Commentary Par XXXIII 52-54

The poet could not be more precise.  Up to now his powers of sight have improved so that he can finally see God's reflection in the universe perfectly, an ability that was far from his grasp when the poem began.  Now he will see Him as Himself.  Thus the protagonist's vision is about to move from reflections of His glory up into the beam of light emanating from Him.  It is balanced for seconds between the two aspects of deity, reflection and source (see C.Par.XXIII.82-84).  In the next tercet we realize that he has recorded his breakthrough.  No Christian except for St. Paul has seen so much -- or such is the unspoken claim the poet allows us to share.