Paradiso: Canto VI

"When Constantine had turned the eagle's flight,
Against Heaven's order, heretofore obeyed.
Following Lavinia's old heroic knight.

That bird of God two hundred years had made,
And more, in Europe's furthest coast its nest,
Near to the hills where first it left the shade;

And 'neath the shadow of its wide wings blest.
From hand to hand the world's dominion ran.
And changing thus, at last with me did rest.

Caesar I was, and am Justinian,
Who, feeling will of primal Love, was bent
To make laws free from vain and cumbrous plan.

And ere I was upon that work intent,
In Christ one nature only, and no more,
I held, and was with that my faith content."

But the blest Agapetus, he who bore
The office of chief shepherd, to my view
Brought by his words the true faith's better lore.

Him I believed, and now, with judgment new,
Discern what he then taught, as thou canst see,
In contradiction marshalled, false and true.

Soon as my steps did with the Church agree,
It was God's will through grace my mind to thrust
To my high task, and this was all to me.

To Belisarius I the arms did trust,
With whom was joined such aid from hand of Heaven
That it was token that my rest was just.

To thy first question thus is answer given;
But now, such is that very question's state.
That I to touch on other grounds am driven.

That thou may'st see with argument of weight
How men contend against the sacred sign,
Who or oppose it or appropriate.

See thou what virtue great hath made it shine.
Worthy of homage; and I there begin
When Pallas died to found its kingly line.

Thou know'st how it in Alba home did win,
And there for more than centuries three abode,
Till champions three met three in conflict's din.

Thou know'st how 'twas on those seven kings bestowed,
From Sabine rape to chaste Lucretia's pain,
While it o'er neighbouring nations conquering strode.

Thou know'st what great achievements it did gain.
By Romans famed 'gainst Brennus, Pyrrhus borne.
And other chieftains in confederate train.

And then Torquatus, Quinctius, named in scorn
From locks unkempt, the Decii, Fabii too.
Won fame to which my myrrh I gladly burn.

It did the pride of Arabs fierce subdue,
Who crossed, behind the steps of Hannibal,
The Alps, whence thou, O Po, dost glide to view.

Young heroes to their triumph did it call,
Scipio and Pompey, and on that same hill
Where thou wast born, full fiercely did it fall.

Then at the time wherein all Heaven's high will
Would bring the world beneath its law serene,
At Rome's behest 'twas borne by Caesar's skill:

And what it did from Varo to the Rhene,
By Isar, Arar, Seine, and every vale
That pays its tribute to the Rhone, was seen.

But what it did when, mighty to prevail,
It left Ravenna, leapt the Rubicon,
Nor tongue nor pen could tell the wondrous tale.

Then towards Spain it wheeled its legions on;
Then towards Durazzo, and Pharsalia smote,
So that hot Nile felt sharp pangs through it run.

Antandros then and Simois remote.
Its birthplace, it resaw, where Hector lay;
Thence with ill speed for Ptolemy did float.

And so to Juba flashing made its way;
And then it wheeled itself towards your west,
Where Pompey's clarion notes were heard to play.

For what he wrought, next bearer of its crest,
Brutus and Cassius howl in nether Hell;
Perugia, Modena, sorely it distrest.

Still Cleopatra's tears of anguish well,
Whom, fleeing from it, by the serpent's bite
A death dark, sudden, terrible befell.

To the Red Sea with him it winged its flight;
With him the world it settled in such peace
That Janus' temple closed its gates of might.

But what the sign, of which to tell doth please.
Had done before and was about to do
For the world's kingdom, ruled by its decrees

Scant and obscure becomes to outward view,
When the third Caesar's hands the sceptre swayed.
If eye be clear and our affection true.

For then the living Justice, which hath made
Me wise, gave it, through him of whom I speak.
The boast of vengeance to His anger paid.

At my rejoinder marvel now, and seek: —
Later it sped with Titus, vengeance right
Upon that vengeance of old sin to wreak.

And when the Lombard tooth began to bite
The Holy Church, beneath its sheltering wing
Came Charlemagne to help with conquering might.

Now canst thou judge what wrong and woe they bring
Whom I but now to thee as guilty named,
And see how from them all your mischiefs spring?

These 'gainst the public standard have proclaimed
The golden lilies: those make it their own;
Uncertain is it who should most be blamed.

Let then the Ghibellines make known, make known.
Their arts 'neath other standard; this is slow
To join with those who justice will dethrone.

And let not this new Charles aim at it blow.
With those his Guelphs, but hold those claws in fear
Which of its hide stripped nobler lion-foe.

Full oft have children shed a bitter tear
For sins of sires, and never let men deem
That God those lilies for His arms shall bear.

This star, though small, as well-adorned doth beam,
Through spirits good that have been seen in act,
That men may them as great and good esteem.

And when desires have settled in that tract,
And from the true path turn aside, the ray
Of true Love needs must show less life in act.

But in the due proportion of our pay
To merits is large measure of our joy.
Since nor o'er-prized nor under -paid are they.

The living Justice doth our thoughts employ
So sweetly that they ne'er aside decline,
To work for others evil or annoy.

As divers tones in music sweet combine,
So in our life the several steps uprise,
And in these spheres make harmony divine.

And so within this fair pearl of the skies
Shines the bright sheen of Romeo, he whose name
And work, though great and fair, gained meagre prize;

But those Provençals who against him came
Have found no cause for mirth; so he fares ill
Who counts as loss another's deeds of fame.

Four daughters, destined each a throne to fill.
Had Raimond Berengario, and 'twas he,
Romeo, the low-born stranger, worked his will;"

Yet was he led by envious calumny
To call to strict account this man so just.
That he for ten gave twelve as usury.

So, old and poor, he parted from his trust;
And if the world but knew the heart he bore,
Begging, for very life's sake, crust on crust.

Who praise him much would praise him then yet more."