Inferno Canto 2
Canto II
Argument
After the invocation, which poets are used to prefix to their works, he shows that, on a consideration of his own strength, he doubted whether it sufficed for the journey proposed to him, but that, being comforted by Virgil, he at last took courage, and followed him as his guide and master.
Now was the day departing, and the air, Imbrown'd with shadows, from their toils released All animals on earth; and I alone Prepared myself the conflict to sustain, Both of sad pity, and that perilous road, Which my unerring memory shall retrace.
O Muses! O high genius! now vouchsafe Your aid. O mind! that all I saw hast kept Safe in a written record, here thy worth And eminent endowments come to proof.
I thus began: "Bard! thou who art my guide, Consider well, if virtue be in me Sufficient, ere to this high enterprise Thou trust me. Thou hast told that Silvius' sire, Yet clothed in corruptible flesh, among The immortal tribes had entrance, and was there Sensibly present. Yet if Heaven's great Lord, Almighty foe to ill, such favor show'd In contemplation of the high effect, Both what and who from him should issue forth, It seems in reason's judgment well deserved;
Sith he of Rome and of Rome's empire wide, In Heaven's imperial height was chosen sire: Both which, if truth be spoken, were ordain'd And stablish'd for the holy place, where sits Who to great Peter's sacred chair succeeds.
He from this journey, in thy song renown'd, Learn'd things, that to his victory gave rise And to the papal robe. In after - times The Chosen Vessel also travel'd there, To bring us back assurance in that faith Which is the entrance to salvation's way.
But I, why should I there presume? or who Permits it? not Aeneas I, nor Paul.
[1: "Silvius' sire." Aeneas.]
[2: \"The Chosen Vessel." St. Paul.]
Myself I deem not worthy, and none else Will deem me. I, if on this voyage then I venture, fear it will in folly end.
Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know'st, Than I can speak." As one, who unresolves What he hath late resolved, and with new thoughts Changes his purpose, from his first intent Removed; e'en such was I on that dun coast, Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first So eagerly embraced. "If right thy words I scan," replied that shade magnanimous,
"Thy soul is by vile fear assail'd, which oft So overcasts a man, that he recoils From noblest resolution, like a beast At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.
That from this terror thou mayst free thyself, I will instruct thee why I came, and what I heard in that same instant, when for thee Grief touch'd me first. I was among the tribe, Who rest suspended, when a dame, so blest And lovely I besought her to command, Call'd me; her eyes were brighter than the star Of day; and she, with gentle voice and soft, Angelically tuned, her speech address'd:
'O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!
A friend, not of my fortune but myself, On the wide desert in his road has met Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn'd.
Now much I dread lest he past help have stray'd, And I be risen too late for his relief, From what in heaven of him I heard. Speed now, And by thy eloquent persuasive tongue, And by all means for his deliverance meet, Assist him. So to me will comfort spring.
I, who now bid thee on this errand forth, Am Beatrice; from a place I come Revisited with joy. Love brought me thence, Who prompts my speech. When in my Master's sight I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell.'
[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.]
"She then was silent, and I thus began:
'O Lady! by whose influence alone Mankind excels whatever is contain'd Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb, So thy command delights me, that to obey, If it were done already, would seem late.
No need hast thou further to speak thy will: Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth To leave that ample space, where to return Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath.'
"She then: 'Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire, 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 framed by God, thanks to His grace!
That any sufferance of your misery Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire Assails me. In high Heaven a blessed Dame Resides, who mourns with such effectual grief That hindrance, which I send thee to remove, That God's stern judgment to her will inclines.'
To Lucia, 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 loved 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?"
[5: "A blessed Dame." The Divine Mercy.]
[6: \"Lucia." The enlightening Grace of Heaven; as it is commonly explained.]
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 honor 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 saved thee from the beast, Who thy near way across the goodly mount Prevented. What is this comes o'er thee than?
Why, why dost thou hang back? why in thy breast Harbour vile fear? why hast not courage there, And noble daring; since three maids, so blest, Thy safety plan, e'en in the court of Heaven;
And so much certain good my words forebode?"
[7: "Three maids." The Divine Mercy, Lucia and Beatrice.]
As florets, by the frosty air of night Bent down and closed, when day has blanch'd their leaves, Rise all unfolded on their spiry stems;
So was my fainting vigor new restored, 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 disposed me to renew my voyage, That my first purpose fully is resumed.
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 moved, I enter'd on the deep and woody way.
