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！
… Page 107…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
Now doubtest thou； and doubting thou art silent； But I will loosen for
thee the strong bond In which thy subtile fancies hold thee fast。
Within the amplitude of this domain No casual point can possibly find
place； No more than sadness can； or thirst； or hunger；
For by eternal law has been established Whatever thou beholdest； so
that closely The ring is fitted to the finger here。
And therefore are these people； festinate Unto true life； not 'sine causa'
here More and less excellent among themselves。
The King； by means of whom this realm reposes In so great love and
in so great delight That no will ventureth to ask for more；
In his own joyous aspect every mind Creating； at his pleasure dowers
with grace Diversely； and let here the effect suffice。
And this is clearly and expressly noted For you in Holy Scripture； in
those twins Who in their mother had their anger roused。
According to the colour of the hair； Therefore； with such a grace the
light supreme Consenteth that they worthily be crowned。
Without； then； any merit of their deeds； Stationed are they in different
gradations； Differing only in their first acuteness。
'Tis true that in the early centuries； With innocence； to work out their
salvation Sufficient was the faith of parents only。
After the earlier ages were completed； Behoved it that the males by
circumcision Unto their innocent wings should virtue add；
But after that the time of grace had come Without the baptism absolute
of Christ； Such innocence below there was retained。
Look now into the face that unto Christ Hath most resemblance； for its
brightness only Is able to prepare thee to see Christ。〃
On her did I behold so great a gladness Rain down； borne onward in
the holy minds Created through that altitude to fly；
That whatsoever I had seen before Did not suspend me in such
admiration； Nor show me such similitude of God。
And the same Love that first descended there； 〃Ave Maria； gratia
plena；〃 singing； In front of her his wings expanded wide。
Unto the canticle divine responded From every part the court beatified；
So that each sight became serener for it。
107
… Page 108…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
〃O holy father； who for me endurest To be below here； leaving the
sweet place In which thou sittest by eternal lot；
Who is the Angel that with so much joy Into the eyes is looking of our
Queen； Enamoured so that he seems made of fire？〃
Thus I again recourse had to the teaching Of that one who delighted
him in Mary As doth the star of morning in the sun。
And he to me： 〃Such gallantry and grace As there can be in Angel and
in soul； All is in him； and thus we fain would have it；
Because he is the one who bore the palm Down unto Mary； when the
Son of God To take our burden on himself decreed。
But now come onward with thine eyes； as I Speaking shall go； and
note the great patricians Of this most just and merciful of empires。
Those two that sit above there most enrapture As being very near unto
Augusta； Are as it were the two roots of this Rose。
He who upon the left is near her placed The father is； by whose
audacious taste The human species so much bitter tastes。
Upon the right thou seest that ancient father Of Holy Church； into
whose keeping Christ The keys committed of this lovely flower。
And he who all the evil days beheld； Before his death； of her the
beauteous bride Who with the spear and with the nails was won；
Beside him sits； and by the other rests That leader under whom on
manna lived The people ingrate； fickle； and stiff…necked。
Opposite Peter seest thou Anna seated； So well content to look upon
her daughter； Her eyes she moves not while she sings Hosanna。
And opposite the eldest household father Lucia sits； she who thy Lady
moved When to rush downward thou didst bend thy brows。
But since the moments of thy vision fly； Here will we make full stop；
as a good tailor Who makes the gown according to his cloth；
And unto the first Love will turn our eyes； That looking upon Him
thou penetrate As far as possible through his effulgence。
Truly； lest peradventure thou recede； Moving thy wings believing to
advance； By prayer behoves it that grace be obtained；
Grace from that one who has the power to aid thee； And thou shalt
follow me with thy affection That from my words thy heart turn not
108
… Page 109…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
aside。〃
And he began this holy orison。
109
… Page 110…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto XXXIII
〃Thou Virgin Mother； daughter of thy Son； Humble and high beyond
all other creature； The limit fixed of the eternal counsel；
Thou art the one who such nobility To human nature gave； that its
Creator Did not disdain to make himself its creature。
Within thy womb rekindled was the love； By heat of which in the
eternal peace After such wise this flower has germinated。
Here unto us thou art a noonday torch Of charity； and below there
among mortals Thou art the living fountain…head of hope。
Lady； thou art so great； and so prevailing； That he who wishes grace；
nor runs to thee； His aspirations without wings would fly。
Not only thy benignity gives succour To him who asketh it； but
oftentimes Forerunneth of its own accord the asking。
In thee compassion is； in thee is pity； In thee magnificence； in thee
unites Whate'er of goodness is in any creature。
Now doth this man； who from the lowest depth Of the universe as far
as here has seen One after one the spiritual lives；
Supplicate thee through grace for so much power That with his eyes he
may uplift himself Higher towards the uttermost salvation。
And I； who never burned for my own seeing More than I do for his； all
of my prayers Proffer to thee； and pray they come not short；
That thou wouldst scatter from him every cloud Of his mortality so
with thy prayers； That the Chief Pleasure be to him displayed。
Still farther do I pray thee； Queen；