Canto VI
CANTO VI
In answer to Dante’s first question, the soul identifies itself as Justinian, to whom the Imperial Eagle came as Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire some two hundred years after Constantine had transferred its seat to Constantinople. Once freed by Pope Agapetus I from the Monophysite heresy, and having consigned his arms to his general Belisarius, he turned to the purification, modernization, and codification of Roman law (1–28). At the mention of the Imperial Eagle, Justinian feels obliged to digress upon its history, so that both those who claim it for their own party and those who oppose it may appreciate its true worth. He then traces its flight through the ages: the kingdom of Aeneas in Lavinium, that of Ascanius in Alba Longa, the transfer of power to Rome by the Horatii, the monarchy from Romulus to Tarquinius Superbus, the Republic and rule of consuls and senate, the dictatorship of Julius Caesar, the peace of Augustus, the reign of Tiberius and the crucifixion of Christ, the rule of Titus and his vengeance on the Jews, and the founding of the Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne. Both the Ghibellines, who exploit the Imperial Eagle for their own ends, and the Guelphs, who oppose it with the French fleur-de-lis, dishonor its universal authority (29–111). In response to Dante’s second question about the souls in the planet of Mercury, Justinian replies that they sought fame and honor, which weakened their love of God and resulted in a lesser degree of beatitude. They nevertheless rejoice in the correspondence between deserts and wages, participating harmoniously in the total order of Paradise (112–126). Finally, the great Justinian introduces a humble pilgrim named Romeo de Villeneuve, who, though he had distinguished himself by faithful service in the court of Raymond Berenguer IV, was wrongly accused and, offended by this display of ingratitude, returned to his life of wandering. His story resembles that of Dante in many respects (127–142).
1 “When Constantine turned back the Eagle’s head
Against the heaven’s course on which it bore
Behind that ancient whom Lavinia wed,[106]
4 A hundred plus a hundred years or more[107]
God’s bird remained in Europe’s farthest zone,
Near to the mount from which it came before.[108]
7 Beneath the shade of sacred plumes, the throne
That ruled the world was passed from hand to hand,
And, changing in that way, it reached my own.
10 There Caesar, here Justinian, I stand[109]
And feel the Primal Love by whose consent
The vain and needless from the laws were banned.
13 Before that work, on which I was intent,
One nature and no more in Christ, in brief,
Is what I held—that faith made me content.[110]
16 But blessèd Agapetus, who was chief[111]
Among all shepherds, steered me further through
The words he uttered to the right belief.
19 I thus believed, but what by faith he knew
I see as clearly as your sight may fall
On contradictions, with one false, one true.
22 When once in step with Holy Church’s call,
It pleased God’s grace to have inspired my mind
With this high task to which I gave my all.[112]
25 My arms to Belisarius consigned,[113]
High Heaven’s right hand was with his so knit
I had a sign that I should rest behind.
28 With this there ends the answer I submit
To your first question; its condition, though,
Brings me to add a sequel on to it
31 That you may see with how much right men go
Against the sacred standard—both the train
That takes it up and those against its show.[114]
34 See what great virtue made it fit to gain
Such reverence, beginning on the day
That Pallas died in giving it a reign.[115]
37 You know in Alba Longa it would stay
Three hundred years and more, until at last
Three fought with three, still for its sake, I say.[116]
40 You know its deeds through seven kingships passed,
From Sabine rape to grieved Lucretia’s woe,
Subduing peoples round about amassed,[117]
43 And how famed Romans bore it towards each foe—
Like Brennus, Pyrrhus, and the other blocks[118]
Of principates and communes long ago.
46 Torquatus, Quinctius (named for rough locks),[119]
The Decii, the Fabii, all owe[120]
Their fame to it—I gladly praise such stocks.
49 It further brought the pride of Arabs low,[121]
Who followed after Hannibal and swung[122]
Through Alpine rocks, from which descends the Po.
