Above are mirrors, (Thrones ye term them) whence 60

God's judgments are reflected unto us,

So that our words fail not of evidence."
Ceasing to speak, she now the semblance bore
Of one engaged in somewhat else; and thus
Took on the wheel her station as before.
Known to me now, that other joyous Light
Array'd itself in robe of wondrous glow,
Like ruby with the sun's effulgence dight.
In those high realms is splendour born of gladness,
As smiles on earth; but in the abyss below

The outward form grows dark from inward sadness,

"God seeth all, blest spirit: and in Him

Thy sight is quicken'd, so that his desires

Never," I said, "can unto thee be dim:

Thy voice then, which delights the realm of heaven,
In concert tuned with those adoring Fires
To whom six wings are as a raiment given,

Why doth it not to my behest incline?

67

73

79

I should not wait thy question, did I scan

Thy thoughts as clearly as thou scannest mine."

"Of all the vales wherein are waters pent,

The largest" (thus the happy soul began)
"Except the sea that girds the continent,

Between discordant shores so long a way
Against the solar course is lengthen'd out,

It makes meridian where the horizon lay:
Upon that valley's shore did I reside,

85

"Twixt Ebro's stream and Macra's, whose short route Doth Tuscany from Genoa divide.

Beneath the same meridian Buggia lies

As doth the land from whence I drew

my birth,

91

Whose port was stain'd of yore with sanguine dyes: Folco my name with those who knew me best;

And as this heaven impress'd me when on earth,
So now in turn by me is it impressed.

Not Belus' daughter burnt with fiercer flame

97

(Whom both Sichæus and Creusa rue)

Than I, as long as love my age became :

Nor she, deluded by Demophoon,

The maid of Rhodope, herself who slew;
Nor he whose heart the fair Iole won.
Not that we here repent:-for no offence
Is here recall'd; but joyous we behold
The foresight and the skill of Providence.
Here we admire the art which turns to good

Such passion, and the Wisdom manifold,
Whence earthly love by heavenly is subdued.

103

But that thy wishes, unto which this sphere
Has given birth, may all contented be,
I must not rest my explanations here.
You wish to know who dwelleth in the rays
Of this fair light, that sparkles near to me,
Like sunbeam that in tranquil water plays.
Know that within it Rahab

peace obtains,

And to our order join'd, amid the blest

109

115

Of highest rank, supreme distinction gains:
For first of souls was she who in this sphere
Whereon the shadow of your earth doth rest,
Partook Christ's triumph, and gain'd honour here;
(Became Him that in heaven be somewhere left
A trophy of the victory He bought,

When on the cross his either hand was cleft ;)
Because she favour'd the first glorious deed
By Joshua in the land of promise wrought;

That land of which the Pope takes little heed.
Thy city (hateful plant of him who first

On the divine Creator turn'd his back,

And sow'd the seeds of envy) the accurst

Floren produced and issued: whence have stray'd
The sheep and lambs away from the right track,
Since of the Shepherd it a Wolf hath made.

121

127

CANTO IX.

For this, the Gospel now is laid aside,

The Fathers too; and the Decretals sought
Alone, as by the margins is descried.

To these both Popes and Cardinals are given;

Nor wanders e'er to Nazareth a thought,

Where spread his wings the Messenger from heaven: But soon the Vatican, and places most

Throughout the city dear to memory,

(Wash'd by the blood of Peter's faithful host) Shall from the foul adulterer be free.

139

NOTES.

Page 83. (Line 1.) “Dante here directs his speech, by way of apostrophe, to Clemenza the daughter of Charles Martel, wife of Louis X., King of France, alive when Dante wrote."— Lombardi. Of the evils foretold as coming upon the posterity of Charles Martel, see note to viii. 49. (8.) Having concluded the address begun in the last canto, he looks up to heaven in confidence that God will accomplish the restoration of his family; upon which Dante contrasts his piety with the infidelity of mankind in general.—" Ah, miserable souls," &c.

Page 84. (Line 21.) "It is a theological doctrine, more fully expressed line 74,-see also cantos xi. 20, and xv. 61that as God sees the thoughts of all created minds, and as the saints see all that is in God, so by consequence every saint sees the thoughts of all created minds. A proof of this truth

Dante here asks of the spirit.”—Lombardi. (28.) Upon a hill in the Marca Trevigiana, near Padua, dwelt the tyrant Ezzelino III., here likened to a torch. See Inf. canto xii. 109, and note. He was brother to Cunizza, the spirit now speaking, who is said to have been overcome by her ruling star; and thus prevented obtaining a higher station. But she repines not, she adds, since after Lethe has been tasted, no remorse is felt. See line 103.

Page 85. (Line 37.) Folco di Marsiglia, a celebrated Provençal Poet.-See lines 67, 82, and notes. (42.) Cunizza's argument is this:-" If a reputation upon earth is so valuable, how much more so an eternity of fame in heaven ?"—a sentiment, as Venturi observes, taken from Virgil: "Et dubitamus adhuc virtutem extendere factis." En. vi. 80.—" This," she adds, "is heeded not by the inhabitants of the Marca Trevigiana. But the Paduans, line 46, shall soon be punished for their unjust attempt to seize Vicenza, and shall dye with their blood the river Bacchiglione.-And at Trevigi, line 49, Ricardo da Cammino lords it so haughtily that a conspiracy is already on foot to assassinate him." These events are mentioned prophetically, though the defeat of one and the murder of the other had already taken place. (52.) “ A number of the inhabitants of Ferrara, at war with the Pope, having fled into Feltro for safety, were taken prisoners under false promises by the Bishop of that place, and cruelly put to death.”— Daniello. (54.) Malta was a tower in which the Popes imprisoned clerical delinquents. (55.) i. e. “Such will be the desire of this Priest to please the Pope, that a large vessel must be required to hold his blood-offerings."

Page 86. (Line 61.) i. e. " And that ye may credit my prophetical words, know that in the empyrean, the Angels, whom