按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Faces I saw of charity persuasive； Embellished by His light and their
own smile； And attitudes adorned with every grace。
The general form of Paradise already My glance had comprehended as
a whole； In no part hitherto remaining fixed；
And round I turned me with rekindled wish My Lady to interrogate of
things Concerning which my mind was in suspense。
One thing I meant； another answered me； I thought I should see
Beatrice； and saw An Old Man habited like the glorious people。
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 Reflecting from herself the eternal rays。
Not from that region which the highest thunders Is any mortal eye so
far removed； In whatsoever sea it deepest sinks；
As there from Beatrice my sight； but this Was nothing unto me；
because her image Descended not to me by medium blurred。
〃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； As coming from thy power and
from thy goodness I recognise the virtue and the grace。
Thou from a slave hast brought me unto freedom； By all those ways；
by all the expedients； Whereby thou hadst the power of doing it。
Preserve towards me thy magnificence； 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
104
… Page 105…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
discipline thy sight Farther to mount along the ray divine。
And she； the Queen of Heaven； for whom I burn Wholly with love；
will grant us every grace； Because that I her faithful Bernard am。〃
As he who peradventure from Croatia Cometh to gaze at our Veronica；
Who through its ancient fame is never sated；
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 Charity of the man； who in
this world By contemplation tasted of that peace。
〃Thou son of grace； this jocund life；〃 began he； 〃Will not be known to
thee by keeping ever Thine eyes below here on the lowest place；
But mark the circles to the most remote； 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；
Thus； as if going with mine eyes from vale To mount； I saw a part in
the remoteness Surpass in splendour all the other front。
And even as there where we await the pole That Phaeton drove badly；
blazes more The light； and is on either side diminished；
So likewise that pacific oriflamme 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。
Bernard； as soon as he beheld mine eyes Fixed and intent upon its
fervid fervour； His own with such affection turned to her
That it made mine more ardent to behold。
105
… Page 106…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto XXXII
Absorbed in his delight； that contemplator Assumed the willing office
of a teacher； And gave beginning to these holy words：
〃The wound that Mary closed up and anointed； She at her feet who is
so beautiful； She is the one who opened it and pierced it。
Within that order which the third seats make Is seated Rachel； lower
than the other； With Beatrice； in manner as thou seest。
Sarah； Rebecca； Judith； and her who was Ancestress of the Singer； who
for dole Of the misdeed said； 'Miserere mei；'
Canst thou behold from seat to seat descending Down in gradation； as
with each one's name I through the Rose go down from leaf to leaf。
And downward from the seventh row； even as Above the same；
succeed the Hebrew women； Dividing all the tresses of the flower；
Because； according to the view which Faith In Christ had taken； these
are the partition By which the sacred stairways are divided。
Upon this side； where perfect is the flower With each one of its petals；
seated are Those who believed in Christ who was to come。
Upon the other side； where intersected With vacant spaces are the
semicircles； Are those who looked to Christ already come。
And as； upon this side； the glorious seat Of the Lady of Heaven； and
the other seats Below it； such a great division make；
So opposite doth that of the great John； Who； ever holy； desert and
martyrdom Endured； and afterwards two years in Hell。
And under him thus to divide were chosen Francis； and Benedict； and
Augustine； And down to us the rest from round to round。
Behold now the high providence divine； For one and other aspect of
the Faith In equal measure shall this garden fill。
And know that downward from that rank which cleaves Midway the
sequence of the two divisions； Not by their proper merit are they seated；
But by another's under fixed conditions； For these are spirits one and
all assoiled Before they any true election had。
Well canst thou recognise it in their faces； And also in their voices
puerile； If thou regard them well and hearken to them。
106
… Page 107…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
Now doubt