Paradiso: Canto I

The glory bright of Him who moveth all
Doth penetrate the universe, and shine.
In one part more, while less doth elsewhere fall.

I to that Heaven which most His light divine
Receives, had come, and saw things which to tell
Lack power and skill who pass to lower line;

Because, the closer comes our mind to dwell
With that it longs for, it so deep doth go.
That memory faileth to renew the spell.

Yet all I could in my mind's treasure stow
Of that high realm of perfect holiness,
In this my song shall now its subject know.

O good Apollo! these last labours bless,
And make me such a vessel of thy grace,
That I thy dear-loved laurel may possess.

So far one peak that crowns Parnassus' face
Was found enough, but now, with aids from twain,
I needs must enter the ring's vacant space.

Oh, enter then my breast, and breathe again.
As when poor Marsyas' carcase thou didst skin,
And strip the sheath which did his limbs contain.

O Power Divine! if I such grace may win,
That I the shadow of the Kingdom blest
Should now make known, thus stamped my brain within.

Thou shalt see me by thy loved laurel rest,
And with those leaves I then shall crown my head.
Both through my theme, and thee, owned worthiest.

So seldom, Father, are they gathered
For Caesar's triumph or for poet's brow,
(O sin and shame in human natures bred!),

That joy from the Peneian leaf should flow
To the all-joyous Delphic deity,
When any eager for its wreath doth grow.

A little spark will make the flame rise high,
And after me, perchance, with tones more sweet,
One will so pray that Cirrha may reply.

At different points our mortal gaze doth greet
The world's great lamp, but at that point where we
Four circles, with three crosses blending, meet.

With happier course and happier stars we see
It issue, and the wax of this our earth
Fashion and mould in more complete degree.

On this side noon, that midnight, neared their birth;
And wholly bright was all one hemisphere,
The other swathed in gloom through all its girth,

When to the left I looked, beholding there
My Beatrice, turned to see the sun;
Never did eagle's glance so fixed appear.

And as a second ray is wont to run
Forth from the first, and reascend on high,
Like pilgrim turning when his course is done.

So from her act, upon my phantasy
Through sight impressed, my own its birth did take,
And on the sun fixed unaccustomed eye.

There much may be that here the law would break
Which our sense limits, thanks to that high place,
Fashioned that there mankind their home might make.

Not long I bore it, nor for such short space
But that I saw the sparks fly all around,
As molten iron from furnace flows apace.

And suddenly it seemed as day were found
Added to day, as though the Omnipotent
With yet another sun the heaven had crowned.

And Beatrice, with her whole gaze bent
On the eternal spheres, stood still, and then
I, with my glance down-turned and eyes intent.

In gazing on her, felt within as when
Glaucos of old of that strange herb did eat,
Which with the sea-gods made him denizen.

To paint that life transhumanised unmeet
Were any words: this instance may suffice
Him for whom Grace keeps that experience sweet.

If I was then all Thou did'st last devise
In Thy creative work, Supremest Love,
Thou know'st. Who with Thy light did'st bid me rise.

When that high sphere Thou dost for ever move
With strong desire, my thoughts towards it drew
By music Thou dost temper and approve.

It seemed as though the sky so fiery grew
With the sun's flame, that never rain nor flood
A lake across a wider surface threw.

The strange new sounds and wondrous light imbued
My soul with such desire the cause to know,
As never until then had stirred my blood.

And she who, as I saw myself, e'en so
Saw me, to set my troubled soul at rest,
Spake ere I spake, and from her mouth did flow

These words: " Thyself art by thyself opprest
With false conceptions, that thou canst not see
What thou would'st see, could'st thou their course arrest.

Thou art not on the earth, as seems to thee;
But lightning, fleeing from its proper seat,
Ne'er moved as thou, who back to thine dost flee."

If my first doubt I thus beheld retreat,
Through those few words which, as she smiled them, sped,
Within a new net tangled were my feet:

And thus I spake: " Awhile my wonder fled,
And I had rest, but now I marvel why
Above these bodies light I nimbly tread."

And she, first breathing out a pitying sigh,
Turned her full gaze, with such a look on me,
As mother on her boy's insanity;

And thus began: " A law of order due
Have all things 'mong themselves; a unity
That makes the world to God bear likeness true.

The higher creatures here the impress see
Of that Eternal Power, which is the end
Whereto that self-same law must subject be.

And in that order things diversely tend.
Some more, some less, according to their kind,"
In nearness to the Source whence they descend.

To diverse ports their several ways they wind
O'er the great sea of Being, and each one,
With impulse given to seek the part assigned.

This beareth fire on high towards the moon;"
This is in mortal hearts the motive spring;
By this the earth its form compact hath won.

Nor only doth this bow from off its string
Shoot forth the things without intelligence,
But those who with them Love and Reason bring.

That which thus orders all things, Providence,
Doth with its light the heaven keep ever still,
Wherein that turns whose speed is most immense;

And thither now, as to site fixed by Will,
That bow-string's power mysterious bears us on,
Which at glad mark to aim its darts hath skill.

True is it that, as oft accord is none
Between the form and purpose of an art,
Through the brute matter that we work upon.

So from this course too often doth depart
The creature, which retaineth yet the power.
Though thus impelled, on other lines to start, —

Even as one may see, when tempests lower.
Fire from the clouds fall — if first impulse true
To earth is drawn by false joy of the hour."

Nor, if I judge well, is more wonder due
To thy ascent than to a rivulet.
Which from a high mount flows the low vale through.

Wonder it would be if, with nought to let
Or hinder, thou wert seated still below,
As if on earth swift flame should linger yet."

And then once more her gaze did heavenward go.