English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
| 1 | ALREADY on my Lady’s face mine eyes |
| 2 | Again were fastened, and with these my mind, |
| 3 | And from all other purpose was withdrawn; |
| 4 | And she smiled not; but If I were to smile, |
| 5 | She unto me began, thou wouldst become |
| 6 | Like Semele, when she was turned to ashes. |
| 7 | Because my beauty, that along the stairs |
| 8 | Of the eternal palace more enkindles, |
| 9 | As thou hast seen, the farther we ascend, |
| 10 | If it were tempered not, is so resplendent |
| 11 | That all thy mortal power in its effulgence |
| 12 | Would seem a leaflet that the thunder crushes. |
| 13 | We are uplifted to the seventh splendour, |
| 14 | That underneath the burning Lion’s breast |
| 15 | Now radiates downward mingled with his power. |
| 16 | Fix in direction of thine eyes the mind, |
| 17 | And make of them a mirror for the figure |
| 18 | That in this mirror shall appear to thee. |
| 19 | He who could know what was the pasturage |
| 20 | My sight had in that blessed countenance, |
| 21 | When I transferred me to another care, |
| 22 | Would recognize how grateful was to me |
| 23 | Obedience unto my celestial escort, |
| 24 | By counterpoising one side with the other. |
| 25 | Within the crystal which, around the world |
| 26 | Revolving, bears the name of its dear leader, |
| 27 | Under whom every wickedness lay dead, |
| 28 | Coloured like gold, on which the sunshine gleams, |
| 29 | A stairway I beheld to such a height |
| 30 | Uplifted, that mine eye pursued it not. |
| 31 | Likewise beheld I down the steps descending |
| 32 | So many splendours, that I thought each light |
| 33 | That in the heaven appears was there diffused. |
| 34 | And as accordant with their natural custom |
| 35 | The rooks together at the break of day |
| 36 | Bestir themselves to warm their feathers cold; |
| 37 | Then some of them fly off without return, |
| 38 | Others come back to where they started from, |
| 39 | And others, wheeling round, still keep at home; |
| 40 | Such fashion it appeared to me was there |
| 41 | Within the sparkling that together came, |
| 42 | As soon as on a certain step it struck, |
| 43 | And that which nearest unto us remained |
| 44 | Became so clear, that in my thought I said, |
| 45 | Well I perceive the love thou showest me; |
| 46 | But she, from whom I wait the how and when |
| 47 | Of speech and silence, standeth still;whence I |
| 48 | Against desire do well if I ask not. |
| 49 | She thereupon, who saw my silentness |
| 50 | In the sight of Him who seeth everything, |
| 51 | Said unto me, Let loose thy warm desire. |
| 52 | And I began: No merit of my own |
| 53 | Renders me worthy of response from thee; |
| 54 | But for her sake who granteth me the asking, |
| 55 | Thou blessed life that dost remain concealed |
| 56 | In thy beatitude, make known to me |
| 57 | The cause which draweth thee so near my side; |
| 58 | And tell me why is silent in this wheel |
| 59 | The dulcet symphony of Paradise, |
| 60 | That through the rest below sounds so devoutly. |
| 61 | Thou hast thy hearing mortal as thy sight, |
| 62 | It answer made to me; they sing not here, |
| 63 | For the same cause that Beatrice has not smiled. |
| 64 | Thus far adown the holy stairway’s steps |
| 65 | Have I descended but to give thee welcome |
| 66 | With words, and with the light that mantles me; |
| 67 | Nor did more love cause me to be more ready, |
| 68 | For love as much and more up there is burning, |
| 69 | As doth the flaming manifest to thee. |
| 70 | But the high charity, that makes us servants |
| 71 | Prompt to the counsel which controls the world, |
| 72 | Allotteth here, even as thou dost observe. |
| 73 | I see full well, said I, O sacred lamp! |
| 74 | How love unfettered in this court sufficeth |
| 75 | To follow the eternal Providence; |
| 76 | But this is what seems hard for me to see, |
| 77 | Wherefore predestinate wast thou alone |
| 78 | Unto this office from among thy consorts. |
| 79 | No sooner had I come to the last word, |
| 80 | Than of its middle made the light a centre, |
| 81 | Whirling itself about like a swift millstone. |
| 82 | When answer made the love that was therein: |
| 83 | On me directed is a light divine, |
| 84 | Piercing through this in which I am embosomed, |
| 85 | Of which the virtue with my sight conjoined |
| 86 | Lifts me above myself so far, I see |
| 87 | The supreme essence from which this is drawn. |
| 88 | Hence comes the joyfulness with which I flame, |
| 89 | For to my sight, as far as it is clear, |
| 90 | The clearness of the flame I equal make. |
| 91 | But that soul in the heaven which is most pure, |
| 92 | That seraph which his eye on God most fixes, |
| 93 | Could this demand of thine not satisfy; |
| 94 | Because so deeply sinks in the abyss |
| 95 | Of the eternal statute what thou askest, |
| 96 | From all created sight it is cut off. |
| 97 | And to the mortal world, when thou returnest, |
| 98 | This carry back, that it may not presume |
| 99 | Longer tow’rd such a goal to move its feet. |
| 100 | The mind, that shineth here, on earth doth smoke; |
| 101 | From this observe how can it do below |
| 102 | That which it cannot though the heaven assume it? |
| 103 | Such limit did its words prescribe to me, |
| 104 | The question I relinquished, and restricted |
| 105 | Myself to ask it humbly who it was. |
| 106 | Between two shores of Italy rise cliffs, |
| 107 | And not far distant from thy native place, |
| 108 | So high, the thunders far below them sound, |
| 109 | And form a ridge that Catria is called, |
| 110 | ‘Neath which is consecrate a hermitage |
| 111 | Wont to be dedicate to worship only. |
| 112 | Thus unto me the third speech recommenced, |
| 113 | And then, continuing, it said: Therein |
| 114 | Unto God’s service I became so steadfast, |
| 115 | That feeding only on the juice of olives |
| 116 | Lightly I passed away the heats and frosts, |
| 117 | Contented in my thoughts contemplative. |
| 118 | That cloister used to render to these heavens |
| 119 | Abundantly, and now is empty grown, |
| 120 | So that perforce it soon must be revealed. |
| 121 | I in that place was Peter Damiano; |
| 122 | And Peter the Sinner was I in the house |
| 123 | Of Our Lady on the Adriatic shore. |
| 124 | Little of mortal life remained to me, |
| 125 | When I was called and dragged forth to the hat |
| 126 | Which shifteth evermore from bad to worse. |
| 127 | Came Cephas, and the mighty Vessel came |
| 128 | Of the Holy Spirit, meagre and barefooted, |
| 129 | Taking the food of any hostelry. |
| 130 | Now some one to support them on each side |
| 131 | The modern shepherds need, and some to lead them, |
| 132 | So heavy are they, and to hold their trains. |
| 133 | They cover up their palfreys with their cloaks, |
| 134 | So that two beasts go underneath one skin; |
| 135 | O Patience, that dost tolerate so much! |
| 136 | At this voice saw I many little flames |
| 137 | From step to step descending and revolving, |
| 138 | And every revolution made them fairer. |
| 139 | Round about this one came they and stood still, |
| 140 | And a cry uttered of so loud a sound, |
| 141 | It here could find no parallel, nor I |
| 142 | Distinguished it, the thunder so o’ercame me. |