The Vision, or Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise of Dante Alighieri . twins Covered of Libra and the fleecy star. Together both, girding the horizon hang; In even balance, from the zenith poised; Till from that verge, each, changing hemisphere, Part the nice level; een so brief a space Did Beatrices silence hold. A smile Sat painted on her cheek ; and her fixed gaze Bent on the point, at which my vision failed: When thus, her words resuming, she began: 10 * I speak, nor what thou wouldst inquire, demand; For I have marked it, where all time and place 340 THE VISION OF DANTE [Canto xxix Are present
The Vision, or Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise of Dante Alighieri . twins Covered of Libra and the fleecy star. Together both, girding the horizon hang; In even balance, from the zenith poised; Till from that verge, each, changing hemisphere, Part the nice level; een so brief a space Did Beatrices silence hold. A smile Sat painted on her cheek ; and her fixed gaze Bent on the point, at which my vision failed: When thus, her words resuming, she began: 10 * I speak, nor what thou wouldst inquire, demand; For I have marked it, where all time and place 340 THE VISION OF DANTE [Canto xxix 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 times limit or what bound soeer To circumscribe his being ; as he willed. Into new natures, like unto himself. Eternal love unfolded : nor before, 20 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, Een at the moment of its issuing ; thus Did, from the eternal Sovereign, 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 passed, Ere the creating of another world, Described on Jeromes pages, thou hast seen. But that what I disclose to thee is true, 30 Lines 13-88] PARADISE 341 Those penmen, whom the Holy Spirit moved, 40 In many a passage of their sacred book, Attest; as thou by diligent search shalt 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
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