The Divine Comedy, III Paradise

This is Charles Eliot Norton’s translation of "Paradise" of Dante's Divine Comedy which was published in 1892. He wan American social critic, writer and professor of art from New England. "Paradise" is the final, third, part of the Divine Comedy, following Hell and Purgatory. It is dedicated to Dante's wanderings in Heavenly Paradise. Dante's beloved Beatrice, who symbolizes theology, acts as Dante's guide on Earthly Paradise. She, seated on a chariot drawn by a griffin, is like an allegory of a triumphant church. Beatrice encourages Dante to repentance, and then lifts him, enlightened, to heaven.