# Paradise Canto 32

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-20 — 1 clipping.*

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> Christianity Index  Divine Comedy Index  Previous: Paradise Canto 31  Next: Paradise Canto 33  
> 
> Canto XXXII
> 
> Argument
> 
>      St. Bernard shows him, on their several thrones, the other blessed souls,
> of both the Old and New Testament; explains to him that their places are
> assigned them by grace, and not according to merit; and, lastly, tells him
> that if he would obtain power to descry what remained of the heavenly vision,
> he must unite with him in supplication to Mary.
> 
> Freely the sage, though wrapt in musings high,
> Assumed the teacher's part, and mild began:
> "The wound, that Mary closed, she[1] open'd first,
> Who sits so beautiful at Mary's feet.
> The third in order, underneath her, lo!
> Rachel with Beatrice: Sarah next;
> Judith; Rebecca; and the gleaner - maid,
> Meek ancestress[2] of him, who sang the songs
> Of sore repentance in his sorrowful mood.
> All, as I name them, down from leaf to leaf,
> Are, in gradation, throned on the rose.
> And from the seventh step, successively,
> Adown the breathing tresses of the flower,
> Still doth the file of Hebrew dames proceed.
> For these are a partition wall, whereby
> The sacred stairs are sever'd, as the faith
> In Christ divides them. On this part, where blooms
> Each leaf in full maturity, are set
> Such as in Christ, or e'er He came, believed.
> On the other, where an intersected space
> 
> [1: Eve.]
> 
> [2: Ruth, the ancestress of David.]
> 
> Yet shows the semicircle void, abide
> All they, who look'd to Christ already come
> And as our Lady on her glorious stool,
> And they who on their stools beneath her sit,
> This way distinction make; e'en so on his,
> The mighty Baptist that way marks the line
> (He who endured the desert, and the pains
> Of martyrdom, and, for two years,[3] of Hell,
> Yet still continued holy), and beneath,
> Augustin;[4] Francis;[5] Benedict;[6] and the rest,
> Thus far from round to round. So Heaven's decree
> Forecasts, this garden equally to fill,
> With faith in either view, past or to come.
> Learn too, that downward from the step, which cleaves,
> Midway, the twain compartments, none there are
> Who place obtain for merit of their own,
> But have through others' merit been advanced,
> On set conditions; spirits all released,
> Ere for themselves they had the power to chuse.
> And, if thou mark and listen to them well,
> Their childish looks and voice declare as much.
> 
> [3: The time that elapsed between the death of the Baptist and his
> redemption by the death of Christ.]
> 
> [4: Bishop of Hippo, fourth century. See also Canto x. 117.]
> 
> [5: "Francis." See Canto xi.]
> 
> [6: "Benedict." See Canto xxii.]
> 
> "Here, silent as thou art, I know thy doubt;
> And gladly will I loose the knot, wherein
> Thy subtile thoughts have bound thee. From this realm
> Excluded, chance no entrance here may find;
> No more than hunger, thirst, or sorrow can.
> A law immutable hath stablish'd all;
> Nor is there aught thou seest, that doth not fit,
> Exactly, as the finger to the ring.
> It is not, therefore, without cause, that these
> O'erspeedy comers to immortal life,
> Are different in their shares of excellence.
> Our Sovran Lord, that settleth this estate
> In love and in delight so absolute,
> That wish can dare no further, every soul,
> Created in His joyous sight to dwell,
> With grace, at pleasure, variouslyeendows.
> 
> And for a proof the effect may well suffice.
> And 'tis moreover most expressly mark'd
> In holy Scripture, where the twins are said
> To have struggled in the womb. Therefore, as grace
> Inweaves the coronet, so every brow
> Weareth its proper hue of orient light.
> And merely in respect to his prime gift,
> Not in reward of meritorious deed,
> Hath each his several degree assign'd.
> In early times with their own innocence
> More was not wanting than the parents' faith,
> To save them: those first ages past, behoved
> That circumcision in the males should imp
> The flight of innocent wings: but since the day
> Of grace hath come, without baptismal rites
> In Christ accomplish'd, innocence herself
> Must linger yet below. Now raise thy view
> Unto the visage most resembling Christ:
> For, in her splendour only, shalt thou win
> The power to look on Him." Forthwith I saw
> Such floods of gladness on her visage shower'd,
> From holy spirits, winging that profound;
> That, whatsoever I had yet beheld,
> Had not so much suspended me with wonder,
> Or shown me such similitude of God.
> And he, who had to her descended, once,
> On earth, now hail'd in Heaven; and on poised wing,
> "Ave, Maria, Gratia Plena," sang:
> To whose sweet anthem all the blissful court,
> From all parts answering, rang: that holier joy
> Brooded the deep serene. "Father revered!
> Who deign'st, for me, to quit the pleasant place
> Wherein thou sittest, by eternal lot;
> Say, who that Angel is, that with such glee
> Beholds our Queen, and so enamour'd glows
> Of her high beauty, that all fire he seems."
> 
> So I again resorted to the lore
> Of my wise teacher, he, whom Mary's charms
> Embellish'd, as the sun the morning star;
> Who thus in answer spake: "In him are summ'd,
> Whate'er of buxomness and free delight
> May be in spirit, or in Angel, met:
> And so beseems: for that he bare the palm
> Down unto Mary, when the Son of God
> Vouchsafed to clothe Him in terrestial weeds.
> Now let thine eyes wait heedful on my words;
> And note thou of this just and pious realm
> The chiefest nobles. Those, highest in bliss,
> The twain, on each hand next our Empress throned,
> Are as it were two roots unto this rose:
> He to the left, the parent, whose rash taste
> Proves bitter to his seed; and, on the right,
> That ancient father of the holy Church,
> Into whose keeping Christ did give the keys
> Of this sweet flower; near whom behold the seer,[7]
> That, ere, he died, saw all the grievous times
> Of the fair bride, who with the lance and nails
> Was won. And, near unto the other, rests
> The leader, under whom, on manna, fed
> The ungrateful nation, fickle and perverse.
> On the other part, facing to Peter, lo!
> Where Anna sits, so well content to look
> On her loved daughter, that with moveless eye
> She chants the loud hosanna: while, opposed
> To the first father of your mortal kind,
> Is Lucia,[8] at whose hest thy lady sped,
> When on the edge of ruin closed thine eye.
> 
> [7: St. John.]
> 
> [8: See Hell, Canto ii. 97, and Purgatory, Canto ix. 50.]
> 
> "But (for the vision hasteneth to an end)
> Here break we off, as the good workman doth,
> That shapes the clock according to the cloth;
> And to the Primal Love our ken shall rise;
> That thou mayst penetrate the brightness, far
> As sight can bear thee. Yet, alas! in sooth
> Beating thy pennons, thinking to advance,
> Thou backward fall'st. Grace then must first be gain'd;
> Her grace, whose might can help thee. Thou in prayer
> Seek her: and, with affection, whilst I sue,
> Attend, and yield me all thy heart." He said;
> And thus the saintly orison began.
>
> — *Paradise Canto 32*