In semblance, therefore, of a pure white Rose
the sacred soldiery which with His blood
Christ made His Bride, revealed itself to me;
meanwhile the other host, which, flying, sees
the glory of Him who wins its love, and sings
the goodness which had made them all so great,
was, like a swarm of bees, which now inflowers
itself, and now returns to where its toil
is sweetened, ever coming down to enter
the spacious Flower, which with so many leaves
adorns itself, and reascending thence
to where its Love forever makes His home.
The faces of them all were living flames,
their wings were golden, and the rest so white,
that never is such whiteness reached by snow.
When down into the Flower they came, they spread
from bench to bench the peace and ardent love,
which by the fanning of their sides they won.
Nor did so vast a host of flying forms
between the flower and that which o’er it lies,
hinder the sight, or dim the splendor seen;

because the Light Divine so penetrates
the Universe, according to its worth,
that naught can be an obstacle thereto.
And this secure and joyous Kingdom, thronged
by people of the ages old and new,
wholly on one Mark set its looks and love.
O Trinal Light, that in a Single Star,
sparkling before their eyes, dost so appease them,
look down upon our tempest here below!
If the Barbarians — coming from a region,
above which Helicë looms every day,
while circling with the son who is her joy,
on seeing Rome and all her lofty buildings,
what time the Lateran rose eminent
o’er every mortal thing — were wonderstruck;
how overwhelmed with awe must I have been,
I, who from human things, to things divine,
from time, into eternity had come,
from Florence — to a people just and sane!
Because of this, indeed, and of my joy,
it pleased me to be mute and hear no sound.
And ev’n as in the temple of his vow,
when hoping to describe it all some day,
a pilgrim looks around him, and is cheered;
ev’n so, while wandering through the living Light,
I turned mine eyes on all the graded ranks,
circling now up, now down, and now around.

There love-persuasive faces I beheld,
decked by Another’s light and their own smiles,
and gestures fraught with grace and dignity.
My look now as a whole had comprehended
the general form of Paradise, but had not yet
settled especially on any part;
and I was longing with rekindled wish
to ask my Lady as to many things,
concerning which my mind was in suspense.
Though one thing I had meant, another answered;
thinking to look at Beatrice, an elder
I saw arrayed as are the glorious folk.
His eyes and cheeks were all suffused with joy
and kindliness, and such his pious mien,
as fitting is a father’s tenderness.
Hence “Where is she?” I said impulsively;
and he: “To bring thy longing to an end,
was I by Beatrice from mine own place
withdrawn; and if upon the highest rank’s
third round thou look, thou shalt again behold her
enthroned where her deserts allotted her.”
Without reply I lifted up mine eyes,
and saw her, as, reflecting from herself
the eternal rays, she made herself a crown.
Not from the tract whence highest thunders peal
is any mortal eye so far removed
from whatsoever sea it fathoms most.

as Beatrice was distant from mine eyes;
but naught was that to me, because her face
came down to me unblurred by aught between.
“O Lady, thou in whom my hope is strong,
and who for my salvation didst endure
to leave the traces of thy feet in Hell,
I recognize the virtue and the grace
of all the many things which I have seen,
as coming from thy power and kindliness.
From slavery to freedom thou hast drawn me
in every way, and over every path,
within thy power to achieve that end.
Guard thou in me the fruitage of thy bounty,
that thus my soul, restored to health by thee,
may, when it leaves my body, please thee still!”
I thus implored; and she, though so far off
she seemed, looked down at me and smiled;
then to the Eternal Fount she turned again.
Thereat the holy elder said: “That thou
mayst bring thy journey to its perfect end,
for which both prayers and holy love have sent me,
hover about this Garden with thine eyes,
for to have seen it will prepare thy look
to rise still higher through the Ray Divine.
The Queen of Heaven, for whom I wholly burn
with love, will grant us this and very grace,
for I her faithful servant Bernard am.”

