NOTES TO PARADISO. CANTO I. 1. Dante's theory of the universe is the old one, which made the earth a stationary central point, around which all the heavenly bodies revolved; a theory, that, according to Milton, Par. Lost, VIII. 15, astonished even Adam in Paradise : "When I behold this goodly frame, this world, Round this opacous earth, this punctual spot, The reply that Raphael makes to our general ancestor,' may be addressed to every reader of the Para diso : "Whether the sun, predominant in heaven, Rise on the earth, or earth rise on the sun; Thus, taking the earth as the central point, and speaking of the order of the Ten Heavens, Dante says, Convito, II. 4: "The first is that where the Moon is the second is that where Mercury is; the third is that where Venus is; the fourth is that where the Sun is; the fifth is that where Mars is; the sixth is that where Jupiter is; the seventh is that where Saturn is; the eighth is that of the Stars; the ninth is not visible, save by the motion mentioned above, and is called by many the Crystalline. that is, diaphanous, or wholly transparent. Beyond all these, indeed, the Catholics place the Empyrean Heaven; that is to say, the Heaven of flame, or luminous; and this they suppose to be immovable, from having within itself, in every part, that which its matter demands. And this is the cause why the Primum Mobile has a very swift motion; from the fervent longing which each part of that ninth heaven has to be conjoined with that Divinest Heaven, the Heaven of Rest, which is next to it, it revolves therein with so great desire, that its velocity is almost incomprehensible; and quiet and peaceful is the place of that supreme Deity, who alone doth perfectly see himself." Of the symbolism of these Heavens he says, Convito, II. 14: "As narrated above, the seven Heavens nearest to us are those of the Planets; and above these are two movable Heavens, and one motionless over all. To the first seven correspond the seven sciences of the Trivium and Quadrivium; that is, Grammar, Dialectics, Rhetoric, Arithmetic, Music, Geometry, and Astrology. To the eighth, that is, to the starry sphere, Natural Science, called Physics, corresponds, and the first science which is called Metaphysics; and to the ninth sphere corresponds Moral Science; and to the Heaven of Rest, the Divine Science, which is called Theology." The details of these correspondences X. 2. From Canto X. to Canto XXIII. will be given later in their appropriate 3. From Canto XXIII. to the end. places. These Ten Heavens are the heavens of the Paradiso; nine of them revolving about the earth as a central point, and the motionless Empyrean encircling and containing all. 2. Wisdom of Solomon, i. 7: "For the spirit of the Lord filleth the world"; and Ecclesiasticus, xlii. 16: "The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the Lord." 4. The Empyrean. Milton, Par. Lost, III. 57: "From the pure Empyrean where he sits High throned above all highth." 5. 2 Corinthians, xii. 2: "I knew a man in Christ about fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth ;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And In the first Heaven, or that of the Moon, are seen the spirits of those who, having taken monastic vows, were orced to violate them. In the second, or that of Mercury, the spirits of those whom desire of fame, incited to noble deeds. In the third, or that of Venus, the spirits of Lovers. In the fourth, or that of the Sun, the spirits of Theologians and Fathers of the Church. In the fifth, or that of Mars, the spirits of Crusaders and those who died for knew such a man, (whether in the the true Faith. In the sixth, or that body, or out of the body, I cannot tell; of Jupiter, the spirits of righteous Kings God knoweth :) how that he was caught and Rulers. In the seventh, or that of up into paradise, and heard unspeakable Saturn, the spirits of the Contemplative.words, which it is not lawful for a man In the eighth, or that of the Fixed Stars, the Triumph of Christ. In the ninth, or Primum Mobile, the Angelic Hier archies. In the tenth, or the Empyrean, is the Visible Presence of God. It must be observed, however, that the lower spheres, in which the spirits He of the Seraphim most absorbed in God, Nor of existence more or fewer years: This sphere has been to them, but to give sign The threefold main division of the Paradiso, indicated by a longer prelude, or by a natural pause in the action of the poem, is-1. From Canto I. to Canto to utter." 'Hence the 7. Convito, III. 2.: human soul, which is the noblest form of those created under heaven, receiveth more of the divine nature than any other. And inasmuch as its being depends upon God, and is preserved by him, it naturally desires and wishes to be united with God, in order to strengthen its being." "Each And this is And again, Convito, III. 6: thing chiefly desireth its own perfection, and in it quieteth every desire, and for it is each thing desired. the desire which always maketh each delight seem insufficient; for in this life is no delight so great that it can satisfy the thirst of the soul, so that the desire I speak of shall not remain in our thoughts." 13. Chaucer, House of Fame, IIL |