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have seen it Where centres every When and every 'Ubi。'
Not to acquire some good unto himself； Which is impossible； but that
his splendour In its resplendency may say； 'Subsisto；'
In his eternity outside of time； Outside all other limits； as it pleased
him； Into new Loves the Eternal Love unfolded。
Nor as if torpid did he lie before； For neither after nor before
proceeded The going forth of God upon these waters。
Matter and Form unmingled and conjoined Came into being that had
no defect； E'en as three arrows from a three…stringed bow。
And as in glass； in amber； or in crystal A sunbeam flashes so； that from
its coming To its full being is no interval；
So from its Lord did the triform effect Ray forth into its being all
together； Without discrimination of beginning。
Order was con…created and constructed In substances； and summit of
the world Were those wherein the pure act was produced。
Pure potentiality held the lowest part； Midway bound potentiality with
act Such bond that it shall never be unbound。
Jerome has written unto you of angels Created a long lapse of
centuries Or ever yet the other world was made；
But written is this truth in many places By writers of the Holy Ghost；
and thou Shalt see it； if thou lookest well thereat。
And even reason seeth it somewhat； For it would not concede that for
so long Could be the motors without their perfection。
Now dost thou know both where and when these Loves Created were；
and how； so that extinct In thy desire already are three fires。
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Nor could one reach； in counting； unto twenty So swiftly； as a portion
of these angels Disturbed the subject of your elements。
The rest remained； and they began this art Which thou discernest； with
so great delight That never from their circling do they cease。
The occasion of the fall was the accursed Presumption of that One；
whom thou hast seen By all the burden of the world constrained。
Those whom thou here beholdest modest were To recognise
themselves as of that goodness Which made them apt for so much
understanding；
On which account their vision was exalted By the enlightening grace
and their own merit； So that they have a full and steadfast will。
I would not have thee doubt； but certain be； 'Tis meritorious to receive
this grace； According as the affection opens to it。
Now round about in this consistory Much mayst thou contemplate； if
these my words Be gathered up； without all further aid。
But since upon the earth； throughout your schools； They teach that
such is the angelic nature That it doth hear； and recollect； and will；
More will I say； that thou mayst see unmixed The truth that is
confounded there below； Equivocating in such like prelections。
These substances； since in God's countenance They jocund were；
turned not away their sight From that wherefrom not anything is hidden；
Hence they have not their vision intercepted By object new； and hence
they do not need To recollect； through interrupted thought。
So that below； not sleeping； people dream； Believing they speak truth；
and not believing； And in the last is greater sin and shame。
Below you do not journey by one path Philosophising； so transporteth
you Love of appearance and the thought thereof。
And even this above here is endured With less disdain； than when is
set aside The Holy Writ； or when it is distorted。
They think not there how much of blood it costs To sow it in the world；
and how he pleases Who in humility keeps close to it。
Each striveth for appearance； and doth make His own inventions； and
these treated are By preachers； and the Evangel holds its peace。
One sayeth that the moon did backward turn； In the Passion of Christ；
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THE DIVINE COMEDY
and interpose herself So that the sunlight reached not down below；
And lies； for of its own accord the light Hid itself； whence to
Spaniards and to Indians； As to the Jews； did such eclipse respond。
Florence has not so many Lapi and Bindi As fables such as these； that
every year Are shouted from the pulpit back and forth；
In such wise that the lambs； who do not know； Come back from
pasture fed upon the wind； And not to see the harm doth not excuse them。
Christ did not to his first disciples say； 'Go forth； and to the world
preach idle tales；' But unto them a true foundation gave；
And this so loudly sounded from their lips； That； in the warfare to
enkindle Faith； They made of the Evangel shields and lances。
Now men go forth with jests and drolleries To preach； and if but well
the people laugh； The hood puffs out； and nothing more is asked。
But in the cowl there nestles such a bird； That； if the common people
were to see it； They would perceive what pardons they confide in；
For which so great on earth has grown the folly； That； without proof of
any testimony； To each indulgence they would flock together。
By this Saint Anthony his pig doth fatten； And many others； who are
worse than pigs； Paying in money without mark of coinage。
But since we have digressed abundantly； Turn back thine eyes
forthwith to the right path； So that the way be shortened with the time。
This nature doth so multiply itself In numbers； that there never yet was
speech Nor mortal fancy that can go so far。
And if thou notest that which is revealed By Daniel； thou wilt see that
in his thousands Number determinate is kept concealed。
The primal light； that all irradiates it； By modes as many is received
therein； As are the splendours wherewith it is mated。
Hence； inasmuch as on the act conceptive The affection followeth； of
love the sweetness Therein diversely fervid is or tepid。
The height behold now and the amplitude Of the eternal power； since
it hath made Itself so many mirrors； where 'tis broken；
One in itself remaining as before。〃
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Paradiso： Canto XXX
Perchance six thousand miles remote from us Is glowing the sixth
hour； and now this world Inclines its shadow almost to a level；
When the mid…heaven begins to make itself So deep to us； that here
and there a star Ceases to shine so far down as this depth；
And as advances bright exceedingly The handmaid of the sun； the
heaven is closed Light after light to the most beautiful；
Not otherwise the Triumph； which for ever Plays round about the point
that vanquished me； Seeming enclosed by what itself encloses；
Little by little from my vision faded； Whereat to turn mine eyes on
Beatrice My seeing nothing and my love constrained me。
If what has hitherto been said of her Were all concluded in a single
praise； Scant would it be to serve the present turn。
Not only does the beauty I beheld Transcend ourselves； but truly I
believe Its Maker only may enjoy it all。
Vanquished do I confess me by this passage More than by problem of
his theme was ever O'ercome the comic or the tragic poet；
For as the sun the sight that trembles most； Even so the memory of that
sweet smile My mind depriveth of its very self。
From the first day that I beheld her face In this life； to the moment of
this look； The sequence of my song has ne'er been severed；
But now perforce this sequence must desist From following her beauty
with my verse； As every artist at his uttermost。
Such as I leave her to a greater fame Than any of my trumpet； which is
bringing Its arduous matter to a final close；
With voice and gesture of a perfect leader She recommenced： 〃We
from the greatest body Have issued to the heaven that is pure light；
Light intellectual replete with love； Love of true good replete with
ecstasy； Ecstasy that transcendeth every sweetness。
Here shalt thou see the one host and the other Of Paradise； and one in
the same aspects Which at the final judgment thou shalt see。〃
Even as a sudden lightning that dispers