The Divine Comedy, Volume 3, Paradise — Dante Alighieri — John Shaqi
The Divine Comedy, Volume 3, Paradise
Dante Alighieri · en
Of its bestiality, its own procedure will give the proof; so that it
will be seemly for thee to have made thyself a party by thyself.
[1] Not with riddles such as the oracles gave out before they fell
silent at the coming of Christ.
[2] Boniface VIII.
[3] The other Florentine exiles of the party of the Whites.
“Thy first refuge and first inn shall be the courtesy of the great
Lombard,[1] who upon the ladder bears the holy bird, who will turn such
benign regard on thee that, in doing and in asking, between you two,
that will be first, which between others is the slowest. With him shalt
thou see one,[2] who was so impressed, at his birth, by this strong
star, that his deeds will be notable. Not yet are the people aware of
him, because of his young age; for only nine years have these wheels
revolved around him. But ere the Gascon cheat the lofty Henry[3] some
sparkles of his virtue shall appear, in caring not for silver nor for
toils. His magnificences shall hereafter be so known, that his enemies
shall not be able to keep their tongues mute about them. Await thou for
him, and for his benefits; by him shall many people be transformed,
rich and mendicant changing condition. And thou shalt bear hence
written of him in thy mind, but thou shalt not tell it;” and he said
things incredible to those who shall be present. Then he added, “Son,
these are the glosses on what was said to thee; behold the ambushes
which are bidden behind few revolutions. Yet would I not that thou bate
thy neighbors, because thy life hath a future far beyond the punishment
of their perfidies.”
[[1] Bartolommeo della Scala, lord of Verona, whose armorial bearings
were the imperial eagle upon a ladder (scala).
[2] Can Grande della Scala, the youngest brother of Bartolommeo, and
finally his successor as lord of Verona.
[3] Before Pope Clement V., under whom the Papal seat was established
at Avignon, shall deceive the Emperor, Henry VIL, by professions of
support, while secretly promoting opposition to his expedition to Italy
in 1310.