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Comedy |
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III - xiii |
Let him imagine, who would rightly seize what I saw now-and let him while I speak retain that image like a steadfast rock- | 3 | |
in heaven's different parts, those fifteen stars that quicken heaven with such radiance as to undo the air's opacities; | 6 | |
let him imagine, too, that Wain which stays within our heaven's bosom night and day, so that its turning never leaves our sight; | 9 | |
let him imagine those two stars that form the mouth of that Horn which begins atop the axle round which the first wheel revolves; | 12 | |
then see these join to form two signs in heaven- just like the constellation that was shaped by Minos'daughter when she felt death's chill- | 15 | |
two signs with corresponding radii, revolving so that one sign moves in one direction, and the other in a second; | 18 | |
and he will have a shadow-as it were- of the true constellation, the double dance that circled round the point where I was standing: | 21 | |
a shadow-since its truth exceeds our senses, just as the swiftest of all heavens is more swift than the Chiana's sluggishness. | 24 | |
They sang no Bacchus there, they sang no Paean, but sang three Persons in the divine nature, and in one Person the divine and human. | 27 | |
The singing and the dance fulfilled their measure; and then those holy lights gave heed to us, rejoicing as they turned from task to task. | 30 | |
The silence of the blessed fellowship was broken by the very light from which I heard the wondrous life of God's poor man; | 33 | |
that light said: "Since one stalk is threshed, and since its grain is in the granary already, sweet love leads me to thresh the other stalk. | 36 | |
You think that any light which human nature can rightfully possess was all infused by that Force which had shaped both of these two: | 39 | |
the one out of whose chest was drawn the rib from which was formed the lovely cheek whose palate was then to prove so costly to the world; | 42 | |
and One whose chest was transfixed by the lance, who satisfied all past and future sins, outweighing them upon the scales of justice. | 45 | |
Therefore you wondered at my words when I- before-said that no other ever vied with that great soul enclosed in the fifth light. | 48 | |
Now let your eyes hold fast to my reply, and you will see: truth centers both my speech and your belief, just like a circle's center. | 51 | |
Both that which never dies and that which dies are only the reflected light of that Idea which our Sire, with Love, begets; | 54 | |
because the living Light that pours out so from Its bright Source that It does not disjoin from It or from the Love intrined with them, | 57 | |
through Its own goodness gathers up Its rays within nine essences, as in a mirror, Itself eternally remaining One. | 60 | |
From there, from act to act, light then descends down to the last potentialities, where it is such that it engenders nothing | 63 | |
but brief contingent things, by which I mean the generated things the moving heavens bring into being, with or without seed. | 66 | |
The wax of such things and what shapes that wax are not immutable; and thus, beneath idea's stamp, light shines through more or less. | 69 | |
Thus it can be that, in the selfsame species, some trees bear better fruit and some bear worse, and men are born with different temperaments. | 72 | |
For were the wax appropriately readied, and were the heaven's power at its height, the brightness of the seal would show completely; | 75 | |
but Nature always works defectively- she passes on that light much like an artist who knows his craft but has a hand that trembles. | 78 | |
Yet where the ardent Love prepares and stamps the lucid Vision of the primal Power, a being then acquires complete perfection. | 81 | |
In that way, earth was once made worthy of the full perfection of a living being; thus was the Virgin made to be with child. | 84 | |
So that I do approve of the opinion you hold: that human nature never was nor shall be what it was in those two persons. | 87 | |
Now if I said no more beyond this point, your words might well begin, 'How is it, then, with your assertion of his matchless vision?' | 90 | |
But so that the obscure can be made plain, consider who he was, what was the cause of his request when he was told, 'Do ask.' | 93 | |
My words did not prevent your seeing clearly that it was as a king that he had asked for wisdom that would serve his royal task- | 96 | |
and not to know the number of the angels on high or, if combined with a contingent, necesse ever can produce necesse, | 99 | |
or si est dare primum motum esse, or if, within a semicircle, one can draw a triangle with no right angle. | 102 | |
Thus, if you note both what I said and say, by 'matchless vision' it is kingly prudence my arrow of intention means to strike; | 105 | |
and if you turn clear eyes to that word 'rose,' you'll see that it referred to kings alone- kings, who are many, and the good are rare. | 108 | |
Take what I said with this distinction then; in that way it accords with what you thought of the first father and of our Beloved. | 111 | |
And let this weigh as lead to slow your steps, to make you move as would a weary man to yes or no when you do not see clearly: | 114 | |
whether he would affirm or would deny, he who decides without distinguishing must be among the most obtuse of men; | 117 | |
opinion-hasty-often can incline to the wrong side, and then affection for one's own opinion binds, confines the mind. | 120 | |
Far worse than uselessly he leaves the shore (more full of error than he was before) who fishes for the truth but lacks the art. | 123 | |
Of this, Parmenides, Melissus, Bryson, are clear proofs to the world, and many others who went their way but knew not where it went; | 126 | |
so did Sabellius and Arius and other fools-like concave blades that mirror- who rendered crooked the straight face of Scriptures. | 129 | |
So, too, let men not be too confident in judging-witness those who, in the field, would count the ears before the corn is ripe; | 132 | |
for I have seen, all winter through, the brier display itself as stiff and obstinate, and later, on its summit, bear the rose; | 135 | |
and once I saw a ship sail straight and swift through all its voyaging across the sea, then perish at the end, at harbor entry. | 138 | |
Let not Dame Bertha or Master Martin think that they have shared God's Counsel when they see one rob and see another who donates: | 141 | |
the last may fall, the other may be saved." |
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