Dante's Divine Comedy First Canto Translation

Premise The great poem by the italian poet Dante is the DIVINA COMMEDIA I have tried to translate in english verses of INFERNO (HELL). It was a very difficult task. I expect criticism. When just the midway of my life I crossed I found myself within a forest dark Because the correct way was harshly lost. Oh, it’s so hard to say and to remark How strong and savage was the forest core That in my mind it put a fearful mark!. It is so hard that death is lightly more; But to describe the sake that there I found I shall relate now what I saw before. The way I there went surely I confound Because of slumber I was much full so That I abandoned any pattern sound. But when I reached a hill foot on to go, There where that valley was just close to end After it had breached my heart as a foe, I then looked up and saw its abrupt trend Already light dressed by the planet rays Which the path to all walkers always fend. This made my fears be appeased in some ways, Which in the lake of my heart had lasted During the night I spent in so much haze. And alike to one with lena labored, Got out of open sea reaching the shore, Looks at unsafe water behind his head, Just so my soul, which yet was fleeing more, Looked rapid behind to behold the pass Which no man alive ever left before. After a short rest to body harass, The way resumed along the desert slope So that was always lower my foot fast. Then, when I started with the rise to cope, Sudden a very rapid panther light, Coated with spotted fur and little hope; Which didn’t leave apart from my front sight, Or better so forbidding my path line, That more than once I gave up to go right. It was the time for morning starting shine, And sun was rising moving with those stars Which were joined with it when the love divine Moved for the first those full of beauty jars; Thus I had more reasons to hope the best About that beast whose pelt had many scars The hour of time and the season blessed; But not sufficient to forbid the fright After that my eyes a fierce lion guessed. This looked like against me was pouncing right With ravenous hunger and head up high, So that surrounding air looked to excite. And a lupa, which greedy coming by Burdened looked as had only skin and bones , And many men already made to sigh, This put on me indeed so heavy stones With the scare created by the vision, That I lost hope to reach the upper zones. And such as guy taking with decision, And time then comes bringing him to lose, So his thoughts with sorrow find collision; Akin the peaceless beast with strong abuse Coming against me direct bit by bit Constrained me in the shadow to confuse. While I was compelled to slide down and quit, Before my eyes just the faint view appeared Of who for long hush seemed to have no fit. When I saw him in the wide desert cleared, “Miserere of me”, I screamed to him, “If you to shadow or to man adhered” Replied: “I'm not now, man I was not dim, Lombard my parents just certainly were Both were from Mantua, their home with vim. Arose sub Julio, even late occur, And I lived in Rome under August good In times of liars false gods and faith blur. Poet I was, and sung of that with just mood Anchise’s son who came in a trip from Troy, When superb Ilion burned as a wood. But why you follow of trouble decoy? Why the delectable hill don’t you rise Which is the start and cause of a full joy?”. “Are you now that Virgilio source wise Who spreads of words a so ample river?”. I answered him lowering shameful eyes. “O of all poets light and honor giver, Might I have gain from long study and love Which made me look for your work with quiver. You are my master who inspires above, You are the only one from whom I took The wonderful stile of my honor shove. The beast which made me run away now look; I beg your help, indeed famous wise man, ‘Cause me a trembling in veins and pulse shook” “To take another trip better you can”, He answered, when he saw my weeping pain, “If out of this wild place you want to scan; Since this wild beast , which causes your complain, Nobody allows its way to align, But struggles against him until is slain, And its nature is so grim and malign, That never fills in its greedy will, And is hungrier past than before dine. Many are the beasts with which it joins still, And even more will be, until the hound Will come, and shall it painfully then kill. He by gold and power will not be bound But by wisdom, love and virtue alone And between felt and felt will come and found. Might help that Italy to humble prone For which lost life Camilla virgin pure Eurialo, Turno, Niso slayed as known. This one will hunt it hard in every moor, Until it will fall in the deepest hell, Just where from it started envy impure. Since for your sake I think and judge quite well That you should follow me, I’ll be your guide, And I will shepherd you in endless dell; Where with hopeless shouting you shall collide, You shall see ancient spirits in their pain, Who are all shouting to be again died; You shall see those who happily sustain To stay in the fire, hoping to come back No matter when in the blessed domain. Where you can then climb following the track, There a more worthy soul than me will be: With her I will leave you, this is my tack; Since the great emperor whom there can see, 'Cause I was a rebel against his law, To guide you there forbids that I be free. He commands everywhere and puts his awe; Here lives his domain and lofty throne: Lucky is the people raised to this joie!”. My answer: “Poet, my need is here shown In name of God you did not even know, To flee this evil maybe not alone, That you now bring me where you told to go, So then I see the true saint Peter’s gate And people too you tell afflicted so” And when he moved, him I followed straight