Paradiso: Canto XXI

Already were mine eyes fixed on the face
Of my dear Lady, and with them my mind.
Nor for aught else was found there any place;

Yet she smiled not. " Nay, if I smile could find,"
So she began, " thou would'st like Semele
Become, when she to ashes was consigned;

For this my beauty grows, as thou dost see.
Brighter the higher we ascend the stair
Of this great palace of Eternity;

Were it not tempered, 'twould shine forth so fair
That thy frail mortal strength before its beam.
As branch before the levin-brand, would fare.

Now have we risen to the seventh star's gleam.
Whence, now beneath the burning Lion's breast.
An influence blent with his doth downward stream.

Now fix thy mind there where thine eyes do rest,
And make them as a mirror to the sign
Which in that mirror shall be manifest."

He who should know what joy of heart was mine,
My glad eyes feeding on those features fair,
When my thoughts bore me on another line.

Would know what full contentment was my share.
Obedience yielding to my heavenly guide.
Could he with equal scale the two compare.

Within the crystal sphere which circles wide
Around the world and bears a monarch's name,
Under whose rule lay dead all guilt and pride,

Of golden hue, transmitting ray of flame,
I saw a ladder, rising up so high
That it my keenest vision overcame.

And glories so o'erpowering met mine eye,
Descending on the steps, I deemed each ray-
Was there diffused that shines in this our sky.

And as, accordant to their wonted way,
Rooks move, together clustered, to and fro,
To warm their night-chilled plumes at break of day;

Some, without turning, on their journey go.
And some move, circling, to their starting-place,
And some wheel round, yet only move in show;

So it appeared to me that I could trace
Live movements in the spark-cloud that came on,
Resting at certain points with slackened pace.

And nearest us its station keeping,
Became so bright, I said within my thought,
"Well do I see the love to me thus shown; '

But she who tells me how and when I ought
To speak or hold my peace, stands still, and I,
Against my will, do well to ask of nought."

She, therefore, who my silence did descry
In His clear vision to whom all lies bare,
Said to me, " With thy hot desire comply."

And I began: "No merit that I share
Gives me a claim that thou should'st answer me;
But for her sake who bids me speak my prayer,

O blessed life, whom 'tis not mine to see,"
Wrapt in thy joy, to me, I pray, make known
The cause that to this nearness draweth thee;

And tell me why within this sphere alone
Is hushed that hymn of Paradise so clear.
Which through the rest rings out its dulcet tone."

"Thou hast a mortal's eye, a mortal's ear,"
It answered; " therefore here is song no more.
As Beatrice's smiles are seen not here.

Thus far have I descended, passing o'er
The holy stairway's steps to make thee blest
With voice and mantling rays that round me pour;

Not that more love to quicker movement pressed.
For full as much, and more, above doth glow,
As my bright flame to thee makes manifest:

But the high Charity, which bids us go""
To work the counsels which the world control,
To each assigns his lot, as thou dost know."

"Well do I see," said I, " O burning soul,
How Love unfettered in this court on high
Follows the Eternal Mind that planned the whole;

But that which seems to me a mystery
Is why thou wast predestinate alone.
To this thy task, of all thy company."

Ere from my lips that same last word had flown,
The light, about its centre whirling round,
Went spinning on, as spins a mill's swift stone;

Then answer made the love that there was found:
"A light divine on me is concentrate,
Piercing through this wherein I now am wound.

Whose virtue, with my sight associate,
Lifts me so high above myself that I
The Essence see whence it doth emanate.

Hence comes the joy that me doth glorify.
For as my vision grows more bright and clear,
So shines the flame with brighter clarity:

But that pure soul in heaven that knows no peer,
The Seraph who on God most near doth gaze,
To solve thy question never could come near:

Since deep within the abyss the problem stays
Which thou dost ask, the abyss of God's decree,
From glance of creature eye cut off always;

And when thou art returned, I say to thee,
Tell this to men, that they may not presume
To such a goal to move with footsteps free.

Earth shrouds the soul, which here is bright, in gloom:
Consider then how that may be below.
Wherein he fails who holds Heaven's highest room."

These words he uttered, then restrained me so.
That I withdrew my question, and was fain
Humbly to pray that I his name might know.

"'Twixt the two shores that Italy contain
Rise rocks not distant from thy native town,
So high that lower roars the thunder's strain;

They make a rounded ridge, as Catria known,
'Neath which there stands a holy monastery,
To highest worship consecrate alone."

Thus the third time he turned his speech to me,
And then continuing said, " There I of old
So strong became in God's blest ministry.

That, or in summer's heat or winter's cold,"
The juice of olives was my only fare.
Content with contemplations manifold.

Of old that cloister for these heavens did bear
A fertile harvest, now so barren found,
'Tis meet that soon its shame be all laid bare.

There did my name as Peter Damian sound —
Peter the Sinner was my bye-name, where
Our Lady's convent stands on Adrian shore.

But little mortal life was yet to spare.
When to that hat they called me, yea, they drew,
Which evermore from bad to worse doth wear.

Cephas and he, the Spirit's vessel true
And chosen, barefoot went and mortified.
And ate what food chance hostel to them threw.

Our modern shepherds need on either side
An arm to lead them and strong back to bear.
So weighty they! — and one their train to guide;

And with their palfreys they their mantles share,
And so two beasts go underneath one skin:
O Patience, that, this seeing, canst forbear!"

And at this word I saw more flames begin
To leap down step by step and whirl around,
And as they whirled more beauty did they win;

Then round that soul they came, and kept their ground,
And raised a shout that rang so deep a knell,"
That for it no similitude is found.

Nor could I, thunderstruck, its meaning tell.