Nasce per quello, a guisa di rampollo,
a piè del vero il dubbio; ed è natura
ch'al sommo pinge noi di collo in collo

Therefore, our doubting blossoms like a shoot
out from the root of truth; this natural
urge spurs us toward the peak, from height to height.

Doubt is the friend of faith 
Doubt suppresses pride, faith's great adversary 
Doubt is freedom's twin and great helper

Io veggio ben che già mai non si sazia
nostro intelletto, se 'l ver non lo illustra
di fuor dal qual nessun vero si spazia.

Posasi in esso, come fera in lustra,
tosto che giunto l'ha; e giugner puollo:
se non, ciascun disio sarebbe frustra.

I now see well: we cannot satisfy
our mind unless it is enlightened by
the truth beyond whose boundary no truth lies.

Mind, reaching that truth, rests within it
quickly, fully; mind can attain
that truth if not, each desire will frustrate.

Alone the mind is an insatiable master
Pledged to love, the mind is domesticated
Fulfilled in serving what is loved

E 'n la sua volontade è nostra pace:
ell'è quel mare al qual tutto si move
ciò ch'ella cria o che natura face».

Chiaro mi fu allor come ogne dove
in cielo è paradiso, etsi la grazia
del sommo ben d'un modo non vi piove.

And in his will is our peace:
the sea in which all beings move
source of nature's making.

Then it was clear to me how every place
in heaven is paradise, though grace
of the Highest Good does not rain in any.

The kingdom of heaven is close at hand
Here, now, within our reach
Offer your hand.

...s'essere in carità è qui necesse,
e se la sua natura ben rimiri.

Anzi è formale ad esto beato esse
tenersi dentro a la divina voglia,
per ch'una fansi nostre voglie stesse;

...to live in love is essential to our being,
if you think carefully on love's nature.

The essence of this blessed life consists
in keeping to the boundaries of God's will,
by which our wills become as one will;

At the core of being is self-giving
In healing the other
We are ourselves healed

In each loving act
A fractured world
is recalled to wholeness

Step by stumbling step

...la nostra volontà quieta
virtù di carità, che fa volerne
sol quel ch'avemo, e d'altro non ci asseta.

...the power of love appeases our
will so we only long for what we have;
we do not thirst for greater blessedness.

In this moment there is joy
This is the only place
Where joy abides

«Non ti maravigliar perch'io sorrida»,
mi disse, «appresso il tuo pueril coto,
poi sopra 'l vero ancor lo piè non fida,

ma te rivolve, come suole, a vòto:
vere sustanze son ciò che tu vedi,

There is no need to wonder if I smile,
she said, because you reason as a child;
you do not yet trust the steps to truth;

your mind misguides you into emptiness:
you are seeing are true substances...

The ascent is not smooth,
each step irregular.
I have failed and will fall,

But continue to climb.

tali vid'io più facce a parlar pronte;
per ch'io dentro a l'error contrario corsi
a quel ch'accese amor tra l'omo e 'l fonte.

Sùbito sì com'io di lor m'accorsi,
quelle stimando specchiati sembianti,
per veder di cui fosser, li occhi torsi;

e nulla vidi, e ritorsili avanti
dritti nel lume de la dolce guida,
che, sorridendo, ardea ne li occhi santi.

So faint, the many faces I saw keen
to speak; thus, my mistake was contrary
to that which led the man to love the fountain.

As soon as I had noticed them, thinking
that what I saw were merely mirrorings,
I turned around to see who they might be;

and I saw nothing; and I let my sight
turn back to meet the light of my dear guide,
who, as she smiled, glowed in her holy eyes.

Other realities persist
despite my insistence
awaiting my invitation.