Canto 25

If it ever happen that the sacred poem to which both heaven and earth have set their hand, so that it has made me lean for many years, sbould overcome the cruelty which bars me out of the fair sheep-fold, where a lamb I slept, an enemy to the wolves that give it war, then with other voice, with other fleece, Poet will I return, and on the font of my baptism will I take the crown; because there I entered into the faith which makes the souls known to God, and afterward. Peter, for its sake, thus encircled my brow.

Perhaps the sacred poem will overcome the cruelty that bars me from the fair sheepfold. Both heaven and earth have helped create this poem, and it has made me thin over many years. In that sheepfold, I slept as a lamb, an enemy of the wolves that wage war on it. If the poem overcomes that cruelty, I will return as a poet, with a different voice and a different fleece. I will receive the crown at my baptismal font. For there I entered the faith that makes souls known to God. And afterward, for the sake of that faith, Peter encircled my brow in this way.

Then a light moved toward us from that sphere whence the first-fruit which Christ left of His vicars had issued. And my Lady, full of gladness, said to me, “Look, look! behold the Baron for whose sake Galicia is visited there below.”⁴⁸⁴

Then a light moved toward us from the sphere from which the first of Christ’s vicars had come. My Lady, full of joy, said to me, “Look, look! See the Baron for whose sake people visit Galicia on earth.”⁴⁸⁴

Even as when the dove alights near his companion, and one, turning and cooing, displays its affection to the other, so by the one great Prince glorious I saw the other greeted, praising the food which feasts them thereabove. But after their gratulation was completed, silent coram me,⁴⁸⁵ each stopped, so ignited that it overcame my sight. Smiling, then Beatrice said, “Illustrious life, by whom the largess of our basilica has been written,⁴⁸⁶ do thou make Hope resound upon this height; thou knowest that thou dost represent it as many times as Jesus to the three displayed most brightness.”⁴⁸⁷ “Lift up thy head and make thyself assured; for that which comes up here from the mortal world needs must be ripened in our rays.” This comfort from the second fire came to me; whereon I lifted up my eyes unto the mountains which bent them down before with too great weight.

Just as one dove lands beside its companion, turning and cooing to show its affection, so I saw one glorious Prince greet the other. He praised the food that feasts them in heaven. But when their greeting was over, each fell silent and stopped before me,⁴⁸⁵ glowing so brightly that I could not bear the sight. Then Beatrice smiled and said, “Illustrious life, you who wrote of the generosity of our basilica,⁴⁸⁶ make Hope resound on this height. You know that you represent Hope as often as Jesus showed his greatest brightness to the three.”⁴⁸⁷ “Lift your head and take heart. For whatever comes here from the mortal world must ripen in our rays.” This comfort came to me from the second fire. Then I raised my eyes to the mountains, whose great weight had bowed them down before.

“Since, through grace, our Emperor wills that thou, before thy death, come face to face with his Counts in the most secret hall, so that, having seen the truth of this Court, thou mayest therewith confirm in thyself and others the Hope which there below rightly enamours, say what it is, and how thy mind is flowering with it, and say whence it came to thee;” thus further did the second light proceed. And that compassionate one, who guided the feathers of my wings to such high flight, thus in the reply anticipated me.⁴⁸⁸ “The Church militant has not any son with more hope, as is written in the Sun which irradiates all our band; therefore it is conceded to him, that from Egypt be should come to Jerusalem to see, ere the warfare be at end for him. The other two points which are asked not for sake of knowing, but that he may report how greatly this virtue is pleasing to thee, to him I leave, for they will not be difficult to him, nor of vainglory, and let him answer to this, and may the grace of God accord this to him.”

“Through grace, our Emperor wills that you meet his Counts in the most secret hall before you die. You will see the truth of this Court, so that you can strengthen your own Hope and that of others. This Hope rightly inspires love in the world below. Tell us what Hope is and how it is blossoming in your mind. Tell us, too, where it came to you from.” Thus the second light continued. Then that compassionate one, who guided the feathers of my wings to such a high flight, answered before I could.⁴⁸⁸ “The Church militant has no son with more hope. This is written in the Sun that shines on all our company. Therefore, he is permitted to come from Egypt to Jerusalem and see it before his warfare ends. I leave him to answer the other two questions. They are not asked for the sake of knowing, but so he can report how pleasing this virtue is to you. They will not be difficult for him, and answering them will not make him vain. Let him answer them, and may God grant him the grace to do so.”

As a disciple who follows his teacher, prompt and willing, in that wherein he is expert, so that his worth may be disclosed: “Hope,” said I, “is a sure expectation of future glory, which divine grace produces, and preceding merit.⁴⁸⁹ From many stars this light comes to me, but be instilled it first into my heart who was the supreme singer⁴⁹⁰ of the supreme Leader. Sperent in te,⁴⁹¹ 'who know thy name,' he says in his Theody,⁴⁹² and who knows it not, if he has my faith? Thou afterwards didst instil it into me with his instillation in thy Epistle, so that I am full, and upon others shower down again your rain.”

