HELL CANTO THE FIRST. A. verse I. (1) Allegories enter more or less into every consi derable poetic work: so, though I have no intention in this my comment of attempting to give more than my Author's obvious meaning, as well as I can, and not certainly of vying with the ingenious Commentators who explain this entire poem allegorically, I must begin by saying that the greatest part of this first Canto is a pure allegory. Without this warning it might appear so obscure, as to dishearten some from proceeding any further than the second or third page; but, bearing what I premise in mind, we shall soon find the allegory end and conduct us without confusion into the main subject, vindicating « the ways of God to man». Dante, come to the middle of human life, finds himself still tossed about a gloomy forest, desert, or valley, from which however he descries a sunny mountain; and, endeavouring to ascend it, is impeded by three wild-beasts; to which he would 1 (1) The Capitals refer to the marginal notes; and the Roman figures to the verses of, not my translation but, the original Italian . |