Then, as a horologe that calleth us What time the Bride of God is rising up Ting ting! resounding with so sweet a note, And render voice to voice, in modulation 140 145 CANTO XI. O THOU insensate care of mortal men, That make thee beat thy wings in downward flight! Was going, and one following the priesthood, One in the pleasures of the flesh involved With Beatrice above there in the Heavens With such exceeding glory was received! When each one had returned unto that point Within the circle where it was before, It stood as in a candlestick a candle; And from within the effulgence which at first Had spoken unto me, I heard begin Smiling while it more luminous became : “Even as I am kindled in its ray, So, looking into the Eternal Light, The occasion of thy thoughts I apprehend. ΤΟ 15 30 (So that towards her own Beloved might go Two Princes did ordain in her behoof, The other by his wisdom upon earth. In praising one, whichever may be taken, Because unto one end their labours were. Between Tupino and the stream that falls Down from the hill elect of blessed Ubald, Through Porta Sole, and behind it weep From out that slope, there where it breaketh most As this one does sometimes from out the Ganges; Say not Ascesi, for he would say little, But Orient, if he properly would speak. He was not yet far distant from his rising Before he had begun to make the earth Some comfort from his mighty virtue feel. For he in youth his father's wrath incurred For certain Dame, to whom, as unto death, The gate of pleasure no one doth unlock; And was before his spiritual court Et coram patre unto her united; Then day by day more fervently he loved her. One thousand and one hundred years and more, Found her unmoved at sounding of his voice But that too darkly I may not proceed, Francis and Poverty for these two lovers Their concord and their joyous semblances, The love, the wonder, and the sweet regard, First bared his feet, and after so great peace O wealth unknown! O veritable good! Giles bares his feet, and bares his feet Sylvester Which now was girding on the humble cord; To Innocent he opened, and from him After the people mendicant increased Behind this man, whose admirable life Better in glory of the heavens were sung, Incoronated with a second crown Was through Honorius by the Eternal Spirit The holy purpose of this Archimandrite. And when he had, through thirst of martyrdom, In the proud presence of the Sultan preached The folk, and not to tarry there in vain, On the rude rock 'twixt Tiber and the Arno From Christ did he receive the final seal, When He, who chose him unto so much good, Unto his friars, as to the rightful heirs, His most dear Lady did he recommend, And from her bosom the illustrious soul Wished to depart, returning to its realm, Companion over the high seas to keep And this man was our Patriarch; hence whoever So greedy, that it is impossible They be not scattered over fields diverse; And vagabond go farther off from him, Verily some there are that fear a hurt, And keep close to the shepherd; but so few, That little cloth doth furnish forth their hoods. If thine own hearing hath attentive been, Now if my utterance be not indistinct, If thou recail to mind what I have said, In part contented shall thy wishes be; For thou shalt see the plant that's chipped away, 'Where well one fattens, if he strayeth not. CANTO XII. SOON as the blessed flame had taken up And motion joined to motion, song to song; As primal splendour that which is reflected. Two rainbows parallel and like in colour, (The one without born of the one within, Like to the speaking of that vagrant one Whom love consumed as doth the sun the vapours,) And make the people here, through covenant God set with Noah, presageful of the world In such wise of those sempiternal roses The garlands twain encompassed us about, 125 130 135 5 10 15 20 After the dance, and other grand rejoicings, Both of the singing, and the flaming forth Effulgence with effulgence blithe and tender, Together, at once, with one accord had stopped, (Even as the eyes, that, as volition moves them, Must needs together shut and lift themselves,) Out of the heart of one of the new lights There came a voice, that needle to the star Made me appear in turning thitherward. And it began: "The love that makes me fair Draws me to speak about the other leader, That, as they were united in their warfare, The soldiery of Christ, which it had cost So dear to arm again, behind the standard When the Emperor who reigneth evermore Provided for the host that was in peril, Through grace alone and not that it was worthy; And, as was said, he to his Bride brought succour With champions twain, at whose deed, at whose word Within that region where the sweet west wind Not far off from the beating of the waves, Behind which in his long career the sun Is situate the fortunate Calahorra, Under protection of the mighty shield. In which the Lion subject is and sovereign. Therein was born the amorous paramour Of Christian Faith, the athlete consecrate, Replete with such a living energy, As soon as the espousals were complete 25 30 35 40 45 50 60 Between him and the Faith at holy font, Where they with mutual safety dowered each other, 65 The woman, who for him had given assent, That issue would from him and from his heirs ; |