按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
And as a little child； that towards its mother Stretches its arms； when it
the milk has taken； Through impulse kindled into outward flame；
Each of those gleams of whiteness upward reached So with its summit；
that the deep affection They had for Mary was revealed to me。
Thereafter they remained there in my sight； 'Regina coeli' singing with
such sweetness； That ne'er from me has the delight departed。
O； what exuberance is garnered up Within those richest coffers； which
had been Good husbandmen for sowing here below！
There they enjoy and live upon the treasure Which was acquired while
weeping in the exile Of Babylon； wherein the gold was left。
There triumpheth； beneath the exalted Son Of God and Mary； in his
victory； Both with the ancient council and the new；
He who doth keep the keys of such a glory。
78
… Page 79…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto XXIV
〃O company elect to the great supper Of the Lamb benedight； who
feedeth you So that for ever full is your desire；
If by the grace of God this man foretaste Something of that which
falleth from your table； Or ever death prescribe to him the time；
Direct your mind to his immense desire； And him somewhat bedew； ye
drinking are For ever at the fount whence comes his thought。〃
Thus Beatrice； and those souls beatified Transformed themselves to
spheres on steadfast poles； Flaming intensely in the guise of comets。
And as the wheels in works of horologes Revolve so that the first to
the beholder Motionless seems； and the last one to fly；
So in like manner did those carols； dancing In different measure； of
their affluence Give me the gauge； as they were swift or slow。
From that one which I noted of most beauty Beheld I issue forth a fire
so happy That none it left there of a greater brightness；
And around Beatrice three several times It whirled itself with so divine
a song； My fantasy repeats it not to me；
Therefore the pen skips； and I write it not； Since our imagination for
such folds； Much more our speech； is of a tint too glaring。
〃O holy sister mine； who us implorest With such devotion； by thine
ardent love Thou dost unbind me from that beautiful sphere！〃
Thereafter； having stopped； the blessed fire Unto my Lady did direct
its breath； Which spake in fashion as I here have said。
And she： 〃O light eterne of the great man To whom our Lord delivered
up the keys He carried down of this miraculous joy；
This one examine on points light and grave； As good beseemeth thee；
about the Faith By means of which thou on the sea didst walk。
If he love well； and hope well； and believe； From thee 'tis hid not； for
thou hast thy sight There where depicted everything is seen。
But since this kingdom has made citizens By means of the true Faith；
to glorify it 'Tis well he have the chance to speak thereof。〃
As baccalaureate arms himself； and speaks not Until the master doth
propose the question； To argue it； and not to terminate it；
79
… Page 80…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
So did I arm myself with every reason； While she was speaking； that I
might be ready For such a questioner and such profession。
〃Say； thou good Christian； manifest thyself； What is the Faith？〃
Whereat I raised my brow Unto that light wherefrom was this breathed
forth。
Then turned I round to Beatrice； and she Prompt signals made to me
that I should pour The water forth from my internal fountain。
〃May grace； that suffers me to make confession；〃 Began I； 〃to the
great centurion； Cause my conceptions all to be explicit！〃
And I continued： 〃As the truthful pen； Father； of thy dear brother wrote
of it； Who put with thee Rome into the good way；
Faith is the substance of the things we hope for； And evidence of those
that are not seen； And this appears to me its quiddity。〃
Then heard I： 〃Very rightly thou perceivest； If well thou understandest
why he placed it With substances and then with evidences。〃
And I thereafterward： 〃The things profound； That here vouchsafe to
me their apparition； Unto all eyes below are so concealed；
That they exist there only in belief； Upon the which is founded the
high hope； And hence it takes the nature of a substance。
And it behoveth us from this belief To reason without having other
sight； And hence it has the nature of evidence。〃
Then heard I： 〃If whatever is acquired Below by doctrine were thus
understood； No sophist's subtlety would there find place。〃
Thus was breathed forth from that enkindled love； Then added： 〃Very
well has been gone over Already of this coin the alloy and weight；
But tell me if thou hast it in thy purse？〃 And I： 〃Yes； both so shining
and so round That in its stamp there is no peradventure。〃
Thereafter issued from the light profound That there resplendent was：
〃This precious jewel； Upon the which is every virtue founded；
Whence hadst thou it？〃 And I： 〃The large outpouring Of Holy Spirit；
which has been diffused Upon the ancient parchments and the new；
A syllogism is； which proved it to me With such acuteness； that；
compared therewith； All demonstration seems to me obtuse。〃
And then I heard： 〃The ancient and the new Postulates； that to thee are
80
… Page 81…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
so conclusive； Why dost thou take them for the word divine？〃
And I： 〃The proofs； which show the truth to me； Are the works
subsequent； whereunto Nature Ne'er heated iron yet； nor anvil beat。〃
'Twas answered me： 〃Say； who assureth thee That those works ever
were？ the thing itself That must be proved； nought else to thee affirms it。〃
〃Were the world to Christianity converted；〃 I said； 〃withouten miracles；
this one Is such； the rest are not its hundredth part；
Because that poor and fasting thou didst enter Into the field to sow
there the good plant； Which was a vine and has become a thorn！〃
This being finished； the high； holy Court Resounded through the
spheres； 〃One God we praise！〃 In melody that there above is chanted。
And then that Baron； who from branch to branch； Examining； had thus
conducted me； Till the extremest leaves we were approaching；
Again began： 〃The