CANTOI
Inthemidwayof
questa
thisourmortallife,Itrovai
foundmeinagloomywood,astrayAndato
Gonefromthepathdirect:e
ande’entotellItwerenon
noeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,quanto
howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtoricordare
rememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotlontano
farfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhat
ci
theregoodbefell,Allelseè
willIrelatediscover’dthere.Come
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecandire
say,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,quando
whenthetruepathIlasciato
left,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,dove
whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmycuore
heartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,e
andsawhisshouldersbroadGià
Alreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Wholeadstutti
allwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwas
una
alittlerespitetothefear,Che
Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofche
thatnight,sopitifullypass’d:E
Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromseatoshore,Gira
Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,e
andstandsAtgaze;e’ensomyspirit,
che
thatyetfail’dStrugglingwithterror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Che
Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.Mywearyframe
Dopo
Aftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.Il
Thehinderfootstillfirmer.ScarcetheascentBegan,
quando
when,lo!apanther,nimble,light,
E
Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,quando
whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocontrollare
checkmyonwardgoing;thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,
e
andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Che
Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:so
che
thatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfche
thatswiftanimal,thematindawnE
Andthesweetseason.Soonthatjoywaschas’d,
E
Andbynewdreadsucceeded,quando
wheninviewAlionvenuto
came,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.Di
Withhisheadheldalofte
andhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.Una
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,che
whoinherleannessseem’dFulloftutti
allwants,andmanyalandhathfatto
madeDisconsolateerenow.Shewith
tale
suchfearO’erwhelmedme,atla
thesightofherappall’d,Che
Thatoftheheightallsperanza
hopeIlost.Asone,
Che
Whowithhisgainelated,vede
seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisandato
gone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfellbeast,
mai
neveratpeace,Whocomingo’ercontro
againstme,bydegreesImpell’dmedove
wherethesuninsilenceriposa
rests.WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthrough
lungo
longdisuseofspeech.Whenhiminthat
grande
greatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
o
orlivingman!whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownot
uomo
man,manonceIwas,E
AndbornofLombardparents,Mantuanaentrambi
bothBycountry,whenthepotere
powerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.AtRomemy
vita
lifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetempo
timeOffableddeitiesandfalse.Un
AbardWasI,andfatto
madeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,che
whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.Ma
Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?whereforenot
questo
thispleasantmountAscendest,causee
andsourceofalldelight?”“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,From
cui
whichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”Iwith
fronte
frontabash’dreplied.“Gloryand
luce
lightofallthetunefultrain!Mayitavailme
che
thatIlongwithzealHo
Havesoughtthyvolume,andwithamore
loveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.My
maestro
masterthouandguide!ThouhefromwhomaloneI
ho
havederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyintofameExaltsme.Vedete
Seethebeast,fromwhomIfled.Osavemefrom
lei
her,thouillustrioussage!“For
ogni
everyveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathfatto
madetremble.”He,soonashe
vide
sawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherstrada
waypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutche
thatsavagewilderness.Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,her
strada
waywillsuffernoneTopass,e
andnolesshindrancemakesche
thandeath:Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,That
mai
neversatedisherravenousè
will,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanprima
before.TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,
e
andshallyettomanymore,Finché
Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.He
sarà
willnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,ma
butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,e
andhislandshallbeTheland’twixto
eitherFeltro.InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splainsarise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,
e
andTurnusfell.Hewithincessantchase
attraverso
througheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyprimo
firstletloose.Iforthyprofitpond’ring
ora
nowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,e
andIthyguideWillleadtheehenceattraverso
throughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltsentirai
heardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconda
seconddeath;andthosenextview,whodwellContentin
fuoco
fire,forthattheyhopetovenire
come,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,Intowhoseregionsse
ifthouthendesireT’ascend,aspiritworthierthanIDeve
Mustleadthee,inwhosecharge,quando
whenIdepart,Thoushaltbelasciato
left:forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,
un
arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,e
andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscittà
citynonethroughmeshouldcome.Hein
tutte
allpartshathsway;thererules,thereholdsHiscitadel
e
andthrone.Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohimin
pochi
few:“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(that
questo
thisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,dove
wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,e
andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”CANTOII
Ora
Nowwasthedaydeparting,e
andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dTutti
Allanimalsonearth;andI
solo
alonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothofsadpity,e
andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
ora
nowvouchsafeYouraid!O
mente
mind!thatallIsawhast
tenuto
keptSafeinawrittenrecord,qui
herethyworthAndeminentendowmentsvengono
cometoproof.Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thou
che
whoartmyguide,Considerbene
well,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretoquesta
thishighenterpriseThoutrustme
me.ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yet
se
ifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoetoill,tale
suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofil
thehigheffect,Bothwhate
andwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,
e
andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwaschosensire:Entrambi
Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dE
And’stablish’dfortheholyluogo
place,wheresitsWhotogrande
greatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.Hefrom
questo
thisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,che
thattohisvictorygaveriseE
Andtothepapalrobe.Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.
Ma
ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?o
orwhoPermitsit?notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnotworthy,
e
andnoneelseWilldeemme.Mi
I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.Thou,whoartwise,
meglio
bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”As
uno
one,whounresolvesWhathehathtardi
lateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsCambia
Changeshispurpose,fromhisprimo
firstintentRemov’d;e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.
