CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisour
sterfelijke
mortallife,Ifoundmeinasomber
gloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,how
robuust
robustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayVernieuwt
Renews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwith
angst
dread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbrede
broadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sstraal
beam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwith
zwoegen
toiling,’scap’dfromseatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtblik
gaze;e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwith
terreur
terror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.My
vermoeide
wearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteile
steep,.Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
a
panter
panther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLove
goddelijke
divinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthat
snelle
swiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynew
vrees
dreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathis
hielen
heels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,Thatofthe
hoogte
heightallhopeIlost.Asone,Whowithhis
winst
gainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyRouwt
Mournswithheart-gripinganguish;suchwasI,
Achtervolgd
Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesuninsilencerests.WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.
WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWas
nauwelijks
scarcelyfirm.AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whenthe
vlammen
flamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthis
aangename
pleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’d
antwoordde
replied.“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.
Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyinto
roem
fameExaltsme.Seethebeast,fromwhomI
gevlucht
fled.Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“Forevery
ader
veinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavage
wildernis
wilderness.Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
Tomanyananimalinwedlock
vile
vileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,
Wijsheid
Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splains
ontstaan
arise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thenceby
afgunst
envyfirstletloose.Iforthy
winst
profitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadtheevandaar
hencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenextview,who
wonen
dwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’opstijgen
ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIvertrek
depart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthat
Almachtige
AlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,aopstandige
rebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadeland
troon
throne.Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”
CANTOII
Nowwastheday
vertrekken
departing,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;andIalonePrepar’dmyselfthe
conflict
conflicttosustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYour
hulp
aid!Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAnd
eminente
eminentendowmentscometoproof.Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,if
deugd
virtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighonderneming
enterpriseThoutrustme.ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,
Almachtige
Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’soordeel
judgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyreal
hoogte
heightwaschosensire:Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchair
slaagt
succeeds.Hefromthisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapal
mantel
robe.Inafter-timesThechosen
schip
vesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackzekerheid
assuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnot
waardig
worthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.I,ifonthis
reis
voyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirst
bedoeling
intentRemov’d;e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmy
onderneming
enterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.“IfrightthywordsIscan,”
antwoordde
repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyverachtelijke
vilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolutie
resolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceintheschemering
twilightgloom.Thatfromthis
verschrikking
terrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeVerdriet
Grieftouch’dmefirst.Iwasamongthe
stam
tribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewithgentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:
“Ocourteous
schaduw
shadeofMantua!thouwhose
roem
fameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,OnthewidedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.
NowmuchI
vrees
dreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisopluchting
relief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,
Helpen
Assisthim.Sotomewill
troosten
comfortspring.Iwhonowbidtheeonthis
boodschap
errandforthAmBeatrice;fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitis
uitgesproken
pronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thy
lof
praisetohimIoftwilltell.”Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:
“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,
Mensheid
Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestbol
orb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thattogehoorzamen
obey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthis
centrum
centreherebeneath.”Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldst
vragen
inquire,Iwillinstructtheekort
briefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.
Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyour
ellende
miseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthatfelle
fiercefireAssailsme.InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,who
treurt
mournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternoordeel
judgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“Nowdoththyfaithful
dienaar
servantneedthyaidAndIbeveel
commendhimtothee.”AtherwordSpedLucia,ofall
wreedheid
crueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:“Thoutrue
lof
praiseofGod!Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitude
bewondert
admires?Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanasea,himstrugglingholds?”
Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,
gevlucht
fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearwayacrossthegoodly
berg
mountPrevented.Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthy
borst
breastHarbourvilefear?whyhastnotcouragethereAndnobledaring?
SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnight
Gebogen
Bentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoon
antwoordde
replied:“Ofullofpityshe,who
ondernam
undertookMysuccour!andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmeto
vernieuwen
renewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassinto
eeuwige
eternalpain:Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethe
oprichter
founderofmyfabricmov’d:Torearmewasthetaskofpower
goddelijke
divine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalI
verdraag
endure.“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
Suchcharactersin
kleuren
colourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyboog
archinscrib’d:WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’d
antwoordde
replied:“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebe
verachtelijke
vilefearextinguish’d.WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTo
ellende
miserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,with
aangename
pleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.
Verschillende
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.Ithen,with
fout
erroryetencompass’d,cried:“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthe
ellendige
wretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorlof
praiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northe
diepte
depthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedstam
tribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraight
antwoordde
replied:“ThatwillItellthee
kort
briefly.TheseofdeathNohopemay
vermaken
entertain:andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsThey
benijden
envy.Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Norsuffers;
mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,
zag
beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsosnel
rapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewthe
schaduw
shadeofhim,whotobasefearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthe
stam
tribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
ThenlookingfartheronwardsI
zag
beheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSo
enthousiast
eagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyes
naar beneden
downwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.Andlo!
naar
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.Crying,“Woetoyou
boze
wickedspirits!hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Into
eeuwige
eternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandinice.Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
Butsoonashe
zag
beheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythisdoorgang
passage;theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”