All these

great universal organs, as you now know,
proceed from grade to grade. Each in its order
takes power from above and does its work below.

Now then, note carefully how I move on
through this pass to the truth you seek, for thus
you shall learn how to hold the ford alone.

The motion and the power of the sacred gyres—
as the hammer’s art is from the smith—must flow
from the Blessed Movers. It is their power inspires.

And thus that Heaven made loveliest in its wheel
by many lamps, from the deep mind that turns it
takes the image and makes itself the seal.

And as the soul within your mortal clay
is spread through different organs, each of which
is shaped to its own end; in the same way

the high angelic Intelligence spreads its goodness
diversified through all the many stars
while yet revolving ever in its Oneness.

This varying power is variously infused
throughout the precious body that it. quickens,
in which, like life in you, it is diffused.

Because of the glad nature from which it flows,
this many-faceted power shines through that body
as through the living eye the glad soul glows.

From this source only, not from rare and dense,
comes that by which one light and another differs—
the formal principle whose excellence,

conforming to its own purposes, makes appear
those markings you observe as dark and clear.

Notes

3. of my great ship: See Purgatorio, I, 1-2. There Dante refers to “the little bark of my indwelling powers.” For the present voyage nothing less than a great (God-inspired) ship will do.

7-9. No poet has ever undertaken any such subject as Dante now sings. Poetically, therefore, he is embarking on waters no man has ever sailed. Apollo will guide his helm by the rules of poetry, but it is Minerva, goddess of wisdom, who must fill his sails, and the Muses who must be his navigators. nine new Muses: Dante says, simply, “nove Muse”. But “nove” may mean either “nine” or “new.” the Pole: Dante says “the Bears” (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. The North Star is in Ursa Minor but its position in the sky is usually located by first identifying Ursa Major, the stars of Ursa Minor being dim.)

11. the bread of angels: The knowledge of God. It is by that, Dante says, that we are able to live, but no mortal man can grasp enough of it to become satisfied, the Divine Mystery being veiled from man.

13-15. The few who have sought the knowledge of God are described as having keels. Hence they sail in something more seaworthy than the little skiffs of the others. Those few may dare the voyage, but note how closely they must follow Dante—they must stay in the very furrow of his wake, ahead of the waters that flow back to close it. Clearly, Dante means that he must be followed with the most scrupulous attention if the truth of his poem is to be grasped.

16-17. Those heroes: The Argonauts. Jason led them to Colchis to get the Golden Fleece. The Colchian King offered to give Jason the fleece if he would subdue two fire-breathing brasshooved bulls, yoke them, plow the field of Ares with them, sow the field with dragon’s teeth, and then defeat the army of warriors that would spring up from the teeth.

19. connate: Dante says “concreata.” The thirst for God is born in the instant the soul is formed.

20-21. almost as swiftly as the eye: Dante and Beatrice soar upward at almost the speed of light.

23-24. The bolt of a crossbow would leave the bowstring so rapidly that human sense could not measure the rate of change. Hence, the figure means “instantly.” But Dante has deliberately reversed the motion, a daring hysteron-proteron. Prof. John Freccero cites it, in the best interpretation known to me, as an example of Dante’s “retrospective technique.” Bear in mind that Dante is looking backward at the world and sees earthly actions in reverse. See XXII, 109, for another such usage.

27. drew my entire attention: As noted in line 22, Dante’s attention had been fixed on Beatrice.

29. to the first star: The “first star” is the Moon.