Canto XXXI
Canto XXXI
English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow
| 1 | In fashion then as of a snow-white rose |
| 2 | Displayed itself to me the saintly host, |
| 3 | Whom Christ in his own blood had made his bride, |
| 4 | But the other host, that flying sees and sings |
| 5 | The glory of Him who doth enamour it, |
| 6 | And the goodness that created it so noble, |
| 7 | Even as a swarm of bees, that sinks in flowers |
| 8 | One moment, and the next returns again |
| 9 | To where its labour is to sweetness turned, |
| 10 | Sank into the great flower, that is adorned |
| 11 | With leaves so many, and thence reascended |
| 12 | To where its love abideth evermore. |
| 13 | Their faces had they all of living flame, |
| 14 | And wings of gold, and all the rest so white |
| 15 | No snow unto that limit doth attain. |
| 16 | From bench to bench, into the flower descending, |
| 17 | They carried something of the peace and ardour |
| 18 | Which by the fanning of their flanks they won. |
| 19 | Nor did the interposing 'twixt the flower |
| 20 | And what was o'er it of such plenitude |
| 21 | Of flying shapes impede the sight and splendour; |
| 22 | Because the light divine so penetrates |
| 23 | I he universe, according to its merit, |
| 24 | That naught can be an obstacle against it. |
| 25 | This realm secure and full of gladsomeness, |
| 26 | Crowded with ancient people and with modern, |
| 27 | Unto one mark had all its look and love. |
| 28 | O Trinal Light, that in a single star |
| 29 | Sparkling upon their sight so satisfies them, |
| 30 | Look down upon our tempest here below! |
| 31 | If the barbarians, coming from some region |
| 32 | That every day by Helice is covered, |
| 33 | Revolving with her son whom she delights in, |
| 34 | Beholding Rome and all her noble works, |
| 35 | Were wonder-struck, what time the Lateran |
| 36 | Above all mortal things was eminent,-- |
| 37 | I who to the divine had from the human, |
| 38 | From time unto eternity, had come, |
| 39 | From Florence to a people just and sane, |
| 40 | With what amazement must I have been filled! |
| 41 | Truly between this and the joy, it was |
| 42 | My pleasure not to hear, and to be mute. |
| 43 | And as a pilgrim who delighteth him |
| 44 | In gazing round the temple of his vow, |
| 45 | And hopes some day to retell how it was, |
| 46 | So through the living light my way pursuing |
| 47 | Directed I mine eyes o'er all the ranks, |
| 48 | Now up, now down, and now all round about. |
| 49 | Faces I saw of charity persuasive, |
| 50 | Embellished by His light and their own smile, |
| 51 | And attitudes adorned with every grace. |
| 52 | The general form of Paradise already |
| 53 | My glance had comprehended,l as a whole, |
| 54 | In no part hitherto remaining fixed, |
| 55 | And round I turned me with rekindled wish |
| 56 | My Lady to interrogate of things |
| 57 | Concerning which my mind was in suspense. |
| 58 | One thing I meant, another answered me; |
| 59 | I thought I should see Beatrice, and saw |
| 60 | An Old Man habited like the glorious people. |
| 61 | O'erflowing was he in his eyes and cheeks |
| 62 | With joy benign, in attitude of pity |
| 63 | As to a tender father is becoming. |
| 64 | And She, where is she?instantly I said; |
| 65 | Whence he: To put an end to thy desire, |
| 66 | Me Beatrice hath sent from mine own place. |
| 67 | And if thou lookest up to the third round |
| 68 | Of the first rank, again shalt thou behold her |
| 69 | Upon the throne her merits have assigned her. |
| 70 | Without reply I lifted up mine eyes, |
| 71 | And saw her, as she made herself a crown |
| 72 | Reflecting from herself the eternal rays. |
| 73 | Not from that region which the highest thunders |
| 74 | Is any mortal eye so far removed, |
| 75 | In whatsoever sea it deepest sinks, |
| 76 | As there from Beatrice my sight; but this |
| 77 | Was nothing unto me; because her image |
| 78 | Descended not to me by medium blurred. |
| 79 | O Lady, thou in whom my hope is strong, |
| 80 | And who for my salvation didst endure |
| 81 | In Hell to leave the imprint of thy feet, |
| 82 | Of whatsoever things I have beheld, |
| 83 | As coming from thy power and from thy goodness |
| 84 | I recognise the virtue and the grace. |
| 85 | Thou from a slave hast brought me unto freedom, |
| 86 | By all those ways, by all the expedients, |
| 87 | Whereby thou hadst the power of doing it. |
| 88 | Preserve towards me thy magnificence, |
| 89 | So that this soul of mine, which thou hast healed, |
| 90 | Pleasing to thee be loosened from the body. |
| 91 | Thus I implored j and she, so far away, |
| 92 | Smiled, as it seemed, and looked once more at me |
| 93 | Then unto the eternal fountain turned. |
| 94 | And said the Old Man holy: That thou mayst |
| 95 | Accomplish perfectly thy journeying, |
| 96 | Whereunto prayer and holy love have sent me, |
| 97 | Fly with thine eyes all round about this garden |
| 98 | For seeing it will discipline thy sight |
| 99 | Farther to mount along the ray divine. |
| 100 | And she, the Queen of Heaven, for whom I burn |
| 101 | Wholly with love, will grant us every grace, |
| 102 | Because that I her faithful Bernard am. |
| 103 | As he who peradventure from Croatia |
| 104 | Cometh to gaze at our Veronica, |
| 105 | Who through its ancient fame is never sated, |
| 106 | But says in thought, the while it is displayed, |
| 107 | My Lord, Christ Jesus, God of very God, |
| 108 | Now was your semblance made like unto this? |
| 109 | Even such was I while gazing at the living |
| 110 | Charity of the man, who in this world |
| 111 | By contemplation tasted of that peace. |
| 112 | Thou son of grace, this jocund life,began he, |
| 113 | Will not be known to thee by keeping ever |
| 114 | Thine eyes below here on the lowest place |
| 115 | But mark the circles to the most remote, |
| 116 | Until thou shalt behold enthroned the Queen |
| 117 | To whom this realm is subject and devoted. |
| 118 | I lifted up mine eyes, and as at morn |
| 119 | The oriental part of the horizon |
| 120 | Surpasses that wherein the sun goes down, |
| 121 | Thus, as if going with mine eyes from vale |
| 122 | To mount, I saw a part in the remoteness |
| 123 | Surpass in splendour all the other front. |
| 124 | And even as there where we await the pole |
| 125 | That Phaeton drove badly, blazes more |
| 126 | The light, and is on either side diminished, |
| 127 | So likewise that pacific oriflamme |
| 128 | Gleamed brightest in the centre, and each side |
| 129 | In equal measure did the flame abate. |
| 130 | And at that centre, with their wings expanded, |
| 131 | More than a thousand jubilant Angels saw I, |
| 132 | Each differing in effulgence and in kind. |
| 133 | I saw there at their sports and at their songs |
| 134 | A beauty smiling, which the gladness was |
| 135 | Within the eyes of all the other saints |
| 136 | And if I had in speaking as much wealth |
| 137 | As in imagining, I should not dare |
| 138 | To attempt the smallest part of its delight |
| 139 | Bernard, as soon as he beheld mine eyes |
| 140 | Fixed and intent upon its fervid fervour, |
| 141 | His own with such affection turned to her |
| 142 | That it made mine more ardent to behold. |