But your own life immediately inspires Supreme Beneficence, and enamours it So with herself, it evermore desires her. And thou from this mayst argue furthermore Your resurrection, if thou think again How human flesh was fashioned at that time When the first parents both of them were made." 145 CANTO VIII. THE world used in its peril to believe The ancient nations in the ancient error, That wooes the sun, now following, now in front. I was not ware of our ascending to it; But of our being in it gave full faith My Lady whom I saw more beauteous grow. And as within a flame a spark is seen, And as within a voice a voice discerned, When one is steadfast, and one comes and goes, Within that light beheld I other lamps Move in a circle, speeding more and less, They would not laggard and impeded seem Seen come towards us, leaving the gyration We turn around with the celestial Princes, One gyre and one gyration and one thirst, Content and certain of herself had made them, O how and how much I beheld it grow With the new joy that superadded was Thus changed, it said to me: "The world possessed me My gladness keepeth me concealed from thee, Which rayeth round about me, and doth hide me Much didst thou love me, and thou hadst good reason; That left-hand margin, which doth bathe itself In Rhone, when it is mingled with the Sorgue, And that horn of Ausonia, which is towned Already flashed upon my brow the crown Of that dominion which the Danube waters And beautiful Trinacria, that is murky "Twixt Pachino and Peloro, (on the gulf Which greatest scath from Eurus doth receive,) Not through Typhoeus, but through nascent sulphur, Through me from Charles descended and from Rudolph, If evil lordship, that exasperates ever The subject populations, had not moved Palermo to the outcry of 'Death! death!' And if my brother could but this foresee, The greedy poverty of Catalonia Straight would he flee, that it might not molest him; For verily 'tis needful to provide, Through him or other, so that on his bark Already freighted no more freight be placed. His nature, which from liberal covetous Descended, such a soldiery would need As should not care for hoarding in a chest." "Because I do believe the lofty joy Thy speech infuses into me, my Lord, Is it to me; and this too hold I dear, Since speaking thou hast stirred me up to doubt, This I to him; and he to me: "If I Can show to thee a truth, to what thou askest Thy face thou'lt hold as thou dost hold thy back. The Good which all the realm thou art ascending Turns and contents, maketh its providence To be a power within these bodies vast; And not alone the natures are foreseen Within the mind that in itself is perfect, Falls foreordained unto an end foreseen, If that were not, the heaven which thou dost walk This cannot be, if the Intelligences That keep these stars in motion are not maimed, 110 And maimed the First that has not made them perfect. Wilt thou this truth have clearer made to thee?" No, if your master writeth well for you." Then he concluded: "Therefore it behoves 115 120 Hence one is Solon born, another Xerxes, Who, flying through the air, his son did lose. 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 Would always make like its progenitors, But that thou know that I with thee am please !, Evermore nature, if it fortune find Discordant to it, like each other seed Out of its region, maketh evil thrift; And if the world below would fix its mind On the foundation which is laid by nature, Pursuing that, 'twould have the people good. But you unto religion wrench aside 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." 133 140 138 140 145 CANTO IX. BEAUTIFUL Clemence, after that thy Charles And of that holy light the life already Had to the Sun which fills it turned again, Who from such good do turn away your hearts, 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 Cunizza was I called, and here I shine But gladly to myself the cause I pardon Of my allotment, and it does not grieve me ; Of this so luculent and precious jewel, Which would perhaps seem strong unto your vulgar. Which of our heaven is nearest unto me, Will change the water that Vicenza bathes, 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 Shall weep the crime, which shall so monstrous be Ample exceedingly would be the vat That of the Ferrarese could hold the blood, Of which this courteous priest shall make a gift |