CANTO XXXI.

ARGUMENT.

DESCRIPTION of the heavenly Rose continued.

St. Bernard is sent by Beatrice, who is still visible at a distance through the transparent empyrean. Dante contemplates the Virgin Mary.

IN semblance like unto the whitest Rose

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That sacred band I saw enthroned above,

Which for his Spouse, in death our Saviour chose.

But they, who as they fly behold and sing

His glory, who enkindles them with love,

And chaunt the goodness of their heavenly King, (E'en as a troop of bees now seek the flowers,

And now return with all the store they obtain,
To lay it up amid their waxen bowers)—
Were on the Rose descending from above,

Whence from its numerous leaves they soar again
Back to the realm where ever dwells their Love.

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The looks of all were bright with living flame,

With gold their pinions- and their forms so white, No snow such perfect purity could claim. Fanning their plumage, as with wing untired

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From seat to seat they on the flower alight,
They impart the peace and love they have acquired.
Nor by their rapid passage, as they fly

Betwixt the Flower and Fountain of their bliss,
Was aught of splendour lost unto mine eye.
For through the world the Ray divine is sent
Where-e'er most worthy of that light it is;-
Nought having power to cause impediment.
In this blest realm where spirits of ancient days
And modern meet, in endless bliss to dwell,
All to one point their sight and ardours raise.
O Trinal Light-Thyself one single star,

Who with thy sparks contentest them so well,
Look down, and see the storm in which we are!

If the Barbarians, (coming from that land

O'er which, as round she wheels with her dear son, Doth Helicë take up her daily stand)

Beholding Rome and all her buildings vast,

When like the Lateran mortal works were none,

Into extreme astonishment were cast;

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I who from earth to an immortal fane
Had pass'd,-from time into eternity-

From Florence to a people just and sane-
What great astonishment belike was mine!
Surely betwixt amaze and joy did I

To shut my ears, and close my lips incline. And like a pilgrim who with fond delight

Surveys the temple he has vow'd to see,

And hopes one day its wonders to recite ;
So through that living light with searching ken
The varied ranks I view'd repeatedly,

Now up, now down, now round and round again.
Looks I beheld, to charity inclining,

Fringed with Another's light, and their own smile, And gestures, every seemly grace combining.

E'en now the general form of Paradise

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My sight had taken in; although the while

On no one part were firmly fix'd mine eyes.

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And with new ardour kindled, I anon

Turn'd round unto my Lady to inquire

st;

Of things which doubtfully I reason'd on. An answer came; but what I sought was lost For lo, instead of her-my soul's desire,

An old man, clothed like that resplendent host.

Beam'd on his cheek and brow, as 't were, a stream 61

Of joy benign-his look compassionate,

Such as a tender father might beseem.

"And where is she?" I sudden cried ;-when he :

"To end the longings of thy anxious state, By Beatrice impell'd, I come to thee.

In the third seat, and in the highest round,

If thou look up, she will appear once more,

Throned in the seat that her deserts have found."

I look'd above, and not a word replied;

And saw that she a beauteous chaplet wore,

The eternal rays reflecting on each side.

So great a distance is not mortal eye,

When in the lowest depths of ocean cast,

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From that high realm whence thunder rends the sky,

As was my sight from Beatrice removed;

And yet the intervening distance vast

No obstacle to clearest vision proved.

"O Lady, upon whom my hopes are placed,

And who, to work out my security,

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Hast left Hell's precincts with thy footsteps traced,-

For all the wondrous things that I have seen,

My gratitude and praise are due to thee

By whom have grace and power accorded been.

A slave before, thou hast released me--thou
By every art and mode that could be tried
Didst win the freedom that I cherish now.
Continue thy beneficence to me,

So that my soul, which thou hast purified,
May loose its mortal bonds, approved by thee."
My prayer thus ended-she with smiling face
Seem'd to behold me, where she sate removed;
Then turn'd unto the Eternal Fount of

grace: Whereat the aged Saint: "That thou may'st end

Successfully thy path, by Heaven approved,

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Which Love's warm prayers enjoin me to befriend,— Now o'er this garden stretch thine eyes; and they 97 Shall by the vision more acute be made

To bear the sharpness of the heavenly ray.
And may the Queen of heaven, who in my heart
Retains a place revered, her gracious aid
For her devoted Bernard's sake, impart."
Like one who, from Croatia come to see

Our Veronica, (image long adored)
Gazes, as though content he ne'er could be,-
Thus musing, while the relic is portray'd,-
"Jesus my God, my Saviour and my Lord,
O were thy features these I see display'd!"—

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