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    la cui virtù, col mio veder congiunta, 85 'Its power, conjoined with my own sight,
 
mi leva sopra me tanto, ch'i' veggio 86 raises me so far above myself that I can see
 
la somma essenza de la quale è munta. 87 the Highest Essence, the source from which it flows.
 
    Quinci vien l'allegrezza ond' io fiammeggio; 88 'And this inflames the joy with which I burn:
 
per ch'a la vista mia, quant' ella è chiara, 89 for, in the clarity of my sight,
 
la chiarità de la fiamma pareggio. 90 I match the clearness of my flame.
 
    Ma quell' alma nel ciel che più si schiara, 91 'Nonetheless, the most enlightened soul in Heaven,
 
quel serafin che 'n Dio più l'occhio ha fisso, 92 that seraph who fixes most his eye on God,
 
a la dimanda tua non satisfara, 93 could not produce an answer to your question,
 
    però che sì s'innoltra ne lo abisso 94 'for what you ask is hidden in the depths
 
de l'etterno statuto quel che chiedi, 95 of the abyss of God's eternal law, so that the sight
 
che da ogne creata vista è scisso. 96 of any being He created is cut off from it.
 
    E al mondo mortal, quando tu riedi, 97 'And to the mortal world, when you return,
 
questo rapporta, sì che non presumma 98 bear this report, so that it shall no more presume
 
a tanto segno più mover li piedi. 99 to set its steps toward such a goal.
 
    La mente, che qui luce, in terra fumma; 100 'The mind, here bright, is dimmed by smoke on earth.
 
onde riguarda come può là giùe 101 Ask yourself, then, how could it do down there
 
quel che non pote perché 'l ciel l'assumma." 102 what it cannot, though Heaven raise it to itself?'
 
    Sì mi prescrisser le parole sue, 103 His words so reined me in
 
ch'io lasciai la quistione e mi ritrassi 104 that I withdrew the question, limiting myself
 
a dimandarla umilmente chi fue. 105 to asking humbly who he was.

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