After she thus had spoken unto me, Weeping, her shining eyes she turned away; Whereby she made me swifter in my coming; And unto thee I came, as she desired; 115 119 I have delivered thee from that wild beast, What is it, then? Why, why dost thou delay ? Daring and hardihood why hast thou not, Seeing that three such Ladies benedight Are caring for thee in the court of Heaven, 125 And so much good my speech doth promise thee?" Even as the flowerets, by nocturnal chill, Bowed down and closed, when the sun whitens them, Uplift themselves all open on their stems; Such I became with my exhausted strength, And such good courage to my heart there coursed, "O she compassionate, who succored me, And courteous thou, who hast obeyed so soon 130 The words of truth which she addressed to thee! 135 heart so with desire disposed Thou hast my To the adventure, with these words of thine, That to my first intent I have returned. Now go, for one sole will is in us both, Thou Leader, and thou Lord, and Master thou." 140 Thus said I to him; and when he had moved, I entered on the deep and savage way. CANTO III. 'HROUGH me “THROUGH me the way is to the city dolent; Through me the way is to eternal dole; Through me the way among the people lost. Justice incited my sublime Creator; Created me divine Omnipotence, The highest Wisdom and the primal Love. Before me there were no created things, Only eterne, and I eternal last. All hope abandon, ye who enter in!" These words in sombre color I beheld Written upon the summit of a gate; Whence I: "Their sense is, Master, hard to me!" And he to me, as one experienced : Here all suspicion needs must be abandoned, All cowardice must needs be here extinct. We to the place have come, where I have told thee IO 5 15 And after he had laid his hand on mine With joyful mien, whence I was comforted, He led me in among the secret things. There sighs, complaints, and ululations loud Resounded through the air without a star, Whence I, at the beginning, wept thereat. Languages diverse, horrible dialects, Accents of anger, words of agony, And voices high and hoarse, with sound of hands, Made up a tumult that goes whirling on Forever in that air forever black, 20 25 29 Even as the sand doth, when the whirlwind breathes. And I, who had my head with horror bound, Said: 66 Master, what is this which now I hear? What folk is this, which seems by pain so vanquished?" And he to me: "This miserable mode Maintain the melancholy souls of those Who lived withouten infamy or praise. Of Angels, who have not rebellious been, 35 The heavens expelled them, not to be less fair; Nor them the nethermore abyss receives, 40 For glory none the damned would have from them." And I: "O Master, what so grievous is To these, that maketh them lament so sore? And this blind life of theirs is so debased, Misericord and Justice both disdain them. Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass." Which, whirling round, ran on so rapidly, And after it there came so long a train Of people, that I ne'er would have believed Hateful to God and to his enemies. These miscreants, who never were alive, Were naked, and were stung exceedingly refusal. By gadflies and by hornets that were there. 45 50 55 60 65 |