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PARADISO CANTO 12
Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr. Notes Ann.

No sooner had the blessed flame begun to speak its final word than the millstone of holy lights began to turn, but it SOON as the blessed flame had taken up The final word to give it utterance, Began the holy millstone to revolve,

12.003

was not yet done with one full revolution before another ring surrounded it, and motion matched with motion, song with song- And in its gyre had not turned wholly round, Before another in a ring enclosed it, And motion joined to motion, song to song;

12.006

a song that, sung by those sweet instruments, surpasses so our Muses and our Sirens as firstlight does the light that is reflected. Song that as greatly doth transcend our Muses, Our Sirens, in those dulcet clarions, As primal splendour that which is reflected.

12.009

Just as, concentric, like in color, two rainbows will curve their way through a thin cloud when Juno has commanded her handmaid, And as are spanned athwart a tender cloud Two rainbows parallel and like in colour, When Juno to her handmaid gives command,

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the outer rainbow echoing the inner, much like the voice of one-the wandering nymph- whom love consumed as sun consumes the mist (The one without born of the one within, Like to the speaking of that vagrant one Whom love consumed as doth the sun the vapours,)

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(and those two bows let people here foretell, by reason of the pact God made with Noah, that flood will never strike the world again): And make the people here, through covenant God set with Noah, presageful of the world That shall no more be covered with a flood,

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so the two garlands of those everlasting roses circled around us, and so did the outer circle mime the inner ring. In such wise of those sempiternal roses The garlands twain encompassed us about, And thus the outer to the inner answered.

12.021

When dance and jubilation, festival of song and flame that answered flame, of light with light, of gladness and benevolence, After the dance, and other grand rejoicings, Both of the singing, and the flaming forth Effulgence with effulgence blithe and tender,

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in one same instant, with one will, fell still (just as the eyes, when moved by their desire, can only close and open in accord), Together, at once, with one accord had stopped, (Even as the eyes, that, as volition moves them, Must needs together shut and lift themselves,)

12.027

then from the heart of one of the new lights there came a voice, and as I turned toward it, I seemed a needle turning to the polestar; Out of the heart of one of the new lights There came a voice, that needle to the star Made me appear in turning thitherward.

12.030

and it began: "The love that makes me fair draws me to speak about the other leader because of whom my own was so praised here. And it began: "The love that makes me fair Draws me to speak about the other leader, By whom so well is spoken here of mine.

12.033

Where one is, it is right to introduce the other: side by side, they fought, so may they share in glory and together gleam. 'Tis right, where one is, to bring in the other, That, as they were united in their warfare, Together likewise may their glory shine.

12.036

Christ's army, whose rearming cost so dearly, was slow, uncertain of itself, and scanty behind its ensign, when the Emperor The soldiery of Christ, which it had cost So dear to arm again, behind the standard Moved slow and doubtful and in numbers few,

12.039

who rules forever helped his ranks in danger- only out of His grace and not their merits. And, as was said, He then sustained His bride, When the Emperor who reigneth evermore Provided for the host that was in peril, Through grace alone and not that it was worthy;

12.042

providing her with two who could revive a straggling people: champions who would by doing and by preaching bring new life. And, as was said, he to his Bride brought succour With champions twain, at whose deed, at whose word The straggling people were together drawn.

12.045

In that part of the West where gentle zephyr rises to open those new leaves in which Europe appears reclothed, not far from where, Within that region where the sweet west wind Rises to open the new leaves, wherewith Europe is seen to clothe herself afresh,

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behind the waves that beat upon the coast, the sun, grown weary from its lengthy course, at times conceals itself from all men's eyes- Not far off from the beating of the waves, Behind which in his long career the sun Sometimes conceals himself from every man,

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there, Calaroga, blessed by fortune, sits under the aegis of the mighty shield on which the lion loses and prevails. Is situate the fortunate Calahorra, Under protection of the mighty shield In which the Lion subject is and sovereign.

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Within its walls was born the loving vassal of Christian faith, the holy athlete, one kind to his own and harsh to enemies; Therein was born the amorous paramour Of Christian Faith, the athlete consecrate, Kind to his own and cruel to his foes;

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no sooner was his mind created than it was so full of living force that it, still in his mother's womb, made her prophetic. And when it was created was his mind Replete with such a living energy, 'That in his mother her it made prophetic.

