La Divina Commedia Paradiso Canto VII The song of the crucifixion and human nature Time: Thursday, March 30, 1301 (Wednesday, April 13, 1300): not specified (after Easter) Place: Second Sky: Mercury People: Dante, Beatrice, Giustiniano © 2021 Dr. M. Junker: Fonetics, metrics, accents colored, protected by Namirial SpA © 1994 Le Lettere: Critical Edition of the Divine Comedy (by Giorgio Petrocchi) English Translation by Charles Eliot Norton: 1902/1952 (Encyclopædia Britannica)
1 « nn , s nct s D s s b th, 2 4 6 s p r ll str ns cl r t t t 4 8 3 f l c s gn s h r m m l c th!». 2 4 6 Co ì, volg ndosi a la n ta sua, 2 4 8 fu vi o a me cantare ssa sustanza, 2 4 6 7 6 s pra la qual d ppio lume s’addua; 1 4 5 7 ed ssa e l’altre m ssero a sua danza, 2 4 6 (9) e qua i velocissime faville 2 6 9 mi si velar di sùbita distanza. 4 6 Io dubitava e dic a ‘Dille, dille!’ (1) 4 7 8 fra me, ‘dille’ dic a, ‘a la mia d nna 2 3 6 12 che mi dis ta con le d lci stille’. 4 8 Ma qu lla rever nza che s’ind nna 2 6 di tutto me, pur per B! e per "ce, 2 4 5 7 15 mi richinava c me l’u m ch’ass nna. 4 8 P co soff rse me cotal Beatrice 1 4 6 8 e cominciò, raggiandomi d’un ri!o 4 6 18 tal, che nel f"co far#a l’u$m felice: 1 4 7 8 «Sec%ndo mio&infallibile'avvi(o, 2 4 7 c)me giusta vend*tta giustam+nte 3 6 21 punita f,sse, t’ha-in pensi.r mi/o; 2 4 6 9 ma0io ti solverò t1sto la m2nte; 2 6 7 e tu3asc4lta, ché le mie par5le 2 4 8 24 di gran sent6nza ti faran pre78nte. 2 4 8 Per non soffrire9a la virtù che v:le 2 4 8 fr;no<a suo pr=de, qu>ll’ u?m che non nacque, 1 4 7 27 dannando sé, dannò tutta sua pr@le; 2 4 6 7
2 “Osanna sanctus Deus Sabaoth, superillustrans claritate tua 3 felices ignes horum malachoth!”– thus, revolving to its own melody, was seen by me to sing that substance, 6 upon which a double light is twinned; and it and the others moved in their dance, and like swiftest sparks 9 veiled themselves to me with sudden distance. I was in doubt, and was saying: “Tell her, tell her,” within myself, “tell her,” I was saying, “my Lady, 12 who slakes my thirst with her sweet distillings”; but that reverence which is mistress wholly of me, only by BE and by ICE, 15 bowed me again like one who drowses. Short while did suffer me thus Beatrice, and she began, irradiating me with a smile 18 such as in the fire would make a man happy: “According to my infallible advisement, how a just vengeance justly 21 could be avenged has set thee thinking; but I will quickly loose thy mind: and do thou listen, for my words 24 of a great doctrine will make thee the gift. By not enduring upon the power which wills a curb for his own good, that man who was not born, 27 damning himself, damned all his offspring;
3 Ande l’umana spBcieCinfDrma giacque 1 4 6 8 giù per sEcoli mFltiGin grandeHerrIre, 1 3 6 8 30 fin ch’al VJrbo di Dio discKnder piacque 1 3 6 8 u’ la natura, che dal suo fattLre 1 4 8 s’MraNallungata,OunìPa séQin persRna 1 4 6 8 33 con l’atto sSl del suoTettUrnoVamWre. 2 4 6 8 Xr drizzaYil viZo[a qu\l ch’]r si ragi^na: 1 2 4 6 7 qu_sta natura`al suo fattarebunita, 1 4 6 8 36 qual fu crecata, fu sincdraee bufna; 1 2 4 6 8 ma per sé stgssa pur fuhilla jbandita 4 6 7 di paradiko, però che si tlrse 4 7 39 da via di veritàme da sua vita. 2 6 La pnna dunque che la croce pprse 2 4 8 s’a la naturaqassunta si mirura, 4 6 42 nulla già mai sì giustamsnte mtrse; 1 4 8 e couì nulla fu di tantavingiura, 3 4 6 8 guardandowa la persxna che soffyrse, 2 6 45 in chez{ra contratta tal natura. 