Thy city, which an offshoot is of him Who first upon his Maker turned his back, And whose ambition is so sorely wept, Brings forth and scatters the accursed flower 130 Which both the sheep and lambs hath led astray, Since it has turned the shepherd to a wolf. For this the Evangel and the mighty Doctors Are derelict, and only the Decretals So studied that it shows upon their margins. 135 On this are Pope and Cardinals intent; Their meditations reach not Nazareth, There where his pinions Gabriel unfolded; But Vatican and the other parts elect Of Rome, which have a cemetery been Unto the soldiery that followed Peter, Shall soon be free from the adulterer." 140 CANTO X. Looking into his Son with all the Love With so much order made, there can be none That Master's art, who in himself so loves it Line 6. Who this beholds without enjoying Him. 5 10 The oblique circle, which conveys the planets, Were the departure, much would wanting be 15 20 25 That theme whereof I have been made the scribe. The greatest of the ministers of nature, Who with the power of heaven the world im prints And measures with his light the time for us, With that part which above is called to mind. Conjoined, along the spirals was revolving, Where each time earlier he presents himself; And I was with him; but of the ascending I was not conscious, saving as a man From good to better, and so suddenly And what was in the sun, wherein I entered, I, though I call on genius, art, and practice, 30 35 40 45 And if our fantasies too lowly are For altitude so great, it is no marvel, Since o'er the sun was never eye could go. Such in this place was the fourth family Of the high Father, who forever sates it, Showing how he breathes forth and how begets. And Beatrice began: "Give thanks, give thanks Unto the Sun of Angels, who to this Sensible one has raised thee by his grace!" Never was heart of mortal so disposed To worship, nor to give itself to God With all its gratitude was it so ready, As at those words did I myself become; And all my love was so absorbed in Him, That in oblivion Beatrice was eclipsed. Nor this displeased her; but she smiled at it So that the splendor of her laughing eyes My single mind on many things divided. Lights many saw I, vivid and triumphant, Make us a centre and themselves a circle, More sweet in voice than luminous in aspect. Thus girt about the daughter of Latona 50 55 60 65 We sometimes see, when pregnant is the air, So that it holds the thread which makes her zone. Within the court of Heaven, whence I return, Are many jewels found, so fair and precious They cannot be transported from the realm; And of them was the singing of those lights. 70 Who takes not wings that he may fly up thither, The tidings thence may from the dumb await! 75 As soon as singing thus those burning suns Had round about us whirled themselves three times, 80 Like unto stars neighboring the steadfast poles, Ladies they seemed, not from the dance released, But who stop short, in silence listening Till they have gathered the new melody. And within one I heard beginning: "When The radiance of grace, by which is kindled True love, and which thereafter grows by loving, Within thee multiplied is so resplendent That it conducts thee upward by that stair, Where without reascending none descends, Who should deny the wine out of his vial Unto thy thirst, in liberty were not 85 Except as water which descends not seaward. 90 Fain wouldst thou know with what plants is enflowered This garland that encircles with delight The Lady fair who makes thee strong for heaven. Of the lambs was I of the holy flock Which Dominic conducteth by a road He who is nearest to me on the right My brother and master was; and he Albertus Is of Cologne, I Thomas of Aquinum. If thou of all the others wouldst be certain, Follow behind my speaking with thy sight Upward along the blessed garland turning. That next effulgence issues from the smile Of Gratian, who assisted both the courts That Peter was who, e'en as the poor widow, The fifth light, that among us is the fairest, 95 100 105 Breathes forth from such a love, that all the world Below is greedy to learn tidings of it. Within it is the lofty mind, where knowledge So deep was put, that, if the true be true, To see so much there never rose a second. Which in the flesh below looked most within The advocate of the Christian centuries, 110 115 Out of whose rhetoric Augustine was fur nished. Now if thou trainest thy mind's eye along From light to light pursuant of my praise, With thirst already of the eighth thou waitest. By seeing every good therein exults The sainted soul, which the fallacious world The light is of a spirit unto whom In his grave meditations death seemed slow. It is the light eternal of Sigier, Who, reading lectures in the Street of Straw, Did syllogize invidious verities." Then, as a horologe that calleth us 120 125 130 135 What time the Bride of God is rising up 140 |