CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisour
dödliga
mortallife,Ifoundmeinadyster
gloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,how
robust
robustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitterhet
bitternessnotfarfromdeath.Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Such
sömnig
sleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithskräck
dread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbreda
broadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sstråle
beam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwith
slit
toiling,’scap’dfromseatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwith
skräck
terror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.My
trötta
wearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
a
panter
panther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesun
steg
ascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovegudomliga
divinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:sothatwith
glada
joyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynew
rädsla
dreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,Thatofthe
höjden
heightallhopeIlost.Asone,Whowithhis
vinst
gainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlySörjer
Mournswithheart-gripinganguish;suchwasI,
Hemsökt
Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesuninsilencerests.WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’d
svimma
faintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIout
högt
aloud,“Spirit!orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWas
knappast
scarcelyfirm.AtRomemylifewaspast
Under
BeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.
Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’d
svarade
replied.“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthy
volym
volume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyinto
berömmelse
fameExaltsme.Seethebeast,fromwhomI
flydde
fled.Osavemefromher,thouillustrious
vise
sage!“Foreveryveinand
puls
pulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.
HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,
Visdom
Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splains
uppstå
arise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellat
längd
lengthRestoreher,thencebyavund
envyfirstletloose.Iforthy
vinst
profitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadtheehencethroughanevig
eternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;andthosenextview,who
bor
dwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’stiga
ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:forthat
Allsmäktige
AlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadeland
tron
throne.Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnot
dyrkar
adore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflictto
upprätthålla
sustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYour
hjälp
aid!Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAnd
framstående
eminentendowmentscometoproof.Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,if
dygd
virtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighföretag
enterpriseThoutrustme.ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,
Allsmäktige
Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’sdom
judgmentwelldeserv’d:SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyreal
höjd
heightwaschosensire:Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchair
efterträder
succeeds.Hefromthisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.
Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.
ButI,whyshouldIthere
anta
presume?orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnot
värdig
worthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.I,ifonthis
resan
voyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirst
avsikt
intentRemov’d;e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmy
företag
enterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.“IfrightthywordsIscan,”
svarade
repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestbeslutsamhet
resolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.Thatfromthis
skräck
terrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameögonblick
instant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.Iwasamongthe
stammen
tribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewith
mild
gentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:“O
artig
courteousshadeofMantua!thouwhose
berömmelse
fameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,OnthewidedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.
NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.
Speednow,Andbythyeloquent
övertygande
persuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Hjälpa
Assisthim.Sotomewill
trösta
comfortspring.Iwhonow
bjuder
bidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)
Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Who
uppmanar
promptsmyspeech.WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thy
berömma
praisetohimIoftwilltell.”Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:
“OLady!
bywhose
inflytande
influencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothycommandgläder
delightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.Noneedhastthou
längre
farthertospeakthywill;Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthis
centrum
centreherebeneath.”Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldst
fråga
inquire,Iwillinstructtheekortfattat
briefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.
Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyour
elände
miseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthatvåldsamma
fiercefireAssailsme.InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,who
sörjer
mournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssterndom
judgmenttoherwillinclines.”ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“Nowdoththy
trofasta
faithfulservantneedthyaidAndIrekommenderar
commendhimtothee.”AtherwordSpedLucia,ofall
grymhet
crueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitude
beundrar
admires?Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanasea,himstrugglingholds?”
Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheir
vinst
profit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearwayacrossthegoodly
berget
mountPrevented.Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthy
bröst
breastHarbourvilefear?whyhastnotcouragethereAndnobledaring?
SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythe
frostiga
frostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuch
vänligt
kindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonsvarade
replied:“Ofullofpityshe,whoundertookMysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmeto
förnya
renewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassinto
evig
eternalpain:Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethefounderofmy
tyg
fabricmov’d:Torearmewasthetaskofpower
gudomlig
divine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.
“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
Suchcharactersin
färg
colourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftybåge
archinscrib’d:WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’d
svarade
replied:“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebe
avskyvärda
vilefearextinguish’d.WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTo
elände
miserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.
Heresighswithlamentationsandloud
stönar
moansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.Olika
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.Ithen,with
misstag
erroryetencompass’d,cried:“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutor
beröm
praiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorupproriska
rebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northe
djup
depthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedstammen
tribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraight
svarade
replied:“ThatwillItellthee
kortfattat
briefly.TheseofdeathNohopemay
underhålla
entertain:andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsThey
avundas
envy.Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Norsuffers;
mercyandjustice
föraktar
scornthemboth.Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,behelda
flagga
flag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsosnabbt
rapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whotobasefear
Gav
Yielding,abjur’dhishighestate.ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthe
stammen
tribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
Thenlooking
längre
fartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSo
ivriga
eagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoeful
tidvattnet
tideofAcheron.”Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywords
stötande
offensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.Andlo!
mot
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.Crying,“Woetoyou
onda
wickedspirits!hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,thereto
bo
dwellInfierceheatandinice.Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythis
passage
passage;theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”