Eurialus, Nisus, Turnus, honoured band.

Even he shall chase her through each town, till Hell,

Whence Envy drew her first, shall from his hand

Receive her. And I now discern, full well,

That thou shouldst follow me.

I'll be thy guide.

And lead thee where eternal horrors dwell;
Where thou shalt hear despairing outcries, wide
Resounding, and shalt see the ancient sprites
Call on the second death they would abide.
And thou shalt, then, behold those other wights
Who are content, through hope, amid the fire,
When it may be, to share salvation's rights,
Among the blest; to whom if thou aspire

To mount up afterwards, a worthier soul
Than me shall lead thee to the heavenly quire.
For He who reigns on high, and rules the whole,
Wills not that to his city should ascend

Any through me, who owned not his control.
He swayeth every where, and without end..
There is his city, and his lofty seat.

Oh! happy are the elect who thither wend. Then said I to him: Poet, I entreat,

For sake of that God whom thou knewest not,

That thou wouldst lead me, if I may as yet

Escape those ills and worse that haunt this spot, Where I may view saint Peter's gate, and those Whom thou dost make so wretched, in their lot. Then moved he; and I follow as he goes.

CANTO II.

Day was departing, and the dusky air
Withdrew the living upon earth to rest
From their fatigues: while I alone prepare
Still to sustain the warfare and unrest,

Both of the road, and of religion dear,
Which my unwandering mind will picture best.
O Muses! O high genius, aid me here!
O soul that wrotest what I, erst, did see,
Now shall thy nobleness, perchance, appear.
Thus I began: Thou bard that guidest me,
Look if my strength be equal for the way,
Ere unto that high pass thou trustest me.
Thou sayest that Silvius' parent, still in clay
Corruptible, with mortal senses still,

Unto the immortal region went his way.

Wherefore if the Adversary of all ill

Was so benign, pondering the high effect,

The who and what, which he should yet fulfill; Unworthy seems he not to the intellect.

For, in the highest heaven, he was forenamed Of Rome and of her sway the sire elect. Which city, and which empire great were framed And 'stablished, certes, for the holy place

Where the successor sits of Peter famed.

By that emprise he learned strange things to trace
Which were to him the cause of victory,

And of the papal mantle. Then, through grace,
Next, thither went election's vessel, he

To bring us strength from thence, for that true faith
Which is the first way to salvation free.

But why should I go thither; or who saith,
Enter? Neither Eneas nor Paul am I:

Nor I, nor others deem my worth so great.

So if I yield myself that path to try,

I fear the travel may be overbold:

Thou art wise and better knowest to descry.

And, as one that unwilleth what he wolde,

And, through new thoughts, changeth his first intent, So that from act he turns, in purpose cold,

Such I became upon that darksome bent:
For, musing, I consumed the hardihood
Which in beginning was so quickly lent.
If I thy words have rightly understood,
Answered the shade of that magnanimous one,
Thy soul is tainted with a cowardly mood.
Which many times encumbers man, alone,

So that from honoured feats he turns, afraid,
Like a beast starting at some sight unknown.
That thou mayest loose thyself from such a dread,
I'll tell thee why I came, and what I learned,
When first I grieved for thee, so far misled.
'Mongst the suspended ones was I discerned,

And a fair courteous dame called me, afar, Whom I besought to sway me, as she yearned.

Her

eyes shone out, more bright than any star, And thus, full softly and sweetly, she begun, With voice angelic, iu her parlance fair.

O courteous Mantuan spirit! gifted one!

Whose fame endures, on earth, and shall endure, As long as motion swayeth matter on; My friend, my own, and not my dowry's wooer, Within the wild is hindered on his way,

So that for fear he's turned, in paths unsure.