715 30 85 When I am in the presence of my Lord, I will rehearse thy praise before the throne." Ceasèd she then, and I took up the word; 'O sovran Lady, by whose aid alone The feeble race of mánkind doth excel All else contain'd within heaven's lesser zone,5 This thy commandment pleaseth me so well, That were it done forthwith 'twere all too late : No need thy purpose more to unfold—but tell The reason why thou dost not hesitate 66 To venture down into this central gloom, Who longest to regain thy blessed seat?" Seeing thou would'st into these depths presume, I will in brief unfold," she answer made, "Why without fear amid these shades I come. 'Tis meet to hold only those things in dread That tend to work another's woe or shame : All else thou may'st encounter undismay'd. I am so framed by God—unto whose name 90 The Lunar sphere of the Ptolemaic system. The 'hopeless desire' of the spirits in Limbo. Canto iv. 42 A saint there is above, so piteously Bewails this hindrance8 in her gentle breast, Ev'n Heaven is moved, and changed the stern decree. She to Lucia9 call'd, and made request, And said; 'Now is thy faithful one in need Of thee: arise, and to his succour haste.' Lucia, foe to every cruel deed,10 Bestirr'd herself, and came unto the place Where I with the ancient Rachel sat, and said; Seëst thou not how on the brimming river More swift to follow gain or loss to fly Than I hearing those words from realms for ever Blissful descended thro' the ample sky, Relying on that eloquence of thine, Thy glory and theirs who hear its melody." 7 St. Mary the Virgin, or Divine Clemency. 8 The forlorn condition of the Poet. 9 St. Lucy, or Illuminating Grace. 10 This obviously refers, not to the stern decree' changed already, but to the hindrance' of v. 95. 95 100 105 110 of v. 96, which is 11 Theology. Here ending her discourse, she bent on mine Thy lingering steps, nor rather entertain 115 120 125 As flowerets, by the chilling breath of even Bow'd down and closed, their petals ope, and rear Upright their stems, when the sun's light is given ; So did I with my spirit's drooping cheer, Till with fresh fervour all my bosom glow'd: I spake as one broke free from bonds of fear; 'O she was very piteous, who bestow'd 130 Her aid, and courteous thou, who did'st obey So soon the true words from her lips that flow'd. 135 So doth thy precious speech my fear allay, That all my heart is longing to fulfil Its first resolve this journey to essay. Now let us go, for we have both one will. Thou art my guide, my lord and master thou.' So said I then he onward moved, until We reach'd the woody path that leads below. 140 18 CANTO III. Per me si va. ARGUMENT. The inscription over the gate of Hell. Dante and his Guide pass into a region of unchanging darkness, peopled with those neutral spirits a vast multitude—who in their life-time had neither incurred infamy nor merited praise. Here they view the souls of the lost gathering towards the river Acheron, and pressing with eagerness into Charon's bark. Thro' me you go to Acheron's doleful river, Thro' me you go to realms of endless pain, Thro' me you go among the lost for ever. Eternal Justice did my being ordain: Power, Wisdom, Love, supreme primeval Trine, 5 Ere yet the perishable world began, The lofty fabric rear'd with art divine. With things eternal I endure eterne. O ye who enter, every hope resign. |