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！
consolidate and bright As adamant on which the sun is striking。
Into itself did the eternal pearl Receive us； even as water doth receive
A ray of light； remaining still unbroken。
If I was body； （and we here conceive not How one dimension tolerates
another； Which needs must be if body enter body；）
More the desire should be enkindled in us That essence to behold；
wherein is seen How God and our own nature were united。
There will be seen what we receive by faith； Not demonstrated； but
self…evident In guise of the first truth that man believes。
I made reply： 〃Madonna； as devoutly As most I can do I give thanks to
Him Who has removed me from the mortal world。
5
… Page 6…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
But tell me what the dusky spots may be Upon this body； which below
on earth Make people tell that fabulous tale of Cain？〃
Somewhat she smiled； and then； 〃If the opinion Of mortals be
erroneous；〃 she said； 〃Where'er the key of sense doth not unlock；
Certes； the shafts of wonder should not pierce thee Now； forasmuch as；
following the senses； Thou seest that the reason has short wings。
But tell me what thou think'st of it thyself。〃 And I： 〃What seems to us
up here diverse； Is caused； I think； by bodies rare and dense。〃
And she： 〃Right truly shalt thou see immersed In error thy belief； if
well thou hearest The argument that I shall make against it。
Lights many the eighth sphere displays to you Which in their quality
and quantity May noted be of aspects different。
If this were caused by rare and dense alone； One only virtue would
there be in all Or more or less diffused； or equally。
Virtues diverse must be perforce the fruits Of formal principles； and
these； save one； Of course would by thy reasoning be destroyed。
Besides； if rarity were of this dimness The cause thou askest； either
through and through This planet thus attenuate were of matter；
Or else； as in a body is apportioned The fat and lean； so in like manner
this Would in its volume interchange the leaves。
Were it the former； in the sun's eclipse It would be manifest by the
shining through Of light； as through aught tenuous interfused。
This is not so； hence we must scan the other； And if it chance the other
I demolish； Then falsified will thy opinion be。
But if this rarity go not through and through； There needs must be a
limit； beyond which Its contrary prevents the further passing；
And thence the foreign radiance is reflected； Even as a colour cometh
back from glass； The which behind itself concealeth lead。
Now thou wilt say the sunbeam shows itself More dimly there than in
the other parts； By being there reflected farther back。
From this reply experiment will free thee If e'er thou try it； which is
wont to be The fountain to the rivers of your arts。
Three mirrors shalt thou take； and two remove Alike from thee； the
other more remote Between the former two shall meet thine eyes。
6
… Page 7…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
Turned towards these； cause that behind thy back Be placed a light；
illuming the three mirrors And coming back to thee by all reflected。
Though in its quantity be not so ample The image most remote； there
shalt thou see How it perforce is equally resplendent。
Now； as beneath the touches of warm rays Naked the subject of the
snow remains Both of its former colour and its cold；
Thee thus remaining in thy intellect； Will I inform with such a living
light； That it shall tremble in its aspect to thee。
Within the heaven of the divine repose Revolves a body； in whose
virtue lies The being of whatever it contains。
The following heaven； that has so many eyes； Divides this being by
essences diverse； Distinguished from it； and by it contained。
The other spheres； by various differences； All the distinctions which
they have within them Dispose unto their ends and their effects。
Thus do these organs of the world proceed； As thou perceivest now；
from grade to grade； Since from above they take； and act beneath。
Observe me well； how through this place I come Unto the truth thou
wishest； that hereafter Thou mayst alone know how to keep the ford
The power and motion of the holy spheres； As from the artisan the
hammer's craft； Forth from the blessed motors must proceed。
The heaven； which lights so manifold make fair； From the Intelligence
profound； which turns it； The image takes； and makes of it a seal。
And even as the soul within your dust Through members different and
accommodated To faculties diverse expands itself；
So likewise this Intelligence diffuses Its virtue multiplied among the
stars。 Itself revolving on its unity。
Virtue diverse doth a diverse alloyage Make with the precious body
that it quickens； In which； as life in you； it is combined。
From the glad nature whence it is derived； The mingled virtue through
the body shines； Even as gladness through the living pupil。
From this proceeds whate'er from light to light Appeareth different； not
from dense and rare： This is the formal principle that produces；
According to its goodness； dark and bright。〃
7
… Page 8…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
Paradiso： Canto III
That Sun； which erst with love my bosom warmed； Of beauteous
truth had unto me discovered； By proving and reproving； the sweet aspect。
And； that I might confess myself convinced And confident； so far as
was befitting； I lifted more erect my head to speak。
But there appeared a vision； which withdrew me So close to it； in order
to be seen； That my confession I remembered not。
Such as through polished and transparent glass； Or waters crystalline
and undisturbed； But not so deep as that their bed be lost；
Come back again the outlines of our faces So feeble； that a pearl on
forehead white Comes not less speedily unto our eyes；
Such saw I many faces prompt to speak； So that I ran in error opposite
To that which kindled love 'twixt man and fountain。
As soon as I became aware of them； Esteeming them as mirrored
semblances； To see of whom they were； mine eyes I turned；
And nothing saw； and once more turned them forward Direct into the
light of my sweet Guide； Who smiling kindled in her holy eyes。
〃Marvel thou not；〃 she said to me； 〃because I smile at this thy puerile
conceit； Since on the truth it trusts not yet its foot；
But turns thee； as 'tis wont； on emptiness。 True substances are these
which thou beholdest； Here relegate for breaking of some vow。
Therefore speak with them； listen and believe； For the true light； which
giveth peace to them； Permits them not to turn from it their feet。〃
And I unto the shade that seemed most wishful To speak directed me；
and I began； As one whom too great eagerness bewilders：
〃O well…created spirit； who in the rays Of life eternal dost the
sweetness taste Which being untasted ne'er is comprehended；
Grateful 'twill be to me； if thou content me Both with thy name and
with your destiny。〃 Whereat she promptly and with laughing eyes：
〃Our charity doth never shut the doors Against a just desire； except as
one Who wills that all her court be like herself。
I was a virgin sister in the world； And if thy mind doth contemplate me
well； The being more fair will not conceal me from thee；
8
… Page 9…
THE DIVINE COMEDY
But thou shalt recognise I am Piccarda； Who； stationed here among
these other blessed； Myself am blessed in the slowest sphere。
All our affections； that alone inflamed Are in the pleasure of the Holy
Ghost； Rejoice at being of his order formed；
And this allotment； which appears so low； Therefore is given us；
because our vows Have been neglected and in some part void。〃
Whence I to her： 〃In your miraculous aspects There shines I know not
what of the divine； Which doth transform you from our first conceptions。
Therefore I was not swift in my remembrance；