The Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Paradise, Complete. Dante Alighieri

Чтение книги онлайн.

       Whence, after utt'rance of a piteous sigh,

       She tow'rds me bent her eyes, with such a look,

       As on her frenzied child a mother casts;

       Then thus began: "Among themselves all things

       Have order; and from hence the form, which makes

       The universe resemble God. In this

       The higher creatures see the printed steps

       Of that eternal worth, which is the end

       Whither the line is drawn. All natures lean,

       In this their order, diversely, some more,

       Some less approaching to their primal source.

       Thus they to different havens are mov'd on

       Through the vast sea of being, and each one

       With instinct giv'n, that bears it in its course;

       This to the lunar sphere directs the fire,

       This prompts the hearts of mortal animals,

       This the brute earth together knits, and binds.

       Nor only creatures, void of intellect,

       Are aim'd at by this bow; but even those,

       That have intelligence and love, are pierc'd.

       That Providence, who so well orders all,

       With her own light makes ever calm the heaven,

       In which the substance, that hath greatest speed,

       Is turn'd: and thither now, as to our seat

       Predestin'd, we are carried by the force

       Of that strong cord, that never looses dart,

       But at fair aim and glad. Yet is it true,

       That as ofttimes but ill accords the form

       To the design of art, through sluggishness

       Of unreplying matter, so this course

       Is sometimes quitted by the creature, who

       Hath power, directed thus, to bend elsewhere;

       As from a cloud the fire is seen to fall,

       From its original impulse warp'd, to earth,

       By vicious fondness. Thou no more admire

       Thy soaring, (if I rightly deem,) than lapse

       Of torrent downwards from a mountain's height.

       There would in thee for wonder be more cause,

       If, free of hind'rance, thou hadst fix'd thyself

       Below, like fire unmoving on the earth."