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Then, at the sacred font, where Faith and he brought mutual salvation as their dowry, the rites of their espousal were complete. As soon as the espousals were complete Between him and the Faith at holy font, Where they with mutual safety dowered each

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The lady who had given the assent for him saw, in a dream, astonishing fruit that would spring from him and from his heirs. The woman, who for him had given assent, Saw in a dream the admirable fruit That issue would from him and from his heirs;

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And that his name might echo what he was, a spirit moved from here to have him called by the possessive of the One by whom And that he might be construed as he was, A spirit from this place went forth to name him With His possessive whose he wholly was.

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he was possessed completely. Dominic became his name; I speak of him as one whom Christ chose as the worker in His garden. Dominic was he called; and him I speak of Even as of the husbandman whom Christ Elected to his garden to assist him.

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He seemed the fitting messenger and servant of Christ: the very first love that he showed was for the first injunction Christ had given. Envoy and servant sooth he seemed of Christ, For the first love made manifest in him Was the first counsel that was given by Christ.

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His nurse would often find him on the ground, alert and silent, in a way that said: 'It is for this that I have come.' Truly, Silent and wakeful many a time was he Discovered by his nurse upon the ground, As if he would have said, ' For this I came.'

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his father was Felice and his mother Giovanna if her name, interpreted, is in accord with what has been asserted. O thou his father, Felix verily! O thou his mother, verily Joanna, If this, interpreted, means as is said!

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Not for the world, for which men now travail along Taddeo's way or Ostian's, but through his love of the true manna, he Not for the world which people toil for now In following Ostiense and Taddeo, But through his longing after the true manna,

12.084

became, in a brief time, so great a teacher that he began to oversee the vineyard that withers when neglected by its keeper. He in short time became so great a teacher, That he began to go about the vineyard, Which fadeth soon, if faithless be the dresser;

12.087

And from the seat that once was kinder to the righteous poor (and now has gone astray, not in itself, but in its occupant), And of the See, (that once was more benignant Unto the righteous poor, not through itself, But him who sits there and degenerates,)

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he did not ask to offer two or three for six, nor for a vacant benefice, nor decimas, quae sunt pauperum Dei- Not to dispense or two or three for six, Not any fortune of first vacancy, Non decimas quae sunt pauperum Dei,

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but pleaded for the right to fight against the erring world, to serve the seed from which there grew the four-and-twenty plants that ring you. He asked for, but against the errant world Permission to do battle for the seed, Of which these four and twenty plants surround

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Then he, with both his learning and his zeal, and with his apostolic office, like a torrent hurtled from a mountain source, hen with the doctrine and the will together, With office apostolical he moved, Like torrent which some lofty vein out-presses;

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coursed, and his impetus, with greatest force, struck where the thickets of the heretics offered the most resistance. And from him And in among the shoots heretical His impetus with greater fury smote, Wherever the resistance was the greatest.

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there sprang the streams with which the catholic garden has found abundant watering, so that its saplings have more life, more green. Of him were made thereafter divers runnels, Whereby the garden catholic is watered, So that more living its plantations stand.

12.105

If such was one wheel of the chariot in which the Holy Church, in her defense, taking the field, defeated enemies If such the one wheel of the Biga was, In which the Holy Church itself defended And in the field its civic battle won,

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within, then you must see the excellence of him-the other wheel-whom Thomas praised so graciously before I made my entry. Truly full manifest should be to thee The excellence of the other, unto whom Thomas so courteous was before my coming.

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And yet the track traced by the outer rim of that wheel is abandoned now-as in a cask of wine when crust gives way to mold. But still the orbit, which the highest part Of its circumference made, is derelict, So that the mould is where was once the crust.

12.114

His family, which once advanced with steps that followed his footprints, has now turned back: its forward foot now seeks the foot that lags. His family, that had straight forward moved With feet upon his footprints, are turned round So that they set the point upon the heel.

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And soon we are to see, at harvest time, the poor grain gathered, when the tares will be denied a place within the bin-and weep. And soon aware they will be of the harvest Of this bad husbandry, when shall the tares Complain the granary is taken from them.

