"O company elect to the great supper [1] Of the Lamb glorified, who feedeth you So that forever full is your desire, If by the grace of God this man foretastes Of whatsoever falleth from your table, Or ever death prescribes to him the time, Direct your mind to his immense desire, [7] And him somewhat bedew; ye drinking are Forever from the fount whence comes his thought." [9] Thus Beatrice; and those enraptured spirits Made themselves spheres around their steadfast poles, Flaming intensely in the guise of comets. And as the wheels in works of horologes Revolve so that the first to the beholder Motionless seems, and the last one to fly, So in like manner did those carols, dancing [16] In different measure, by their affluence Make me esteem them either swift or slow. From that one which I noted of most beauty Beheld I issue forth a fire so happy That none it left there of a greater splendor; And around Beatrice three several times [22] It whirled itself with so divine a song, My fantasy repeats it not to me; Therefore the pen skips, and I write it not, Since our imagination for such folds, Much more our speech, is of a tint too glaring. [27] "O holy sister mine, who us implorest [28] With such devotion, by thine ardent love Thou dost unbind me from that beautiful sphere!" Thus, having stopped, the beatific fire Unto my Lady did direct its breath, Which spake in fashion as I here have said. And she: "O light eterne of the great man To whom our Lord delivered up the keys He carried down of this miraculous joy, This one examine on points light and grave, As good beseemeth thee, about the Faith By means of which thou on the sea didst walk. If he loves well, and hopes well, and believes, Is hid not from thee; for thou hast thy sight Where everything beholds itself depicted. [42] But since this kingdom has made citizens By means of the true Faith, to glorify it 'Tis well he have the chance to speak thereof." As baccalaureate arms himself, and speaks not Until the master doth propose the question, To argue it, and not to terminate it, So did I arm myself with every reason, While she was speaking, that I might be ready For such a questioner and such profession. "Speak on, good Christian; manifest thyself; [52] Say, what is Faith?" Whereat I raised my brow Unto that light from which this was breathed forth. Then turned I round to Beatrice, and she Prompt signals made to me that I should pour The water forth from my internal fountain.