Inferno: Canto I

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

    Ah me!

    how hard a thing it
        is to say

    What was this forest savage,
           rough,
         and stern,
            Which in the very thought
            renews the fear.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    And lo!

    almost where the ascent began,

    A panther light
           and swift exceedingly,
          Which with a spotted skin
            was covered o'er!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    'Sub Julio' was I born,
           though it was late,
    And lived at Rome
           under the good Augustus,
          During the time