"Yes," I replied; "and here I ask no reason." "And can they be so, if below they live not Diversely unto offices diverse? No, if your master writeth well for you." Another Melchisedec, and another he To mortal wax, doth practise well her art, But not one inn distinguish from another; Thence happens it that Esau differeth In seed from Jacob; and Quirinus comes From sire so vile that he is given to Mars. A generated nature its own way 120 125 130 135 Would always make like its progenitors, Discordant to it, like each other seed Him who was born to gird him with the sword, And make a king of him who is for sermons; Therefore your footsteps wander from the road." 140 145 CANTO IX. 5 Beautiful Clemence, after that thy Charles Who from such good do turn away your hearts, 66 To my desire assurance gave to me. 10 15 Ah, bring swift compensation to my wish, Thou blessed spirit," I said, " and give me proof That what I think in thee I can reflect!" Whereat the light, that still was new to me, Out of its depths, whence it before was singing, As one delighted to do good, continued: "Within that region of the land depraved Of Italy, that lies between Rialto And fountain-heads of Brenta and of Piava, Rises a hill, and mounts not very high, Wherefrom descended formerly a torch That made upon that region great assault. Out of one root were born both I and it; 21 25 Cunizza was I called, and here I shine Because the splendor of this star o'ercame me. But gladly to myself the cause I pardon 35 Of my allotment, and it does not grieve me; Which would perhaps seem strong unto your vulgar. Of this so luculent and precious jewel, Which of our heaven is nearest unto me, Great fame remained; and ere it die away This hundredth year shall yet quintupled be. See if man ought to make him excellent, So that another life the first may leave! And thus thinks not the present multitude Shut in by Adige and Tagliamento, Nor yet for being scourged is penitent. But soon 't will be that Padua in the marsh Will change the water that Vicenza bathes, Because the folk are stubborn against duty; And where the Sile and Cagnano join One lordeth it, and goes with lofty head, For catching whom e'en now the net is making. Feltro moreover of her impious pastor 40 45 50 Shall weep the crime, which shall so monstrous be That for the like none ever entered Malta. Ample exceedingly would be the vat 55 That of the Ferrarese could hold the blood, And weary who should weigh it ounce by ounce, Of which this courteous priest shall make a gift To show himself a partisan; and such gifts Will to the living of the land conform. Above us there are mirrors, Thrones you call them, From which shines out on us God Judicant, 60 So that this utterance seems good to us." Became a thing transplendent in my sight, 65 70 As here a smile; but down below, the shade Outwardly darkens, as the mind is sad. "God seeth all things, and in Him, blest spirit, Thy sight is," said I, "so that never will Of his can possibly from thee be hidden; Thy voice, then, that forever makes the heavens Glad, with the singing of those holy fires Which of their six wings make themselves a cowl, 75 80 Wherefore does it not satisfy my longings? Indeed, I would not wait thy questioning If I in thee were as thou art in me." "The greatest of the valleys where the water Expands itself," forthwith its words began, "That sea excepted which the earth engarlands, Between discordant shores against the sun Extends so far, that it meridian makes Where it was wont before to make the horizon. I was a dweller on that valley's shore 85 90 "Twixt Ebro and Magra that with journey short Doth from the Tuscan part the Genoese. With the same sunset and same sunrise nearly Sit Buggia and the city whence I was, That with its blood once made the harbor hot. Folco that people called me unto whom My name was known; and now with me this heaven Imprints itself, as I did once with it; For more the daughter of Belus never burned, Yet here is no repenting, but we smile, Not at the fault, which comes not back to mind, But at the power which ordered and foresaw. 105 Here we behold the art that doth adorn With such affection, and the good discover Whereby the world above turns that below. But that thou wholly satisfied mayst bear 111 115 Thy wishes hence which in this sphere are born, Still farther to proceed behoveth me. Thou fain wouldst know who is within this light That here beside me thus is scintillating, Even as a sunbeam in the limpid water. Then know thou, that within there is at rest Rahab, and being to our order joined, With her in its supremest grade 't is sealed. Into this heaven, where ends the shadowy cone Cast by your world, before all other souls First of Christ's Triumph was she taken up. 120 Full meet it was to leave her in some heaven, Even as a palm of the high victory Which he acquired with one palm and the other, Because she favored the first glorious deed Of Joshua upon the Holy Land, That little stirs the memory of the Pope. 125 |