As he who from Croatia comes, perchance,
to look at our Veronica, and who,
because of its old fame, is never sated,
but says in thought, as long as it is shown:
“My Lord, Christ Jesus, God in very truth,
was, then, your countenance like unto this?”
even such was I, as on the living love
I gazed on him, who in this world received
a taste, in contemplation, of that Peace.
“This glad existence, son of Grace,” he then
began, “will not be known to thee, if fixed
at this low level only are thine eyes.
Look at the circles, to the most remote,
till yonder thou behold that Queen enthroned,
to whom devoutly subject is this Realm.”
I raised mine eyes; and as at early morn
the horizon’s eastern parts excel in light
the regions where the sun is setting; so,
as with mine eyes from vale to mount I moved,
I saw a region at the utmost verge
vanquish in light all other parts before me.
And as the skies where one awaits the car
which Phaethon badly drove, more brightly gleam,
while pale the light on either side becomes;
so likewise, brilliant in the middle loomed
that peaceful Oriflamme, and on each side
the fire in equal measure burned less bright.

And clustered there with wings outspread I saw
more than a thousand Angels jubilant,
and each distinct in splendor and in speed;
while smiling down upon their sports and songs
a Beauty I beheld, who was the joy
within the eyes of all the other Saints.
And even if I in utterance were as rich
as in imagination, I ’d not dare
attempt to tell the least of its delight.
When Bernard saw mine eyes intently fixed
upon the object of his ardent love,
he turned to it his own with such affection,
that mine more eager grew to look again.

Courtney Langdon, translator. Full text is available at Liberty Fund.

Intent on his delight, that contemplator
the office of a teacher took unasked,
and thereupon began these holy words:
“The one so beautiful at Mary’s feet
is she who opened and who made the wound,
which Mary closed again, and then anointed.
In the order which up there the third seats make,
Rachel beneath her sits with Beatrice,
as thou perceivest.
Sarah, Rebecca, Judith,
and she who was that singer’s ancestress,
who said when he was grieving for his sin:
“Have mercy on me,” thou canst thus behold
downward from rank to rank, as each I name,
and through the Rose decline from leaf to leaf.
Descending from the seventh row of seats,
even as above it, Hebrew women follow,
dividing all the tresses of the Flower;
for in accordance with the attitude
their faith assumed toward Christ, these women form
the wall which separates the sacred steps.

On this side, where full-bloomed the Flower is,
complete with all its leaves, are seated those
who in the Christ that was to come believed;
and on the other, where the semicircles
are interrupted by still vacant seats,
are those who faced toward Christ already come.
And as on this side here the glorious throne
of Heaven’s own Lady, and the other seats
beneath it, such a great partition make;
so, opposite, the seat of that great John,
who, ever holy, underwent the desert
and martyrdom, and then two years in Hades;
while Francis, Benedict and Augustine
beneath him were decreed to form the line
with others down to here, from round to round.
And now behold how great God’s foresight is;
for each of these two aspects of the Faith
will fill this Garden to the same extent.
And know that downward from the row of seats,
which midway separates the two divisions,
no one is seated for his own deserts,
but for another’s, under fixed conditions;
for all of these are spirits who were freed
before they had the power to really choose.
This by their faces thou canst well perceive,
and by their childish voices furthermore,
if, looking at them well, thou listen, too.

Thou doubtest now, and, doubting, thou art silent;
but I will set thee free from that strong bond
wherein thy subtle thoughts are holding thee.
Within the ample nature of this Realm
nothing can any more occur by chance,
than either sadness, thirst or hunger can;
for in accordance with eternal law
is settled all thou seest, so that here
close-fitting to the finger is the ring.
These people, therefore, who before their time
have reached true life, are not without good cause
more excellent, or less, among themselves.
The King, through whom this Kingdom finds repose
in such delight and love, that no one’s will
is bold enough to long for any greater;
creating all minds in His own glad sight,
as Him it pleases, dowers each with Grace
in divers ways; here let the fact suffice.
And this is clearly and expressly marked
for you in Holy Scripture by those twins
who in their mother had their wrath aroused.
According to the color of the hair
of that Grace, therefore, must the Light supreme
be worthily accorded as a crown.
Without deserving aught, then, for their deeds,
are these to different grades assigned, which differ
in their innate keen-sightedness alone.

