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The Divine Comedy 


by DANTE ALIGHIERI
(1265…1321)


TRANSLATED BY
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
(1807…1882)




Incipit Comoedia Dantis Alagherii;
Florentini natione; non moribus。


The Divine Comedy
translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


INFERNO



Inferno: Canto I


Midway upon the journey of our life
  I found myself within a forest dark;
  For the straightforward pathway had been lost。

Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say
  What was this forest savage; rough; and stern;
  Which in the very thought renews the fear。

So bitter is it; death is little more;
  But of the good to treat; which there I found;
  Speak will I of the other things I saw there。

I cannot well repeat how there I entered;
  So full was I of slumber at the moment
  In which I had abandoned the true way。

But after I had reached a mountain's foot;
  At that point where the valley terminated;
  Which had with consternation pierced my heart;

Upward I looked; and I beheld its shoulders;
  Vested already with that planet's rays
  Which leadeth others right by every road。

Then was the fear a little quieted
  That in my heart's lake had endured throughout
  The night; which I had passed so piteously。

And even as he; who; with distressful breath;
  Forth issued from the sea upon the shore;
  Turns to the water perilous and gazes;

So did my soul; that still was fleeing onward;
  Turn itself back to re…behold the pass
  Which never yet a living person left。

After my weary body I had rested;
  The way resumed I on the desert slope;
  So that the firm foot ever was the lower。

And lo! almost where the ascent began;
  A panther light and swift exceedingly;
  Which with a spotted skin was covered o'er!

And never moved she from before my face;
  Nay; rather did impede so much my way;
  That many times I to return had turned。

The time was the beginning of the morning;
  And up the sun was mounting with those stars
  That with him were; what time the Love Divine

At first in motion set those beauteous things;
  So were to me occasion of good hope;
  The variegated skin of that wild beast;

The hour of time; and the delicious season;
  But not so much; that did not give me fear
  A lion's aspect which appeared to me。

He seemed as if against me he were coming
  With head uplifted; and with ravenous hunger;
  So that it seemed the air was afraid of him;

And a she…wolf; that with all hungerings
  Seemed to be laden in her meagreness;
  And many folk has caused to live forlorn!

She brought upon me so much heaviness;
  With the affright that from her aspect came;
  That I the hope relinquished of the height。

And as he is who willingly acquires;
  And the time comes that causes him to lose;
  Who weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent;

E'en such made me that beast withouten peace;
  Which; coming on against me by degrees
  Thrust me back thither where the sun is silent。

While I was rushing downward to the lowland;
  Before mine eyes did one present himself;
  Who seemed from long…continued silence hoarse。

When I beheld him in the desert vast;
  〃Have pity on me;〃 unto him I cried;
  〃Whiche'er thou art; or shade or real man!〃

He answered me: 〃Not man; man once I was;
  And both my parents were of Lombardy;
  And Mantuans by country both of them。

'Sub Julio' was I born; though it was late;
  And lived at Rome under the good Augustus;
  During the time of false and lying gods。

A poet was I; and I sang that just
  Son of Anchises; who came forth from Troy;
  After that Ilion the superb was burned。

But thou; why goest thou back to such annoyance?
  Why climb'st thou not the Mount Delectable;
  Which is the source and cause of every joy?〃

〃Now; art thou that Virgilius and that fountain
  Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech?〃
  I made response to him with bashful forehead。

〃O; of the other poets honour and light;
  Avail me the long study and great love
  That have impelled me to explore thy volume!

Thou art my master; and my author thou;
  Thou art alone the one from whom I took
  The beautiful style that has done honour to me。

Behold the beast; for which I have turned back;
  Do thou protect me from her; famous Sage;
  For she doth make my veins and pulses tremble。〃

〃Thee it behoves to take another road;〃
  Responded he; when he beheld me weeping;
  〃If from this savage place thou wouldst escape;

Because this beast; at which thou criest out;
  Suffers not any one to pass her way;
  But so doth harass him; that she destroys him;

And has a nature so malign and ruthless;
  That never doth she glut her greedy will;
  And after food is hungrier than before。

Many the animals with whom she weds;
  And more they shall be still; until the Greyhound
  Comes; who shall make her perish in her pain。

He shall not feed on either earth or pelf;
  But upon wisdom; and on love and virtue;
  'Twixt Feltro and Feltro shall his nation be;

Of that low Italy shall he be the saviour;
  On whose account the maid Camilla died;
  Euryalus; Turnus; Nisus; of their wounds;

Through every city shall he hunt her down;
  Until he shall have driven her back to Hell;
  There from whence envy first did let her loose。

Therefore I think and judge it for thy best
  Thou follow me; and I will be thy guide;
  And lead thee hence through the eternal place;

Where thou shalt hear the desperate lamentations;
  Shalt see the ancient spirits disconsolate;
  Who cry out each one for the second death;

And thou shalt see those who contented are
  Within the fire; because they hope to come;
  Whene'er it may be; to the blessed people;

To whom; then; if thou wishest to ascend;
  A soul shall be for that than I more worthy;
  With her at my departure I will leave thee;

Because that Emperor; who reigns above;
  In that I was rebellious to his law;
  Wills that through me none come into his city。

He governs everywhere; and there he reigns;
  There is his city and his lofty throne;
  O happy he whom thereto he elects!〃

And I to him: 〃Poet; I thee entreat;
  By that same God whom thou didst never know;
  So that I may escape this woe and worse;

Thou wouldst conduct me there where thou hast said;
  That I may see the portal of Saint Peter;
  And those thou makest so disconsolate。〃

Then he moved on; and I behind him followed。



Inferno: Canto II


Day was departing; and the embrowned air
  Released the animals that are on earth
  From their fatigues; and I the only one

Made myself ready to sustain the war;
  Both of the way and likewise of the woe;
  Which memory that errs not shall retrace。

O Muses; O high genius; now assist me!
  O memory; that didst write down what I saw;
  Here thy nobility shall be manifest!

And I began: 〃Poet; who guidest me;
  Regard my manhood; if it be sufficient;
  Ere to the arduous pass thou dost confide me。

Thou sayest; that of Silvius the parent;
  While yet corruptible; unto the world
  Immortal went; and was there bodily。

But if the adversary of all evil
  Was courteous; thinking of the high effect
  That issue would from him; and who; and what;

To men of intellect unmeet it seems not;
  For he was of great Rome; and of her empire
  In the empyreal heaven as father chosen;

The which and what; wishing to speak the truth;
  Were stablished as the holy place; wherein
  Sits the successor of the greatest Peter。

Upon this journey; whence thou givest him vaunt;
  Things did he hear; which the occasion were
  Both of his victory and the papal mantle。

Thither went afterwards the Chosen Vessel;
  To bring back comfort thence unto that Faith;
  Which of salvation's way is the beginning。

But I; why thither come; or who concedes it?
  I not Aeneas am; I am not Paul;
  Nor I; nor others; think me worthy of it。

Therefore; if I resign myself to come;
  I fear the coming may be ill…advised;
  Thou'rt wise; and knowest better than I speak。〃

And as he is; who unwills what he willed;
  And by new thoughts doth his intention change;
  So that from his design he quite withdraws;

Such I became; upon 

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