3 6 8 Però d’un atto|uscir c}~e divrse: 2 4 6 7 ch’a Dioea’ Giudi piacqueuna mrte; 2 6 7 (8) 48 per l i tremò la trrae ’l cil s’aprse. 2 4 6 8 Non ti deoramai parr più frte, (1) 3 6 8 quando si dice che giusta vendtta 1 4 7 51 pscia vengiata fu da giusta crte. 1 4 6 8 Maio vggi’r la tua mnte ristrtta 2 4 7 di pensiroin pensir dntroad un ndo, 3 6 7 54 del qual con gran diio slver s’asptta. 2 4 6 7
4 wherefore the human race lay sick down there for many centuries, in great error, 30 until it pleased the Word of God to descend where the nature which from its Maker had estranged itself, He united with Himself in person, 33 by the sole act of His eternal love. Now turn thy sight to that which now I say: This nature, thus united with its Maker, 36 such as it was created, was pure and good; but by itself it had been banished from Paradise, because it turned 39 aside from the way of truth and from its own life. The penalty therefore which the cross afforded, if by the nature assumed it be measured, – 42 none ever so justly stung; and, so, none was ever of such great wrong, if we regard the Person who suffered, 45 in whom was contracted this nature. Therefore from one act issued things diverse; for to God and to the Jews one death was pleasing: 48 at it the earth trembled and the heaven was opened. It ought no longer henceforth to seem difficult to thee, when it is said that a just vengeance 51 was afterward avenged by a just court. But I see now thy mind bound up, from thought to thought, within a knot, 54 of which with great desire the loosing is awaited.
5 Tu dici: “B n disc¡rno ciò ch’i’¢£do; 1 2 4 6 8 ma perché Dio vol¤sse, m’è¥occulto, 3 4 6 (8) 57 a n¦stra redenzi§n pur qu¨sto m©do”. 2 6 7 8 Quªsto decr«to, frate, sta sepulto 1 4 6 (8) a li¬cchi di ciascuno®il cui¯ing°gno 2 6 8 60 ne la fiamma d’am±r non è²adulto. 3 6 8 Veram³nte, però ch’a qu´sto sµgno 3 6 8 m¶lto si mira·e p¸co si disc¹rne, 1 4 6 63 dirò perché tal mºdo fu più d»gno. 2 4 6 8 La divina bontà, che da sé sp¼rne 3 6 9 ½gne liv¾re,¿ardÀndoÁin sé, sfavilla 1 4 6 8 66 sì che dispiÂga le bellÃzzeÄettÅrne. 1 4 8 Ciò che da lÆi sanza mÇÈÉo distilla 1 4 5 7 non ha pÊi fine, perché non si mËve 2 4 (7/)8 69 la suaÌimprÍnta quand’ Îlla sigilla. 2 4 7 Ciò che daÏÐssa sanza mÑÒÓo piÔve 1 4 6 8 liberoÕè tutto, perché non soggiace 1 4 (7/)8 72 a la virtute de le cÖ×e nØve. 4 8 Più l’è confÙrme,Úe però più le piace; 1 4 7 8 ché l’ardÛr santo ch’Ügne cÝÞa raggia, 3 4 6 8 75 ne la più somiglianteßè più vivace. 3 6 8 Di tutte quàste dáte s’avvantaggia 2 4 6 l’umana creâatura,ãe s’una manca, 2 6 8 78 di sua nobilità conviän che caggia. 2 6 8 Såloæil peccatoçè quèl che la disfranca (1) 4 6 e falla dissimìleéal sêmmo bëne, 2 6 8 81 per che del lume suo pìco s’imbianca; 4 6 7
