The Divine Comedy (Illustrated Edition). Dante Alighieri

      I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread

      Hinders my entrance here. Those things alone

      Are to be fear’d, whence evil may proceed,

      None else, for none are terrible beside.

      I am so fram’d by God, thanks to his grace!

      That any suff’rance of your misery

      Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire

Assails me. In high heaven a blessed dame5

      Besides, who mourns with such effectual grief

      That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,

      That God’s stern judgment to her will inclines.

To Lucia6 calling, her she thus bespake:

      “Now doth thy faithful servant need thy aid

      And I commend him to thee.” At her word

      Sped Lucia, of all cruelty the foe,

      And coming to the place, where I abode

      Seated with Rachel, her of ancient days,

      She thus address’d me: “Thou true praise of God!

      Beatrice! why is not thy succour lent

      To him, who so much lov’d thee, as to leave

      For thy sake all the multitude admires?

      Dost thou not hear how pitiful his wail,

      Nor mark the death, which in the torrent flood,

      Swoln mightier than a sea, him struggling holds?”

      Ne’er among men did any with such speed

      Haste to their profit, flee from their annoy,

      As when these words were spoken, I came here,

      Down from my blessed seat, trusting the force

      Of thy pure eloquence, which thee, and all

      Who well have mark’d it, into honour brings.”

      “When she had ended, her bright beaming eyes

      Tearful she turn’d aside; whereat I felt

      Redoubled zeal to serve thee. As she will’d,

      Thus am I come: I sav’d thee from the beast,

      Who thy near way across the goodly mount

      Prevented. What is this comes o’er thee then?

      Why, why dost thou hang back? why in thy breast

      Harbour vile fear? why hast not courage there

And noble daring? Since three maids7 so blest

      Thy safety plan, e’en in the court of heaven;

      And so much certain good my words forebode.”

      As florets, by the frosty air of night

      Bent down and clos’d, when day has blanch’d their leaves,

      Rise all unfolded on their spiry stems;

      So was my fainting vigour new restor’d,

      And to my heart such kindly courage ran,

      That I as one undaunted soon replied:

      “O full of pity she, who undertook

      My succour! and thou kind who didst perform

      So soon her true behest! With such desire

      Thou hast dispos’d me to renew my voyage,

      That my first purpose fully is resum’d.

      Lead on: one only will is in us both.

      Thou art my guide, my master thou, and lord.”

      So spake I; and when he had onward mov’d,

      I enter’d on the deep and woody way.

      Footnotes

1 “Silvius’ sire.” Æneas.

2 “The Chosen Vessel.” St. Paul.

3 The spirits in Limbo, neither admitted to a state of glory nor doomed to punishment.

4 “Beatrice.” The daughter of Folco Portinari, who is here invested with the character of celestial wisdom or theology.

5 “A blessed Dame.” The Divine Mercy.

6 “Lucia.” The enlightening Grace of Heaven; as it is commonly explained.

7 “Three maids.” The Divine Mercy, Lucia and Beatrice.

      Canto III

       Table of Contents

      ARGUMENT.—Dante, following Virgil, comes to the gate of Hell; where, after having read the dreadful words that are written thereon, they both enter. Here, as he understands from Virgil, those were punished who had passed their time (for living it could not be called) in a state of apathy and indifference both to good and evil. Then, pursuing their way, they arrive at the river Acheron; and there find the old ferryman Charon, who takes the spirits over to the opposite shore; which, as soon as Dante reaches, he is seized with terror, and falls into a trance.

      “THROUGH me you pass into the city of woe:

      Through me you pass into eternal pain:

      Through me among the people lost for aye.

      Justice the founder of my fabric mov’d:

      To rear me was the task of power divine,

Supremest wisdom, and primeval love.1

      Before me things create were none, save things

      Eternal, and eternal I endure.

      All hope abandon ye who enter here.”

      Such characters in colour dim I mark’d

      Over a portal’s lofty arch inscrib’d:

      Whereat I thus: “Master, these words import

      Hard meaning.” He as one prepar’d replied:

      “Here thou must all distrust behind thee leave;

      Here be vile fear extinguish’d. We are come

      Where I have told thee we shall see the souls

      To misery doom’d, who intellectual good