Between two kinds of food, equally remote and tempting, a man might die of hunger before he could freely choose. So a lamb would stand between two fierce wolves, and a dog between two deer. Dante imputes to himself neither fault nor praise for the silence. Equal doubts hold him of necessity. He is silent, yet desire is painted in his looks, and so he speaks his wish more earnestly than language could. Beatrice looks as Daniel looked when he freed the haughty king from the ire that spurred him on to unjust and violent deeds. Well I discern, she says, how contrary desires constrain thee each way, so that thy anxious thought is bound up and stifled, nor breathes freely forth. Thou arguest: if the good intent remain, what reason that another's violence should stint the measure of my fair desert? Cause too thou findest for doubt, in that it seems that spirits return to the stars, as Plato deemed. These are the questions which thy will urge equally, and therefore I treat first of that which hath the more of gall.
Of seraphim he who is most ensky'd, Moses and Samuel, and either John, choose which thou wilt, nor even Mary's self, have not in any other heaven their seats than have those spirits which so late thou sawest. Nor more or fewer years exist, but all make the first circle beauteous, diversely partaking of sweet life, as more or less afflation of eternal bliss pervades them. Here were they shown thee, not that fate assigns this for their sphere, but for a sign to thee of that celestial furthest from the height. Thus needs, that ye may apprehend, we speak: since from things sensible alone ye learn that which, digested rightly, after turns to intellectual. For no other cause the scripture, condescending graciously to your perception, attributes hands and feet to God, nor so means; and holy church represents with human countenance Gabriel, and Michael, and him who made Tobias whole. Unlike what here thou seest, the judgment of Timaeus, who affirms each soul restored to its particular star, believing it to have been taken thence when nature gave it to inform her mould. Since to appearance his intention is even what his words declare: or else to shun derision, haply thus he hath disguised his true opinion. If his meaning be that to the influencing of these orbs revert the honour and the blame in human acts, perchance he doth not wholly miss the truth. This principle, not understood aright, erewhile perverted well nigh all the world, so that it fell to fabled names of Jove, and Mercury, and Mars. That other doubt, which moves thee, is less harmful, for it brings no peril of removing thee from me. That, to the eye of man, our justice seems unjust, is argument for faith, and not for heretic declension. To the end this truth may stand more clearly in your view, I will content thee even to thy wish.
If violence be, when that which suffers nought consents to that which forceth, not for this these spirits stood exculpate. For the will that will not still survives unquenched, and doth as nature doth in fire, though violence wrest it a thousand times; for, if it yield or more or less, so far it follows force. And thus did these, whom they had power to seek the hallowed place again. In them, had will been perfect, such as once upon the bars held Laurence firm, or wrought in Scaevola to his own hand remorseless, to the path whence they were drawn their steps had hastened back when liberty returned: but in too few resolve so steadfast dwells. And by these words, if duly weighed, that argument is void which oft might have perplexed thee still. But now another question thwarts thee, which to solve might try thy patience without better aid. Blessed spirit may not lie, since near the source of primal truth it dwells for aye; and thou mightest after of Piccarda learn that Constance held affection to the veil, so that she seems to contradict me here. Not seldom, brother, it hath chanced for men to do what they had gladly left undone, yet to shun peril they have done amiss: even as Alcmaeon, at his father's suit, slew his own mother, so made pitiless not to lose pity. On this point bethink thee, that force and will are blended in such wise as not to make the offence excusable. Absolute will agrees not to the wrong; inasmuch as there is fear of woe from non-compliance, it agrees. Of will thus absolute Piccarda spake, and I of the other; so that both have truly said. Such was the flow of that pure rill, that welled from forth the fountain of all truth. O thou of primal love the prime delight, he answers, affection fails me to requite thy grace with equal sum of gratitude; be his to recompense who sees and can reward thee. Well I discern that by that truth alone, beyond which no truth may roam, our mind can satisfy her thirst to know. Therein she resteth, even as in his lair the wild beast, soon as she hath reached that bound, and she hath power to reach it; else desire were given to no end. And thence doth doubt spring, like a shoot, around the stock of truth; and it is nature which from height to height on to the summit prompts us. This invites, this doth assure me, lady, reverently to ask thee of other truth that yet is dark to me. I fain would know, if man by other works well done may so supply the failure of his vows, that in your scale they lack not weight. He spoke; and on him straight Beatrice looked with eyes that shot forth sparks of love celestial in such copious stream that, virtue sinking in him overpowered, he turned, and downward bent confused his sight.
