CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:
ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.
Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Who
mène
leadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothe
peur
fear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:Andasaman,with
difficile
difficultshortbreath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfrommer
seatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;e’ensomy
esprit
spirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwithterror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.MywearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.
Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
Scarcetheascent
Commencé
Began,when,lo!apanther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckled
peau
skin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,plutôt
ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthe
soleil
sunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,the
gai
gayskinOfthatswiftanimal
animal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynewdreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.
Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
Shewithsuch
peur
fearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.Asone,Whowithhisgainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neverat
paix
peace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesoleil
suninsilencerests.Whiletothelowerspacewithbackward
pas
stepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheforme
formoneofone,Whosevoix
voiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,And
né
bornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmy
chanson
song,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetuneful
train
train!MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.
Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforits
beauté
beautyintofameExaltsme.Seethebeast,fromwhomIfled.
Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“ForeveryveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTo
passer
pass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharp
douleur
pain.Hewillnotlife
soutiendra
supportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splainsarise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.
HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.
Iforthyprofitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadtheehencethroughaneternal
espace
space,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenextview,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,a
esprit
spiritworthierthanIMustconduire
leadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreigns
au-dessus
above,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadelandthrone.
Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisilland
pire
worseImayescape)toconduire
leadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothof
triste
sadpity,andthatperilousroute
road,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYouraid!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethy
valeur
worthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.Ithus
commencé
began:“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.
ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,It
semble
seemsinreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwas
choisi
chosensire:Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dforthe
saint
holyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.Hefromthisjourney,inthy
chanson
songrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthat
foi
faith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasI
ni
norPaul.MyselfIdeemnotworthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.
I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,
crains
fearitwillinfollyend.Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;
e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,
Gaspillant
Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thy
âme
soulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.
Iwasamongthetribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAnd
belle
lovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewithgentle
voix
voiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thouwhosefameYetlives,andshalllivelongas
nature
naturelasts!Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,Onthewidedesertinhis
route
roadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughpeur
fearhasturn’d.NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,Fromwhatin
ciel
heavenofhimIheard.Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.
Sotomewillcomfortspring.
IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthe
troisième
thirdisalongone.)Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftwilltell.”
Shethenwassilent,andIthus
commençai
began:“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthat
ciel
heavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldsemblerait
seemlate.Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatample
espace
space,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthiscentreherebeneath.”Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldstinquire,Iwillinstructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.
ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whence
mal
evilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterrible
terriblebeside.Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,
ni
norflameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.Inhigh
ciel
heavenablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“NowdoththyfaithfulservantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:
“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitudeadmires?
Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,
Ni
Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanamer
sea,himstrugglingholds?”Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessed
siège
seat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,WhothynearwayacrossthegoodlymountPrevented.
Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthybreastHarbourvile
peur
fear?whyhastnotcouragethereAndnobledaring?
SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthe
cour
courtofheaven;Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:
“Ofullofpityshe,whoundertookMysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.
Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyou
passez
passintothecityofwoe:Throughmeyou
passerez
passintoeternalpain:Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethefounderofmyfabricmov’d:
Torearmewasthetaskofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.
Beforemethingscreatewere
rien
none,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
SuchcharactersincolourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyarchinscrib’d:
WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’dreplied:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevile
peur
fearextinguish’d.WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTomiserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”
Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothat
secret
secretplaceheledmeon.HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbyno
étoile
star,Thate’enIweptatentering.Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.
Ithen,witherroryetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
What
race
raceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorpraiseor
reproche
blame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whoni
norrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.Fromhisbounds
Ciel
Heavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,ni
northedepthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillItelltheebriefly.
TheseofdeathNohopemayentertain:
andtheir
aveugle
blindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.Fameofthemtheworldhath
aucun
none,Norsuffers;mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,and
passez
passthemby.”AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:
andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whotobase
craindre
fearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheir
pieds
feet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.ThenlookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:
WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dthey
semblent
seemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwith
honte
shame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtherivière
river,IfromspeechAbstain’d.Andlo!
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEvertoseethe
ciel
skyagain.IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandinice.
Andthou,whothereStandest,live
esprit
spirit!gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythispassage;
theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”