Inferno
Canto II
As the evening of the first day falls, Dante begins to doubt his courage for the journey. He recalls the visit to the underworld of Aeneas (told by Virgil in the Sixth Aeneid) and of St. Paul (the theme of a medieval legend) and declares himself unworthy to follow such as these. Virgil then discloses that Beatrice came from Heaven, prompted by Divine Grace, to ask him to rescue Dante from the dangers into which he has fallen. Dante’s courage at once revives, and he accepts his mission.
The day was going, and the darkened air
Was taking from its toil each animal
That is on the earth; I only, alone there,
Essayed to arm my spirit against all
The terror of the journey and pity’s plea,
Which memory, that errs not, shall recall.
O Muses, O high Genius, strengthen me!
O Memory, that what I saw hast writ,
Here shall be made known thine integrity.
I began: “Poet, who guidest now my feet, [10]
Look if the virtue in me avail to endure
The arduous pass, ere thou trust me to it.
Thou sayest the father of Silvius went secure[i]13-21. This first visitor of the lower world is Father Aeneas, founder of Rome.
In his corruptible body, and that world knew
Which Death knows not, of all his senses sure.
But if the Adversary of Sin that due
Of favour gave him, weighing the high effect
And who, and what, should be his great issue,
This seems not unmeet to the intellect;
For he was born to father and prepare [20]
Rome and her Empire, as high Heaven’s elect;
Both of which, the true history to declare,
Were the foundations of that sainted spot
Which is the seat of greatest Peter’s heir.
By this adventure, whence thy praise he got,
He learned things that for him were argument
Of victory, and the Papal Mantle wrought.
Afterwards too the Chosen Vessel went[ii]28. “The Chosen Vessel” is St. Paul: Acts 9:15.
The confirmation of that faith to bring
Which is for way of our salvation meant. [30]
But I, why go? By whose commissioning?
I am not Aeneas, no, nor Paul: too weak
I, and others also, deem me for this thing.
If I resign me, then, that world to seek,
I fear the quest for folly be aspersed.
Thou art wise and canst divine more than I speak.”
And like one who unwills what he willed first
And new thoughts change the intention that he had,
So that his resolution is reversed,
So on that dim slope did my purpose fade [40]
For I with thinking had dulled down the zest
That at the outset sprang so prompt and glad.
“If rightly I read the trouble in thy breast,”
The shade of the Magnanimous replied,
“With cowardice thy spirit is oppressed,
Which oftentimes a man hath mortified,
So that it turns him back from noble deed,
As with false seeing a beast will start aside.
Now, that thy heart may from this fear be freed,
Hear why I came and what I heard, and where, [50]
When first I felt the pity of thy need.
I was with those who are in suspense: and there[iii]52. “Who are in suspense”: between Heaven and Hell, in Limbus.
A Lady of so great beauty and blessedness,[iv]53. “A Lady”: Beatrice.
I craved for her command, called me to her.
Her eyes so shone, the Morning Star shines less.
And she began to speak, gentle and low,
In the angel voice that did her soul express:
‘O courteous Mantuan spirit, whom men fame so[v]58. Virgil was born near Mantua.
That thy renown yet lasts, and till Time end
The motion of his hours, shall greater grow, [60]
He that is my friend, but not fortune’s friend,
Halts on the lonely moor, by fear deterred,
So that the path he dareth not ascend.
Already I fear he may so sore have erred
That I have risen to succour him too late,
From what of him in Heaven I have heard.
Go now, and with thy poet’s speech ornate
And what means else may rescue courage weak
Help him, and me deliver of this care’s weight.
I am Beatrice who send thee, him to seek. [70][vi]70. Beatrice stands for Revelation, for which Dante's distorted mind must be prepared by Reason.
I come from that place for which now I sigh.
It was love moved me and made my lips to speak.
Often to thy praise will I testify
When I am come into my Lord’s presence.’
She then was silent; and I made reply:
‘O Lady, who art the only virtue whence
Mankind may overpass what is contained[vii]77. Mankind surpasses everything contained within the sphere of the moon (everything perishable) only through divine revelation, embodied in Beatrice.
Within the heaven of least circumference,
So welcome is the bidding thou hast deigned,
That were it now done, it were done too slow. [80]
It needs but that thy wish should be explained:
But tell me why into this core of woe
Thou shun’st not to descend, turning thy face
From the ample air, whither thou yearn’st to go?”
‘Since thou,’ she answered, ‘so much of this case
Desirest knowledge, briefly shalt thou hear
Why I shrink not to come into this place.
Those things that have the power to wound and sear,
To them alone should due of dread be paid;
To the others not, they are not things to fear. [90]
I am by God so, in his mercy, made,
That misery of yours touches me not,[viii]92. The happiness of the blest is not marred by compassion for the damned.
Nor in the scorch of this fire am I frayed.
A Lady in heaven is to such pity wrought[ix]94. “A Lady in heaven”: the Virgin, who is not expressly named anywhere in the Inferno, Hell being a place where mercy does not enter.
By the hard pass, whereto I bid thee haste,
That the strict law’s remission she hath sought.
She called to her Lucy, and made request,[x]97. Lucy has been regarded by almost all interpreters as the emblem of Grace—probably, as her name suggests, Illuminating Grace.
Saying, Now thy faithful one hath need of thee:
I entrust him to thee; and do thou the rest.
Lucy, the enemy of all cruelty, [100]
Arose and came and stood within my gaze
There, where the ancient Rachel sat by me.[xi]102. Rachel symbolised the contemplative life.
She spoke and said: Beatrice, God’s true praise,
Why helpest thou not him, who loved thee so
That for thy sake he left the vile crowd’s ways?
Hearest thou not the plaining of his woe?
Seèst thou not what death would him undo
By that wild flood the sea may not o’ercrow?[xii]108. “The wild flood’ is perhaps the Acheron, the river of death which flows beneath Dante’ s feet: and which does not empty into the sea, but runs down through Hell.
None in the world was ever swift to ensue
His good, or fly his hurt, as these my feet [110]
At once, after those words were uttered few,
Hasted to come down from my blessèd seat,
Confiding in thy speech, so nobly graced,
It honours both thee and those hearing it’
Having said this, her footsteps she retraced,
Turning from me her eyes that wept and shone;
At sight of which she made me more to haste.
Thus I came to thee, as she desired, and won
Thee from that ravening beast which would withhold
The short way to the Beauteous Mount begun. [120]
What is it, then, keeps thee? Why, why haltest cold?
Why in thy heart nourishest fear so base?
Why art thou not delivered, eager, bold,
When three such blessed Ladies of their grace
Care in the court of Heaven for thy plight,
And my words promise thee such good to embrace?”
As little flowers, that by the chill of night
Are closed, prick up their stems drooping and bent,
And to the early ray re-open white,
So was it with my courage fallen and spent; [130]
And I began, as one from bondage freed,
So good a warmth about my body went:
“O most compassionate She, who helps my need!
O courteous thou, who to that uttered word
Didst listen, and to its truth so swift give heed!
Thou makest me so eager in accord
With what thou say’st, and quickenest so my heart,
That to my first resolve I am restored.
Now it is one will moves us both; thou art
Guide, master, lord!” These words to him I said, [140]
And then, perceiving that he made to start,
Began the desolate, arduous path to tread.