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ancient father； To whom each wife is daughter and daughter…in…law；
Devoutly as I can I supplicate thee That thou wouldst speak to me；
thou seest my wish； And I； to hear thee quickly； speak it not。〃
Sometimes an animal； when covered； struggles So that his impulse
needs must be apparent； By reason of the wrappage following it；
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And in like manner the primeval soul Made clear to me athwart its
covering How jubilant it was to give me pleasure。
Then breathed： 〃Without thy uttering it to me； Thine inclination better
I discern Than thou whatever thing is surest to thee；
For I behold it in the truthful mirror； That of Himself all things
parhelion makes； And none makes Him parhelion of itself。
Thou fain wouldst hear how long ago God placed me Within the lofty
garden； where this Lady Unto so long a stairway thee disposed。
And how long to mine eyes it was a pleasure； And of the great disdain
the proper cause； And the language that I used and that I made。
Now； son of mine； the tasting of the tree Not in itself was cause of so
great exile； But solely the o'erstepping of the bounds。
There； whence thy Lady moved Virgilius； Four thousand and three
hundred and two circuits Made by the sun； this Council I desired；
And him I saw return to all the lights Of his highway nine hundred
times and thirty； Whilst I upon the earth was tarrying。
The language that I spake was quite extinct Before that in the work
interminable The people under Nimrod were employed；
For nevermore result of reasoning （Because of human pleasure that
doth change； Obedient to the heavens） was durable。
A natural action is it that man speaks； But whether thus or thus； doth
nature leave To your own art； as seemeth best to you。
Ere I descended to the infernal anguish； 'El' was on earth the name of
the Chief Good； From whom comes all the joy that wraps me round
'Eli' he then was called； and that is proper； Because the use of men is
like a leaf On bough； which goeth and another cometh。
Upon the mount that highest o'er the wave Rises was I； in life or pure
or sinful； From the first hour to that which is the second；
As the sun changes quadrant； to the sixth。〃
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Paradiso： Canto XXVII
〃Glory be to the Father； to the Son； And Holy Ghost！〃 all Paradise
began； So that the melody inebriate made me。
What I beheld seemed unto me a smile Of the universe； for my
inebriation Found entrance through the hearing and the sight。
O joy！ O gladness inexpressible！ O perfect life of love and
peacefulness！ O riches without hankering secure！
Before mine eyes were standing the four torches Enkindled； and the
one that first had come Began to make itself more luminous；
And even such in semblance it became As Jupiter would become； if he
and Mars Were birds； and they should interchange their feathers。
That Providence； which here distributeth Season and service； in the
blessed choir Had silence upon every side imposed。
When I heard say： 〃If I my colour change； Marvel not at it； for while I
am speaking Thou shalt behold all these their colour change。
He who usurps upon the earth my place； My place； my place； which
vacant has become Before the presence of the Son of God；
Has of my cemetery made a sewer Of blood and stench； whereby the
Perverse One； Who fell from here； below there is appeased！〃
With the same colour which； through sun adverse； Painteth the clouds
at evening or at morn； Beheld I then the whole of heaven suffused。
And as a modest woman； who abides Sure of herself； and at another's
failing； From listening only； timorous becomes；
Even thus did Beatrice change countenance； And I believe in heaven
was such eclipse； When suffered the supreme Omnipotence；
Thereafterward proceeded forth his words With voice so much
transmuted from itself； The very countenance was not more changed。
〃The spouse of Christ has never nurtured been On blood of mine； of
Linus and of Cletus； To be made use of in acquest of gold；
But in acquest of this delightful life Sixtus and Pius； Urban and
Calixtus； After much lamentation； shed their blood。
Our purpose was not； that on the right hand Of our successors should
in part be seated The Christian folk； in part upon the other；
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Nor that the keys which were to me confided Should e'er become the
escutcheon on a banner； That should wage war on those who are baptized；
Nor I be made the figure of a seal To privileges venal and mendacious；
Whereat I often redden and flash with fire。
In garb of shepherds the rapacious wolves Are seen from here above
o'er all the pastures！ O wrath of God； why dost thou slumber still？
To drink our blood the Caorsines and Gascons Are making ready。 O
thou good beginning； Unto how vile an end must thou needs fall！
But the high Providence； that with Scipio At Rome the glory of the
world defended； Will speedily bring aid； as I conceive；
And thou； my son； who by thy mortal weight Shalt down return again；
open thy mouth； What I conceal not； do not thou conceal。〃
As with its frozen vapours downward falls In flakes our atmosphere；
what time the horn Of the celestial Goat doth touch the sun；
Upward in such array saw I the ether Become； and flaked with the
triumphant vapours； Which there together with us had remained。
My sight was following up their semblances； And followed till the
medium； by excess； The passing farther onward took from it；
Whereat the Lady； who beheld me freed From gazing upward； said to
me： 〃Cast down Thy sight； and see how far thou art turned round。〃
Since the first time that I had downward looked； I saw that I had
moved through the whole arc Which the first climate makes from midst to
end；
So that I saw the mad track of Ulysses Past Gades； and this side； well
nigh the shore Whereon became Europa a sweet burden。
And of this threshing…floor the site to me Were more unveiled； but the
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'e