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sun was proceeding Under my feet； a sign and more removed。
My mind enamoured； which is dallying At all times with my Lady； to
bring back To her mine eyes was more than ever ardent。
And if or Art or Nature has made bait To catch the eyes and so possess
the mind； In human flesh or in its portraiture；
All joined together would appear as nought To the divine delight
which shone upon me When to her smiling face I turned me round。
The virtue that her look endowed me with From the fair nest of Leda
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tore me forth； And up into the swiftest heaven impelled me。
Its parts exceeding full of life and lofty Are all so uniform； I cannot
say Which Beatrice selected for my place。
But she； who was aware of my desire； Began； the while she smiled so
joyously That God seemed in her countenance to rejoice：
〃The nature of that motion； which keeps quiet The centre and all the
rest about it moves； From hence begins as from its starting point。
And in this heaven there is no other Where Than in the Mind Divine；
wherein is kindled The love that turns it； and the power it rains。
Within a circle light and love embrace it； Even as this doth the others；
and that precinct He who encircles it alone controls。
Its motion is not by another meted； But all the others measured are by
this； As ten is by the half and by the fifth。
And in what manner time in such a pot May have its roots； and in the
rest its leaves； Now unto thee can manifest be made。
O Covetousness； that mortals dost ingulf Beneath thee so； that no one
hath the power Of drawing back his eyes from out thy waves！
Full fairly blossoms in mankind the will； But the uninterrupted rain
converts Into abortive wildings the true plums。
Fidelity and innocence are found Only in children； afterwards they
both Take flight or e'er the cheeks with down are covered。
One； while he prattles still； observes the fasts； Who； when his tongue is
loosed； forthwith devours Whatever food under whatever moon；
Another； while he prattles； loves and listens Unto his mother； who
when speech is perfect Forthwith desires to see her in her grave。
Even thus is swarthy made the skin so white In its first aspect of the
daughter fair Of him who brings the morn； and leaves the night。
Thou； that it may not be a marvel to thee； Think that on earth there is
no one who governs； Whence goes astray the human family。
Ere January be unwintered wholly By the centesimal on earth
neglected； Shall these supernal circles roar so loud
The tempest that has been so long awaited Shall whirl the poops about
where are the prows； So that the fleet shall run its course direct；
And the true fruit shall follow on the flower。〃
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Paradiso： Canto XXVIII
After the truth against the present life Of miserable mortals was
unfolded By her who doth imparadise my mind；
As in a looking…glass a taper's flame He sees who from behind is
lighted by it； Before he has it in his sight or thought；
And turns him round to see if so the glass Tell him the truth； and sees
that it accords Therewith as doth a music with its metre；
In similar wise my memory recollecteth That I did； looking into those
fair eyes； Of which Love made the springes to ensnare me。
And as I turned me round； and mine were touched By that which is
apparent in that volume； Whenever on its gyre we gaze intent；
A point beheld I； that was raying out Light so acute； the sight which it
enkindles Must close perforce before such great acuteness。
And whatsoever star seems smallest here Would seem to be a moon； if
placed beside it。 As one star with another star is placed。
Perhaps at such a distance as appears A halo cincturing the light that
paints it； When densest is the vapour that sustains it；
Thus distant round the point a circle of fire So swiftly whirled； that it
would have surpassed Whatever motion soonest girds the world；
And this was by another circumcinct； That by a third； the third then by
a fourth； By a fifth the fourth； and then by a sixth the fifth；
The seventh followed thereupon in width So ample now； that Juno's
messenger Entire would be too narrow to contain it。
Even so the eighth and ninth； and every one More slowly moved；
according as it was In number distant farther from the first。
And that one had its flame most crystalline From which less distant
was the stainless spark； I think because more with its truth imbued。
My Lady； who in my anxiety Beheld me much perplexed； said： 〃From
that point Dependent is the heaven and nature all。
Behold that circle most conjoined to it； And know thou； that its motion
is so swift Through burning love whereby it is spurred on。〃
And I to her： 〃If the world were arranged In the order which I see in
yonder wheels； What's set before me would have satisfied me；
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But in the world of sense we can perceive That evermore the circles
are diviner As they are from the centre more remote
Wherefore if my desire is to be ended In this miraculous and angelic
temple； That has for confines only love and light；
To hear behoves me still how the example And the exemplar go not in
one fashion； Since for myself in vain I contemplate it。〃
〃If thine own fingers unto such a knot Be insufficient； it is no great
wonder； So hard hath it become for want of trying。〃
My Lady thus； then said she： 〃Do thou take What I shall tell thee； if
thou wouldst be sated； And exercise on that thy subtlety。
The circles corporal are wide and narrow According to the more or
less of virtue Which is distributed through all their parts。
The greater goodness works the greater weal； The greater weal the
greater body holds； If perfect equally are all its parts。
Therefore this one which sweeps along with it The universe sublime；
doth correspond Unto the circle which most loves and knows。
On which account； if thou unto the virtue Apply thy measure； not to
the appearance Of substances that unto thee seem round；
Thou wilt behold a marvellous agreement； Of more to great