52 Both Scipïo and Pompey, when still young,[123]
Won triumph under it, by which the hill
Above your birthplace bitterly was stung.[124]
55 Then, near the time all Heaven would fulfill
Its wish to bring the world to peace again,
Rome’s Caesar took it by the people’s will.[125]
58 And what it did from Var to Rhine, the Seine,
The Loire, and the Isère beheld among
The streams that fill the Rhone from every glen.[126]
61 Its deeds beyond Ravenna, when it sprung
Past Rubicon, were of a flight whose style
No pen could ever follow up, nor tongue.[127]
64 It wheeled its hosts towards Spain, then in a while
On towards Durazzo, hit Pharsalus too,
So grief was felt upon the burning Nile.[128]
67 It saw Antandros and Simóïs’ blue,[129]
Its birthplace, and where Hector lay at last;
And—ill for Ptolemy—it stirred anew.
70 From there, it fell on Juba lightning-fast,
And then it turned itself upon your West,
Where it had heeded Pompey’s trumpet-blast.
73 Now Brutus howls with Cassius as Hell’s guest
Of what it did with its next chief, who let,
With Módena, Perugia be distressed.[130]
76 For it sad Cleopatra’s weeping yet,
Who fled it so that, from an asp she bore,
A sudden and a bitter death was met.[131]
79 With him it hurried to the Red Sea shore;[132]
With him it brought the world such peace for each
That soon the shrine of Janus closed its door.[133]
82 But what that standard—cause of all my speech—
Had done before, and after would secure,
Throughout the mortal realm beneath its reach,
85 Is in appearance little and obscure,
If viewed—in that third Caesar’s hand—entire[134]
By eyes made clear and feelings rendered pure,
88 Because the Living Justice I respire
Gave it, in hands of him of whom I’ve told,
The glory of a vengeance for Its ire.
91 Now marvel here at what I shall unfold:
It hurried on with Titus to confer
Revenge on vengeance for the sin of old.[135]
94 And when the cuspids of the Lombard cur
Bit Holy Church, beneath the Eagle’s wings
Great Charlemagne, the victor, succored her.[136]
97 You now may render judgment on such things—
Those I accuse and faults above made known,
The cause from which your every evil springs.
100 Some claim the public standard as their own,
Against it some set yellow lilies still;
It’s hard to see where greater fault is shown.
103 Let Ghibellines pursue what arts they will
Beneath another flag; those who divide
That bird from justice follow it for ill.
106 Let not the Guelphs with their new Charles decide[137]
To strike it down, but fear those talons strong
Enough to strip a greater lion’s hide.
109 So often sons have mourned a father’s wrong;
Let him not think that God will yet contemn
His arms for fleur-de-lis before too long![138]
112 That fame and honor might redound to them,
Those noble souls once acted who are here,
From whom this little star’s adornments stem.
115 And any time desires, deflected, veer
Towards earth, the rays of God’s true love progress
Above with less of living force, I fear.
118 But balancing the merits we possess
With our rewards is part of our delight,
Because we see they’re neither more nor less.
121 The living Justice makes our appetite
So sweet within that it can never bend
To any wickedness, however slight.
124 As to sweet music diverse voices blend,
So diverse stations in our life combine,
And through the spheres sweet harmonies extend.
127 And in this present pearl a light will shine[139]
From Romeo, on whom there was bestowed[140]
An ill reward for works both great and fine.
130 Those Provençals won’t have the laugh who strode
Against him—for, if in another’s worth
Man finds his ill, he walks an evil road![141]
133 Now Raymond Berenguer had, when on earth,
Four daughters, each a queen; and Romeo
Did this, a pilgrim of such humble birth.
136 But crooked words moved Raymond then to go
And call this just one to account instead,
Who’d rendered twelve for every ten, and so,
139 Now poor and old, he left that place and fled;
And if the world but knew the heart he bore
As he went begging, crust for crust, his bread,
142 Though he is praised, he would be praised still more.”