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Page 277. (Line 133.) "Thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.”—Daniel vii. 10. (142.) God is represented as a Mirror, which, by an act of love, He voluntarily breaks into ten thousand pieces, each reflecting an image of Himself, and yet not in the least injuring His own Unity. "It was the goodness of God, being self-sufficient, and from eternal ages happy in Himself, that moved Him in that point of duration which his infinite wisdom saw most fitting, as it were to go forth and down from himself, and to give being to very many things, and to communicate his goodness to each of them in such degrees as the same his infinite wisdom was pleased to assign; and from the same goodness whereby he created all things, he still preserves them, provides for them, and takes care of them." Bishop Bull. Serm. xix.

CANTO XXX.

ARGUMENT,

IN the empyrean, or heaven of pure light, Dante is vouchsafed a sight of the celestial Host. Angels and Saints, clad in white robes, and seated on thrones, are beholding themselves in the river of God-i.e. enjoying the fulness of Grace, in the immediate presence of the Deity.

SIX thousand miles, perchance, from us are glowing 1 The noontide rays, while in this hemisphere

Already are the shadows downward bowing;
When from the midst of heav'n's vast cope unfurl'd
Above us, now begins to disappear

Some star, beheld in this our nether world;
And as the glorious handmaid of the day
Advances farther, star by star is gone,
Until at last the fairest melts away;
E'er so the triumph, ever dancing round
The Point which dazzled me to look upon,
(Seeming enclosed by that Itself doth bound),

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By slow degrees was from my sight removed;

Wherefore, deprived of such bright imagery,
I turn'd again mine eyes on Her I loved.
If all that hath been written in her praise
In one encomium could included be,

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'T were slight, compared with that I now would raise. Beauty I saw transcending human sense

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So far, that He who fashion'd it alone

Reaps the full measure of enjoyment thence.

Wishing to paint it, feel I such despair,

That into greater trouble am I thrown

Than tragic bards or comic ever were;

For as the sun o'erpowers the enfeebled eye,
So, the remembrance of that smile divine
Robs me of every mental faculty.
From the first day her countenance was seen
By me on earth, till this full view was mine,

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My raptured song hath ne'er suspended been.

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But now 'tis time I set the attempt aside

To trace her beauty in my feeble lays,

As Artist, who his utmost skill hath plied;
And even so, I leave the theme to those
Whose loftier trumpet may record her praise;
Bringing this arduous subject to a close.

With gesture and with look commanding, she
Began: "From out the vast celestial zone,
Unto the heaven of light arrived are we ;-
Light intellectual, and full of love!

Love of true bliss, where every joy is known;
Joy, every other sweetness far above!
Here shall the twofold bands of Paradise

Be seen by thee-one clad in the same dress
That at the. Judgment shall delight thine eyes."
Like to a flash, which bursting suddenly

Upon the visual power. doth so oppress

The sense, that plainest things we may not see; Thus was a living light around me brought;

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Whose dazzling veil made all things disappear; So that mine eyesight could distinguish nought. "The Love, that calms this tranquil heaven, the same Sweet influence sheds on all within its sphere; Making the candle suited to its flame."

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When these brief words were in my mind received, 55 My Virtue was transported to such height,

I could not in such fervour have believed. And with fresh power my vision was renew'd, So that no ray, however purely bright,

The vigour of mine eyes could have subdued.

Light I beheld, that like a stream was flowing,

All bright with silver rays, two banks between,
In hues of spring most marvellously glowing:
Forth from the river, living Sparks arose ;
Which, mid the Flowers alighting, shone serene;

E'en as enchased in gold the ruby shows :
Then, as inebriate with the odorous sense,

Again they plunged within the mystic flood; And as one enter'd, rose another thence. "The strong desire by which thou art possess'd

To understand the wonders thou hast view'd,
Pleases me more, the more it fills thy breast.
But ere a thirst so great may be allay'd,

Behoves thee of this limpid stream to drink!"
So spake the Sun, whereon my eyes were stay'd:
Then added: "Know, the stream, and Topazes,
Which come and go, disporting o'er the brink,
The smiling Flowers too, are but images

To usher in the truth :-and though these things
Are easy of themselves, thou lackest power
To reach, as yet, such high imaginings."
A babe turns not its face more eagerly

To seek its mother's milk, if late the hour

To which its sleep hath been prolong'd-than I

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