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Granted it； in the hand of him I speak of；
The glory of doing vengeance for its wrath。
Now here attend to what I answer thee；
Later it ran with Titus to do vengeance
Upon the vengeance of the ancient sin。
And when the tooth of Lombardy had bitten
The Holy Church； then underneath its wings
Did Charlemagne victorious succor her。
Now hast thou power to judge of such as those
Whom I accused above； and of their crimes；
Which are the cause of all your miseries。
To the public standard one the yellow lilies
Opposes； the other claims it for a party；
So that 'tis hard to see which sins the most。
Let； let the Ghibellines ply their handicraft
Beneath some other standard； for this ever
Ill follows he who it and justice parts。
And let not this new Charles e'er strike it down；
He and his Guelfs； but let him fear the talons
That from a nobler lion stripped the fell。
Already oftentimes the sons have wept
The father's crime； and let him not believe
That God will change His scutcheon for the lilies。
This little planet doth adorn itself
With the good spirits that have active been；
That fame and honour might come after them；
And whensoever the desires mount thither；
Thus deviating； must perforce the rays
Of the true love less vividly mount upward。
But in commensuration of our wages
With our desert is portion of our joy；
Because we see them neither less nor greater。
Herein doth living Justice sweeten so
Affection in us； that for evermore
It cannot warp to any iniquity。
Voices diverse make up sweet melodies；
So in this life of ours the seats diverse
Render sweet harmony among these spheres；
And in the compass of this present pearl
Shineth the sheen of Romeo； of whom
The grand and beauteous work was ill rewarded。
But the Provencals who against him wrought；
They have not laughed； and therefore ill goes he
Who makes his hurt of the good deeds of others。
Four daughters； and each one of them a queen；
Had Raymond Berenger； and this for him
Did Romeo； a poor man and a pilgrim；
And then malicious words incited him
To summon to a reckoning this just man；
Who rendered to him seven and five for ten。
Then he departed poor and stricken in years；
And if the world could know the heart he had；
In begging bit by bit his livelihood；
Though much it laud him； it would laud him more。〃
Paradiso： Canto VII
〃Osanna sanctus Deus Sabaoth；
Superillustrans claritate tua
Felices ignes horum malahoth！〃
In this wise； to his melody returning；
This substance； upon which a double light
Doubles itself； was seen by me to sing；
And to their dance this and the others moved；
And in the manner of swift…hurrying sparks
Veiled themselves from me with a sudden distance。
Doubting was I； and saying； 〃Tell her； tell her；〃
Within me； 〃tell her；〃 saying； 〃tell my Lady；〃
Who slakes my thirst with her sweet effluences；
And yet that reverence which doth lord it over
The whole of me only by B and ICE；
Bowed me again like unto one who drowses。
Short while did Beatrice endure me thus；
And she began； lighting me with a smile
Such as would make one happy in the fire：
〃According to infallible advisement；
After what manner a just vengeance justly
Could be avenged has put thee upon thinking；
But I will speedily thy mind unloose；
And do thou listen； for these words of mine
Of a great doctrine will a present make thee。
By not enduring on the power that wills
Curb for his good； that man who ne'er was born；
Damning himself damned all his progeny；
Whereby the human species down below
Lay sick for many centuries in great error；
Till to descend it pleased the Word of God
To where the nature； which from its own Maker
Estranged itself； he joined to him in person
By the sole act of his eternal love。
Now unto what is said direct thy sight；
This nature when united to its Maker；
Such as created； was sincere and good；
But by itself alone was banished forth
From Paradise； because it turned aside
Out of the way of truth and of its life。
Therefore the penalty the cross held out；
If measured by the nature thus assumed；
None ever yet with so great justice stung；
And none was ever of so great injustice；
Considering who the Person was that suffered；
Within whom such a nature was contracted。
From one act therefore issued things diverse；
To God and to the Jews one death was pleasing；
Earth trembled at it and the Heaven was opened。
It should no longer now seem difficult
To thee； when it is said that a just vengeance
By a just court was afterward avenged。
But now do I behold thy mind entangled
From thought to thought within a knot； from which
With great desire it waits to free itself。
Thou sayest； 'Well discern I what I hear；
But it is hidden from me why God willed
For our redemption only this one mode。'
Buried remaineth； brother； this decree
Unto the eyes of every one whose nature
Is in the flame of love not yet adult。
Verily； inasmuch as at this mark
One gazes long and little is discerned；
Wherefore this mode was worthiest will I say。
Goodness Divine； which from itself doth spurn
All envy； burning in itself so sparkles
That the eternal beauties it unfolds。
Whate'er from this immediately distils
Has afterwards no end； for ne'er removed
Is its impression when it sets its seal。
Whate'er from this immediately rains down
Is wholly free； because it is not subject
Unto the influences of novel things。
The more conformed thereto； the more it pleases；
For the blest ardour that irradiates all things
In that most like itself is most vivacious。
With all of these things has advantaged been
The human creature； and if one be wanting；
From his nobility he needs must fall。
'Tis sin alone which doth disfranchise him；
And render him unlike the Good Supreme；
So that he little with its light is blanched；
And to his dignity no more returns；
Unless he fill up where transgression empties
With righteous pains for criminal delights。
Your nature when it sinned so utterly
In its own seed； out of these dignities
Even as out of Paradise was driven；
Nor could itself recover； if thou notest
With nicest subtilty； by any way；
Except by passing one of these two fords：
Either that God through clemency alone
Had pardon granted； or that man himself
Had satisfaction for his folly made。
Fix now thine eye deep into the abyss
Of the eternal counsel； to my speech
As far as may be fastened steadfastly！
Man in his limitations had not power
To satisfy； not having power to sink
In his humility obeying then；
Far as he disobeying thought to rise；
And for this reason man has been from power
Of satisfying by himself excluded。
Therefore it God behoved in his own ways
Man to restore unto his perfect life；
I say in one； or else in both of them。
But since the action of the doer is
So much more grateful； as it more presents
The goodness of the heart from which it issues；
Goodness Divine； that doth impr