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And she smiled not； but 〃If I were to smile；〃 She unto me began； 〃thou
wouldst become Like Semele； when she was turned to ashes。
Because my beauty； that along the stairs Of the eternal palace more
enkindles； As thou hast seen； the farther we ascend；
If it were tempered not； is so resplendent That all thy mortal power in
its effulgence Would seem a leaflet that the thunder crushes。
We are uplifted to the seventh splendour； That underneath the burning
Lion's breast Now radiates downward mingled with his power。
Fix in direction of thine eyes the mind； And make of them a mirror for
the figure That in this mirror shall appear to thee。〃
He who could know what was the pasturage My sight had in that
blessed countenance； When I transferred me to another care；
Would recognize how grateful was to me Obedience unto my celestial
escort； By counterpoising one side with the other。 Within the crystal which；
around the world Revolving； bears the name of its dear leader； Under
whom every wickedness lay dead；
Coloured like gold； on which the sunshine gleams； A stairway I beheld
to such a height Uplifted； that mine eye pursued it not。
Likewise beheld I down the steps descending So many splendours； that
I thought each light That in the heaven appears was there diffused。
And as accordant with their natural custom The rooks together at the
break of day Bestir themselves to warm their feathers cold；
Then some of them fly off without return； Others come back to where
they started from； And others； wheeling round； still keep at home；
Such fashion it appeared to me was there Within the sparkling that
together came； As soon as on a certain step it struck；
And that which nearest unto us remained Became so clear； that in my
thought I said； 〃Well I perceive the love thou showest me；
But she； from whom I wait the how and when Of speech and silence；
standeth still； whence I Against desire do well if I ask not。〃
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She thereupon； who saw my silentness In the sight of Him who seeth
everything； Said unto me； 〃Let loose thy warm desire。〃
And I began： 〃No merit of my own Renders me worthy of response
from thee； But for her sake who granteth me the asking；
Thou blessed life that dost remain concealed In thy beatitude； make
known to me The cause which draweth thee so near my side；
And tell me why is silent in this wheel The dulcet symphony of
Paradise； That through the rest below sounds so devoutly。〃
〃Thou hast thy hearing mortal as thy sight；〃 It answer made to me；
〃they sing not here； For the same cause that Beatrice has not smiled。
Thus far adown the holy stairway's steps Have I descended but to give
thee welcome With words； and with the light that mantles me；
Nor did more love cause me to be more ready； For love as much and
more up there is burning； As doth the flaming manifest to thee。
But the high charity； that makes us servants Prompt to the counsel
which controls the world； Allotteth here； even as thou dost observe。〃
〃I see full well；〃 said I； 〃O sacred lamp！ How love unfettered in this
court sufficeth To follow the eternal Providence；
But this is what seems hard for me to see； Wherefore predestinate wast
thou alone Unto this office from among thy consorts。〃
No sooner had I come to the last word； Than of its middle made the
light a centre； Whirling itself about like a swift millstone。
When answer made the love that was therein： 〃On me directed is a
light divine； Piercing through this in which I am embosomed；
Of which the virtue with my sight conjoined Lifts me above myself so
far； I see The supreme essence from which this is drawn。
Hence comes the joyfulness with which I flame； For to my sight； as far
as it is clear； The clearness of the flame I equal make。
But that soul in the heaven which is most pure； That seraph which his
eye on God most fixes； Could this demand of thine not satisfy；
Because so deeply sinks in the abyss Of the eternal statute what thou
askest； From all created sight it is cut off。
And to the mortal world； when thou returnest； This carry back； that it
may not presume Longer tow'rd such a goal to move its feet。
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The mind； that shineth here； on earth doth smoke； From this observe
how can it do below That which it cannot though the heaven assume it？〃
Such limit did its words prescribe to me； The question I relinquished；
and restricted Myself to ask it humbly who it was。
〃Between two shores of Italy rise cliffs； And not far distant from thy
native place； So high； the thunders far below them sound；
And form a ridge that Catria is called； 'Neath which is consecrate a
hermitage Wont to be dedicate to worship only。〃
Thus unto me the third speech recommenced； And then； continuing； it
said： 〃Therein Unto God's service I became so steadfast；
That feeding only on the juice of olives Lightly I passed away the
heats and frosts； Contented in my thoughts contemplative。
That cloister used to render to these heavens Abundantly； and now is
empty grown； So that perforce it soon must be revealed。
I in that place was Peter Damiano； And Peter the Sinner was I in the
house Of Our Lady on the Adriatic shore。
Little of mortal life remained to me； When I was called and dragged
forth to the hat Which shifteth evermore from bad to worse。
Came Cephas； and the mighty Vessel came Of the Holy Spirit； meagre
and barefooted； Taking the food of any hostelry。
Now some one to support them on each side The modern shepherds
need； and some to lead them； So heavy are they； and to hold their trains。
They cover up their palfreys with their cloaks； So that two beasts go
underneath one skin； O Patience； that dost tolerate so much！〃
At this voice saw I many little flames From step to step descending
and revolving； And every revolution made them fairer。
Round about this one came they and stood still； And a cry uttered of so
loud a sound； It here could find no parallel； nor I
Distinguished it； the thunder so o'ercame me。
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto XXII
Oppressed with stupor； I unto my guide Turned like a little child