The　power；　and　I　beheld　myself　translated
  To　higher　salvation　with　my　Lady　only。
  Well　was　I　ware　that　I　was　more　uplifted
  By　the　enkindled　smiling　of　the　star；
  That　seemed　to　me　more　ruddy　than　its　wont。
  With　all　my　heart；　and　in　that　dialect
  Which　is　the　same　in　all；　such　holocaust
  To　God　I　made　as　the　new　grace　beseemed；
  And　not　yet　from　my　bosom　was　exhausted
  The　ardour　of　sacrifice；　before　I　knew
  This　offering　was　accepted　and　auspicious；
  For　with　so　great　a　lustre　and　so　red
  Splendours　appeared　to　me　in　twofold　rays；
  I　said：　〃O　Helios　who　dost　so　adorn　them！〃
  Even　as　distinct　with　less　and　greater　lights
  Glimmers　between　the　two　poles　of　the　world
  The　Galaxy　that　maketh　wise　men　doubt；
  Thus　constellated　in　the　depths　of　Mars；
  Those　rays　described　the　venerable　sign
  That　quadrants　joining　in　a　circle　make。
  Here　doth　my　memory　overcome　my　genius；
  For　on　that　cross　as　levin　gleamed　forth　Christ；
  So　that　I　cannot　find　ensample　worthy；
  But　he　who　takes　his　cross　and　follows　Christ
  Again　will　pardon　me　what　I　omit；
  Seeing　in　that　aurora　lighten　Christ。
  From　horn　to　horn；　and　'twixt　the　top　and　base；
  Lights　were　in　motion；　brightly　scintillating
  As　they　together　met　and　passed　each　other；
  Thus　level　and　aslant　and　swift　and　slow
  We　here　behold；　renewing　still　the　sight；
  The　particles　of　bodies　long　and　short；
  Across　the　sunbeam　move；　wherewith　is　listed
  Sometimes　the　shade；　which　for　their　own　defence
  People　with　cunning　and　with　art　contrive。
  And　as　a　lute　and　harp；　accordant　strung
  With　many　strings；　a　dulcet　tinkling　make
  To　him　by　whom　the　notes　are　not　distinguished；
  So　from　the　lights　that　there　to　me　appeared
  Upgathered　through　the　cross　a　melody；
  Which　rapt　me；　not　distinguishing　the　hymn。
  Well　was　I　ware　it　was　of　lofty　laud；
  Because　there　came　to　me；　〃Arise　and　conquer！〃
  As　unto　him　who　hears　and　comprehends　not。
  So　much　enamoured　I　became　therewith；
  That　until　then　there　was　not　anything
  That　e'er　had　fettered　me　with　such　sweet　bonds。
  Perhaps　my　word　appears　somewhat　too　bold；
  Postponing　the　delight　of　those　fair　eyes；
  Into　which　gazing　my　desire　has　rest；
  But　who　bethinks　him　that　the　living　seals
  Of　every　beauty　grow　in　power　ascending；
  And　that　I　there　had　not　turned　round　to　those；
  Can　me　excuse；　if　I　myself　accuse
  To　excuse　myself；　and　see　that　I　speak　truly：
  For　here　the　holy　joy　is　not　disclosed；
  Because　ascending　it　becomes　more　pure。
  Paradiso：　Canto　XV
  A　will　benign；　in　which　reveals　itself
  Ever　the　love　that　righteously　inspires；
  As　in　the　iniquitous；　cupidity；
  Silence　imposed　upon　that　dulcet　lyre；
  And　quieted　the　consecrated　chords；
  That　Heaven's　right　hand　doth　tighten　and　relax。
  How　unto　just　entreaties　shall　be　deaf
  Those　substances；　which；　to　give　me　desire
  Of　praying　them；　with　one　accord　grew　silent？
  'Tis　well　that　without　end　he　should　lament；
  Who　for　the　love　of　thing　that　doth　not　last
  Eternally　despoils　him　of　that　love！
