DANTE'S SUBLIME COMEDY:PARADISE: Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30: The Empyrean

The sun behind the world’s vast curvature

cast its steep cone of shadow to the height

            where constellations gleamed throughout the night   3

until a faint dawn, shining in the East

            increased, tilted the shadow to the West.

            Sky paled. The stars became invisible,                      6

even the Morning Star among the rest.

            The light to which I soared with Beatrice

            was infinitely brighter than the sun:                           9

a radiance that held the universe,

            so dazzling that, apart from Beatrice,

            I could not see a thing. If all I’ve said                        12

in praise of her before was harmonised

            in a great anthem of triumphant praise

            it could not hint at her new loveliness.                       15

I am like one too blinded by Sun’s rays

            to recollect its colour and its shape.

            From the first day I saw her as a child                        18

her beauty made my verses beautiful.

            Soon I must cease from making songs to her –

            all artists’ inspirations have an end.                            21

She would go on to finer fanfares than

            my lips can blow. She still spoke as a guide,

            giving good words to a departing friend.                   24

“We have arisen high above the spheres

            of Heaven seen from earth – here all is bright

            with purest love and intellect: goodness                    27

beatified with absolute delight.

            When your eyesight is strengthened once again

            you will find in high paradise both ranks:                 30

redeemed mankind with angels by their side.”

            Suddenly I was shrouded yet once more

            by blinding glares of mist and could not see             33

until she said, “Love ruling Paradise

            welcomes new souls like this, for it prepares

            each candle for a better flame.” At this                     36

I felt my mind enlarged beyond itself.

            My vision knew nothing would baffle it.

            I saw a river of splendid light flow                           39

between banks of marvellous Spring flowers.

From that bright stream living sparks leapt into

the blossoms, like rubies setting themselves             42

in gold, then as if drunk with sweet scent, went

            plunging back into the glorious flood

from which new living jewels sparkled out.             45

“Your wish to understand what you see here

            pleases me the more it grows. To satisfy

            that thirst you will now drink these waters first,”     48

my Lady said. “The flashing jewelry

            exchanged between the river and the blooms

            are shadows of the truths you aught to see.              51

Your mortal sight is not yet purified

            enough to let in much reality.”

            No baby waking hungry, having slept                       54

more than it should, sucks at a mother’s breast

            more eagerly than I flung myself down

            beside the stream that would improve my eyes.         57

Hardly were the two eyelids wet when both

            river and banks expanded to a space

            in which the waves and blossoms were dissolved     60

till they exposed a nobler festival —

            all courts of Paradise! Glory to God

            for giving me the strength of sight and soul               63

to view the triumph of your kingdom there!

            Now give me words to speak of what I saw!

            The purest light made the Creator seen                      66

by all who find their final peace in Him.

            It spreads so wide, the orbit of the sun

            within it is a very tiny ring.                                        69

There the First Mover lights the mighty width

            from source and summit of its potency

            down to its base. As a fine grassy hill                        72

might see itself reflected in a lake

            my eyes took in surrounding me over

            a thousand tiers of petals, God’s white rose –            75

the seats of blesséd souls redeemed from earth.

            The lowest level held such piercing light

            I gaped at how it reached the topmost height.            78

No natural perspective law worked here

            for distance made no detail indistinct.

            She who had brought me to this inmost heart,           81

this glowing yellow centre of God’s rose

            said, “see the blesséd white-robed multitude

            in the arena of our citadel.                                         84

See how few the thrones remain unfilled.

            Notice above one an emperor’s crown.

            That is for the noble Henry’s soul,                            87

summoned to rightly govern Italy

            when she is unfit – a bad child pushing

            nurse away, Kirk undermining Crown while            90

pretending to support. Henry will sit

            there before you die. God will damn that pope

            with Simon Magus in the malebolge                                              

where he will thrust his predecessor down.”                         93