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great repose； That no occasion had she whence to weep；
With all these families beheld so just And glorious her people； that the
lily Never upon the spear was placed reversed；
Nor by division was vermilion made。〃
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto XVII
As came to Clymene； to be made certain Of that which he had heard
against himself； He who makes fathers chary still to children；
Even such was I； and such was I perceived By Beatrice and by the
holy light That first on my account had changed its place。
Therefore my Lady said to me： 〃Send forth The flame of thy desire； so
that it issue Imprinted well with the internal stamp；
Not that our knowledge may be greater made By speech of thine； but
to accustom thee To tell thy thirst； that we may give thee drink。〃
〃O my beloved tree； （that so dost lift thee； That even as minds
terrestrial perceive No triangle containeth two obtuse； So thou beholdest
the contingent things Ere in themselves they are； fixing thine eyes Upon
the point in which all times are present；）
While I was with Virgilius conjoined Upon the mountain that the souls
doth heal； And when descending into the dead world；
Were spoken to me of my future life Some grievous words； although I
feel myself In sooth foursquare against the blows of chance。
On this account my wish would be content To hear what fortune is
approaching me； Because foreseen an arrow comes more slowly。〃
Thus did I say unto that selfsame light That unto me had spoken before；
and even As Beatrice willed was my own will confessed。
Not in vague phrase； in which the foolish folk Ensnared themselves of
old； ere yet was slain The Lamb of God who taketh sins away；
But with clear words and unambiguous Language responded that
paternal love； Hid and revealed by its own proper smile：
〃Contingency； that outside of the volume Of your materiality extends
not； Is all depicted in the eternal aspect。
Necessity however thence it takes not； Except as from the eye； in
which 'tis mirrored； A ship that with the current down descends。
From thence； e'en as there cometh to the ear Sweet harmony from an
organ； comes in sight To me the time that is preparing for thee。
As forth from Athens went Hippolytus； By reason of his step…dame
false and cruel； So thou from Florence must perforce depart。
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Already this is willed； and this is sought for； And soon it shall be done
by him who thinks it； Where every day the Christ is bought and sold。
The blame shall follow the offended party In outcry as is usual； but the
vengeance Shall witness to the truth that doth dispense it。
Thou shalt abandon everything beloved Most tenderly； and this the
arrow is Which first the bow of banishment shoots forth。
Thou shalt have proof how savoureth of salt The bread of others； and
how hard a road The going down and up another's stairs。
And that which most shall weigh upon thy shoulders Will be the bad
and foolish company With which into this valley thou shalt fall；
For all ingrate； all mad and impious Will they become against thee； but
soon after They； and not thou； shall have the forehead scarlet。
Of their bestiality their own proceedings Shall furnish proof； so 'twill
be well for thee A party to have made thee by thyself。
Thine earliest refuge and thine earliest inn Shall be the mighty
Lombard's courtesy； Who on the Ladder bears the holy bird；
Who such benign regard shall have for thee That 'twixt you twain； in
doing and in asking； That shall be first which is with others last。
With him shalt thou see one who at his birth Has by this star of
strength been so impressed； That notable shall his achievements be。
Not yet the people are aware of him Through his young age； since only
nine years yet Around about him have these wheels revolved。
But ere the Gascon cheat the noble Henry； Some sparkles of his virtue
shall appear In caring not for silver nor for toil。
So recognized shall his magnificence Become hereafter； that his
enemies Will not have power to keep mute tongues about it。
On him rely； and on his benefits； By him shall many people be
transformed； Changing condition rich and mendicant；
And written in thy mind thou hence shalt bear Of him； but shalt not
say it〃and things said he Incredible to those who shall be present。
Then added： 〃Son； these are the commentaries On what was said to
thee； behold the snares That are concealed behind few revolutions；
Yet would I not thy neighbours thou shouldst envy； Because thy life
into the future reaches Beyond the punishment of their perfidies。〃
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
When by its silence showed that sainted soul That it had finished
putting in the woof Into that web which I had given it warped；
Began I； even as he who yearneth after； Being in doubt； some counsel
from a person Who seeth； and uprightly wills； and loves：
〃Well see I； father mine； how spurreth on The time towards me such a
blow to deal me As heaviest is to him who most gives way。
Therefore with foresight it is well I arm me； That； if the dearest place
be taken from me； I may not lose the others by my songs。
Down through the world of infinite bitterness； And o'er the mountain；
from whose beauteous summit The eyes of my own Lady lifted me；
And afterward through heaven from light to light； I have learned that
which； if I tell again； Will be a savour of strong herbs to many。
And if I am a timid friend to truth； I fear lest I may lose my life with
those Who will hereafter call this time the olden。〃
The light in which was smiling my own treasure Which there I had
discovered； flashed at first As in the sunshine doth a golden mirror；
Then made reply： 〃A conscience overcast Or with its own or with
another's shame； Will taste forsooth the tartness of thy word；
But ne'ertheless； all falsehood laid aside； Make manifest thy vision
utterly； And let them scratch wherever is the itch；
For if thine utterance shall offensive be At the first taste； a vital
nutriment 'Twill leave thereafter； when it is digested。
This cry of thine shall do as doth the wind； Which smiteth most the
most exalted summits； And that is no slight argument of honour。
Therefore are shown to thee within these wheels； Upon the mount and
in the dolorous valley； Only the souls that unto fame are known；
Because the spirit of the hearer rests not； Nor doth confirm its faith by
an example Which has the root of it unknown and hidden；
Or other reason that is not apparent。〃
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto XVIII
Now was alone rejoicing in its word That soul beatified； and I was
tasting My own； the bitter tempering with the sweet；
And the Lady who to God was leading me Said： 〃Change thy thought；
consider that I am Near unto Him who every wrong disburdens。〃
Unto the loving accents of my comfort I turned me round； and then
what love I saw Within those holy eyes I here relinquish；
Not only that my language I distrust； But that my mind cannot return
so far Above itself； unless another guide it。
Thus much upon that point can I repeat； That； her again beholding； my
affection From every other longing was released。
While the eternal pleasure； which direct Rayed upon Beatrice； from
her fair face Contented me with its reflected aspect；
Conquering me with the radiance of a smile； She said to me； 〃Turn
thee about and listen； Not in mine eyes alone is Paradise。〃
Even as sometimes here do we behold The affection in the look； if it
be such That all the soul is wrapt away by it；
So； by the flaming of the effulgence holy To which I turned； I
recognized therein The wish of speaking to me somewhat farther。
And it began： 〃In this fifth resting…place Upon the tree that liveth by i