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 XXV

• If e’er it happen that the Sacred Poem,
• to which both Heaven and earth have so set hand,
• that it hath made me lean for many years,
• o’ercome the fierceness which against me bars
• the lovely fold, where as a lamb I slept,
• though hostile to the wolves that give it war;
• then, with another voice and other fleece
• a Poet I’ll return, and at the font
• of mine own baptism take the laurel crown;
• for there I entered first into the Faith,
• which makes souls known to God, and Peter later,
• because of my belief, thus wreathed my brow.

• Then toward us, after this, there moved a light
• out of the sphere, from which the first-fruit issued,
• which of his vicars Christ once left behind;
• and, full of joy, my Lady said to me:
• “Look, look! Behold the Baron, for whose sake
• men go to see Galicia down on earth!”

• As, when a dove alighteth near its mate,
• each, by its circling and its cooing, shows
• the other its affection; thus I saw

• one great and glorious Prince the other greet,
• and praise the food
• which sateth them up there.
• But when their mutual gratulations ceased,
• before me each in silence stopped, and flamed
• so brightly, that my face was forced to bow.

• Then, smiling, Beatrice: “Illustrious life,
• by whom the generous liberality
• of our basilica was once described,
• let Hope resound upon these heavenly heights;
• thou know’st that thou didst stand for it, as oft
• as Jesus showed most brightness to the three.”

• “Lift up thy head, and reassure thyself;
• for all that cometh from the mortal world
• up hither, must be ripened in our rays.”

• This comfort reached me from the second fire;
• hence to the hills I raised mine eyes, which erst
• had bowed them down by their excessive weight.

• “Since, of His Graciousness, our Emperor wills
• that thou, before thy death, shouldst face His Counts
• in His most secret hall; that, having seen
• the truth in this our court, thou mayst confirm,
• both in thyself and other souls, the Hope,
• which rightfully enamors men on earth;
• say what it is, and how therewith thy mind
• is blossoming, and whence it came to thee.”
• Thus, further, did the second light proceed.

• And that kind soul who to so high a flight
• had led the feathers of my wings, forestalled
• my answer thus:

• “No child of greater hope
• hath the Church Militant, as in the Sun
• is written, which irràdiates all our band,
• it, therefore, hath been granted him to come
• from Egypt to Jerusalem, and see,
• or e’er the period of his warfare end.
• Thine other two requests, made not for knowledge,
• but so that he may carry back with him
• to what extent this virtue pleases thee,
• I leave to him, for they will not be hard
• for him, nor matter for self-praise; to these
• let him reply, and may God’s Grace assist him.”

• Even as in that wherein he expert is,
• a pupil readily and willingly
• answers his teacher, that his worth be shown;
• “Hope is” I said, “a steadfast expectation
• of future glory, which by Grace divine
• and by preceding merit is produced.
• This light from many stars comes down to me;
• but he into my heart instilled it first,
• who was the Greatest Leader’s greatest bard.
• For “‘Let them hope in Thee, that know Thy Name!’
• the latter in his theody declares,
• and, if he have my faith, who knows it not?

• Then, thou with his instilling, didst so greatly
• instill that hope in me with thine epistle,
• that, filled with it, I pour your rain on others.”

• While I was speaking, in the living bosom
• of that great fire, a bright effulgence quivered
• quickly and often, like a lightning-flash;
• and then it breathed: “The love wherewith I still
• warm to the virtue which once followed me,
• till with the palm I issued from the field,
• would have me give my breath to thee again,
• that dost therein delight; and I am pleased
• to have thee say what promise Hope affords thee.”

• And I: “The Scriptures, both the new and old
• the goal establish of the souls whom God
• hath made His friends; this points it out to me.
• Isaiah says that each in his own land
• will in a double garment be arrayed;
• and his own land is this sweet life of ours;
• and, in a more explicit way, thy brother
• makes this same revelation manifest
• to us, where of the snow white robes the treats.”

• After these words had ended, first was heard
• above us, “Let them hope in Thee,” whereto
• all of the carols made reply; and then
• a light became so brilliant in their midst,
• that, if the Crab had such a crystal star,
• winter would have a month of one sole day.

• And as a happy maiden, rising, goes,
• in honor of the bride, to join the dance,
• and not for any failing on her part;
• even so I saw the splendor, brighter grown,
• approach the two, who in a wheel were turning,
• as it behooved the ardor of their love.
• Into the song and music then it entered;
• and on the three my Lady kept her gaze,
• silent and motionless as would a bride.

• “This is the one who on His breast reclined,
• who is our Pelican, and from the Cross
• selected was, to hold the filial office.”
• Even thus my Lady spoke;
• but no more after did her words withdraw
• her eyes from fixed attention, than before.

• Even as is he, who gazes at the sun,
• and tries to see it partially eclipsed,
• and who, because of seing, groweth blind;
• such I became before that latest fire,
• till this was said: “Why dost thou blind thyself,
• to see a thing which hath no being here?
• Earth is my body on the earth, and there
• will with the others stay, until our number
• shall with the eternal purpose correspond.
• With both their garments in the blessèd cloister
• are those two Lights alone, which hither rose;
• and this shalt thou take back unto your world.”

• Stilled was the flaming circle at these words,
• and with them that sweet mixture which was formed
• out of the music of the threefold breath,
• as, from fatigue or danger to escape,
• oars, which had stroked the water just before,
• are at a whistle’s sound all brought to rest.

• Ah, how disturbed in mind I then became,
• when I turned round to look at Beatrice,
• because I could not see her now, though close
• to her I was, and in the happy world!