wardly are ravening wolves." Matthew vii. 15. Whence Milton, Par, Lost, xii. 508. "Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves." (56.) By the "fair pastures" are meant Bishopricks and Churches. The Popes alluded to afterwards are Clement V. a Gascon, and John XXII. of Cahors, of whom see note, Inf. xix. 82.

Page 255. (Line 63.) i.e. Through the instrumentality of the Emperor Henry VIII.; or, according to Lombardi, of Can Grande. See note, Inf. i. 101, and Par. xvii. 76. (67.) "St. Peter has finished his speech; and immediately the immense crowd of splendours who had descended with Christ, and remained below, mount aloft like a shower of snow."-Biagioli. These "triumphant vapours" are the "triumphant crew," mentioned xxii. 131. (82.) See Inf. xxvi. 103. The shore whence Jove bore Europa is Phoenicia.

Page 256. (Line 98.) The "Twins" are the Gemini, viz. Castor and Pollux, of whom Leda was the mother. The "swiftest heaven," to which Dante is now carried, is the ninth; or primum mobile. (100.) The uniformity of the highest sphere is remarkable, as intended to convey an idea of God's presence levelling all distinctions of time and place. Thus, "God alone was to be seen in heaven." (103.) The "desire" which Beatrice speaks of is, that of Dante, to understand the properties of the ninth heaven. The explanation follows. "The nature of the circular motion, or primum mobile, which sphere gives motion to all the rest, has here its origin. And this heaven is identified with the Divine Mind, wherein is kindled that love which gives motion to the universe."

Page 257. Line 118.) "Here," says Beatrice, "6 are the roots, whence Time springs. As for the parts into which it is divided, the other heavens must be considered. And she then

breaks into an exclamation on the degeneracy of human nature, which does not lift itself to the contemplation of heavenly things."-Cary. "Exclamat contra omnes qui propter cupiditatem temporalium perdunt eterna."-Il P. C. (125.) i.e. The continual assault of earthly cares and pleasures.

Page 258. (Line 138.) The day is called the "daughter of the Sun." "Beautiful as is her dawn, her face is often soon clouded over;—so, many who promise well in the morning of life, lose their innocence amid the temptations of the world." -Abp. Leighton. The evils he complains of are owing, he says, to the misconduct of the Pope, who neglects his duty as "Governor." (142.) i.e. In a short space of time. The allusion is to the error in the Julian reckoning of the year, which in the course of 100 years amounting to a whole day, at last caused a necessity of correcting the calendar, as effected by Gregory XIII. (125.) See note, line 63. The reform contemplated is described by various metaphors. The vessel of the state will advance before a prosperous gale; and the "buds of promise," mentioned line 124, shall no more be blighted, but ripen into fruit.

CANTO XXVIII.

ARGUMENT.

DANTE in the ninth heaven is vouchsafed a sight of the Deity, described as a dazzling point, surrounded by the nine orders of Angels, who correspond to the nine heavens, over which they respectively preside.

WHEN she who doth my soul imparadise

The sad condition had to me made clear Of mortals, sunk in ignorance and vice; As in a mirror doth a torch's light,

Suddenly flaming from behind, appear

To one who had it not in thought or sight;
Whereat he turns him round, that he may know

If it speak truth; and such accord descries
As music hath with metre:-even so

Was, I (for memory bears it still in mind)
Looking a second time on those fair eyes,

Whence Love his cords obtain'd my soul to bind.

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And as, on turning round, mine eye was struck
By that which in this volume doth appear
To all who on its heavenly motion look,
I saw a Point, whence came so sharp a light,
That none its penetrating aim may bear;
But whoso strives, perforce must close his sight.
The smallest star that from the earth we see,

Comparing one with other, to our ken,

Set by its side, a moon would seem to be; Distant

as far perhaps as from the light

That paints it, is perceived a halo, when

The mist that bears it thickest is to sight :

Around this point, a circling fire was hurl'd

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So rapidly, that not in speed could vie

The swiftest motion which enwraps the world:

And by another this was compass'd round;

This by a third, that by a fourth, and by

A fifth the fourth ;-that by a sixth was bound.

A seventh follow'd, arching high a space

Of such extent, not Juno's messenger,

When most complete, could such a span embrace. An eighth and ninth succeeded; and each zone Roll'd with a slower motion, as they were Number'd in distance from the central One.

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Of all these flames, the most sincere and sheen

Nearest the One pure Spark its lustre shed, Because most nourish'd by its rays, I ween. My tender escort, who immediate kenn'd

The deep suspense that rack'd my bosom, said: "Heaven and all Nature on that Point depend. Behold the circle nearest it, and know

It whirls so swift by reason of the love
That ever keeps it in a fervent glow."

"If the same order in the world obtain'd,

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As that by which these wheels," I answer'd, “move, Then should I rest in what has been explain'd;

But in the world of sense 'tis different far;

And more divine the things that there obtain,

The more remote they from the centre are. Wherefore, if my desire may now repose,

In this most wondrous and angelic fane,

Which light and love alone for boundaries knows, 'Tis meet that I should learn the reason why

The copy and the model disagree; Since of myself I labour fruitlessly." "If to unravel such a knot," she said,

"Thy fingers have not the ability,

No wonder ;-through neglect 'tis harder made."

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