After the vision of the Griffin in front of him and its changing reflection inside Beatrice’s eyes (as his own soul growing), there is just one more step to make the new presence of the Pilgrim’s soul complete. The three spiritual virtues are now singing to Beatrice to turn her eyes to him, and also to reveal her smile so he can finally see the “second beauty” that she conceals.
In many ways this establishes a new carro in one’s soul itself, with one wheel as the wisdom and intellect (as her eyes), and one as the love and mysticism (her smile). These two dimensions are essential for the growing spiritual life, and makes several important points. The intellectual pursuit of e.g. Logos or First Mover is not sufficient to align with deeper reality in its fullness. The dimension of spirit and love also has to be accounted for, as aspects or forces that shape reality and also sets the cosmos into motion.
And when this happens – when he now finally can behold Beatrice in her fullness with both her beautiful eyes and her radiant smile, the long journey and restoration of the soul is finally complete.
In some ways the Poem could have stopped here. The soul is “fixed”, the capacities are restored, and a new relationship with God and the Heavens is established. Dante even ends this canto, number 31, with the word “solvesti” implying a resolving of the task, with Beatrice – as his own soul and spiritual life – now out in the “open air” and fully connected to his conscious experience again.
So the rewards have come. And as a reader one might experience the same. Your life will change, your experience and perception will change, and being will be infinitely richer and more interesting than ever before. What Dante accomplishes and celebrates in this very moment in the Garden of Eden is an extraordinary achievement, and also one that lays the foundation for the next journey. We are now ready, with the reborn soul and the capacity for dual perception, to explore the Heavens and grow through the ascent in Paradiso, towards God.
Convivio III.xv.2: “The text says, then, that in her countenance appear things which show us of the joys of Paradise, and it specifies the place of this appearance, to wit, in her eyes and in her smile. And here it is right to know that the eyes of wisdom are her demonstrations, whereby the truth is seen most certainly, and her smile is her persuasions, whereby the inner light of wisdom is revealed behind a certain veil; and in these two is felt that loftiest joy of blessedness which is the supreme good in Paradise.”
Yes! This actually adds a remarkable depth to the passage and image. Her
“smile” as “that *through which* deeper Divine Wisdom appears”. And adding the mysticism too, with “behind a veil”.
In some sense; Dante joins the love and intellectual wisdom in the smile, it becomes the “carro” that contains both. Or in another way; it points to the Divine Logos, as a churning unity – a foundational carro.
Which also illuminates the Paradiso tremendously; every invocation of Beatrice’s smile thus becomes a reminder of the Divine Logos, of the clear Wisdom and the beauty, love and spirit through which the revelatory Wisdom is received. Also in how this smile is more and more radiant, as the soul itself grows!