True love, that ever shows itself as clear in kindness as loose appetite in wrong, silences that lyre harmonious and stills the sacred chords that heaven's right hand unwinds and tightens. How should they not hearken to righteous prayers, who, to give him will for praying, in accordance thus were mute? He hath in sooth good cause for endless grief who, for the love of thing that lasteth not, despoils himself forever of that love. As oft along the still and pure serene, at nightfall, glides a sudden trail of fire, attracting with involuntary heed the eye to follow it, erewhile at rest, and seems some star that shifted place in heaven, only that, whence it kindles, none is lost, and it is soon extinct: thus from the horn that on the dexter of the cross extends, down to its foot, one luminary runs from mid the cluster shone there; yet no gem dropped from its foil; and through the beamy list, like flame in alabaster, glowed its course. So forward stretched him, if of credence aught our greater muse may claim, the pious ghost of old Anchises in the Elysian bower, when he perceived his son. O thou, my blood. O most exceeding grace divine, to whom, as now to thee, hath twice the heavenly gate been ever unclosed? so speaks the light. Dante turns toward him, then unto his dame; and on either side amazement waited him, for in her eyes was lighted such a smile he thought that his had dived unto the bottom of his grace and of his bliss in Paradise.
Forthwith, to hearing and to sight grateful alike, the spirit to his proem added things Dante understood not, so profound he spake; yet not of choice but through necessity mysterious, for his high conception soared beyond the mark of mortals. When the flight of holy transport had so spent its rage that nearer to the level of our thought the speech descended, the first sounds heard were, Best be thou, Triunal Deity, that hast such favour in my seed vouchsafed. Then followed: no unpleasant thirst, though long, which took me reading in the sacred book whose leaves or white or dusky never change, thou hast allayed, my son, within this light from whence my voice thou hearest; more thanks to her who for such lofty mounting has with plumes begirt thee. Thou dost deem thy thoughts to me from him transmitted who is first of all, even as all numbers ray from unity; and therefore dost not ask me who I am, or why to thee more joyous I appear than any other in this gladsome throng. The truth is as thou deemest; for in this hue both less and greater in that mirror look, in which thy thoughts, or ere thou thinkest, are shown. But, that the love which keeps me wakeful ever, urging with sacred thirst of sweet desire, may be contented fully, let thy voice, fearless and frank and jocund, utter forth thy will distinctly, utter forth the wish whereto my ready answer stands decreed. Dante turns to Beatrice; and she heard ere he had spoken, smiling, an assent that to his will gave wings. To each among your tribe, he begins, what time ye kenned the nature in whom naught unequal dwells, wisdom and love were in one measure dealt; for that they are so equal in the sun from whence ye drew your radiance and your heat, as makes all likeness scant. But will and means, in mortals, for the cause ye well discern, with unlike wings are fledged. A mortal I experience inequality like this, and therefore give no thanks, but in the heart, for thy paternal greeting. This however I pray thee, living topaz that ingemmest this precious jewel, let me hear thy name.
I am thy root, O leaf, whom to expect even hath pleased me: thus the prompt reply prefacing. Next it added: he of whom thy kindred appellation comes, and who, these hundred years and more, on its first ledge hath circuited the mountain, was my son and thy great grandsire. Well befits his long endurance should be shortened by thy deeds. Florence, within her ancient limit-mark, which calls her still to matin prayers and noon, was chaste and sober, and abode in peace. She had no armlets and no head-tires then, no purfled dames, no zone that caught the eye more than the person did. Time was not yet when at his daughter's birth the sire grew pale for fear the age and dowry should exceed on each side just proportion. House was none void of its family; nor yet had come Sardanapalus, to exhibit feats of chamber prowess. Montemalo yet o'er our suburban turret rose, as much to be surpassed in fall as in its rising. I saw Bellincione Berti walk abroad in leathern girdle and a clasp of bone; and, with no artful colouring on her cheeks, his lady leave the glass. The sons I saw of Nerli and of Vecchio well content with unrobed jerkin; and their good dames handling the spindle and the flax. O happy they: each sure of burial in her native land, and none left desolate a-bed for France. One waked to tend the cradle, hushing it with sounds that lulled the parent's infancy: another, with her maidens, drawing off the tresses from the distaff, lectured them old tales of Troy and Fiesole and Rome. A Salterello and Cianghella we had held as strange a marvel as ye would a Cincinnatus or Cornelia now. In such composed and seemly fellowship, such faithful and such fair equality, in so sweet household, Mary at my birth bestowed me, called on with loud cries; and there in your old baptistery I was made Christian at once and Cacciaguida, as were my brethren, Eliseo and Moronto. From Valdipado came to me my spouse, and hence thy surname grew. I followed then the Emperor Conrad; and his knighthood he did gird on me, in such good part he took my valiant service. After him I went to testify against that evil law whose people, by the shepherd's fault, possess your right, usurping. There, by that foul crew, was I released from the deceitful world, whose base affection many a spirit soils, and from the martyrdom came to this peace.
