English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
| 1 | INASMUCH as the instantaneous flight |
| 2 | Had scattered them asunder o’er the plain, |
| 3 | Turned to the mountain whither reason spurs us, |
| 4 | I pressed me close unto my faithful comrade, |
| 5 | And how without him had I kept my course? |
| 6 | Who would have led me up along the mountain ? |
| 7 | He seemed to me within himself remorseful; |
| 8 | O noble conscience, and without a stain, |
| 9 | How sharp a sting is trivial fault to thee! |
| 10 | After his feet had laid aside the haste |
| 11 | Which mars the dignity of every act, |
| 12 | My mind, that hitherto had been restrained, |
| 13 | Let loose its faculties as if delighted, |
| 14 | And I my sight directed to the hill |
| 15 | That highest tow’rds the heaven uplifts itself |
| 16 | The sun, that in our rear was flaming red, |
| 17 | Was broken in front of me into the figure |
| 18 | Which had in me the stoppage of its rays; |
| 19 | Unto one side I turned me with the fear |
| 20 | Of being left alone, when I beheld |
| 21 | Only in front of me the ground obscured. |
| 22 | Why dost thou still mistrust ? my Comforter |
| 23 | Began to say to me turned wholly round; |
| 24 | Dost thou not think me with thee, and that I guide thee? |
| 25 | Tis evening there already where is buried |
| 26 | The body within which I cast a shadow; |
| 27 | Tis from Brundusium ta’en, and Naples has it. |
| 28 | Now if in front of me no shadow fall, |
| 29 | Marvel not at it more than at the heavens, |
| 30 | Because one ray impedeth not another |
| 31 | To suffer torments, both of cold and heat, |
| 32 | Bodies like this that Power provides, which wills |
| 33 | That how it works be not unveiled to us. |
| 34 | Insane is he who hopeth that our reason |
| 35 | Can traverse the illimitable way, |
| 36 | Which the one Substance in three Persons follows! |
| 37 | Mortals, remain contented at the Quia; |
| 38 | For if ye had been able to see all, |
| 39 | No need there were for Mary to give birth; |
| 40 | And ye have seen desiring without fruit, |
| 41 | Those whose desire would have been quieted, |
| 42 | Which evermore is given them for a grief. |
| 43 | I speak of Aristotle and of Plato, |
| 44 | And many others;–and here bowed his head, |
| 45 | And more he said not, and remained disturbed. |
| 46 | We came meanwhile unto the mountain’s foot; |
| 47 | There so precipitate we found the rock, |
| 48 | That nimble legs would there have been in vain. |
| 49 | ‘Twixt Lerici and Turbia, the most desert, |
| 50 | The most secluded pathway is a stair |
| 51 | Easy and open, if compared with that. |
| 52 | Who knoweth now upon which hand the hill |
| 53 | Slopes down, my Master said, his footsteps staying, |
| 54 | So that who goeth without wings may mount? |
| 55 | And while he held his eyes upon the ground |
| 56 | Examining the nature of the path, |
| 57 | And I was looking up around the rock, |
| 58 | On the left hand appeared to me a throng |
| 59 | Of souls, that moved their feet in our direction, |
| 60 | And did not seem to move, they came so slowly. |
| 61 | Lift up thine eyes,I to the Master said; |
| 62 | Behold, on this side, who will give us counsel, |
| 63 | If thou of thine own self can have it not. |
| 64 | Then he looked at me, and with frank expression |
| 65 | Replied: Let us go there, for they come slowly, |
| 66 | And thou be steadfast in thy hope, sweet son. |
| 67 | Still was that people as far off from us, |
| 68 | After a thousand steps of ours I say, |
| 69 | As a good thrower with his hand would reach, |
| 70 | When they all crowded unto the hard masses |
| 71 | Of the high bank, and motionless stood and close, |
| 72 | As he stands still to look who goes in doubt. |
