The Ascent to the First Heaven and Beatrice's Discourse on Order

Dante and Beatrice ascend to the First Heaven, the Moon. Dante is confused by his ability to rise through the air, and Beatrice explains the divine order of the universe: all things are drawn toward God by love, and Dante's ascent is as natural as a river flowing downhill. She explains that the universe is ordered by Providence, and that the blessed souls are arranged in different spheres according to their capacity for grace. This discourse establishes the metaphysical framework of the Paradiso.