A Translation of Dante's Paradiso Author:Dante Alighieri Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3CANTO IV. Dante is still affected by doubts respecting the Place and Essence of the Blest— and also concerning Will mixed and absolute. He seeks to know if any compensation can be made ... more »for broken vows in the performance of other good works. Between two meats distant alike and each Alike seductive, with the power to choose, One might of hunger die before he ate. Just so between two fierce and hungry wolves A lamb would stand, in deadly dread of both ; 5 And thus between two dogs would stand a deer. Therefore if I were silent, by my doubts With equal force impelled, I take no blame, And, as it was necessity, no praise. Silent I was, but painted on my face 10 Was my desire, and with it my request, More pressingly than if by words conveyed. And now did Beatrice that which Daniel did, Nebuchadnezzar calming from his rage, Rage which had made him ruthlessly unjust. 15 She said—" I clearly see how thnists thee on " Thy double wish, so that thy restless will " Is so self-fettered, outward utterance fails. " Thou reasonest thus :—If Will remain resolved, " Why should the violence of another's crime 20 " Make less the measure which my merit claims textit{1 " This further proves to thee a cause of doubt, " That spirits to the stars seem to return, " As Plato in his argument affirms. " These are the questions which upon thy mind 25 " Weigh with an equal weight, and therefore first " That will I touch on which hath most of gall. " He, of the seraphim most one with God, " Moses and Samuel, and the either John, " No matter which, nay blessed Mary's self, 30 " Have not their resting place in other heaven " Than that in which those thou now see'st are, " Nor rest in bliss, some more, some fewer years ; " But all make fair the Empyrean sphere, " And their beatitude i...« less