That sun which first had warmed his breast with love, proving and disproving, had laid bare the sweet aspect of fair truth. He, to confess himself corrected and assured, lifted his head more erect to speak. But a sight appeared which held him so fast to it that he remembered not his confession. As through transparent and polished glass, or through clear and tranquil waters, not so deep that the bottom is lost, the outlines of our faces come back so faint that a pearl on a white brow comes not less weakly to our pupils, so he saw many faces ready to speak. He therefore, contrary to the error that kindled love between the man and the fountain, ran his eyes to the opposite side, to see of whom they were reflections. He saw nothing. He turned them forward again, straight into the light of his sweet guide. She smiled, her holy eyes glowing. Do not wonder that I smile, she says, at thy childish thought, since thy foot does not yet rest upon the truth, but turns thee, as it is wont, to emptiness. True substances are these which thou beholdest, hither through failure of their vow exiled. Therefore speak with them, hear, and believe, for the true light which satisfies them does not let them turn their steps from it.
He addresses himself to the shade that seems most eager to speak, like one overwrought with too much desire. O well-created spirit, who in the rays of life eternal dost feel the sweetness which, untasted, never is understood, it will be a kindness if thou tell thy name and your lot. Then, readily, and with laughing eyes: Our charity no more locks its door to a just wish than that love which would have all its court like itself. I was a virgin sister in the world, and if thy memory be searched well, my being more beautiful will not conceal me from thee, but thou wilt recognise that I am Piccarda, placed here with these other blessed ones, and blessed in the slowest sphere. Our affections, which are only inflamed in the pleasure of the Holy Ghost, rejoice in being formed to this order. And this lot, which appears so low, is given us because our vows were neglected and in some part void. He says: Something divine glows in your wondrous aspects, transmuting you from former thoughts. Therefore I was late in remembering. But tell me, ye who are happy here, do you desire a more lofty place, to see more, or to make yourselves more friends? With those other shades she first smiled a little, then answered with so much gladness she seemed to burn in the first fire of love. Brother, our will is in composure settled by the power of charity, who makes us will alone what we possess, and nought beyond desire. If we desired to be more above, our desires would be discordant from his will who here assorteth us. For in these spheres it is of necessity to be thus, if thou wilt understand it well, that we be formed to this, and if you think of love, the nature of this place. Indeed, the essence of this blessed state is to keep ourselves within the divine will, so that our wills are themselves made one. Therefore our being thus, from threshold unto threshold through this realm, is a joy to all the realm, as to the king who in-wills us with his will. And in his will is our tranquillity. It is the mighty ocean, whither tends whatever it creates and nature makes. Then it was clear to him how everywhere in heaven is Paradise, even if the grace of the supreme good does not rain there in one same measure.
As when one food satisfies and another remains, so that we ask for that, and for this give thanks, so he did with act and word, to learn from her what was the web through which she had not drawn the shuttle to the end. Perfect life and high desert in-heavens a lady more above, he hears, according to whose rule, in your world below, they wear the robe and veil, that they may wake and sleep until death with that spouse who accepts every vow which love conforms to his pleasure. From the world, to follow her, she fled young, and put on the habit, and promised herself to the way of her order. Then men, more used to evil than to good, tore her from the sweet cloister. God knows what then her life became. This other splendour, who shows herself to thee at my right, and who kindles herself with all the light of our sphere, takes from me what I say of myself. She was a sister, and from her head in like manner was taken the shadow of the sacred veil. But when she was turned back unto the world against her liking and against good usage, yet not for that the bosom's inward veil did she renounce. This is the light of the great Constance, who from the second wind of Swabia conceived the third and last power. Thus she spoke to him, and then began singing Ave Maria, and singing vanished, as through deep water a weight. His sight, that followed her as far as it was possible, when she was lost, turned to the mark of greater desire, and wholly yielded to Beatrice. But she flashed so lightning-like upon his gaze that at first his sight endured it not, and this made him slower to demand.