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I do admit that, if one were to search our volume leaf by leaf, he might still read one page with, 'I am as I always was'; Yet say I, he who searcheth leaf by leaf Our volume through, would still some page discover Where he could read, ' I am as I am wont.'

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but those of Acquasparta or Casale who read our Rule are either given to escaping it or making it too strict. 'Twill not be from Casal nor Acquasparta, From whence come such unto the written word That one avoids it, and the other narrows.

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I am the living light of Bonaventure of Bagnorea; in high offices I always put the left-hand interests last. Bonaventura of Bagnoregio's life Am I, who always in great offices Postponed considerations sinister.

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Illuminato and Augustine are here; they were among the first unshod poor brothers to wear the cord, becoming friends of God. Here are Illuminato and Agostino, Who of the first barefooted beggars were That with the cord the friends of God became.

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Hugh of St. Victor, too, is here with them; Peter of Spain, who, with his twelve books, glows on earth below; and Peter Book-Devourer, Hugh of Saint Victor is among them here, And Peter Mangiador, and Peter of Spain, Who down below in volumes twelve is shining;

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Nathan the prophet, Anselm, and Chrysostom the Metropolitan, and that Donatus who deigned to deal with that art which comes first. Nathan the seer, and metropolitan Chrysostom, and Anselmus, and Donatus Who deigned to lay his hand to the first art;

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Rabanus, too, is here; and at my side shines the Calabrian Abbot Joachim, who had the gift of the prophetic spirit. Here is Rabanus, and beside me here Shines the Calabrian Abbot Joachim, He with the spirit of prophecy endowed.

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To this-my praise of such a paladin- the glowing courtesy and the discerning language of Thomas urged me on and stirred, To celebrate so great a paladin Have moved me the impassioned courtesy And the discreet discourses of Friar Thomas,

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with me, the souls that form this company." And with me they have moved this company."

