breaks into an exclamation on the degeneracy of human nature, which does not lift itself to the contemplation of heavenly things.”—Cary. “Exclamat contra omnes qui propter cupiditatem temporalium perdunt eterna."-Il P. C. (125.) i.e. The continual assault of earthly cares and pleasures.

Page 258. (Line 138.) The day is called the "daughter of the Sun." "Beautiful as is her dawn, her face is often soon clouded over ;-so, many who promise well in the morning of life, lose their innocence amid the temptations of the world." -Abp. Leighton. The evils he complains of are owing, he says, to the misconduct of the Pope, who neglects his duty as "Governor." (142.) i.e. In a short space of time. The allusion is to the error in the Julian reckoning of the year, which in the course of 100 years amounting to a whole day, at last caused a necessity of correcting the calendar, as effected by Gregory XIII. (125.) See note, line 63. The reform contemplated is described by various metaphors. The vessel of the state will advance before a prosperous gale; and the "buds of promise," mentioned line 124, shall no more be blighted, but ripen into fruit.

CANTO XXVIII.

ARGUMENT.

DANTE in the ninth heaven is vouchsafed a sight of the Deity, described as a dazzling point, surrounded by the nine orders of Angels, who correspond to the nine heavens, over which they respectively preside.

WHEN she who doth my soul imparadise

The sad condition had to me made clear

Of mortals, sunk in ignorance and vice; As in a mirror doth a torch's light,

Suddenly flaming from behind, appear

To one who had it not in thought or sight;

Whereat he turns him round, that he

may

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know

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If it speak truth; and such accord descries
As music hath with metre:-even so

Was, I (for memory bears it still in mind)

Looking a second time on those fair eyes,

Whence Love his cords obtain'd my soul to bind.

And as, on turning round, mine eye was struck
By that which in this volume doth appear
To all who on its heavenly motion look,
I saw a Point, whence came so sharp a light,
That none its penetrating aim may bear;
But whoso strives, perforce must close his sight.
The smallest star that from the earth we see,

Comparing one with other, to our ken,

Set by its side, a moon would seem to be; Distant-as far perhaps as from the light

That paints it, is perceived a halo, when

The mist that bears it thickest is to sight:

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Around this point, a circling fire was hurl'd

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So rapidly, that not in speed could vie

The swiftest motion which enwraps the world:

And by another this was compass'd round;

This by a third, that by a fourth, and by

A fifth the fourth ;—that by a sixth was bound.

A seventh follow'd, arching high a space

Of such extent, not Juno's messenger,

When most complete, could such a span embrace. An eighth and ninth succeeded; and each zone Roll'd with a slower motion, as they were Number'd in distance from the central One.

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Of all these flames, the most sincere and sheen
Nearest the One pure Spark its lustre shed,
Because most nourish'd by its rays, I ween.
My tender escort, who immediate kenn'd

The deep suspense that rack'd my bosom, said: "Heaven and all Nature on that Point depend. Behold the circle nearest it, and know

It whirls so swift by reason of the love That ever keeps it in a fervent glow." "If the same order in the world obtain'd,

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As that by which these wheels," I answer'd, “move, Then should I rest in what has been explain'd;

But in the world of sense 'tis different far;

And more divine the things that there obtain,

The more remote they from the centre are. Wherefore, if my desire may now repose,

In this most wondrous and angelic fane,

Which light and love alone for boundaries knows, 'Tis meet that I should learn the reason why

The copy and the model disagree; Since of myself I labour fruitlessly." "If to unravel such a knot," she said,

"Thy fingers have not the ability,

No wonder ;-through neglect 'tis harder made."

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My Lady spake, and added: "Would'st thou then 61 Allay thy thirst,-hear what I shall express;

And sharpen thus thine intellectual ken.The heavenly circles vary in their size,

According to the virtue, more or less,

Given to their several parts by the All-wise.

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Greater the goodness, greater is the good;

And greater good requires, if equally
The parts be fill'd, a greater magnitude.
Therefore the heaven which with it whirls around
The universe, must with that sphere agree

Where Wisdom, and where Love the most abound.

If, therefore, to the virtue is applied

Your measurement, and not to what you see, (The substances that circling are descried,)

A marvellous accordance will you find
(The extent conform'd to the ability)

In every heaven to its presiding Mind.
As, when the blast of Boreas hath pass'd by,
The atmosphere remains serene and bright,
Gladden'd through all the regions of the sky-
For the dense vapours that were rife ere while
Are now dispersed; and heaven in beauty dight
On
every side is beaming forth a smile."-

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