Canto XIV
CANTO XIV
As Beatrice begins to speak in a manner similar to that of St. Thomas, the image of concentric ripples in a bowl of water tapped on its rim or at its center suddenly occurs to Dante (1–8). She formulates the Pilgrim’s doubt before it has even dawned on him: will the radiance blooming from each soul remain eternally? And if so, how will the eye of one risen body be able to bear the splendor of another? (9–18). At the prospect of answering the Poet’s questions, the souls of the wise become like those who, caught up in the delight of the dance, raise their voices and quicken their steps, as they sing of the Trinity in such wondrous harmony that no one would lament having to die if able to hear them (19–33). Then, as if he were the angel Gabriel uttering the words of the Annunciation to Mary, Solomon explains that, to the degree Divine Mercy allows, they shall all eternally enjoy the sight of the beatific vision, that this vision inspires their love, and that this love manifests itself in their radiance. When their separated souls are reunited with their bodies at the resurrection, they will be more complete in their being. This greater perfection will increase their light of glory, which will increase in turn their vision, love, and radiance, which their glorified bodies will also be strengthened to endure. (34–60). When Solomon has finished, all the souls cry “Amen” out of their desire to repossess their mortal frames. Then another splendor surrounds the two circles of spirits, like the light on the horizon at dawn. At first, Dante cannot decide whether he sees a third ring of souls beyond the other two just as one may doubt about the first faint appearance of stars in the evening sky. But then the configuration flashes with such brilliance that his eyesight is vanquished (61–78). When, however, Beatrice in her beauty smiles at Dante, she empowers him to lift his eyes and see himself transported to the next sphere. The Pilgrim realizes from its ruddy color that he has ascended to Mars, which brightens at their approach, and in the silent thought of his heart he gives thanks to God. He now beholds two rays that seem to gleam with the stars of the Milky Way, and they combine to form a cross, which flashes momentarily with the image of Christ. Flitting along its two beams like motes of dust in a shaft of light, souls sing of Christ’s triumph in a manner more captivating than anything the Poet has ever experienced (79–129). Such superlative language may seem too daring, as if he had forgotten the eyes of Beatrice. But one who notes that he has not yet gazed into those eyes will excuse him, for her eyes grow even more beautiful as she rises (130–139).
1 From rim to center, center out to rim,
The waters in a rounded vessel will
Be moved if tapped within or on the brim.
4 What I’ve just said came suddenly to fill
My mind no sooner than in glory’s bliss
The living soul of Thomas now fell still.
7 Between his speech and that of Beatrice
Was born a likeness when she followed suit
And after him was pleased to start like this:
10 “He has a need, but does not say it, mute
In voice and even in his thoughts as yet,
Though he must reach another truth’s deep root.
13 Tell him if the bouquet of splendor set
Around your substance will remain with you
Eternally as now it has been met.
16 And if it does remain, please tell him too
How, when made visible again to sight,
It yet can be it will not harm your view.”
19 As, when they’re urged and drawn by more delight,
At times those circling in a dancing spree
Will raise the voice and quicken steps in flight,
22 Just so at her devout and eager plea
The holy circles showed new gladness through
Their turning round in wondrous harmony.
25 Those grieved that we must die in order to
Live up above have not been there to see
Those souls refreshed by the eternal dew.[342]
28 The everliving One, and Two, and Three,
Who ever reigns in Three, and Two, and One,
Uncompassed, compassing all that may be,
31 Was sung three times by every one who spun
Of all those souls and in a melody
That’s just reward for every merit won.
34 Then that divinest light spoke modestly;[343]
I heard his voice within the lesser round
As Mary heard the angel’s glad decree.[344]
37 He said: “As long as such a feast will sound
In Paradise, our love will burn anew,
Its rays around us like a garment bound.
40 Our brightness on our ardor shall ensue,
Our ardor on our vision, whose receipt
Is measured by a grace beyond its due.
