And then malicious words incited him To summon to a reckoning this just man, Who rendered to him seven and five for ten. Then he departed poor and stricken in years, And if the world could know the heart he had, In begging bit by bit his livelihood, Though much it laud him, it would laud him more.” Paradiso: Canto VII “Osanna sanctus Deus Sabaoth, Superillustrans claritate tua Felices ignes horum malahoth!” In this wise, to his melody returning, This substance, upon which a double light Doubles itself, was seen by me to sing, And to their dance this and the others moved, And in the manner of swift-hurrying sparks Veiled themselves from me with a sudden distance. Doubting was I, and saying, “Tell her, tell her,” Within me, “tell her,” saying, “tell my Lady,” Who slakes my thirst with her sweet effluences; And yet that reverence which doth lord it over The whole of me only by B and ICE, Bowed me again like unto one who drowses. Short while did Beatrice endure me thus; And she began, lighting me with a smile Such as would make one happy in the fire: “According to infallible advisement, After what manner a just vengeance justly Could be avenged has put thee upon thinking, But I will speedily thy mind unloose; And do thou listen, for these words of mine Of a great doctrine will a present make thee. By not enduring on the power that wills Curb for his good, that man who ne’er was born, Damning himself damned all his progeny; Whereby the human species down below Lay sick for many centuries in great error, Till to descend it pleased the Word of God To where the nature, which from its own Maker Estranged itself, he joined to him in person By the sole act of his eternal love. Now unto what is said direct thy sight; This nature when united to its Maker, Such as created, was sincere and good; But by itself alone was banished forth From Paradise, because it turned aside Out of the way of truth and of its life. Therefore the penalty the cross held out, If measured by the nature thus assumed, None ever yet with so great justice stung, And none was ever of so great injustice, Considering who the Person was that suffered, Within whom such a nature was contracted. From one act therefore issued things diverse; To God and to the Jews one death was pleasing; Earth trembled at it and the Heaven was opened. It should no longer now seem difficult To thee, when it is said that a just vengeance By a just court was afterward avenged. But now do I behold thy mind entangled From thought to thought within a knot, from which With great desire it waits to free itself. Thou sayest, ‘Well discern I what I hear; But it is hidden from me why God willed For our redemption only this one mode.’