From rim to center, center out to rim, →
so does the water move in a round vessel,
as it is struck without, or struck within.
4 What I am saying fell most suddenly
into my mind, as soon as Thomas’s
glorious living flame fell silent, since
7 between his speech and that of Beatrice,
a similarity was born. And she,
when he was done, was pleased to start with this:
10 “He does not tell you of it—not with speech →
nor in his thoughts as yet—but this man needs
to reach the root of still another truth.
13 Do tell him if that light with which your soul
blossoms will stay with you eternally
even as it is now; and if it stays,
16 do tell him how, when you are once again
made visible, it will be possible
for you to see such light and not be harmed.”
19 As dancers in a ring, when drawn and driven
by greater gladness, lift at times their voices
and dance their dance with more exuberance,
22 so, when they heard that prompt, devout request,
the blessed circles showed new joyousness
in wheeling dance and in amazing song.
25 Whoever weeps because on earth we die →
that we may live on high, has never seen
eternal showers that bring refreshment there.
28 That One and Two and Three who ever lives →
and ever reigns in Three and Two and One,
not circumscribed and circumscribing all,
31 was sung three times by each and all those souls
with such a melody that it would be
appropriate reward for every merit.
34 And I could hear within the smaller circle’s →
divinest light a modest voice (perhaps
much like the angel’s voice in speech to Mary) →
37 reply: “As long as the festivity →
of Paradise shall be, so long shall our
love radiate around us such a garment.
40 Its brightness takes its measure from our ardor, →
our ardor from our vision, which is measured
by what grace each receives beyond his merit.
43 When, glorified and sanctified, the flesh
is once again our dress, our persons shall,
in being all complete, please all the more;
46 therefore, whatever light gratuitous
the Highest Good gives us will be enhanced—
the light that will allow us to see Him;
49 that light will cause our vision to increase,
the ardor vision kindles to increase,
the brightness born of ardor to increase.
52 Yet even as a coal engenders flame,
but with intenser glow outshines it, so
that in that flame the coal persists, it shows,
55 so will the brightness that envelops us
be then surpassed in visibility
by reborn flesh, which earth now covers up.
58 Nor will we tire when faced with such bright light, →
for then the body’s organs will have force
enough for all in which we can delight.”
61 One and the other choir seemed to me →
so quick and keen to say “Amen” that they
showed clearly how they longed for their dead bodies—
64 not only for themselves, perhaps, but for
their mothers, fathers, and for others dear
to them before they were eternal flames.
67 And—look!—beyond the light already there, →
an added luster rose around those rings,
even as a horizon brightening.
70 And even as, at the approach of evening,
new lights begin to show along the sky,
so that the sight seems and does not seem real,
73 it seemed to me that I began to see
new spirits there, forming a ring beyond
the choirs with their two circumferences.
76 O the true sparkling of the Holy Ghost— →
how rapid and how radiant before
my eyes that, overcome, could not sustain it!
79 But, smiling, Beatrice then showed to me →
such loveliness—it must be left among
the visions that take flight from memory.
82 From this my eyes regained the strength to look →
above again; I saw myself translated
to higher blessedness, alone with my
85 lady; and I was sure that I had risen
because the smiling star was red as fire—
beyond the customary red of Mars.
88 With all my heart and in that language which →
is one for all, for this new grace I gave
to God my holocaust, appropriate. →
91 Though in my breast that burning sacrifice
was not completed yet, I was aware
that it had been accepted and auspicious;
94 for splendors, in two rays, appeared to me,
so radiant and fiery that I said:
“O Helios, you who adorn them thus!” →
97 As, graced with lesser and with larger lights
between the poles of the world, the Galaxy
gleams so that even sages are perplexed;
100 so, constellated in the depth of Mars,
those rays described the venerable sign →
a circle’s quadrants form where they are joined.
103 And here my memory defeats my wit:
Christ’s flaming from that cross was such that I →
can find no fit similitude for it.
106 But he who takes his cross and follows Christ →
will pardon me again for my omission—
my seeing Christ flash forth undid my force.
109 Lights moved along that cross from horn to horn →
and from the summit to the base, and as
they met and passed, they sparkled, radiant:
112 so, straight and slant and quick and slow, one sees
on earth the particles of bodies, long
and short, in shifting shapes, that move along
115 the ray of light that sometimes streaks across
the shade that men devise with skill and art
to serve as their defense against the sun.
118 And just as harp and viol, whose many chords
are tempered, taut, produce sweet harmony
although each single note is not distinct,
121 so, from the lights that then appeared to me, →
out from that cross there spread a melody
that held me rapt, although I could not tell
124 what hymn it was. I knew it sang high praise,
since I heard “Rise” and “Conquer,” but I was
as one who hears but cannot seize the sense.
127 Yet I was so enchanted by the sound
that until then no thing had ever bound
me with such gentle bonds. My words may seem
130 presumptuous, as though I dared to deem
a lesser thing the lovely eyes that bring →
to my desire, as it gazes, peace.
133 But he who notes that, in ascent, her eyes—
all beauty’s living seals—gain force, and notes
that I had not yet turned to them in Mars,
136 can then excuse me—just as I accuse
myself, thus to excuse myself—and see
that I speak truly: here her holy beauty