6 Thou sayest: ‘Clearly I discern that which I hear; but why God willed is hidden from me 57 for our redemption only this mode.’ This decree, brother, lies buried to the eyes of every one whose wit 60 in the flame of love is not matured. Yet, inasmuch as on this mark much here is gazing, and little is discerned, 63 I will tell why such mode was the most worthy. The Divine Goodness, which from Itself spurns all envy, burning in Itself so sparkles 66 that It displays the eternal beauties. That which from It immediately distils, thereafter has no end, for never can be removed 69 Its imprint when It seals. That which from It immediately rains down is wholly free, because it is not subject 72 to the power of the new things. It is the most conformed to It, and therefore the most pleases It; for the Holy Ardor which irradiates everything 75 in what is most like Itself is most living. With all these things is advantaged the human creature, and if one fail, 78 from his nobility he needs must fall. Sin alone is that which disfranchises him, and makes him unlike the Supreme Good, 81 so that by Its light he is little illumined;
7 eíin sua dignità mai non rivîne, (3) 6 7 se non rïïmpie, dðve cñlpa vòta, (2) 4 8 84 còntra mal dilettar con giuste póne. 1 3 6 8 Vôstra natura, quando peccò t#t$ 1 4 6 9 nel sõme suo, da quöste dignitadi, 2 4 6 87 c÷me di paradiøo, fu remùta; 1 6 8 né ricovrar potúensi, se tu badi 1 4 6 (9) bûn sottilmünte, per alcuna via, 1 4 8 90 sanza passar per un di quýsti guadi: 1 4 6 8 o che Dio sþlo per sua corte ia 3 4 7 dim sso av sse, o che l’u m per sé isso 2 4 7 9 93 av sse sodisfatto a sua follia. 2 6 Ficca m l’ cchio per ntro l’abisso 1 3 4 7 de l’ett rno consiglio, quanto pu i 3 6 8 96 al mio parlar distrettam nte fisso. (2) 4 8 Non pot a l’u mo n ’ t rmini su i (1) 3 4 7 mai sodisfar, per non pot re ir giu o 1 4 6 8 9 99 con umiltate obedï ndo p i, 4 8 quanto disobedi ndo int e ir su o; 1 6 8 9 e qu!sta"è la cagi#n per che l’u$m fue 2 6 9 102 da pot%r sodisfar per sé dischiu&o. 3 6 8 Dunque'a Dio conven(a con le v)e sue 1 3 6 9 riparar l’*mo+a sua,int-ra vita, 3 4 (6) 8 105 dico con l’una,.o v/r con amendue. 1 4 6 Ma perché l’0vra tanto1è più gradita 3 4 6 8 da l’operante, quanto più2appre34nta 4 (6) 8 108 de la bontà del c5re67nd’ 8ll’ è9uscita, 4 6 8/9
8 and to his dignity he never returns, unless he fill up, where fault empties, 84 against evil delight with just penalties. Your nature, when it sinned totally in its seed, from these dignities, 87 even as from Paradise was removed; nor could it recover them, if thou considerest full subtly, by any way, 90 without passing by one of these fords: either that God, solely by His courtesy, should have remitted; or that man by himself 93 should have made satisfaction for his folly. Fix now thine eye within the abyss of the eternal counsel, as thou art able 96 on my words as closely fastened. Never could man within his own limits make satisfaction, through not being able to descend 99 in humility, by subsequent obedience, so far as in his disobedience he had intended to ascend; and this is the reason why man was 102 from power to make satisfaction by himself shut off. Therefore for God it was needful with His own ways to restore man to his perfect life – 105 I mean with one way, or else with both. But because the deed is so much the more prized of the doer, the more it displays 108 of the goodness of the heart whence it issues,
