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And therefore who I am thou askest not； And why I seem more joyous
unto thee Than any other of this gladsome crowd。
Thou think'st the truth； because the small and great Of this existence
look into the mirror Wherein； before thou think'st； thy thought thou
showest。
But that the sacred love； in which I watch With sight perpetual； and
which makes me thirst With sweet desire； may better be fulfilled；
Now let thy voice secure and frank and glad Proclaim the wishes； the
desire proclaim； To which my answer is decreed already。〃
To Beatrice I turned me； and she heard Before I spake； and smiled to
me a sign； That made the wings of my desire increase；
Then in this wise began I： 〃Love and knowledge； When on you
dawned the first Equality； Of the same weight for each of you became；
For in the Sun； which lighted you and burned With heat and radiance；
they so equal are； That all similitudes are insufficient。
But among mortals will and argument； For reason that to you is
manifest； Diversely feathered in their pinions are。
Whence I； who mortal am； feel in myself This inequality； so give not
thanks； Save in my heart； for this paternal welcome。
Truly do I entreat thee； living topaz！ Set in this precious jewel as a
gem； That thou wilt satisfy me with thy name。〃
〃O leaf of mine； in whom I pleasure took E'en while awaiting； I was
thine own root！〃 Such a beginning he in answer made me。
Then said to me： 〃That one from whom is named Thy race； and who a
hundred years and more Has circled round the mount on the first cornice；
A son of mine and thy great…grandsire was； Well it behoves thee that
the long fatigue Thou shouldst for him make shorter with thy works。
Florence； within the ancient boundary From which she taketh still her
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tierce and nones； Abode in quiet； temperate and chaste。
No golden chain she had； nor coronal； Nor ladies shod with sandal
shoon； nor girdle That caught the eye more than the person did。
Not yet the daughter at her birth struck fear Into the father； for the time
and dower Did not o'errun this side or that the measure。
No houses had she void of families； Not yet had thither come
Sardanapalus To show what in a chamber can be done；
Not yet surpassed had Montemalo been By your Uccellatojo； which
surpassed Shall in its downfall be as in its rise。
Bellincion Berti saw I go begirt With leather and with bone； and from
the mirror His dame depart without a painted face；
And him of Nerli saw； and him of Vecchio； Contented with their
simple suits of buff And with the spindle and the flax their dames。
O fortunate women！ and each one was certain Of her own burial…place；
and none as yet For sake of France was in her bed deserted。
One o'er the cradle kept her studious watch； And in her lullaby the
language used That first delights the fathers and the mothers；
Another； drawing tresses from her distaff； Told o'er among her family
the tales Of Trojans and of Fesole and Rome。
As great a marvel then would have been held A Lapo Salterello； a
Cianghella； As Cincinnatus or Cornelia now。
To such a quiet； such a beautiful Life of the citizen； to such a safe
Community； and to so sweet an inn；
Did Mary give me； with loud cries invoked； And in your ancient
Baptistery at once Christian and Cacciaguida I became。
Moronto was my brother； and Eliseo； From Val di Pado came to me
my wife； And from that place thy surname was derived。
I followed afterward the Emperor Conrad； And he begirt me of his
chivalry； So much I pleased him with my noble deeds。
I followed in his train against that law's Iniquity； whose people doth
usurp Your just possession； through your Pastor's fault。
There by that execrable race was I Released from bonds of the
fallacious world； The love of which defileth many souls；
And came from martyrdom unto this peace。〃
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Paradiso： Canto XVI
O thou our poor nobility of blood； If thou dost make the people glory
in thee Down here where our affection languishes；
A marvellous thing it ne'er will be to me； For there where appetite is
not perverted； I say in Heaven； of thee I made a boast！
Truly thou art a cloak that quickly shortens； So that unless we piece
thee day by day Time goeth round about thee with his shears！
With 'You；' which Rome was first to tolerate； （Wherein her family less
perseveres；） Yet once again my words beginning made；
Whence Beatrice； who stood somewhat apart； Smiling； appeared like
unto her who coughed At the first failing writ of Guenever。
And I began： 〃You are my ancestor； You give to me all hardihood to
speak； You lift me so that I am more than I。
So many rivulets with gladness fill My mind； that of itself it makes a
joy Because it can endure this and not burst。
Then tell me； my beloved root ancestral； Who were your ancestors；
and what the years That in your boyhood chronicled themselves？
Tell me about the sheepfold of Saint John； How large it was； and who
the people were Within it worthy of the highest seats。〃
As at the blowing of the winds a coal Quickens to flame； so I beheld
that light Become resplendent at my blandishments。
And as unto mine eyes it grew more fair； With voice more sweet and
tender； but not in This modern dialect； it said to me：
〃From uttering of the 'Ave；' till the birth In which my mother； who is
now a saint； Of me was lightened who had been her burden；
Unto its Lion had this fire returned Five hundred fifty times and thirty
more； To reinflame itself beneath his paw。
My ancestors and I our birthplace had Where first is found the last
ward of the city By him who runneth in your annual game。
Suffice it of my elders to hear this； But who they were； and whence
they thither came； Silence is more considerate than speech。
All those who at that time were there between Mars and the Baptist； fit
for bearing arms； Were a fifth part of those who now are living；
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