If I was only, as thou mad'st me be,

Transformed, O Love, which heaven's whirl createst, Thou know'st, who by thy light upliftedst me, When the revolvement, thou perpetuatest,

Desired One, attentive made me through The harmony, thou blend'st and alternatest. Then heaven was so enkindled in

my

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view

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By the sun's fire, that lake by confluence

Of rain or stream so full yet never grew.

The newness of the sound, and light intense,

Such strong desire enkindled in my breast,

That I thereof had ne'er a keener sense.

And she, to whom my soul was manifest
As to myself, its turmoil to allay,
Had oped her mouth ere yet by me addrest.
"Thou makest thyself dull," she 'gan to say,

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"By thy own false conceit whence thou believest Less than thou wouldst, if this were ta'en away. 90

Thou art no more on Earth as thou conceivest,

But lightning never from its home went out,

So swift as thou, who thy return achievest."

Now, though divested of my former doubt

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By the brief wordies that she smiled, far more 95 Was I by one, that followed, wrapt about.

I answered, "I was satisfied before

After great marvel, but now marvel I, Beyond such bodies light how I can soar." She, having uttered then a tender sigh,

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With such a look as toward a raving son

A mother turneth, on me turned her eye;
And "All things in Creation," she begun,

"Have in themselves Degree, which makes the Form That sets with God the World in Unison.

High Creatures herein see the footprints worn

Tow'rd that Eternal Worth, which is the end

Whereto directed is the aforesaid norm.

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Now in this order, which I speak of, tend

All beings unto their first cause, more near

Or less, as each his diverse fate shall send.

By this means unto diverse ports they steer
Through the great Sea of Being, having all
Dividual instincts, guiding their career.

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This toward the moon is wont the fire to call,
That rules the motions of the mortal heart,
This knits and binds in one the terrene ball.
Nor only Creatures born beyond the Chart
Of Understanding, from this bow are chased,
But who in Love and Reason have a part.
That Providence, by whom this plan was traced,
Keeps with his light that heaven still at peace,
In which revolveth that, which hath more haste.
And now, as toward our place decreed, to this
End are we sped, by virtue of the bow,
Which aimeth all it shoots at bourne of bliss.
Full true it is, that as the shape may go

Awry from that which was designed by art,
Because the matter to respond is slow,
So from this course the Creature may depart

At times, for power to his free will is given,
To bend, thus launchèd, toward some other part.
And so we see the flame to shoot from heaven,

Whene'er the first impulsions to it lent Divert it, by false pleasure earthwards driven.

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Thou shouldst not wonder more at our ascent,

If well I judge, than men a stream admire, Down to the plain from lofty mountain sent. This were indeed a marvel, to require

That, freed from obstacle, thou shouldst remain, Like matter moveless in the living fire."

Herewith she fixed her face on heaven again.

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CANTO II.

O YOU, that have pursued in tiny boats,
Desirous but of hearkening, in the train

Of this my ship, that singeth as she floats;
Turn back, and seek out your own coast again-
Trust not yourselves upon the deep, or you
Losing my track, bewildered might remain.
No keel has ploughed the path that I pursue,
Minerva blows, Apollo pilots me,

And Muses nine set Arctos in my view.

Ye other few, that while the time was free,

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Your necks have toward that bread of angels bent,

Which feeds man here, though filled he cannot be,

Well may you trust on this grand element

Your vessels, keeping by my furrow fast,

Before the waters have across it blent.

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