"A CANTO VI. FTER that Constantine the eagle turned Against the course of heaven, which it had Behind the ancient who Lavinia took, [followed Two hundred years and more the bird of God In the extreme of Europe held itself, Near to the mountains whence it issued first; And under shadow of the sacred plumes It governed there the world from hand to hand, And, changing thus, upon mine own alighted. Cæsar I was, and am Justinian, Who, by the will of primal Love I feel, Took from the laws the useless and redundant; And ere unto the work I was attent, One nature to exist in Christ, not more, 5 Believed, and with such faith was I contented. 15 But blessed Agapetus, he who was The supreme pastor, to the faith sincere Pointed me out the way by words of his. As soon as with the Church I moved my feet, 20 And to my Belisarius I commended 25 Ljoined The arms, to which was heaven's right hand so It was a signal that I should repose. Now here to the first question terminates 30 My answer; but the character thereof Constrains me to continue with a sequel, In order that thou see with how great reason Men move against the standard sacrosanct, Both who appropriate and who oppose it. Behold how great a power has made it worthy Of reverence, beginning from the hour When Pallas died to give it sovereignty. Thou knowest it made in Alba its abode Three hundred years and upward, till at last The three to three fought for it yet again. Thou knowest what it achieved from Sabine wrong 40 Down to Lucretia's sorrow, in seven kings 35 45 O'ercoming round about the neighboring nations ; Thou knowest what it achieved, borne by the Romans Illustrious against Brennus, against Pyrrhus, Against the other princes and confederates. Torquatus thence and Quinctius, who from locks Unkempt was named, Decii and Fabii, Received the fame I willingly embalm ; It struck to earth the pride of the Arabians, Who, following Hannibal, had passed across The Alpine ridges, Po, from which thou glidest; Beneath it triumphed while they yet were young Pompey and Scipio, and to the hill Beneath which thou wast born it bitter seemed; 50 60 65 Then, near unto the time when heaven had willed 55 Because thereof, who, fleeing from before it, 70 75 With him it ran even to the Red Sea shore ; But what the standard that has made me speak Becometh in appearance mean and dim, 85 90 Later it ran with Titus to do vengeance Beneath some other standard; for this ever 100 105 ΙΙΟ The father's crime; and let him not believe That God will change His scutcheon for the lilies. This little planet doth adorn itself With the good spirits that have active been, That fame and honor might come after them; And whensoever the desires mount thither, With our desert is portion of our joy, Because we see them neither less nor greater. Herein doth living Justice sweeten so Affection in us, that forevermore It cannot warp to any iniquity. So in this life of ours the seats diverse 115 120 125 130 Shineth the sheen of Romeo, of whom The grand and beauteous work was ill rewarded. But the Provençals who against him wrought, They have not laughed, and therefore ill goes he Who makes his hurt of the good deeds of others. Four daughters, and each one of them a queen, Had Raymond Berenger, and this for him Did Romeo, a poor man and a pilgrim ; And then malicious words incited him To summon to a reckoning this just man, Who rendered to him seven and five for ten. 'i hen he departed poor and stricken in years, 135 140 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." |