Paradiso: Canto III

That sun which erst with love had warmed my breast.
Had, proving and reproving, shown to me
The sweet aspect of truth with beauty blest;

And I, to own myself from error free.
And firm in faith as far as met the need,
Lifted my head as if for colloquy.

But then a vision came and bade me heed,
And fixed my gaze with such a binding spell,
That my confession I forgot to speed.

E'en as in mirror clear and bright, or well
Of waters pure and tranquil and serene,
So deep, its bottom is just visible.

The features of our face by us are seen
So faintly that a pearl on snow-white brow
Meets not our gaze with stroke less quick and

So many faces prompt to speak I now
Beheld, and into opposite error ran
To his who love did to the fountain vow.

And I, when to perceive them I began,
Esteeming them as mirrored semblance vain,
Turned mine eyes round me, whose they were to

And nothing saw, and turned them back again,
Straight to the light of that my sweetest Guide,
Within whose holy eyes bright smiles did reign.

"Let not thy spirit be with wonder tried,"
She said, " because I smiled at thy young thought,
Since still thy foot from Truth's firm base doth glide.

And turns thee, as is wont, to shadowy nought
True substances are these which thou dost see.
Here set apart through vow they left unwrought.

Wherefore speak with them; hear believing be;
For the true light which them doth satisfy
Permitteth not their feet from it to flee."

And to that shade which seemed most eagerly
Converse to crave I turned, beginning so,
As one on whom strong wish weighs heavily.

O Spirit, made for good, in whom doth glow
The sweetness of the rays of life eterne.
Which he who tastes not ne'er can fully know,

To me 'twill grateful be if I may learn
Somewhat about thy name and thine estate."
Then she with laughing eyes did promptly turn.

And said: " Our charity ne'er bars the gate
To just desire, no more than this is done
By That which wills that all it imitate.

I in the world was known as virgin nun;
And if on me thou turn thy mind and eye,
Though now more fair, I shall not be unknown;

But thou in me Piccarda wilt descry.
Who, with the other blessed ones placed here,
Am blest in sphere that moves most tardily.

All our desires, that kindle bright and clear,
In the joy perfect of the Spirit blest.
Rejoice, as each His order's mark doth bear.

And this same lot, which seems so low deprest,
Is given to us because of our neglect,
Which in some point made void our vows profest.

And I: "In thy most wondrous fair aspect
There shines I know not what of the divine,
Transfiguring thee from what I recollect;

Hence slow of memory was this mind of mine;
But now what thou hast told me comes in aid.
So that I trace thee clear as Latin line.

But tell me, ye who here are happy made.
Do ye desire to gain a loftier place,
To see more, make more friends?" With many a shade

That near her stood, she first, with smiling face.
Looked on me, then made answer with such joy.
She seemed to glow with fire of love's first grace:

"Brother, the might of Love gives such employ
To our desires, that it can make us will
Just what we have, unmixed with thirst's alloy.

If we desired to pass on higher still,
Then our desires would be at variance found
With His who bids us here His mansions fill:

This thou wilt see in these spheres hath no ground.
If love be still the one thing needful here.
And if its nature thou search well all round.

So of our bliss this is cause formal, clear,
That each upon God's will himself should stay,
That so our wills may all one Will appear.

So our whole realm rejoiceth in the way
In which from stage to stage we upward mount,
As doth the King whose Will doth our wills sway;

And in His Will of our peace is the fount;"
That is the Sea whereto all beings move.
Which as its works or Nature's works we count."

Full clearly then her words to me did prove
How everywhere in Heaven is Paradise,
Though not on all alike God's grace pours love.

But as it is when one food satisfies,
And for another longs our appetite.
One asks for this; for that, " No, thanks," replies;

So I in act and word did her invite
To tell me what that web was wherein she
Plied not the shuttle to the end aright

Her perfect life and merit great," to me
She said, '' insphere more high, a maid whose train
Obedient, with her garb and veil agree.

That they may watch or sleep, till death they gain,
With that true Spouse who every vow will own.
Which love to His good pleasure doth constrain.

To follow her I did the world disown
In girlhood's prime, and in her garb was drest,
And vowed to take her order's path alone;

But men, with worst more conversant than best,
Stole me from out the cloister's dear retreat:
What my life then was is to God confest.

And this bright form which here thy gaze doth meet
Upon my right, and is illumined"
With all the light that makes our sphere complete.

Hears what I say as though of her 'twere said.
She was a Sister, and from her was torn
The shadow of the blest veil round her head;

But when she backward to the world was borne,"
Against her will, against all custom right.
For ever on her heart the veil was worn.

Of great Costanza here is seen the light,
Who to the second Suabian storm-blast bore
The third, and last, of line of puissant might."

So spake she, and began her strain to pour,
"Ave Maria," parting, with that song.
As sinks a stone by deep pool covered o'er.

My gaze, which followed her for full as long
As it was possible, when she was gone,
Turned to the object of a love more strong.

And all to Beatrice wandered on;
But she so flashed her lightnings on mine eye,
My sight at first no strength to meet it won.

And that caused me to question tardily.