Argument
After the invocation, which poets are used to prefix to their works, he shows that, on a consideration of his own strength, he doubted whether it sufficed for the journey proposed to him, but that, being comforted by Virgil, he at last took courage, and followed him as his guide and master.
Now was the day departing, and the air, Imbrown'd with shadows, from their toils released All animals on earth; and I alone Prepared myself the conflict to sustain, Both of sad pity, and that perilous road, Which my unerring memory shall retrace.
O Muses! O high genius! now vouchsafe Your aid. O mind! that all I saw hast kept Safe in a written record, here thy worth And eminent endowments come to proof.
I thus began: "Bard! thou who art my guide, Consider well, if virtue be in me Sufficient, ere to this high enterprise Thou trust me. Thou hast told that Silvius' sire, Yet clothed in corruptible flesh, among The immortal tribes had entrance, and was there Sensibly present. Yet if Heaven's great Lord, Almighty foe to ill, such favor show'd In contemplation of the high effect, Both what and who from him should issue forth, It seems in reason's judgment well deserved;
Sith he of Rome and of Rome's empire wide, In Heaven's imperial height was chosen sire: Both which, if truth be spoken, were ordain'd And stablish'd for the holy place, where sits Who to great Peter's sacred chair succeeds.
He from this journey, in thy song renown'd, Learn'd things, that to his victory gave rise And to the papal robe. In after - times The Chosen Vessel also travel'd there, To bring us back assurance in that faith Which is the entrance to salvation's way.
But I, why should I there presume? or who Permits it? not Aeneas I, nor Paul.
[1: "Silvius' sire." Aeneas.]
[2: \"The Chosen Vessel." St. Paul.]
Myself I deem not worthy, and none else Will deem me. I, if on this voyage then I venture, fear it will in folly end.
Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know'st, Than I can speak." As one, who unresolves What he hath late resolved, and with new thoughts Changes his purpose, from his first intent Removed; e'en such was I on that dun coast, Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first So eagerly embraced. "If right thy words I scan," replied that shade magnanimous,
"Thy soul is by vile fear assail'd, which oft So overcasts a man, that he recoils From noblest resolution, like a beast At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.
That from this terror thou mayst free thyself, I will instruct thee why I came, and what I heard in that same instant, when for thee Grief touch'd me first. I was among the tribe, Who rest suspended, when a dame, so blest And lovely I besought her to command, Call'd me; her eyes were brighter than the star Of day; and she, with gentle voice and soft, Angelically tuned, her speech address'd:
'O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!
A friend, not of my fortune but myself, On the wide desert in his road has met Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn'd.
Now much I dread lest he past help have stray'd, And I be risen too late for his relief, From what in heaven of him I heard. Speed now, And by thy eloquent persuasive tongue, And by all means for his deliverance meet, Assist him. So to me will comfort spring.
I, who now bid thee on this errand forth, Am Beatrice; from a place I come Revisited with joy. Love brought me thence, Who prompts my speech. When in my Master's sight I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell.'
[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.]
"She then was silent, and I thus began:
'O Lady! by whose influence alone Mankind excels whatever is contain'd Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb, So thy command delights me, that to obey, If it were done already, would seem late.
No need hast thou further to speak thy will: Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth To leave that ample space, where to return Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath.'
"She then: 'Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire, 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 framed by God, thanks to His grace!
That any sufferance of your misery Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire Assails me. In high Heaven a blessed Dame Resides, who mourns with such effectual grief That hindrance, which I send thee to remove, That God's stern judgment to her will inclines.'
To Lucia, 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 loved 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?"
[5: "A blessed Dame." The Divine Mercy.]
[6: \"Lucia." The enlightening Grace of Heaven; as it is commonly explained.]
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 honor 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 saved thee from the beast, Who thy near way across the goodly mount Prevented. What is this comes o'er thee than?
Why, why dost thou hang back? why in thy breast Harbour vile fear? why hast not courage there, And noble daring; since three maids, so blest, Thy safety plan, e'en in the court of Heaven;
And so much certain good my words forebode?"
[7: "Three maids." The Divine Mercy, Lucia and Beatrice.]
As florets, by the frosty air of night Bent down and closed, when day has blanch'd their leaves, Rise all unfolded on their spiry stems;
So was my fainting vigor new restored, 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 disposed me to renew my voyage, That my first purpose fully is resumed.
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 moved, I enter'd on the deep and woody way.
