Now, son of mine, the tasting of the tree Not in itself was cause of so great exile, But solely the o'erstepping of the bounds. There, whence thy Lady moved Virgilius, Four thousand and three hundred and two circuits Made by the sun, this Council I desired; And him I saw return to all the lights Of his highway nine hundred times and thirty, Before that in the work interminable The people under Nimrod were employed; (Because of human pleasure that doth change, A natural action is it that man speaks; But whether thus or thus, doth nature leave To your own art, as seemeth best to you. Ere I descended to the infernal anguish, El was on earth the name of the Chief Good, 115 120 125 130 From whom comes all the joy that wraps me round; Eli he then was called, and that is proper, Because the use of men is like a leaf On bough, which goeth and another cometh. 136 Upon the mount that highest o'er the wave Rises was I, in life or pure or sinful, From the first hour to that which is the second, As the sun changes quadrant, to the sixth." 140 CANTO XXVII. "GLORY LORY be to the Father, to the Son, And Holy Ghost!" all Paradise began, So that the melody inebriate made me. What I beheld seemed unto me a smile Of the universe; for my inebriation Found entrance through the hearing and the sight. O joy! O gladness inexpressible! O perfect life of love and peacefulness! O riches without hankering secure! Before mine eyes were standing the four torches And even such in semblance it became 10 When I heard say: "If I my color change, My place, my place, which vacant has become Has of my cemetery made a sewer Of blood and stench, whereby the Perverse One, Who fell from here, below there is appeased!” With the same color which, through sun adverse, Painteth the clouds at evening or at morn, Beheld I then the whole of heaven suffused. And as a modest woman, who abides 20 25 30 Sure of herself, and at another's failing, From listening only, timorous becomes, Even thus did Beatrice change countenance; And I believe in heaven was such eclipse, When suffered the supreme Omnipotence; Thereafterward proceeded forth his words With voice so much transmuted from itself, The very countenance was not more changed. "The spouse of Christ has never nurtured been On blood of mine, of Linus and of Cletus, To be made use of in acquest of gold; 35 40 But in acquest of this delightful life Sixtus and Pius, Urban and Calixtus, After much làmentation, shed their blood. Should e'er become the escutcheon on a banner, That should wage war on those who are baptized; Nor I be made the figure of a seal To privileges venal and mendacious, Whereat I often redden and flash with fire. In garb of shepherds the rapacious wolves Are seen from here above o'er all the pastures! Are making ready. O thou good beginning, But the high Providence, that with Scipio At Rome the glory of the world defended, |