench, into the flower descending,

They carried something of the peace and ardor Which by the fanning of their flanks they won. Nor did the interposing 'twixt the flower

And what was o'er it of such plenitude

20

Of flying shapes impede the sight and splendor; Because the light divine so penetrates

The universe, according to its merit, That naught can be an obstacle against it. This realm secure and full of gladsomeness, Crowded with ancient people and with modern, Unto one mark had all its look and love. O Trinal Light, that in a single star

Sparkling upon their sight so satisfies them, Look down upon our tempest here below! If the barbarians, coming from some region That every day by Helice is covered, Revolving with her son whom she delights in, Beholding Rome and all her noble works, Were wonder-struck, what time the Lateran Above all mortal things was eminent, I who to the divine had from the human, From time unto eternity, had come, From Florence to a people just and sane, With what amazement must I have been filled! Truly between this and the joy, it was My pleasure not to hear, and to be mute. And as a pilgrim who delighteth him In gazing round the temple of his vow,

25

30

35

And hopes some day to retell how it was,
So through the living light my way pursuing
Directed I mine eyes o'er all the ranks,
Now up, now down, and now all round about.
Faces I saw of charity persuasive

45

Embellished by His light and their own smile, 50 And attitudes adorned with every grace. The general form of Paradise already My glance had comprehended as a whole, In no part hitherto remaining fixed, And round I turned me with rekindled wish My Lady to interrogate of things Concerning which my mind was in suspense. One thing I meant, another answered me;

55

I thought I should see Beatrice, and saw An Old Man habited like the glorious people. 60 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

65

70

75