| 73 | O happy dead ! O spirits elect already! |
| 74 | Virgilius made beginning,by that peace |
| 75 | Which I believe is waiting for you all, |
| 76 | Tell us upon what side the mountain slopes, |
| 77 | So that the going up be possible, |
| 78 | For to lose time irks him most who most knows. |
| 79 | As sheep come issuing forth from out the fold |
| 80 | By ones and twos and threes, and the others stand |
| 81 | Timidly, holding down their eyes and nostrils, |
| 82 | And what the foremost does the others do, |
| 83 | Huddling themselves against her, if she stop, |
| 84 | Simple and quiet and the wherefore know not; |
| 85 | So moving to approach us thereupon |
| 86 | I saw the leader of that fortunate flock, |
| 87 | Modest in face and dignified in gait. |
| 88 | As soon as those in the advance saw broken |
| 89 | The light upon the ground at my right side, |
| 90 | So that from me the shadow reached the rock, |
| 91 | They stopped, and backward drew themselves somewhat; |
| 92 | And all the others, who came after them, |
| 93 | Not knowing why nor wherefore, did the same. |
| 94 | Without your asking, I confess to you |
| 95 | This is a human body which you see, |
| 96 | Whereby the sunshine on the ground is cleft. |
| 97 | Marvel ye not thereat, but be persuaded |
| 98 | That not without a power which comes from Heaven |
| 99 | Doth he endeavour to surmount this wall. |
| 100 | The Master thus; and said those worthy people: |
| 101 | Return ye then, and enter in before us, |
| 102 | Making a signal with the back o’ the hand |
| 103 | And one of them began: Whoe’er thou art, |
| 104 | Thus going turn thine eyes, consider well |
| 105 | If e’er thou saw me in the other world. |
| 106 | I turned me tow’rds him, and looked at him closely; |
| 107 | Blond was he, beautiful, and of noble aspect, |
| 108 | But one of his eyebrows had a blow divided. |
| 109 | When with humility I had disclaimed |
| 110 | E’er having seen him, Now behold!he said, |
| 111 | And showed me high upon his breast a wound. |
| 112 | Then said he with a smile: I am Manfredi, |
| 113 | The grandson of the Empress Costanza; |
| 114 | Therefore, when thou returnest, I beseech thee |
| 115 | Go to my daughter beautiful, the mother |
| 116 | Of Sicily’s honour and of Aragon’s, |
| 117 | And the truth tell her, if aught else be told. |
| 118 | After I had my body lacerated |
| 119 | By these two mortal stabs, I gave myself |
| 120 | Weeping to Him, who willingly doth pardon. |
| 121 | Horrible my iniquities had been; |
| 122 | But Infinite Goodness hath such ample arms, |
| 123 | That it receives whatever turns to it. |
| 124 | Had but Cosenza’s pastor, who in chase |
| 125 | Of me was sent by Clement at that time, |
| 126 | In God read understandingly this page, |
| 127 | The bones of my dead body still would be |
| 128 | At the bridge-head, near unto Benevento, |
| 129 | Under the safeguard of the heavy cairn. |
| 130 | Now the rain bathes and moveth them the wind, |
| 131 | Beyond the realm, almost beside the Verde, |
| 132 | Where he transported them with tapers quenched. |
| 133 | By malison of theirs is not so lost |
| 134 | Eternal Love, that it cannot return, |
| 135 | So long as hope has anything of green. |
| 136 | True is it, who in contumacy dies |
| 137 | Of Holy Church, though penitent at last, |
| 138 | Must wait upon the outside this bank |
| 139 | Thirty times told the time that he has been |
| 140 | In his presumption, unless such decree |
| 141 | Shorter by means of righteous prayers become. |
| 142 | See now if thou hast power to make me happy, |
| 143 | By making known unto my good Costanza |
| 144 | How thou hast seen me, and this ban beside, |
| 145 | For those on earth can much advance us here. |