sun, entering Aries.-See note, line 9. "According to our poet's system, as the earth is motionless, the sun passes by a spiral motion from one tropic to another."-Cary. (34.) So swift was his ascent to the sun, that Dante could not perceive his progress, and was sensible of his arrival only. Page 95. (Line 41.) " He attributes this great splendour to the souls of learned Divines seen by him in the sun, according to Daniel," xii. 3.-Lombardi. They are afterwards described as "living lustres," and "glowing suns," lines 65, 76. Page 96. (Line 72.) i.e." Which cannot be understood out of Paradise."-Lombardi. (74.) "To expect to mount up, without the wings of Faith and Hope, is to expect to understand things inexplicable." Page 97. (Line 87.) An allusion to Jacob's ladder." It is impossible for a heart that has once tasted the delights of Paradise to attach itself again to earth."--Lombardi. The speaker, as mentioned line 99, is Thomas Aquinas. He proceeds to tell Dante that he cannot refuse him, in his thirst, wine out of his flask; i.e. that he cannot refuse to give him the information he desires. (96.) See note, xi. 25, 137. (98.) This spirit is Albertus Magnus, instructor of the celebrated Thomas Aquinas, the principal speaker in the ensuing cantos. "He was poisoned, according to our poet, by Charles de Valois, who feared that he would discover his evil machinations.”— Volpi. (103.) Graziano di Chiusi, a Benedictine Monk.-He wrote a book on the civil and canon law; and these are the "two Forums" referred to. (107.) Pietro Lombardo was a famous writer on Theology, who upon dedicating his work to the Church, assimilated himself to the poor widow who gave her two mites. Page 98. (Line 109.) This light, we are presently told, contained the spirit of Solomon; whose destiny, whether to hea ven or hell, has been long questioned among Divines. See note, xiii. 139. (114.) i.e. “If the word of God cannot be false;" referring to Kings, b. i. cap. iii. 12; " Lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee." (115.) Dionysius the Areopagite—of whom see canto xxviii. 130, and note. (119.) Paulus Orosius.-He wrote a book against Heresy, dedicated to St. Augustin, who made use of it in his works, according to line 120. (125.) Boethius.From his work, De Consolatione Philosophiæ, Dante took many ideas, and in his Convito calls him his comforter and instructor. He suffered a violent death under Theodoric, King of the Goths, and is supposed to have been buried in the Church of St. Peter at Pavia, called Cielo d'oro-now Cielaureo. The "exile" spoken of, means this world, to which Adam and his posterity were banished from Paradise, and in which we are strangers and pilgríms. (131.) St. Isidaurus, Bishop of Seville. The venerable Bede wrote an ecclesiastical history of England. Riccardo da S. Vittore was a great Theologian. Page 99. (Line 136.) Sigieri was a divine who taught at Paris in a street where straw for horses was sold. (139.) The circling motion, and song of the "glorious circle" of these spirits is likened to the wheel of the clock, which the religious of old times made use of, to waken them betimes for divine service. (140.) By the "Spouse of God," is meant the Church, or congregation of the faithful. CANTO XI. ARGUMENT. DANTE exclaims against the vanity of earthly pursuits, on the occasion of Thomas Aquinas continuing his speech against the modern Dominicans, in which a history is given of St. Dominic and St. Francis. O THE insensate labour men bestow On worldly things!—how weak those reasonings are By merchandize another; this one given 1 7 And in the circle, when each one had taken I heard these accents utter'd with a smile : "As looking on the Eternal Light I burn, So in the lustre of its glowing ray 13 19 Do I the reasonings of thy mind discern. Thou doubtest, and would'st have me frame my speech So clear and undisguised, that what I say The level of thy reasoning powers may reach. Where lately I observed, 'They thrive ;' and where 25 I also said, 'Its like hath never been,' There a distinction must be drawn with care. The Providence, inscrutable and wise, Whose counsels are more deep than may be seen By utmost stretch of mortal faculties ;— To the intent and holy end that She, 31 Whose spousals were confirm'd with cries and blood, (Herself secure and firm in faith) might be More closely to her loving one allied Appointed two Conductors, each endued With heavenly strength, to be to her a guide. Effulgence like the Seraphim one show'd; earth The other-such his wisdom upon Down from that hill the blest Ubaldo chose, Let it no longer of its fame be shorn, away And Orient, not Ascesi, be it hight. 37 43 49 55 |