Classic Poem

CANTO VI.

Argument.

The Emperor Justinian recounts to Dante the Victories of the Roman Eagles.

" When Constantine had turn'd the eagle's flight
Against the course of heaven, which erst it bore
With him who won Lavinia by his might,
A hundred and a hundred years and more,
On Europe's verge the bird of God was stay'd
Near to the mountains whence it came, of yore.
It ruled, beneath the sacred pinions' shade,
The world from hand to hand, until thereby,
While changing ever, in my grasp 'twas laid.
Caesar I was; Justinian still am I,
Who by the Holy Spirit erst was bent
To purge the laws' vain superfluity.
And, ere upon this work I was intent,
In Christ of but one nature did I ween,
And wholly in this faith was I content:
But the blest Agapetus, who was then
Chief pastor, did to the right faith sincere
With pious words lead back my soul again.
Him I believed; and now to me is clear
The thing he spake: as thou dost well perceive,
In contradictions, false and true appear.
Soon as with Holy Church I did believe,
God's grace was pleased to breathe into my mind
The lofty work; and I all else did leave,
And to my Belisarius assign'd
My armies: he by the right hand of Heaven
Was aided so that rest I well might find
And now to thy first question have I given
Reply; but somewhat further still to show,
I by its very nature here am driven:
That thou the reasoning may'st clearly know
Of those who injure the most sacred sign,
Both those who hold it, and who 'gainst it go.
Behold what virtues in it do combine,
To win it reverence; since Pallas died
That through long ages might endure its reign.
Thou know'st that it in Alba did abide,
Three hundred years and more; until the day
When three with three the battle for it tried.
Thou know'st its prowess, from the Sabine fray
Until Lucretia's grief, beneath seven kings,
Subduing still the neighb'ring tribes alway.
Thou know'st the rushing of those mighty wings,
When erst the noble Romans did it bear
'Gainst Brennus, Pyrrhus, and their bands: this brings
To Quintius, named from his neglected hair,
To Decii, and to Fabii, and to him,
Torquatus hight, the fame which I declare
With joy. This did the Arab glories dim
Of those who pass'd with Hannibal the rude
Wild rocks from whence the Po derives its stream.
'Neath this, in youth triumphant, Scipio stood,
And Pompey: to a mount anear thy home,
It seem'd with bitter cruelty imbued.
And, when the time ordain'd of Heaven had come,
That in its mode serene all earth were still'd,
Then Caesar took it, by the will of Rome.
The deeds which it from Var to Rhine fulfill'd
Isere hath look'd on, and the Saone, and Seine,
And every valley whence the Rhone is fill'd.
When from Ravenna it came forth amain,
And leap'd the Rubicon, such flight it bore,
No skill to follow it hath tongue nor pen.
Its bands then turn'd towards Hispania's shore,
Then tow'rds Durazzo; and Pharsalia smote,
That e'en the Nile's warm flood felt anguish sore.
It saw again Antandros, whence 'twas brought:
And Simois, and there where Hector lies:
With ill it there for Ptolemy was fraught.
Thence, like a thunder-bolt to Juba flies;
Then to your western land did it return
And heard the call from Pompey's trump arise.
It caused, by the next standard-bearer borne,
Brutus and Cassius aye to howl in hell,
While Modena did with Perugia mourn.
For it, sad Cleopatra grieveth well;
Whom, flying his victorious path before,
By the foul asp a dark, swift death befel.
With him it pass'd unto the Red Sea-shore;
With him o'er all the world such peace it shed,
That wholly closed was Janus' mystic door.
But all the deeds which first to speak me led,
And all the after fame it did ensure,
Throughout the earthly realm it governid,
Became in semblance paltry and obscure,
If the third Caesar's power ye do admire,
With insight clear and with affection pure.
The living Justice who doth me inspire
Granted unto his hand the glory high
Of executing vengeance for his ire.
Now marvel here at that which I reply;
With Titus afterwards it vengeance sought
Upon the vengeance of the ancient lie.
And when the Lombard tooth much hurt had wrought
On Holy Church, beneath its wings once more
Did Charlemagne bring aid with vict'ry fraught.
Now may'st thou judge the men whom I before
Accused, and plainly see the guilt of those
Who are the cause of all your evil sore.
One to the public banner doth oppose
The golden lilies; one, in guileful part,
The other takes: and which is worst, none knows.
E'en let the Ghibellines their wicked art
Pursue 'neath other sign; for ill they hold
To this, who it and justice would dispart:
Nor 'gainst it be the younger Charles so bold,
With all his Guelphs; but let him fear the claws
Which tore a fiercer lion's flesh, of old.
Full oft the children sorely weep, because
The sire hath sinnid; thus he may not deem
That God will for his lilies change the laws
Which guide his armies. In this starry beam,
Are those good Spirits who did erst aspire
To fame and honour: but wherein this dream
Hath from the true path turnid their desire,
The rays of heavenly love less brightly rise,
And soar above with less of living fire.
But, sooth, a part of this our gladness lies
In measuring our lot with our desert,
Which seems nor less nor more unto our eyes.
For God's high justice sheds into our heart
Such full and soften'd sweetness, that to aught
Of discontent our will can ne'er revert.
And divers voices make the sweetest note;
Thus divers grades in this our light divine
Among these spheres with harmony are fraught.
Within this present pearl the light doth shine
Of Romeo, whose great and glorious meed
Was paid him with ingratitude malign
But ill the envious Provençals speed,
Who 'gainst him work'd; an evil walk, I ween,
Is his who mourns another's righteous deed.
Four daughters, and each one a crownid queen,
Had Raymond Berenger; this was the gain
Of Romeo, a pilgrim poor and mean.
But, moved thereto by words of evil strain,
He call'd this just man to account, who laid
Before him ever seven and five for ten.
Thus, poor and old, from thence he journeyid;
And if the world could know the heart he bore,
The while from day to day he begg'd his bread,
Much as they praise him now, they then had praised him more. "