CANTO XXV IF e'er it happen that the Poem Sacred, To which both heaven and earth have set their hand, So that it many a year hath made me lean, O'ercome the cruelty that bars me out From the fair sheepfold, where a lamb I slumbered, An enemy to the wolves that war upon it, With other voice forthwith, with other fleece Poet will I return, and at my font Baptismal will I take the laurel crown; Because into the Faith that maketh known All souls to God there entered I, and then Peter for her sake thus my brow encircled. Thereafterward towards us moved a light Out of that band whence issued the first-fruits Which of his vicars Christ behind him left, And then my Lady, full of ecstasy, Said unto me: "Look, look! behold the Baron For whom below Galicia is frequented." In the same way as, when a dove alights Near his companion, both of them pour forth, Circling about and murmuring, their affection, So one beheld I by the other grand Prince glorified to be with welcome greeted, Lauding the food that there above is eaten. But when their gratulations were complete, Silently coram me each one stood still, IO 15 20 25 So incandescent it o'ercame my sight. Thou knowest as oft thou dost personify it As Jesus to the three gave greater clearness.” "Lift up thy head, and make thyself assured; For what comes hither from the mortal world 30 35 Which bent them down before with too great weight. "Since, through his grace, our Emperor wills that thou Shouldst find thee face to face, before thy death, In the most secret chamber, with his Counts, So that, the truth beholden of this court, 40 Hope, which below there rightfully enamors, Thereby thou strengthen in thyself and others, 45 Say what it is and how is flowering with it Thy mind, and say from whence it came to thee.” Thus did the second light again continue. And the Compassionate, who piloted The plumage of my wings in such high flight, Of greater hope possesses, as is written 50 55 Or ever yet his warfare be completed. The two remaining points, that not for knowledge Have been demanded, but that he report How much this virtue unto thee is pleasing, Ready and willing, where he is expert, Who was chief singer unto the chief captain. Sperent in te,' in the high Theody 60 70 He sayeth, those who know thy name;' and who Knoweth it not, if he my faith possess? Thou didst instil me, then, with his instilling In the Epistle, so that I am full, And upon others rain again your rain.” While I was speaking, in the living bosom 75 80 Of that combustion quivered an effulgence, Sudden and frequent, in the guise of lightning; Then breathed: "The love wherewith I am inflamed Towards the virtue still which followed me Unto the palm and issue of the field, Wills that I breathe to thee that thou delight In her; and grateful to me is thy telling Whatever things Hope promises to thee." And I "The ancient Scriptures and the new 85 The mark establish, and this shows it me, Of all the souls whom God hath made his friends. Isaiah saith, that each one garmented In his own land shall be with twofold garments, There where he treateth of the robes of white, And first, and near the ending of these words, To which responsive answered all the carols. Thereafterward a light among them brightened, So that, if Cancer one such crystal had, Winter would have a month of one sole day. And as uprises, goes, and enters the dance A winsome maiden, only to do honor To the new bride, and not from any failing, And fixed on them my Lady kept her look, "This is the one who lay upon the breast Of our To the great office from the cross elected." 91 95 100 105 115 120 So I became before that latest fire, While it was said, "Why dost thou daze thyself To see a thing which here hath no existence? Earth in the earth my body is, and shall be With all the others there, until our number With the two garments in the blessed cloister Grew quiet, with the dulcet intermingling The oars that erst were in the water beaten When I turned round to look on Beatrice, 125 130 135 |