Before Dante's sight appears, with open wings, the beauteous image, in fruition sweet gladdening the thronged spirits. Each seems a little ruby, whereon so intense the sunbeam glows that it comes to his eyes in clear refraction. What next befalls him to portray, voice has not uttered, nor has ink written, nor in fantasy was ever conceived. He beholds and hears the beak discourse, and what intention formed of many, singly as of one express. For that I was just and piteous, I am exalted to this height of glory, the which no wish exceeds: and there on earth have I my memory left, even by the bad commended, while they leave its course untrod. Thus is one heat from many embers felt, as in that image many were the loves, and one the voice that issued from them all. Dante addresses them as perennial flowers of gladness everlasting, that exhale in single breath their odours manifold. Breathe now, he says, and let the hunger be appeased that with great craving long has held his soul, finding no food on earth. This he well knows: if there be in heaven a realm that shows in faithful mirror the celestial Justice, theirs without veil reflects it. They discern the heed with which he prepares himself to hearken, and the doubt that urges him with such inveterate craving. Straight he sees, like to a falcon issuing from the hood, that rears his head and claps him with his wings, his beauty and his eagerness bewraying. So he sees that stately sign move, with praise of grace divine inwoven and high song of inexpressive joy.
He who turned his compass on the world's extreme, and in that space so variously has wrought, both openly and in secret, could not through all the universe display impression of his glory, that the Word of his omniscience should not still remain in infinite excess. In proof whereof, he first through pride supplanted, who was sum of each created being, waited not for light celestial, and abortive fell. Whence needs each lesser nature is but scant receptacle unto that Good, which knows no limit, measured by itself alone. Therefore their sight, of the omnipresent Mind a single beam, must own its origin surpassing far its utmost potency. The ken their world is gifted with descends in the everlasting Justice as low down as eye does in the sea, which though it mark the bottom from the shore, in the wide main discerns it not, and nevertheless it is, but hidden through its deepness. Light is none, save that which comes from the pure serene of never disturbed ether: for the rest, it is darkness all, or shadow of the flesh, or else its poison. Here confess revealed that covert which has hidden from Dante's search the living justice of which he made such frequent question. For he said: a man is born on Indus' banks, and none is there who speaks of Christ, nor who does read nor write, and all his inclinations and his acts, as far as human reason sees, are good, and he offends not in word or deed. But unbaptised he dies, and void of faith. Where is the justice that condemns him? Where his blame, if he believes not? What then, and who art thou, that on the stool wouldst sit to judge at distance of a thousand miles with the short-sighted vision of a span? To him who subtilizes thus, there would assuredly be room for doubt even to wonder, did not the safe word of scripture hold supreme authority. O animals of clay. O spirits gross. The primal will, that in itself is good, has from itself, the chief Good, never been moved. Justice consists in consonance with it, derivable by no created good, whose very cause depends upon its beam. As on her nest the stork, that turns about unto her young, whom lately she has fed, while they with upward eyes do look on her, so Dante lifts his gaze, and bending so the ever-blessed image waves its wings, labouring with such deep counsel. Wheeling round it warbles, and does say: as are my notes to thee, who understandest them not, such is the eternal judgement unto mortal ken.
Then still abiding in that ensign ranged, wherewith the Romans overawed the world, those burning splendours of the Holy Spirit take up the strain, and thus it speaks again. None ever has ascended to this realm, who has not a believer been in Christ, either before or after the blest limbs were nailed upon the wood. But lo: of those who call Christ, Christ, there shall be many found, in judgement, further off from him by far, than such to whom his name was never known. Christians like these the Ethiop shall condemn, when that the two assemblages shall part, one rich eternally, the other poor. What may the Persians say unto your kings, when they shall see that volume, in the which all their dispraise is written, spread to view? There amidst Albert's works shall that be read which will give speedy motion to the pen, when Prague shall mourn her desolated realm. There shall be read the woe that he does work with his adulterate money on the Seine, who by the tusk will perish; there be read the thirsting pride that makes fool alike the English and Scot, impatient of their bound. There shall be seen the Spaniard's luxury, the delicate living of the Bohemian, who still to worth has been a willing stranger. The halter of Jerusalem shall see a unit for his virtue, for his vices no less a mark than million. He who guards the isle of fire by old Anchises honoured shall find his avarice there and cowardice, and better to denote his littleness, the writing must be letters maimed, that speak much in a narrow space. All there shall know his uncle and his brother's filthy doings, who so renowned a nation and two crowns have bastardized. And they of Portugal and Norway shall be exposed with him of Ratza, who has counterfeited ill the coin of Venice. O blest Hungary, if thou no longer patiently abidest thy ill-entreating, and O blest Navarre, if with thy mountainous girdle thou wouldst arm thee. In earnest of that day, even now are heard wailings and groans in Famagosta's streets and Nicosia's, grudging at their beast, who keepeth even footing with the rest.
