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Thou wilt behold a marvellous agreement； Of more to greater； and of
less to smaller； In every heaven； with its Intelligence。〃
Even as remaineth splendid and serene The hemisphere of air； when
Boreas Is blowing from that cheek where he is mildest；
Because is purified and resolved the rack That erst disturbed it； till the
welkin laughs With all the beauties of its pageantry；
Thus did I likewise； after that my Lady Had me provided with her
clear response； And like a star in heaven the truth was seen。
And soon as to a stop her words had come； Not otherwise does iron
scintillate When molten； than those circles scintillated。
Their coruscation all the sparks repeated； And they so many were； their
number makes More millions than the doubling of the chess。
I heard them sing hosanna choir by choir To the fixed point which
holds them at the 'Ubi；' And ever will； where they have ever been。
And she； who saw the dubious meditations Within my mind； 〃The
primal circles；〃 said； 〃Have shown thee Seraphim and Cherubim。
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Thus rapidly they follow their own bonds； To be as like the point as
most they can； And can as far as they are high in vision。
Those other Loves； that round about them go； Thrones of the
countenance divine are called； Because they terminate the primal Triad。
And thou shouldst know that they all have delight As much as their
own vision penetrates The Truth； in which all intellect finds rest。
From this it may be seen how blessedness Is founded in the faculty
which sees； And not in that which loves； and follows next；
And of this seeing merit is the measure； Which is brought forth by
grace； and by good will； Thus on from grade to grade doth it proceed。
The second Triad； which is germinating In such wise in this
sempiternal spring； That no nocturnal Aries despoils；
Perpetually hosanna warbles forth With threefold melody； that sounds
in three Orders of joy； with which it is intrined。
The three Divine are in this hierarchy； First the Dominions； and the
Virtues next； And the third order is that of the Powers。
Then in the dances twain penultimate The Principalities and
Archangels wheel； The last is wholly of angelic sports。
These orders upward all of them are gazing； And downward so prevail；
that unto God They all attracted are and all attract。
And Dionysius with so great desire To contemplate these Orders set
himself； He named them and distinguished them as I do。
But Gregory afterwards dissented from him； Wherefore； as soon as he
unclosed his eyes Within this heaven； he at himself did smile。
And if so much of secret truth a mortal Proffered on earth； I would not
have thee marvel； For he who saw it here revealed it to him；
With much more of the truth about these circles。〃
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto XXIX
At what time both the children of Latona； Surmounted by the Ram
and by the Scales； Together make a zone of the horizon；
As long as from the time the zenith holds them In equipoise； till from
that girdle both Changing their hemisphere disturb the balance；
So long； her face depicted with a smile； Did Beatrice keep silence
while she gazed Fixedly at the point which had o'ercome me。
Then she began： 〃I say； and I ask not What thou dost wish to hear； for I
have seen it Where centres every When and every 'Ubi。'
Not to acquire some good unto himself； Which is impossible； but that
his splendour In its resplendency may say； 'Subsisto；'
In his eternity outside of time； Outside all other limits； as it pleased
him； Into new Loves the Eternal Love unfolded。
Nor as if torpid did he lie before； For neither after nor before
proceeded The going forth of God upon these waters。
Matter and Form unmingled and conjoined Came into being that had
no defect； E'en as three arrows from a three…stringed bow。
And as in glass； in amber； or in crystal A sunbeam flashes so； that from
its coming To its full being is no interval；
So from its Lord did the triform effect Ray forth into its being all
together； Without discrimination of beginning。
Order was con…created and constructed In substances； and summit of
the world Were those wherein the pure act was produced。
Pure potentiality held the lowest part； Midway bound potentiality with
act Such bond that it shall never be unbound。
Jerome has written unto you of angels Created a long lapse of
centuries Or ever yet the other world was made；
But written is this truth in many places By writers of the Holy Ghost；
and thou Shalt see it； if thou lookest well thereat。
And even reason seeth it somewhat； For it would not concede that for
so long Could be the motors without their perfection。
Now dost thou know both where and when these Loves Created were；
and how； so that extinct In thy desire already are three fires。
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Nor could one reach； in counting； unto twenty So swiftly； as a portion
of these angels Disturbed the subject of your elements。
The rest remained； and they began this art Which thou discernest； with
so great delight That never from their circling do they cease。
The occasion of the fall was the accursed Presumption of that One；
whom thou hast seen By all the burden of the world constrained。
Those whom thou here beholdest modest were To recognise
themselves as of that goodness Which made them apt for so much
understanding；
On which account their vision was exalted By the enlightening grace
and their own merit； So that they have a full and steadfast will。
I would not have thee doubt； but certain be； 'Tis meritorious to receive
this grace； According as the affection opens to it。
Now round about in this consistory Much mayst thou contemplate； if
these my words Be gathered up； without all further aid。
But since upon the earth； throughout your schools； They teach that
such is the angelic nature That it doth hear； and recollect； and will；
More will I sa