Canto XIV
Canto XIV
English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow
| 1 | FROM centre unto rim, from rim to centre, |
| 2 | In a round vase the water moves itself, |
| 3 | As from without 'tis struck or from within. |
| 4 | Into my mind upon a sudden dropped |
| 5 | What I am saying, at the moment when |
| 6 | Silent became the glorious life of Thomas, |
| 7 | Because of the resemblance that was born |
| 8 | Of his discourse and that of Beatrice, |
| 9 | Whom, after him, it pleased thus to begin: |
| 10 | This man has need (and does not tell you so, |
| 11 | Nor with the voice, nor even in his thought) |
| 12 | Of going to the root of one truth more. |
| 13 | Declare unto him if the light wherewith |
| 14 | Blossoms your substance shall remain with you |
| 15 | Eternally the same that it is now; |
| 16 | And if it do remain, say in what manner, |
| 17 | After ye are again made visible, |
| 18 | It can be that it injure not your sight.' |
| 19 | As by a greater gladness urged and drawn |
| 20 | They who are dancing in a ring sometimes |
| 21 | Uplift their voices and their motions quicken; |
| 22 | So, at that orison devout and prompt, |
| 23 | The holy circles a new joy displayed |
| 24 | In their revolving and their wondrous song. |
| 25 | Whoso lamenteth him that here we die |
| 26 | That we may live above, has never there |
| 27 | Seen the refreshment of the eternal rain. |
| 28 | The One and Two and Three who ever liveth, |
| 29 | And reigneth ever in Three and Two and One, |
| 30 | Not circumscribed and all things circumscribing, |
| 31 | Three several times was chanted by each one |
| 32 | Among those spirits, with such melody |
| 33 | That for all merit it were just reward; |
| 34 | And, in the lustre most divine of all |
| 35 | The lesser ring, I heard a modest voice, |
| 36 | Such as perhaps the Angel's was to Mary, |
| 37 | Answer: As long as the festivity |
| 38 | Of Paradise shall be, so long our love |
| 39 | Shall radiate round about us such a vesture. |
| 40 | Its brightness is proportioned to the ardour, |
| 41 | The ardour to the vision; and the vision |
| 42 | Equals what grace it has above its worth. |
| 43 | When, glorious and sanctified, our flesh |
| 44 | Is reassumed, then shall our persons be |
| 45 | More pleasing by their being all complete; |
| 46 | For will increase whate'er bestows on us |
| 47 | Of light gratuitous the Good Supreme, |
| 48 | Light which enables us to look on Him; |
| 49 | Therefore the vision must perforce increase, |
| 50 | Increase the ardour which from that is kindled, |
| 51 | Increase the radiance which from this proceeds. |
| 52 | But even as a coal that sends forth flame, |
| 53 | And by its vivid whiteness overpowers it |
| 54 | So that its own appearance it maintains, |
| 55 | Thus the effulgence that surrounds us now |
| 56 | Shall be o'erpowered in aspect by the flesh, |
| 57 | Which still to-day the earth doth cover up; |
| 58 | Nor can so great a splendour weary us, |
| 59 | For strong will be the organs of the body |
| 60 | To everything which hath the power to please us. |
| 61 | So sudden and alert appeared to me |
| 62 | Both one and the other choir to say Amen, |
| 63 | That well they showed desire for their dead bodies; |
| 64 | Nor sole for them perhaps, but for the mothers, |
| 65 | The fathers, and the rest who had been dear |
| 66 | Or ever they became eternal flames. |
| 67 | And lo! all round about of equal brightness |
| 68 | Arose a lustre over what was there, |
| 69 | Like an horizon that is clearing up. |
| 70 | And as at rise of early eve begin |
| 71 | Along the welkin new appearances, |
| 72 | So that the sight seems real and unreal, |
| 73 | It seemed to me that new subsistences |
| 74 | Began there to be seen, and make a circle |
| 75 | Outside the other two circumferences. |
| 76 | O very sparkling of the Holy Spirit, |
| 77 | How sudden and incandescent it became |
| 78 | Unto mine eyes. that vanquished bore it not! |
| 79 | But Beatrice so beautiful and smiling |
| 80 | Appeared to me, that with the other sights |
| 81 | That followed not my memory I must leave her. |
| 82 | Then to uplift themselves mine eyes resumed |
| 83 | The power, and I beheld myself translated |
| 84 | To higher salvation with my Lady only. |
| 85 | Well was I ware that I was more uplifted |
| 86 | By the enkindled smiling of the star, |
| 87 | That seemed to me more ruddy than its wont. |
| 88 | With all my heart, and in that dialect |
| 89 | Which is the same in all, such holocaust |
| 90 | To God I made as the new grace beseemed; |
| 91 | And not yet from my bosom was exhausted |
| 92 | The ardour of sacrifice, before I knew |
| 93 | This offering was accepted and auspicious; |
| 94 | For with so great a lustre and so red |
| 95 | Splendours appeared to me in twofold rays, |
| 96 | I said: O Helios who dost so adorn them! |
| 97 | Even as distinct with less and greater lights |
| 98 | Glimmers between the two poles of the world |
| 99 | The Galaxy that maketh wise men doubt, |
| 100 | Thus constellated in the depths of Mars, |
| 101 | Those rays described the venerable sign |
| 102 | That quadrants joining in a circle make. |
| 103 | Here doth my memory overcome my genius; |
| 104 | For on that cross as levin gleamed forth Christ, |
| 105 | So that I cannot find ensample worthy; |
| 106 | But he who takes his cross and follows Christ |
| 107 | Again will pardon me what I omit, |
| 108 | Seeing in that aurora lighten Christ. |
| 109 | From horn to horn, and 'twixt the top and base, |
| 110 | Lights were in motion, brightly scintillating |
| 111 | As they together met and passed each other; |
| 112 | Thus level and aslant and swift and slow |
| 113 | We here behold, renewing still the sight, |
| 114 | The particles of bodies long and short, |
| 115 | Across the sunbeam move, wherewith is listed |
| 116 | Sometimes the shade, which for their own defence |
| 117 | People with cunning and with art contrive. |
| 118 | And as a lute and harp, accordant strung |
| 119 | With many strings, a dulcet tinkling make |
| 120 | To him by whom the notes are not distinguished, |
| 121 | So from the lights that there to me appeared |
| 122 | Upgathered through the cross a melody, |
| 123 | Which rapt me, not distinguishing the hymn. |
| 124 | Well was I ware it was of lofty laud, |
| 125 | Because there came to me, Arise and conquer! |
| 126 | As unto him who hears and comprehends not. |
| 127 | So much enamoured I became therewith, |
| 128 | That until then there was not anything |
| 129 | That e'er had fettered me with such sweet bonds. |
| 130 | Perhaps my word appears somewhat too bold, |
| 131 | Postponing the delight of those fair eyes, |
| 132 | Into which gazing my desire has rest; |
| 133 | But who bethinks him that the living seals |
| 134 | Of every beauty grow in power ascending, |
| 135 | And that I there had not turned round to those, |
| 136 | Can me excuse, if I myself accuse |
| 137 | To excuse myself, and see that I speak truly: |
| 138 | For here the holy joy is not disclosed, |
| 139 | Because ascending it becomes more pure. |