Canto 22

Oppressed with amazement, I turned me to my Guide, like a little child who runs back always thither where he most confides. And she, like a mother who quickly succors her pale and breathless son with her voice, which is wont to reassure him, said to me, 11 Knowest thou not, that thou art in Heaven? and knowest thou not that Heaven is all holy, and whatever is done here comes from good zeal? How the song would have transformed thee, and I by smiling, thou canst now conceive, since the cry has moved thee so much; in which, if thou hadst understood its prayers, already would be known to thee the vengeance which thou shalt see before thou diest. The sword of here on high cuts not in haste, nor slow, save to the seeming of him who, desiring, or fearing, awaits it. But turn thee round now toward the others, for many illustrious spirits thou shalt see, if, as I say, thou dost lead back thy look.”

Overwhelmed with amazement, I turned to my Guide, like a small child who always runs back to the person he trusts most. She was like a mother who quickly comforts her pale, breathless son with her reassuring voice. She said to me, “Do you not know that you are in Heaven? Do you not know that Heaven is all holy, and that everything done here comes from good zeal? You have been so moved by the cry that you can now imagine how the song and my smile would have transformed you. If you had understood the prayers in the cry, you would already know of the vengeance you will see before you die. The sword of Heaven strikes neither hastily nor slowly, except as it seems to the person who awaits it with desire or fear. But now turn back toward the others. If you look back as I say, you will see many illustrious spirits.”

As it pleased her I directed my eyes, and saw a hundred little spheres, which together were becoming more beautiful with mutual rays. I was standing as one who within himself represses the point of his desire, and attempts not to ask, he so fears the too-much. And the largest and the most luculent of those pearls came forward to make of its own accord my wish content. Then within it I heard, “If thou couldst see, as I do, the charity which burns among us, thy thoughts would be expressed. But that thou through waiting mayst not delay thy high end, I will make answer to thee, even to the thought concerning which thou art so regardful.

At her wish, I looked and saw a hundred little spheres. Their rays made one another more beautiful. I held back my desire and did not dare ask, for fear of asking too much. Then the largest and brightest of those pearls came forward to satisfy my wish without being asked. From within it I heard, “If you could see, as I do, the love that burns among us, you would speak your thoughts. But I will answer the question you are so careful not to ask, so that waiting will not delay you from your high goal.

“That mountain⁴⁵² on whose slope Cassino is, was of old frequented on its summit by the deluded and illdisposed people, and I am be who first carried up thither the name of Him who brought to earth the truth which so high exalts us: and such grace shone upon me that I drew away the surrounding villages from the impious worship which seduced the world. These other fires were all contemplative men, kindled by that heat which brings to birth holy flowers and fruits. Here is Macarius,⁴⁵³ here is Romuald,⁴⁵⁴ here are my brothers, who within the cloisters fixed their feet, and held a steadfast heart.” And I to him, “The affection which thou displayest in speaking with me, and the good semblance which I see and note in all your ardors, have so expanded my confidence as the sun does the rose, when she becomes open so much as she has power to be. Therefore I pray thee, and do thou, father, assure me if I have power to receive so much grace, that I may see thee with uncovered shape.” Whereon he, “Brother, thy high desire shall be fulfilled in the last sphere, where are fulfilled all others and my own. There perfect, mature, and whole is every desire; in that alone is every part there where it always was: for it is not in space, and hath not poles; and our stairway reaches up to it, wherefore thus from thy sight it conceals itself. Far up as there the patriarch Jacob saw it stretch its topmost part when it appeared to him so laden with Angels. But now no one lifts his feet from earth to ascend it; and my Rule is remaining as waste of paper. The walls, which used to be an abbey, have become caves; and the cowls are sacks full of bad meal. But heavy usury is not gathered in so greatly against the pleasure of God, as that fruit which makes the heart of monks so foolish. For whatsoever the Church guards is all for the folk that ask it in God's name, not for one's kindred, or for another more vile. The flesh of mortals is so soft that a good beginning suffices not below from the springing of the oak to the forming of the acorn. Peter began without gold and without silver, and I with prayers and with fasting, and Francis in humility his convent; and if thou lookest at the source of each, and then lookest again whither it has run, thou wilt see dark made of the white. Truly, Jordan turned back, and the sea fleeing when God willed, were more marvellous to behold than succor here.”⁴⁵⁵

