The Divine Comedy ~ English Edition, translated by H.F. Cary - Inferno

Canto II
English Edition, translated by H.F. Cary

Entry

The Descent

		View Annotations Image Gallery
1	NOW was the day departing, and the air,
2	Imbrown'd with shadows, from their toils releas'd
3	All animals on earth; and I alone

4	Prepar'd myself the conflict to sustain,
5	Both of sad pity, and that perilous road,
6	Which my unerring memory shall retrace.

7	O Muses! O high genius! now vouchsafe
8	Your aid! O mind! that all I saw hast kept
9	Safe in a written record, here thy worth

10	And eminent endowments come to proof.
11	I thus began: Bard! thou who art my guide,
12	Consider well, if virtue be in me

13	Sufficient, ere to this high enterprise
14	Thou trust me. Thou hast told that Silvius' sire,
15	Yet cloth'd in corruptible flesh, among

16	Th' immortal tribes had entrance, and was there
17	Sensible present. Yet if heaven's great Lord,
18	Almighty foe to ill, such favour shew'd,

19	In contemplation of the high effect,
20	Both what and who from him should issue forth,
21	It seems in reason's judgment well deserv'd:

22	Sith he of Rome, and of Rome's empire wide,
23	In heaven's empyreal height was chosen sire:
24	Both which, if truth be spoken, were ordain'd

25	And 'stablish'd for the holy place, where sits
26	Who to great Peter's sacred chair succeeds.
27	He from this journey, in thy song renown'd,

28	Learn'd things, that to his victory gave rise
29	And to the papal robe. In after-times
30	The chosen vessel also travel'd there,

31	To bring us back assurance in that faith,
32	Which is the entrance to salvation's way.
33	But I, why should I there presume? or who

34	Permits it? not, Aeneas I nor Paul.
35	Myself I deem not worthy, and none else
36	Will deem me. I, if on this voyage then

37	I venture, fear it will in folly end.
38	Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know'st,
39	Than I can speak. As one, who unresolves

40	What he hath late resolv'd, and with new thoughts
41	Changes his purpose, from his first intent
42	Remov'd; e'en such was I on that dun coast,

43	Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first
44	So eagerly embrac'd. If right thy words
45	I scan, replied that shade magnanimous,

46	Thy soul is by vile fear assail'd, which oft
47	So overcasts a man, that he recoils
48	From noblest resolution, like a beast

49	At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.
50	That from this terror thou mayst free thyself,
51	I will instruct thee why I came, and what

52	I heard in that same instant, when for thee
53	Grief touch'd me first. I was among the tribe,
54	Who rest suspended, when a dame, so blest

55	And lovely, I besought her to command,
56	Call'd me; her eyes were brighter than the star
57	Of day; and she with gentle voice and soft

58	Angelically tun'd her speech address'd:
59	O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame
60	Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!

61	A friend, not of my fortune but myself,
62	On the wide desert in his road has met
63	Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn'd.

64	Now much I dread lest he past help have stray'd,
65	And I be ris'n too late for his relief,
66	From what in heaven of him I heard. Speed now,

67	And by thy eloquent persuasive tongue,
68	And by all means for his deliverance meet,
69	Assist him. So to me will comfort spring.

70	I who now bid thee on this errand forth
71	Am Beatrice; from a place I come
72	Revisited with joy. Love brought me thence,

73	Who prompts my speech. When in my Master's sight
74	I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell.
75	She then was silent, and I thus began:

76	O Lady! by whose influence alone,
77	Mankind excels whatever is contain'd
78	Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb,

79	So thy command delights me, that to obey,
80	If it were done already, would seem late.
81	No need hast thou farther to speak thy will;

82	Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth
83	To leave that ample space, where to return
84	Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath.

85	She then: Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire,
86	I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread
87	Hinders my entrance here. Those things alone

88	Are to be fear'd, whence evil may proceed,
89	None else, for none are terrible beside.
90	I am so fram'd by God, thanks to his grace!

91	That any suff'rance of your misery
92	Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire
93	Assails me. In high heaven a blessed dame

94	Besides, who mourns with such effectual grief
95	That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,
96	That God's stern judgment to her will inclines.

97	To Lucia calling, her she thus bespake:
98	Now doth thy faithful servant need thy aid
99	And I commend him to thee. At her word

100	Sped Lucia, of all cruelty the foe,
101	And coming to the place, where I abode
102	Seated with Rachel, her of ancient days,

103	She thus address'd me: Thou true praise of God!
104	Beatrice! why is not thy succour lent
105	To him, who so much lov'd thee, as to leave

106	For thy sake all the multitude admires?
107	Dost thou not hear how pitiful his wail,
108	Nor mark the death, which in the torrent flood,

109	Swoln mightier than a sea, him struggling holds?
110	Ne'er among men did any with such speed
111	Haste to their profit, flee from their annoy,

112	As when these words were spoken, I came here,
113	Down from my blessed seat, trusting the force
114	Of thy pure eloquence, which thee, and all

115	Who well have mark'd it, into honour brings.
116	When she had ended, her bright beaming eyes
117	Tearful she turn'd aside; whereat I felt

118	Redoubled zeal to serve thee. As she will'd,
119	Thus am I come: I sav'd thee from the beast,
120	Who thy near way across the goodly mount

121	Prevented. What is this comes o'er thee then?
122	Why, why dost thou hang back? why in thy breast
123	Harbour vile fear? why hast not courage there

124	And noble daring? Since three maids so blest
125	Thy safety plan, e'en in the court of heaven;
126	And so much certain good my words forebode.

127	As florets, by the frosty air of night
128	Bent down and clos'd, when day has blanch'd their leaves,
129	Rise all unfolded on their spiry stems;

130	So was my fainting vigour new restor'd,
131	And to my heart such kindly courage ran,
132	That I as one undaunted soon replied:

133	O full of pity she, who undertook
134	My succour! and thou kind who didst perform
135	So soon her true behest! With such desire

136	Thou hast dispos'd me to renew my voyage,
137	That my first purpose fully is resum'd.
138	Lead on: one only will is in us both.

139	Thou art my guide, my master thou, and lord.
140	So spake I; and when he had onward mov'd,
141	I enter'd on the deep and woody way.

Produced by ELF