Escape, lead thou me where thou said'st, that so In glory, and those spirits whelm'd in woe.' 135 Then movèd he, and I held on behind. ΤΟ CANTO II. Lo giorno se n' andava. ARGUMENT. DANTE fears that his strength will prove insufficient for the enterprise. 'It was reasonable,' he argues, that neas and St. Paul, who were respectively concerned in laying and strengthening the foundations of the Roman Empire and the Christian Church, should traverse the unseen world; but what was his claim to so high a privilege?' Virgil revives the confidence of the Poet by relating how he had been visited by Beatrice, and sent by her to rescue him from the wood; and how St. Mary the Virgin and St. Lucy had also intervened on his behalf. Now day declined, and Night with dusky wing 5 Ye sacred nine! aid my adventurous lay. Tell, O my mind, that which did there betide me, I thus broke silence; Poet, that dost guide me, Ere thou unto this perilous pass confide me. Immortal went, and was there sensibly. Now, that the Enemy of all ill such grace On him bestow'd, measuring the high effect That was to ensue therefrom—the power—the race — Appears not strange to one who can reflect, For that he was of Rome's imperial sway The original author in high heaven elect. Which sway—not for itself alone to say The truth—was stablish'd for the holy place, By this descent, made famous in thy story, 25 He learn'd the sure foundation how to lay 1 Æneas. 2 Eneid vi. 889-894. Election's vessel3 did this path essay, To gather confirmation for that Faith, Which guideth us into salvation's way. I am not Paul, nor Rome's ancestral sage. Wise are thou, knowing all my fears presage.' Unwills, with new thoughts from his purpose bending, Ev'n so upon that darksome steep ascending My thoughts consumed the enterprise of good, Embraced so soon, whereon my steps were wending. 'If rightly from thy language I conclude,' The shade of that great-minded one replied, 'Thy spirit is with cowardice imbued; Which oft-times leadeth men to turn aside In gloom of soul from loftiest enterprise, Like restive beasts with shadows terrified. That thou may'st purge this film from off thine eyes, Thou shalt what brought me hither understand, 50 And how I learn'd with thee to sympathise. Erewhile in Limbo 4 'mid the hero band The irradiant form of one so fair was given To my rapt sight that I her swift command Entreated. Brighter than the star of even Her eyes were gleaming when she thus began With angel voice in the sweet speech of heaven; "O gentle spirit of the Mantuan, Whose name on earth with deathless glory blended Shall live for aye thro' time's remotest span, My friend, alas! by Fortune unbefriended, Is so perplex'd on the wild desert way That he thro' fear his onward course hath ended : And now perchance hath gone so far astray That I to rescue him have risen in vain From what I hear the ethereal people say. Thou therefore rise, and with the golden strain Of thy fair speech give timely aid, that so 'Tis I—'tis Beatrice who bids thee go. I come from where I fain would be restored, By love impell'd which makes these tears to flow. 3 St. Paul. Acts ix. 15; and 2 Cor. xii. 2. 55 60 65 70 |