CANTO XXIV,

ARGUMENT,

St. Peter examines Dante concerning Faith.

"O YE, elected to the banquet high

Of the ever blessed Lamb, whence ye obtain
Food that doth every craving satisfy;
Since of the crumbs that from your table fall
This man through mercy doth a foretaste gain,
Ere death at the appointed season call,

Regard his inexhaustible desires,

And with a little dew assuage them ;-ye

Drink ever of the fount to which he aspires."

Thus Beatrice-anon these spirits came

Around us in a circle, joyfully,

Darting, like comets, each a living flame.

P

1

7

And like to wheels such as a clock supply,

So turning that the first scarce seems to move,
While to the sight the last appears to fly;
These lucid circles dancing even so,
According to their several shares of love,

Appear'd endued with motion swift or slow.
From one, of beauty, as I mark'd, supreme,
Issued a splendour, glowing brilliantly,
All others far surpassing in its beam;
And three times around Beatrice it wound,
Pouring forth so divine a minstrelsy,

That fancy faileth to record the sound:
Wherefore my pen leaps o'er, unskill'd to write;
For if imagination fail,-still less

May words essay to paint such colours bright.

"O holy sister, thy impassion'd prayer,

And love, impell'd by fond devotedness,

Have drawn me down from yonder mansion fair."

Thus to my Lady did that flame elect,

Soon as around her it had ceased to move,

Its voice in answer to her words direct.

"O holy Light, to whom our Lord," she said,
"The keys he hither brought from heaven above,
(The keys of this our wondrous joy) convey'd,—

13

19

25

31

Question him more or less, as pleaseth thee,

Concerning Faith-that faith by which of old
Thou wert endued with power to walk the sea.
His love, his hope, his faith are manifest

To thee, who dost that heavenly Glass behold,
In which all things are visibly express'd.
But since by the true faith this kingdom gain'd
Her citizens, 'tis meet that he disclose

It's power, and what by faith may be obtain'd."
His armour as the bachelor puts on,

Nor speaks, until the master doth propose

The question they are to contend upon;

So I with reasons arm'd me, to prepare

(While she was speaking, and I silent heard) For such a theme and such a questioner.

37

43

49

"Good Christian, what is Faith, to me make known :" Straightway I raised my forehead at the word,

Unto the Light whence issued such a tone ; Then turn'd to Beatrice, who on me bent

So satisfied a look as said: "Let flow The streams within thy secret bosom pent." "O may that Grace which bids me now confess Before so great a Captain, power bestow,

That I may worthily my thoughts express :

55

Father," I added, "as of old was taught

By thy dear brother's pen unerring, (who

61

Rome through thy means to pure religion brought)— Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and

The evidence of things not yet in view:
This is its essence as I understand."

"Thou comprehendest rightly," then I heard,

67

"If to thy reason it appeareth clear,

Why such a definition be preferr'd."

I answer'd him: "The mighty mysteries,
Whose full reality is open'd here,

Are so conceal'd on earth from mortal eyes,

That they exist but in belief alone,

On which our hope is so entirely founded,

73

That faith and substance are accounted one.

To this belief all righteousness we trace;

On this alone our reasonings must be grounded; Hence faith instead of argument hath place." Then heard I: "If, as understood by thee,

Were understood all knowledge gain'd on earth, Then would be found no room for sophistry." Thus breathed the spirit, warm'd with love and joy; Then added: "Of this coin is proved the worth, Both as regards the weight and the alloy.

79

But is it in thy purse?" "Yes," I replied,
"So shining and so round, it renders clear

85

All things that in its impress are descried."
From the deep Light which there was glowing, sounded
These words anon:
66 Whence came this jewel dear,
On which is every other virtue founded?"
Then I; "The Spirit's most abundant shower,
Pour'd out upon the Pages New and Old,
Hath of itself a syllogistic power;

And hath convinced me with a strength so full,
That in comparison with it, I hold

Each other demonstration weak and dull."

Then he "The Old and Latter Testament,

:

Which wrought conviction on thy faculties,

What is the proof that they from God were sent?" "The works that follow'd, proof sufficient bear,"

I said: "and nature, to accomplish these, Ne'er heated iron, or anvil struck."-" Declare Who gives to thee assurance," was replied,

"That these works had existence; sithence he Who would convince thee swears it-none beside." "If without miracles the world was brought

To Christian faith," I said, "this one would be
A hundred times the greatest ever wrought: -

91

97

103