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！
conducted me； Till the extremest leaves we were approaching；
Again began： 〃The Grace that dallying Plays with thine intellect thy
mouth has opened； Up to this point； as it should opened be；
So that I do approve what forth emerged； But now thou must express
what thou believest； And whence to thy belief it was presented。〃
〃O holy father； spirit who beholdest What thou believedst so that thou
o'ercamest； Towards the sepulchre； more youthful feet；〃
Began I； 〃thou dost wish me in this place The form to manifest of my
prompt belief； And likewise thou the cause thereof demandest。
And I respond： In one God I believe； Sole and eterne； who moveth all
the heavens With love and with desire； himself unmoved；
And of such faith not only have I proofs Physical and metaphysical；
but gives them Likewise the truth that from this place rains down
Through Moses； through the Prophets and the Psalms； Through the
Evangel； and through you； who wrote After the fiery Spirit sanctified you；
In Persons three eterne believe； and these One essence I believe； so
one and trine They bear conjunction both with 'sunt' and 'est。'
With the profound condition and divine Which now I touch upon； doth
stamp my mind Ofttimes the doctrine evangelical。
This the beginning is； this is the spark Which afterwards dilates to
vivid flame； And； like a star in heaven； is sparkling in me。〃
Even as a lord who hears what pleaseth him His servant straight
81
… Page 82…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
embraces； gratulating For the good news as soon as he is silent；
So； giving me its benediction； singing； Three times encircled me； when
I was silent； The apostolic light； at whose command
I spoken had； in speaking I so pleased him。
82
… Page 83…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto XXV
If e'er it happen that the Poem Sacred； To which both heaven and
earth have set their hand； So that it many a year hath made me lean；
O'ercome the cruelty that bars me out From the fair sheepfold； where a
lamb I slumbered； An enemy to the wolves that war upon it；
With other voice forthwith； with other fleece Poet will I return； and at
my font Baptismal will I take the laurel crown；
Because into the Faith that maketh known All souls to God there
entered I； and then Peter for her sake thus my brow encircled。
Thereafterward towards us moved a light Out of that band whence
issued the first…fruits Which of his vicars Christ behind him left；
And then my Lady； full of ecstasy； Said unto me： 〃Look； look！ behold
the Baron For whom below Galicia is frequented。〃
In the same way as； when a dove alights Near his companion； both of
them pour forth； Circling about and murmuring； their affection；
So one beheld I by the other grand Prince glorified to be with welcome
greeted； Lauding the food that there above is eaten。
But when their gratulations were complete； Silently 'coram me' each
one stood still； So incandescent it o'ercame my sight。
Smiling thereafterwards； said Beatrice： 〃Illustrious life； by whom the
benefactions Of our Basilica have been described；
Make Hope resound within this altitude； Thou knowest as oft thou dost
personify it As Jesus to the three gave greater clearness。〃
〃Lift up thy head； and make thyself assured； For what comes hither
from the mortal world Must needs be ripened in our radiance。〃
This comfort came to me from the second fire； Wherefore mine eyes I
lifted to the hills； Which bent them down before with too great weight。
〃Since； through his grace； our Emperor wills that thou Shouldst find
thee face to face； before thy death； In the most secret chamber； with his
Counts；
So that； the truth beholden of this court； Hope； which below there
rightfully enamours； Thereby thou strengthen in thyself and others；
Say what it is； and how is flowering with it Thy mind； and say from
83
… Page 84…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
whence it came to thee。〃 Thus did the second light again continue。
And the Compassionate； who piloted The plumage of my wings in
such high flight； Did in reply anticipate me thus：
〃No child whatever the Church Militant Of greater hope possesses； as
is written In that Sun which irradiates all our band；
Therefore it is conceded him from Egypt To come into Jerusalem to
see； Or ever yet his warfare be completed。
The two remaining points； that not for knowledge Have been
demanded； but that he report How much this virtue unto thee is pleasing；
To him I leave； for hard he will not find them； Nor of self…praise； and
let him answer them； And may the grace of God in this assist him！〃
As a disciple； who his teacher follows； Ready and willing； where he is
expert； That his proficiency may be displayed；
〃Hope；〃 said I； 〃is the certain expectation Of future glory； which is the
effect Of grace divine and merit precedent。
From many stars this light comes unto me； But he instilled it first into
my heart Who was chief singer unto the chief captain。
'Sperent in te；' in the high Theody He sayeth； 'those who know thy
name；' and who Knoweth it not； if he my faith possess？
Thou didst instil me； then； with his instilling In the Epistle； so that I
am full； And upon others rain again your rain。〃
While I was speaking； in the living bosom Of that combustion
quivered an effulgence； Sudden and frequent； in the guise of lightning；
Then breathed： 〃The love wherewith I am inflamed Towards the virtue
still which followed me Unto the palm and issue of the field；
Wills that I breathe to thee that thou delight In her； and grateful to me
is thy telling Whatever things Hope promises to thee。〃
And I： 〃The ancient Scriptures and the new The mark establish； and
this shows it me； Of all the souls whom God hath made his friends。
Isaiah saith； that each one garmented In his own land shall be with
twofold garments； And his own land is this delightful life。
Thy brother； too； far more explicitly； There where he treateth of the
robes of white； This revelation manifests to us。〃
And first； and near the ending of these words； 〃Sperent in te〃 from