Classic Poem

CANTO I

Midway the journey of this life I was 'ware
That I had strayed into a dark forest,
And the right path appeared not anywhere.
Ah, tongue cannot describe how it oppressed,
This wood, so harsh, dismal and wild, that fear
At thought of it strikes now into my breast.
So bitter it is, death is scarce bitterer.
But, for the good it was my hap to find,
I speak of the other things that I saw there.
I cannot well remember in my mind
How I came thither, so was I immersed
In sleep, when the true way I left behind.
But when my footsteps had attained the first
Slope of a hill, at the end of that drear vale
Which with such terror had my spirit pierced,
I looked up, and beheld its shoulders pale
Already in clothing of that planet's light
Which guideth men on all roads without fail.
Then had my bosom a little of respite
From what had all the lake of my heart tost
While I so piteously endured the night.
As one, whom pantings of his breath exhaust,
Escaped from the deep water to the shore,
Turns back and gazes on the danger crost,
So my mind, fleeing still and stricken sore,
Turned back to gaze astonished on that pass
Which none hath ever left alive before.
When my tired body had rested a brief space
I trod anew the slope, desert and bare,
With the firmer foot still in the lower place.
And at the ascent, as 'twere on the first stair,
Behold! a Leopard light and swift of limb
And covered with a hide of spotted hair.
And he would not depart, but still would trim
His pace to front me, so that many a time
I turned me to go back, because of him.
The moment was the morning's earliest prime,
And the sun mounted up, accompanied
With those stars chosen in his choir to climb
When divine Love first motioned and enskied
Those beauteous things; so that a hope I caught
To evade that creature with the freckled hide.
The hour of time and the sweet season wrought
Thus on me; yet not so much, but when appeared
A Lion, terror to my heart he brought.
He seemed coming against me with head reared
Ravening with hunger, and so terrible
That the very air seemed of his breath afeared;
And a She-Wolf, that in her famished fell
Looked all infuriate craving; she hath meant
To many ere now that they in misery dwell.
On me the grimness of her aspect sent
A burden that my spirit overpowered,
So that I lost the hope of the ascent.
As one that is with lust of gain devoured,
When comes the time that makes him lose, will rack
His thoughts, lamenting all his hope deflowered,
To such state brought me, in dread of his attack,
That restless beast, who by degrees perforce
To where the Sun is silent drove me back.
While I was rushing on my downward course.
Suddenly on my sight there seemed to start
One who appeared from a long silence hoarse.
When I beheld him in that great desert
" Have pity on me! " I cried out to his face,
" Whatsoever — shade or very man — thou art. "
He answered me: " Not man; man once I was.
My parents both were of the Lombard name,
Of Mantua by their country and by their race.
Sub Julio was I born, though late I came:
In Rome the good Augustus on me shone,
In the time of the false Gods of lying fame.
Poet was I, and sang of that just son
Of old Anchises, who came out from Troy
After the burning of proud Ilion.
But thou, why turn'st thou back to such annoy?
Why climbest not the Mount Delectable
Whence groweth the beginning of all joy? "
" And art thou, then, that Virgil, and that well
Which pours abroad so ample a stream of song? "
I answered him abashed, with front that fell.
" O glory and light of all the poets' throng!
May the ardent study and great love serve me now
Which made me to peruse thy book so long!
Thou art my Master and my Author thou.
Thou only art he from whom the comely style
I took, wherein my merit men avow.
Regard yon beast from which I made recoil!
Help me from her, renowned sage, for she
Puts all my veins and pulses in turmoil. "
" Needs must thou find another way to flee, "
He answered, seeing my eyes with weeping fill,
" If thou from this wild place wouldst get thee free;
Because this beast, at which thou criest still,
Suffereth none to go upon her path,
But hindereth and entangleth till she kill,
And hath a nature so perverse in wrath,
Her craving maw never is satiated
But after food the fiercer hunger hath.
Many are the creatures with whom she hath wed,
And shall be yet more, till appear the Hound
By whom she is to die discomfited.
He will not batten on pelf or fruitful ground,
But wisdom, love, and virtue shall he crave.
'Twixt Feltro and Feltro shall his folk abound.
He that abased Italy shall save,
For which Euryalus, Turnus, Nisus died,
For which her virgin blood Camilla gave.
And her through every city far and wide
Back into Hell's deep dungeon shall he chase,
Whence envy first let loose her ravening stride.
Wherefore I judge this fittest for thy case
That I should lead thee, and thou follow in faith,
To journey hence through an eternal place,
Where thou shalt hear cries of despairing breath,
Shalt look on the ancient spirits in their pain,
Such that each calls out for a second death.
And thou shalt see those who in fire refrain
From sorrow, since their hope is in the end,
Whensoever it be, to the blessed to attain.
To whom if thou desirest to ascend
There shall be a spirit worthier than I,
When I depart, who shall thy steps befriend.
For that Lord Emperor who doth reign on high,
Because I was not to his law submiss,
Wills not that I to his city come too nigh.
In every part he ruleth, and all is his,
There is his city, there is his high seat:
O happy, whom he chooseth for that bliss! "
And I to him: " O Poet, I entreat
In the name of that God whom thou didst not know,
So that I 'scape this ill and worse ill yet,
Lead me where thou hast spoken of but now,
So that my eyes St. Peter's gate may find
And those whom thou portrayest in such woe! "
Then he moved onward: and I went behind.