Of charity, who makes us will alone
What we possess, and nought beyond desire.'"

All her companions also wished to be brides of Christ, but patiently
did their duty, and, knowing that "in His will is our tranquillity,"
they now spend all their time singing "Ave Maria." When these nun-like
forms vanish, Dante gazes at Beatrice in hopes of learning more.

_Canto IV._ In reply to Dante's inquiring glance, Beatrice explains
that those compelled to sin against their desire are ever held
blameless in Heaven. Then, stating:

"Not seldom, brother, it hath, chanced for men
To do what they had gladly left undone;"

she adds that "the will that wills not, still survives unquenched,"
and that by will power only St. Lawrence and Mucius Scevola were
enabled to brave fire. Then she makes him see how truth alone can
satisfy a mind athirst for knowledge.

_Canto V._ Beatrice asserts that the most precious gift bestowed upon
mankind was freedom of will, and that "knowledge comes of learning
well retain'd." She concludes that when man makes a vow he offers his
will in sacrifice to God, and that for that reason no vow should be
thoughtlessly made, but all should be rigidly kept. Still, she admits
it is better to break a promise than, like Jephthah and Agamemnon, to
subscribe to a heinous crime, and states that either Testament can
serve as guide for Jews or Christians. Again drawing Dante upward by
the very intensity of her gaze, she conveys him to the second circle,
the heaven of Mercury (revolved by Archangels). Here, in an atmosphere
as pellucid as water, Dante perceives thousands of angels, coming
toward him, singing "Lo! one arrived to multiply our loves!" These
spirits assure Dante he was born in a happy hour, since he is allowed,
ere the "close of fleshly warfare," to view the glories of
heaven,--and express a desire to share their lights with him. So Dante
questions the spirit nearest him, which immediately glows with loving
eagerness to serve him, until it becomes a dazzling point of light.

_Canto VI._ This spirit announces he is Justinian, chosen to clear
"from vain excess the encumbered laws," five hundred years after the
Christian era began, and that it was in order to devote all his time
to this task that he consigned the military power to Belisarius. He
proceeds to give Dante a _resume_ of Roman history, from the
kidnapping of the Sabines to his own day, laying stress on the
triumphs won by great generals.