Paradiso: Canto XXVI

While I was thus perplexed, mine eyesight gone,
Out from the flame that quenched it, burning bright.
There came a voice that my attention won.

And said, "While thou art winning back the sight
That now, through me, from thee hath vanished,
Tis meet that speech should set the balance right.

Begin then now, and say to what are led
Thy thoughts, and hold it certain thou canst prove,
Thy vision, though bewildered, is not dead;

Since that thy Guide in this bright realm above,
Thy Lady dear, hath in her look the skill
That did the hand of Ananias move."

I said: "Or swift or slow, at her good will,
Come health to eyes that were an open door
Where she came in with fire that burns me still!

The good that on this Court doth blessings pour.
The Alpha and Omega is of all
That Love reads, low or loud, in His sweet lore."

That very voice that freed me from the thrall
And sudden terror of bedazzlement,
To speak yet further did my purpose call.

And said, " Full surely thou must be content
To sift with finer sieve, and thou must tell
Who to such target hath thy bow thus bent."

And I: "By philosophic proof taught well,
And by authority descending hence,
'Tis meet that such love in my heart should dwell;

For good, as good, so far as meets our sense,
Doth straight enkindle love, and all the more
As the good in it groweth more intense;

So to that Essence which prevaileth o'er
All others, so that each good not in It
Is but a ray which Its own light doth pour.

More than to any other, 'tis most fit,
The mind should yield its love, if it discern
The truth that this high argument doth hit.

Such truth he bids my reason clearly learn
Who shows to me that Love is primal Lord
Of all we know as substances eterne.

And the true Teacher's voice brought Moses word,
Of Himself speaking, ' I to thee alone
A vision of all goodness will accord':

Thou too dost bid me learn it, making known
The message high of Truth concealed before.
Which tells to earth what in this Heaven is shown."

Then heard I: "Led by light of human lore,
And by concordant high authority,
Give God thy sovran love for evermore;

But say again if other cords there be
That draw thee to Him, so that thou attest
The many teeth wherewith Love biteth thee."

Not hidden from me was the purpose blest
Of Christ's own Eagle; whither he did mean
To lead my speech to me was manifest;

So I resumed, "Those bites so sharp and keen,
That help to turn man's heart to God on high,
With this my love are all accordant seen.

The world's existence, my humanity.
The death that He endured that I might live,
And that which all the faithful hope as I,

With the clear knowledge which these reasonings give.
Have drawn me from the sea of love perverse
Safe to the shore where true love I conceive.

I on the leaves that clothe the universe,
The Eternal Gardener's garden, love bestow,
As each contains the good He doth disperse."

When I was silent, sweetest song did flow
Through all the Heaven, and my Lady too
With them cried " Holy, Holy, Holy!" So,

As sleep departs when some keen light we view,
Through visual power which goeth forth to meet
The ray that every membrane passeth through.

And the awakened sleeper doth retreat
From what he sees, aroused so suddenly,
Until his reason gives him succour meet;

So from mine eyes did every sunmote flee
Before the rays of Beatrice's light,
That o'er a thousand miles shone gloriously;

Whence clearer than before I found my sight,
And I began to ask, with wondering gaze,
Of a fourth flame that did with us unite.

And then my Lady: " Here, within these rays,
The first soul that the First Power ever made
Looks on its Maker with adoring praise."

And, as a bough, by passing breeze low laid,
Bendeth its top, then riseth up again,
By its own proper virtue upward swayed.

So was I, as I listened to her strain,
Astonied; then new courage soon I won.
Through strong desire that burnt to speak again,

And I began: "O fruit who wast alone
Created fully ripe, O ancient sire.
Who dost each bride as twice a daughter own.

With all my soul devoutly I desire
That thou would'st speak to me; thou know'st my will;
I speak not, but to quickly hear aspire."

As oft we see some poor brute moving still.
All covered up, and all the wrapping shows
The strong affection that its breast doth fill,

Thus did that soul primeval then disclose,
So that it shone through all its covering bright,
What joy to meet my wish within it rose;

Then spake: " Though thou hast not yet brought to light
Thy wish, to me 'tis more distinct and clear
Than aught most certain that thou see'st aright,

Because I see it in that Mirror fair.
Wherein are imaged all the things that be,
While nothing can of It full image bear.

Thou seek'st to know what time hath past for me.
Since God in this high garden set my feet,
Where now this dame by long climb leadeth thee;

How long mine eyes enjoyed this blissful seat.
And what the true cause of the wrath divine.
And in what speech my thoughts found utterance meet.

Know then, my son, 'twas not mere act of mine,"
Tasting the tree, that such an exile wrought,
But the transgressing God's appointed line.

There, whence to thee thy Lady Virgil brought.
For years four thousand, hundreds three, and two,
This great assembly yearned I for in thought,

And I beheld the sun its course pursue.
Through all its signs nine hundred years and more,
Thrice ten, whilst earth was yet within my view.

The language that I spake was past and o'er.
Ere in that work they never could complete
The race of Nimrod toil and trouble bore;

For works of human reason still are fleet,
Through varying will of man, that seeks the new.
As the stars sway his course, their end to meet.

That man should speak, to natural law is due,
But whether thus or thus, doth Nature leave
To you to choose, as best it pleaseth you.

Ere me the infernal anguish did receive,
'I' was the earthly name of that Chief Good
Who now the joy that swathes me round doth us give:

'Eli,' He next was called; for as a wood.
Where one leaf cometh and another goes,
So needs must be all works of human mood.

I, in that Mount that o'er the waters rose,
Dwelt with a life, first pure, then marked with shame,
From the first hour to that which followed close

Upon the sixth, when change of quadrant came."