CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeina
dyster
gloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,how
robust
robustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayFornyer
Renews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillI
relatere
relatediscover’dthere.HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Such
søvnig
sleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbrede
broadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sstråle
beam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwith
slit
toiling,’scap’dfromseatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtblikket
gaze;e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwith
terror
terror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.My
trette
wearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
a
panter
panther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyvidere
onwardgoing;thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesun
steg
ascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLoveguddommelig
divinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:sothatwith
gledelig
joyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthatraske
swiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynewdread
lyktes
succeeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.
Asone,Whowithhis
gevinst
gainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlySørger
Mournswithheart-gripinganguish;suchwasI,
Hjemsøkt
Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesuninsilencerests.WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’d
besvime
faintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIout
høyt
aloud,“Spirit!orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWas
knapt
scarcelyfirm.AtRomemylifewaspast
Under
BeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.
Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasant
fjellet
mountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’d
svarte
replied.“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthy
volum
volume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyinto
berømmelse
fameExaltsme.Seethebeast,fromwhomI
flyktet
fled.Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“Forevery
vene
veinandpulsethroughoutmyramme
frameShehathmadetremble.”He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherway
forfølge
pursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.
HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,
Visdom
Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splains
oppstå
arise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellat
lengde
lengthRestoreher,thencebymisunnelse
envyfirstletloose.Iforthy
fortjeneste
profitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadtheehencethroughanevig
eternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenextview,who
bor
dwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’stige
ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthat
Allmektige
AlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadeland
trone
throne.Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnot
tilbad
adore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflictto
opprettholde
sustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYour
hjelp
aid!Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.
Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,if
dyd
virtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,
Allmektige
Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissuefrem
forth,Itseemsinreason’sdom
judgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyreal
høyde
heightwaschosensire:Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.
Hefromthisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapal
kappe
robe.Inafter-timesThechosen
fartøyet
vesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbacktrygghet
assuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.ButI,whyshouldIthere
formodet
presume?orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnot
verdig
worthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.I,ifonthisvoyagethenI
våger
venture,fearitwillinfollyend.Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;
e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmy
foretak
enterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.“IfrightthywordsIscan,”
svarte
repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.Thatfromthis
terror
terrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeSorg
Grieftouch’dmefirst.Iwasamongthetribe,Whorest
suspendert
suspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewith
mild
gentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:“Ocourteous
skygge
shadeofMantua!thouwhose
berømmelse
fameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,OnthewidedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.
NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhis
lettelse
relief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.Speednow,Andbythyeloquent
overbevisende
persuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Hjelpe
Assisthim.Sotomewill
trøste
comfortspring.IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)
Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thy
lovprisning
praisetohimIoftwilltell.”Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:
“OLady!
bywhose
innflytelse
influencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thattoadlyde
obey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.Noneedhastthou
lenger
farthertospeakthywill;Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthis
sentrum
centreherebeneath.”Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldst
spørre
inquire,Iwillinstructtheekort
briefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.
Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyour
elendighet
miseryTouchesmenot,norflamme
flameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,who
sørger
mournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssterndom
judgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“Nowdoththy
trofaste
faithfulservantneedthyaidAndIanbefaler
commendhimtothee.”AtherwordSpedLucia,ofall
grusomhet
crueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:“Thoutrue
lovprisning
praiseofGod!Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitude
beundrer
admires?Dostthounothearhow
ynkelig
pitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflom
flood,Swolnmightierthanasea,himstrugglingholds?”Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,
flykte
fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearwayacrossthegoodly
fjellet
mountPrevented.Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthy
bryst
breastHarbourvilefear?whyhastnotcouragethereAnd
edel
nobledaring?SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnight
Bøyd
Bentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoon
svarte
replied:“Ofullofpityshe,who
foretok
undertookMysuccour!andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmeto
fornye
renewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityof
ve
woe:Throughmeyoupassinto
evig
eternalpain:Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethefounderofmy
stoff
fabricmov’d:Torearmewasthetaskofpower
guddommelig
divine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethings
Evig
Eternal,andeternalIendure.“Allhope
forlate
abandonyewhoenterhere.”Suchcharactersin
farge
colourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftybue
archinscrib’d:WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewords
importere
importHardmeaning.”Heasoneprepar’d
svarte
replied:“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevilefearextinguish’d.
WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTo
elendighet
miserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.
Heresighswithlamentationsandloud
stønner
moansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.Ulike
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.Ithen,with
feil
erroryetencompass’d,cried:“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemso
overvunnet
overcomewithwoe?”Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthe
elendige
wretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorros
praiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonoropprørsk
rebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.FromhisboundsHeavendrovethem
frem
forth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northedepthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraight
svarte
replied:“ThatwillItellthee
kort
briefly.TheseofdeathNohopemay
underholde
entertain:andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsThey
misunner
envy.Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Norsuffers;
mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,behelda
flagg
flag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsoraskt
rapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewthe
skyggen
shadeofhim,whotobasefearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
Thenlooking
lenger
fartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstrøm
stream:WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”
Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoeful
tidevannet
tideofAcheron.”Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.
Andlo!
mot
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.Crying,“Woetoyou
onde
wickedspirits!hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Into
evig
eternaldarkness,theretodwellInvoldsom
fierceheatandinice.Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
getthee
derfor
hence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythispassage;
theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”