The eyes of Beatrice, that fastened were Thou blessed spirit," I said, " and give me proof 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; Cunizza was I called, and here I shine Because the splendour of this star o’ercame me. But gladly to myself the cause I pardon 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, Will change the water that Vicenza bathes, And where the Sile and Cagnano join One lordeth it, and goes with lofty head, Feltro moreover of her impious pastor 38 25 30 33 40 43 30 For catching whom e'en now the net is making. Shall weep the crime, which shall so monstrous be Ample exceedingly would be the vat $3 That of the Ferrarese could hold the blood, Of which this courteous priest shall make a gift Above us there are mirrors, Thrones you call them, Became a thing transplendent in my sight, As here a smile; but down below, the shade 66 Of his can possibly from thee be hidden; Glad, with the singing of those holy fires Wherefore does it not satisfy my longings? Indeed, I would not wait thy questioning Expands itself," forthwith its words began, 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 '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 harbour hot. Folco that people called me unto whom My name was known; and now with me this heaven 93 For more the daughter of Belus never burned, Not at the fault, which comes not back to mind, Here we behold the art that doth adorn With such affection, and the good discover Thy wishes hence which in this sphere are born, Thou fain wouldst know who is within this light Rahab, and being to our order joined, Which he acquired with one palm and the other, Because she favoured the first glorious deed That little stirs the memory of the Pope. Thy city, which an offshoot is of him Who first upon his Maker turned his back, Brings forth and scatters the accursed flower 130 Which both the sheep and lambs hath led astray, For this the Evangel and the mighty Doctors Their meditations reach not Nazareth, Of Rome, which have a cemetery been Unto the soldiery that followed Peter, Shall soon be free from this adultery." CANTO X. LOOKING into his Son with all the Love Which each of them eternally breathes forth, Whate'er before the mind or eye revolves With so much order made, there can be none With me thy vision straight unto that part That Master's art, who in himself so loves it Much virtue in the heavens would be in vain, Were the departure, much would wanting be In thought pursuing that which is foretasted, If thou wouldst jocund be instead of weary. I've set before thee; henceforth feed thyself, For to itself diverteth all my care That theme whereof I have been made the scribe. The greatest of the ministers of nature, Who with the power of heaven the world imprints Conjoined, along the spirals was revolving, I was not conscious, saving as a man From good to better, and so suddenly Cannot so tell that it could be imagined; For altitude so great, it is no marvel, Such in this place was the fourth family Of the high Father, who forever sates it, To worship, nor to give itself to God 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 splendour of her laughing eyes Make us a centre and themselves a circle, Thus girt about the daughter of Latona We sometimes see, when pregnant is the air, Are many jewels found, so fair and precious And of them was the singing of those lights. Who takes not wings that he may fly up thither, As soon as singing thus those burning suns Had round about us whirled themselves three times, Ladies they seemed, not from the dance released, Till they have gathered the new melody. And within one I heard beginning: "When The radiance of grace, by which is kindled 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 Except as water which descends not seaward. Fain wouldst thou know with what plants is enflowered The Lady fair who makes thee strong for heaven. 80 25 |