The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• The Trinity of Love
• Preface
• Paradiso I
• Paradiso Ii
• Paradiso Iii
• Paradiso Iv
• Paradiso V
• Paradiso Vi
• Paradiso Vii
• Paradiso Viii
• Paradiso Ix
• Paradiso X
• Paradiso Xi
• Paradiso Xii
• Paradiso Xiii
• Paradiso Xiv
• Paradiso Xv
• Paradiso Xvi
• Paradiso Xvii
• Paradiso Xviii
• Paradiso Xix
• Paradiso Xx
• Paradiso Xxi
• Paradiso Xxii
• Paradiso Xxiii
• Paradiso Xxiv
• Paradiso Xxv
• Paradiso Xxvi
• Paradiso Xxvii
• Paradiso Xxviii
• Paradiso Xxix
• Paradiso Xxx
• Paradiso Xxxi
• Paradiso Xxxii
• Paradiso Xxxiii

PARADISO VIII

• The world was at its peril wont to think
• that, in the third of epicycles circling,
• fair Cypria beamed her sensual love abroad;
• the ancient peoples, therefore, in their ancient
• error, with sacrifice and votive cry,
• honored not her alone, but with Diòne
• Cupid as well, the former as her mother,
• the latter as her son; and used to say
• that he had sat of old in Dido’s lap;
• and took from her, from whom I here begin,
• the name-word of the star, at which the sun
• looks fondly, now behind, and now in front.

• Of our ascending to it I was not
• aware; but that we in it were, my Lady,
• whom grown more fair I saw, assured me fully.
• And then, as in a flame a spark is seen,
• and as within a voice a voice is heard,
• when one remains and the other goes and comes;
• so I in that light other lamps beheld,
• whirling with greater speed or less, I think,
• according to each lamp’s eternal vision.

• Out of cold clouds there ne’er descended winds,
• or visible or not, so swiftly moving,
• that they would not appear restrained and slow
• to one who had perceived those lights divine
• draw near to us, when they had ceased the circling,
• among the exalted Seraphs first begun.
• And in the foremost to appear, “Hosanna”
• resounded so, that I have never since
• lacked the desire of hearing it again.

• One then drew nearer to us, and alone
• began: “We all are ready at thy pleasure,
• that thou mayst have thy joy of all of us.
• In one ring, with one circling and one thirst,
• we with the heavenly Principalities
• revolve, to whom once from the world thou saidst:
• ‘Ye who the third heaven by your knowledge move;’
• and we ’re so full of love, that, thee to please,
• a little quiet will not seem less sweet.”

• After mine eyes had toward my Lady turned
• with reverent questioning, and she herself
• had with herself contented and assured them,
• back toward the light they turned, which of itself
• had made such promise, and “Who are ye, say?”
• was what I voiced with great affection toned.

• And how much greater did I see it grow,
• in size and quality, with that new joy,
• which, when I spoke, was added to its joys!

• Grown thus, it said to me: “The world below
• had me not long; but had it done so longer,
• much evil that will be, would not have been.
• The gladness which around me radiates,
• and, like a creature by its own silk swathed,
• conceals me here, now keeps me hidden from thee.
• Much didst thou love me, and good cause hadst thou
• therefor; since, had I been on earth, much more
• would I have shown thee than the leaves of love.

• That left-hand bank, which by the Rhone is washed,
• just after it has mingled with the Sorgue,
• looked in due time to have me as its lord;
• as did the Ausonian horn, which is with Bari,
• Gaèta and Crotona towned, and whence
• the Tronto and Verde pour into the sea.
• Upon my brow already blazed the crown
• of that land which the Danube irrigates,
• when it abandons its Germanic banks;
• and fair Trinacria, which grows dark with smoke
• between Pachynus’ and Pelorus’ capes
• over the gulf which Eurus vexes most,
• not through Typhoèus, but through nascent sulphur,
• would still be waiting for its kings, through me
• from Charles and Rudolph sprung,
• had not ill rule,
• which always angers subject peoples, stirred
• Palermo to the point of shouting: “Die!”

• And did my brother but foresee this now,
• the greedy poverty would he avoid
• of Catalonia, that it harm him not;
• for verily provision must be made
• by him, or by another, that no load
• be further laid upon his burdened bark.
• His nature, which descended mean from one
• which liberal was, would such retainers need,
• as would not care to fill their coffers up.

• “Since I, my lord, believe the joy profound
• thy speech infuses in me, is by thee
• perceived, where every good thing both begins
• and ends, as I perceive it, all the more
• grateful it is; and I am also glad
• that this thou see’st by looking up at God.
• As thou hast made me happy, make it clear,
• for thou hast moved me by thy words to doubt,
• how out of sweet seed bitter seed can spring.”

• This I to him; and he: “If I can show
• a truth to thee, to that which thou dost ask
• thou ’lt hold thy face, as thou dost now thy back.

• The Good which turns and sateth all the Realm
• through which thou mountest, makes His providence
• a power within these mighty bodies here;
• and not alone are natures in that Mind
• foreseen, which of Its own self perfect is,
• but they themselves, and with them their well-being;

• hence, all this bow shoots forth falls predisposed
• unto an end foreseen, as would an arrow
• aimed at its destined mark. Were this not so,
• the heaven through which thou now art journeying,
• in such a way would its effects produce,
• that ruins they would be, not works of art;
• nor can this be, unless the Intellects
• which move these stars are faulty, and the First,
• who failed to make them perfect, faulty, too.
• Wouldst have this truth become more white for thee?”

• And I: “No, truly, for I see that Nature,
• in what is needful, cannot get fatigued.”

• Then he: “Now say: would it be worse on earth
• for man, if he were not a citizen?”

• “Yes,” I replied, “nor do I here ask why.”

• “And can he be, unless men there below
• in different ways for different functions live?
• No, if thereon your teacher writeth well.”

• So far he came, deducing thus; then closed:
• “Because of this the roots of your effects
• must different be; hence one is Solon born,
• Xerxes another, and Melchisedech
• another, and another he, who lost his son
• while flying through the air. Revolving Nature,
• which is a seal to mortal wax, performs
• her function well, but no distinction makes
• ’tween one and any other dwelling-place.

• It hence results that Esau in his seed
• differs from Jacob, while Quirinus comes
• from such a common father, that ascribed
• to Mars he is. A generated nature,
• unless divine foresight prevailed, would always
• follow along its generators’ path.
• Now that which was behind thee is before;
• but that thou know that thou dost give me pleasure,
• I ’d have a corollary mantle thee.

• Nature, whene’er she finds a destiny
• discordant with her, like all other seed
• in soil unsuited to it, always fails;
• and if the world down there but set its mind
• upon the basal plan which Nature lays,
• and followed it, ’t would have its people good.
• But to religion ye now wrest aside
• one that is born to gird him with a sword;
• and make a king of one that ’s fit to preach;
• the course ye take is, therefore, off the road.”