The Divine Comedy (Complete Annotated Edition). Dante Alighieri

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СКАЧАТЬ he hath late resolv’d, and with new thoughts

      Changes his purpose, from his first intent

      Remov’d; e’en such was I on that dun coast,

      Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first

      So eagerly embrac’d. “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,3 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 tun’d 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 ris’n 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;4 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.”

      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 farther 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 fram’d by God, thanks to his grace!

      That any suff’rance of your misery

      Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire

Assails me. In high heaven a blessed dame5

      Besides, who mourns with such effectual grief

      That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,

      That God’s stern judgment to her will inclines.

To Lucia6 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 lov’d 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?”

      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 honour 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 sav’d thee from the beast,

      Who thy near way across the goodly mount

      Prevented. What is this comes o’er thee then?

      Why, СКАЧАТЬ