Paradiso: Canto XXV

Should it e'er come to pass that the sacred poem to which both heaven and earth so have set hand, that it hath made me lean through many a year,

should overcome the cruelty which doth bar me forth from the fair sheepfold wherein I used to sleep, a lamb, foe to the wolves which war upon it;

with changed voice now, and with changed fleece shall I return, a poet, and at the font of my baptism shall I assume the chaplet;

because into the Faith which maketh souls known of God, 'twas there I entered; and afterward Peter, for its sake, circled thus my brow.

Thereafter moved a light toward us from out that sphere whence issued forth the first fruits of his vicars left by Christ.

And my Lady, full of gladness, said to me, Look! look! behold the Baron for whose sake, down below, they seek Galicia."

As when a dove taketh his place near his companion, and the one poureth out his love for the other, circling round and murmuring,

so did I see one great chieftain glorious received by the other, praising the food which there above doth feast them.

But when the greeting was fulfilled, silent before me each one fixed himself, so kindled it subdued my countenance.

Smiling then Beatrice said: "Illustrious life, by whom the generosity of our court was chronicled,

make hope be sounded in this height; thou knowest that so many times thou figurest it as Jesus gave more light unto the three." Uplift thy head, and see thou reassure thee, for whatso cometh from the mortal world up hither, behoves it ripen in our rays."

Such exhortation from the second flame came to me; whereat I lifted up mine eyes unto the mountains, which had before down-bowed them with excess of weight. Since of his grace our Emperor willeth that ere thy death thou be confronted with his Counts in his most secret hall;

that, having seen the truth of this court, thou mayst thereby strengthen in thyself and mo' the hope that upon earth enamoureth folk of good;

say what thing it is, and how thy mind is therewith enflowered, and say whence unto thee it cometh"; so followed on the second light.

And that tender one who guided the feathers of my wings to so lofty flight, thus foreran me in answer: Church militant hath not a child richer in hope, as is written in the sun who o'errayeth all our host;

therefore was it granted him to come from Egypt to Jerusalem, to look on her, e'er the prescribed limit of his soldiery.

Those two other points — asked not that thou mayst learn, but that he may bear back word how much this virtue is held in pleasure by thee, —

to him I leave; for they will not be hard, nor boastful matter, to him; so let him thereto answer, and may the grace of God concede this to him."

As the pupil who followeth the teacher, eager and glad, in that wherein he is expert, in order that his excellence may be revealed;

"Hope," said I, "is a certain expectation of future glory, the product of divine grace and precedent merit.

From many stars cometh this light to me; but he first distilled it into my heart who was the supreme singer of the supreme leader.

Let them hope in thee, in his divine song he saith, who know thy name; and who knoweth it not, having my faith?

Thou then didst drop it on me with his dropping, in thine Epistle, so that I am full and pour again your shower upon others."

Whilst I was speaking, within the living bosom of that flame trembled a flash sudden and dense like unto lightning.

Then breathed forth: "The love whence I am still a-flame to-ward that virtue which followed me even to the palm and issuing from the field,

willeth that I breathe on thee who dost delight thee in her; and further, 'tis my pleasure that thou tell the thing which hope doth promise thee."

And I: The new and the ancient scriptures set down the symbol, which again doth point me to the thing itself. Of the souls which God hath made his friends

Isaiah saith that each one shall be clad with double garb in its own land, and its own land is this sweet life.

And more worked out by far, doth thy brother, where he treateth of the white robes, set forth this revelation to us."

And, close upon the ending of these words, first rang above us, Let them hope in thee, whereunto all the carols answered;

then, from amongst themselves, a light flashed out, in fashion such that if the Crab contained a crystal like it winter would have a month of one unbroken day.

And as doth rise and go her way and enter on the dance a joyous virgin, only to do honour to the bride, and not for any failing,

so did I see the illumined splendour join the other two,' who were wheeling round in such guise as their burning love befitted.

There it launched itself into their music and their words; and my Lady held her look upon them just like a bride, silent and unmoving.

"This is he who lay upon the breast of our Pelican, and this was he chosen from upon the cross for the great office."

My Lady thus; but no more after than before her words moved she her eyes from their fixed intent.

As who doth gaze and strain to see the sun eclipsed a space, who by looking grows bereft of sight;

so did I to this last flame till a word came: "Wherefore dost dazzle thee to see that which hath here no place?

Earth in the earth my body is, and there it shall be, with the rest, until our number equalleth the eternal purpose.

With the two robes in the blessed cloister are the two lights alone which rose; and this thou shalt take back into your world."

At this voice the flamed circle stilled itself, together with the sweet interlacing made by the sound of the threefold breath,

as, to avert or weariness or peril, the oars till now smitten upon the water, all pause at a whistle's sound.

Ah! how was I stirred in my mind, turning to look on Beatrice, for that I might not see her, albeit I was nigh to her and in the world of bliss