O Power benign, whose stamp is on these rays!
Thou didst exalt thyself the skies above,

That my weak vision might endure the blaze.
The name of that fair flower, which morn and night
My lips invoke, within my soul now strove,
Bidding me watch intent the greater light:
And as I mark'd the grandeur and the glow

Of that pure living Star, which all excell'd
On high, as erst it vanquish'd all below;
A little Torch within this heaven came down,

And round about that starry splendour held
A circling course, in fashion like a crown.
The sweetest and most touching notes that earth

85

91

97

May boast, would seem discordant, like the sound To which, when rent, the thunder cloud gives birth, Compared in tone with that angelic Lyre,

Wherewith is that most beauteous Sapphire crown'd
That decks heaven's summit in its own attire.

"I am Angelic Love, and breathe the fire

Of holy joy, from that pure virgin breast

103

Derived, which wrapt erewhile the world's Desire; And still, O Queen of heaven, this task be mine,

As long as in the highest sphere a guest,

Following thy Son, thou mak'st it more divine."

Such was that circling strain's enraptured close,

When from the other lights abiding there
The name of Mary speedily arose.

The mantle that its royal covering throws

Around the world, and boasts the greatest share Of God's own Spirit, and most warmly glows, So high above us rear'd its inmost cope,

That from the lower sphere where I abode

It was not yet within my vision's scope: Wherefore I vainly strove to view the course

Of that encircled flame, as high it rode

The heavens, ascending to its primal source.

And as an infant at its mother's breast

Raises its arms when fully satisfied ;—

109

115

121

(By outward act the inward joy exprest ;)So raised their lofty summits every flame,

In guise that manifestly testified

How deep the love they bore to Mary's name. And pausing there, they hover'd in my sight,

Chanting Regina Cœli' in such measure,

E'en yet their sweetness thrills me with delight.
Oh, how abundant is the harvest stow'd

In those receptacles of heavenly treasure,
Which upon earth a seed so goodly sow'd!

127

Here they rejoice, and taste the wealth of old
Acquired with many a tear in Babylon,
During their exile, where they spurn'd the gold:
Here shares the honour of the victory

Gain'd by the aid of God, and Mary's Son,
Among the old and recent Patriarchs, He
Who holds the keys, and this high glory won.

133

139

NOTES.

Page 217. (Line 11.) "The centre of the heavens-where by reason of the slow motion of the shadows, the sun appears to more slower."-Cesari.

Page 218. (Line 26.) Thus Drummond of Hawthornden calls the stars, "Those starry Nymphs which dance about the pole." Thus Euripides. Supp. 995. iv′ wкvlóaι vúμpai 'Imñévoi di oppvaιas. (29.) The sun is our Saviour― also called, line 32, "the translucent Substance," and, line 37, "the Wisdom and the Power." (34.) "This is not a call to Beatrice, but an exclamation."-Landino.

Page 219. (Line 52.) Thus, Shakspeare, Macbeth, act 1. sc. 3, "Kind gentleman, your pains Are registered where every day I turn The leaf to read them."

Page 220. (Line 65.) Thus Horace. De Arte Poet. "Versate diu, quid ferre recusent, Quid valeant humeri." (67.) See opening of canto ii. and note. (73.) The Rose is the Virgin Mary. The Lilies are Saints, in allusion to Ecclesiasticus,

xxxix. 14. (79.) This beautiful simile represents our Saviour, unseen himself, irradiating the Saints beneath him.

Page 221. (Line 85.) In this apostrophe our Saviour is lauded by the poet for withdrawing the brightness of His presence, in order that he might be able to discern the beatified spirits. (88.) "The poet returns to the narrative, and relates that the name of Mary, the Rose, prompted him to look for her, -well knowing, that our Saviour being withdrawn, she must be the 'greatest light,' remaining."—Lombardi. (94.) This torch is the Angel Gabriel, who revolves around the Star, i.e. around the Virgin, crowning her, as it were, with the lustre of his glory. See line 119. (100.) The "angelic lyre" is the same with "the torch," viz. the Angel Gabriel, who proceeds to sing, "I am angelic love;" i.e. "I represent the love of the Angels, and testify the joy they felt at the Incarnation."

Page 222. (Line 112.) The mantle, which envelopes the other eight volumes, or spheres, is the ninth heaven, the immoveable empyrean, or primum mobile. See note, ii. 112. The meaning is, that Dante being still in the eighth heaven, which interposed between him and the transparent empyrean, could not follow thither with his eyes the "encircled flame," i.e. the Virgin circled by the Angel Gabriel, who was ascending in the steps of her divine Son. See lines 95, 107, 120. (128.) The beginning of an anthem sung to the Virgin.

Page 223. (Line 133.) "In heaven they live on that celestial bread the Saints have acquired in the tribulations of the world."-Ottimo Commento. (135.) Translated according to the reading" dove si lascia l'oro."

Since of the crumbs that from your table fall

This man through mercy doth a foretaste gain,
Ere death at the appointed season call,

Regard his inexhaustible desires,

7

And with a little dew assuage them ;-ye

Drink ever of the fount to which he aspires."

Thus Beatrice-anon these spirits came

Around us in a circle, joyfully,

Darting, like comets, each a living flame.

P