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 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 20 25 30 35 At first in motion set those beauteous things; With head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger, Seemed to be laden in her meagreness, She brought upon me so much heaviness, With the affright that from her aspect came, And as he is who willingly acquires, 40 45 50 55 And the time comes that causes him to lose, Who weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent, Which, coming on against me by degrees, While I was rushing downward to the lowland, 60 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. And lived at Rome under the good Augustus, A Poet was I, and I sang that just Son of Anchises, who came forth from Troy, But thou, why goest thou back to such annoyance? Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech? Avail me the long study and great love 65 70 75 80 That have impelled me to explore thy volume! Thou art my master, and my author thou, 85 Thou art alone the one from whom I took The beautiful style that has done honor to me. Behold the beast, for which I have turned back; For she doth make my veins and pulses tremble." 90 "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. And more they shall be still, until the Greyhound He shall not feed on either earth or pelf, 95 100 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, Until he shall have driven her back to Hell, 105 110 Therefore I think and judge it for thy best Thou follow me, and I will be thy guide, 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. 115 120 125 130 135 |