Inferno: Canto I

When our life's course with me had halfway sped,
I found myself in gloomy forest dell,
Where the straight path beyond all search had fled.

Ah me! hard task it were in words to tell
What was that wood, wild, drear, and tangled o'er,
Which e'en in thought renews that terror fell!

So bitter 'tis, death's self were little more;
But that the good there found I may display,
I'll tell what else 'twas given me to explore.

How I there entered, can I not well say,
So sleep-opprest was I in that same hour
When from the true path thus I went astray.

But when I reached a point 'bove which did tower
A mount, where to its end that valley drew,
Which pierced my heart with terror's torturing power

I looked on high, and lo! its slopes to view
Came clothed with brightness from that planet's ray
Which for all others ordereth path most true.

Then for a while did peace the fear allay
That my heart's fountain vexed, nor did relent:
All the sad night I passed in such dismay,

And e'en as one who, panting, worn, and spent,
From the deep sea escaping to the shore,
Turns to the perilous waves in wonderment,

So did my soul, that still fled evermore,
Turn back to gaze upon the scene around.
Which never living man had yet passed o'er.

When my worn frame awhile had sought the ground,
Once more I started through the desert plain,
So that the firm foot still was lower found.

And lo! just as the sloping side I gain,
A leopard supple, lithe, exceeding fleet.
Whose skin full many a dusky spot did stain;

Nor did she from before my face retreat.
Nay, hindered so my journey on the way,
That many a time I backward turned my feet.

The hour was that of earliest dawn of day;
And with each star the sun on high did ride.
Which with him was when Love's divinest sway

O'er the first forms of beauty did preside;
So that good ground for bright hopes met me here
From that fair creature with the spotted hide.

The hour of day and season sweet of year;
Yet o'er me, spite of this, did terror creep
From aspect of a lion drawing near.

He seemed as if upon me he would leap.
With head upraised and hunger fierce and wild.
So that a shudder through the air did sweep;

Then a she-wolf, with all ill greed defiled,
Laden with hungry leanness terrible,
That many nations of their peace beguiled;

And thereupon such sorrow on me fell.
With dread that came from that ill-boding sight,
That I lost hope to climb that mountain well.

And e'en as one who gains with great delight,
When the time comes that makes him lose his prey,
Mourns in each thought, opprest with "sore despite.

So that fierce beast, who ne'er at rest did stay.
Now meeting me, by slow degrees and sure,
Thrust me back there where silent is the day.

And as I fell back to that clime obscure.
Before mine eyes there seemed a form to glide,
Whose voice, through silence long, seemed hoarse and poor;

And when I saw him in that desert wide,
Have pity on me " I to him did cry,
"Whether in thee or man or shade is spied."

And he made answer: " Man no more am I:
Man I was once; my parents Lombards were,
And both to Mantua traced their ancestry;

Sub Julio was I born, though late the year,
And lived at Rome beneath Augustus good,
While false and lying Gods men worshipped there.

A poet I, and sang the righteous mood
Of great Anchises' son, who came from Troy,
When haughty Ilion was by fire subdued.

But thou, why turn'st thou back to such annoy?
Why climb'st thou not yon mount delectable.
Which is the source and spring of every joy?

"What! art thou Virgil, thou that springing well
Which pours of clear full eloquence the tide? ""
I answered him with looks that reverence tell.

O, of all other bards the light and pride,
Let the long study and the love avail
Which I to that thy volume have applied.

Thou art my Master, Guide that dost not fail,
And thou alone art he from whom I drew
The goodly style whence comes of praise full tale.

Thou see'st the beast that back my footsteps threw;
Give me thine aid against her, famous seer,
For she with fear doth vein and pulse imbue."

"'Tis meet thy steps to other course should veer,"
He answered, when he saw me weeping sore,
"If thou wilt 'scape this region waste and drear;

For that fell beast, whose spite thou wailest o'er,
Lets no man onward pass along her way,
But so doth hinder that he lives no more,

And is of mood so evil, fierce to slay,
That never doth she sate her hunger dread,
But, when full-gorged, still hungers most for prey.

Many the creatures are that with her wed,
And will be more until the Greyhound come
Who with sharp agony shall smite her dead.

He shall not crave broad lands or pelf at home,
But wisdom, virtue, charity shall love.
And 'twixt two Feltros shall his subjects roam.

Of low Italia shall he saviour prove,
For which of old the maid Camilla died,
Nisus, Euryalus, and Turnus strove.

He through each town shall chase her far and wide,
Until he drive her back to deepest Hell,
From whence at Envy's primal hest she hied.

Wherefore for thee I think and judge 'tis well
That thou should'st follow, I thy leader be,
And guide thee hence to that eternal cell.

Where thou shalt hear sharp wails of misery,"
Shalt see the ancient spirits in their pain.
For which, as being the second death, men cry:

Those thou shalt see who, in the hope to gain,
When the hour comes, the blest ones' happier clime,
Can bear the torturing fire nor yet complain.

To these would'st thou with eager footsteps climb,
A soul shall guide thee worthier far than I:
With her I'll leave thee when to part 'tis time.

For that great Emperor who reigns on high.
Because I lived a rebel to His will,
Wills that through me none come His city nigh.

Through all the world He rules, yet there reigns still;
There is His city, there His lofty throne.
Thrice blest whom He doth choose those courts to fill!"

Then spake I, " By the God thou did'st not own,
O Poet, I of thee a boon desire,
That I may 'scape this woe, or worse unknown,

That whither thou hast said thou lead me higher,
So that St. Peter's gate in sight I find.
And those thou tell'st of in their torments dire."

Then he moved onward and I trod behind.