DANTE'S SUBLIME COMEDY: PARADISE: Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6: Justinian

“Three hundred years after the birth of Christ

Constantine led the Roman Eagle east

near ruined Troy from which Aeneas fled                3

and built its nest on Europe’s farthest coast.

This new Rome was the Empire’s capital

while old Rome stayed the home of Papacy.            6

When Goth’s invading Italy destroyed

Rome’s earthly strength, they did not harm the Pope.    

That was before I wore the Empires crown              9

and titled Caesar – am Justinian.

            God’s love led me to unify Rome’s laws

            into one useful code, weeding out words                 12

that might pervert the justice of a cause.

I was unfit for this great task at first.

My faith was still impure, for I believed                   15

Christ was the Holy Ghost in manlike shape,

not flesh and blood. A letter from the Pope

corrected me, then Heaven gave me peace.              18

Count Belisarius my general,

drove Goths from Italy, and so again

around Earth’s Middle Sea one emperor                  21

ruled all, and there my legal code was used,

and thus Rome’s Empire worked at giving birth

to what Augustine said all should create:                 24

God’s Citadel on Earth. My peaceful rule

made Church and State supreme yet separate.

You know me now, but I have more to tell             27

of how the Roman Empire got renown

            and used it well centuries after me

            before the Whigs and Tories broke it down.           30

Aeneas toiled for years on seas and lands

before his wedding to a Latin Queen                                            

              gave a new home to Trojan refugees,                   33

 the ancestors of Rome. For centuries

            their fighting royalty, wise senators

            conquered kingdoms and communes. Rome’s Eagle  36

flew through Europe, Africa, Asia,

            forcing far-flung nations into one vaster,

            longer-lasting state than in his brief life                  39

the great Alexander managed to create.

The time arrived when Heaven wanted peace.

The Roman Eagle perched on Caesar’s fist,           42

none being fit to manage it but he.

No tongue, no pen does justice to his deeds,

quelling revolting principalities,                             45

crossing the Rubicon, then putting down

the civil war in Gaul, Spain, Egypt, Greece.

Satan in Hell chews those who murdered him.     48

There Cleopatra weeps. She chose to die

by snakebite to escape the Eagles beak.

Augustus Caesar was it’s master next.                  52

He spread the Empire to the Red Sea shore,

            declared the Pax Romana everywhere,

and needed to support it by a tax,                        55

so ordered men back to their place of birth

for registration. Thus in Bethlehem

our Prince of Peace was born. Now listen hard!  58

Tiberius was Caesar number three.

Under his reign the Eagle did one thing                                       

upon a hill outside Jerusalem                               61

that makes all other splendid Roman deeds

look small and dim when viewed by Christian eyes.

Here God’s wrath made the Eagle work for Him –  64

helped God Himself revenge Himself on God.

Later, when Titus reigned, Heaven ensured

vengeance on that revenge for ancient sin.           67

                                                           

The Roman legions slew Hebrew hordes,

            looted and burned Solomon’s synagogue,

            made a whole ruin of Jerusalem.                          70

  

Look forward now.  When Whiggish Lombard crows

tried to peck out Pope Leo’s tongue, he found

protection in Emperor Charlemagne.                   73

Rome’s bishop and Imperial Eagle then

were allies though apart, as they should be.

Look at the state of politics today!                       76

                              

Now ancient symbols of the common good

            achieved by men whose fame is like my own

            are used on flag and badge to foster hate            79

by greedy statesmen with short local aims.

            The Roman Eagle and the Fleur de Lys

            are trampled by a squabbling multitude.             82

We in this little star strove to do well,

but also strove for fame, so rose less far

than those whose virtues lacked all selfishness   85

This we cannot regret, happy to know

good choirs all sound the more melodious

where diverse voices sing both high and low.    88

In this pearl also shines the light of one

            not quite as grand as mighty emperors.

            He worked as hard for goodness as did we         91

but won no great reward. His birth was low

            and name was Romeo, and he became

            an honest steward of Count Berenger –              94

served him so well, four daughters of the Count

            got such rich dowries that they married kings.

            Envy declared he filled his pockets too,              97

which was untrue. Dismissed, he had to beg.

Though he is famous, those who honour him

would do it much more if they understood,                                

how sore it is to beg your livelihood.”                            101