ade apparent to him."

_Canto XXIII._ Beatrice, who is still standing beside him, finally
tears him away from his contemplation of what is beneath him, and
directs his glance aloft, where he catches his first glimpse of
Christ, escorted by his Mother and by the Church triumphant. Too
dazzled and awed at first to grasp what he sees, Dante feels heart and
mind expand, as he listens enraptured to sweeter music than was ever
made by the nine muses. Meantime the spirits escorting Christ crown
the Virgin with lilies, and all sing the praises of the Queen of
Heaven.[19]

_Canto XXIV._ Beatrice and Dante are now joined by the spirit of St.
Peter, who examines Dante on faith, receiving the famous reply: "Faith
is the substance of the thing we hope for, and evidence of those that
are not seen." Not only does St. Peter approve Dante's definition, but
he discusses theological questions with him, leading him meanwhile
further into this sphere.

_Canto XXV._ Presently a spirit approaches them which is designated by
Beatrice as St. James. After greeting St. Peter and smiling upon
Beatrice, St. James reveals he has been sent hither by Christ to
examine Dante upon hope, whereupon our poet, lifting his eyes "to the
hills," gains courage enough to answer thus: "Hope is the certain
expectation of future glory, which is the effect of grace divine and
merit precedent." St. James is so pleased with this answer that he
glows even more brightly, as St. John, "who lay upon the breast of
him, our Pelican," appeared, shining so brightly that Dante, turning
to ask Beatrice who he is, discovers he can no longer see her
although she is close beside him.

"I turn'd, but ah! how trembled in my thought,
When, looking at my side again to see
Beatrice, I descried her not; although,
Not distant, on the happy coast she stood."

_Canto XXVI._ Dante now ascertains he has merely been temporarily
blinded by the excess of light which emanates from St. John, who
proceeds to examine him in regard to Charity. His answers are greeted
by the heavenly chorus with the chant "Holy, holy, holy," in which
Beatrice joins, ere she clears the last mote away from Dante's eyes
and thus enables him to see more plainly than ever. Our poet now
perceives a fourth spirit, in whom he recognizes Adam, father of
mankind, who retells the story of Eden, adding that, 4232 years after
creation, Christ delivered him from hell, and enabled him to view the
changes which had t