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To sow it in the world； and how he pleases
Who in humility keeps close to it。
Each striveth for appearance； and doth make
His own inventions； and these treated are
By preachers； and the Evangel holds its peace。
One sayeth that the moon did backward turn；
In the Passion of Christ； and interpose herself
So that the sunlight reached not down below；
And lies； for of its own accord the light
Hid itself； whence to Spaniards and to Indians；
As to the Jews； did such eclipse respond。
Florence has not so many Lapi and Bindi
As fables such as these； that every year
Are shouted from the pulpit back and forth；
In such wise that the lambs； who do not know；
Come back from pasture fed upon the wind；
And not to see the harm doth not excuse them。
Christ did not to his first disciples say；
'Go forth； and to the world preach idle tales；'
But unto them a true foundation gave；
And this so loudly sounded from their lips；
That； in the warfare to enkindle Faith；
They made of the Evangel shields and lances。
Now men go forth with jests and drolleries
To preach； and if but well the people laugh；
The hood puffs out； and nothing more is asked。
But in the cowl there nestles such a bird；
That； if the common people were to see it；
They would perceive what pardons they confide in；
For which so great on earth has grown the folly；
That； without proof of any testimony；
To each indulgence they would flock together。
By this Saint Anthony his pig doth fatten；
And many others； who are worse than pigs；
Paying in money without mark of coinage。
But since we have digressed abundantly；
Turn back thine eyes forthwith to the right path；
So that the way be shortened with the time。
This nature doth so multiply itself
In numbers； that there never yet was speech
Nor mortal fancy that can go so far。
And if thou notest that which is revealed
By Daniel； thou wilt see that in his thousands
Number determinate is kept concealed。
The primal light； that all irradiates it；
By modes as many is received therein；
As are the splendours wherewith it is mated。
Hence； inasmuch as on the act conceptive
The affection followeth； of love the sweetness
Therein diversely fervid is or tepid。
The height behold now and the amplitude
Of the eternal power； since it hath made
Itself so many mirrors； where 'tis broken；
One in itself remaining as before。〃
Paradiso： Canto XXX
Perchance six thousand miles remote from us
Is glowing the sixth hour； and now this world
Inclines its shadow almost to a level；
When the mid…heaven begins to make itself
So deep to us； that here and there a star
Ceases to shine so far down as this depth；
And as advances bright exceedingly
The handmaid of the sun； the heaven is closed
Light after light to the most beautiful；
Not otherwise the Triumph； which for ever
Plays round about the point that vanquished me；
Seeming enclosed by what itself encloses；
Little by little from my vision faded；
Whereat to turn mine eyes on Beatrice
My seeing nothing and my love constrained me。
If what has hitherto been said of her
Were all concluded in a single praise；
Scant would it be to serve the present turn。
Not only does the beauty I beheld
Transcend ourselves； but truly I believe
Its Maker only may enjoy it all。
Vanquished do I confess me by this passage
More than by problem of his theme was ever
O'ercome the comic or the tragic poet；
For as the sun the sight that trembles most；
Even so the memory of that sweet smile
My mind depriveth of its very self。
From the first day that I beheld her face
In this life； to the moment of this look；
The sequence of my song has ne'er been severed；
But now perforce this sequence must desist
From following her beauty with my verse；
As every artist at his uttermost。
Such as I leave her to a greater fame
Than any of my trumpet； which is bringing
Its arduous matter to a final close；
With voice and gesture of a perfect leader
She recommenced： 〃We from the greatest body
Have issued to the heaven that is pure light；
Light intellectual replete with love；
Love of true good replete with ecstasy；
Ecstasy that transcendeth every sweetness。
Here shalt thou see the one host and the other
Of Paradise； and one in the same aspects
Which at the final judgment thou shalt see。〃
Even as a sudden lightning that disperses
The visual spirits； so that it deprives
The eye of impress from the strongest objects；
Thus round about me flashed a living light；
And left me swathed around with such a veil
Of its effulgence； that I nothing saw。
〃Ever the Love which quieteth this heaven
Welcomes into itself with such salute；
To make the candle ready for its flame。〃
No sooner had within me these brief words
An entrance found； than I perceived myself
To be uplifted over my own power；
And I with vision new rekindled me；
Such that no light whatever is so pure
But that mine eyes were fortified against it。
And light I saw in fashion of a river
Fulvid with its effulgence； 'twixt two banks
Depicted with an admirable Spring。
Out of this river issued living sparks；
And on all sides sank down into the flowers；
Like unto rubies that are set in gold；
And then； as if inebriate with the odours；
They plunged again into the wondrous torrent；
And as one entered issued forth another。
〃The high desire； that now inflames and moves thee
To have intelligence of what thou seest；
Pleaseth me all the more； the more it swells。
But of this water it behoves thee drink
Before so great a thirst in thee be slaked。〃
Thus said to me the sunshine of mine eyes；
And added： 〃The river and the topazes
Going in and out； and the laughing of the herbage；
Are of their truth foreshadowing prefaces；
Not that these things are difficult in themselves；
But the deficiency is on thy side；
For yet thou hast not vision so exalted。〃
There is no babe that leaps so suddenly
With face towards the milk； if he awake
Much later than his usual custom is；
As I did； that I might make better mirrors
Still of mine eyes； down stooping to the wave
Which flows that we therein be better made。
And even as the penthouse of mine eyelids
Drank of it； it forthwith appeared to me
Out of its length to be transformed to round。
Then as a folk who have been under masks
Seem other than before； if they divest
The semblance not their own they disappeared in；
Thus into greater pomp were changed for me
The flowerets and the sparks； so that I saw
Both of the Courts of Heaven made manifest。
O splendour of God！ by means of which I saw
The lofty triumph of the realm veracious；
Give me the power to say how it I saw！
There is a light above； which visible
Makes the Creator unto every creature；
Who only in beholding Him has peace；
And it expands itself in circular form
To such extent； that its circumference
Would be too large a girdle for the sun。
The semblance of it is all made of rays
Reflected from the top of