CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomywood,astrayGonefromthe
pad
pathdirect:ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThat
bos
forest,howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThe
vallei
valley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficultshort
adem
breath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromseatokust
shore,Turnstotheperilousbrede
widewaste,andstandsAtgaze;e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’d
Worstelde
Strugglingwithterror,turn’dtokijken
viewthestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.MywearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.
Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
apanther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;
thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhim
steeg
rose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dto
vullen
fillme,thegayskinOfthatswiftanimal,thematinzonsopgang
dawnAndthesweetseason.Soonthat
vreugde
joywaschas’d,Andbynewdreadsucceeded,wheninviewAleeuw
lioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.
Asone,Whowithhisgainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfell
beest
beast,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesuninstilte
silencerests.Whiletothe
lagere
lowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.Whenhiminthatgreat
woestijn
desertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.
AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesand
valse
false.AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThe
onderwerp
subjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeand
bron
sourceofalldelight?”“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHave
gezocht
soughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.Mymasterthouand
gids
guide!ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThat
stijl
style,whichforitsbeautyintofameExaltsme.Seethe
beest
beast,fromwhomIfled.Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“ForeveryveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
This
beest
beast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywilllijden
suffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshall
vernietigen
destroyHerwithsharppain.HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.
InhismightShall
veiligheid
safetytoItalia’splainsarise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,maagd
virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.Hewithincessant
achtervolging
chasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.Iforthyprofitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthy
gids
guideWillleadtheehencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenextview,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,
onder
amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,and
daarom
thereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadelandthrone.
Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatI
Saint
SaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothofsad
medelijden
pity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohigh
genie
genius!nowvouchsafeYouraid!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometo
bewijs
proof.Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmy
gids
guide,Considerwell,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptible
vlees
flesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadingang
entrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoetoill,such
gunst
favourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect
effect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’s
rijk
empirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwaschosensire:Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacred
stoel
chairsucceeds.Hefromthis
reis
journey,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisoverwinning
victorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthatfaith,Whichisthe
ingang
entrancetosalvation’sway.ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnotworthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.
I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.
Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshis
doel
purpose,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;e’ensuchwasIonthatdun
kust
coast,Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likea
beest
beastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.
Iwas
onder
amongthetribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,sogezegend
blestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewithgentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dher
toespraak
speechaddress’d:“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thouwhosefameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!
Afriend,notofmy
fortuin
fortunebutmyself,Onthebrede
widedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.
Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasive
tong
tongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.Sotomewillcomfort
lente
spring.IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)
Revisitedwith
vreugde
joy.Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmy
toespraak
speech.WheninmyMaster’s
zicht
sightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftwilltell.”Shethenwas
stil
silent,andIthusbegan:“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothy
bevel
commanddelightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthiscentreherebeneath.”
Shethen:
“Sincethouso
diep
deeplywouldstinquire,Iwillinstructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmyingang
entrancehere.ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterrible
naast
beside.Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohis
genade
grace!Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.
InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheeto
verwijderen
remove,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“NowdoththyfaithfulservantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herof
oude
ancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccour
geleend
lentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitudeadmires?Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanasea,him
worstelt
strugglingholds?”Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuch
snelheid
speedHastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingtheforceOfthyzuivere
pureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,her
heldere
brightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’dopzij
aside;whereatIfeltRedoubledzealto
dienen
servethee.Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthe
beest
beast,WhothynearwayacrossthegoodlymountPrevented.Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthybreastHarbourvilefear?
whyhastnot
moed
couragethereAndnobledaring?Sincethreemaidsso
zegenen
blestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindly
moed
courageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:“Ofullof
medelijden
pityshe,whoundertookMysuccour!andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
Withsuch
verlangen
desireThouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstdoel
purposefullyisresum’d.Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmy
gids
guide,mymasterthou,andlord.”SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassintoeternalpain:
Throughme
tussen
amongthepeoplelostforaye.Justicethefounderofmyfabricmov’d:
Torearmewasthetaskofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.
Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.
“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
SuchcharactersincolourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyarchinscrib’d:
WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’dreplied:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevilefearextinguish’d.
WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTomiserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”
Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.
HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsof
woede
anger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithvaste
soliddarknessstain’d,Liketothezand
sandthatinthewhirlwindflies.Ithen,witherroryetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“Thismiserable
lot
fateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorpraiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northedepthOfHell
ontvangt
receivesthem,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillItelltheebriefly.
TheseofdeathNohopemayentertain:
andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.
Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Nor
lijdt
suffers;mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:
andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whoto
baseren
basefearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
ThenlookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthronguponthe
oever
shoreofagreatstream:WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”
Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasoursteps
aankomen
arriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohis
oor
ear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.Andlo!
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheother
oever
shoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfiercehitte
heatandinice.Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometo
wal
shore,Notbythispassage;theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemy
gids
guide:“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”