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Thy face thou'lt hold as thou dost hold thy back。
The Good which all the realm thou art ascending
Turns and contents； maketh its providence
To be a power within these bodies vast；
And not alone the natures are foreseen
Within the mind that in itself is perfect；
But they together with their preservation。
For whatsoever thing this bow shoots forth
Falls foreordained unto an end foreseen；
Even as a shaft directed to its mark。
If that were not； the heaven which thou dost walk
Would in such manner its effects produce；
That they no longer would be arts； but ruins。
This cannot be； if the Intelligences
That keep these stars in motion are not maimed；
And maimed the First that has not made them perfect。
Wilt thou this truth have clearer made to thee？〃
And I： 〃Not so； for 'tis impossible
That nature tire； I see； in what is needful。〃
Whence he again： 〃Now say； would it be worse
For men on earth were they not citizens？〃
〃Yes；〃 I replied； 〃and here I ask no reason。〃
〃And can they be so； if below they live not
Diversely unto offices diverse？
No； if your master writeth well for you。〃
So came he with deductions to this point；
Then he concluded： 〃Therefore it behoves
The roots of your effects to be diverse。
Hence one is Solon born； another Xerxes；
Another Melchisedec； and another he
Who； flying through the air； his son did lose。
Revolving Nature； which a signet is
To mortal wax； doth practise well her art；
But not one inn distinguish from another；
Thence happens it that Esau differeth
In seed from Jacob； and Quirinus comes
From sire so vile that he is given to Mars。
A generated nature its own way
Would always make like its progenitors；
If Providence divine were not triumphant。
Now that which was behind thee is before thee；
But that thou know that I with thee am pleased；
With a corollary will I mantle thee。
Evermore nature； if it fortune find
Discordant to it； like each other seed
Out of its region； maketh evil thrift；
And if the world below would fix its mind
On the foundation which is laid by nature；
Pursuing that； 'twould have the people good。
But you unto religion wrench aside
Him who was born to gird him with the sword；
And make a king of him who is for sermons；
Therefore your footsteps wander from the road。〃
Paradiso： Canto IX
Beautiful Clemence； after that thy Charles
Had me enlightened； he narrated to me
The treacheries his seed should undergo；
But said： 〃Be still and let the years roll round；〃
So I can only say； that lamentation
Legitimate shall follow on your wrongs。
And of that holy light the life already
Had to the Sun which fills it turned again；
As to that good which for each thing sufficeth。
Ah； souls deceived； and creatures impious；
Who from such good do turn away your hearts；
Directing upon vanity your foreheads！
And now； behold； another of those splendours
Approached me； and its will to pleasure me
It signified by brightening outwardly。
The eyes of Beatrice； that fastened were
Upon me； as before； of dear assent
To my desire assurance gave to me。
〃Ah； bring swift compensation to my wish；
Thou blessed spirit；〃 I said； 〃and give me proof
That what I think in thee I can reflect！〃
Whereat the light； that still was new to me；
Out of its depths； whence it before was singing；
As one delighted to do good； continued：
〃Within that region of the land depraved
Of Italy； that lies between Rialto
And fountain…heads of Brenta and of Piava；
Rises a hill； and mounts not very high；
Wherefrom descended formerly a torch
That made upon that region great assault。
Out of one root were born both I and it；
Cunizza was I called； and here I shine
Because the splendour of this star o'ercame me。
But gladly to myself the cause I pardon
Of my allotment； and it does not grieve me；
Which would perhaps seem strong unto your vulgar。
Of this so luculent and precious jewel；
Which of our heaven is nearest unto me；
Great fame remained； and ere it die away
This hundredth year shall yet quintupled be。
See if man ought to make him excellent；
So that another life the first may leave！
And thus thinks not the present multitude
Shut in by Adige and Tagliamento；
Nor yet for being scourged is penitent。
But soon 'twill be that Padua in the marsh
Will change the water that Vicenza bathes；
Because the folk are stubborn against duty；
And where the Sile and Cagnano join
One lordeth it； and goes with lofty head；
For catching whom e'en now the net is making。
Feltro moreover of her impious pastor
Shall weep the crime； which shall so monstrous be
That for the like none ever entered Malta。
Ample exceedingly would be the vat
That of the Ferrarese could hold the blood；
And weary who should weigh it ounce by ounce；
Of which this courteous priest shall make a gift
To show himself a partisan； and such gifts
Will to the living of the land conform。
Above us there are mirrors； Thrones you call them；
From which shines out on us God Judicant；
So that this utterance seems good to us。〃
Here it was silent； and it had the semblance
Of being turned elsewhither； by the wheel
On which it entered as it was before。
The other joy； already known to me；
Became a thing transplendent in my sight；
As a fine ruby smitten by the sun。
Through joy effulgence is acquired above；
As here a smile； but down below； the shade
Outwardly darkens； as the mind is sad。
〃God seeth all things； and in Him； blest spirit；
Thy sight is；〃 said I； 〃so that never will
Of his can possibly from thee be hidden；
Thy voice； then； that for ever makes the heavens
Glad； with the singing of those holy fires
Which of their six wings make themselves a cowl；
Wherefore does it not satisfy my longings？
Indeed； I would not wait thy questioning
If I in thee were as thou art in me。〃
〃The greatest of the valleys where the water
Expands itself；〃 forthwith its words began；
〃That sea excepted which the earth engarlands；
Between discordant shores against the sun
Extends so far； that it meridian makes
Where it was wont before to make the horizon。
I was a dweller on that valley's shore
'Twixt Ebro and Magra that with journey short
Doth from the Tuscan part the Genoese。
With the same sunset and same sunrise nearly
Sit Buggia and the city whence I was；
That with its blood once made the harbour hot。
Folco that people called me unto whom
My name was known； and now with me this heaven
Imprints itself； as I did once with it；
For more the daughter of Belus never burned；
Offending both Sichaeus and Creusa；
Than I； so long as it became my locks；
Nor yet that Rodophean； who deluded
was by Demophoon； nor yet Alcides；
When Iole he in his heart had locked。
Yet here is no repenting； but we smile；
Not at the fault； which comes not back to mind；
But at the power which ordered and foresaw。
Here we behold the art that doth adorn
With such affection； and the good discover
Whereby the world above turns that below。
But that thou wholly satisfied mayst bear
Thy wishes hence which in this sphere are born；
Still farther to proceed behoveth me。
Thou fain wouldst know who is within this light
That here beside me thus is scintillating；
Even as a sunbeam in the limpid water。
Then know thou； that within there is at rest
Rahab； and being to our order joined；
With her in its supremest grade 'tis sealed。
Into this heaven； where ends the shadowy cone
Cast by your world； before all other souls
First of Christ's triumph was she taken up。
Full meet it was to leave her in some heaven；
Even as a palm of the high victory
Which he acquired with one palm and the other；
Because she favoured the first glorious deed
Of Joshua upon the Holy Land；
That little stirs the memory of the Pope。
Thy city； which an offshoot is of him
Who first upon his Maker turned his back；
And whose ambition is so sorely wept；
Brings forth and scatters the accursed flower
Which both