Classic Poem

CANTO XIV.

Argument.

The relative degrees of bliss before and after the resurrection. — Dante ascends into Mars, the fifth heavenly sphere; and there beholds a Cross of stars, form'd by the souls of those who have fought for the Faith.

F ROM verge to centre, from the central spot
To verge, within a vase doth move the tide,
Struck from within or from without. This thought
Full swiftly now within my brain did glide,
When that most radiant light discoursed no more,
The soul of great Aquinas glorified.
Because his words the self-same likeness wore
As those of Beatrice, who thus did break
The silence: " Sooth, this mortal of thy lore
Hath need, although he nought thereof doth speak,
With voice nor e'en within his heart; yet he
Fain of another truth the root would seek.
Say, if the light, wherewith your spirits be
Engarlanded, shall evermore remain
As now it is, through all eternity.
And if so, how when ye once more regain
Your bodies, visible as erst on earth,
Shall this excess of splendour cause not pain? "
Even as impell'd by yet more joyous mirth,
The dancers oft pour forth upon the air
A voice, while brighter gladness hath its birth;
Thus, in response unto my eager prayer,
Each holy circle yet more swiftly speeds,
And in its wondrous song fresh joy doth wear.
He who lamenteth sore because he needs,
Ere he can reach this higher life, must die,
Knows not the showers which bless the heavenly meads.
That One and Twain and Three who lives for aye,
And reigneth ever Three and Twain and One,
Not circumscribed, but circumscribing high
And low, three times was by those spirits sung,
With such sweet melody that thence might well
For each good deed a fit reward have sprung.
And, in the fairest light, 'mong those who dwell
Within the lesser circle, did I hear
A voice as soft, perchance, as that which fell
From angel-lips, of old, on Mary's ear;
And thus it spake: " As long as lasts the bliss
Of Paradise, so long shall radiate clear
Our love; and wholly clothe us. And from this
Its glowing ardour comes our shining light,
Its ardour from the vision that, I wis,
Keeps measure with the gift of grace aright.
When with our bodies we are clothed again,
In full beatitude, their splendour bright,
Since more complete, shall be more grateful then:
For God's free gift of light shall still increase,
The light whence we to look on him attain;
Thus clearer gleams the vision of our peace,
More holy ardour from its depths doth glow,
And fairer rays thence shine withouten cease.
But, as the coal, from whence the flames do grow,
Yet in its white and living light is more
In brightness, and its primal form doth show,
Thus shall this splendour which doth veil us o'er
Be vanquish'd by the form, whereon the earth
Still, to this day, lies heavy. And its store
Of light can hurt us not; since higher worth
And strength our organs shall receive, for all
The things whence gladness and delight have birth. "
Then swiftly on my list'ning ear did fall
The word " Amen " from both those glittering quires,
As their dead bodies they would fain recall.
Perchance, not for themselves were their desires;
But for their fathers, friends, and mothers, dear
Ere changed to sempiternal heavenly fires.
And lo! around their radiant forms appear
Splendours more dazzling than at first were seen,
Most like the eastern sky at morning clear.
And as, when eve ariseth, a new sheen
Doth here and there gleam forth from out the sky,
And seems now true, now false; even so, I ween,
Did I new spirit-substances descry,
Moving in circuit round the starry wreath,
In twofold glory glittering on high.
O true effulgence of the holy breath,
How swiftly did thy white and glistening light
Vanquish mine eyes, as yet untouch'd by death!
But Beatrice to me so fair and bright
Appear'd, that, mid the wondrous heavenly throng,
My memory may not follow her aright.
And when mine eyes were once again made strong
To raise their lids, I saw myself upborne,
With my fair Dame, to higher shores of song:
And well my upward path I might discern,
E'en from the stars' more glowing smile, whose gleam
Was redder than the hue it first had worn.
With all my heart, and with the words which stream
The same from all, to God I thanks addrest,
As did such new and wondrous grace beseem:
Nor wholly yet gone forth from out my breast
The sacrificial ardour, ere I knew
Accepted was my litany and blest.
For there, with dazzling glow of blood-red hue,
A splendour gleam'd within with twofold ray;
I said: " O Helios, how dost thou renew
Thy glory! " As the glistening Milky Way,
Sprinkled with greater and with lesser light,
From pole to pole doth in white radiance stray,
With doubt perplexing sages; thus these bright
And constellated beams in Mars profound,
The holy sign now form'd which doth unite
The quadrants in the circle. Words do sound
Here all too weak for memory; for Christ
Flash'd lightnings from that Cross: thus have I found
Of this no image meet. Who follows Christ,
Still taking up his Cross, may surely know
How best to pardon me, beholding Christ,
In glory, mid the white and dazzling glow.
From side to side, from height to depth, a throng
Of stars gleam fairer as they come and go:
Even as, on earth, when the slant sunbeam's long
Bright radiance parts the shadow (which with skill
Ye seek as shelter from the ardour strong
Of summer heat) with restless motion, still
The atoms dance, in straight or devious path,
And, changing ever, swift or slow fulfil
Their ceaseless course. As the melodious breath
Of harp or viol chimeth soft and dim,
To one who knowing nought, yet listeneth,
Sweet music fill'd my heart unto the brim,
From the bright Cross, and bore me unto spheres
Of bliss; yet understood I not the hymn.
Well I perceivid, praises to mine ears
Were borne: " Arise and conquer , " was the strain;
I knew, as one who ignorantly hears.
So much its music all my heart did gain,
Until that hour no other thing was found
Of strength to bind me with so sweet a chain.
It well may be, my words too boldly sound,
As though I did those orbs but lightly prize,
Beholding which did all my longings bound;
But he who seeth that, while I higher rise,
The seals of beauty glow with brighter hues,
And thither, here, I had not turn'd mine eyes,
May well excuse, where me I do accuse,
Myself excusing; and my true words hear,
For highest bliss not yet this spot imbues:
But ever as ye soar doth shine more bright and clear.