• Before me. ↩
• James 1:5 and 17:⁠— “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.⁠ ⁠… Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” In this line, intead of largezza , some editions read allegrezza ; but as James describes the bounties of heaven, and not its joys, the former reading is undoubtedly the correct one. ↩
• St. Peter personifies Faith; St. James, Hope; and St. John, Charity. These three were distinguished above the other Apostles by clearer manifestations of their Master’s favor, as, for example, their being present at the Transfiguration. ↩
• These words are addressed by St. James to Dante. ↩
• In the radiance of the three theological virtues, Faith, Hope, and Charity. ↩
• To the three Apostles luminous above him and overwhelming him with their light. Psalm 121:1:⁠— “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” ↩
• With the most august spirits of the celestial city. See note 1863 . ↩