CANTO II. AY was departing, and the embrowned air DAY Released the animals that are on earth From their fatigues; and I the only one Both of the way and likewise of the woe, O Muses, O high genius, now assist me! O memory, that didst write down what I saw, And I began: "Poet, who guidest me, Regard my manhood, if it be sufficient, 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 Upon this journey, whence thou givest him vaunt, To bring back comfort thence unto that Faith, I not Æneas am, I am not Paul, Nor I, nor others, think me worthy of it. I fear the coming may be ill-advised; And as he is, who unwills what he willed, And by new thoughts doth his intention change, Such I became, upon that dark hillside, Because, in thinking, I consumed the emprise, 20 25 30 35 40 "If I have well thy language understood," Replied that shade of the Magnanimous, "Thy soul attainted is with cowardice, Which many times a man encumbers so, It turns him back from honored enterprise, As false sight doth a beast, when he is shy. That thou mayst free thee from this apprehension, I'll tell thee why I came, and what I heard At the first moment when I grieved for thee. Among those was I who are in suspense, And a fair, saintly Lady called to me In such wise, I besought her to command me. And she began to say, gentle and low, 'O spirit courteous of Mantua, Of whom the fame still in the world endures, that he has turned through terror, Upon his way, That I too late have risen to his succor, From that which I have heard of him in Heaven. 45 50 55 60 65 Bestir thee now, and with thy speech ornate, And with what needful is for his release, Assist him so, that I may be consoled. Beatrice am I, who do bid thee go; I come from there, where I would fain return; Love moved me, which compelleth me to speak. Full often will I praise thee unto him.' So grateful unto me is thy commandment, To obey, if 't were already done, were late; No farther need'st thou ope to me thy wish. But the cause tell me why thou dost not shun The here descending down into this centre, From the vast place thou burnest to return to.' 'Since thou wouldst fain so inwardly discern, Briefly will I relate,' she answered me, Why I am not afraid to enter here. Of those things only should one be afraid Which have the power of doing others harm; 90 God in his mercy such created me That misery of yours attains me not, At this impediment, to which I send thee, In her entreaty she besought Lucìa, And said, "Thy faithful one now stands in need Lucìa, foe of all that cruel is, Hastened away, and came unto the place Where I was sitting with the ancient Rachel. "Beatrice," said she, "the true praise of God, Why succorest thou not him, who loved thee so, Dost thou not hear the pity of his plaint? Dost thou not see the death that combats him Beside that flood, where ocean has no vaunt?" Never were persons in the world so swift escape 95 100 105 their woe, 110 To work their weal and to Came hither downward from my blessed seat, Confiding in thy dignified discourse, Which honors thee, and those who 've listened to it.' |