And in the sacred forum then shall be A Prefect such, that openly or covert On the same road he will not walk with him. But long of God he will not be endured In holy office; he shall be thrust down Where Simon Magus is for his deserts, And make him of Alagna lower go!" 145 CANTO XXXI. N fashion then as of a snow-white rose IN Displayed itself to me the saintly host, Whom Christ in his own blood had made his bride, But the other host, that flying sees and sings. One moment, and the next returns again And wings of gold, and all the rest so white 5 ΤΟ 15 Nor did the interposing 'twixt the flower And what was o'er it of such plenitude 20 Of flying shapes impede the sight and splendor; Because the light divine so penetrates The universe, according to its merit, That naught can be an obstacle against it. Sparkling upon their sight so satisfies them, Were wonder-struck, what time the Lateran Truly between this and the joy, it was And as a pilgrim who delighteth him In gazing round the temple of his vow, And hopes some day to retell how it was, So through the living light my way pursuing Directed I mine eyes o'er all the ranks, Now up, now down, and now all round about. 25 30 35 40 45 Faces I saw of charity persuasive, Embellished by His light and their own smile, 50 And attitudes adorned with every grace. The general form of Paradise already My glance had comprehended as a whole, And round I turned me with rekindled wish 55 I thought I should see Beatrice, and saw An Old Man habited like the glorious people. 60 O'erflowing was he in his eyes and cheeks With joy benign, in attitude of pity As to a tender father is becoming. And "She, where is she?" instantly I said; Whence he "To put an end to thy desire, Me Beatrice hath sent from mine own place. And if thou lookest up to the third round Of the first rank, again shalt thou behold her Upon the throne her merits have assigned her." Without reply I lifted up mine eyes, And saw her, as she made herself a crown 65 70 75 "O Lady, thou in whom my hope is strong, And who for my salvation didst endure In Hell to leave the imprint of thy feet, Of whatsoever things I have beheld, 80 As coming from thy power and from thy goodness I recognize the virtue and the grace. Thou from a slave hast brought me unto freedom, 85 By all those ways, by all the expedients, Whereby thou hadst the power of doing it. Preserve towards me thy magnificence, 90 So that this soul of mine, which thou hast healed, Pleasing to thee be loosened from the body." Thus I implored; and she, so far away, Smiled, as it seemed, and looked once more at me; Then unto the eternal fountain turned. And said the Old Man holy: "That thou mayst Accomplish perfectly thy journeying, Whereunto prayer and holy love have sent me, Fly with thine eyes all round about this garden ; For seeing it will discipline thy sight Farther to mount along the ray divine. 95 And she, the Queen of Heaven, for whom I burn 100 Cometh to gaze at our Veronica, Who through its ancient fame is never sated, 105 But says in thought, the while it is displayed, "My Lord, Christ Jesus, God of very God, Now was your semblance made like unto this?" Even such was I while gazing at the living By contemplation tasted of that peace. Until thou shalt behold enthroned the Queen To whom this realm is subject and devoted." I lifted up mine eyes, and as at morn The oriental part of the horizon Surpasses that wherein the sun goes down, To mount, I saw a part in the remoteness Gleamed brightest in the centre, and each side In equal measure did the flame abate. And at that centre, with their wings expanded, More than a thousand jubilant Angels saw I, Each differing in effulgence and in kind. I saw there at their sports and at their songs A beauty smiling, which the gladness was Within the eyes of all the other saints; And if I had in speaking as much wealth As in imagining, I should not dare To attempt the smallest part of its delight. ΙΙΟ 115 120 125 130 135 |