“That mountain⁴⁵² above Cassino was once frequented at its summit by deluded and ill-intentioned people. I was the first to carry there the name of him who brought to earth the truth that lifts us so high. Such grace shone upon me that I drew the surrounding villages away from the ungodly worship that had seduced the world. These other fires were all contemplative men, kindled by the warmth that brings forth holy flowers and fruits. Here is Macarius,⁴⁵³ here is Romuald,⁴⁵⁴ and here are my brothers, who stayed within their cloisters and remained steadfast in heart.” And I said to him, “You speak to me with such affection, and I see such kindness in all your radiant flames. This has opened my confidence as the sun opens a rose, until it is as fully open as it can be. So I pray you, father, if I am capable of receiving such grace, let me see your uncovered form.” He replied, “Brother, your high desire will be fulfilled in the last sphere, where all other desires, including mine, are fulfilled. There every desire is perfect, mature, and complete. Only there is every part always where it has always been. For that sphere is not in space and has no poles. Our stairway reaches up to it, and that is why its top is hidden from your sight. The patriarch Jacob saw its top stretch as far as that sphere, when it appeared to him laden with Angels. But now no one lifts his feet from the earth to climb it, and my Rule remains only as wasted paper. The walls that once formed an abbey have become caves, and the cowls are sacks full of bad flour. “But even the profit from heavy usury is not so displeasing to God as the wealth that makes monks’ hearts so foolish. For everything the Church guards belongs to the people who ask for it in God’s name. It is not for one’s relatives or for anyone more unworthy. Mortal flesh is so weak that, on earth, a good beginning does not last from the oak’s first sprouting until it bears acorns. Peter began without gold or silver, I began with prayers and fasting, and Francis began his convent in humility. If you look at the source of each and then look again at where each has led, you will see white turned to black. Truly, when God willed it, the Jordan turned back and the sea fled. These were more wondrous to behold than help here would be.”⁴⁵⁵

Thus he said to me, and then drew back to his company, and the company closed up; then like a whirlwind all gathered itself upward.

He said this to me, then returned to his companions, and they closed ranks. Then the whole group rose like a whirlwind.

The sweet Lady urged me behind them, with only a sign, up over that stairway; so did her virtue overcome my nature. But never here below, where one mounts and descends naturally, was there motion so rapid that it could be compared unto my wing. So may I return, Reader, to that devout triumph, for the sake of which I often bewail my sins and beat my breast, thou hadst not so quickly drawn out and put thy finger in the fire as I saw the sign which follows the Bull,⁴⁵⁶ and was within it.

With only a sign, the sweet Lady urged me up the stairway behind them. Her power overcame my nature. But no movement here below, where people rise and descend naturally, was ever as swift as my flight. Reader, may I return to that holy triumph, for whose sake I often mourn my sins and beat my breast. You could not have put your finger in a fire and pulled it out as quickly as I saw the sign that follows the Bull,⁴⁵⁶ and entered it.

O glorious stars, O light impregnate with great virtue, from which I acknowledge all my genius, whatever it may be; with you was born and with you was hiding himself he who is father of every mortal life, when I first felt the Tuscan air;⁴⁵⁷ and then, when the grace was bestowed on me of entrance within the lofty wheel which turns you, your region was allotted to me. To you my soul now devoutly sighs to acquire virtue for the difficult pass which draws her to itself.

O glorious stars, O light filled with great power, I owe all my genius to you, whatever it may be. When I first felt the Tuscan air, the father of every mortal life rose and set with you.⁴⁵⁷ Later, when I was granted entry into the lofty sphere that carries you, your region was assigned to me. Now my soul turns to you in reverent longing, seeking strength for the difficult passage that draws her onward.

“Thou art so near the ultimate salvation,” began Beatrice, “that thou oughtest to have thine eyes clear and sharp. And therefore ere thou further enterest it, look back downward, and see how great a world I have already set beneath thy feet, in order that thy heart, so far as it is able, may present itself joyous to the triumphant crowd which comes glad through this round aether.” With my sight I returned through each and all the seven spheres, and saw this globe such that I smiled at its mean semblance; and that counsel I approve as best which holds it of least account; and he who thinks of other things may be called truly worthy. I saw the daughter of Latona enkindled without that shadow which had been the cause why I once believed her rare and dense. The aspect of thy son, Hyperion, here I endured, and I saw how Maia and Dione⁴⁵⁸ move around and near him. Then appeared to me the temperateness of Jove, between his father and his son,⁴⁵⁹ and then was clear to me the variation which they make in their places. And all the seven were displayed to me,[[how great they are and how swift they are, and how they are in distant houses. While I was revolving with the eternal Twins, the little threshing-floor⁴⁶⁰ which makes us so fierce all appeared to me, from its hills to its harbors.

“You are so close to ultimate salvation,” Beatrice began, “that your eyes should be clear and sharp. So before you enter any farther, look down and see how great a world I have already placed beneath your feet. Then your heart, as much as it can, may rejoice before the triumphant crowd coming joyfully through this round of aether.” I looked back through each of the seven spheres and saw the globe. It looked so small that I smiled. I agree that the best advice is to think the least of it. Whoever thinks of other things may be called truly worthy. I saw the daughter of Latona shining without the shadow that had once led me to believe she was rare and dense. Here I could bear to look at your son, Hyperion, and I saw how Maia and Dione⁴⁵⁸ move around and near him. Then I saw the temperate position of Jove between his father and his son,⁴⁵⁹ and understood how they change places. All seven were visible to me. I saw how large they are, how fast they move, and how they occupy distant houses. As I revolved with the eternal Twins, the little threshing-floor⁴⁶⁰ that makes us so fierce lay entirely before me, from its hills to its harbors.

Then I turned back my eyes to the beautiful eyes.

Then I looked back at the beautiful eyes.