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

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       But at his own discretion none may shift

       The burden on his shoulders, unreleas'd

       By either key, the yellow and the white.

       Nor deem of any change, as less than vain,

       If the last bond be not within the new

       Included, as the quatre in the six.

       No satisfaction therefore can be paid

       For what so precious in the balance weighs,

       That all in counterpoise must kick the beam.

       Take then no vow at random: ta'en, with faith

       Preserve it; yet not bent, as Jephthah once,

       Blindly to execute a rash resolve,

       Whom better it had suited to exclaim,

       'I have done ill,' than to redeem his pledge

       By doing worse or, not unlike to him

       In folly, that great leader of the Greeks:

       Whence, on the alter, Iphigenia mourn'd

       Her virgin beauty, and hath since made mourn

       Both wise and simple, even all, who hear

       Of so fell sacrifice. Be ye more staid,

       O Christians, not, like feather, by each wind

       Removable: nor think to cleanse ourselves

       In every water. Either testament,

       The old and new, is yours: and for your guide

       The shepherd of the church let this suffice

       To save you. When by evil lust entic'd,

       Remember ye be men, not senseless beasts;

       Nor let the Jew, who dwelleth in your streets,

       Hold you in mock'ry. Be not, as the lamb,

       That, fickle wanton, leaves its mother's milk,

       To dally with itself in idle play."

       Such were the words that Beatrice spake:

       These ended, to that region, where the world

       Is liveliest, full of fond desire she turn'd.

       Though mainly prompt new question to propose,

       Her silence and chang'd look did keep me dumb.

       And as the arrow, ere the cord is still,

       Leapeth unto its mark; so on we sped

       Into the second realm. There I beheld

       The dame, so joyous enter, that the orb

       Grew brighter at her smiles; and, if the star

       Were mov'd to gladness, what then was my cheer,

       Whom nature hath made apt for every change!

       ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE

       As in a quiet and clear lake the fish,

       If aught approach them from without, do draw

       Towards it, deeming it their food; so drew

       Full more than thousand splendours towards us,

       And in each one was heard: "Lo! one arriv'd

       To multiply our loves!" and as each came

       The shadow, streaming forth effulgence new,

       Witness'd augmented joy. Here, reader! think,

       If thou didst miss the sequel of my tale,

       To know the rest how sorely thou wouldst crave;

       And thou shalt see what vehement desire

       Possess'd me, as soon as these had met my view,

       To know their state. "O born in happy hour!

       Thou to whom grace vouchsafes, or ere thy close

       Of fleshly warfare, to behold the thrones

       Of that eternal triumph, know to us

       The light communicated, which through heaven

       Expatiates without bound. Therefore, if aught

       Thou of our beams wouldst borrow for thine aid,

       Spare not; and of our radiance take thy fill."

       Thus of those piteous spirits one bespake me;

       And Beatrice next: "Say on; and trust

       As unto gods!"—"How in the light supreme

       Thou harbour'st, and from thence the virtue bring'st,

       That, sparkling in thine eyes, denotes thy joy,

       l mark; but, who thou art, am still to seek;

       Or wherefore, worthy spirit! for thy lot

       This sphere assign'd, that oft from mortal ken

       Is veil'd by others' beams." I said, and turn'd

       Toward the lustre, that with greeting, kind

       Erewhile had hail'd me. Forthwith brighter far

       Than erst, it wax'd: and, as himself the sun

       Hides through excess of light, when his warm gaze

       Hath on the mantle of thick vapours prey'd;

       Within its proper ray the saintly shape

       Was, through increase of gladness, thus conceal'd;

       And, shrouded so in splendour answer'd me,

       E'en as the tenour of my song declares.

CANTO VI

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       "After that Constantine the eagle turn'd

       Against the motions of the heav'n, that roll'd

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