9 la divina bontà, che ’l m:ndo;impr<nta, 3 6 8 di proc=der per tutte le sue vie, 3 6 111 a rilevarvi su>o, fu cont?nta. 4 6 8 Né tra l’ultima n@tteAe ’l primo die 1 3 6 8 sìBaltoCo sì magnifico procDsso, 1 2 4 6 114 o per l’unaEo per l’altra, fuFo fie: 3 6 8 ché più largo fu DioGa dar sé stHsso 3 6 8 per far l’uIm sufficiJnteKa rilevarsi, 2 3 6 117 che s’LlliMavNsse sOl da sé dimPsso; 2 4 6 8 e tutti liQaltri mRdiSTrano scarsi 2 4 6 7 a la giustizia, se ’l FigliuUl di Dio 4 8 120 non fVsseWumilïatoXad incarnarsi. 2 6 Yr per Zmpierti b[ne\]gne di^io, 1 3 6 7 rit_rno`a dichiarartiain alcun lbco, 2 6 9 123 perché tu vcggi lì codì cem’ io. 2 4 6 8 Tu dici:f“Io vgggio l’acqua,hio viggiojil fkco, 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 l’lereme la tnrraoe tutte lpr misture 1 4 6 126 venireqa corruzirne,se durar ptco; 2 6 9 e quuste cvwe pur furon creature; 2 4 6 7 per che, se ciò ch’è dxttoyè stato vzro, 2 4 6 8 129 {sser dovr|en da corruzi}n sicure”. 1 4 8 Li~angeli, frate,e ’l pae sincro 1 4 7 nel qual tu s’, dir si p sson creati, 2 4 5 7 132 sì cme sno,in lrossereintro; 1 4 (6) 7 ma lialimnti che tuhai nomati 4 (7) 8 e qulle ce che di lr si fanno 2 4 8 135 da creata virtù snoinformati. 3 6 7
10 the Divine Goodness which on the world sets its impress to proceed by all Its ways 111 to lift you up again was content; nor between the last night and the first day so exalted and so magnificent a procedure either by 114 the one way or by the other has there been or will there be. For more bounteous was God in giving Himself to make man sufficient to uplift himself, 117 than if He had only of Himself remitted; and all the other modes were scanty in respect to justice, if the Son of God 120 had not humbled Himself to become incarnate. Now to fulfil for thee every desire, I return to make it clear to a certain place, 123 in order that thou mayst see there as I do. Thou sayest: ‘I see the water, I see the fire, the air, and the earth, and all their mixtures 126 come to corruption, and endure short while, and these things yet were created things; so that, if what I have said has been true, 129 they ought to be against corruption secure. The Angels, brother, and the pure country in which thou art, may be called created, 132 just as they are, in their entire being; but the elements which thou hast named, and those things which are made of them, 135 by a created virtue are informed.
11 Creata fu la matria ch’llihanno; 2 (4) 7 9 creata fu la virtùinformante 2 (4) 7 138 in quste st lle che ’nt¡rno¢a l£r vanno. 2 4 7 9 L’anima d’¤gne bruto¥e de le piante 1 4 6 di complessi¦n potenzïata tira 4 8 141 lo raggio§e ’l m¨to de le luci sante; 2 4 8 ma v©stra vita sanza mª«¬o spira 2 4 6 8 la s mma beninanza,®e la¯innam°ra 2 6 144 di sé sì che p±i s²mpre la di³ira. 2 ((3) 5) 6 E quinci pu´iµargomentare¶anc·ra 2 4 8 v¸stra re¹urreziºn, se tu rip»nsi 1 6 (8) 147 c¼me l’umana carne f½ssi¾all¿ra 1 4 6 8 che li primi parÀntiÁintrambo fÂnsi». 3 6 8
12 Created was the matter of which they consist; created was the informing virtue 138 in these stars which go round about them. The soul of every brute and of the plants from its potentiate elements draw out 141 the ray and the motion of the holy lights; but your life without intermediary inspires the Supreme Benignity, and enamors it 144 of Itself so that after it ever desires It. And hence thou canst infer further your resurrection, if thou reflect 147 how the human flesh was made when the first parents were both made.”
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