  As　through　the　pure　and　tranquil　evening　air
  There　shoots　from　time　to　time　a　sudden　fire；
  Moving　the　eyes　that　steadfast　were　before；
  And　seems　to　be　a　star　that　changeth　place；
  Except　that　in　the　part　where　it　is　kindled
  Nothing　is　missed；　and　this　endureth　little；
  So　from　the　horn　that　to　the　right　extends
  Unto　that　cross's　foot　there　ran　a　star
  Out　of　the　constellation　shining　there；
  Nor　was　the　gem　dissevered　from　its　ribbon；
  But　down　the　radiant　fillet　ran　along；
  So　that　fire　seemed　it　behind　alabaster。
  Thus　piteous　did　Anchises'　shade　reach　forward；
  If　any　faith　our　greatest　Muse　deserve；
  When　in　Elysium　he　his　son　perceived。
  〃O　sanguis　meus；　O　superinfusa
  Gratia　Dei；　sicut　tibi；　cui
  Bis　unquam　Coeli　janua　reclusa？〃
  Thus　that　effulgence；　whence　I　gave　it　heed；
  Then　round　unto　my　Lady　turned　my　sight；
  And　on　this　side　and　that　was　stupefied；
  For　in　her　eyes　was　burning　such　a　smile
  That　with　mine　own　methought　I　touched　the　bottom
  Both　of　my　grace　and　of　my　Paradise！
  Then；　pleasant　to　the　hearing　and　the　sight；
  The　spirit　joined　to　its　beginning　things
  I　understood　not；　so　profound　it　spake；
  Nor　did　it　hide　itself　from　me　by　choice；
  But　by　necessity；　for　its　conception
  Above　the　mark　of　mortals　set　itself。
  And　when　the　bow　of　burning　sympathy
  Was　so　far　slackened；　that　its　speech　descended
  Towards　the　mark　of　our　intelligence；
  The　first　thing　that　was　understood　by　me
  Was　〃Benedight　be　Thou；　O　Trine　and　One；
  Who　hast　unto　my　seed　so　courteous　been！〃
  And　it　continued：　〃Hunger　long　and　grateful；
  Drawn　from　the　reading　of　the　mighty　volume
  Wherein　is　never　changed　the　white　nor　dark；
  Thou　hast　appeased；　my　son；　within　this　light
  In　which　I　speak　to　thee；　by　grace　of　her
  Who　to　this　lofty　flight　with　plumage　clothed　thee。
  Thou　thinkest　that　to　me　thy　thought　doth　pass
  From　Him　who　is　the　first；　as　from　the　unit；
  If　that　be　known；　ray　out　the　five　and　six；
  And　therefore　who　I　am　thou　askest　not；
  And　why　I　seem　more　joyous　unto　thee
  Than　any　other　of　this　gladsome　crowd。
  Thou　think'st　the　truth；　because　the　small　and　great
  Of　this　existence　look　into　the　mirror
  Wherein；　before　thou　think'st；　thy　thought　thou　showest。
  But　that　the　sacred　love；　in　which　I　watch
  With　sight　perpetual；　and　which　makes　me　thirst
  With　sweet　desire；　may　better　be　fulfilled；
  Now　let　thy　voice　secure　and　frank　and　glad
  Proclaim　the　wishes；　the　desire　proclaim；
  To　which　my　answer　is　decreed　already。〃
  To　Beatrice　I　turned　me；　and　she　heard
  Before　I　spake；　and　smiled　to　me　a　sign；
  That　made　the　wings　of　my　desire　increase；
  Then　in　this　wise　began　I：　〃Love　and　knowledge；
  When　on　you　dawned　the　first　Equality；
  Of　the　same　weight　for　each　of　you　became；
  For　in　the　Sun；　which　lighted　you　and　burned
  With　heat　and　radiance；　they　so　equal　are；
  That　all　similitudes　are　insufficient。
  But　among　mortals　will　and　argument；
  For　reason　that　to　you　is　manifest；
