Paradiso
Canto XXV
St. James examines Dante on the subject of Hope. Beatrice answers for him, to spare his modesty, and says he has this virtue in full measure and on that account been privileged to behold Paradise. As to the nature of Hope, Dante himself answers. This examination ended, Beatrice points out to Dante the spirit of St. John, which dazzles him so that for the moment he is as one blind.
IF EVER it happen that the sacred song[i]1. “The sacred song”: the Divine Comedy.
Whereto both heaven and earth have set a hand,
Whereby I am lean, these many years and long,
Overcome the cruelty which keeps me banned
From the fair sheepfold where I slept, a lamb,[ii]5. “The fair sheepfold”: Florence.
Foe to the wolves that raven through the land,
With different voice now, nor with fleece the same,
Shall I return, poet, and at the fount[iii]8-9. “The fount”: the Church of San Giovanni, in Florence. “The chaplet”: the laurel crown.
Of my baptising shall the chaplet claim,
Because into the faith that makes the account [10]
Of souls to God I won then; for which worth
Peter wreathed such a light about my front.
Thereafter toward us moved a splendour forth[iv]13-15. “A splendour”: St. James. “The first fruits”: St. Peter.
Out of that sphere whence we had seen issue
The first fruits of Christ’s vicars left on earth.
Whereon my Lady, full of gladness new,
Said to me: “Look; look! see the Baron move
For whose sake is Galicia journeyed to.”[v]18. The grave of St. James at Compostella in Galicia was a favourite place of pilgrimage.
As when by its companion comes a dove
To settle close, and each one to its mate, [20]
Turning and cooing, poureth forth its love,
So the one prince, so glorious and great,
I saw received by the other, while that food
They lauded, spread above, their souls to sate.
But when the welcome was complete, they stood
Each of them silent coram me, so bright[vi]26. “Coram me”: before me.
And burning that my sight was all subdued.
Smiling then, Beatrice spoke: “Illustrious light,
To whom ’twas given the bounteous largess
Of our celestial palace once to write, [30][vii]30. “To write”: in the Epistle of James there are some references to divine liberality.
Do thou make Hope to sound in this high place:
Thou knowest that thou as often hast pictured it
As Jesus showed the three that special grace.”[viii]33. “The three”: Peter, James and John.
“Lift up thy head, and confidently quit
Thyself! For whatso mortal dares to soar
Hither, our rays must ripen and complete.”
The second flame this comfort breathed: wherefore[ix]37-38. “The second flame”: St. James. “The hills”: the two Apostles.
I lifted up mine eyes unto the hills
Which beat them down by too much weight before.
“Since, ere death, of His grace our Emperor wills [40]
That face to face thou should’st His Nobles see
In the most secret hall His presence fills,
That having seen this Court in verity
Thou in thyself and others mayest breed
Stronger the hope on earth enamouring thee,
Say what this is, and how therewith the seed[x]46. “Say what this is”: Hope.
Flowers in thy mind; and say whence comes this thing.”
Thus further did the second light proceed;
And that compassionate one who set my wing,
Guiding its feathers, on a flight so vast, [50]
Fore-ran my answer, herself thus answering:
“Church Militant hath not a child to boast
Of greater hope; ’tis writ in the Sun’s beam
Which radiateth over all our host.
Therefore from Egypt to Jerusalem[xi]55. By “Egypt” is meant life on earth.
’Twas granted him to come, to look on her,
Before his soldier’s service end for him.
The other two points asked by thee, which were
Not for the sake of knowing, but to record
How much this virtue to thy heart is dear, [60]
I leave to him; for they will not be hard,
Nor theme for vain-glory: let him reply
Therefore, and God this grace to him accord.”
Like pupil answering teacher eagerly,
Prompt in those points wherein he is most expert,
To give proof of his quality, “Hope,” said I,
“Is certain expectation that the heart
Has of the future glory; the effect
Of divine grace and precedent desert.
Me did the light from many stars direct; [70]
He first distilled it into me with his breath,[xii]71. “He”: David.
Singer supreme of the supreme Prefect.
For ‘let them put their trust in thee’ he saith
In his psalm, ‘all who know thy name’; and who
Knoweth it not, if he possess my faith?
Then didst thou into me instil his dew[xiii]76. “Thou”: St. James.
In thine epistle, so that I overflow
And upon others spill your rain anew.”
While I was speaking, a quick-throbbing glow
In that fire’s living bosom was revealed, [80]
Like lightning in its sudden come-and-go.
Then spoke its breath: “The warm love still not quelled
For that dear virtue, which companioned me
Even to the palm and the issue of the field,[xiv]84. “The palm”: of martyrdom. “The field”: the battlefield of life.
Bids me breathe to thee, who find’st felicity
In her; and me it pleases that thou tell
What thing it is that Hope has promised thee.”
And I: “The old Scripture and the new as well
Set up the goal, pointing to Hope at hand,
Of all the souls God wills with Him to dwell. [90]
Isaiah says that each in his own land
Shall in a double garment be arrayed;[xv]92. “In a double garment”: the effulgence of the soul and the clarified body.
And this delectable life is his own land.
Also in far distincter mode conveyed
(Where of the white apparelling he wrote),
Thy brother hath this revelation made.”[xvi]96. “Thy brother”: St. John, in Rev. 3:5 and 7:9-17.
Just on the close of these words, I heard float
A singing from above Sperent in te;[xvii]98. “Will put their trust in Thee.”
Whereunto answered every Carol's note.
Then ‘mid them brightened so intense a ray [100][xviii]100. “A ray”: the light of St. John. If the constellation of Cancer (the Crab) contained a star as bright as this, night would be as light as day.
That, if the Crab such crystal could enclose,
Winter would have a month of one sole day.
Blithe as a maiden rises up and goes
To join the dance, not flaunting, but to do
That honour to the new bride which she owes,
So did that brightened splendour join the two,
Who dancing wheeled in measure, at such pace[xix]107. The three representatives of the Christian virtues dance before Beatrice.
As to the ardour of their love was due.
It sang and danced itself into its place:
My Lady held them in her gaze confined [110]
As a bride stays, silent and motionless.
“This is he, this, who on the breast reclined
Even of our Pelican; ’tis he who bore[xx]113. The “Pelican” was a symbol of Christ.
The great charge from the cross to him consigned.”[xxi]114. John was entrusted with the care of Mary.
My Lady thus; but moved her eyes no more,
Intent in contemplation and delight,
After her words than she had done before.
As he who, gazing, strives with all his might
To see the sun eclipsed for a brief while,
And who by seeing is bereft of sight, [120]
So did I strive with the last flame, until
I heard a voice: “Why dazzlest thou thine eyes
To see that, which hath no place here to fill?[xxii]123. Dante believes, mistakenly, that John was taken up to Heaven in the flesh.
Earth in earth is my body, and there lies
With the others, till our number shall comport
With what the eternal purposes devise.
With both robes in the blessed cloister’s court
Are the two lights which alone rose from ground;[xxiii]128. “The two lights”: Christ and Mary. Theirs are the only human bodies now in Heaven.
And this I bid thee to your world report.”
Hearing this voice, the circle flaming round [130]
Was stilled, and with it that sweet mingling-up
Of threefold breath in one harmonious sound,[xxiv]132. “Threefold breath”: of Peter, James, and John.
As, to forestall fatigue or some ill hap,
The oars, that till then smote the water sheer,
All at the one blast of a whistle stop.
Ah, how my mind was shaken and in fear
When now I turned to look on Beatrice!
For now I could not see her, though so near
I was to her, and in the world of bliss.