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Already flashed upon my brow the crown Of that dominion which the
Danube waters After the German borders it abandons；
And beautiful Trinacria； that is murky 'Twixt Pachino and Peloro； （on
the gulf Which greatest scath from Eurus doth receive；）
Not through Typhoeus； but through nascent sulphur； Would have
awaited her own monarchs still； Through me from Charles descended and
from Rudolph；
If evil lordship； that exasperates ever The subject populations； had not
moved Palermo to the outcry of 'Death！ death！'
And if my brother could but this foresee； The greedy poverty of
Catalonia Straight would he flee； that it might not molest him；
For verily 'tis needful to provide； Through him or other； so that on his
bark Already freighted no more freight be placed。
His nature； which from liberal covetous Descended； such a soldiery
would need As should not care for hoarding in a chest。〃
〃Because I do believe the lofty joy Thy speech infuses into me； my
Lord； Where every good thing doth begin and end
Thou seest as I see it； the more grateful Is it to me； and this too hold I
dear； That gazing upon God thou dost discern it。
Glad hast thou made me； so make clear to me； Since speaking thou
hast stirred me up to doubt； How from sweet seed can bitter issue forth。〃
This I to him； and he to me： 〃If I Can show to thee a truth； to what
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thou askest Thy face thou'lt hold as thou dost hold thy back。
The Good which all the realm thou art ascending Turns and contents；
maketh its providence To be a power within these bodies vast；
And not alone the natures are foreseen Within the mind that in itself is
perfect； But they together with their preservation。
For whatsoever thing this bow shoots forth Falls foreordained unto an
end foreseen； Even as a shaft directed to its mark。
If that were not； the heaven which thou dost walk Would in such
manner its effects produce； That they no longer would be arts； but ruins。
This cannot be； if the Intelligences That keep these stars in motion are
not maimed； And maimed the First that has not made them perfect。
Wilt thou this truth have clearer made to thee？〃 And I： 〃Not so； for 'tis
impossible That nature tire； I see； in what is needful。〃
Whence he again： 〃Now say； would it be worse For men on earth were
they not citizens？〃 〃Yes；〃 I replied； 〃and here I ask no reason。〃
〃And can they be so； if below they live not Diversely unto offices
diverse？ No； if your master writeth well for you。〃
So came he with deductions to this point； Then he concluded：
〃Therefore it behoves The roots of your effects to be diverse。
Hence one is Solon born； another Xerxes； Another Melchisedec； and
another he Who； flying through the air； his son did lose。
Revolving Nature； which a signet is To mortal wax； doth practise well
her art； But not one inn distinguish from another；
Thence happens it that Esau differeth In seed from Jacob； and Quirinus
comes From sire so vile that he is given to Mars。
A generated nature its own way Would always make like its
progenitors； If Providence divine were not triumphant。
Now that which was behind thee is before thee； But that thou know
that I with thee am pleased； With a corollary will I mantle thee。
Evermore nature； if it fortune find Discordant to it； like each other
seed Out of its region； maketh evil thrift；
And if the world below would fix its mind On the foundation which is
laid by nature； Pursuing that； 'twould have the people good。
But you unto religion wrench aside Him who was born to gird him
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with the sword； And make a king of him who is for sermons；
Therefore your footsteps wander from the road。〃
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Paradiso： Canto IX
Beautiful Clemence； after that thy Charles Had me enlightened； he
narrated to me The treacheries his seed should undergo；
But said： 〃Be still and let the years roll round；〃 So I can only say； that
lamentation Legitimate shall follow on your wrongs。
And of that holy light the life already Had to the Sun which fills it
turned again； As to that good which for each thing sufficeth。
Ah； souls deceived； and creatures impious； Who from such good do
turn away your hearts； Directing upon vanity your foreheads！
And now； behold； another of those splendours Approached me； and its
will to pleasure me It signified by brightening outwardly。
The eyes of Beatrice； that fastened were Upon me； as before； of dear
assent To my desire assurance gave to me。
〃Ah； bring swift compensation to my wish； Thou blessed spirit；〃 I said；
〃and give me proof That what I think in thee I can reflect！〃
Whereat the light； that still was new to me； Out of its depths； whence it
before was singing； As one delighted to do good； continued：
〃Within that region of the land depraved Of Italy； that lies between
Rialto And fountain…heads of Brenta and of Piava；
Rises a hill； and mounts not very high； Wherefrom descended formerly
a torch That made upon that region great assault。
Out of one root were born both I and it； Cunizza was I called； and here
I shine Because the splendour of this star o'ercame me。
But gladly to myself the cause I pardon Of my allotment； and it does
not grieve me； Which would perhaps seem strong unto your vulgar。
Of this so luculent and precious jewel； Which of our heaven is nearest
unto me； Great fame remained； and ere it die away
This hundredth year shall yet quintupled be。 See if man ought to make
him excellent； So that another life the first may leave！
And thus thinks not the present multitude Shut in by Adige and
Tagliamento； Nor yet for being scourged is penitent。
But soon 'twill be that Padua in the marsh Will change the water that
Vicenza bathes； Because the folk are stubborn against duty；
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And where the Sile and Cagnano join One lordeth it； and goes with
lofty head； For catching whom e'en now the net is making。
Feltro moreover of her impious pastor Shall weep the crime； which
shall so monstrous be That for the like none ever entered Malta。
Ample exceedingly would be the vat That of the Ferrarese could hold
the blood； And weary who should weigh it ounce by ounce；
Of which this courteous priest shall make a gift To show himself a
partisan； and such gifts Will to the living of the land conform。
Above us there are mirrors； Thrones you call them； From which shines
out on us God Judicant； So that this utterance seems good to us。〃
Here it was silent； and it had the semblance Of being turned
elsewhither； by the wheel On which it entered as it was before。
The other joy； already known to me； Became a thing transplendent in
my sight； As a fine ruby smitten by the sun。
Through joy effulgence is acquired above； As here a smile； but down
below； the shade Outwardly darkens； as the mind is sad。
〃God seeth all things； and in Him； blest spirit； Thy sight is；〃 said I； 〃so
that never will Of his can possibly from thee be hidden；
Thy voice； then； that for ever makes the heavens Glad； with the
singing of those holy fires Which of their six wings make themselves a
cowl；
Wherefore does it not satisfy my longings？ Indeed； I would not wait
thy questioning If I in thee were as thou art in me。〃
〃The greatest of the valleys where the water Expands itself；〃 forthwith
its words began； 〃That sea excepted which the earth engarlands；
Between discordant shores against the sun Extends so far； that it
meridian makes Where it was wont before to make the horizon。
I was a dweller on that valley's shore 'Twixt Ebro and Magra that with
journey short Doth from the Tuscan part the Genoese。
With the same sunset and same s