sì m'accors'io che 'l mio girare intorno
col cielo insieme avea cresciuto l'arco,
veggendo quel miracol più addorno.

So I became aware that my dancing
with heaven had increased its arc,
that miracle becoming more brilliant.

To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning
we come 'round right

E come, per sentir più dilettanza
bene operando, l'uom di giorno in giorno
s'accorge che la sua virtute avanza,

And as, by tasting the delectable
in doing good, a man day by day
becomes aware his virtue is advancing,

Goodness is an acquired taste
subtle complex
sometimes bitter

another time sweet
each taste causing
the tongue to notice more

and want less

non perché nostra conoscenza cresca
per tuo parlare, ma perché t'ausi
a dir la sete, sì che l'uom ti mesca».

not so that our knowing might grow
from your speaking, but because
by claiming your thirst, you may know.

What I hide from others
I cannot fully know

Per che mia donna «Manda fuor la vampa
del tuo disio», mi disse, «sì ch'ella esca
segnata bene de la interna stampa;

Therefore my lady said to me: Display
the flame of your desire, that it may
be seen well-stamped with your internal seal

How is my flame maintained
is its fuel plenteous
is its draft clean

If I display my flame
will it roar brighter
or extinguish in a breeze

Ben supplico io a te, vivo topazio
che questa gioia preziosa ingemmi,
perché mi facci del tuo nome sazio».

Indeed I do beseech you, living topaz,
set in this precious jewel as a gem:
fulfill my longing-let me know your name.

What is the essence of beauty
What is the source of goodness
What is the character of truth

How can I know?

 né per elezion mi si nascose,
ma per necessità, ché 'l suo concetto
al segno d'i mortal si soprapuose.

Not that he chose to hide from me;
necessity compelled him; he conceived
beyond the mark a mortal mind can reach.

Hidden in plain site
the wisdom and love of God
patiently awaits our notice

Indi, a udire e a veder giocondo,
giunse lo spirto al suo principio cose,
ch'io non lo 'ntesi, sì parlò profondo;

Then to hear and see joy
that spirit joined to his first words things
that were too deep to for my understanding.

Joy is not understood
Joy is experienced
Joy unfolds

Come, da più letizia pinti e tratti,
a la fiata quei che vanno a rota
levan la voce e rallegrano li atti,

così, a l'orazion pronta e divota,
li santi cerchi mostrar nova gioia
nel torneare e ne la mira nota.

As dancers, when drawn and driven
by greater gladness, lift their voices
and dance their dance with more exuberance,

so, hearing that prompt, devout request,
the blessed circles showed new joy
in wheeling dance and amazing Song.

Too many questions are weapons
as many are used as traps
but these do not have the power
(or beauty )

of a real question: asked, pursued, considered.

Non sien le genti, ancor, troppo sicure
a giudicar, sì come quei che stima
le biade in campo pria che sien mature;

ch'i' ho veduto tutto 'l verno prima
lo prun mostrarsi rigido e feroce;
poscia portar la rosa in su la cima;

So let men not be too confident
in judging those who, in the field,
count the ears before the corn is ripe;

for I have seen, all winter through, the brier
display itself as stiff and fierce,
and later, on its summit, bear the rose;

Probabilities do not
preclude possibilities
the finest achievements

are always as roses in winter

perch'elli 'ncontra che più volte piega
l'oppinion corrente in falsa parte
e poi l'affetto l'intelletto lega.

hasty judgment often bends
the current toward false opinions
binding intellect and affection

impressions arise
do not let them set
without unfolding 

ché quelli è tra li stolti bene a basso,
che sanza distinzione afferma e nega
ne l'un così come ne l'altro passo;

He is surely foolish and base
who makes no distinction and denies
preferring one or the other

Why?  
can I answer
without blushing

E questo ti sia sempre piombo a' piedi,
per farti mover lento com'uom lasso
e al sì e al no che tu non vedi:

And let this leaden your steps,
to make you move as a weary man
to yes or no when you do not see clearly:

Where am I going
what is my destination
these two answers ought 

Influence every other answer

Ciò che non more e ciò che può morire
non è se non splendor di quella idea
che partorisce, amando, il nostro Sire;

What can die and what does not die
are nothing but the splendour of an idea
which by birthing and loving our Lord brings into being

Love is not a feeling
it is a creative choice
a courageous act.

e disse: «Quando l'una paglia è trita,
quando la sua semenza è già riposta,
a batter l'altra dolce amor m'invita

And said: Now that one straw is trodden out
Now that its seed is garnered up already,
Sweet love invites me to thresh out the other.

To live abundantly
the seed must die
be buried and rise

To be found
the seed must be threshed
broken and sifted

Compié 'l cantare e 'l volger sua misura;
e attesersi a noi quei santi lumi,
felicitando sé di cura in cura.

The singing and the dance fulfilled their measure;
and then those holy lights gave heed to us,
rejoicing as they turned from task to task.

