The Divine Comedy: Paradiso, Canto XXXIII

¹"O Virgin Mother, daughter of thy Son,

²Humble and high beyond all other creature,

³The limit fixed of the eternal counsel,

⁴Thou art the one who such nobility

⁵To human nature gave, that its Creator

⁶Did not disdain to make himself its creature.

⁷Within thy womb rekindled was the love,

⁸By heat of which in the eternal peace

⁹After such wise this flower has germinated.

¹⁰Here unto us thou art a noonday torch

¹¹Of charity, and below there among mortals

¹²Thou art the living fountain-head of hope.

¹³O Light Eternal, sole in thyself that dwellest,

¹⁴Sole knowest thyself, and, known unto thyself

¹⁵And knowing, lovest and smilest on thyself!

¹⁶That circulation, which being thus conceived

¹⁷Appeared in thee as a reflected light,

¹⁸When somewhat contemplated by mine eyes,

¹⁹Within itself, of its own very colour

²⁰Seemed to me painted with our effigy,

²¹And thereat my sight was all committed.