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Previous or Next Canto

PARADISO CANTO 12 Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.	*Notes*	*Ann.*
No sooner had the blessed flame begun to speak its final word than the millstone of holy lights began to turn, but it SOON as the blessed flame had taken up The final word to give it utterance, Began the holy millstone to revolve,	12.003
was not yet done with one full revolution before another ring surrounded it, and motion matched with motion, song with song- And in its gyre had not turned wholly round, Before another in a ring enclosed it, And motion joined to motion, song to song;	12.006
a song that, sung by those sweet instruments, surpasses so our Muses and our Sirens as firstlight does the light that is reflected. Song that as greatly doth transcend our Muses, Our Sirens, in those dulcet clarions, As primal splendour that which is reflected.	12.009
Just as, concentric, like in color, two rainbows will curve their way through a thin cloud when Juno has commanded her handmaid, And as are spanned athwart a tender cloud Two rainbows parallel and like in colour, When Juno to her handmaid gives command,	12.012
the outer rainbow echoing the inner, much like the voice of one-the wandering nymph- whom love consumed as sun consumes the mist (The one without born of the one within, Like to the speaking of that vagrant one Whom love consumed as doth the sun the vapours,)	12.015
(and those two bows let people here foretell, by reason of the pact God made with Noah, that flood will never strike the world again): And make the people here, through covenant God set with Noah, presageful of the world That shall no more be covered with a flood,	12.018
so the two garlands of those everlasting roses circled around us, and so did the outer circle mime the inner ring. In such wise of those sempiternal roses The garlands twain encompassed us about, And thus the outer to the inner answered.	12.021
When dance and jubilation, festival of song and flame that answered flame, of light with light, of gladness and benevolence, After the dance, and other grand rejoicings, Both of the singing, and the flaming forth Effulgence with effulgence blithe and tender,	12.024
in one same instant, with one will, fell still (just as the eyes, when moved by their desire, can only close and open in accord), Together, at once, with one accord had stopped, (Even as the eyes, that, as volition moves them, Must needs together shut and lift themselves,)	12.027
then from the heart of one of the new lights there came a voice, and as I turned toward it, I seemed a needle turning to the polestar; Out of the heart of one of the new lights There came a voice, that needle to the star Made me appear in turning thitherward.	12.030
and it began: "The love that makes me fair draws me to speak about the other leader because of whom my own was so praised here. And it began: "The love that makes me fair Draws me to speak about the other leader, By whom so well is spoken here of mine.	12.033
Where one is, it is right to introduce the other: side by side, they fought, so may they share in glory and together gleam. 'Tis right, where one is, to bring in the other, That, as they were united in their warfare, Together likewise may their glory shine.	12.036
Christ's army, whose rearming cost so dearly, was slow, uncertain of itself, and scanty behind its ensign, when the Emperor The soldiery of Christ, which it had cost So dear to arm again, behind the standard Moved slow and doubtful and in numbers few,	12.039
who rules forever helped his ranks in danger- only out of His grace and not their merits. And, as was said, He then sustained His bride, When the Emperor who reigneth evermore Provided for the host that was in peril, Through grace alone and not that it was worthy;	12.042
providing her with two who could revive a straggling people: champions who would by doing and by preaching bring new life. And, as was said, he to his Bride brought succour With champions twain, at whose deed, at whose word The straggling people were together drawn.	12.045
In that part of the West where gentle zephyr rises to open those new leaves in which Europe appears reclothed, not far from where, Within that region where the sweet west wind Rises to open the new leaves, wherewith Europe is seen to clothe herself afresh,	12.048
behind the waves that beat upon the coast, the sun, grown weary from its lengthy course, at times conceals itself from all men's eyes- Not far off from the beating of the waves, Behind which in his long career the sun Sometimes conceals himself from every man,	12.051
there, Calaroga, blessed by fortune, sits under the aegis of the mighty shield on which the lion loses and prevails. Is situate the fortunate Calahorra, Under protection of the mighty shield In which the Lion subject is and sovereign.	12.054
Within its walls was born the loving vassal of Christian faith, the holy athlete, one kind to his own and harsh to enemies; Therein was born the amorous paramour Of Christian Faith, the athlete consecrate, Kind to his own and cruel to his foes;	12.057
no sooner was his mind created than it was so full of living force that it, still in his mother's womb, made her prophetic. And when it was created was his mind Replete with such a living energy, 'That in his mother her it made prophetic.	12.060
Then, at the sacred font, where Faith and he brought mutual salvation as their dowry, the rites of their espousal were complete. As soon as the espousals were complete Between him and the Faith at holy font, Where they with mutual safety dowered each	12.063
The lady who had given the assent for him saw, in a dream, astonishing fruit that would spring from him and from his heirs. The woman, who for him had given assent, Saw in a dream the admirable fruit That issue would from him and from his heirs;	12.066
And that his name might echo what he was, a spirit moved from here to have him called by the possessive of the One by whom And that he might be construed as he was, A spirit from this place went forth to name him With His possessive whose he wholly was.	12.069
he was possessed completely. Dominic became his name; I speak of him as one whom Christ chose as the worker in His garden. Dominic was he called; and him I speak of Even as of the husbandman whom Christ Elected to his garden to assist him.	12.072