43 Once donned the glorious and holy sheet
Of flesh again, our persons in each limb
Shall be more pleasing, being all complete.
46 Thus grows the light, however bright or dim,
The Highest Good so freely gives to glow,
The light that fits us all to look on Him.[345]
49 And it will cause our vision yet to grow,
As must the ardor kindled by its aim,
As must the ray that comes from it. But know
52 That even as a coal which makes its flame
White-hot outshines it with an overplus
So its appearance is maintained the same,
55 So shall this radiance surrounding us
Be overcome by flesh appearing bright,
Which now the earth still covers up; and thus
58 We shall not be fatigued by such a light,
The organs of our bodies strengthened then
For everything in which we can delight.”
61 They seemed so quick and prompt to cry “Amen”
That both those choruses showed their desires
To have their mortal bodies back again—
64 Not only for themselves but for their sires,
Their mothers, and the others they held dear
Before they had become eternal fires.
67 And—look!—all round, an equal brightness near
As now beyond the first a luster grew,
Like the horizon growing bright and clear![346]
70 As lights begin to show, appearing new,
At early evening’s rise within the sky
So that the sight does not, yet does, seem true,[347]
73 It seemed to me that I began to spy
A circle formed by some new spirit-train
Beyond the two perimeters nearby.
76 O Holy Spirit’s truly sparkling reign!
How suddenly it glowed to a degree
Which now my vanquished eyes could not sustain!
79 But, smiling, Beatrice displayed to me
Such loveliness this vision must be left
With those that could not follow memory.
82 My eyes, thus strengthened, rose to see the theft
Transporting me to higher bliss, alone,
With no one but my Lady; and, thus reft,
85 I was aware that higher I had flown
Because that smiling planet’s fiery face[348]
Appeared more red than it had ever shone.
88 And in the speech that lies in every race,[349]
With all my heart I made a holocaust[350]
To God such as befitted my new grace.
91 The ardent sacrifice did not exhaust
Itself in me before my off’ring knew
It was accepted, graciously not lost.
94 With such a glow and such a ruddy hue
Appeared a splendor in a double ray;
I cried: “How Helios adorns the two!”[351]
97 As mid the world’s two poles the Milky Way,[352]
Pricked out with greater and with lesser stars,
Gleams white, so even sages show dismay,
100 Thus constellated in the depths of Mars,
Those rays had made the honored sign, now lit,[353]
That circles fashion by their quadrant bars.
103 But here my memory outstrips my wit
Because that cross was flaming so with Christ
That no comparison I find is fit.
106 Yet he who takes his cross and follows Christ
Will yet forgive me that which I omit,
Beholding in that dawn the flashing Christ.
109 From top to base, from arm to arm of it,
The lights were moving, sparkling all aglow,
As they would meet and then would further flit.
112 And likewise here we see that, swift and slow,
Athwart and straight, with aspect changing still,
The motes of matter, long and short, all flow
115 As they go darting through the sunbeams till
The shade is streaked in houses built among
Those making their defense with art and skill.
118 As harp and viol sweetly chime (when strung
With many cords whose harmony is strong)
For one who does not catch the tune that’s sung,
121 So from the lights appearing in that throng
A melody arose throughout the Rood,
Which ravished me, who could not grasp the song.
124 I sensed an air which lofty praise imbued,
For “Rise” and “Conquer” reached me in the strains
I heard, though with my understanding skewed.
127 I was enamored so of their refrains
That there was never anything—till those—
Which yet had fettered me in such sweet chains.
130 My words may seem too daring, I suppose,
As slighting the delight of eyes so fair,
By gazing into which desires repose.
133 But, noting that the higher they repair
Those living seals of beauty work yet more
And that I had not turned to them to stare,
136 One will excuse what I in me deplore
To make excuse and see the true account:[354]
The holy pleasure is not lost here for
139 It yet becomes more pure the more we mount.