Canto VIII
CANTO VIII
Dante explains the origin of the name of the planet Venus, to which he has now risen, though he became assured of his ascent only when Beatrice increased in radiance. As though they were sparks within a fire, the Pilgrim is now able to discern individual souls within the light of its revolving sphere: they come shooting towards him, crying out, “Hosanna!” (1–30). Citing a verse of one of Dante’s canzoni, one of them kindly offers to fulfill any request the Poet may have. After glancing up to his Lady for approval, Dante affectionately asks the spirit to identify himself. Growing brighter with joy, the soul reveals, without actually naming himself, that he is Charles Martel, king of Hungary and heir to the throne of Provence, Naples, and Apulia. Sicily would have received its rulers from his line as well, had misrule by his grandfather, Charles I d’Anjou, not provoked the uprising in Palermo known as the Sicilian Vespers. As a consequence of that revolt, it was his avaricious brother, Robert, who actually sat upon the throne of Naples (31–84). When Dante wonders how the good seed of Charles’ ancestors could produce the bad fruit of his brother, Charles answers that Divine Providence, exercised through the influence of the stars, provides for the nature and well-being of each creature and orders it to its proper end, for otherwise the spheres would produce chaotic effects, which would imply an impossible defect in the angelic intelligences and in the Divine Mind (85–114). Since man is a social being, diverse individuals are variously fitted by Divine Providence for different works without regard to the ancestry of any given person, as evinced by the case of Jacob and Essau (115–135). As a corollary to the above explanation, Charles adds that if the disposition to character and temperament accorded to the individual by Divine Providence does not meet with circumstances suitable for its development, it cannot prosper as it should, just as a seed does not sprout and grow in poor soil. If men would only foster the disposition Nature grants to the individual, people would develop in a much better way. Instead, they force those born to bear arms into the religious life and those destined to preach to rule over nations (136–148).
1 For ill it once was held in earthly bounds
That one fair Cyprian rayed down mad love,[161]
Whirled in the third of epicyclic rounds.[162]
4 The ancients did not make an honor of
The votive cries and sacrifices done
From ancient errors just to her above[163]
7 But honored both her mother and her son
—Diöne and young Cupid—and told how[164]
He sat in Dido’s lap. And from that one,[165]
10 With whom I have begun my canto now,
They named the star that woos the sun aflare[166]
And now is at its nape and now its brow.[167]
13 I was not conscious of ascending there;
But I had full assurance that I rose,
For I had seen my Lady grow more fair.
16 And as within a flame a spark still glows,
And voice in voice is still discerned aright
When this one’s held and that one comes and goes,
19 So I saw other lanterns in that light;[168]
They circled round, more quickly or less so,
I think, according to their inner sight.
22 Down from cold clouds no winds so swiftly blow
—Let them be seen when lit, or not when dim—[169]
As not to seem impeded yet and slow
25 To one who saw those godly lanterns skim
On up to us, abandoning the round[170]
Begun among the lofty Seraphim.[171]
28 Among the souls who most in front were found,
“Hosanna” rang, so that I’ve never been[172]
Without desire to hear once more that sound.
31 Then one of them drew nearer to begin
Alone: “We are prepared for anything
You please to give you joy in us, your kin.
34 And with one thirst, one motion, in one ring,
We circle round with Heaven’s princely suite,[173]
To whom, when in the world, you once would sing:
37 ‘O you whose thoughts make earth’s third heaven fleet’;[174]
We are so full of love, to please your bent,
A bit of quiet would not be less sweet.”
40 My rev’rent eyes then turned for her consent
Up to my Maid; when she had given such,
And they were rendered certain and content,
43 I faced the light that promised me so much;
“Oh, tell me who you are,” I asked outright,
My voice stamped by a great affection’s touch.
46 I saw it growing larger and more bright
For, as I spoke, that soul increased in glee
By adding new delight to its delight.
49 “The world below but briefly harbored me;[175]
Had I lived long, much ill would not have scathed
The earth,” it said, thus changed, “which yet shall be.[176]
52 My joyfulness, within whose rays I’m bathed,
Holds me concealed from you and keeps me hid
As likewise in its silk a worm is swathed.
