Classic Poem

CANTO XXI.

Argument.

Saturn, the seventh heavenly sphere, where dwell the contemplative saints. — Mystic ladder — St. Peter Damian.

A LREADY now my gaze was bent once more
Towards my Dame, and with it all my heart,
Most wholly turn'd from every other lore.
And yet she did not smile; but said: " Thou wert
As Semeli, what time by the fierce might
Of splendour burnt, if I did here impart
My smiles. Because my beauty, at each height
Of the eternal palace which we scale,
As thou hast seen, doth ever shine more bright;
And thus must o'er thine earthly strength prevail,
In radiance all too pure for mortal eyes,
And thou, as thunderstricken leaves, shouldst fail.
We to the seventh far splendour now arise,
Whose rays beneath the Lion's breast are shed
Down upon earth, in fierce and fervent guise.
Here let thy mind be with thy vision led;
And form thereof a mirror to the thing
Which mirror'd here before thine eyes is spread. "
He who might know the sweetness of the spring
Of joy in gazing on her aspect blest,
When I to other cares my thoughts did bring,
Should see how deep was rooted in my breast
Obedience to my heavenly escort fair,
And weigh the gladness that in each did rest.
Within the crystal which the name doth wear,
Encircling Earth, of its good King, of old,
Beneath whom none did hate nor malice bear,
I saw a ladder, seeming all of gold
Whereon the sun doth shine; and my weak gaze
To follow its far height might not be bold.
Then saw I by the steps descend such rays
Of splendour, that, meseem'd, each heavenly fire
Was there diffusid in their glittering maze.
As rooks, whom Nature's teaching doth inspire,
Together move at dawning of the morn,
Some heat in their chill'd plumage to acquire;
And some then flee away without return,
And some wheel round again from whence they came,
And others circle, on their wings upborne;
Even thus, methought, the motion was the same
Of all those scintillating lights, which here,
Touching this stair, shine forth with brighter flame.
And one who nearest linger'd shone so clear,
That to myself I spake, in inward thought:
" The love thou show'st me plainly doth appear. "
But she whose guidance I had ever sought,
For time and guise of silence and of speech,
Now stay'd; yet, as was meet, I utter'd nought,
Though much I long'd to speak. Then she, who each
Desire perceived through Him who seith all,
Thus spake: " Thy fervent wish its scope may reach. "
And I began: " So low my merits fall,
That I am most unworthy thy reply;
Yet, for her sake who grants me leave to call
Thus for thine answer, thou who hid dost lie
Within thy gladness, speak, that I may hear
The cause for which to me thou draw'st so nigh,
And wherefore now are silent in this sphere
All the sweet symphonies of Paradise,
Heard elsewhere in melodious voices clear. "
" Because thine ears are mortal, as thine eyes, "
He answer'd, " here they sing not; for the same
Cause which hath stay'd the smile of Beatrice.
Down by the holy stair so far I came,
Only to bear to thee a greeting blest,
With speech and with my mantle of pure flame.
Nor, sooth, a greater love is thus exprest;
For love, as much and more, above doth glow
As in its burning rays is manifest.
But the great charity which makes us go,
Serving the Power who rules with his high might
The world, elected me this thing to show. "
" Well do I see, " I said, " O sacred light,
How freely love doth in this court suffice
To do the holy will of God aright;
But this is undiscernid by mine eyes,
Wherefore thou wert predestinate alone,
Unto this office, mid thy companies. "
My speech not yet to the last word had gone,
When round its centre I that flame descried
Circling, as in the mill the whirling stone.
And then the love which was within replied:
" A fire divine its light on me doth stay,
Transpiercing that wherein my life doth 'bide;
Which virtue, join'd unto my visual ray,
Above myself doth bear me; whence I see
The Highest Essence, where its fountain lay.
Thence comes the gladness ye behold in me;
Because unto my vision bright and clear
The flame which clothes me similar must be.
The spirit highest in the heavenly sphere,
The seraph nearest unto God's own rays,
Yet could not bring to thee an answer here.
The thing which doth thy tangled thought amaze
Far in the deep abyss hath had its birth,
Cut off for ever from created gaze.
When thou returnest to the mortal earth,
This lesson bear with thee; that none presume
Upon this path his footsteps to send forth.
The mind, here light, on earth doth dwell in gloom;
How then the knowledge can ye reach below,
Which yet ye cannot, when to Heaven ye come? "
So deeply to my heart his words did go,
I left this question; and, in meekest guise,
Begg'd that he now his name to me would show.
" Between two shores of Italy, arise
Mountains not distant from thy native land,
So high that lower the loud thunder lies.
A height is there, named Catria: a band
Beneath it aye abide in cloister'd shade,
Which but for holy worship still should stand. "
His third discourse he thus began; then said,
Continuing his speech: " I there so well
In all God's service was establishid,
That, but with food oil-season'd, in my cell
Joyful I lived throughout both heat and cold,
Content in thoughts contemplative to dwell.
That convent, wont to give, in days of old,
Fruit amply to these heavens, hath now a store
So vain, its evil deeds must soon be told.
There Peter Damian was the name I bore:
Pier the Sinner dwelt in cloisters vow'd
Unto our Lady on the Adrian shore.
Short was the span of life to me allow'd,
When I was call'd the dignity to wear
Which, since, from bad to worse hath ever flow'd.
Once Cephas came, and he who erst did bear
The Holy Spirit's sword, all poor and lean,
And barefoot, living upon lowly fare.
But modern pastors come with haughty mien,
And must have some to lead them, since so great
Their bulk, and some to bear their train, I ween.
And with their mantles they, in princely state,
Their palfreys cover; so that there do go
Two beasts beneath one skin: how long doth wait
Long-suff'ring patience! " At this voice, I saw,
From grade to grade descend full many a flame,
Then circle round, and still more beauty draw
From every motion. As they nearer came,
They stay'd, with a loud cry; on earth is found
Nought which resemblance thereunto may claim:
I understood it not, sore-vanquish'd by its sound.