“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsa
uomo
man,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,come
likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinle
thetwilightgloom.Thatfrom
questo
thisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,Iwillinstructtheeperché
whyIcame,andwhatIsentito
heardinthatsameinstant,quando
whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmeprima
first.Iwasamongthetribe,
Che
Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestE
Andlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;hereyeswerebrighterthan
i
thestarOfday;andshewithgentlevoice
e
andsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thouwhosefame
Ancora
Yetlives,andshalllivelungo
longasnaturelasts!A
amico
friend,notofmyfortunema
butmyself,Onthewidedesertinhisroadha
hasmetHindrancesogreat,che
thathethroughfearhasturn’d.Ora
NowmuchIdreadlesthepassato
pasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntootardi
lateforhisrelief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIsentito
heard.Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,
E
Andbyallmeansforhisdeliveranceincontrare
meet,Assisthim.Sotome
sarà
willcomfortspring.Iwho
ora
nowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;from
un
aplaceIcome.(Note:
Beatrice.
I
uso
usethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingofquattro
foursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)Revisitedwithjoy.
Love
portato
broughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.Quando
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftsarò
willtell.”Shethenwassilent,
e
andIthusbegan:“O
Signora
Lady!bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothycommanddelights
mi
me,thattoobey,Ifitwerefatto
donealready,wouldseemlate.Non
Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthyvolontà
will;Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothTo
lasciare
leavethatamplespace,wheretotornare
returnThouburnest,forthiscentrequi
herebeneath.”Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldstinquire,I
vuoi
willinstructtheebriefly,whynessun
nodreadHindersmyentrancequi
here.ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.
Iamsofram’dby
Dio
God,thankstohisgrace!Che
Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,norflameofche
thatfiercefireAssailsme.InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoher
volontà
willinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“Nowdoththyfaithfulservant
bisogno
needthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”Ather
parola
wordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,E
Andcomingtotheplace,dove
whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:“Thoutruepraiseof
Dio
God!Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,
che
whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitudeadmires?Dostthounot
senti
hearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthemorte
death,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanun
asea,himstrugglingholds?”Ne’eramongmendidanywith
tale
suchspeedHastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Asquando
whenthesewordswerespoken,Ivenuto
camehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingil
theforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,e
andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshe
aveva
hadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;whereatI
sentito
feltRedoubledzealtoservethee.Asshewill’d,ThusamI
vengo
come:Isav’dtheefrom
il
thebeast,Whothynearwayacrossil
thegoodlymountPrevented.Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
perché
whyinthybreastHarbourvilefear?perché
whyhastnotcouragethereE
Andnobledaring?SincethreemaidssoblestThysafety
piano
plan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;E
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”Asflorets,bythefrostyairof
notte
nightBentdownandclos’d,quando
whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Risetutti
allunfoldedontheirspirystems;Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,
E
Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,Che
ThatIasoneundauntedpresto
soonreplied:“Ofullofpity
lei
she,whoundertookMysuccour!e
andthoukindwhodidstperformSopresto
soonhertruebehest!With
tale
suchdesireThouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Che
Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.Leadon:
una
oneonlywillisinusentrambi
both.Thouartmyguide,my
maestro
masterthou,andlord.”Sospake
Ho
I;CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothe
città
cityofwoe:Throughmeyoupassintoeternalpain:
Attraverso
Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.Justice
il
thefounderofmyfabricmov’d:Torearmewas
il
thetaskofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,e
andprimevallove.Beforemethingscreatewerenone,
tranne
savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.“All
speranza
hopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”SuchcharactersincolourdimImark’d
Su
Overaportal’sloftyarchinscrib’d:WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heas
uno
oneprepar’dreplied:“Herethou
devi
mustalldistrustbehindtheelasciare
leave;Herebevilefearextinguish’d.
Weare
venuti
comeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallvedremo
seethesoulsTomiserydoom’d,che
whointellectualgoodHavelost.”E
Andwhenhishandheha
hadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretposto
placeheledmeon.Qui
HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Che
Thate’enIweptatentering.Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeep
e
andhoarse,Withhandstogethersmoteche
thatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,che
thatforeverwhirlsRoundattraverso
throughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Come
Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.Ithen,witherror
ancora
yetencompass’d,cried:“Omaster!
WhatisthisI
sento
hear?WhatraceArethese,
che
whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”Hethusto
me
me:“ThismiserablefateSuffer
le
thewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dSenza
Withoutorpraiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNorancora
yetweretruetoGod,ma
butforthemselvesWereonly.FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northedepthOfHellreceives
li
them,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,
Che
Thattheylamentsoloud?”Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillI
dirò
telltheebriefly.Theseof
morte
deathNohopemayentertain:e
andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,che
thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.Fameofthemthe
mondo
worldhathnone,Norsuffers;mercy
e
andjusticescornthemboth.Speaknotof
loro
them,butlook,andpassthemby.”E
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,behelduna
aflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnon
nopauseobtain’d:andfollowingcameSuch
un
alongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavepensato
thought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.Quando
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,Ivisto
sawAndknewtheshadeoflui
him,whotobasefearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithI
capii
understoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoDio
GoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.Thesewretches,whone’er
vivevano
lived,Wentoninnakedness,e
andsorelystungBywaspse
andhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithsangue
blood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,E
Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.Then
guardando
lookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagrande
greatstream:WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantme
ora
nowtoknowWhomhereweview,e
andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernAttraverso
Throughtheblearlight?”Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthou
saprai
know,soonasourstepsarriveBesidei
thewoefultideofAcheron.”Thenwitheyesdownwardcast
e
andfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillweavevamo
hadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.E
Andlo!towardusinabark
Viene
Comesonanoldmanhoarybianco
whitewitheld,.Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEverto
vedere
seetheskyagain.I
vengo
comeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheate
andinice.Andthou,
che
whothereStandest,livespirit!gettheehence,
e
andleaveThesewhoaredead.”Ma
ButsoonashebeheldIlasciavo
leftthemnot,“Byotherway,”disse
saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbyquesto
thispassage;theeanimblerboat
Deve
Mustcarry.”Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,
Dove
Wherewillandpowerareuno
one:askthounomore.”