55 You had good cause to love me as you did;
Had I remained below, I would have shown
Love’s fruit to you past what its leaves had bid.
58 The left-hand bank that’s watered by the Rhone,
On mingling with the Sorgue, awaited me
In due time as the lord upon its throne[177]
61 As also did the horn of Italy,
Which Bar’, Gaëta, and Catona bound,
Whence Tronto’s streams and Verde’s flow to sea.[178]
64 A crown now lit my brow when I was crowned
The king of lands through which the Danube flows
As soon as it abandons German ground.[179]
67 The fair Trinacrïa (which darker grows,[180]
Not by Typhoeus, but new sulphur where,[181]
Upon the gulf, most strongly Eurus blows,[182]
70 Between Pachynus and Pelorus there)[183]
Would be awaiting rulers from me still,
Which she by Rudolph and by Charles would bear,[184]
73 Had evil lordship, which will ever fill[185]
The hearts of subject peoples with its gall,
Not moved Palermo to cry out, ‘Kill, kill!’[186]
76 And if my brother had foreseen this all,[187]
He would have fled both Catalonia’s greed
And poverty, for they could make him fall.
79 And truly he or others must pay heed,
Lest on a vessel weighted in its hold
A load be laid yet heavier indeed.
82 His nature, which descended from a mold
More generous, needs soldiers who would each[188]
Not care so much to fill his chest with gold.”
85 “Since I believe the joy I see your speech,
My lord, infuses in my every part,
Is seen by you,” I said, “whose sight can reach
88 To where all goods both end and have their start,
It’s much more welcome; and I hold it dear
That you discern it gazing on God’s heart.
91 Now that you’ve made me glad, please make it clear,
Since what you say has driven me to doubt,
How from sweet seed the bitter may appear.”[189]
94 “You’ll turn your face to what you ask about
As now your back, if I can show in time[190]
One truth to you,” he answered me straight out.
97 “The Good that turns the kingdom that you climb,[191]
Contenting it, makes Providence a store
Of power in these bodies so sublime.
100 In that self-perfect Mind are, furthermore,
Not only all their natures but the spark
Of their well-being, too, provided for.
103 Whatever from Its bowstring may embark
Will fall disposed to its appointed end,
Just like a shaft directed to its mark.
106 Were this not so, the heavens you ascend
Would then in such a way produce effects
That they would not be art, but ruins, friend.
109 And that can’t be, unless the Intellects
That move the stars are flawed, the First One too,[192]
By not perfecting them. Are there respects
112 In which this truth should be more clear to you?”
And I: “No, it’s impossible, I see,
That Nature weary in what must ensue.”[193]
115 “Tell me, would man on Earth be worse,” said he,
“If not a citizen?” I said: “Quite so,
And I’ll not ask that you give proof to me.”
118 “And can that be unless men live below
Diversely for the different tasks of men?
If what your Master writes is true, then no.”[194]
121 He went deducing thus this far and then
Concluded in this way what he’d begun:
“Your labors’ roots must be diverse again,
124 For one is born a Solon, Xerxes one,
And one Melchisedek, one he whose zeal
For flying through the air would lose a son.[195]
127 This Nature circling round, which is the seal
On mortal wax of art plied well indeed,
Does not distinguish houses in its deal.
130 Thus Essau parts from Jacob in the seed;
Quirinus comes from such a lowly source
That he is thought to be of Mars, we read.[196]
133 Begotten nature would pursue a course
The same as that on which its parents bore,
Did Providence Divine not win perforce.
136 Now that which was behind you is before;
You’ll know the joys, though, you let me possess
If mantled with one corollary more.
139 If Nature finds that fortunes lie in less
Accord with her, as any seed then would
Outside its region, she has ill success.
142 And if the world below but understood
To heed foundations Nature lays as base
And follow them, its people would be good.
145 You twist those born for swords, though, to embrace
Religious life, and to kings’ crowns you goad
Those who were fit for sermons in their place
148 So that the track you beat is off the road.”