Our body is an instrument of joy
we are to tune and play it
with all the beauty we can know

La provedenza, che governa il mondo
con quel consiglio nel quale ogne aspetto
creato è vinto pria che vada al fondo,

però che andasse ver' lo suo diletto
la sposa di colui ch'ad alte grida
disposò lei col sangue benedetto,

in sé sicura e anche a lui più fida,

The Providence that rules the world
is a wisdom which appears
fathomless to creatures vanquished before its depths.

so the beloved who would go
with loud cries, had wed her and
blessed her with his blood might know

less self-assurance and more faithfulness

In the other I find myself
in loving the other I am fulfilled

Tu dubbi, e hai voler che si ricerna
in sì aperta e 'n sì distesa lingua
lo dicer mio, ch'al tuo sentir si sterna,

You are in doubt; you want an explanation
in language open and easy,
But if I say it, you will only hear a bird

Reality is complex
Engaged bit by bit
It can be understood in part

But the whole is an opera 
in an ancient language
with an orchestra of unknowns

Chi dietro a iura, e chi ad amforismi
sen giva, e chi seguendo sacerdozio,
e chi regnar per forza o per sofismi,

e chi rubare, e chi civil negozio,
chi nel diletto de la carne involto
s'affaticava e chi si dava a l'ozio,

One studied law and one the aphorisms
of physicians; one was set on priesthood
and one would rule through force or sophistry;

one meant to plunder, one to politick;
one labored in delights of flesh,
and one was fully bent on indolence;

Have I heard my calling

When it whispers do I
bend break share strengthen
seek to hear more clearly
dismiss
give thanks

O insensata cura de' mortali,
quanto son difettivi silogismi
quei che ti fanno in basso batter l'ali!

O senseless cares of mortals,
how deceiving are your syllogisms
that your wings fly so low

To what purpose
is my reason applied
fine foul or foolish

Indi, come orologio che ne chiami
ne l'ora che la sposa di Dio surge
a mattinar lo sposo perché l'ami,

che l'una parte e l'altra tira e urge,
tin tin sonando con sì dolce nota,
che 'l ben disposto spirto d'amor turge;

Then, like a clock that calls us at the hour
the Bride of God, on waking, sings
matins to her Bridegroom, encouraging

His love (when each clock-part both drives and draws),
chimes the sounds with notes so sweet that those
with a well-disposed spirit swell with love

Dawn arrives
Shadows fade
I arise

Qui si rimira ne l'arte ch'addorna
cotanto affetto, e discernesi 'l bene
per che 'l mondo di sù quel di giù torna

For here we contemplate the art adorned
by such great love, and we discern the good
through which the world above forms that below

The kingdom of God shapes this world
as the moon pulls ocean tides
Am I sailing with or against the pull?

Non però qui si pente, ma si ride,
non de la colpa, ch'a mente non torna,
ma del valor ch'ordinò e provide.

Yet one does not repent here; here one smiles
not for the fault, which we do not recall,
but for the Power that fashioned and foresaw.

Redemption is not an outcome of my regret
It is the result of loving God
Allowing God to transform my failures

Per letiziar là sù fulgor s'acquista,
sì come riso qui; ma giù s'abbuia
l'ombra di fuor, come la mente è trista.

On high,joy is known by radiance,
as, here with a smile; but down below,
the shade grows darker when the mind feels sorrow.

The source of joy
is to give thanks,
to praise, and to smile

even, especially as darkness descends.

Ma voi torcete a la religione
tal che fia nato a cignersi la spada,
e fate re di tal ch'è da sermone;

onde la traccia vostra è fuor di strada»

But you twist to religion
one meant for the sword,
and make king one more fit for sermons

so that the track you take is off the road.

Hiking the deep woods
walking watching seeking a way through
can be transformative

but to speed off-road is 
little more than dirty, noisy, dangerous

E se 'l mondo là giù ponesse mente
al fondamento che natura pone,
seguendo lui, avria buona la gente.

But if the world below would set its mind
on the foundation Nature lays as base
to follow, it would have its people worthy.

What does nature pose for you,
for me?
What is the foundation
on which we are to build?

Sempre natura, se fortuna trova
discorde a sé, com'ogne altra semente
fuor di sua region, fa mala prova.

Where Nature, if fortune is
not with it, is as any other seed
outside its region, results go awry.

Context matters
what works wonderfully
in this time and place

Will not prosper always.

Creata fu la materia ch'elli hanno;
creata fu la virtù informante
in queste stelle che 'ntorno a lor vanno.

L'anima d'ogne bruto e de le piante
di complession potenziata tira
lo raggio e 'l moto de le luci sante;

Created was the matter
Created was the power to form
in the stars that wheel about them

The soul of every brute and plant
with its potential pulls
The rays and motion of the holy lights

Our origin is in the stars
we are made of the same stuff as suns
we are pulled by the same mysterious purpose

questa natura al suo fattore unita,
qual fu creata, fu sincera e buona;

ma per sé stessa pur fu ella sbandita
di paradiso, però che si torse
da via di verità e da sua vita.

This nature, united to its maker,
was good and pure, just as when created;

but in itself, this nature had been banished
from paradise, because it turned aside
from the path of truth and its own life.

I am - we are - by nature
meant for truth
goodness
beauty
apart 
from these
we are brittle
in these verdant and fine

Questa picciola stella si correda
di buoni spirti che son stati attivi
perché onore e fama li succeda:

e quando li disiri poggian quivi,
sì disviando, pur convien che i raggi
del vero amore in sù poggin men vivi.

This little planet is adorned with
righteous spirits, but who acted for
honor and fame that they would gain:

and when desires tend toward earthly ends,
then, so deflected, rays of the true love
mount toward the life above with lesser force.

Good is good, but...
motivation matters
intention directs
The Greatest Good
is motivated by love
good serving good

«S'io ti fiammeggio nel caldo d'amore
di là dal modo che 'n terra si vede,
sì che del viso tuo vinco il valore,

non ti maravigliar; ché ciò procede
da perfetto veder, che, come apprende,
così nel bene appreso move il piede.

If I seem to flame in the fire of love
beyond that seen on earth,
so that I overcome your vision's ability,

you need not wonder; I am so because
From perfected vision I grasp
So the Good is apprehended in mere movement.

Good opens as a flower in the morning sun
More often than descends in fire and storm