Like a student who readily and willingly follows his teacher in a subject he knows well, so that his ability may be shown, I said: “Hope is a sure expectation of future glory. It comes from divine grace and merit already earned.⁴⁸⁹ This light comes to me from many stars. But the first to instill it in my heart was the supreme singer⁴⁹⁰ of the supreme Leader. Sperent in te,⁴⁹¹ 'who know thy name,' he says in his Theody.⁴⁹² And who does not know your name, if he has my faith? Afterward, you instilled this hope in me through your Epistle, together with his teaching. So now I am full of it, and I shower your rain down on others.”

While I was speaking, within the living bosom of that burning a flash was trembling, sudden and intense, in the manner of lightning. Then it breathed, “The love wherewith I still glow toward the virtue which followed me far as the palm, and to the issue of the field, wills that breathe anew to thee, that thou delight in it; and it is my pleasure, that thou tell that which Hope promises to thee.” And I, “The new and the old Scriptures set up the sign, and it points this out to me. Of the souls whom God hath made his friends, Isaiah says that each shall be clothed in his own land with a double garment,⁴⁹³ and his own land is this sweet life. And thy brother, far more explicitly, there where he treats of the white robes, makes manifest to us this revelation.”⁴⁹⁴

While I was speaking, a sudden, intense flash trembled like lightning within the living heart of that flame. Then it breathed, “I still glow with love for the virtue that followed me to the palm and the outcome of the battle. That love makes me want to breathe again to you, so that you may delight in it. And I would like you to tell me what Hope promises you.” And I said, “The New and Old Scriptures point the way and show me the answer. Isaiah says that each of the souls God has made his friends will be clothed in a double garment in his own land.⁴⁹³ And his own land is this sweet life. Your brother makes this revelation far more explicit where he speaks of the white robes.”⁴⁹⁴

And first, close on the end of these words, “Sperent in te” was heard from above us, to which all the carols made answer. Then among them a light became so bright that, if the Crab had one such crystal, winter would have a month of one sole day.⁴⁹⁵ And as a glad maiden rises and goes and enters in the dance, only to do honor to the new bride, and not for any fault,⁴⁹⁶ so saw I the brightened splendor come to the two who were turning in a wheel, such as was befitting to their ardent love. It set itself there into the song and into the measure, and my Lady kept her gaze upon them, even as a bride, silent and motionless. “This is he who lay upon the breast of our Pelican,⁴⁹⁷ and from upon the cross this one was chosen to the great office.”⁴⁹⁸ Thus my Lady, nor yet moved she her look from its fixed attention after than before these words of hers. As is he who gazes and endeavors to see the sun eclipsed a little, who through seeing becomes sightless, so did I become in respect to that last fire, till it was said, “Why dost thou dazzle thyself in order to see a thing which has no place here?⁴⁹⁹ On earth my body is earth; and it will be there with the others until our number corresponds with the eternal purpose.⁵⁰⁰ With their two garments in the blessed cloister are those two lights alone which ascended:⁵⁰¹ and this thou shalt carry back unto your world.”

Just after these words ended, “Sperent in te” was heard from above us, and all the songs answered it. Then one light among them grew so bright that, if the Crab had such a crystal, winter would have a month of a single day.⁴⁹⁵ A joyful maiden rises and joins a dance only to honor the new bride, not because of any fault.⁴⁹⁶ In the same way, I saw the brightened light join the two who were circling, as befitted their ardent love. The light joined their song and their dance. My Lady watched them like a bride, silent and motionless. “This is the one who lay on the breast of our Pelican,⁴⁹⁷ and who was chosen from the cross for the great office.”⁴⁹⁸ My Lady spoke without taking her eyes off them, either before or after her words. Anyone who tries to see the sun during a partial eclipse becomes blind from looking. In the same way, I lost my sight as I gazed at that last light. Then I heard, “Why do you dazzle yourself trying to see something that is not here?⁴⁹⁹ On earth my body is earth. It will remain there with the others until our number matches the eternal purpose.⁵⁰⁰ Only those two lights who ascended have both their garments in the blessed cloister.⁵⁰¹ Carry this truth back to your world.”

At this word the flaming gyre became quiet, together with the sweet mingling that was made of the sound of the trinal breath, even as, at ceasing of fatigue or danger, the oars, erst driven through the water, all stop at the sound of a whistle. Ah! how greatly was I disturbed in mind, when I turned to see Beatrice, at not being able to see her, although I was near her, and in the happy world.

At these words, the flaming circle fell silent, along with the sweet mingling of sounds from the threefold breath. It was like oars that stop together at a whistle when the labor or danger has passed. Ah, how troubled I was when I turned and could not see Beatrice, though I was near her in that happy world!