An Old Man habited like the glorious people. O'erflowing was he in his eyes and cheeks With joy benign, in attitude of pity As to a tender father is becoming. Of the first rank, again shalt thou behold her And saw her, as she made herself a crown Not from that region which the highest thunders In whatsoever sea it deepest sinks, As there from Beatrice my sight; but this Was nothing unto me; because her image As coming from thy power and from thy goodness I recognize the virtue and the grace. Thou from a slave hast brought me unto freedom, 85 By all those ways, by all the expedients, Whereby thou hadst the power of doing it. Preserve towards me thy magnificence, So that this soul of mine, which thou hast healed, Pleasing to thee be loosened from the body." Thus I implored; and she, so far away, 90 Smiled, as it seemed, and looked once more at me; And said the Old Man holy: "That thou mayst Whereunto prayer and holy love have sent me, Cometh to gaze at our Veronica, Who through its ancient fame is never sated, But says in thought, the while it is displayed, My Lord, Christ Jesus, God of very God, Now was your semblance made like unto this?" Even such was I while gazing at the living Charity of the man, who in this world. By contemplation tasted of that peace. "Thou son of grace, this jocund life," began he, "Will not be known to thee by keeping ever Thine eyes below here on the lowest place; But mark the circles to the most remote, Until thou shalt behold enthroned the Queen To whom this realm is subject and devoted." I lifted up mine eyes, and as at morn The oriental part of the horizon Surpasses that wherein the sun goes down, To mount, I saw a part in the remoteness 95 105 115 120 And even as there, where we await the pole Gleamed brightest in the centre, and each side As in imagining, I should not dare Fixed and intent upon its fervid fervor, 125 130 135 140 CANTO XXXII ABSORBED in his delight, that contemplator She is the one who opened it and pierced it. Above the same, succeed the Hebrew women, In Christ hath taken, these are the partition With each one of its petals, seated are Those who believed in Christ who was to come. Upon the other side, where intersected With vacant spaces are the semicircles, Line 20. In Christ has taken, these are the partition 5 10 15 20 25 Are those who looked to Christ already come. Of the Lady of Heaven, and the other seats Who, ever holy, desert and martyrdom Francis, and Benedict, and Augustine, And down to us the rest from round to round. Behold now the high providence divine; For one and other aspect of the Faith 30 35 In equal measure shall this garden fill. And know that downward from that rank which cleaves Midway the sequence of the two divisions, For these are spirits one and all assoiled Well canst thou recognize it in their faces, If thou regard them well and hearken to them. Within the amplitude of this domain No casual point can possibly find place, No more than sadness can, or thirst, or hunger; For by eternal law has been established Whatever thou beholdest, so that closely The ring is fitted to the finger here. 40 45 50 55 |