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

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       "Cause too thou findst for doubt, in that it seems,

       That spirits to the stars, as Plato deem'd,

       Return. These are the questions which thy will

       Urge equally; and therefore I the first

       Of that will treat which hath the more of gall.

       Of seraphim he who is most ensky'd,

       Moses and Samuel, and either John,

       Choose which thou wilt, nor even Mary's self,

       Have not in any other heav'n their seats,

       Than have those spirits which so late thou saw'st;

       Nor more or fewer years exist; but all

       Make the first circle beauteous, diversely

       Partaking of sweet life, as more or less

       Afflation of eternal bliss pervades them.

       Here were they shown thee, not that fate assigns

       This for their sphere, but for a sign to thee

       Of that celestial furthest from the height.

       Thus needs, that ye may apprehend, we speak:

       Since from things sensible alone ye learn

       That, which digested rightly after turns

       To intellectual. For no other cause

       The scripture, condescending graciously

       To your perception, hands and feet to God

       Attributes, nor so means: and holy church

       Doth represent with human countenance

       Gabriel, and Michael, and him who made

       Tobias whole. Unlike what here thou seest,

       The judgment of Timaeus, who affirms

       Each soul restor'd to its particular star,

       Believing it to have been taken thence,

       When nature gave it to inform her mold:

       Since to appearance his intention is

       E'en what his words declare: or else to shun

       Derision, haply thus he hath disguis'd

       His true opinion. If his meaning be,

       That to the influencing of these orbs revert

       The honour and the blame in human acts,

       Perchance he doth not wholly miss the truth.

       This principle, not understood aright,

       Erewhile perverted well nigh all the world;

       So that it fell to fabled names of Jove,

       And Mercury, and Mars. That other doubt,

       Which moves thee, is less harmful; for it brings

       No peril of removing thee from me.