Inferno
by Dante Alighieri

A Dark Wood                  The Dark Wood of Error 

1   MIDWAY upon the journey of our life 
2   I found myself within a forest dark, 
3   For the straightforward pathway had been lost. 

4   Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say 
5   What was this forest savage, rough, and stern, 
6   Which in the very thought renews the fear. 

7   So bitter is it, death is little more; 
8   But of the good to treat, which there I found, 
9   Speak will I of the other things I saw there. 

10   I cannot well repeat how there I entered, 
11   So full was I of slumber at the moment 
12   In which I had abandoned the true way. 

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

16   Upward I looked, and I beheld its shoulders 
17   Vested already with that planet's rays 
18   Which leadeth others right by every road. 

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

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

25   So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward, 
26   Turn itself back to re-behold the pass 
27   Which never yet a living person left. 

28   After my weary body I had rested, 
29   The way resumed I on the desert slope, 
30   So that the firm foot ever was the lower. 

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

34   And never moved she from before my face, 
35   Nay, rather did impede so much my way, 
36   That many times I to return had turned. 

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

40   At first in motion set those beauteous things; 
41   So were to me occasion of good hope, 
42   The variegaled skin of that wild beast, 

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

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

49   And a she-wolf, that with all hungerings 
50   Seemed to be laden in her meagreness, 
51   And many folk has caused to live forlorn! 

52   She brought upon me so much heaviness, 
53   With the affright that from her aspect came, 
54   That I the hope relinquished of the height. 

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

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

61   While I was rushing downward to the lowland, 
62   Before mine eyes did one present himself, 
63   Who seemed from long-continued silence hoarse. 

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

67   He answered me: Not man; man once I was, 
68   And both my parents were of Lombardy, 
69   And Mantuans by country both of them. 

70   Sub Julio was I born, though it was late, 
71   And lived at Rome under the good Augustus, 
72   During the time of false and Iying gods. 

73   A poet was I, and I sang that just 
74   Son of Anchises, who came forth from Troy, 
75   After that Ilion the superb was burned 

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

79   Now, art thou that Virgilius and that fountain 
80   Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech? 
81   I made response to him with bashful forehead. 

82   O, of the other poets honour and light, 
83   Avail me the long study and great love 
84   That have impelled me to explore thy volume! 

85   Thou art my master, and my author thou, 
86   Thou art alone the one from whom I took 
87   The beautiful style that has done honour to me. 

88   Behold the beast, for which I have turned back; 
89   Do thou protect me from her, famous Sage, 
90   For she doth make my veins and pulses tremble.' 

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

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

97   And has a nature so malign and ruthless, 
98   That never doth she glut her greedy will, 
99   And after food is hungrier than before. 

100   Many the animals with whom she weds, 
101   And more they shall be still, until the Greyhound 
102   Comes, who shall make her perish in her pain. 

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

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

109   Through every city shall he hunt her down, 
110   Until he shall have driven her back to Hell, 
111   There from whence envy first did let her loose. 

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

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

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

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

124   Because that Emperor, who reigns above, 
125   In that I was rebellious to his law, 
126   Wills that through me none come into his city. 

127   governs evervwhere and there he reigns: 
128   There is his city and his lofty throne; 
129   O happy he whom thereto he elects! 

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

133   Thou wouldst conduct me there where thou hast said, 
134   That I may see the portal of Saint Peter, 
135   And those thou makest so disconsolable. 

136   Then he moved on, and I behind him followed.