And as a little child, that towards its mother Stretches its arms, when it the milk has taken, O, what exuberance is garnered up Within those richest coffers, which had been Which was acquired while weeping in the exile Both with the ancient council and the new, 173 130 735 CANTO XXIV. "O COMPANY elect to the great supper If by the grace of God this man foretaste Something of that which falleth from your table, Direct your mind to his immense desire, And him somewhat bedew; ye drinking are Thus Beatrice; and those souls beatified Transformed themselves to spheres on steadfast poles, And as the wheels in works of horologes Revolve so that the first to the beholder Beheld I issue forth a fire so happy That none it left there of a greater brightness; 30 t And around Beatrice three several times Therefore the pen skips, and I write it not, Since our imagination for such folds, Much more our speech, is of a tint too glaring. "O holy sister mine, who us implorest With such devotion, by thine ardent love Thou dost unbind me from that beautiful sphere" Unto my Lady did direct its breath, To whom our Lord delivered up the keys As good beseemeth thee, about the Faith From thee 'tis hid not; for thou hast thy sight By means of the true Faith, to glorify it So did I arm myself with every reason, 66 While she was speaking, that I might be ready Then turned I round to Beatrice, and she Prompt signals made to me that I should pour Father, of thy dear brother wrote of it, Who put with thee Rome into the good way, Faith is the substance of the things we hope for, And evidence of those that are not seen; And this appears to me its quiddity." 25 Then heard I: "Very rightly thou perceivest, Upon the which is founded the high hope, And it behoveth us from this belief To reason without having other sight, Below by doctrine were thus understood, But tell me if thou hast it in thy purse?" And I: "Yes, both so shining and so round, Thereafter issued from the light profound That there resplendent was: "This precious jewel, Whence hadst thou it ?" And I: "The large outpouring Of Holy Spirit, which has been diffused A syllogism is, which proved it to me With such acuteness, that, compared therewith, And then I heard: "The ancient and the new Postulates, that to thee are so conclusive, Why dost thou take them for the word divine ?” And I "The proofs, which show the truth to me, 'Twas answered me: "Say, who assureth thee That those works ever were? the thing itself That must be proved, nought else to thee affirms it." "Were the world to Christianity converted," This being finished, the high, holy Court Resounded through the spheres, "One God we praise ! " And then that Baron, who from branch to branch, Till the extremest leaves we were approaching, Plays with thine intellect thy mouth has opened, But now thou must express what thou believest, What thou believedst so that thou o'ercamest, The form to manifest of my prompt belief, And I respond: In one God I believe, Sole and eterne, who moveth all the heavens And of such faith not only have I proofs Physical and metaphysical, but gives them Likewise the truth that from this place rains down In Persons three eterne believe, and these With the profound condition and divine Which now I touch upon, doth stamp my mind This the beginning is, this is the spark Which afterwards dilates to vivid flame, His servant straight embraces, gratulating So, giving me its benediction, singing, Three times encircled me, when I was silent, ITS 125 130 135 140 145 CANTO XXV. If e'er it happen that the Poem Sacred, To which both heaven and earth have set their hand, O'ercome the cruelty that bars me out From the fair sheepfold, where a lamb I slumbered, All souls to God there entered I, and then Out of that band whence issued the first-fruits And then my Lady, full of ecstasy, Said unto me: "Look, look! behold the Baron In the same way as, when a dove alights Near his companion, both of them pour forth, So one beheld I by the other grand Prince glorified to be with welcome greeted, 'Illustrious life, by whom the benefactions Of our Basilica have been described, Make Hope resound within this altitude; Thou knowest as oft thou dost personify it As Jesus to the three gave greater clearness.”"Lift up thy head, and make thyself assured; For what comes hither from the mortal world 30 |