Canto 5

“If I flame upon thee in the heat of love, beyond the fashion that on earth is seen, go that I vanquish the valor of thine eyes, marvel not, for it proceeds from perfect vision,⁶² which according as it apprehends, so moves its feet to the apprehended good. I see clearly how already shines in thy intellect the eternal light, which, being seen, alone ever enkindles love. And if any other thing seduce your love, it is naught but some vestige of that, illrecognized, which therein shines through. Thou wishest to know if for a defective vow so much can be rendered with other service as may secure the soul from suit.”

“If I burn with love for you more intensely than anyone does on earth, do not be surprised if my radiance overwhelms your eyes. It comes from perfect vision,⁶² which moves toward the good it sees, in proportion to how clearly it sees it. I can see that the eternal light already shines in your mind. Once seen, that light alone always kindles love. And if anything else draws your love, it is only a poorly recognized trace of that light shining through it. You want to know whether other service can make up for a broken vow enough to protect the soul from being called to account.”

Thus Beatrice began this canto, and even as one who breaks not off his speech, she thus continued her holy discourse. “The greatest gift which God in His largess bestowed in creating, and the most conformed unto His goodness and that which He esteems the most, was the freedom of the will, with which all the creatures of intelligence, and they alone, were and are endowed. Now will appear to thee, if from this thou reasonest, the high worth of the vow, if it be such that God consent when thou consentest;⁶³ for, in closing the compact between God and man, sacrifice is made of this treasure, which is such as I say, and it is made by its own act. What then can be rendered in compensation? If thou thinkest to make good use of that which thou hast offered, with illgotten gain thou wouldst do good work.⁶⁴

Thus Beatrice began this canto. Then, without breaking off, she continued her holy discourse. “The greatest gift God gave in his generosity when he created the world was freedom of the will. This gift is most in keeping with his goodness, and he values it above all others. All creatures endowed with intelligence, and they alone, have always possessed it. If you reason from this, you will see the great value of a vow, if God consents when you do.⁶³ For when God and a person make this agreement, the person sacrifices this treasure of free will. And the will makes this sacrifice by its own act. What, then, can be offered in exchange? If you think you can make good use of what you have already offered, you would be doing good with ill-gotten gains.⁶⁴

“Thou art now assured of the greater point; but since Holy Church in this gives dispensation, which seems contrary to the truth which I have disclosed to thee, it behoves thee still to sit a little at table, because the tough food which thou hast taken requires still some aid for thy digestion. Open thy mind to that which I reveal to thee, and enclose it therewithin; for to have heard without retaining doth not make knowledge.

“You are now certain of the greater point. But Holy Church grants dispensation in this matter, which seems to contradict the truth I have revealed to you. So you must stay at the table a little longer, because the tough food you have eaten still needs help to digest. Open your mind to what I reveal to you, and keep it there. Hearing without remembering does not make knowledge.

“Two things combine in the essence of this sacrifice; the one is that of which it consists, the other is the covenant. This last is never cancelled if it be not kept; and concerning this has my preceding speech been so precise. On this account it was necessary for the Hebrews still to make offering, although some part of the offering might be changed, as thou shouldst know.⁶⁵ The other, which as the matter⁶⁶ is known to thee, may truly be such that one errs not if for some other matter it be changed. But let not any one shift the load upon his shoulder at his own will, without the turning both of the white and of the yellow key.⁶⁷ And let him deem every permutation foolish, if the thing laid down be not included in the thing taken up, as four in six.⁶⁸ Therefore whatever thing is, through its own worth, of such great weight that it can draw down every balance, cannot be made good with other spending.

“Two things make up the essence of this sacrifice: what is offered and the covenant. The covenant is never canceled unless it is kept. That is why I spoke so precisely about it earlier. For this reason, the Hebrews still had to make an offering, although some part of the offering could be changed, as you should know.⁶⁵ The other part, known to you as the matter,⁶⁶ may indeed be exchanged for something else without doing wrong. But no one should shift the load on their shoulders at will. Both the white and the yellow key must be turned first.⁶⁷ And every exchange should be considered foolish unless what is given up is contained in what replaces it, as four is contained in six.⁶⁸ Therefore, anything so valuable in itself that it outweighs everything else cannot be made good by offering something else.

“Let not mortals take a vow in jest; be faithful, and not squint-eyed in doing this, as Jephthah was in his first. offering;⁶⁹ to whom it better behoved to say, 'I have done ill,' than, by keeping his vow, to do worse. And thou mayest find the great leader of the Greeks in like manner foolish; wherefore Iphigenia wept for her fair face, and made weep for her both the simple and the wise, who heard speak of such like observance. Be, ye Christians, more grave in moving; be not like a feather on every wind, and think not that every water can wash you. Ye have the Old and the New Testament, and the Shepherd of the Church, who guides you; let this suffice you for your salvation. If evil covetousness cry aught else to you, be ye men, and not silly sheep, so that the Jew among you may not laugh at you. Act not like the lamb, that leaves the milk of his mother, and, simple and wanton, at its own pleasure combats with itself.”

