The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

Canto I. HELL. 3 And such is he who masseth wealth with greed, ^^ Till comes the time all things from him to wrest, And in each thought to wail, is all his meed. So haunted me that beast that cannot rest, Who foot by foot, before me, slowly reared, And where the sun was silent, downwards prest. ^^ While to the deep abysses thus I neared, A vision then arose before my face. Whose voice, through lengthened silence, faint appeared.

When I beheld him in that desert place, "Ah, miserere !*' did I loudly cry, ^ " Art thou a shadow, or of human race ? He answered me : " No man : a man was I In former times, and of the Mantuan state Were both my parents, in fair Lombardy. 8tbb Julio bom, though that came somewhat late, ^^ And I, 'neath good Augustus, lived at Borne, In time of the false gods, of idle prate.

I was a poet, and I sang his doom, Anchises' honest son, who came from Troy, After proud Bion was a burning tomb. " But wherefore tum*st thou back to such annoy P Wherefore not climb up this delicious mount, The cause and the commencement of all joy ?'' *' Art thou indeed that Virgil, and that fount From which sprang forth of song so large a stream ?" ^ Answered I to him with a shame-struck front. ** O, of all other poets, pride and beam.

Avail me the great love, and study long. Which made me ever ponder o'er thy theme. Thou art my Master, I to thee belong : ^* Thou only art the one from whom I've ta'en The polished style, that brought me fJEbme in song. Line 60. "And where the son was silent, downwards prest. The metaphor seems forced to modem ears : dove 7 sol tace. It is in imitation of the "Lnna silens" or moonless night of the classics.

Probably Virgil's "per amica silentia Lnnse " is more directly imitated. Line 63. " Whose voice, throngh lengthened silence, faint appeared. The faint voice of the spirit in the upper world is imitated from the " vox exigua" in the JSneid, attributed to the shades.

Lme 70. " 8ub JuUo bom, though that came somewhat late. " Naoqui sub JultOy ancorch^ fosse tardi.

Virgil was bom twenty-five years before Julius assumed the dictatorship. Venturi explains the above line, *' I may say I was bom under Julius Csasar, though he made himself Dictator somewhat late as respects the date of my birth."

4 HELL. Cakto I. Behold the beast which turns me back again : O famous wise one, give me now thy aid. She makes me tremble in each pulse and vein." ^ ** Some other road by thee must be essayed," He answered, when he saw me weeping stay, " If yonder wilderness thou wouldst evade. That beast, at which thou criest, by this way Permits not one to pass, for evermore, ^'' But bars the passage so, that she will slay.

Of wickedness her nature has such store That her keen craving ne*er is satisfied, ^ut after food she's hungrier than before. To many animals is she allied, ^^ And will be so to more, until the hound Shall come, who'll make her die of griefs sharp gride. This one will not be fed on pelf, or ground, But upon Wisdom, Love, and Virtue's store. His nation 'twixt two Feltros guarded round. ^^^* Safety he'll bring to meek Italia's shore.

For whom Camilla, the pure virgin, died, EurialuB and Tumus wounded sore. Through every town he'll chase the she- wolfs pride Until in Hell he drive her to the place ^^® Whence Envy first allowed her here to bide. Now for thy profit in my thoughts I trace How thou mayst follow, I will guide thee fair, From here I'll lead thee through eternal space, Where thou shalt hear the shriekings of despair, "* Shalt see the ancient spirits grief-possest.

Who each the second death invokes with prayer. There others thou shalt see contented rest In fire, because they hope at length to be, Whate'er the time, amidst the people blest : ^^ Line 100. '' To many animals is she allied/' Avarice, symbolised in the wolf, has its worst excesses when joined to other crimes ; alone, it injures chiefly the possessor. Line 101. "Until the hound Shall come, who'll make her die of griefs sharp gride.

This is generally allowed to be intended for Can Grande della Scala, whose country of Verona is situated between Feltro, a town, and Monte Feltro. The prophecy of the regeneration of Italy, assigned by Dante to his chief Protector, has at last been fulfilled. Line 117. ** Who each the second death invokes with prayer. The second death is that death of the soul for which the condemned will in vain pray, as a close to torment. Line 118.

" There others thou shalt see contented rest In fire. This alludes to the spirits in Purgatory, where Virgil is also to guide