Through me the way into the grieving city, Through me the way into eternal sorrow, Through me the way among the lost people. Justice moved my high ma… - Dante Alighieri

Today your hungerings will find their peace through that sweet fruit that mortal care seeks among so many branches.... Look at the sun that shines upon your brow. Look at the grasses, flowers, shrubs, born here, spontaneously of the earth. Among them you can rest to walk until the coming of the glad and lovely eyes that, weeping, sent me to your side.

Await no further word or sign from me: your will is free, erect, and whole- to act against that will would be to err. Therefore, I crown and miter you over yourself.

S'i' credesse che mia risposta fosse
a persona che mai tornasse al mondo,
questa fiamma staria sanza più scosse;
ma però che già mai di questo fondo
non tornò vivo alcun, s'i' odo il vero,
sanza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.

Thus it was up to God, to Him alone
in His own ways - by one or both, I say -
to give man back his whole life and perfection.

But since a deed done is more prized the more
it manifests within itself the mark
of the loving heart and goodness of the doer,

the Everlasting Love, whose seal is plain
on all the wax of the world was pleased to move
in all His ways to raise you up again.

There was not, nor will be, from the first day
to the last night, an act so glorious
and so magnificent, on either way.

For God, in giving Himself that man might be
able to raise himself, gave even more
than if he had forgiven him in mercy.

All other means would have been short, I say,
of perfect justice, but that God's own Son
humbled Himself to take on mortal clay.

-Paradiso, Canto VII