“Mortals should not make vows in jest. Be faithful, but do not be misguided in keeping a vow, as Jephthah was with his first offering.⁶⁹ It would have been better for him to say, 'I have done wrong,' than to do worse by keeping his vow. You may find that the great leader of the Greeks was just as foolish. Because of him, Iphigenia wept for her beautiful face. Both the simple and the wise wept for her when they heard of such a way of keeping a vow. Christians, be more careful in your actions. Do not be like a feather blown by every wind, and do not think that just any water can wash you clean. You have the Old and the New Testament, and the Shepherd of the Church to guide you. Let these be enough for your salvation. If wicked greed urges you to do anything else, be men, not silly sheep, so that the Jew among you may not laugh at you. Do not be like the lamb that leaves its mother's milk and, foolish and playful, fights with itself whenever it pleases.”

Thus Beatrice to me, even as I write; then all desireful turned herself again to that region where the world is most alive.⁷⁰ Her silence, and her transmuted countenance imposed silence on my eager mind, which already had new questions in advance. And even as an arrow, that hits the mark before the bowstring is quiet, so we ran into the second realm.⁷¹ Here I saw my lady so joyous as she entered into the light of that heaven, that thereby the planet became more lucent. And if the star war, changed and smiled, what did I become, who even by my nature am transmutable in every wise!

Beatrice spoke to me just as I have written. Then she turned eagerly back toward the region where the world is most alive.⁷⁰ Her silence and her changed expression quieted my eager mind, which already had new questions ready. We raced into the second realm, like an arrow that hits its target before the bowstring stops vibrating.⁷¹ As my lady entered the light of that heaven, I saw that she was so joyful that the planet grew brighter. And if the star changed and smiled, what did I become, whose nature makes me capable of changing in every way!

As in a fishpond, which is tranquil and pure, the fish draw to that which comes from without in such manner that they deem. it their food, so indeed I saw more than a thousand splendors drawing toward. us, and in each one was heard,—“Lo, one who shall increase our loves!”⁷² And as each came to us, the shade was seen full of joy in the bright effulgence that issued from it.

In a calm, clear fishpond, fish swim toward anything that enters from outside, thinking it is food. In the same way, I saw more than a thousand shining lights moving toward us. From each one I heard, “Look, someone who will increase our love!”⁷² As each one came near us, the spirit’s joy was visible in the bright light shining from it.

Think, Reader, if that which is here begun should not proceed, how thou wouldst have distressful want of knowing more; and by thyself thou wilt see how desirous I was to hear from these of their conditions, as they became manifest to mine eyes. “O well-born,⁷³ to whom Grace concedes to see the thrones of the eternal triumph ere the warfare is abandoned,⁷⁴ with the light which spreads through the whole heaven we are enkindled, and therefore if thou desirest to make thyself clear concerning us, at thine own pleasure sate thyself.” Thus was said to me by one of those pious spirits; and by Beatrice, “Speak, speak securely, and trust even as to gods.” “I see clearly, how thou dost nest thyself in thine ownlight, and that by thine eyes thou drawest it, because they sparkle when thou smilest; but I know not who thou art, nor why thou hast, O worthy soul, thy station in the sphere which is veiled to mortals by another's rays.”⁷⁵ This I said, addressed unto the light which first had spoken to me; whereon it became more lucent far than it had been. Even as the sun, which, when the heat has consumed the tempering of dense vapors, conceals itself by excess of light, so, through greater joy, the holy shape bid itself from me within its own radiance, and thus close enclosed, it answered me in the fashion that the following canto sings.

Reader, imagine how desperately you would want to know more if the story begun here went no further. Then you will understand how eager I was to hear about these spirits as they came into view. “O well-born one,⁷³ Grace allows you to see the thrones of eternal triumph before you have left the battle.⁷⁴ We are lit by the light that fills all heaven. So if you wish to learn about us, satisfy your curiosity as you please.” One of those blessed spirits said this to me. Beatrice added, “Speak, speak freely, and trust them as you would trust gods.” “I can see that you nestle in your own light and that it shines from your eyes. They sparkle when you smile. But I do not know who you are, worthy soul. Nor do I know why you dwell in the sphere hidden from mortals by the rays of another.”⁷⁵ I addressed these words to the light that had first spoken to me. It then grew far brighter than before. When heat has burned away the thick vapors that soften the sun’s light, the sun hides itself in its own dazzling brightness. In the same way, the holy form hid from me in its own radiance as its joy increased. Enclosed in that radiance, it answered me as the following canto tells.