CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomywood,astrayGonefromthe
sentiero
pathdirect:ande’entotellItwerenoeasy
compito
task,howsavagewildThatforesta
forest,howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThe
valle
valley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficultshort
fiato
breath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromseatoriva
shore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’d
Lottare
Strugglingwithterror,turn’dtovedere
viewthestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.MywearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.
Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
apanther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;
thatofttimesWith
scopo
purposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:
sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweet
stagione
season.Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynewdreadsucceeded,whenin
vista
viewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthe
vista
sightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.Asone,Whowithhisgainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfell
bestia
beast,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesuninsilenzio
silencerests.WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.
Whenhiminthatgreat
deserto
desertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.
AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThe
soggetto
subjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeand
fonte
sourceofalldelight?”“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHave
cercato
soughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.Mymasterthouand
guida
guide!ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThat
stile
style,whichforitsbeautyintofameExaltsme.Seethe
bestia
beast,fromwhomIfled.Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“ForeveryveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
This
bestia
beast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsoffrirà
suffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshall
distruggerà
destroyHerwithsharppain.HewillnotlifesupportByearthnorits
base
basemetals,butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.InhismightShall
sicurezza
safetytoItalia’splainsarise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,vergine
virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.Hewithincessant
inseguimento
chasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.Iforthyprofitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthy
guida
guideWillleadtheehencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenext
vista
view,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,tra
amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,and
perciò
thereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadelandthrone.
Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthis
male
illandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sporta
gatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothofsad
pietà
pity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohigh
genio
genius!nowvouchsafeYouraid!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.
Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmy
guida
guide,Considerwell,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptible
carne
flesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoeto
male
ill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffetto
effect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwaschosensire:
Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacred
sedia
chairsucceeds.Hefromthis
viaggio
journey,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvittoria
victorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.
ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnotworthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.
I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.
Thou,whoart
saggio
wise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshis
scopo
purpose,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;e’ensuchwasIonthatdun
costa
coast,Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likea
bestia
beastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.
Iwas
tra
amongthetribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocomandare
command,Call’dme;hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewithgentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dher
discorso
speechaddress’d:“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thouwhosefameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!
Afriend,notofmy
fortuna
fortunebutmyself,Onthewidedeserto
desertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.
Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasive
lingua
tongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.Sotomewillcomfort
primavera
spring.IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)
Revisitedwith
gioia
joy.Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmy
discorso
speech.WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftwilltell.”
Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:
“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothy
comando
commanddelightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthiscentreherebeneath.”
Shethen:
“Sincethouso
profondamente
deeplywouldstinquire,Iwillinstructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmyingresso
entrancehere.ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterrible
accanto
beside.Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohis
grazia
grace!Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.
InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheeto
rimuovere
remove,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“NowdoththyfaithfulservantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:
“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccour
prestato
lentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitudeadmires?Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanasea,him
lotta
strugglingholds?”Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuch
velocità
speedHastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommybenedetto
blessedseat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’d
da parte
aside;whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthe
bestia
beast,WhothynearwayacrossthegoodlymountPrevented.Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthybreastHarbourvilefear?
whyhastnot
coraggio
couragethereAndnobledaring?Sincethreemaidsso
benedetto
blestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindly
coraggio
courageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:“Ofullof
pietà
pityshe,whoundertookMysuccour!andthoukindwhodidst
eseguito
performSosoonhertruebehest!Withsuch
desiderio
desireThouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstscopo
purposefullyisresum’d.Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmy
guida
guide,mymasterthou,andlord.”SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassintoeternalpain:
Throughme
tra
amongthepeoplelostforaye.Giustizia
Justicethefounderofmyfabricmov’d:Torearmewasthe
compito
taskofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.Beforemethings
create
createwerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.“Allhopeabandonyewho
entrate
enterhere.”SuchcharactersincolourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyarchinscrib’d:
WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’dreplied:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevilefearextinguish’d.
WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTomiserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”
Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.
HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptat
entrando
entering.Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsof
rabbia
anger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsolidoscurità
darknessstain’d,Liketothesabbia
sandthatinthewhirlwindflies.Ithen,witherroryetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“Thismiserable
destino
fateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorpraiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northedepthOfHell
riceve
receivesthem,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillItelltheebriefly.
TheseofdeathNohopemayentertain:
andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.
Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Nor
soffre
suffers;mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:
andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whoto
base
basefearYielding,abjur’dhishightenuta
estate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
ThenlookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthronguponthe
riva
shoreofagreatstream:WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomherewe
vediamo
view,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasoursteps
arriveranno
arriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.
Andlo!
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheother
riva
shoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandinice.Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometo
riva
shore,Notbythispassage;theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemy
guida
guide:“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”