The faith of parents only was, indeed,
with innocence, enough for their salvation,
throughout the centuries of early times.
Then, when the primal ages had elapsed,
males were by circumcision forced to win
the virtue needed by their guileless wings;
but later, when the age of Grace had come,
without the perfect baptism in the Christ,
such innocence was there below retained.
But now look at the face which to the Christ
is most resemblant; for its light alone
can make thee ready to behold the Christ.”
I saw such gladness raining down on her,
borne by those holy minds, created such
that they might fly across those altitudes,
that whatsoever I had seen before
ne’er held me with such admiration poised,
nor showed me such resemblance unto God.
And that same love which first descended there,
“Ave Maria, Gratia plena,” singing,
spread out his open wings in front of her.
And on all sides the beatific Court
made such an answer to the song divine,
that every face became the more serene.
“O holy father, who for me dost bear
to be down here, and leave the pleasant place,
where by eternal lot thou hast thy seat,

who is that Angel who with such delight
is at our Queen’s eyes gazing, and is so
enamored, that he seems to be on fire?”
For teaching I had thus recourse again
to him who was from Mary drawing beauty,
as from the sun the early morning star.
And he to me: “As much self-trust and grace
as can be in an Angel or a soul,
are all in him; and we would have it so;
for he it was who carried down the palm
to Mary, when God’s Son upon Himself
was pleased to take the burden of our flesh.
But with thine eyes now follow after me,
as I keep speaking; and note the great Patricians
of this most just and kind Imperial State.
The two that have the happiest seats up there,
because the nearest to Augusta’s throne,
are, as it were, the two roots of this Rose.
He that upon the left is at her side,
that Father is, because of whose bold taste
the human species tastes such bitterness;
and on her right thou see’st that ancient Father
of Holy Church, to whom Christ gave in trust
the Keys of this fair Flower. And he who saw,
ere dying, all that fair Bride’s troubled days,
who with the spear and with the nails was won,
beside him sits; and at the other’s side

that Leader rests, ’neath whom the ingrate folk,
stiff-necked and fickle-minded, lived on manna.
Anna thou seest sitting opposite
to Peter, so content to see her daughter,
that never from her doth she move her eyes,
although ‘Hosanna!’ singing; o’er against
the oldest Father of a family
Lucìa sits, who had thy Lady go,
when thou thy brows in downward flight didst turn.
But since apace thy slumber-time is fleeing,
here will we pause, as that good tailor does,
who cuts his gown according to his cloth;
and toward the Primal Love direct our eyes,
that, looking toward Him, thou mayst penetrate
as far into His Splendor as thou canst.
But lest, perchance, by moving thine own wings,
thou shouldst recede, believing to advance,
Grace needs must be obtained for thee by prayer;
Grace from the one who hath the power to help thee;
hence follow after me with thine affection,
that from my words thy heart turn not aside.”
He then began the following holy prayer:

Courtney Langdon, translator. Full text is available at Liberty Fund.

“O Virgin Mother, Daughter of thy Son,
humbler and loftier than any creature,
eternal counsel’s predetermined goal,
thou art the one that such nobility
didst lend to human nature, that its Maker
scorned not to make Himself what He had made.
Within thy womb rekindled was the Love,
through whose warm influence in the eternal Peace
this Flower hath blossomed thus. Here unto us
thou art a noonday torch of Charity;
and down below ’mong mortal men, thou art
a living fount of Hope. Lady, so great
thou art, and hast such worth, that one who longs
for Grace, and unto thee hath not recourse,
wingless would wish to have his longing fly.
Not only doth thy Kindliness give help
to him that asketh it, but many times
it freely runs ahead of his request.
In thee is Mercy, Pity is in thee,
in thee Magnificence, and all there is
of Goodness in a creature meets in thee.

Now doth this man, who from the lowest drain
of the Universe hath one by one beheld,
as far as here, the forms of spirit-life,
beseech thee, of thy grace, for so much strength
that with his eyes he may uplift himself
toward Ultimate Salvation higher still.
And I, who never for mine own sight burned
more than I do for his, offer thee all
my prayers, and pray that they be not too poor,
that thou with thy prayers so dissolve each cloud
of his mortality, that unto him
the Highest Pleasure may unfold Itself.
And furthermore, I pray to thee, O Queen,
who canst whate’er thou wilt, that, after such
a sight, thou keep all his affections sound.
His human promptings let thy care defeat;
see with how many blest ones Beatrice
is clasping for my prayers her hands to thee!”
The eyes belovèd and revered by God,
intent on him who prayed, revealed to us
how grateful unto her are earnest prayers.
Thence they addressed them to the Eternal Light,
wherein it may not be believed the eye
of any creature finds so clear a way.
And I, who to the End of all desires
was drawing near, within me, as I ought,
brought to its goal the ardor of desire.