He seemed the fitting messenger and servant of Christ: the very first love that he showed was for the first injunction Christ had given. Envoy and servant sooth he seemed of Christ, For the first love made manifest in him Was the first counsel that was given by Christ.	12.075
His nurse would often find him on the ground, alert and silent, in a way that said: 'It is for this that I have come.' Truly, Silent and wakeful many a time was he Discovered by his nurse upon the ground, As if he would have said, ' For this I came.'	12.078
his father was Felice and his mother Giovanna if her name, interpreted, is in accord with what has been asserted. O thou his father, Felix verily! O thou his mother, verily Joanna, If this, interpreted, means as is said!	12.081
Not for the world, for which men now travail along Taddeo's way or Ostian's, but through his love of the true manna, he Not for the world which people toil for now In following Ostiense and Taddeo, But through his longing after the true manna,	12.084
became, in a brief time, so great a teacher that he began to oversee the vineyard that withers when neglected by its keeper. He in short time became so great a teacher, That he began to go about the vineyard, Which fadeth soon, if faithless be the dresser;	12.087
And from the seat that once was kinder to the righteous poor (and now has gone astray, not in itself, but in its occupant), And of the See, (that once was more benignant Unto the righteous poor, not through itself, But him who sits there and degenerates,)	12.090
he did not ask to offer two or three for six, nor for a vacant benefice, nor decimas, quae sunt pauperum Dei- Not to dispense or two or three for six, Not any fortune of first vacancy, Non decimas quae sunt pauperum Dei,	12.093
but pleaded for the right to fight against the erring world, to serve the seed from which there grew the four-and-twenty plants that ring you. He asked for, but against the errant world Permission to do battle for the seed, Of which these four and twenty plants surround	12.096
Then he, with both his learning and his zeal, and with his apostolic office, like a torrent hurtled from a mountain source, hen with the doctrine and the will together, With office apostolical he moved, Like torrent which some lofty vein out-presses;	12.099
coursed, and his impetus, with greatest force, struck where the thickets of the heretics offered the most resistance. And from him And in among the shoots heretical His impetus with greater fury smote, Wherever the resistance was the greatest.	12.102
there sprang the streams with which the catholic garden has found abundant watering, so that its saplings have more life, more green. Of him were made thereafter divers runnels, Whereby the garden catholic is watered, So that more living its plantations stand.	12.105
If such was one wheel of the chariot in which the Holy Church, in her defense, taking the field, defeated enemies If such the one wheel of the Biga was, In which the Holy Church itself defended And in the field its civic battle won,	12.108
within, then you must see the excellence of him-the other wheel-whom Thomas praised so graciously before I made my entry. Truly full manifest should be to thee The excellence of the other, unto whom Thomas so courteous was before my coming.	12.111
And yet the track traced by the outer rim of that wheel is abandoned now-as in a cask of wine when crust gives way to mold. But still the orbit, which the highest part Of its circumference made, is derelict, So that the mould is where was once the crust.	12.114
His family, which once advanced with steps that followed his footprints, has now turned back: its forward foot now seeks the foot that lags. His family, that had straight forward moved With feet upon his footprints, are turned round So that they set the point upon the heel.	12.117
And soon we are to see, at harvest time, the poor grain gathered, when the tares will be denied a place within the bin-and weep. And soon aware they will be of the harvest Of this bad husbandry, when shall the tares Complain the granary is taken from them.	12.120
I do admit that, if one were to search our volume leaf by leaf, he might still read one page with, 'I am as I always was'; Yet say I, he who searcheth leaf by leaf Our volume through, would still some page discover Where he could read, ' I am as I am wont.'	12.123
but those of Acquasparta or Casale who read our Rule are either given to escaping it or making it too strict. 'Twill not be from Casal nor Acquasparta, From whence come such unto the written word That one avoids it, and the other narrows.	12.126
I am the living light of Bonaventure of Bagnorea; in high offices I always put the left-hand interests last. Bonaventura of Bagnoregio's life Am I, who always in great offices Postponed considerations sinister.	12.129
Illuminato and Augustine are here; they were among the first unshod poor brothers to wear the cord, becoming friends of God. Here are Illuminato and Agostino, Who of the first barefooted beggars were That with the cord the friends of God became.	12.132
Hugh of St. Victor, too, is here with them; Peter of Spain, who, with his twelve books, glows on earth below; and Peter Book-Devourer, Hugh of Saint Victor is among them here, And Peter Mangiador, and Peter of Spain, Who down below in volumes twelve is shining;	12.135
Nathan the prophet, Anselm, and Chrysostom the Metropolitan, and that Donatus who deigned to deal with that art which comes first. Nathan the seer, and metropolitan Chrysostom, and Anselmus, and Donatus Who deigned to lay his hand to the first art;	12.138
Rabanus, too, is here; and at my side shines the Calabrian Abbot Joachim, who had the gift of the prophetic spirit. Here is Rabanus, and beside me here Shines the Calabrian Abbot Joachim, He with the spirit of prophecy endowed.	12.141
To this-my praise of such a paladin- the glowing courtesy and the discerning language of Thomas urged me on and stirred, To celebrate so great a paladin Have moved me the impassioned courtesy And the discreet discourses of Friar Thomas,	12.144
with me, the souls that form this company." And with me they have moved this company."	12.145