(a found poem within Dante’s Inferno*)
“The Lovers Whirlwind” by William Blake, illustrations for Dante’s Inferno
O Sun, O Lawmaker, O Commander.
Devourer of the she-wolf of avarice,
Ruler of his shining city sitting on his
throne above,
O Adversary of all evil.
Listener. Giver of free gifts.
Fashioner of forms.
One most hated by wretches of hell,
Target of blasphemy.
He whom it is sweetness to fear.
O wrathful one. O justice divine.
One who is coming in power and might,
Crowned with the glorious reign of victory.
Taker of Abel and of Noah,
Taker of Moses,
Giver of Law.
Blessed-taker. Saint-maker.
Power cursed by the damned.
The Other
Who rules the Universe.
Hostile Power who rouses gluttons
to judgment with the angelic trump of doom.
Justice who drives away all strange
new toils and pains that can be seen
on our journey into that sad hollow
which contains all evil of the universe.
Creator whose transcendent Wisdom
surpasseth all,
Who fashioned the heavens and gave each heavenly sphere
a spirit guide, a shining light to every part.
Distributor of splendor.
Granter of passage.
Commander of Fortune,
deaf to men who would curse
her power to take and to give.
Sender of helpers, sender of heralds.
Mover of the Heaven that moves all heavens.
One whose will can never end,
Who many a time has made the torments
of the patriarchs of heresy to grow.
Hater of injustice,
Cursed and denied by violent souls.
Creator of nature’s righteous bounty
against which violence is unnatural.
Hater of fraud.
Grandfather of human industry.
Intellect
Divine,
Artist who makes the poet’s imagination.
*Mostly from John Ciardi‘s and Anthony Esolen’s translations.
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Brilliant.