Paradiso: Canto XI

Insensate care of mortals! Oh how false the arguments which make thee downward beat thy wings!

One was following after law, and one aphorisms, one was pursuing priesthood, and one dominion by violence or by quibbles,

and another plunder, and another civil business, and one, tangled in the pleasures of the flesh, was moiling, and one abandoned him to case;

the whilst, from all these things released, with Beatrice up in heaven thus gloriously was I received.

When each had come again to that point of the circle whereat he was before, he stayed him, as the taper in its stand.

And within that light which first had spoken to me I heard smiling begin, as it grew brighter:

"Even as I glow with its ray, so, gazing into the Eternal Light, I apprehend whence thou dost take occasion for thy thoughts.

Thou questionest and wouldst fain discern, in such open and dispread discourse as may be level to thine understanding, my utterance

wherein I said but now: Where is good fattening, and wherein I said: No second ever rose; and here we need to make precise distinction.

The providence which governeth the world, — with counsel wherein every creature's gaze must stay, defeated, e'er it reach the bottom, —

in order that the spouse of him, who with loud cries espoused her with the blessed blood, might go toward her delight,

secure within herself and faithfuller to him, two Princes did ordain on her behalf, who on this side and that should be for guides.

The one was all seraphic in his ardour, the other by his wisdom was on earth a splendour of cherubic light.

Of one will I discourse, because of both the two he speaketh who doth either praise, which so he will; for to one end their works.

Between Tupino and the stream that drops from the hill chosen by the blessed Ubaldo, a fertile slope hangs from a lofty mount,

wherefrom Perugia feeleth cold and heat through Porta Sole, and behind it waileth Nocera, for the heavy yoke, and Gualdo.

From this slope, where most it breaks the steepness of decline, was born into the world a sun, even as is this some whiles from Ganges.

Wherefore who speaketh of that place, let him not say Assisi, 'twere to speak short, but Orient, would he name it right.

Not yet was he far distant from his rising when he began to make the earth to feel from his great power a certain strengthening;

for in his youth for such a lady did he rush into war against his father, to whom, as unto death, not one unbars the gate of his good pleasure;

and in the spiritual court that had rule over him, and in his father's presence he was united to her, and then from day to day loved her more strongly.

She, reft of her first husband, a thousand and a hundred years and more, despised, obscure, even till him stood without invitation.

And nought availed her the report that she was found unterrified together with Amyclas, when sounded that man's voice, who struck all the world with terror;

and nought availed her to have been so constant and so bold, that she, when Mary stayed below, mounted the cross with Christ.

But, lest I should proceed too covertly, Francis and Poverty as these two lovers now accept in speech outspread.

Their harmony and joyous semblance, made love and wonder and tender looks the cause of sacred thoughts;

so that the venerable Bernard first cast off his sandals and ran to follow so great peace, and as he ran him thought him all too slow.

Oh wealth unrecognised, oh fertile good! Unsandals him Egidius, unsandals him Sylvester, following the spouse, so doth the bride delight.

Thence took his way, this father and this master, together with his lady, and with the household already binding on the humble cord;

nor abjectness of heart weighed down his brow, that he was Pietro Bernadone's son, nor that he seemed so marvellous despised.

But royally his stern intent to Innocent revealed he, and from him had the first imprint upon his Order.

When the poor folk increased, after his track whose marvellous life were better sung in heaven's glory,

then was the holy will of this chief shepherd circled with a second crown by Honorius at the eternal inspiration.

And when, in thirst of martyrdom, in the proud presence of the Soldan, he preached Christ and his followers;

and because he found the folk too crude against conversion, — not to stay in vain, — returned to gather fruit from the Italian herbage;

then on the harsh rock between Tiber and Arno, from Christ did he receive that final imprint which his limbs two years carried.

When it pleased him who for such good ordained him, to draw him up to his reward which he had earned in making himself lowly,

to his brethren, as to his right heirs, his dearest lady he commended, and bade that they should love her faithfully;

and from her bosom the illustrious soul willed to depart, turning to its own realm, and for its body would no other bier.

Think now what he was, who was a worthy colleague to maintain the barque of Peter in deep sea towards the right sign!

And such was our patriarch; wherefore who followeth him as he commandeth, thou must perceive, loadeth him with good wares.

But his flock hath grown so greedy for new viands, it may not be but that through divers glades it strayeth;

and the more his sheep distant and wandering depart from him, the emptier of milk they return foldwards.

There are of them, indeed, who fear the loss and cleave close to the shepherd, but they are so few that little cloth doth furnish forth their cowls.

Now if my words have not been faint, if thy listening hath been attent, if thou call back to mind what I have said,

in part thy will must now be satisfied, for thou shalt see the plant from which they whittle, and thou shalt see the rebuke that is intended in: Where is good fattening if there be no straying."