No longer than the time Latona's twins, covering Libra and the fleecy star, hang together girding the horizon in even balance from the zenith, till from that verge each changing hemisphere parts the nice level: even so brief a space did Beatrice's silence hold. A smile sat painted on her cheek, and her fixed gaze bent on the point at which Dante's vision failed. She speaks, nor what he would inquire demands, for she has marked it where all time and place are present. Not for increase to himself of good, which may not be increased, but forth to manifest his glory by its beams, inhabiting his own eternity, beyond time's limit or what bound soever to circumscribe his being, as he willed, into new natures, like unto himself, Eternal Love unfolded. Nor before, as if in dull inaction, torpid lay. For not in process of before or aft upon these waters moved the Spirit of God. Simple and mixed, both form and substance, forth to perfect being started, like three darts shot from a bow three-corded. And as ray in crystal, glass, and amber shines entire, even at the moment of its issuing, thus did from the eternal Sovran beam entire his threefold operation, at one act produced coeval. Yet in order each created his due station knew: those highest, who pure intelligence were made; mere power the lowest; in the midst, bound with strict league, intelligence and power, unsevered bond. Long tract of ages by the angels past, ere the creating of another world, described on Jerome's pages Dante has seen. But that what she discloses is true, those penmen whom the Holy Spirit moved in many a passage of their sacred book attest, as he by diligent search shall find, and reason in some sort discerns the same, who scarce would grant the heavenly ministers of their perfection void so long a space. Thus when and where these spirits of love were made, he knows, and how, and knowing has allayed his thirst, which from the triple question rose.
Ere one had reckoned twenty, even so soon part of the angels fell, and in their fall confusion to the elements ensued. The others kept their station, and this task, whereon Dante looks, began with such delight that they surcease not ever, day nor night, their circling. Of that fatal lapse the cause was the cursed pride of him whom Dante has seen pent with the world's encumbrance. Those whom here he sees were lowly to confess themselves of his free bounty, who had made them apt for ministries so high. Therefore their views were by enlightening grace and their own merit exalted, so that in their will confirmed they stand, nor feel to fall. For do not doubt, but to receive the grace which heaven vouchsafes is meritorious, even as the soul with prompt affection welcomes the guest. Now, without further help, if with good heed her words his mind have treasured, he henceforth this consistory round about may scan, and gaze his fill. But since he has on earth heard vain disputers, reasoners in the schools, canvass the angelic nature, and dispute its powers of apprehension, memory, choice, therefore it is well he take from her the truth, pure and without disguise, which they below, equivocating, darken and perplex. Know, that from the first these substances, rejoicing in the countenance of God, have held unceasingly their view, intent upon the glorious vision, from the which naught absent is nor hid. Where then no change of newness with succession interrupts, remembrance there needs none to gather up divided thought and images remote. So that men, thus at variance with the truth, dream, though their eyes be open: reckless some of error, others well aware they err, to whom more guilt and shame are justly due. Each the known track of sage philosophy deserts, and has a byway of his own, so much the restless eagerness to shine and love of singularity prevail. Yet this, offensive as it is, provokes heaven's anger less than when the book of God is forced to yield to man's authority, or from its straightness warped: no reckoning made what blood the sowing of it in the world has cost, what favour for himself he wins who meekly clings to it. The aim of all is how to shine. Even they whose office is to preach the Gospel let the gospel sleep, and pass their own inventions off instead. One tells how at Christ's suffering the wan moon bent back her steps and shadowed over the sun with intervenient disk as she withdrew. Another, how the light shrouded itself within its tabernacle, and left dark the Spaniard and the Indian, with the Jew. Such fables Florence in her pulpit hears, bandied about more frequent than the names of Bindi and of Lapi in her streets.
The sheep, meanwhile, poor witless ones, return from pasture, fed with wind, and what avails for their excuse, they do not see their harm? Christ said not to his first conventicle, go forth and preach impostures to the world, but gave them truth to build on, and the sound was mighty on their lips, nor needed they, beside the gospel, other spear or shield, to aid them in their warfare for the faith. The preacher now provides himself with store of jests and gibes, and, so there be no lack of laughter while he vents them, his big cowl distends, and he has won the meed he sought. Could but the vulgar catch a glimpse the while of that dark bird which nestles in his hood, they scarce would wait to hear the blessing said, which now the dotards hold in such esteem that every counterfeit who spreads abroad the hands of holy promise finds a throng of credulous fools beneath. Saint Anthony fattens with this his swine, and others worse than swine, who diet at his lazy board, paying with unstamped metal for their fare. But, for they far have wandered, let them seek the forward path again, so as the way be shortened with the time. No mortal tongue nor thought of man has ever reached so far that of these natures he might count the tribes. What Daniel of their thousands has revealed with finite number infinite conceals. The fountain at whose source these drink their beams with light supplies them in as many modes as there are splendours that it shines on, each according to the virtue it conceives, differing in love and sweet affection. Look then how lofty and how huge in breadth the eternal might, which, broken and dispersed over such countless mirrors, yet remains whole in itself and one, as at the first.
