"Proofs physical, and metaphysical

Not only have I; but through Moses, and

The Prophets, and the Gospel, and through all

133

The Psalms, and through your works, to which was given

A holy influence,-I understand

The truth which floweth down to earth from heaven.

And in Three Persons is my faith confest

An Essence so conjoin'd, and yet so trine,
They equally admit of sunt and est.

And what the evangelic Books reveal

Of this profound and blissful state divine,

Hath on my heart impress'd its truthful seal.

139

This is the source,-this is the spark, which spreads 145
To vivid flame; and, like a star in heaven,
With splendour dight, o'er me effulgence sheds."

E'en as a master, from a servant hearing

Tidings that please-as soon as they are given,

His arms around him casts;-such kindly bearing

Was by the Apostolic Light express'd;

Who, soon as my confessions he had heard,

Thrice, chanting loud, encircled me, and bless'd;

Such was the pleasure that my speech conferr❜d.

151

NOTES.

Page 225. (Line 1.) Beatrice speaks, addressing the elect, and interceding for Dante. The banquet is that mentioned in the Revelations, xix. 9. "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb."

Page 226. (Line 17.) Thus, canto iv. 35, the Spirits were said to "taste the sweet existence diversely;" and, viii. 20, to "circle with more or less celerity," in proportion to the grace they had severally received. (28.) St. Peter answers Beatrice, his sister in glory.

Page 227. (Line 46.) "The bachelor, or disputant in the schools, arms or prepares himself to discuss the question proposed by the master, whose office it is to close it."-Vellutello. The master pledges himself that the thing is true, and that he will prove it, if the bachelor fails,

Page 228. (Line 62.) St. Paul is here spoken of as the brother of St. Peter; and his words adopted-" Now faith is the substance," &c. Heb. xi. 1.

Page 229. (Line 85.) i.e. “Have you this faith in your heart."-Venturi. (96.) “There are such powerful evidences of the truth of the doctrines of Christ by the effectual workings of the spirit of God upon their souls, that all other arguments as to their own satisfaction may fall short of these. As to which, those verses of the poet Dante are very pertinent and significant," &c.-Stillingfleet. Orig. Sac. b. ii. c. 9. (100.) i.e. Miracles-in which Nature has no part. (106.) "We cannot conceive how the world should be at first induced to believe without manifest and uncontrolled miracles: for as St.

Chrysostom speaks, εί σημειών χωρὶς ἔπεισαν, πολλῷ μεῖζον το Davμa paiveтai. It were the greatest miracle of all, if the world should believe without miracles;' which the poet Dante hath well expressed in the twenty-fourth canto of Paradise." Stillingfleet. Orig. Sac. b. ii. c. x. sect. 5.

Page 230. (Line 115.) "Il gran Barone," i.e. St. Peter.The same title is applied to St. James in the next canto. (126.)

St. John arrived first at the sepulchre, but St. Peter was the first to look in, which Dante considers a proof of greater faith. "Dicit enim Johannes ipsum," i.e. Petrum, " introivisse subito, cum venit in monumentum, videns alium discipulum cunctantem ad ostium."-Dante. De Monarchia. b. iii.

Page 231. (Line 141.) i.e. Of singular and plural. (153.) This heavenly benediction of the Poet by St. Peter, immediately precedes his designation of his work as a “Sacred Poem," at the opening of the ensuing canto; and at the twelfth line this act of St. Peter is again mentioned as being an acknowledgment of his faith.

CANTO XXV.

ARGUMENT.

DANTE expresses a hope that his poem may be the means of restoring him with honour to his country. St. James examines him concerning Hope. St. John appears.

SHOULD it befal that e'er the Sacred lay,

To which have lent their aid both Heaven and Earth,→ While year by year my body pined away—

O'ercome the cruelty that is my bar

From the fair fold where I, a Lamb, had birth,

Foe to the ravening Wolves its peace who mar;

7

With other voice, with other fleece shall I
Poet return; and at that shrine be crown'd
Which my baptismal fountain did supply:

For there I enter'd on the faith, whose vow
Proclaims the souls to God's high service bound;
Hence Peter waved his hands around my
brow.

1

Then tow'rds us moved a light from out that race,
Whence came the first-fruits of those Vicars true,
Left upon earth by Christ to fill His place.
To me, my Lady, fraught with joy intense;
"Behold, behold the sainted Baron, who
Draws to Galicia's land such crowd immense."
As when unto his partner's side, the Dove

Approaches near,—both fondly circling round,
And cooing, show the fervour of their love;
So these great heirs of immortality

Receive each other; while they joyful sound
The praises of the food they share on high.
But when their gratulations ended were,

13

19

25

Each silent stood before me, and so glow'd,— Mine eyes the fiery lustre could not bear. Then Beatrice thus spake with smiling brow; "O glorious soul, by whom the riches stow'd In this our palace are described, do thou Make Hope resound throughout this heavenly height: 31 Thou know'st, who didst personify it, oft

As Jesus o'er the Three shed stronger light." "Lift up thy head; and be thy heart assured; For all that come from earth to us aloft

Must by our fervent radiance be matured."