Paradise: Cantos 6–10

Beginning from that hour, when Pallas died
To give it rule, behold the valorous deeds
Have made it worthy reverence.

The one
Against the universal ensign rears
The yellow lilies, and with partial aim
That to himself the other arrogates:

The one
Against the universal ensign rears
The yellow lilies, and with partial aim
That to himself the other arrogates:

In her circuitous course,
Nature, that is the seal to mortal wax,
Doth well her art, but no distinctions owns
’Twixt one or other household.

Nature ever
Finding discordant fortune, like all seed
Out of its proper climate, thrives but ill.

Nor may I tell thee more, save that the meed
Of sorrow well-deserv’d shall quit your wrongs.

And here I glitter, for that by its light
This star o’ercame me. Yet I naught repine,
Nor grudge myself the cause of this my lot,
Which haply vulgar hearts can scarce conceive.

This jewel, that is next me in our heaven,
Lustrous and costly, great renown hath left,
And not to perish, ere these hundred years
Five times absolve their round.

We descry above,
Mirrors, ye call them thrones, from which to us
Reflected shine the judgments of our God:
Whence these our sayings we avouch for good.

Thy city, plant
Of him, that on his Maker turn’d the back,
And of whose envying so much woe hath sprung,
Engenders and expands the cursed flower,
That hath made wander both the sheep and lambs,
Turning the shepherd to a wolf.

I have set before thee, for thyself
Feed now: the matter I indite, henceforth
Demands entire my thought.

Since with its beam
The grace, whence true love lighteth first his flame,
That after doth increase by loving, shines
So multiplied in thee, it leads thee up
Along this ladder, down whose hallow’d steps
None e’er descend, and mount them not again,
Who from his phial should refuse thee wine
To slake thy thirst, no less constrained were,
Than water flowing not unto the sea.

Within, there is the lofty light, endow’d
With sapience so profound, if truth be truth,
That with a ken of such wide amplitude
No second hath arisen.

The limbs, whence it was driven, lie
Down in Cieldauro, and from martyrdom
And exile came it here.

Forthwith,
As clock, that calleth up the spouse of God
To win her bridegroom’s love at matin’s hour,
Each part of other fitly drawn and urg’d,
Sends out a tinkling sound, of note so sweet,
Affection springs in well-disposed breast;
Thus saw I move the glorious wheel, thus heard
Voice answ’ring voice, so musical and soft,
It can be known but where day endless shines.