specie, produce different fruits. "We see many men so vile, and in such a degraded state, that they appear nothing better than beasts; and hence we may lay down, and fully believe that some may be so noble, and of so exalted a nature that they can be, as it were, only angels."-Dante. Convito. (73.) i.e. In order to produce perfection, not only must the matter be of the best quality, but the informing Virtue must proceed im. mediately from God." (82.) “Thus, i.e. by the immediate operation of God, Adam's original clay was endued with all the perfection of which the animal nature was capable ;—thus in the pure womb of the Virgin Mary, was formed the most holy body of Jesus Christ."-Lombardi.

Page 126. (Line 87.) “ The Twain,” are Adam and Christ. (93.) "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad.. And God said unto him, Because, &c... Lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."—1 Kings, iii. 9, &c. See also 2 Chron. i. 9. (98.) i.e. He cared not for Astronomy, Logic Metaphysics, or Geometry, but asked of God the gift of Prudence. (104.) "And this is that gift, which Solomon, seeing that he was appointed to the government of the people, asked of God."-Dante. Convito.

Page 127. (Line 127.) As Parmenides and Melissus represent the old Philosophers who erred; so Sabellius and Arius represent the new. They are compared to swords, for having mutilated and distorted the Scriptures. "Sabellius denied the personality of the Holy Ghost... In the language of the Athanasian Creed, the Sabellians confounded the persons;the Arians and Macedonians divided the substance of the Godhead." Dr. E. Burton. Works, vol. i. pp. 418, 420.

Page 128. (Line 139.) These names are used generally for any persons who have more curiosity than discretion.-Here Dante appears to reprove those who would doubt as to the salvation of Solomon, whom he has placed in Paradise. See note x. 109. The warning is general, nor should the conciseness of Dante's manner cause so admirable an argument for charity to be overlooked. Too apt are we in the pride of our hearts, on seeing our neighbour err, to infer from one error a total want of principle-whereas, such an inference should not be drawn from single acts of frailty to which the best are exposed, and may heartily repent of immediately.

"Then gently scan your brother man,

Still gentler sister woman;

Though they may gang a kennin wrang,

To step aside is human:

One point must still be greatly dark,

The moving why they do it;

And just as lamely can ye mark

How far perhaps they rue it.

Who made the heart, 'tis He alone

Decidedly can try us,

He knows each chord-its various tone,

Each spring, its various bias:

Then at the balance let's be mute,

We never can adjust it;

What's done we partly may compute,

But know not what's resisted.."

Burns.

CANTO XIV.

ARGUMENT.

SOLOMON removes Dante's doubts as to the state of glorified spirits. In the planet Mars, to which they now ascend, are seen the forms of distinguished warriors, studded in the figure of a cross.

FROM rim to centre, or reversely, flows
Water within a bowl, as outwardly

Or inwardly it be impell'd by blows ;
Such on a sudden was the twofold thrill,

That, passing through my mind, was felt by me,
Soon as Aquinas' glorious voice was still,-
The effect of likeness 'twixt his words and those
Of Beatrice, who after him anon

Address'd me, as my verse ensuing shows.
“Behoves it him, although not yet forsooth
He utters it, or even thinks thereon,
To probe unto the root another truth.

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Inform him if the light that doth endow

Your substance as with blossoms, will remain,

And with you be eternally, as now:

And if it stays, say how, when ye are dight

With visible integuments again,

The exceeding lustre will not hurt your sight." As when by gladness prompted and incited,

They who keep up the dance in circling ring Their voices raise, and movements show delighted; So, at that beauteous Maid's devoted prayer,

The sacred circles, joy exhibiting,

Danced in a round, and chanting, thrill'd the air.
He who laments that man on earth must die
Ere he may live in heaven, hath little known
The calm refreshment of the shower on high!
The One, composed of Three, who lives for ever,
And reigns for ever, three and two in One,
Restricting all,-Himself restricted never,
Had thrice been chanted by each several spirit
With such divine surpassing melody

As would be full reward for highest merit;
When from the holiest light-i' th' lesser round
I heard a modest voice (such as might be
The voice of Gabriel unto Mary) sound

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In answer thus: "Long as the joy shall last
That reigns in Paradise, so long a space
Around us shall our love this raiment cast:-
Bright in proportion to our ardour this,—

Our ardour to our vision; and as grace
Exceedeth merit, such the vision is.

When we regain our flesh, made pure and bright,
Our persons, render'd perfect and complete,
More pleasing will become ;-since to the light,
Assign'd unto us now by God's free grace,
A greater share will then be given, that meet
We may become to look upon His face.
Wherefore the vision granted us must needs
Increase-increase the ardour glowing thence-
Increase the radiance that from it proceeds.
But as, while flame emitting, charcoal still
That flame in whiteness overcomes, and hence
Preserves its own identity; so will

The rays, by which we now are compass'd round,

Be vanquish'd by the flesh in brilliancy-
That flesh now cover'd under yonder ground:
Nor will such rays fatigue us, as too bright;
For all the organs of our frame will be
Form'd to sustain whatever gives delight."

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