  Diversely　feathered　in　their　pinions　are。
  Whence　I；　who　mortal　am；　feel　in　myself
  This　inequality；　so　give　not　thanks；
  Save　in　my　heart；　for　this　paternal　welcome。
  Truly　do　I　entreat　thee；　living　topaz！
  Set　in　this　precious　jewel　as　a　gem；
  That　thou　wilt　satisfy　me　with　thy　name。〃
  〃O　leaf　of　mine；　in　whom　I　pleasure　took
  E'en　while　awaiting；　I　was　thine　own　root！〃
  Such　a　beginning　he　in　answer　made　me。
  Then　said　to　me：　〃That　one　from　whom　is　named
  Thy　race；　and　who　a　hundred　years　and　more
  Has　circled　round　the　mount　on　the　first　cornice；
  A　son　of　mine　and　thy　great…grandsire　was；
  Well　it　behoves　thee　that　the　long　fatigue
  Thou　shouldst　for　him　make　shorter　with　thy　works。
  Florence；　within　the　ancient　boundary
  From　which　she　taketh　still　her　tierce　and　nones；
  Abode　in　quiet；　temperate　and　chaste。
  No　golden　chain　she　had；　nor　coronal；
  Nor　ladies　shod　with　sandal　shoon；　nor　girdle
  That　caught　the　eye　more　than　the　person　did。
  Not　yet　the　daughter　at　her　birth　struck　fear
  Into　the　father；　for　the　time　and　dower
  Did　not　o'errun　this　side　or　that　the　measure。
  No　houses　had　she　void　of　families；
  Not　yet　had　thither　come　Sardanapalus
  To　show　what　in　a　chamber　can　be　done；
  Not　yet　surpassed　had　Montemalo　been
  By　your　Uccellatojo；　which　surpassed
  Shall　in　its　downfall　be　as　in　its　rise。
  Bellincion　Berti　saw　I　go　begirt
  With　leather　and　with　bone；　and　from　the　mirror
  His　dame　depart　without　a　painted　face；
  And　him　of　Nerli　saw；　and　him　of　Vecchio；
  Contented　with　their　simple　suits　of　buff
  And　with　the　spindle　and　the　flax　their　dames。
  O　fortunate　women！　and　each　one　was　certain
  Of　her　own　burial…place；　and　none　as　yet
  For　sake　of　France　was　in　her　bed　deserted。
  One　o'er　the　cradle　kept　her　studious　watch；
  And　in　her　lullaby　the　language　used
  That　first　delights　the　fathers　and　the　mothers；
  Another；　drawing　tresses　from　her　distaff；
  Told　o'er　among　her　family　the　tales
  Of　Trojans　and　of　Fesole　and　Rome。
  As　great　a　marvel　then　would　have　been　held
  A　Lapo　Salterello；　a　Cianghella；
  As　Cincinnatus　or　Cornelia　now。
  To　such　a　quiet；　such　a　beautiful
  Life　of　the　citizen；　to　such　a　safe
  Community；　and　to　so　sweet　an　inn；
  Did　Mary　give　me；　with　loud　cries　invoked；
  And　in　your　ancient　Baptistery　at　once
  Christian　and　Cacciaguida　I　became。
  Moronto　was　my　brother；　and　Eliseo；
  From　Val　di　Pado　came　to　me　my　wife；
  And　from　that　place　thy　surname　was　derived。
  I　followed　afterward　the　Emperor　Conrad；
  And　he　begirt　me　of　his　chivalry；
  So　much　I　pleased　him　with　my　noble　deeds。
  I　followed　in　his　train　against　that　law's
  Iniquity；　whose　people　doth　usurp
  Your　just　possession；　through　your　Pastor's　fault。
  There　by　that　execrable　race　was　I
  Released　from　bonds　of　the　fallacious　world；
  The　love　of　which　defileth　many　souls；
  And　came　from　martyrdom　unto　this　peace。〃
  Paradiso：　Canto　XVI
  O　thou　our　poor　nobility　of　blood；
  If　thou　dost　make　the　people　glory　in　thee
  Down　here　where　our