Surpassed its other and its latest wont. And as, by feeling greater delectation, A man in doing good from day to day With heaven together had increased its arc, Of time, in a pale woman, when her face The sparkling of the love which was therein As in congratulation o'er their food, 60 65 70 Make squadrons of themselves, now round, now long, So from within those lights the holy creatures Sang flying to and fro, and in their figures O divine Pegasea, thou who genius 75 80 Dost glorious make, and render it long-lived, Illume me with thyself, that I may bring Their figures out as I have them conceived! 85 Themselves then they displayed in five times seven Vowels and consonants; and I observed The parts as they seemed spoken unto me. First verb and noun of all that was depicted; Remained they so arranged, that Jupiter 90 95 100 Upward there fly innumerable sparks, Whence fools are wont to look for auguries, More than a thousand lights seemed thence to rise, And to ascend, some more, and others less, Even as the Sun that lights them had allotted; 105 And, each one being quiet in its place, The head and neck beheld I of an eagle Delineated by that inlaid fire. He who there paints has none to be his guide; III But Himself guides; and is from Him remembered That virtue which is form unto the nest. The other beatitude, that contented seemed At first to bloom a lily on the M, By a slight motion followed out the imprint. O gentle star! what and how many gems Did demonstrate to me, that all our justice Effect is of that heaven which thou ingemmest! Wherefore I pray the Mind, in which begin Thy motion and thy virtue, to regard 115 Whence comes the smoke that vitiates thy rays; So that a second time it now be wroth 120 With buying and with selling in the temple O soldiery of heaven, whom I contemplate, Implore for those who are upon the earth All gone astray after the bad example! Once 't was the custom to make war with swords; But now 't is made by taking here and there The bread the pitying Father shuts from none. Yet thou, who writest but to cancel, think That Peter and that Paul, who for this vineyard Which thou art spoiling died, are still alive! Well canst thou say: "So steadfast my desire Is unto him who willed to live alone, And for a dance was led to martyrdom, That I know not the Fisherman nor Paul." 125 130 135 CANTO XIX APPEARED before me with its wings outspread Ray of the sun was burning so enkindled. Nor voice has e'er reported, nor ink written, ; Such, that the evil-minded people there Commend it, but continue not the story." So doth a single heat from many embers Make itself felt, even as from many loves Issued a single sound from out that image. Whence I thereafter: "O perpetual flowers Of the eternal joy, that only one Make me perceive your odors manifold, Which a long season has in hunger held me, 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 Well do I know, that if in heaven its mirror To listen; and you know what is the doubt Even as a falcon, issuing from his hood, Doth move his head, and with his wings applaud him, Showing desire, and making himself fine, Saw I become that standard, which of lauds With such songs as he knows who there rejoices. Then it began: "He who a compass turned On the world's outer verge, and who within it Could not the impress of his power so make And this makes certain that the first proud being, And hence appears it, that each minor nature In Which has no end, and by itself is measured. consequence our vision, which perforce Must be some ray of that intelligence With which all things whatever are replete, That it shall not its origin discern 30 30 35 40 45 50 55 |