Within that Jovial torch did I behold The sparkling of the love which was therein As in congratulation o'er their food, Make squadrons of themselves, now round, now long, So from within those lights the holy creatures 75 80 Dost glorious make, and render it long-lived, And this through thee the cities and the kingdoms, Illume me with thyself, that I may bring 85 Their figures out as I have them conceived! Apparent be thy power in these brief verses! Themselves then they displayed in five times seven Vowels and consonants; and I observed The parts as they seemed spoken unto me. Diligite justitiam, these were First verb and noun of all that was depicted; Thereafter in the M of the fifth word 90 95 100 Upward there fly innumerable sparks, Whence fools are wont to look for auguries, The head and neck beheld I of an eagle He who there paints has none to be his guide; But Himself guides; and is from Him remem bered That virtue which is form unto the nest. The other beatitude, that contented seemed By a slight motion followed out the imprint. 110 115 Did demonstrate to me, that all our justice Effect is of that heaven which thou ingemmest! Wherefore I pray the Mind, in which begin Thy motion and thy virtue, to regard Whence comes the smoke that vitiates thy rays; So that a second time it now be wroth 120 With buying and with selling in the temple Whose walls were built with signs and martyr doms! O soldiery of heaven, whom I contemplate, 125 Yet thou, who writest but to cancel, think 130 That Peter and that Paul, who for this vineyard Which thou art spoiling died, are still alive! Well canst thou say: "So steadfast my desire Is unto him who willed to live alone, And for a dance was led to martyrdom, That I know not the Fisherman nor Paul.” 135 CANTO XIX. Appeared before me with its wings outspread Ray of the sun was burning so enkindled 5 For speak I saw, and likewise heard, the beak, 10 Such, that the evil-minded people there Make itself felt, even as from many loves Issued a single sound from out that image. Whence I thereafter: "O perpetual flowers Of the eternal joy, that only one Make me perceive your odors manifold, 15 20 Exhaling, break within me the great fast Well do I know, that if in heaven its mirror Justice Divine another realm doth make, To listen; and you know what is the doubt Even as a falcon, issuing from his hood, Doth move his head, and with his wings applaud him, Showing desire, and making himself fine, Saw I become that standard, which of lauds Was interwoven of the grace divine, 35 With such songs as he knows who there rejoices. Then it began: "He who a compass turned On the world's outer verge, and who within it Could not the impress of his power so make 40 45 And this makes certain that the first proud being, And hence appears it, that each minor nature Must be some ray of that intelligence 50 55 Far beyond that which is apparent to it. Therefore into the justice sempiternal The power of vision that your world receives, As eye into the ocean, penetrates; Which, though it see the bottom near the shore, Upon the deep perceives it not; and yet 'Tis there, but it is hidden by the depth. There is no light but comes from the serene That never is o'ercast, nay, it is darkness Or shadow of the flesh, or else its poison. Amply to thee is opened now the cavern 60 65 Which has concealed from thee the living justice Of which thou mad'st such frequent questioning. For saidst thou: Born a man is on the shore 70 Of Indus, and is none who there can speak Of Christ, nor who can read, nor who can write ; And all his inclinations and his actions Are good, so far as human reason sees, Without a sin in life or in discourse: He dieth unbaptized and without faith; Where is this justice that condemneth him? Where is his fault, if he do not believe?' Now who art thou, that on the bench wouldst sit In judgment at a thousand miles away, With the short vision of a single span? Truly to him who with me subtilizes, If so the Scripture were not over you, For doubting there were marvellous occasion. O animals terrene, O stolid minds, The primal will, that in itself is good, 75 80 85 Ne'er from itself, the Good Supreme, has moved. So much is just as is accordant with it; No good created draws it to itself, |