CANTO X X I.

ARGUMENT.

In the planet Saturn, or seventh heaven, are found contemplative spirits. A vision of Jacob's ladder.

St. Pietro

Damiano reproves the luxury of modern prelates. The voice of vengeance against them is heard to sound.

Now on the face of my loved Lady were
My eyes and mind again intently stay'd;
Nor other object occupied my care :

Her look bore not the accustom'd smile divine;
"And should I but indulge a smile," she said,
"The fate of Semele would soon be thine;
For since my beauty-higher as we rise

Towards the eternal palace-glows more bright
At every step, as witness'd by thine eyes,—
Were not a veil before its radiance cast,

Your mortal vision, dazzled at the sight,

Would shrink as leaves before the lightning blast.

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Now to the seventh light have we ascended,

Which underneath the Lion's burning breast
Is beaming downward, with his ardour blended.
Then let thine eyes afford a mirror true
be exprest

Unto thy mind, that there may

What this resplendent glass shall give to view." He who had relish'd the repast, whereon

Mine eyes were feasting in her holy face,

What time was changed their object, could alone
Know how delightful was to me the obeying
Her voice, which led me by celestial grace—
The one against the other pleasure weighing.
Within the crystal that partakes the name

Of its bright leader (circling round the sky),
Beneath whose sway all vice as dead became,
I saw a stair, on which the sunbeams play'd,
Of golden hue, towards heaven upraised so high,
Mine eyes in vain to reach its top essay'd;
I saw too, coming down that brilliant stair,'

Such multitude of splendours, that methought
Heaven's every light must be concentred there.
And as with one accord, at break of day,

The rooks bestir themselves, by nature taught
To chase the dew-drops from their wings away;

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Some flying off, to re-appear no more—
Others repairing to their nests again,-

Some whirling round-then settling as before ;—
Such to my fancy, and in substance like

To these, was that irradiate sparkling train,

As in their course a certain stair they strike: And one, which unto us appeared the nearest, Became so bright, I thought within my breast, Full well I see the love to me thou bearest ! But she was silent, at whose signal I

Was wont to proffer or withhold request;
Wherefore I check'd my speech, unwillingly.

Whence she, who in the all-seeing eyes of Heav'n
Was witness to my silence, said to me:
"Let reins unto thy strong desire be given."
And I: "No merit I myself possess

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Makes me deserving of reply from thee:

But for her sake who bids me thee address,

O spirit blest, that dost thyself conceal

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Within thine own delight; to me disclose
The reason of thy coming; and reveal
Why the sweet symphony of Paradise
In this high sphere is silent, when in those
Below, devoutly sound its melodies ?"

"Mortal thy hearing as thy sight," she said;
"And the same reason now forbids the song,
That late in Beatrice the smile forbade.
I have descended this most holy stair,

Solely thy festive joyance to prolong,
Both by my voice, and by the garb I wear.
Not through more love more speedily I came,
Since love on high as great or greater glows,
As manifested by the beaming flame;
But the exalted Charity, whose will,
Prompt servants, we obey, on each bestows
The office he is suited to fulfil."

“O sacred lamp,” I said, “full well I see
Eternal Providence is here obey'd

Through love alone, that works spontaneously: But what is difficult to understand

Is, why selection hath of thee been made

For this behest, from all thy numerous band."

Scarce utterance to these accents had I given,

Ere on its centre turn'd the light, like mill
That whirls around, with rapid motion driven.

The love within it utter'd then this sound:

'

"A heavenly lustre doth my spirit fill,

Piercing the radiant vest that wraps me round;

Whose ardent power,

united with

my sight,

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So raises me above myself, I view

The essential Source of this celestial light :
Hence is derived the joy wherewith I glow;
Since in proportion as my sight is true,
The more in likeness to the flame I grow.
But thy demand-not he who in the abode

Of heaven is brightest-not the Seraphin
Who keeps his eye most keenly fixed on God,
May answer ;-since so deeply sunk it lies
The inscrutable decrees of God within,
No creature thither extend his eyes.

may

When thou returnest to the abode of man,
This truth bear with thee ;-that hereafter none
Presume such mighty mysteries to scan.

The mind, enlighten'd here, on earth is dim;
How can it then discern those things, which one
In heaven acknowledges too high for him?"
Such were the boundaries his words assign'd,
I persevered not; but, with reverend fear,
To ask his name my question I confined.
""Twixt the two shores of Italy are found

A line of hills so steep, thy country near,
That underneath them do the thunders sound:

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