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perforce the rays Of the true love less vividly mount upward。
But in commensuration of our wages With our desert is portion of our
joy； Because we see them neither less nor greater。
Herein doth living Justice sweeten so Affection in us； that for
evermore It cannot warp to any iniquity。
Voices diverse make up sweet melodies； So in this life of ours the seats
diverse Render sweet harmony among these spheres；
And in the compass of this present pearl Shineth the sheen of Romeo；
of whom The grand and beauteous work was ill rewarded。
But the Provencals who against him wrought； They have not laughed；
and therefore ill goes he Who makes his hurt of the good deeds of others。
Four daughters； and each one of them a queen； Had Raymond
Berenger； and this for him Did Romeo； a poor man and a pilgrim；
And then malicious words incited him To summon to a reckoning this
just man； Who rendered to him seven and five for ten。
Then he departed poor and stricken in years； And if the world could
know the heart he had； In begging bit by bit his livelihood；
Though much it laud him； it would laud him more。〃
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto VII
〃Osanna sanctus Deus Sabaoth； Superillustrans claritate tua Felices
ignes horum malahoth！〃
In this wise； to his melody returning； This substance； upon which a
double light Doubles itself； was seen by me to sing；
And to their dance this and the others moved； And in the manner of
swift…hurrying sparks Veiled themselves from me with a sudden distance。
Doubting was I； and saying； 〃Tell her； tell her；〃 Within me； 〃tell her；〃
saying； 〃tell my Lady；〃 Who slakes my thirst with her sweet effluences；
And yet that reverence which doth lord it over The whole of me only
by B and ICE； Bowed me again like unto one who drowses。
Short while did Beatrice endure me thus； And she began； lighting me
with a smile Such as would make one happy in the fire：
〃According to infallible advisement； After what manner a just
vengeance justly Could be avenged has put thee upon thinking；
But I will speedily thy mind unloose； And do thou listen； for these
words of mine Of a great doctrine will a present make thee。
By not enduring on the power that wills Curb for his good； that man
who ne'er was born； Damning himself damned all his progeny；
Whereby the human species down below Lay sick for many centuries
in great error； Till to descend it pleased the Word of God
To where the nature； which from its own Maker Estranged itself； he
joined to him in person By the sole act of his eternal love。
Now unto what is said direct thy sight； This nature when united to its
Maker； Such as created； was sincere and good；
But by itself alone was banished forth From Paradise； because it
turned aside Out of the way of truth and of its life。
Therefore the penalty the cross held out； If measured by the nature
thus assumed； None ever yet with so great justice stung；
And none was ever of so great injustice； Considering who the Person
was that suffered； Within whom such a nature was contracted。
From one act therefore issued things diverse； To God and to the Jews
one death was pleasing； Earth trembled at it and the Heaven was opened。
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
It should no longer now seem difficult To thee； when it is said that a
just vengeance By a just court was afterward avenged。
But now do I behold thy mind entangled From thought to thought
within a knot； from which With great desire it waits to free itself。
Thou sayest； 'Well discern I what I hear； But it is hidden from me why
God willed For our redemption only this one mode。'
Buried remaineth； brother； this decree Unto the eyes of every one
whose nature Is in the flame of love not yet adult。
Verily； inasmuch as at this mark One gazes long and little is discerned；
Wherefore this mode was worthiest will I say。
Goodness Divine； which from itself doth spurn All envy； burning in
itself so sparkles That the eternal beauties it unfolds。
Whate'er from this immediately distils Has afterwards no end； for ne'er
removed Is its impression when it sets its seal。
Whate'er from this immediately rains down Is wholly free； because it
is not subject Unto the influences of novel things。
The more conformed thereto； the more it pleases； For the blest ardour
that irradiates all things In that most like itself is most vivacious。
With all of these things has advantaged been The human creature； and
if one be wanting； From his nobility he needs must fall。
'Tis sin alone which doth disfranchise him； And render him unlike the
Good Supreme； So that he little with its light is blanched；
And to his dignity no more returns； Unless he fill up where
transgression empties With righteous pains for criminal delights。
Your nature when it sinned so utterly In its own seed； out of these
dignities Even as out of Paradise was driven；
Nor could itself recover； if thou notest With nicest subtilty； by any way；
Except by passing one of these two fords：
Either that God through clemency alone Had pardon granted； or that
man himself Had satisfaction for his folly made。
Fix now thine eye deep into the abyss Of the eternal counsel； to my
speech As far as may be fastened steadfastly！
Man in his limitations had not power To satisfy； not having power to
sink In his humility obeying then；
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Far as he disobeying thought to rise； And for this reason man has been
from power Of satisfying by himself excluded。
Therefore it God behoved in his own ways Man to restore unto his
perfect life； I say in one； or else in both of them。
But since the action of the doer is So much more grateful； as it more
presents The goodness of the heart from which it issues；
Goodness Divine； that doth imprint the world； Has been contented to
proceed by each And all its ways to lift you up again；
Nor 'twixt the first day and the final night Such high and such
magnificent proceeding By one or by the other was or shall be；
For God more bounteous was himself to give To make man able