1 Each starry and each planetary sphere
circles the Earth, running like child at play
over and under us from day to day.
4 Although it was midnight in Italy
the time was now late afternoon when we,
rounding the hill, walked west toward the sun
7 and level with it, so it warmed my face
pleasantly, till new dazzlement ahead
caused me to raise my hands and shield my sight,
10 and cry aloud, “What radiance is this?”
“All Heaven’s housekeepers bring extra light,”
said he. “This one beckons to the next stair.
13 The sight of such will soon not dazzle you
but give as much delight as you can bear.”
We neared that angel and I saw he stood
16 where in the cliff a flight of steps began
broader, less steep than any we had known.
A glad angelic voice said, “Enter there,”
19 while his angelic finger pointed up.
We bowed our heads, set feet upon the stair
and climbing heard him very sweetly sing
the fifth beatitude of Jesus Christ: 22
Blessed are the merciful, followed by
You who have overcome a sin, rejoice.
Since we were now ascending side by side 25
I thought to profit by my master’s speech.
“You are the voice of reason and my guide,”
I said to him, “so please will you explain 28
what Guido of Romagna meant when he,
blinded for envy, spoke of partnership?”
Said Virgil, “He now knows the social cost 31
of his worst sin, and so condemns it most.
When goods are kept instead of being shared
goods become selfish gain, so fear of loss 34
drives owners to care nothing for the pain
and poverty they cause by seizing more –
more than they need out of the public store 37
of goodness God has given everyone
our common Earth. The more that folk say ours
instead of mine, the more their charity.” 40
I said, “Forgive me, but I cannot see
why riches some enjoy deprive the rest.”
Said he, “Your worldly greed has blinded you, 43
for property makes darkness of God’s light.
True charity enlarges all we share.
Like sunshine, love enriches all it shows. 46
If these words do not satisfy your need
to know how Heaven’s justice works, then wait
49 ’til you meet Beatrice, who will wholly
supply that craving more than I can do.
Two wounds upon your brow are now erased.
52 Strive to erase five more, though healing them
will cause some pain.” I was about to say
“Your words have satisfied”, when suddenly
55 we reached the topmost stair where I was
silenced by my eyes. They were surprised
by a vision of a congregation,
58 in a great temple. A woman there wore
a sweet maternal look and meekly asked,
“Son, why treat us so? Father and I feared
61 you were lost before we found you here.”
She said no more, vanished, was replaced by
a woman with a fretful tear-wet face
64 crying aloud resentfully, “Husband!
Pisistratus! Athens’ almighty lord!
Are you content that a youth publicly
67 kisses our daughter without punishment?”
I thought I saw smiling Pisistratus
and heard his calm reply: “If I punish
70 those who love me and mine, how will I treat
others who offer hate?” Then I beheld
a frantic mob all yelling, “Kill! Kill! Kill!”
73 while stoning a youth sinking to the ground
praying in his death agonies that God
pardon his enemies. Realities
claimed my mind again. I found my master 76
held my arm as he remarked, “As if drunk,
with shut eyes you have walked for half a league.”
Said I, “But I saw visions! Let me explain . . .” 79
“No need, for if you wore a hundred masks
I would still know your thoughts,” said he.
“Those visions should have taught you to accept 82
waters of peace from God’s eternal source.
I spoke of how you walked upon this road
only to wake you up, put conscious force 85
into what had been blindly stumbling feet.
A dreaming pilgrim sometimes needs a prod.”
We walked on through the evening, gazing ahead, 88
when there sped to us from the setting sun
an airborne shred of what seemed smoke or fog
followed by larger darker shreds, and then 91
dense black cloud overtook them and us too.
There was no escape. Spreading everywhere
it robbed us both of sight and the pure air. 94