Canto I
Canto I
English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow
| 1 | To run o'er better waters hoists its sail |
| 2 | The little vessel of my genius now, |
| 3 | That leaves behind itself a sea so cruel; |
| 4 | And of that second kingdom will I sing |
| 5 | Wherein the human spirit doth purge itself, |
| 6 | And to ascend to heaven becometh worthy. |
| 7 | let dead Poesy here rise again, |
| 8 | O holy Muses, since that I am yours, |
| 9 | And here Calliope somewhat ascend, |
| 10 | My song accompanying with that sound, |
| 11 | Of which the miserable magpies felt |
| 12 | The blow so great, that they despaired of pardon. |
| 13 | Sweet colour of the oriental sapphire, |
| 14 | That was upgathered in the cloudless aspect |
| 15 | Of the pure air, as far as the first circle, |
| 16 | Unto mine eyes did recommence delight |
| 17 | Soon as I issued forth from the dead air, |
| 18 | Which had with sadness filled mine eyes and breast. |
| 19 | The beauteous planet, that to love incites, |
| 20 | Was making all the orient to laugh, |
| 21 | Veiling the Fishes that were in her escort. |
| 22 | To the right hand I turned, and fixed my mind |
| 23 | Upon the other pole, and saw four stars |
| 24 | Ne'er seen before save by the primal people. |
| 25 | Rejoicing in their flamelets seemed the heaven. |
| 26 | O thou septentrional and widowed site, |
| 27 | Because thou art deprived of seeing these! |
| 28 | When from regarding them I had withdrawn, |
| 29 | Turning a little to the other pole, |
| 30 | There where the Wain had disappeared already, |
| 31 | I saw beside me an old man alone, |
| 32 | Worthy of so much reverence in his look, |
| 33 | That more owes not to father any son. |
| 34 | A long beard and with white hair intermingled |
| 35 | He wore, in semblance like unto the tresses, |
| 36 | Of which a double list fell on his breast. |
| 37 | The rays of the four consecrated stars |
| 38 | Did so adorn his countenance with light, |
| 39 | That him I saw as were the sun before him. |
| 40 | Who are you? ye who, counter the blind river, |
| 41 | Have fled away from the eternal prison? |
| 42 | Moving those venerable plumes, he said: |
| 43 | Who guided you ? or who has been your lamp |
| 44 | In issuing forth out of the night profound, |
| 45 | That ever black makes the infernal valley? |
| 46 | The laws of the abyss, are they thus broken? |
| 47 | Or is there changed in heaven some council new, |
| 48 | That being damned ye come unto my crags? |
| 49 | Then did my Leader lay his grasp upon me, |
| 50 | And with his words, and with his hands and signs, so |
| 51 | Reverent he made in me my knees and brow: |
| 52 | Then answered him: I came not of myself; |
| 53 | A Lady from Heaven descended, at whose prayers |
| 54 | I aided this one with my company. |
| 55 | But since it is thy will more be unfolded |
| 56 | Of our condition, how it truly is, |
| 57 | Mine cannot be that this should be denied thee. |
| 58 | This one has never his last evening seen, |
| 59 | But by his folly was so near to it |
| 60 | That very little time was there to turn. |
| 61 | As I have said, I unto him was sent |
| 62 | To rescue him, and other way was none |
| 63 | Than this to which I have myself betaken. |
| 64 | I've shown him all the people of perdition |
| 65 | And now those spirits I intend to show |
| 66 | Who purge themselves beneath thy guardianship. |
| 67 | How I have brought him would be long to tell thee. |
| 68 | Virtue descendeth from on high that aids me |
| 69 | To lead him to behold thee and to hear thee. |
| 70 | Now may it please thee to vouchsafe his coming; |
| 71 | He seeketh Liberty, which is so dear, |
| 72 | As knoweth he who life for her refuses. |
| 73 | Thou know'st it; since, for her, to thee not bitter |
| 74 | Was death in Utica, where thou didst leave |
| 75 | The vesture, that will shine so, the great day. |
| 76 | By us the eternal edicts are not broken; |
| 77 | Since this one lives, and Minos binds not me; |
| 78 | But of that circle I, where are the chaste |
| 79 | Eyes of thy Marcia, who in looks still prays thee, |
| 80 | O holy breast, to hold her as thine own; |
| 81 | For her love, then, incline thyself to us. |
| 82 | Permit us through thy sevenfold realm to go; |
| 83 | I will take back this grace from thee to her, |
| 84 | If to be mentioned there below thou deignest. |
| 85 | Marcia so pleasing was unto mine eyes |
| 86 | While I was on the other side,then said he, |
| 87 | That every grace she wished of me I granted; |
| 88 | Now that she dwells beyond the evil river, |
| 89 | She can no longer move me, by that law |
| 90 | Which, when I issued forth from there, was made. |
| 91 | But if a Lady of Heaven do move and rule thee, |
| 92 | As thou dost say, no flattery is needful; |
| 93 | Let it suffice thee that for her thou ask me. |
| 94 | Go, then, and see thou gird this one about |
| 95 | With a smooth rush, and that thou wash his face, |
| 96 | So that thou cleanse away all stain therefrom, |
| 97 | For 'twere not fitting that the eye o'ercast |
| 98 | By any mist should go before the first |
| 99 | Angel, who is of those of Paradise. |
| 100 | This little island round about its base |
| 101 | Below there, yonder, where the billow beats it, |
| 102 | Doth rushes bear upon its washy ooze; |
| 103 | No other plant that putteth forth the leaf, |
| 104 | Or that doth indurate, can there have life, |
| 105 | Because it yieldeth not unto the shocks. |
| 106 | Thereafter be not this way your return; |
| 107 | The sun, which now is rising, will direct you |
| 108 | To take the mount by easier ascent. |
| 109 | With this he vanished; and I raised me up |
| 110 | Without a word, and wholly drew myself |
| 111 | Unto my Guide, and turned mine eyes to him. |
| 112 | And he began: Son, follow thou my steps; |
| 113 | Let us turn back. for on this side declines |
| 114 | The plain unto its lower boundaries. |
| 115 | The dawn was vanquishing the matin hour |
| 116 | 'Which fled before it, so that from afar |
| 117 | I recognised the trembling of the sea |
| 118 | Along the solitary plain we went |
| 119 | As one who unto the lost road returns, |
| 120 | And till he finds it seems to go in vain. |
| 121 | As soon as we were come to where the dew |
| 122 | Fights with the sun, and, being in a part |
| 123 | Where shadow falls, little evaporates, |
| 124 | Both of his hands upon the grass outspread |
| 125 | In gentle manner did my Master place; |
| 126 | Whence I, who of his action was aware, |
| 127 | Extended unto him my tearful cheeks; |
| 128 | There did he make in me uncovered wholly |
| 129 | That hue which Hell had covered up in me. |
| 130 | Then came we down upon the desert shore |
| 131 | Which never yet saw navigate its waters |
| 132 | Any that afterward had known return. |
| 133 | There he begirt me as the other pleased |
| 134 | O marvellous! for even as he culled |
| 135 | The humble plant, such it sprang up again |
| 136 | Suddenly there where he uprooted it. |