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！
Therefore it was enjoined upon the Hebrews
To offer still； though sometimes what was offered
Might be commuted； as thou ought'st to know。
The other； which is known to thee as matter；
May well indeed be such that one errs not
If it for other matter be exchanged。
But let none shift the burden on his shoulder
At his arbitrament； without the turning
Both of the white and of the yellow key；
And every permutation deem as foolish；
If in the substitute the thing relinquished；
As the four is in six； be not contained。
Therefore whatever thing has so great weight
In value that it drags down every balance；
Cannot be satisfied with other spending。
Let mortals never take a vow in jest；
Be faithful and not blind in doing that；
As Jephthah was in his first offering；
Whom more beseemed to say； 'I have done wrong；
Than to do worse by keeping； and as foolish
Thou the great leader of the Greeks wilt find；
Whence wept Iphigenia her fair face；
And made for her both wise and simple weep；
Who heard such kind of worship spoken of。'
Christians； be ye more serious in your movements；
Be ye not like a feather at each wind；
And think not every water washes you。
Ye have the Old and the New Testament；
And the Pastor of the Church who guideth you
Let this suffice you unto your salvation。
If evil appetite cry aught else to you；
Be ye as men； and not as silly sheep；
So that the Jew among you may not mock you。
Be ye not as the lamb that doth abandon
Its mother's milk； and frolicsome and simple
Combats at its own pleasure with itself。〃
Thus Beatrice to me even as I write it；
Then all desireful turned herself again
To that part where the world is most alive。
Her silence and her change of countenance
Silence imposed upon my eager mind；
That had already in advance new questions；
And as an arrow that upon the mark
Strikes ere the bowstring quiet hath become；
So did we speed into the second realm。
My Lady there so joyful I beheld；
As into the brightness of that heaven she entered；
More luminous thereat the planet grew；
And if the star itself was changed and smiled；
What became I； who by my nature am
Exceeding mutable in every guise！
As； in a fish…pond which is pure and tranquil；
The fishes draw to that which from without
Comes in such fashion that their food they deem it；
So I beheld more than a thousand splendours
Drawing towards us； and in each was heard：
〃Lo； this is she who shall increase our love。〃
And as each one was coming unto us；
Full of beatitude the shade was seen；
By the effulgence clear that issued from it。
Think； Reader； if what here is just beginning
No farther should proceed； how thou wouldst have
An agonizing need of knowing more；
And of thyself thou'lt see how I from these
Was in desire of hearing their conditions；
As they unto mine eyes were manifest。
〃O thou well…born； unto whom Grace concedes
To see the thrones of the eternal triumph；
Or ever yet the warfare be abandoned
With light that through the whole of heaven is spread
Kindled are we； and hence if thou desirest
To know of us； at thine own pleasure sate thee。〃
Thus by some one among those holy spirits
Was spoken； and by Beatrice： 〃Speak； speak
Securely； and believe them even as Gods。〃
〃Well I perceive how thou dost nest thyself
In thine own light； and drawest it from thine eyes；
Because they coruscate when thou dost smile；
But know not who thou art； nor why thou hast；
Spirit august； thy station in the sphere
That veils itself to men in alien rays。〃
This said I in direction of the light
Which first had spoken to me； whence it became
By far more lucent than it was before。
Even as the sun； that doth conceal himself
By too much light； when heat has worn away
The tempering influence of the vapours dense；
By greater rapture thus concealed itself
In its own radiance the figure saintly；
And thus close； close enfolded answered me
In fashion as the following Canto sings。
Paradiso： Canto VI
〃After that Constantine the eagle turned
Against the course of heaven； which it had followed
Behind the ancient who Lavinia took；
Two hundred years and more the bird of God
In the extreme of Europe held itself；
Near to the mountains whence it issued first；
And under shadow of the sacred plumes
It governed there the world from hand to hand；
And； changing thus； upon mine own alighted。
Caesar I was； and am Justinian；
