Freely the sage, though wrapt in musings high, assumed the teacher's part, and mild began. The wound that Mary closed, she opened first, who sits so beautiful at Mary's feet. The third in order, underneath her, lo, Rachel with Beatrice. Sarah next, Judith, Rebecca, and the gleaner maid, meek ancestress of him who sang the songs of sore repentance in his sorrowful mood. All, as he names them, down from leaf to leaf, are in gradation throned on the rose. And from the seventh step, successively, adown the breathing tresses of the flower still doth the file of Hebrew dames proceed. For these are a partition wall, whereby the sacred stairs are severed, as the faith in Christ divides them. On this part, where blooms each leaf in full maturity, are set such as in Christ, or ere he came, believed. On the other, where an intersected space yet shows the semicircle void, abide all they who looked to Christ already come. And as our Lady on her glorious stool, and they who on their stools beneath her sit, this way distinction make, even so on his, the mighty Baptist that way marks the line, he who endured the desert and the pains of martyrdom, and for two years of hell, yet still continued holy, and beneath, Augustin, Francis, Benedict, and the rest, thus far from round to round. So heaven's decree forecasts, this garden equally to fill, with faith in either view, past or to come.
Learn too, that downward from the step which cleaves midway the twain compartments, none there are who place obtain for merit of their own, but have through others' merit been advanced, on set conditions: spirits all released, ere for themselves they had the power to choose. And, if thou mark and listen to them well, their childish looks and voice declare as much. Here, silent as thou art, I know thy doubt, and gladly will I loose the knot wherein thy subtle thoughts have bound thee. From this realm excluded, chalice no entrance here may find, no more shall hunger, thirst, or sorrow can. A law immutable has established all, nor is there aught thou seest that doth not fit, exactly, as the finger to the ring. It is not therefore without cause that these, overspeedy comers to immortal life, are different in their shares of excellence. Our Sovran Lord, that settleth this estate in love and in delight so absolute that wish can dare no further, every soul, created in his joyous sight to dwell, with grace at pleasure variously endows. And for a proof the effect may well suffice. And it is moreover most expressly marked in holy scripture, where the twins are said to have struggled in the womb. Therefore, as grace inweaves the coronet, so every brow weareth its proper hue of orient light. And merely in respect to his prime gift, not in reward of meritorious deed, hath each his several degree assigned. In early times with their own innocence more was not wanting than the parents' faith to save them. Those first ages past, behooved that circumcision in the males should imp the flight of innocent wings. But since the day of grace hath come, without baptismal rites in Christ accomplished, innocence herself must linger yet below.
Now raise thy view unto the visage most resembling Christ, for, in her splendour only, shalt thou win the power to look on him. Forthwith Dante saw such floods of gladness on her visage showered, from holy spirits winging that profound, that whatsoever he had yet beheld had not so much suspended him with wonder, or shown him such similitude of God. And he who had to her descended, once, on earth, now hailed in heaven, and on poised wing, Ave Maria, Gratia Plena, sang, to whose sweet anthem all the blissful court, from all parts answering, rang, that holier joy brooded the deep serene. Father revered, who deignest for me to quit the pleasant place wherein thou sittest by eternal lot, say, who that angel is, that with such glee beholds our queen, and so enamoured glows of her high beauty, that all fire he seems. So Dante again resorted to the lore of his wise teacher, he whom Mary's charms embellished as the sun the morning star, who thus in answer spoke. In him are summed whatever of buxomness and free delight may be in spirit or in angel met, and so beseems, for that he bare the palm down unto Mary, when the Son of God vouchsafed to clothe him in terrestrial weeds. Now let thine eyes wait heedful on my words, and note thou of this just and pious realm the chiefest nobles. Those, highest in bliss, the twain, on each hand next our empress throned, are as it were two roots unto this rose. He to the left, the parent whose rash taste proves bitter to his seed, and, on the right, that ancient father of the holy church, into whose keeping Christ did give the keys of this sweet flower. Near whom behold the seer that, ere he died, saw all the grievous times of the fair bride, who with the lance and nails was won. And, near unto the other, rests the leader under whom on manna fed the ungrateful nation, fickle and perverse. On the other part, facing to Peter, lo, where Anna sits, so well content to look on her loved daughter that with moveless eye she chants the loud hosanna, while, opposed to the first father of your mortal kind, is Lucia, at whose hest thy lady sped, when on the edge of ruin closed thine eye. But, for the vision hasteneth so an end, here break we off, as the good workman doth, that shapes the cloak according to the cloth, and to the primal love our ken shall rise, that thou mayst penetrate the brightness, far as sight can bear thee. Yet, alas, in sooth, beating thy pennons, thinking to advance, thou backward fallst. Grace then must first be gained, her grace, whose might can help thee. Thou in prayer seek her, and, with affection, whilst I sue, attend, and yield me all thy heart. He said, and thus the saintly orison began.
