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 XXXII

• Intent on his delight, that contemplator
• the office of a teacher took unasked,
• and thereupon began these holy words:

• “The one so beautiful at Mary’s feet
• is she who opened and who made the wound,
• which Mary closed again, and then anointed.
• In the order which up there the third seats make,
• Rachel beneath her sits with Beatrice,
• as thou perceivest.

• Sarah, Rebecca, Judith,
• and she who was that singer’s ancestress,
• who said when he was grieving for his sin:
• “Have mercy on me,” thou canst thus behold
• downward from rank to rank, as each I name,
• and through the Rose decline from leaf to leaf.

• Descending from the seventh row of seats,
• even as above it, Hebrew women follow,
• dividing all the tresses of the Flower;
• for in accordance with the attitude
• their faith assumed toward Christ, these women form
• the wall which separates the sacred steps.

• On this side, where full-bloomed the Flower is,
• complete with all its leaves, are seated those
• who in the Christ that was to come believed;
• and on the other, where the semicircles
• are interrupted by still vacant seats,
• are those who faced toward Christ already come.

• And as on this side here the glorious throne
• of Heaven’s own Lady, and the other seats
• beneath it, such a great partition make;
• so, opposite, the seat of that great John,
• who, ever holy, underwent the desert
• and martyrdom, and then two years in Hades;
• while Francis, Benedict and Augustine
• beneath him were decreed to form the line
• with others down to here, from round to round.

• And now behold how great God’s foresight is;
• for each of these two aspects of the Faith
• will fill this Garden to the same extent.

• And know that downward from the row of seats,
• which midway separates the two divisions,
• no one is seated for his own deserts,
• but for another’s, under fixed conditions;
• for all of these are spirits who were freed
• before they had the power to really choose.
• This by their faces thou canst well perceive,
• and by their childish voices furthermore,
• if, looking at them well, thou listen, too.

• Thou doubtest now, and, doubting, thou art silent;
• but I will set thee free from that strong bond
• wherein thy subtle thoughts are holding thee.

• Within the ample nature of this Realm
• nothing can any more occur by chance,
• than either sadness, thirst or hunger can;
• for in accordance with eternal law
• is settled all thou seest, so that here
• close-fitting to the finger is the ring.
• These people, therefore, who before their time
• have reached true life, are not without good cause
• more excellent, or less, among themselves.
• The King, through whom this Kingdom finds repose
• in such delight and love, that no one’s will
• is bold enough to long for any greater;
• creating all minds in His own glad sight,
• as Him it pleases, dowers each with Grace
• in divers ways; here let the fact suffice.
• And this is clearly and expressly marked
• for you in Holy Scripture by those twins
• who in their mother had their wrath aroused.
• According to the color of the hair
• of that Grace, therefore, must the Light supreme
• be worthily accorded as a crown.
• Without deserving aught, then, for their deeds,
• are these to different grades assigned, which differ
• in their innate keen-sightedness alone.

• The faith of parents only was, indeed,
• with innocence, enough for their salvation,
• throughout the centuries of early times.
• Then, when the primal ages had elapsed,
• males were by circumcision forced to win
• the virtue needed by their guileless wings;
• but later, when the age of Grace had come,
• without the perfect baptism in the Christ,
• such innocence was there below retained.

• But now look at the face which to the Christ
• is most resemblant; for its light alone
• can make thee ready to behold the Christ.”

• I saw such gladness raining down on her,
• borne by those holy minds, created such
• that they might fly across those altitudes,
• that whatsoever I had seen before
• ne’er held me with such admiration poised,
• nor showed me such resemblance unto God.

• And that same love which first descended there,
• “Ave Maria, Gratia plena,” singing,
• spread out his open wings in front of her.
• And on all sides the beatific Court
• made such an answer to the song divine,
• that every face became the more serene.

• “O holy father, who for me dost bear
• to be down here, and leave the pleasant place,
• where by eternal lot thou hast thy seat,

• who is that Angel who with such delight
• is at our Queen’s eyes gazing, and is so
• enamored, that he seems to be on fire?”

• For teaching I had thus recourse again
• to him who was from Mary drawing beauty,
• as from the sun the early morning star.

• And he to me: “As much self-trust and grace
• as can be in an Angel or a soul,
• are all in him; and we would have it so;
• for he it was who carried down the palm
• to Mary, when God’s Son upon Himself
• was pleased to take the burden of our flesh.

• But with thine eyes now follow after me,
• as I keep speaking; and note the great Patricians
• of this most just and kind Imperial State.
• The two that have the happiest seats up there,
• because the nearest to Augusta’s throne,
• are, as it were, the two roots of this Rose.
• He that upon the left is at her side,
• that Father is, because of whose bold taste
• the human species tastes such bitterness;
• and on her right thou see’st that ancient Father
• of Holy Church, to whom Christ gave in trust
• the Keys of this fair Flower. And he who saw,
• ere dying, all that fair Bride’s troubled days,
• who with the spear and with the nails was won,
• beside him sits; and at the other’s side

• that Leader rests, ’neath whom the ingrate folk,
• stiff-necked and fickle-minded, lived on manna.

• Anna thou seest sitting opposite
• to Peter, so content to see her daughter,
• that never from her doth she move her eyes,
• although ‘Hosanna!’ singing; o’er against
• the oldest Father of a family
• Lucìa sits, who had thy Lady go,
• when thou thy brows in downward flight didst turn.

• But since apace thy slumber-time is fleeing,
• here will we pause, as that good tailor does,
• who cuts his gown according to his cloth;
• and toward the Primal Love direct our eyes,
• that, looking toward Him, thou mayst penetrate
• as far into His Splendor as thou canst.
• But lest, perchance, by moving thine own wings,
• thou shouldst recede, believing to advance,
• Grace needs must be obtained for thee by prayer;
• Grace from the one who hath the power to help thee;
• hence follow after me with thine affection,
• that from my words thy heart turn not aside.”

• He then began the following holy prayer: