Commentary Par XXVII 88-99

Only the last of these four tercets allotted to the ascent to the next heaven, the Crystalline Sphere, is devoted to the ascent itself.  Once again, Beatrice has become unspeakably more beautiful, outdoing either natural beauty or artistic rendering.  With his eyes fixed on hers, Dante moves up to the next realm.  The passage includes, perhaps surprisingly, a reference to Beatrice's physical beauty ([Par XXVII 91-93]).  We are close enough to the Empyrean for that to come as a surprise, even as a shock.  However, when we examine the text, we find that the poet tells us that such carnally delightful images would be nothing compared to her beauty as a reflection of God's divinity.