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After the precious and pellucid crystals； With which begemmed the
sixth light I beheld； Silence imposed on the angelic bells；
I seemed to hear the murmuring of a river That clear descendeth down
from rock to rock； Showing the affluence of its mountain…top。
And as the sound upon the cithern's neck Taketh its form； and as upon
the vent Of rustic pipe the wind that enters it；
Even thus； relieved from the delay of waiting； That murmuring of the
eagle mounted up Along its neck； as if it had been hollow。
There it became a voice； and issued thence From out its beak； in such a
form of words As the heart waited for wherein I wrote them。
〃The part in me which sees and bears the sun In mortal eagles；〃 it
began to me； 〃Now fixedly must needs be looked upon；
For of the fires of which I make my figure； Those whence the eye doth
sparkle in my head Of all their orders the supremest are。
He who is shining in the midst as pupil Was once the singer of the
Holy Spirit； Who bore the ark from city unto city；
Now knoweth he the merit of his song； In so far as effect of his own
counsel； By the reward which is commensurate。
Of five； that make a circle for my brow； He that approacheth nearest to
my beak Did the poor widow for her son console；
Now knoweth he how dearly it doth cost Not following Christ； by the
experience Of this sweet life and of its opposite。
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He who comes next in the circumference Of which I speak； upon its
highest arc； Did death postpone by penitence sincere；
Now knoweth he that the eternal judgment Suffers no change； albeit
worthy prayer Maketh below to…morrow of to…day。
The next who follows； with the laws and me； Under the good intent
that bore bad fruit Became a Greek by ceding to the pastor；
Now knoweth he how all the ill deduced From his good action is not
harmful to him； Although the world thereby may be destroyed。
And he； whom in the downward arc thou seest； Guglielmo was； whom
the same land deplores That weepeth Charles and Frederick yet alive；
Now knoweth he how heaven enamoured is With a just king； and in
the outward show Of his effulgence he reveals it still。
Who would believe； down in the errant world； That e'er the Trojan
Ripheus in this round Could be the fifth one of the holy lights？
Now knoweth he enough of what the world Has not the power to see
of grace divine； Although his sight may not discern the bottom。〃
Like as a lark that in the air expatiates； First singing and then silent
with content Of the last sweetness that doth satisfy her；
Such seemed to me the image of the imprint Of the eternal pleasure；
by whose will Doth everything become the thing it is。
And notwithstanding to my doubt I was As glass is to the colour that
invests it； To wait the time in silence it endured not；
But forth from out my mouth； 〃What things are these？〃 Extorted with
the force of its own weight； Whereat I saw great joy of coruscation。
Thereafterward with eye still more enkindled The blessed standard
made to me reply； To keep me not in wonderment suspended：
〃I see that thou believest in these things Because I say them； but thou
seest not how； So that； although believed in； they are hidden。
Thou doest as he doth who a thing by name Well apprehendeth； but its
quiddity Cannot perceive； unless another show it。
'Regnum coelorum' suffereth violence From fervent love； and from
that living hope That overcometh the Divine volition；
Not in the guise that man o'ercometh man； But conquers it because it
will be conquered； And conquered conquers by benignity。
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The first life of the eyebrow and the fifth Cause thee astonishment；
because with them Thou seest the region of the angels painted。
They passed not from their bodies； as thou thinkest； Gentiles； but
Christians in the steadfast faith Of feet that were to suffer and had
suffered。
For one from Hell； where no one e'er turns back Unto good will；
returned unto his bones； And that of living hope was the reward；
Of living hope； that placed its efficacy In prayers to God made to
resuscitate him； So that 'twere possible to move his will。
The glorious soul concerning which I speak； Returning to the flesh；
where brief its stay； Believed in Him who had the power to aid it；
And； in believing； kindled to such fire Of genuine love； that at the
second death Worthy it was to come unto this joy。
The other one； through grace； that from so deep A fountain wells that
never hath the eye Of any creature reached its primal wave；
Set all his love below on righteousness； Wherefore from grace to grace
did God unclose His eye to our redemption yet to be；
Whence he believed therein； and suffered not From that day forth the
stench of paganism； And he reproved therefor the folk perverse。
Those Maidens three； whom at the right…hand wheel Thou didst behold；
were unto him for baptism More than a thousand years before baptizing。
O thou predestination； how remote Thy root is from the aspect of all
those Who the First Cause do not behold entire！
And you； O mortals！ hold yourselves restrained In judging； for
ourselves； who look on God； We do not know as yet all the elect；
And sweet to us is such a deprivation； Because our good in this good is
made perfect； That whatsoe'er God wills； we also will。〃
After this manner by that shape divine； To make clear in me my short…
sightedness； Was given to me a pleasant medicine；
And as good singer a good lutanist Accompanies with vibrations of the
chords； Whereby more pleasantness the song acquires；
So； while it spake； do I remember me That I beheld both of those
blessed lights； Even as the winking of the eyes concords；
Moving unto the words their little flames。
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Paradiso： Canto XXI
Already on my Lady's face mine eyes Again were fastened； and with
these my mind； And from all other purpose was withdrawn；
And she smiled not； but 〃If I were to smile；〃 She unto me began； 〃th