Paradiso: Canto IX

When that thy Charles had thus, Clemenza fair,
Made all things clear, he cited, one by one.
The ills his seed through cunning frauds should bear.

But said, " Be dumb, and let the years roll on."
So I can say but this, that wailing due
Will come for all wrongs that to you are done.

And now that holy light's life yet anew
Turned to the Sun which fills it with its rays.
As to that Good where " All in all " is true.

Ah! souls deceived, unholy in your ways,
Who turn your hearts from good like this, and long
With upturned brows for vain and false displays!

And lo! another of that shining throng
Approached me, and its will to give delight
Made known by flashing forth a ray more strong.

The eyes of Beatrice, fixed aright
Upon me, as before, assured me well
Of dear assent to my desire for light.

"I pray thee, quickly meet my wish, and tell,
O Spirit blest," I said, " by some sure sign
That in thy mind my thoughts reflected dwell."

And then that light, which yet as new did shine,
From out the depth whence erst its song flowed on,
Drew near, as though good deed brought joy divine.

In that part of the land that vile has grown,
Italian, which between Rialto lies
And where Piava's, Brenta's springs are known,

A hill is seen, not over-high, to rise,
Whence 'gainst that land erewhile was downward driven
A fiery torch in hostile enterprise.

To this and me one parent stock was given:
Cunizza was I called, and I shine here
Because overcome by this bright star of Heaven.

But joyfully, self-pardoning, I bear
What caused my fate, nor doth it breed annoy,"
Which to your crowd, perchance, will strange appear.

Of this bright jewel, radiant in its joy,
Which of our heaven nearest is to me,
Great fame remained, nor aught shall it destroy.

Until this century quintupled shall be.
See if man's course for virtue should decide.
So that new life may come when this shall flee!

And yet they think not thus who now abide
'Twixt Tagliamento and Adige's shore.
And, though sore smitten, mourn not for their pride.

But soon shall Padua dye the lake with gore
Which bathes the walls of old Vicenza's town,
As stubborn against duty as of yore.

And where Cagnan' and Sile both flow down,
One lords it proudly, goes with head reared high,
The web to catch whom is already thrown.

And Feltro yet will wail the treachery
Of its base shepherd, guilty so that none
To Malta came for like delinquency.

Full large would be the vat in which should run
The blood of the Ferrarese that he shed.
And weary he who, weighing, one by one.

The drops this kind priest shall have lavished
To show his zeal for party; gifts thus famed
To that land's life shall be close fashioned.

Above are mirrors, Thrones ye them have named,
And thence God doth, as judging, on us shine,
So that right good seems all we've thus proclaimed."

Here she was silent, giving me a sign
That she had turned elsewhither, as she flew,
Along her orbit, on her former line.

The other glad one, whom before I knew.
Became a thing resplendent to my sight,
As when the sun lights up a ruby's hue.

On high through joy there comes increase of light,
As smiles appear on earth; but down below.
As the mind grieves the shade grows dark as night.

"God seeth all; from Him thy sight doth flow,"
I said, O blessed spirit, so that nought
Of what He wills escapes thy power to know.

That voice of thine, whence joy to Heaven is brought.
With song that ever flows from those blest fires,
Who of their six wings have a mantle wrought.

Why fails it now to answer my desires?
I had not lingered so for thy demands,
Knew I, as thou my heart, what thine requires."

The greatest valley where the sea expands,"
Then in this strain his words began to flow,
''Except that ocean compassing all lands.

Between discordant shores so far doth go
'Gainst the sun's course, it makes meridian
There where at first it forms horizon low.

Along that valley's shore my childhood ran,
'Twixt Ebro and the Magra, which divides
With short course Genoese from Tuscan man.

With the same sun from dawn till darkness hides.
Lie Buggea and the land from whence I came.
That with its own blood warmed its harbour tides.

Folco that people called me, who my name
Knew well, and now this sphere by me in turn"
Imprest becomes, as I by it became;

Because not more did Belus' daughter burn,
Sychaeus and Creusa both betrayed,
Then I while yet my youth was apt to learn,

Nor that deluded Rhodopean maid,
Demophoon's victim, nor Alcides, when
At Iole's fair shrine his soul was laid.

Here mourn we not, but smile for what was then;
Not at the guilt — that comes not to our mind —
But at the Foresight ordering all for men.

Here gaze we on the skill which hath designed
Such vast effect and so the good we see,
From world on high to world below consigned.

But that each wish of thine thou bear with thee
Fulfilled, that had its birth in this our sphere,
My speech a little while prolonged must be.

Thou fain would'st know whom light encircleth here,
One who beside me sparkling so is seen.
As flashes sunlight on the waters clear.

Now know thou that within there rests serene,
Rahab, and being in our hosts arrayed.
Is in their highest order sealed as queen.

She by this Heaven, where comes to point the shade
Which your earth casts, was welcomed first of all
The souls with which the Christ His triumph made.

Well was it she, as trophy, should recall
Somewhere in Heaven that glorious victory.
Which to the lot of outstretched hands did 'fall,

Because she saw with fond and favouring eye
Joshua's first glory in that Holy Land,
Which the Pope keeps not much in memory.

Thy city, which was planted by his hand
Who first in rebel pride his Maker spurned,
And by whose envy so much woe was planned.

Brings forth and spreads the flower which curse hath earned,
Which leads the sheep and eke the lambs astray.
Since it the shepherd to a wolf hath turned.

For this the Gospels men have cast away.
And the great Doctors, while Decretals claim
Such study as their margins soiled betray.

The Cardinals and Pope devour the same.
Nor ever turn their thoughts to Nazareth,
Where Gabriel once with wings wide open came.

But Vaticano, and what else is yet
Sacred in Rome, the chosen burial-place
Of warriors who in Peter's line were set.

Shall soon be freed from the adulterous race."