CANTO XIX.

ARGUMENT.

THE Eagle replies to Dante's inquiry whether any who are not Christians can be saved.

BEFORE my sight now shone with wings outspread

The beauteous Image, which, new joy imparting,
O'er the collected souls its gladness shed;
Like to a little ruby each in guise-

On which the sun so strong a ray was darting,
Its lustre was refracted on mine eyes.
And that which now I am assign'd to write,
Voice never told before, or pen express'd,
Nor e'er was caught by fancy' highest flight:
For I beheld and heard the eagle speak;
Though in the singular he us address'd,
The plural was intended by the beak.

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"For being just and pious," he began,
"To this high state of glory am I raised,
Surpassing all that is conceived by man:
And such remembrance have I left on earth,
That even by the impious it is praised,
Though slow they be to emulate my worth."
As several brands emit a single heat,

From many loving spirits even so

Did numerous voices in accordance meet.
I then began: "O ye delicious flowers
Of the eternal joy, that ever blow,
Mingling in one your odoriferous showers;
Speak, and the cravings of my soul relieve,
So long a time by hunger tried severely;
Since earthly food may not contentment give.
Well know I, if in any realm of heaven

Supernal Justice is reflected clearly,

In your's no dim or sparing view is given. Ye know how ardent is my wish to hear;

Ye know the doubt that to my bosom clings,

And has so long been found an inmate there."
Lo, as a falcon, from the hood released,

Uplifts his head, and joyous flaps his wings,
His beauty and his eagerness increased ;—

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So saw I plume itself that ensign bright,
Composed of praises to the Spirit divine,
And songs, in heaven expressive of delight:
Then utter: "He his compasses who placed
At the world's limit, and within the line
Drew beauties, dimly or distinctly traced—
Could not so forcibly inscribe His might

Throughout the universe, but that His Word

Must still be left in distance infinite: And hence 'tis evident that he in heaven

Created loftiest, his fate incurr'd

Because he would not wait till light was given.
And hence are all inferior creatures shown
Scant vessels of that Goodness unconfined,
Which nought can measure save Itself alone.
Therefore our intellect a feeble beam,

Struck from the light of the Eternal Mind,—

With which all things throughout creation teem,—— By nature must be quite incapable,

Save in a low and most remote degree,

Of viewing its unbounded principle:
And hence the heavenly Justice can no more
By mortal ken be fathom'd, than the sea:-
For though the eye of one upon the shore

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May pierce its shallow tide - the depths beyond
Baffle his ken, yet there is also laid

A bottom, viewless through the deep profound.
Light is there none, save from the pure Serene,
Which never is disturb'd; all else is shade,
Or poison, or enwrapt in night's black screen.
Now on your
view the dark retreat doth break,
Wherein the living Justice was conceal'd,

Of which such frequent question thou didst make; Saying 'By Indus' stream a man is bred, Where no one hath a dying Christ reveal'd,

Or written of him, or his suffering read; His wishes all, as far as human sense

Is able to discover, blameless are,

And all his actions too, without offence; Yet unbaptized, and heathen, he must die:

Where is this Justice that condemns him?-where, Though he believe not, doth his sinning lie?'

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Now who art thou who would'st assume the place 79 Of Judge; and, with such finite powers, would'st scan His counsels who alone pervadeth space

To him indeed who thus would subtilize,

?

Were Scripture not of greater weight than man-
Matter for doubt in plenty might arise.

O earthly animals! O gross of mind!

The primal Will, innately good, hath never

Swerved, or from its own perfect Self declined. Justice in likeness unto It consists:

No good that is created warps it ever; And by its beam alone that good exists." As the stork lifts herself the nest above,

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When she hath fed her little ones; and they

Regard their mother with a look of love;

E'en so that ever blessed Bird appear'd-
Raising its wings, excited by the sway

Of numerous thoughts;-and so my eyes I rear'd.
Turning around it sang: "Obscure to thee

As have been found these mystic notes of mine; So, dark to man is Heav'n's all wise decree." When silence o'er those burning splendours came Of the Holy Spirit, still within the sign

Which awed the world beneath the Roman name,

It recommenced-" In this high realm abide

None who of old did not in Christ believe,

Before or after he was crucified.

But oh! what multitudes- Lord, Lord,' exclaim,
Who in the judgment shall have cause to grieve
Far more than those who never knew His name.

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