Such was it in mine eyes, when I had turned,
Caused by the whiteness of the temperate star,
The sixth, which to itself had gathered me.
Within that Jovial torch did I behold

The sparkling of the love which was therein

Delineate our language to mine eyes.

And even as birds uprisen from the shore,

As in congratulation o'er their food,

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Make squadrons of themselves, now round, now long, So from within those lights the holy creatures

Sang flying to and fro, and in their figures
Made of themselves now D, now I, now L.
First singing they to their own music moved;

Then one becoming of these characters,
A little while they rested and were silent.

O divine Pegasea, thou who genius

Dost glorious make, and render it long-lived,

And this through thee the cities and the kingdoms,

Illume me with thyself, that I may bring

Their figures out as I have them conceived! Apparent be thy power in these brief verses! Themselves then they displayed in five times seven

Vowels and consonants; and I observed

The parts as they seemed spoken unto me.

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Diligite justitiam, these were

First verb and noun of all that was depicted;

Qui judicatis terram were the last.

Thereafter in the M of the fifth word

Remained they so arranged, that Jupiter

Seemed to be silver there with gold inlaid. And other lights I saw descend where was

The summit of the M, and pause there singing The good, I think, that draws them to itself. Then, as in striking upon burning logs

Upward there fly innumerable sparks,

Whence fools are wont to look for auguries, More than a thousand lights seemed thence to rise,

And to ascend, some more, and others less,

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Even as the Sun that lights them had allotted;

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And, each one being quiet in its place,

The head and neck beheld I of an eagle

Delineated by that inlaid fire.

He who there paints has none to be his guide;

But Himself guides; and is from Him remembered

That virtue which is form unto the nest.

The other beatitude, that contented seemed

At first to bloom a lily on the M,

By a slight motion followed out the imprint.

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O gentle star! what and how many gems

Did demonstrate to me, that all our justice
Effect is of that heaven which thou ingemmest!
Wherefore I pray the Mind, in which begin

Thy motion and thy virtue, to regard

Whence comes the smoke that vitiates thy rays;

So that a second time it now be wroth

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With buying and with selling in the temple
Whose walls were built with signs and martyrdoms!

O soldiery of heaven, whom I contemplate,

Implore for those who are upon the earth
All gone astray after the bad example!

Once 't was the custom to make war with swords;
But now 't is made by taking here and there
The bread the pitying Father shuts from none.

Yet thou, who writest but to cancel, think

That Peter and that Paul, who for this vineyard

Which thou art spoiling died, are still alive! Well canst thou say: "So steadfast my desire

Is unto him who willed to live alone, And for a dance was led to martyrdom, That I know not the Fisherman nor Paul."

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CANTO XIX.

APPEARED before me with its wings outspread

The beautiful image that in sweet fruition Made jubilant the interwoven souls; Appeared a little ruby each, wherein

Ray of the sun was burning so enkindled

That each into mine eyes refracted it.
And what it now behoves me to retrace

Nor voice has e'er reported, nor ink written,
Nor was by fantasy e'er comprehended;
For speak I saw, and likewise heard, the beak,
And utter with its voice both I and My,

When in conception it was We and Our.
And it began: "Being just and merciful
Am I exalted here unto that glory
Which cannot be exceeded by desire;
earth I left my memory
upon

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Such, that the evil-minded people there

Commend it, but continue not the story."

So doth a single heat from many embers
Make itself felt, even as from many loves
Issued a single sound from out that image.
Whence I thereafter: "O perpetual flowers

Of the eternal joy, that only one

Make me perceive your odors manifold,
Exhaling, break within me the great fast

Which a long season has in hunger held me,
Not finding for it any food on earth.
Well do I know, that if in heaven its mirror

Justice Divine another realm doth make,

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You know how I attentively address me

Yours apprehends it not through any veil.

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To listen; and you know what is the doubt

That is in me so very old a fast."

Even as a falcon, issuing from his hood,

Doth move his head, and with his wings applaud him,
Showing desire, and making himself fine,

Saw I become that standard, which of lauds

Was interwoven of the grace divine,

With such songs as he knows who there rejoices.

Then it began: "He who a compass turned

On the world's outer verge, and who within it
Devised so much occult and manifest,

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