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For God more bounteous was himself to give To make man able to
uplift himself； Than if he only of himself had pardoned；
And all the other modes were insufficient For justice； were it not the
Son of God Himself had humbled to become incarnate。
Now； to fill fully each desire of thine； Return I to elucidate one place；
In order that thou there mayst see as I do。
Thou sayst： 'I see the air； I see the fire； The water； and the earth； and all
their mixtures Come to corruption； and short while endure；
And these things notwithstanding were created；' Therefore if that
which I have said were true； They should have been secure against
corruption。
The Angels； brother； and the land sincere In which thou art； created
may be called Just as they are in their entire existence；
But all the elements which thou hast named； And all those things
which out of them are made； By a created virtue are informed。
Created was the matter which they have； Created was the informing
influence Within these stars that round about them go。
The soul of every brute and of the plants By its potential temperament
attracts The ray and motion of the holy lights；
But your own life immediately inspires Supreme Beneficence； and
enamours it So with herself； it evermore desires her。
And thou from this mayst argue furthermore Your resurrection； if thou
think again How human flesh was fashioned at that time
When the first parents both of them were made。〃
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto VIII
The world used in its peril to believe That the fair Cypria delirious
love Rayed out； in the third epicycle turning；
Wherefore not only unto her paid honour Of sacrifices and of votive
cry The ancient nations in the ancient error；
But both Dione honoured they and Cupid； That as her mother； this one
as her son； And said that he had sat in Dido's lap；
And they from her； whence I beginning take； Took the denomination
of the star That woos the sun； now following； now in front。
I was not ware of our ascending to it； But of our being in it gave full
faith My Lady whom I saw more beauteous grow。
And as within a flame a spark is seen； And as within a voice a voice
discerned； When one is steadfast； and one comes and goes；
Within that light beheld I other lamps Move in a circle； speeding more
and less； Methinks in measure of their inward vision。
From a cold cloud descended never winds； Or visible or not； so rapidly
They would not laggard and impeded seem
To any one who had those lights divine Seen come towards us； leaving
the gyration Begun at first in the high Seraphim。
And behind those that most in front appeared Sounded 〃Osanna！〃 so
that never since To hear again was I without desire。
Then unto us more nearly one approached； And it alone began： 〃We all
are ready Unto thy pleasure； that thou joy in us。
We turn around with the celestial Princes； One gyre and one gyration
and one thirst； To whom thou in the world of old didst say；
'Ye who； intelligent； the third heaven are moving；' And are so full of
love； to pleasure thee A little quiet will not be less sweet。〃
After these eyes of mine themselves had offered Unto my Lady
reverently； and she Content and certain of herself had made them；
Back to the light they turned； which so great promise Made of itself；
and 〃Say； who art thou？〃 was My voice； imprinted with a great affection。
O how and how much I beheld it grow With the new joy that
superadded was Unto its joys； as soon as I had spoken！
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Thus changed； it said to me： 〃The world possessed me Short time
below； and； if it had been more； Much evil will be which would not have
been。
My gladness keepeth me concealed from thee； Which rayeth round
about me； and doth hide me Like as a creature swathed in its own silk。
Much didst thou love me； and thou hadst good reason； For had I been
below； I should have shown thee Somewhat beyond the foliage of my
love。
That left…hand margin； which doth bathe itself In Rhone； when it is
mingled with the Sorgue； Me for its lord awaited in due time；
And that horn of Ausonia； which is towned With Bari； with Gaeta and
Catona； Whence Tronto and Verde in the sea disgorge。
Already flashed upon my brow the crown Of that dominion which the
Danube waters After the German borders it abandons；
And beautiful Trinacria； that is murky 'Twixt Pachino and Peloro； （on
the gulf Which greatest scath from Eurus doth receive；）
Not through Typhoeus； but through nascent sulphur； Would have
awaited her own monarchs still； Through me from Charles descended and
from Rudolph；
If evil lordship； that exasperates ever The subject populations； had not
moved Palermo to the outcry of 'Death！ death！'
And if my brother could but this foresee； The greedy poverty of
Catalonia Straight would he flee； that it might not molest him；
For verily 'tis needful to provide； Through him or other； so that on his
bark Already freighted no more freight be placed。
His nature； which from liberal covetous Descended； such a soldiery
would need As should not care for hoarding in a chest。〃
〃Because I do believe the lofty joy Thy speech infuses into me； my
Lord； Where every good thing doth begin and end
Thou seest as I see it； the more grateful Is it to me； and this too hold I
dear； That gazing upon God thou dost discern it。
Glad hast thou made me； so make clear to me； Since speaking thou
hast stirred me up to doubt； How from sweet seed can bitter issue forth。〃
This I to him； and he to me： 〃If I Can show to thee a truth； to what
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thou askest Thy face thou'lt hold as thou dost hold thy back。
The Good which all the realm thou art ascending Turns and contents；
maketh its providence To be a power within these bodies vast；
And not alone the natures are foreseen Within the mind that in itself is
perfect； But they together with their preservation。
For whatsoever thing this bow shoots forth Falls foreordain