Who； by the will of primal Love I feel；
Took from the laws the useless and redundant；
And ere unto the work I was attent；
One nature to exist in Christ； not more；
Believed； and with such faith was I contented。
But blessed Agapetus； he who was
The supreme pastor； to the faith sincere
Pointed me out the way by words of his。
Him I believed； and what was his assertion
I now see clearly； even as thou seest
Each contradiction to be false and true。
As soon as with the Church I moved my feet；
God in his grace it pleased with this high task
To inspire me； and I gave me wholly to it；
And to my Belisarius I commended
The arms； to which was heaven's right hand so joined
It was a signal that I should repose。
Now here to the first question terminates
My answer； but the character thereof
Constrains me to continue with a sequel；
In order that thou see with how great reason
Men move against the standard sacrosanct；
Both who appropriate and who oppose it。
Behold how great a power has made it worthy
Of reverence； beginning from the hour
When Pallas died to give it sovereignty。
Thou knowest it made in Alba its abode
Three hundred years and upward； till at last
The three to three fought for it yet again。
Thou knowest what it achieved from Sabine wrong
Down to Lucretia's sorrow； in seven kings
O'ercoming round about the neighboring nations；
Thou knowest what it achieved； borne by the Romans
Illustrious against Brennus； against Pyrrhus；
Against the other princes and confederates。
Torquatus thence and Quinctius； who from locks
Unkempt was named； Decii and Fabii；
Received the fame I willingly embalm；
It struck to earth the pride of the Arabians；
Who； following Hannibal； had passed across
The Alpine ridges； Po； from which thou glidest；
Beneath it triumphed while they yet were young
Pompey and Scipio； and to the hill
Beneath which thou wast born it bitter seemed；
Then； near unto the time when heaven had willed
To bring the whole world to its mood serene；
Did Caesar by the will of Rome assume it。
What it achieved from Var unto the Rhine；
Isere beheld and Saone； beheld the Seine；
And every valley whence the Rhone is filled；
What it achieved when it had left Ravenna；
And leaped the Rubicon； was such a flight
That neither tongue nor pen could follow it。
Round towards Spain it wheeled its legions； then
Towards Durazzo； and Pharsalia smote
That to the calid Nile was felt the pain。
Antandros and the Simois； whence it started；
It saw again； and there where Hector lies；
And ill for Ptolemy then roused itself。
From thence it came like lightning upon Juba；
Then wheeled itself again into your West；
Where the Pompeian clarion it heard。
From what it wrought with the next standard…bearer
Brutus and Cassius howl in Hell together；
And Modena and Perugia dolent were；
Still doth the mournful Cleopatra weep
Because thereof； who； fleeing from before it；
Took from the adder sudden and black death。
With him it ran even to the Red Sea shore；
With him it placed the world in so great peace；
That unto Janus was his temple closed。
But what the standard that has made me speak
Achieved before； and after should achieve
Throughout the mortal realm that lies beneath it；
Becometh in appearance mean and dim；
If in the hand of the third Caesar seen
With eye unclouded and affection pure；
Because the living Justice that inspires me
Granted it； in the hand of him I speak of；
The glory of doing vengeance for its wrath。
Now here attend to what I answer thee；
Later it ran with Titus to do vengeance
Upon the vengeance of the ancient sin。
And when the tooth of Lombardy had bitten
The Holy Church； then underneath its wings
Did Charlemagne victorious succor her。
Now hast thou power to judge of such as those
Whom I accused above； and of their crimes；
Which are the cause of all your miseries。
To the public standard one the yellow lilies
Opposes； the other claims it for a party；
So that 'tis hard to see which sins the most。
Let； let the Ghibellines ply their handicraft
Beneath some other standard； for this ever
Ill follows he who it and justice parts。
And let not this new Charles e'er strike it down；
He and his Guelfs； but let him fear the talons
That from a nobler lion stripped the fell。
Already oftentimes the sons have wept
The father's crime； and let him not believe
That God will change His scutcheon for the lilies。
This little planet doth adorn itself
With the good spirits that ha