Let him who would conceive what now I saw imagine, and retain the image firm as mountain rock the whilst he hears me speak, of stars fifteen, from midst the ethereal host selected, that with lively ray serene overcome the massiest air. Thereto imagine the wain, that in the bosom of our sky spins ever on its axle night and day, with the bright summit of that horn which swells due from the pole round which the first wheel rolls, to have ranged themselves in fashion of two signs in heaven, such as Ariadne made when death's chill seized her. And that one of them did compass in the other's beam, and both in such sort whirl around that each should tend with opposite motion. And conceiving thus, of that true constellation and the dance twofold that circled me, he shall attain as 'twere the shadow: for things there as much surpass our usage as the swiftest heaven is swifter than the Chiana. There was sung no Bacchus, and no Io Paean, but Three Persons in the Godhead, and in one substance that nature and the human joined. The song fulfilled its measure, and to us those saintly lights attended, happier made at each new ministering. Then silence brake, amid the accordant sons of Deity, that luminary in which the wondrous life of the meek man of God was told to me. And thus it spake: One ear of the harvest threshed, and its grain safely stored, sweet charity invites me with the other to like toil.
Thou knowest that in the bosom whence the rib was ta'en to fashion that fair cheek whose taste all the world pays for, and in that which pierced by the keen lance both after and before such satisfaction offered as outweighs each evil in the scale, whatever of light to human nature is allowed must all have by his virtue been infused who formed both one and other. And thou thence admirest, in that I told thee of beatitudes, a second there is none to his enclosed in the fifth radiance. Open now thine eyes to what I answer thee, and thou shalt see thy deeming and my saying meet in truth, as centre in the round. That which dies not, and that which can die, are but each the beam of that idea which our Sovereign Sire engendereth loving. For that lively light which passeth from his brightness, not disjoined from him nor from his love triune with them, doth through his bounty congregate itself, mirrored as 'twere in new existences, itself unalterable and ever one. Descending hence unto the lowest powers, its energy so sinks, at last it makes but brief contingencies: for so I name things generated, which the heavenly orbs moving, with seed or without seed, produce. Their wax, and that which molds it, differ much: and thence with lustre, more or less, it shows the ideal stamp impress: so that one tree according to his kind hath better fruit, and worse: and, at your birth, ye mortal men are in your talents various. Were the wax molded with nice exactness, and the heaven in its disposing influence supreme, the lustre of the seal should be complete: but nature renders it imperfect ever, resembling thus the artist in her work, whose faltering hand is faithless to his skill. Howe'er, if love itself dispose, and mark the primal virtue, kindling with bright view, there all perfection is vouchsafed; and such the clay was made, accomplished with each gift that life can teem with; such the burden filled the virgin's bosom: so that I commend thy judgement, that the human nature ne'er was or can be such as in them it was.
Did I advance no further than this point, How then had he no peer? thou mightst reply. But, that what now appears not may appear right plainly, ponder who he was, and what, when he was bidden Ask, the motive swayed to his requesting. I have spoken thus, that thou mayst see he was a king who asked for wisdom, to the end he might be king sufficient: not the number to search out of the celestial movers; or to know if necessary with contingent e'er have made necessity; or whether that be granted, that first motion is; or if of the mid circle can, by art, be made triangle with each corner blunt or sharp. Whence, noting that which I have said, and this, thou kingly prudence and that ken mayst learn at which the dart of my intention aims. And, marking clearly that I told thee Risen, thou shalt discern it only hath respect to kings, of whom are many, and the good are rare. With this distinction take my words, and they may well consist with that which thou of the first human father dost believe, and of our well-beloved. And let this henceforth be led unto thy feet, to make thee slow in motion, as a weary man, both to the yea and to the nay thou seest not. For he among the fools is down full low whose affirmation or denial is without distinction, in each case alike, since it befalls that in most instances current opinion leads to false: and then affection bends the judgement to her ply. Much more than vainly doth he loose from shore, since he returns not such as he set forth, who fishes for the truth and wanteth skill. And open proofs of this unto the world have been afforded in Parmenides, Melissus, Bryso, and the crowd beside, who journeyed on and knew not whither: so did Sabellius, Arius, and the other fools, who like to scimitars reflected back the scripture-image, by distortion marred. Let not the people be too swift to judge, as one who reckons on the blades in field, or ere the crop be ripe. For I have seen the thorn frown rudely all the winter long and after bear the rose upon its top; and bark, that all the way across the sea ran straight and speedy, perish at the last, even in the haven's mouth. Seeing one steal, another bring his offering to the priest, let not Dame Birtha and Sir Martin thence into heaven's counsels deem that they can pry: for one of these may rise, the other fall.
