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！
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 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