CANTO XXVIII AFTER the truth against the present life He sees who from behind is lighted by it, Tell him the truth, and sees that it accords In similar wise my memory recollecteth That I did, looking into those fair eyes, Of which Love made the springes to ensnare me. And as I turned me round, and mine were touched By that which is apparent in that volume, Whenever on its gyre we gaze intent, A point beheld I, that was raying out Light so acute, the sight which it enkindles Must close perforce before such great acuteness. And whatsoever star seems smallest here Would seem to be a moon, if placed beside it As one star with another star is placed. Perhaps at such a distance as appears A halo cincturing the light that paints it, So swiftly whirled, that it would have surpassed 5 IO 15 20 25 And this was by another circumcinct, That by a third, the third then by a fourth, By a fifth the fourth, and then by a sixth the fifth; The seventh followed thereupon in width So ample now, that Juno's messenger Entire would be too narrow to contain it. Even so the eighth and ninth; and every one More slowly moved, according as it was In number distant farther from the first. And that one had its flame most crystalline From which less distant was the stainless spark, I think because more with its truth imbued. My Lady, who in my anxiety 31 35 40 Beheld me much perplexed, said: "From that point Dependent is the heaven and nature all. Behold that circle most conjoined to it, And know thou, that its motion is so swift That evermore the circles are diviner In this miraculous and angelic temple, "If thine own fingers unto such a knot Be insufficient, it is no great wonder, 46 50 55 |