"If rightly I thy meaning understand," "By coward fear thy spirit is unmanned,- And what I heard when first for thee I grieved. 'Mid those in Limbo was I dwelling still, 43 49 When I was called by one so blest and fair, Her eyes shone brighter than the star on high; 35 'O Mantuan poet! kind and courteous soul! Whose honoured memory yet on earth doth dwell, 61 A friend I have (by cruel fortune spurned) My tardy succour will in vain be lent,- 57 73 Love brought me here, Love makes these words to flow. Oft-times, when in the presence of my Lord, My voice shall rise to celebrate thy praise.' Then I resumed, as ceased the angelic word · 'O virtuous Lady, whose excelling worth Alone hath influence mortal man to raise O'er all the creatures that inhabit earth, 52. Literally, "Among those who are suspended," i. e. in a place of neither pleasure nor pain. This Limbo is described in canto iv. Virgil was summoned thence by Beatrice. See canto i. 122. Wisdom is incited by Charity to the rescue of Dante. "Contained within the heaven which has the smallest circles," i. e. within 72. Heavenly 78. Literally, 7 Such my delight thy mandate to fulfil, That were it done, there still would seem delay; Why undismay'd I venture here below.- Rose at her gentle words, and came with speed The death he combats on the flood below, To shun misfortune, or to compass gains, 84. The the Moon. See "Material Heavens," prefixed to the Paradiso. empyreal Heaven-in which Beatrice was enjoying the vision of God. 94. Divine Mercy. 97. Illuminating grace,-personified in St. Lucia the Martyr. (See Purg. ix. 55. Par. xxxii. 137.) She, having been herself prevailed upon by Mercy, interceded with Wisdom. 102. Heavenly contemplation. (See Purg. xxvii. 104 so Convito, Trat. iv. 22.) This said her eyes, all glistening in her tears, And snatched thee from the fury of the beast, Why harbour in thy breast this coward fear? Why o'er thy soul hath courage lost its sway, Since three blest damsels in the court of heaven Watch o'er thy safety with such tender care, And in my words such promised help is given ?" As flow'rets, bent and closed by chilling night, Soon as the sun his radiance hath bestowed, Rise on their stems, and opening hail the light; Thus to my wearied breast fresh vigour ran; And o'er my heart such goodly courage flowed, Like one restored to freedom, I began. "O how compassionate the heavenly Maid Who lent me succour! and thyself how kind, Thy cheering speech hath kindled in my mind, CANTO III. ARGUMENT. 115 121 127 133 139 Inscription over the gate of Hell. Dante enters, and in the outskirts, called Limbo, sees spirits, who, having lived in a state of indifference 116. Heavenly Wisdom weeps at the infirmity of human nature. 119. The She-wolf. See canto i. 49. 124. Mercy, Grace, 136. Dante is confirmed in the and Wisdom, as mentioned above. design of executing his mission in spite of the Court of Rome and all earthly opposition. He accordingly proceeds towards the gate of Hell 139. Human Will submits to Human Wisdom. When the human will shall have submitted to a higher instructor the full object of the Pilgrim will be accomplished; and his will identified with the will of God. Par. xxxiii. 143. both to good and evil, are assigned the same portion as the neutral angels. They are ferried over the river Acheron.-A blast of lightning stuns Dante, and he falls into a swoon. "TпROUGH me ye enter the abode of woe: By Power Almighty was my fabric wrought, Save those eternal-I eternal last : 1 7 13 19 25 1. This inscription is supposed to be written over the gate of hell. 4, &c. The attributes of the Trinity are here described,―the Power of the Father-the Wisdom of the Son-the Love of the Holy Ghost.-These Three Persons are moved by "Justice" to construct Hell. 8. i. e. The rebellious angels who were driven down into Hell, before the creation of 15. Dante has before declared the necessity of steeling his heart to pity. Canto ii. 4. 24. Dante breaks the rule laid dow or himself. He weeps at first sight of the sufferings of the wicked. man. Then (horror compassing my head around) Who stood aloof in heaven-to God untrue, Heaven drove them forth, its beauty not to stain ; "O master, what infliction do they bear," 31. 37 43 I said, "which makes them raise such shricks of woe ?" No hope of death have this unhappy crew; So large a troop of spirits came behind, pass." I ne'er forsooth could have believed it true, That Death had slain such myriads of mankind. And when I had examined many a shade, Behold! that abject one appeared in view, 49 55 55 31. The reading of "orror" instead of "error" is found in various MSS. and also in several editions. That of the Editio princeps in the British Museum has been altered in writing into "error.' "Orror" is adopted by Boccaccio in his Comment, and by Panizzi in his edition of Bojardo. Rogers, the first translator of Dante, whose scarce work is to be found in the British Museum, has "horror," and Cary mentions it with approbation. Authorities are given in this instance, because an influential critic some years ago misled the public as to the true reading, declaring that the translator (whose authorities were unnoticed) had "blundered error into orror." 37. These despicable wretches are placed in the outskirts of hell as unworthy alike of punishment or happiness. 42. Of" niuna" in the sense of "alcuna," see Monti, Proposta. (vol. i. page 2.) An emblem of mankind busied in one continued round of cares and plea sures. 52. |