CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisour
mortal
mortallife,Ifoundmeinasombrío
gloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,how
robusto
robustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenueva
Renews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillI
relacionar
relatediscover’dthere.HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthat
instante
instantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithtemor
dread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sviga
beam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromseatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;
e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwithterror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.
My
cansado
wearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
a
pantera
panther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLove
divino
divinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthat
rápido
swiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynew
temor
dreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.
Asone,Whowithhis
ganancia
gainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyLlora
Mournswithheart-gripinganguish;suchwasI,
Perseguido
Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesuninsilencerests.WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’d
desmayarse
faintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIout
en voz alta
aloud,“Spirit!orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.
AtRomemylifewaspast
Bajo
BeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whenthe
llamas
flamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthis
agradable
pleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’d
respondió
replied.“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthy
volumen
volume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyinto
fama
fameExaltsme.Seethebeast,fromwhomI
huí
fled.Osavemefromher,thou
ilustre
illustrioussage!“Foreveryveinand
pulso
pulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavage
desierto
wilderness.Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmore
anhelo
cravingthanbefore.Tomanyananimalinwedlock
vil
vileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,
Sabiduría
Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splains
surgirá
arise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlength
Restablezca
Restoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.Iforthy
beneficio
profitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadtheehencethroughaneterno
eternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenextview,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’
ascender
ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthat
Todopoderoso
AlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,arebelde
rebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadeland
trono
throne.Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnot
adoraste
adore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselfthe
conflicto
conflicttosustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYour
ayuda
aid!Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.
Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,if
virtud
virtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,
Todopoderoso
Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueadelante
forth,Itseemsinreason’sjuicio
judgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwaschosensire:
Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.
Hefromthisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapal
túnica
robe.Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.
ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwho
Permite
Permitsit?notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnotworthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.
I,ifonthis
viaje
voyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirst
intención
intentRemov’d;e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSo
ansiosamente
eagerlyembrac’d.“IfrightthywordsIscan,”
respondió
repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvil
vilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolución
resolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,Iwill
instruiré
instructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstante
instant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.Iwasamongthe
tribu
tribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewithgentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:
“Ocourteous
sombra
shadeofMantua!thouwhose
fama
fameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,OnthewidedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.
NowmuchI
temo
dreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisalivio
relief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.
Sotomewill
consuelo
comfortspring.Iwhonowbidtheeonthis
recado
errandforthAmBeatrice;fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitis
pronuncia
pronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thy
alabanza
praisetohimIoftwilltell.”Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:
“OLady!
bywhose
influencia
influencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestesfera
orb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thattoobedecer
obey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.Noneedhastthou
más
farthertospeakthywill;Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthis
centro
centreherebeneath.”Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldst
preguntar
inquire,Iwillinstructtheebrevemente
briefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmay
proceder
proceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyour
miseria
miseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthatferoz
fiercefireAssailsme.InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,who
lamenta
mournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternjuicio
judgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“Nowdoththyfaithful
siervo
servantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”AtherwordSpedLucia,ofall
crueldad
crueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereImoraba
abodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:“Thoutrue
alabanza
praiseofGod!Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitude
admira
admires?Dostthounothearhow
lamentable
pitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentinundación
flood,Swolnmightierthanasea,himstrugglingholds?”Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheir
beneficio
profit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearwayacrossthegoodly
monte
mountPrevented.Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthy
pecho
breastHarbourvilefear?whyhastnotcouragethereAnd
noble
nobledaring?SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoon
respondió
replied:“Ofullofpityshe,who
emprendió
undertookMysuccour!andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmeto
renovar
renewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassinto
eterno
eternalpain:Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethe
fundador
founderofmyfabricmov’d:Torearmewasthetaskofpower
divino
divine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalI
soporto
endure.“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
Suchcharactersin
color
colourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyarco
archinscrib’d:WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewords
importan
importHardmeaning.”Heasoneprepar’d
respondió
replied:“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebe
vil
vilefearextinguish’d.WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTo
miseria
miserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.
HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.
Ithen,with
error
erroryetencompass’d,cried:“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutor
alabanza
praiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northe
profundidad
depthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedtribu
tribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thatthey
lamentan
lamentsoloud?”Hestraight
respondió
replied:“ThatwillItellthee
brevemente
briefly.TheseofdeathNohopemay
entretener
entertain:andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsThey
envidian
envy.Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Norsuffers;
mercyandjustice
desprecian
scornthemboth.Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,
vi
beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorápidamente
rapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewthe
sombra
shadeofhim,whotobasefearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthe
tribu
tribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
ThenlookingfartheronwardsI
vi
beheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatarroyo
stream:WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”
Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoeful
marea
tideofAcheron.”Thenwitheyes
hacia abajo
downwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.Andlo!
hacia
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,thereto
morar
dwellInfierceheatandinice.Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
Butsoonashe
vio
beheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythispasaje
passage;theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”