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realm doth make； Yours apprehends it not through any veil。
You know how I attentively address me To listen； and you know what
is the doubt That is in me so very old a fast。〃
Even as a falcon； issuing from his hood； Doth move his head； and with
his wings applaud him； Showing desire； and making himself fine；
Saw I become that standard； which of lauds Was interwoven of the
grace divine； With such songs as he knows who there rejoices。
Then it began： 〃He who a compass turned On the world's outer verge；
and who within it Devised so much occult and manifest；
Could not the impress of his power so make On all the universe； as
that his Word Should not remain in infinite excess。
And this makes certain that the first proud being； Who was the
paragon of every creature； By not awaiting light fell immature。
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And hence appears it； that each minor nature Is scant receptacle unto
that good Which has no end； and by itself is measured。
In consequence our vision； which perforce Must be some ray of that
intelligence With which all things whatever are replete；
Cannot in its own nature be so potent； That it shall not its origin
discern Far beyond that which is apparent to it。
Therefore into the justice sempiternal The power of vision that your
world receives； As eye into the ocean； penetrates；
Which； though it see the bottom near the shore； Upon the deep
perceives it not； and yet 'Tis there； but it is hidden by the depth。
There is no light but comes from the serene That never is o'ercast； nay；
it is darkness Or shadow of the flesh； or else its poison。
Amply to thee is opened now the cavern Which has concealed from
thee the living justice Of which thou mad'st such frequent questioning。
For saidst thou： 'Born a man is on the shore Of Indus； and is none who
there can speak Of Christ； nor who can read； nor who can write；
And all his inclinations and his actions Are good； so far as human
reason sees； Without a sin in life or in discourse：
He dieth unbaptised and without faith； Where is this justice that
condemneth him？ Where is his fault； if he do not believe？'
Now who art thou； that on the bench wouldst sit In judgment at a
thousand miles away； With the short vision of a single span？
Truly to him who with me subtilizes； If so the Scripture were not over
you； For doubting there were marvellous occasion。
O animals terrene； O stolid minds； The primal will； that in itself is
good； Ne'er from itself； the Good Supreme； has moved。
So much is just as is accordant with it； No good created draws it to
itself； But it； by raying forth； occasions that。〃
Even as above her nest goes circling round The stork when she has fed
her little ones； And he who has been fed looks up at her；
So lifted I my brows； and even such Became the blessed image； which
its wings Was moving； by so many counsels urged。
Circling around it sang； and said： 〃As are My notes to thee； who dost
not comprehend them； Such is the eternal judgment to you mortals。〃
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Those lucent splendours of the Holy Spirit Grew quiet then； but still
within the standard That made the Romans reverend to the world。
It recommenced： 〃Unto this kingdom never Ascended one who had not
faith in Christ； Before or since he to the tree was nailed。
But look thou； many crying are； 'Christ； Christ！' Who at the judgment
shall be far less near To him than some shall be who knew not Christ。
Such Christians shall the Ethiop condemn； When the two companies
shall be divided； The one for ever rich； the other poor。
What to your kings may not the Persians say； When they that volume
opened shall behold In which are written down all their dispraises？
There shall be seen； among the deeds of Albert； That which ere long
shall set the pen in motion； For which the realm of Prague shall be
deserted。
There shall be seen the woe that on the Seine He brings by falsifying
of the coin； Who by the blow of a wild boar shall die。
There shall be seen the pride that causes thirst； Which makes the Scot
and Englishman so mad That they within their boundaries cannot rest；
Be seen the luxury and effeminate life Of him of Spain； and the
Bohemian； Who valour never knew and never wished；
Be seen the Cripple of Jerusalem； His goodness represented by an I；
While the reverse an M shall represent；
Be seen the avarice and poltroonery Of him who guards the Island of
the Fire； Wherein Anchises finished his long life；
And to declare how pitiful he is Shall be his record in contracted
letters Which shall make note of much in little space。
And shall appear to each one the foul deeds Of uncle and of brother
who a nation So famous have dishonoured； and two crowns。
And he of Portugal and he of Norway Shall there be known； and he of
Rascia too； Who saw in evil hour the coin of Venice。
O happy Hungary； if she let herself Be wronged no farther！ and
Navarre the happy； If with the hills that gird her she be armed！
And each one may believe that now； as hansel Thereof； do Nicosia and
Famagosta Lament and rage because of their own beast；
Who from the others' flank departeth not。〃
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Paradiso： Canto XX
When he who all the world illuminates Out of our hemisphere so far
descends That on all sides the daylight is consumed；
The heaven； that erst by him alone was kindled； Doth suddenly reveal
itself again By many lights； wherein is one resplendent。
And came into my mind this act of heaven； When the ensign of the
world and of its leaders Had silent in the blessed beak become；
Because those living luminaries all； By far more luminous； did songs
begin Lapsing and falling from my memory。
O gentle Love； that with a smile dost cloak thee； How ardent in those
sparks didst thou appear； That had the breath alone of holy thoughts！
After the precious and pellucid crystals； With which begemmed the
sixth light I beheld； Silence imposed on the angelic bells；