Paradiso (35 page)
Authors: Dante
‘Two other points regarding which you asked—
→
not for your enlightenment, but for him to tell
60
how much this virtue means to you—
‘I leave to him. For they will not be difficult,
nor offer grounds for boasting of himself.
63
Now let him answer, and may God’s grace be his aid!’
Like the student answering his teacher,
ready and eager in the subject he prepared,
66
intending to display his worth,
‘Hope,’ I said, ‘is the certain expectation
→
of future glory, springing
69
from heavenly grace and merit we have won.
‘This light comes down to me from many stars,
→
but he who first instilled it in my heart
72
was that exalted singer of our exalted Lord.
‘ “Let them have hope in you,” he declares
→
→
in his god-song, “those who know your name.”
75
Among those who share my faith, who does not know it?
‘After he had imbued me with his song,
you poured your epistle down on me so that I,
78
overflowing, now rain your rain on others.’
While I spoke, within the living core
→
of fire appeared a flare, quivering
81
like lightning in sudden and repeated flashes.
Then it breathed forth: ‘The love with which I burn,
→
for the Virtue that was my companion,
84
even to the palm and my departing from the field,
‘bids me breathe words again to you who take delight
in Hope. And I would like to hear you say
87
what promise Hope holds out to you.’
And I: ‘The new and the ancient Scriptures
set forth the goal for souls that God has made his friends
→
→
90
and this directs me to that promise.
‘Isaiah says that each in his own land
→
shall be vested in a double garment,
‘And then your brother, turning his attention
→
to the shining robes, explains to us
96
this revelation with still greater clarity.’
At once, as soon as these words ended,
→
Sperent in te
was heard above us,
→
99
to which all circles of the blessed responded.
Then one light, among them all, shone out so bright
→
that, if the Crab held such a gem,
102
to winter would belong a month of endless day.
As a happy maiden rises and comes forward,
→
joining the dancers only to show honor
105
to the bride, not prompted by desire for display,
so I saw that now brighter splendor gliding
toward the two already whirling to the notes
108
most fitted to the ardent burning of their love.
He joined them there in singing and in dance,
→
and my lady, her gaze fixed on them, stood
111
as a bride stands, silent and motionless.
‘This is he who lay upon the breast
→
of our Pelican, who from the cross
114
elected him to bear the heavy charge.’
These were my lady’s words, nor did her gaze
waver after she had spoken, but stayed intent
117
and fixed as it had been before.
As one who strains his eyes in his attempt to see
→
the sun when it is partly in eclipse,
120
and, his seeing overwhelmed, has lost his sight,
such did I become before that final flaming
until I heard these words: ‘Why do you blind your eyes
→
123
trying to behold what is not here to see?
‘In earth, earth is my body and there shall it lie
→
among the others until our number
126
shall be equal to the eternal purpose.
‘With the two robes in the blessèd cloister
→
are the two lights alone who have ascended,
129
and let this be the news you bring back to your world.’
At these words, the fiery dance was ended,
→
together with the sweetly mingled notes
→
132
that issued from the blended threefold breath,
just as, to avoid fatigue or danger,
oars until that moment driven through the water
135
stop all at once when the whistle sounds.
Ah, how troubled was my mind
→
when I looked back for Beatrice
and could not see her, even though I was
139
so near to her and in that happy world!
STARRY SPHERE
Ananias
;
: love as the cause of all celestial movement;
the answers:
While I was still bewildered at my loss of sight,
→
from the resplendent flame that blinded me
‘Until you have regained the sight
you have consumed on me, you will do well
→
‘Begin, and tell what goal your soul has set.
And be assured your power of sight
‘for the lady who guides you through
this holy place possesses in her glance
12
the power the hand of Ananias had.’
And I said: ‘As soon or as late as she wishes,
→
may the cure come to eyes that were the portals
15
she entered with the fire in which I always burn.
‘The good that satisfies this court
→
→
is alpha and omega of whatever scripture
→
18
Love teaches me in loud or gentle tones.’
The same voice that had set me free
from fear at my sudden blindness
