CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:
ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavage
vild
wildThatforest,howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’s
fot
footIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Wholeder
leadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,with
svårt
difficultshortbreath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromhav
seatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;e’ensomy
ande
spirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwithterror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Thatingen
nonehathpass’dandliv’d.MywearyframeAfter
kort
shortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
Scarcetheascent
Började
Began,when,lo!apanther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckled
hud
skin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,snarare
ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthe
solen
sunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegay
huden
skinOfthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynewdreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.
Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanya
land
landhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.Shewithsuch
rädsla
fearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.Asone,Whowithhisgainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neverat
frid
peace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesolen
suninsilencerests.Whiletothelowerspacewithbackward
steg
stepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformen
formoneofone,Whoseröst
voiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,And
född
bornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmy
sång
song,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetuneful
tåget
train!MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.
Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforits
skönhet
beautyintofameExaltsme.Seethebeast,fromwhomIfled.
Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“ForeveryveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTo
passera
pass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
Tomanyan
djur
animalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharpsmärta
pain.HewillnotlifesupportByearth
eller
noritsbasemetals,butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splainsarise,For
vars
whosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.
Iforthyprofitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWill
leda
leadtheehencethroughaneternalutrymme
space,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenextview,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,Into
vars
whoseregionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,aande
spiritworthierthanIMustleda
leadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreigns
ovanför
above,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscityingen
nonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadelandthrone.
Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImay
undkomma
escape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilous
vägen
road,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYouraid!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethy
värde
worthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.Ithus
började
began:“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.
ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensible
närvarande
present.Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,It
verkar
seemsinreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwaschosensire:
Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.
Hefromthisjourney,inthy
sång
songrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthat
tron
faith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasI
eller
norPaul.MyselfIdeemnotworthy,and
ingen
noneelseWilldeemme.I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,
fruktar
fearitwillinfollyend.Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;
e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,
Slösar
Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thy
själ
soulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.
Iwasamongthetribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;
hereyeswerebrighterthanthe
stjärna
starOfday;andshewithgentle
röst
voiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thou
vars
whosefameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,Onthewidedesertinhis
väg
roadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughrädsla
fearhasturn’d.NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,Fromwhatin
himlen
heavenofhimIheard.Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.
Sotomewillcomfortspring.
IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthe
tredje
thirdisalongone.)Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftwilltell.”
Shethenwassilent,andIthus
började
began:“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthat
himmel
heavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldtyckas
seemlate.Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthiscentreherebeneath.”
Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldstinquire,Iwillinstructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.
ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,
Inga
Noneelse,fornonearefruktansvärda
terriblebeside.Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.
Inhigh
himmel
heavenablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“NowdoththyfaithfulservantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:
“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthy
skull
sakeallthemultitudeadmires?Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthana
hav
sea,himstrugglingholds?”Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessed
plats
seat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearway
över
acrossthegoodlymountPrevented.Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthybreastHarbourvile
rädsla
fear?whyhastnotcouragethereAndnobledaring?
SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:
“Ofullofpityshe,whoundertookMysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.
Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyou
passerar
passintothecityofwoe:Throughmeyou
passerar
passintoeternalpain:Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethefounderofmyfabricmov’d:
Torearmewasthetaskofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.
Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.
“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
SuchcharactersincolourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyarchinscrib’d:
WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’dreplied:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevilefearextinguish’d.
WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTomiserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”
Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothat
hemliga
secretplaceheledmeon.HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbyno
stjärna
star,Thate’enIweptatentering.Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voices
djupa
deepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.Ithen,witherroryetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
What
ras
raceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorpraiseor
klander
blame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.Fromhisbounds
Himlen
Heavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,inte heller
northedepthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
He
rakt
straightreplied:“ThatwillItelltheebriefly.
TheseofdeathNohopemayentertain:
andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.
Fameofthemtheworldhath
ingen
none,Norsuffers;mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:
andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whotobase
rädsla
fearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheir
fötter
feet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.ThenlookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:
WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dthey
verkar
seemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwith
skam
shame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dthefloden
river,IfromspeechAbstain’d.Andlo!
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEvertoseethe
himlen
skyagain.IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershore
över
across,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandinis
ice.Andthou,whothereStandest,live
ande
spirit!gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythispassage;
theeanimbler
båt
boatMustcarry.”Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”