Divine Comedy: Paradise | Page 7

it comes to pass, if one food sates,?And for another still remains the longing,?We ask for this, and that decline with thanks,
E'en thus did I; with gesture and with word,?To learn from her what was the web wherein?She did not ply the shuttle to the end.
"A perfect life and merit high in-heaven?A lady o'er us," said she, "by whose rule?Down in your world they vest and veil themselves,
That until death they may both watch and sleep?Beside that Spouse who every vow accepts?Which charity conformeth to his pleasure.
To follow her, in girlhood from the world?I fled, and in her habit shut myself,?And pledged me to the pathway of her sect.
Then men accustomed unto evil more?Than unto good, from the sweet cloister tore me;?God knows what afterward my life became.
This other splendour, which to thee reveals?Itself on my right side, and is enkindled?With all the illumination of our sphere,
What of myself I say applies to her;?A nun was she, and likewise from her head?Was ta'en the shadow of the sacred wimple.
But when she too was to the world returned?Against her wishes and against good usage,?Of the heart's veil she never was divested.
Of great Costanza this is the effulgence,?Who from the second wind of Suabia?Brought forth the third and latest puissance."
Thus unto me she spake, and then began?"Ave Maria" singing, and in singing?Vanished, as through deep water something heavy.
My sight, that followed her as long a time?As it was possible, when it had lost her?Turned round unto the mark of more desire,
And wholly unto Beatrice reverted;?But she such lightnings flashed into mine eyes,?That at the first my sight endured it not;
And this in questioning more backward made me.
Paradiso: Canto IV
Between two viands, equally removed?And tempting, a free man would die of hunger?Ere either he could bring unto his teeth.
So would a lamb between the ravenings?Of two fierce wolves stand fearing both alike;?And so would stand a dog between two does.
Hence, if I held my peace, myself I blame not,?Impelled in equal measure by my doubts,?Since it must be so, nor do I commend.
I held my peace; but my desire was painted?Upon my face, and questioning with that?More fervent far than by articulate speech.
Beatrice did as Daniel had done?Relieving Nebuchadnezzar from the wrath?Which rendered him unjustly merciless,
And said: "Well see I how attracteth thee?One and the other wish, so that thy care?Binds itself so that forth it does not breathe.
Thou arguest, if good will be permanent,?The violence of others, for what reason?Doth it decrease the measure of my merit?
Again for doubting furnish thee occasion?Souls seeming to return unto the stars,?According to the sentiment of Plato.
These are the questions which upon thy wish?Are thrusting equally; and therefore first?Will I treat that which hath the most of gall.
He of the Seraphim most absorbed in God,?Moses, and Samuel, and whichever John?Thou mayst select, I say, and even Mary,
Have not in any other heaven their seats,?Than have those spirits that just appeared to thee,?Nor of existence more or fewer years;
But all make beautiful the primal circle,?And have sweet life in different degrees,?By feeling more or less the eternal breath.
They showed themselves here, not because allotted?This sphere has been to them, but to give sign?Of the celestial which is least exalted.
To speak thus is adapted to your mind,?Since only through the sense it apprehendeth?What then it worthy makes of intellect.
On this account the Scripture condescends?Unto your faculties, and feet and hands?To God attributes, and means something else;
And Holy Church under an aspect human?Gabriel and Michael represent to you,?And him who made Tobias whole again.
That which Timaeus argues of the soul?Doth not resemble that which here is seen,?Because it seems that as he speaks he thinks.
He says the soul unto its star returns,?Believing it to have been severed thence?Whenever nature gave it as a form.
Perhaps his doctrine is of other guise?Than the words sound, and possibly may be?With meaning that is not to be derided.
If he doth mean that to these wheels return?The honour of their influence and the blame,?Perhaps his bow doth hit upon some truth.
This principle ill understood once warped?The whole world nearly, till it went astray?Invoking Jove and Mercury and Mars.
The other doubt which doth disquiet thee?Less venom has, for its malevolence?Could never lead thee otherwhere from me.
That as unjust our justice should appear?In eyes of mortals, is an argument?Of faith, and not of sin heretical.
But still, that your perception may be able?To thoroughly penetrate this verity,?As thou desirest, I will satisfy thee.
If it be violence when he who suffers?Co-operates not with him who uses force,?These souls were not on that account excused;
For will is never quenched unless it will,?But operates as nature doth in fire?If violence a thousand times distort it.
Hence, if it yieldeth more or less, it seconds?The force; and these have done so, having power?Of turning back unto the holy place.
If their will had