Bernard was smiling, and was making signs
for me to look on high; but, as he wished,
I was already of mine own accord;
because my sight, as purer it became,
was penetrating more and more the radiance
of that High Light, which of Itself is true.
From this time onward greater was my sight
than is our speech, which yields to such a vision,
and memory also yields to such excess.
And such as he, who seeth in a dream,
and after it, the imprinted feeling stays,
while all the rest returns not to his mind;
even such am I; for almost wholly fades
my vision, yet the sweetness which was born
of it is dripping still into my heart.
Even thus the snow is in the sun dissolved;
even thus the Sibyl’s oracles, inscribed
on flying leaves, were lost adown the wind.
O Light Supreme, that dost uplift Thyself
so far from mortal thought, relend my mind
a little of what Thou didst seem to be,
and cause my tongue to be so powerful,
that of Thy Glory it may leave at least
a spark unto the people still to come;
for to my mem’ry if it but a while
return, and speak a little in these lines,
more of Thy Victory will be conceived.

I think the keenness of the living Ray
which I endured would have confounded me,
if from it I had turned away mine eyes.
And I recall that I, because of this,
the bolder was to bear it, till I made
my vision one with Value Infinite.
O the abundant Grace, whereby I dared
to pierce the Light Eternal with my gaze,
until I had therein exhausted sight!
I saw that far within its depths there lies,
by Love together in one volume bound,
that which in leaves lies scattered through the world;
substance and accident, and modes thereof,
fused, as it were, in such a way, that that,
whereof I speak, is but One Simple Light.
This union’s general form I think I saw,
since, saying so, I feel that I the more
rejoice. Of more forgetfulness for me
one moment is, than centuries twenty-five
are for the enterprise which once caused Neptune
to wonder at the shadow Argo cast.
My mind, thus wholly in suspense, was gazing
steadfast and motionless, and all intent,
and, gazing, grew enkindled more and more.
Such in that Light doth one at last become,
that one can never possibly consent
to turn therefrom for any other sight;

because the Good, which is the will’s real object,
is therein wholly gathered, and, outside,
that is defective which is perfect there.
Ev’n as to what I do remember, mine
will now be shorter than an infant’s speech,
who at the breast still bathes his tongue. ’T was not
that there was other than a simple semblance
within the Living Light wherein I gazed,
which always is what It hath been before;
but through my sight, which in me, as I looked,
was gathering strength, because I changed, one sole
appearance underwent a change for me.
Within the Lofty Light’s profound and clear
subsistence there appeared to me three Rings,
of threefold color and of one content;
and one, as Rainbow is by Rainbow, seemed
reflected by the other, while the third
seemed like a Fire breathed equally from both.
Oh, how, to my conception, short and weak
is speech! And this, to what I saw, is such,
that it is not enough to call it small.
O Light Eternal, that alone dost dwell
within Thyself, alone dost understand
Thyself, and love and smile upon Thyself,
Self-understanding and Self-understood!
That Circle which appeared to be conceived
within Thyself as a Reflected Light,
when somewhat contemplated by mine eyes,

within Itself, of Its own very color,
to me seemed painted with our Human Form;
whence wholly set upon It was my gaze.
Like the geometer, who gives himself
wholly to measuring the circle, nor,
by thinking, finds the principle he needs;
ev’n such was I at that new sight. I wished
to see how to the Ring the Image there
conformed Itself, and found therein a place;
but mine own wings were not enough for this;
had not my mind been smitten by a flash
of light, wherein what it was willing came.
Here power failed my high imagining;
but, like a smoothly moving wheel, that Love
was now revolving my desire and will,
which moves the sun and all the other stars.

Courtney Langdon, translator. Full text is available at Liberty Fund.