Canto I
Canto I
English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow
| 1 | MIDWAY upon the journey of our life |
| 2 | I found myself within a forest dark, |
| 3 | For the straightforward pathway had been lost. |
| 4 | Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say |
| 5 | What was this forest savage, rough, and stern, |
| 6 | Which in the very thought renews the fear. |
| 7 | So bitter is it, death is little more; |
| 8 | But of the good to treat, which there I found, |
| 9 | Speak will I of the other things I saw there. |
| 10 | I cannot well repeat how there I entered, |
| 11 | So full was I of slumber at the moment |
| 12 | In which I had abandoned the true way. |
| 13 | But after I had reached a mountain's foot, |
| 14 | At that point where the valley terminated, |
| 15 | Which had with consternation pierced my heart, |
| 16 | Upward I looked, and I beheld its shoulders |
| 17 | Vested already with that planet's rays |
| 18 | Which leadeth others right by every road. |
| 19 | Then was the fear a little quieted |
| 20 | That in my heart's lake had endured throughout |
| 21 | The night, which I had passed so piteously |
| 22 | And even as he, who, with distressful breath, |
| 23 | Forth issued from the sea upon the shore, |
| 24 | Turns to the water perilous and gazes; |
| 25 | So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward, |
| 26 | Turn itself back to re-behold the pass |
| 27 | Which never yet a living person left. |
| 28 | After my weary body I had rested, |
| 29 | The way resumed I on the desert slope, |
| 30 | So that the firm foot ever was the lower. |
| 31 | And lo! almost where the ascent began, |
| 32 | A panther light and swift exceedingly, |
| 33 | Which with a spotted skin was covered o'er! |
| 34 | And never moved she from before my face, |
| 35 | Nay, rather did impede so much my way, |
| 36 | That many times I to return had turned. |
| 37 | The time was the beginning of the morning, |
| 38 | And up the sun was mounting with those stars |
| 39 | That with him were, what time the Love Divine |
| 40 | At first in motion set those beauteous things; |
| 41 | So were to me occasion of good hope, |
| 42 | The variegaled skin of that wild beast, |
| 43 | The hour of time, and the delicious season; |
| 44 | But not so much, that did not give me fear |
| 45 | A lion's aspect which appeared to me. |
| 46 | He seemed as if against me he were coming |
| 47 | With head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger, |
| 48 | So that it seemed the air was afraid of him; |
| 49 | And a she-wolf, that with all hungerings |
| 50 | Seemed to be laden in her meagreness, |
| 51 | And many folk has caused to live forlorn! |
| 52 | She brought upon me so much heaviness, |
| 53 | With the affright that from her aspect came, |
| 54 | That I the hope relinquished of the height. |
| 55 | And as he is who willingly acquires |
| 56 | And the time comes that causes him to lose, |
| 57 | Who weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent, |
| 58 | E'en such made me that beast withouten peace, |
| 59 | Which, coming on against me by degrees |
| 60 | Thrust me back thither where the sun is silent |
| 61 | While I was rushing downward to the lowland, |
| 62 | Before mine eyes did one present himself, |
| 63 | Who seemed from long-continued silence hoarse. |
| 64 | When I beheld him in the desert vast, |
| 65 | Have pity on me, unto him I cried, |
| 66 | Whiche'er thou art, or shade or real man! |
| 67 | He answered me: Not man; man once I was, |
| 68 | And both my parents were of Lombardy, |
| 69 | And Mantuans by country both of them. |
| 70 | Sub Julio was I born, though it was late, |
| 71 | And lived at Rome under the good Augustus, |
| 72 | During the time of false and Iying gods. |
| 73 | A poet was I, and I sang that just |
| 74 | Son of Anchises, who came forth from Troy, |
| 75 | After that Ilion the superb was burned |
| 76 | But thou, why goest thou back to such annoyance? |
| 77 | Why climb'st thou not the Mount Delectable |
| 78 | Which is the source and cause of every joy? |
| 79 | Now, art thou that Virgilius and that fountain |
| 80 | Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech? |
| 81 | I made response to him with bashful forehead. |
| 82 | O, of the other poets honour and light, |
| 83 | Avail me the long study and great love |
| 84 | That have impelled me to explore thy volume! |
| 85 | Thou art my master, and my author thou, |
| 86 | Thou art alone the one from whom I took |
| 87 | The beautiful style that has done honour to me. |
| 88 | Behold the beast, for which I have turned back; |
| 89 | Do thou protect me from her, famous Sage, |
| 90 | For she doth make my veins and pulses tremble.' |
| 91 | Thee it behoves to take another road, |
| 92 | Responded he, when he beheld me weeping, |
| 93 | If from this savage place thou wouldst escape; |
| 94 | Because this beast, at which thou criest out, |
| 95 | Suffers not any one to pass her way, |
| 96 | But so doth harass him, that she destroys him; |
| 97 | And has a nature so malign and ruthless, |
| 98 | That never doth she glut her greedy will, |
| 99 | And after food is hungrier than before. |
| 100 | Many the animals with whom she weds, |
| 101 | And more they shall be still, until the Greyhound |
| 102 | Comes, who shall make her perish in her pain. |
| 103 | He shall not feed on either earth or pelf, |
| 104 | But upon wisdom, and on love and virtue; |
| 105 | 'Twixt Feltro and Feltro shall his nation be; |
| 106 | Of that low Italy shall he be the saviour, |
| 107 | On whose account the maid Camilla died, |
| 108 | Euryalus, Turnus, Nisus, of their wounds; |
| 109 | Through every city shall he hunt her down, |
| 110 | Until he shall have driven her back to Hell, |
| 111 | There from whence envy first did let her loose. |
| 112 | Therefore I think and judge it for thy best |
| 113 | Thou follow me, and I will be thy guide, |
| 114 | And lead thee hence through the eternal place, |
| 115 | Where thou shalt hear the desperate lamentations, |
| 116 | Shalt see the ancient spirits disconsolate, |
| 117 | Who cry out each one for the second death; |
| 118 | And thou shalt see those who contented are |
| 119 | Within the fire, because they hope to come, |
| 120 | Whene'er it may be, to the blessed people; |
| 121 | To whom, then, if thou wishest to ascend, |
| 122 | A soul shall be for that than I more worthy; |
| 123 | With her at my departure I will leave thee; |
| 124 | Because that Emperor, who reigns above, |
| 125 | In that I was rebellious to his law, |
| 126 | Wills that through me none come into his city. |
| 127 | governs evervwhere and there he reigns: |
| 128 | There is his city and his lofty throne; |
| 129 | O happy he whom thereto he elects! |
| 130 | And I to him: Poet, I thee entreat, |
| 131 | By that same God whom thou didst never know, |
| 132 | So that I may escape this woe and worse, |
| 133 | Thou wouldst conduct me there where thou hast said, |
| 134 | That I may see the portal of Saint Peter, |
| 135 | And those thou makest so disconsolable. |
| 136 | Then he moved on, and I behind him followed. |