Dante Alighieri - The Divine Comedy

Shall worry, until he to hell at length

Restore her, thence by envy first let loose.

I for thy profit pond'ring now devise,

That thou mayst follow me, and I thy guide

Will lead thee hence through an eternal space,

Where thou shalt hear despairing shrieks, and see

Spirits of old tormented, who invoke

A second death; and those next view, who dwell

Content in fire, for that they hope to come,

Whene'er the time may be, among the blest,

Into whose regions if thou then desire

T' ascend, a spirit worthier than I

Must lead thee, in whose charge, when I depart,

Thou shalt be left: for that Almighty King,

Who reigns above, a rebel to his law,

Adjudges me, and therefore hath decreed,

That to his city none through me should come.

He in all parts hath sway; there rules, there holds

His citadel and throne. O happy those,

Whom there he chooses!" I to him in few:

"Bard! by that God, whom thou didst not adore,

I do beseech thee (that this ill and worse

I may escape) to lead me, where thou saidst,

That I Saint Peter's gate may view, and those

Who as thou tell'st, are in such dismal plight."

Onward he mov'd, I close his steps pursu'd.

NOW was the day departing, and the air,

Imbrown'd with shadows, from their toils releas'd

All animals on earth; and I alone

Prepar'd myself the conflict to sustain,

Both of sad pity, and that perilous road,

Which my unerring memory shall retrace.

O Muses! O high genius! now vouchsafe

Your aid! O mind! that all I saw hast kept

Safe in a written record, here thy worth

And eminent endowments come to proof.

I thus began: "Bard! thou who art my guide,

Consider well, if virtue be in me

Sufficient, ere to this high enterprise

Thou trust me. Thou hast told that Silvius' sire,

Yet cloth'd in corruptible flesh, among

Th' immortal tribes had entrance, and was there

Sensible present. Yet if heaven's great Lord,

Almighty foe to ill, such favour shew'd,

In contemplation of the high effect,

Both what and who from him should issue forth,

It seems in reason's judgment well deserv'd:

Sith he of Rome, and of Rome's empire wide,

In heaven's empyreal height was chosen sire:

Both which, if truth be spoken, were ordain'd

And 'stablish'd for the holy place, where sits

Who to great Peter's sacred chair succeeds.

He from this journey, in thy song renown'd,

Learn'd things, that to his victory gave rise

And to the papal robe. In after-times

The chosen vessel also travel'd there,

To bring us back assurance in that faith,

Which is the entrance to salvation's way.

But I, why should I there presume? or who

Permits it? not Aeneas I nor Paul.

Myself I deem not worthy, and none else

Will deem me. I, if on this voyage then

I venture, fear it will in folly end.

Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know'st,

Than I can speak." As one, who unresolves

What he hath late resolv'd, and with new thoughts

Changes his purpose, from his first intent

Remov'd; e'en such was I on that dun coast,

Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first

So eagerly embrac'd. "If right thy words

I scan," replied that shade magnanimous,

"Thy soul is by vile fear assail'd, which oft

So overcasts a man, that he recoils

From noblest resolution, like a beast

At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.

That from this terror thou mayst free thyself,

I will instruct thee why I came, and what

I heard in that same instant, when for thee

Grief touch'd me first. I was among the tribe,

Who rest suspended, when a dame, so blest

And lovely, I besought her to command,

Call'd me; her eyes were brighter than the star

Of day; and she with gentle voice and soft

Angelically tun'd her speech address'd:

"O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame

Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!

A friend, not of my fortune but myself,

On the wide desert in his road has met

Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn'd.

Now much I dread lest he past help have stray'd,

And I be ris'n too late for his relief,

From what in heaven of him I heard. Speed now,

And by thy eloquent persuasive tongue,

And by all means for his deliverance meet,

Assist him. So to me will comfort spring.

I who now bid thee on this errand forth

Am Beatrice; from a place I come.

(Note: Beatrice. I use this word, as it is

pronounced in the Italian, as consisting of four

syllables, of which the third is a long one.) Revisited with joy. Love brought me thence,

Who prompts my speech. When in my Master's sight

I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell."

She then was silent, and I thus began:

"O Lady! by whose influence alone,

Mankind excels whatever is contain'd

Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb,

So thy command delights me, that to obey,

If it were done already, would seem late.

No need hast thou farther to speak thy will;

Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth

To leave that ample space, where to return

Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath."

She then: "Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire,

I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread

Hinders my entrance here. Those things alone

Are to be fear'd, whence evil may proceed,

None else, for none are terrible beside.

I am so fram'd by God, thanks to his grace!

That any suff'rance of your misery

Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire

Assails me. In high heaven a blessed dame

Besides, who mourns with such effectual grief

That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,

That God's stern judgment to her will inclines."

To Lucia calling, her she thus bespake:

"Now doth thy faithful servant need thy aid

And I commend him to thee." At her word

Sped Lucia, of all cruelty the foe,

And coming to the place, where I abode

Seated with Rachel, her of ancient days,

She thus address'd me: "Thou true praise of God!

Beatrice! why is not thy succour lent

To him, who so much lov'd thee, as to leave

For thy sake all the multitude admires?

Dost thou not hear how pitiful his wail,

Nor mark the death, which in the torrent flood,

Swoln mightier than a sea, him struggling holds?"

Ne'er among men did any with such speed

Haste to their profit, flee from their annoy,

As when these words were spoken, I came here,

Down from my blessed seat, trusting the force

Of thy pure eloquence, which thee, and all

Who well have mark'd it, into honour brings."

"When she had ended, her bright beaming eyes

Tearful she turn'd aside; whereat I felt

Redoubled zeal to serve thee. As she will'd,

Thus am I come: I sav'd thee from the beast,

Who thy near way across the goodly mount

Prevented. What is this comes o'er thee then?

Why, why dost thou hang back? why in thy breast

Harbour vile fear? why hast not courage there

And noble daring? Since three maids so blest

Thy safety plan, e'en in the court of heaven;

And so much certain good my words forebode."

As florets, by the frosty air of night

Bent down and clos'd, when day has blanch'd their leaves,

Rise all unfolded on their spiry stems;

So was my fainting vigour new restor'd,

And to my heart such kindly courage ran,

That I as one undaunted soon replied:

"O full of pity she, who undertook

My succour! and thou kind who didst perform