CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:
ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavage
wild
wildThatforest,howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’s
voet
footIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Wholeidt
leadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothe
angst
fear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:Andasaman,withdifficult
korte
shortbreath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromzee
seatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;e’ensomy
geest
spirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwithterror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Thatniemand
nonehathpass’dandliv’d.MywearyframeAfter
korte
shortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
Scarcetheascent
Begon
Began,when,lo!apanther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckled
huid
skin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,eerder
ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthe
zon
sunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegay
huid
skinOfthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynewdreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.
Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanya
land
landhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.Shewithsuch
angst
fearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.Asone,Whowithhisgainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neverat
vrede
peace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethezon
suninsilencerests.Whiletothelowerspacewithbackward
stap
stepIfell,mykendiscern’dthevorm
formoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,And
geboren
bornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmy
lied
song,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetuneful
trein
train!MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.
Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforits
schoonheid
beautyintofameExaltsme.Seethebeast,fromwhomIfled.
Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“ForeveryveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTo
passeren
pass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
Tomanyan
dier
animalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppijn
pain.HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,andhis
land
landshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splainsarise,For
wiens
whosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.
Iforthyprofitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWill
leiden
leadtheehencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenextview,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,Into
wiens
whoseregionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,ageest
spiritworthierthanIMustleiden
leadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreigns
boven
above,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscityniemand
nonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadelandthrone.
Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”
CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilous
weg
road,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYouraid!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.
Ithus
begon
began:“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.
ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensible
aanwezig
present.Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,It
lijkt
seemsinreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwas
gekozen
chosensire:Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.
Hefromthisjourney,inthy
lied
songrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthat
geloof
faith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasI
noch
norPaul.MyselfIdeemnotworthy,and
niemand
noneelseWilldeemme.I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,
vrees
fearitwillinfollyend.Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;
e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.
“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thy
ziel
soulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.
Iwasamongthetribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;
hereyeswerebrighterthanthe
ster
starOfday;andshewithgentle
stem
voiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thou
wiens
whosefameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnatuur
naturelasts!Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,Onthewidedesertinhis
weg
roadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughangst
fearhasturn’d.NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,Fromwhatin
hemel
heavenofhimIheard.Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.
Sotomewillcomfortspring.
IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthe
derde
thirdisalongone.)Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftwilltell.”
Shethenwassilent,andIthus
begon
began:“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthat
hemel
heavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldlijken
seemlate.Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthiscentreherebeneath.”
Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldstinquire,Iwillinstructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.
ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whence
kwaad
evilmayproceed,Noneelse,forgeen
noneareterriblebeside.Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,
noch
norflameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.Inhigh
hemel
heavenablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“NowdoththyfaithfulservantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:
“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitudeadmires?
Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,
Noch
Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanazee
sea,himstrugglingholds?”Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessed
stoel
seat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearway
over
acrossthegoodlymountPrevented.Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthybreastHarbourvile
angst
fear?whyhastnotcouragethereAndnoble
durf
daring?SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthe
hof
courtofheaven;Andsomuch
zeker
certaingoodmywordsforebode.”Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:
“Ofullofpityshe,whoundertookMysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.
Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassintoeternal
pijn
pain:Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethefounderofmyfabricmov’d:
Torearmewasthetaskofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.
Beforemethingscreatewere
niets
none,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
SuchcharactersincolourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyarchinscrib’d:
WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’dreplied:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevile
angst
fearextinguish’d.WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTomiserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”
Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothat
geheime
secretplaceheledmeon.HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbyno
ster
star,Thate’enIweptatentering.Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voices
diep
deepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRond
Roundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.Ithen,witherroryetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
What
ras
raceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorpraiseor
verwijt
blame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonoch
norrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.Fromhisbounds
Hemel
Heavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,noch
northedepthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillItelltheebriefly.
TheseofdeathNohopemayentertain:
andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.
Fameofthemtheworldhath
geen
none,Norsuffers;mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:
andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whotobase
vrees
fearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheir
voeten
feet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.ThenlookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:
WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dthey
lijken
seemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwith
schaamte
shame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtherivier
river,IfromspeechAbstain’d.Andlo!
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Huilend
Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!hopenotEvertoseethe
hemel
skyagain.IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandin
ijs
ice.Andthou,whothereStandest,live
geest
spirit!gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythispassage;
theeanimbler
boot
boatMustcarry.”Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”