The Encounter with Justinian and the Roman Eagle

The encounter with the Emperor Justinian in the sphere of Mercury is one of the most sustained political-historical discourses in the Paradiso, a sweeping justification of the Roman imperial idea as the providential instrument of divine justice. Justinian, speaking as the soul who codified Roman law and who now shines in the second heaven among those who acted for fame and honor, delivers a condensed epic of the Roman Eagle from its mythical origins to its contemporary betrayal, and in doing so articulates Dante's own vision of the proper relation between empire and church.

The Speaker and His Conversion

Justinian identifies himself as the emperor who, "by the will of primal Love," took "from the laws the useless and redundant" . He confesses that before undertaking this work he had held the Monophysite heresy, believing in "one nature to exist in Christ, not more" (E10480-E10481). The correction came from Pope Agapetus, "the supreme pastor," who "pointed me out the way by words of his" (E10482-E10484). Justinian says that he believed Agapetus and now sees clearly "each contradiction to be false and true" (E10486-E10487). Once his feet were moved "with the Church," God inspired him with the high task of lawgiving, and he gave himself wholly to it (E10488-E10490). He then entrusted arms to his general Belisarius, "to which was heaven's right hand so joined it was a signal that I should repose" (E10491-E10493). This conversion narrative establishes Justinian as a figure who, having erred in faith, was set right by papal authority and then fulfilled his imperial duty.

The History of the Roman Eagle

Justinian traces the Eagle's course from its earliest days. After Constantine "turned the eagle against the course of heaven" by moving the capital to Byzantium, the bird of God remained in Europe for two hundred years and more, near the mountains whence it first issued, governing the world "from hand to hand" until it alighted on Justinian himself (E10467-E10475). He then recounts the Eagle's earlier glory: it made its abode in Alba for three hundred years and upward until the Horatii and Curiatii fought for it (E10503-E10505). It achieved greatness from the Sabine wrong down to Lucretia's sorrow, under seven kings overcoming neighboring nations (E10506-E10508). It was borne by illustrious Romans against Brennus, Pyrrhus, and other princes and confederates (E10510-E10511). Torquatus, Quinctius Cincinnatus, the Decii, and the Fabii received fame from it (E10512-E10514). It struck to earth the pride of the Arabs who followed Hannibal across the Alps (E10515-E10517). Under it triumphed Pompey and Scipio while still young, and to the hill beneath which Dante was born it seemed bitter (E10518-E10520). Near the time when heaven willed to bring the whole world to a serene mood, Caesar by Rome's will assumed it (E10521-E10523). What it achieved from the Var to the Rhine, the Isere, the Saone, the Seine, and every valley of the Rhone witnessed (E10524-E10526). After leaving Ravenna and leaping the Rubicon, its flight was such that "neither tongue nor pen could follow it" (E10527-E10529). It wheeled toward Spain, then toward Durazzo, and smote Pharsalia so that the pain was felt at the Nile (E10530-E10532). It saw again Antandros and the Simois, where Hector lies, and then roused itself ill for Ptolemy (E10533-E10535). It came like lightning upon Juba, then wheeled into the West where it heard the Pompeian clarion (E10536-E10538). Under the next standard-bearer, Augustus, Brutus and Cassius howl in Hell, and Modena and Perugia were made sorrowful; Cleopatra, fleeing, took the adder's death (E10539-E10544). With Augustus it ran to the Red Sea shore and placed the world in such peace that Janus's temple was closed (E10545-E10547). Justinian then declares that all this glory appears "mean and dim" if seen in the hand of Tiberius, the third Caesar, "with eye unclouded and affection pure," because living Justice granted the Eagle the glory of avenging its wrath through the Crucifixion (E10551-E10556). Later it ran with Titus to do vengeance upon the vengeance of the ancient sin, the destruction of Jerusalem (E10558-E10559). When the Lombards bit the Holy Church, Charlemagne victorious succored her under the Eagle's wings (E10560-E10562).

Denunciation of Guelphs and Ghibellines

Having completed the history, Justinian turns to the present. He declares that those who oppose the sacred standard and those who claim it for a party are both guilty: "To the public standard one the yellow lilies opposes, the other claims it for a party, so that 'tis hard to see which sins the most" (E10566-E10568). He tells the Ghibellines to ply their craft under some other standard, "for this ever ill follows he who it and justice parts" (E10569-E10571). He warns the new Charles, Charles of Valois, not to strike the Eagle down, he and his Guelphs, but to fear the talons "that from a nobler lion stripped the fell" (E10572-E10574). He observes that already the sons have wept for the father's crime, and warns Charles not to believe that God will change His scutcheon for the lilies (E10575-E10577).

The Nature of This Sphere and the Story of Romeo

Justinian explains that this little planet, Mercury, adorns itself with good spirits who have been active, seeking fame and honor after them (E10578-E10580). When desires mount thither, deviating from true love, the rays of true love mount less vividly (E10581-E10583). Yet the joy of the blessed is commensurate with their desert, and living Justice sweetens affection so that it cannot warp to iniquity (E10584-E10589). Just as diverse voices make sweet melodies, so the diverse seats render sweet harmony among these spheres (E10590-E10592). Within the compass of this pearl shines the sheen of Romeo, a poor man and pilgrim whose grand and beauteous work was ill rewarded (E10593-E10595). Romeo served Raymond Berenger, who had four daughters each a queen; malicious words incited Raymond to summon Romeo to a reckoning, and Romeo rendered seven and five for ten—that is, he gave account of his faithful stewardship (E10599-E10604). Then he departed poor and stricken in years, and if the world knew the heart he had, begging bit by bit his livelihood, though much it lauds him, it would laud him more (E10605-E10608).