And St. Peter's first words to Dante acknowledge him a good Christian, "Di' buon cristiano, fatti manifesto Fede che è." Par. xxiv. 52. "Good christian, what is faith! Do thou declare." Dante replies first in the language of Saint Paul,— "Fede e sustanzia di cose sperate, Ed argomento delle non parventi : Par. xxiv. 64. "Faith of things hoped is substance, and the proof He afterwards proceeds as follows: "O santo padre, o spirito, che vedi Comincia' io: tu vuoi ch'io manifesti Ed io rispondo: Credo in uno Iddio Ed a tal creder non ho io pur pruove Fisice e metifisice, ma dalmi Anche la verità che quinci piove, Per Moisè, per profeti, e per salmi, E credo in tre Persone eterne, e queste Cary. Quest' e il principio, quest' è la favilla Così benedicendomi cantando, Io avea detto; si nel dir gli piacqui. " O saintly sire and spirit!" I began, "Who seest that, which thou didst so believe, As to outstrip feet younger than thine own, Toward the sepulchre; thy will is here, That I the tenor of my creed unfold; And thou, the cause of it, hast likewise ask'd. And I reply : I in one God believe ; One sole eternal Godhead, of whose love All heav'n is mov'd, himself unmov'd the while. Nor demonstration physical alone, Or more intelligential and abstruse, Persuades me to this faith: but from that truth It cometh to me rather, which is shed Par. xxiv. 124. Through Moses; the rapt Prophets; and the Psalms; The Gospel; and what ye yourselves did write, When ye were gifted of the Holy Ghost. In three eternal Persons I believe ; Essence threefold and one; mysterious league Of union absolute, which, many a time, The word of gospel lore upon my mind Imprints: and from this germ, this firstling spark, Thus benediction uttering with song, Soon as my peace I held, compass'd me thrice The apostolic radiance, whose behest Had oped my lips: so well their answer pleased." Cary. We here observe that when the examination on Faith is ended, St. Peter embraces Dante thrice, in token of his satisfaction. This gracious act is again recorded at the beginning of the following Canto, where Dante indulges the delusive hope of a restoration to Florence, and the assuming of the poetic crown, nel suo bel San Giovanni.' "Ritornerò poeta, e in sul fonte (Inf. xix. 17.) Del mio battesmo prenderò il cappello : Perocchè nella fede che fa conte "I shall return and take the poet's crown The soul acceptable to God, and late, For strength in it St. Peter clasp'd my brow." Par. xxv. 8. St. James next addresses Dante in words of encouragement, and examines him on Hope:- "Leva la testa, e fa che t' assicuri, Che ciò che vien quassù dal mortal mondo, Convien ch'a' nostri raggi si maturi. Poichè per grazia vuol che tu t'affronti, Lo nostro Imperadore, anzi la morte Nell' aula più secreta co' suoi conti. Sì che, veduto il ver di questa corte, La speme, che laggiù bene innamora, Di' quel che ell'è, e come se ne 'nfiora Par. xxv. 34. " Lift up thy head; and be thou strong in trust: Sith our Liege Wills of his grace, that thou, or e'er thy death, The glories of our court, thou mayst therewith With hope, that leads to blissful end; declare, What is that hope? how it doth nourish in thee? And whence thou hadst it?" Cary. Before Dante delivers his answer, Beatrice commends him to St. James: " E quella pia, che guidò le penne Delle mie ali a così alto volo, Alla risposta così mi prevenne. La Chiesa militante alcun figliuolo Non ha con più speranza, com'è scritto Però gli è conceduto che d' Egitto Vegna in Gerusalemme per vedere, "And she whose gentle love That Sun records whose rays our band illume; From Egypt to Jerusalem, or e'er He in his warfare to the end hath striven." Par. xxv. 49. W. & C. Dante commences his reply to St. James with this short defi Is of the joy to come a sure expectance, The effect of grace divine and merit preceding." Cary. The confession on Hope being ended, there resound through the heavenly choir the words of the seventh psalm, " Sperent in te": “E prima e presso 'l fin d'este parole, A che riposer tutte le carole." Par. xxv. 97. "And, as the words were ending, from above, They hope in thee!' first heard we cried: whereto Cary. St. John then addresses Dante and calls for his exposition of Dante replies: "Lo ben che fa contenta questa corte Alfa ed omega è di quanta scrittura Are centred in this palace is the weal, St. John requires a minuter explication: "E disse: Certo a più angusto vaglio Par. xxvi. 16. Cary. Par. xxvi. 22. Cary. |