CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:
ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,how
robust
robustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayErneuert
Renews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthat
augenblick
instantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithangst
dread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sstrahl
beam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromseatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAt
blick
gaze;e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwith
schrecken
terror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.MywearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.
Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
a
panther
panther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:
sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.
Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynew
furcht
dreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,Thatofthe
höhe
heightallhopeIlost.Asone,Whowithhis
gewinn
gainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyTrauert
Mournswithheart-gripinganguish;suchwasI,
Verfolgt
Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesuninsilencerests.WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.
WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIout
laut
aloud,“Spirit!orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.
AtRomemylifewaspast
Unter
BeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whenthe
flammen
flamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthy
band
volume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyintofameExaltsme.
Seethebeast,fromwhomI
geflohen
fled.Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“Forevery
ader
veinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavage
wildnis
wilderness.Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShe
befestigt
fastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,
Weisheit
Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splains
entstehen
arise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thenceby
neid
envyfirstletloose.Iforthy
gewinn
profitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadtheedaher
hencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenextview,who
wohnen
dwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,a
rebell
rebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadeland
thron
throne.Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”
CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselfthe
konflikt
conflicttosustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYour
hilfe
aid!Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.
Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,if
tugend
virtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighunternehmen
enterpriseThoutrustme.ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almighty
feind
foetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’surteil
judgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyreal
höhe
heightwaschosensire:Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.
Hefromthisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapal
gewand
robe.Inafter-timesThechosen
gefäß
vesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwho
Erlaubt
Permitsit?notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnot
würdig
worthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.I,ifonthis
reise
voyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirst
absicht
intentRemov’d;e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmy
unternehmen
enterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthat
schatten
shademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthedämmerung
twilightgloom.Thatfromthis
schrecken
terrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameaugenblick
instant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.Iwasamongthe
stamm
tribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewithgentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:
“Ocourteous
schatten
shadeofMantua!thouwhose
ruhm
fameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,OnthewidedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.
NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhis
erleichterung
relief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.Speednow,Andbythyeloquent
überzeugende
persuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Helfen
Assisthim.Sotomewill
trost
comfortspring.IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitis
ausgesprochen
pronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thy
lob
praisetohimIoftwilltell.”Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:
“OLady!
bywhose
einfluss
influencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thattogehorchen
obey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthis
zentrum
centreherebeneath.”Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldst
fragen
inquire,Iwillinstructtheekurz
briefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.
Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,nor
flamme
flameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,who
trauert
mournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternurteil
judgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“Nowdoththyfaithful
diener
servantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”AtherwordSpedLucia,ofall
grausamkeit
crueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitude
bewundert
admires?Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrent
flut
flood,Swolnmightierthanasea,himstrugglingholds?”Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,
geflohen
fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,WhothynearwayacrossthegoodlymountPrevented.
Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthy
brust
breastHarbourvilefear?whyhastnotcouragethereAndnobledaring?
SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnight
Gebogen
Bentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:
“Ofullofpityshe,whoundertookMysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmeto
erneuern
renewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassinto
ewigen
eternalpain:Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethe
gründer
founderofmyfabricmov’d:Torearmewasthetaskofpowerdivine,Supremest
weisheit
wisdom,andprimevallove.Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethings
Ewigen
Eternal,andeternalIendure.“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
Suchcharactersin
farbe
colourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftybogen
archinscrib’d:WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’dreplied:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevilefearextinguish’d.
WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTo
elend
miserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.
HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.
Verschiedene
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.Ithen,with
irrtum
erroryetencompass’d,cried:“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutor
lob
praiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebellisch
rebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northe
tiefe
depthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedstamm
tribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillItellthee
kurz
briefly.TheseofdeathNohopemay
unterhalten
entertain:andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsThey
beneiden
envy.Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Norsuffers;
mercyandjustice
verachten
scornthemboth.Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,behelda
flagge
flag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewthe
schatten
shadeofhim,whotobasefearErgab
Yielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthe
stamm
tribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
Thenlooking
weiter
fartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSo
eifrig
eagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyes
nach unten
downwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.Andlo!
towardusina
barke
barkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.Crying,“Woetoyou
böse
wickedspirits!hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,thereto
wohnen
dwellInfierceheatandinice.Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
getthee
daher
hence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythis
durchgang
passage;theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”