[612] “This is the sovereign edifice of the world, in which all the world is enclosed, and beyond which is naught; and it exists not in space, but received form only in the Primal Mind, which the Greeks call Protonoe.” See also Ep. x. 442-447.
[613] “Last sphere.”
[614] “The first heaven.” Purg. xxx. 1.
[615] “The first circle.” Par. iv. 34.
[616] “First heaven.” Qu. iv. 7.
[617] Par. vii. 130-132 compared with 67, 68. See also Par. i. 64 and 76.
[618] Ep. x. 435-437.
“O Lady of Virtue, thou alone through whom The human race exceedeth all contained Within the heaven that has the lesser circles.” Inf. ii. 76-78. (Longfellow).
[620] Par. vii. 124-143. Compare with Plato’s account of the creation of living beings (Part I., Plato).