The glory of Him who moves all things
pervades the universe and shines
in one part more and in another less.
I was in that heaven which receives
more of His light. He who comes down from there
can neither know nor tell what he has seen,
for, drawing near to its desire,
so deeply is our intellect immersed
that memory cannot follow after it.
Nevertheless, as much of the holy kingdom
as I could store as treasure in my mind
shall now become the subject of my song.

EXCERPT OF THE COMEDY: Pd. 1, 1-12

IT IS NOON. 

THE SHADOWLESS HOUR. 

THE SUN SHINES BRIGHTLY UPON THE EARTHLY PARADISE. 

BEATRICE LIFTS HER GAZE TO THE SUN, AND DANTE’S EYES FOLLOW HIS BELOVED’S.

03 04 BNC II I 35 f 121 v details

The opening lines of Paradise. The miniature illustration captures Dante and Beatrice as they rise through the seven spheres toward the Empyrean, where God sits on the throne surrounded by angels and blessed souls. - Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Fondo Nazionale II.I.35, f. 121v.

The light burns brighter. In a flash, the two travelers’ journey through the sky.
Dante is “transhumanizing”, moving beyond the limits of humankind and mortal constraints.
The speed of their ascent scrambles his senses, and Dante feels uncertain whether he has left his material body behind.
03 01 BNC Palatino 319 f 46 v 47 r web

Beginning of Paradise. The illumination portrays Beatrice as she leads Dante toward the heavenly spheres. - Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Palatino 319, c. 47r.

03 03 BN XIII C 1 f 136 v 137 r

The opening lines of Paradise. In the miniature illustration, Dante looks at Beatrice as she points toward the heavenly spheres, above which God sits on a throne surrounded by the angels and some blessed souls. - Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale « Vittorio Emanuele III », XIII.C.1, f. 213r.

03 02 bis BNC II I 32 f 66 r

The decorated initial portrays Beatrice as she shows the spheres of Heaven to Dante. - Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Fondo Nazionale II.I.32, f. 66r.

Dazzled by the bright harmony of the celestial spheres, Dante wonders how he has traveled from the Earthly Paradise to the heavens in so brief an instant. Beatrice explains that his ascent was only natural as, freed from the weight of sin, his soul rises toward humanity’s ultimate goal: God. It would have been much stranger if, this burden removed, he had remained on Earth.

03 05 BLM Plut 40 07 f 159 r details

The illumination shows Dante and Beatrice as they start their ascent to Paradise. - Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Plut. 40.7, f. 159r.

03 i01 Mc Gill PQ4335 G31900 p 146 details

Outline of Dante’s universe, with nine heavenly spheres surrounding the Earth. - Edmund G. Gardner, Dante, London, Dent, 1900, p. 146. McGill Rare Books and Special Collections, PQ4335 G5.

First Sphere
Rise up to the first sphere