LIST OF CANTOS

       Table of Contents

Canto 1 Canto 2 Canto 3 Canto 4 Canto 5 Canto 6 Canto 7 Canto 8 Canto 9 Canto 10 Canto 11 Canto 12 Canto 13 Canto 14 Canto 15 Canto 16 Canto 17 Canto 18 Canto 19 Canto 20 Canto 21 Canto 22 Canto 23 Canto 24 Canto 25 Canto 26 Canto 27 Canto 28 Canto 29 Canto 30 Canto 31 Canto 32 Canto 33

CANTO I

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       O'er better waves to speed her rapid course

       The light bark of my genius lifts the sail,

       Well pleas'd to leave so cruel sea behind;

       And of that second region will I sing,

       In which the human spirit from sinful blot

       Is purg'd, and for ascent to Heaven prepares.

       Here, O ye hallow'd Nine! for in your train

       I follow, here the deadened strain revive;

       Nor let Calliope refuse to sound

       A somewhat higher song, of that loud tone,

       Which when the wretched birds of chattering note

       Had heard, they of forgiveness lost all hope.

       Sweet hue of eastern sapphire, that was spread

       O'er the serene aspect of the pure air,

       High up as the first circle, to mine eyes

       Unwonted joy renew'd, soon as I 'scap'd

       Forth from the atmosphere of deadly gloom,

       That had mine eyes and bosom fill'd with grief.

       The radiant planet, that to love invites,

       Made all the orient laugh, and veil'd beneath

       The Pisces' light, that in his escort came.

       ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE

       To the right hand I turn'd, and fix'd my mind

       On the' other pole attentive, where I saw

       Four stars ne'er seen before save by the ken

       Of our first parents. Heaven of their rays

       Seem'd joyous. O thou northern site, bereft

       Indeed, and widow'd, since of these depriv'd!

       As from this view I had desisted, straight

       Turning a little tow'rds the other pole,

       There from whence now the wain had disappear'd,

       I saw an old man standing by my side

       Alone, so worthy of rev'rence in his look,

       That ne'er from son to father more was ow'd.

       Low down his beard and mix'd with hoary white

       Descended, like his locks, which parting fell

       Upon his breast in double fold. The beams

       Of those four luminaries on his face

       So brightly shone, and with such radiance clear

       Deck'd it, that I beheld him as the sun.

       "Say who are ye, that stemming the blind stream,

       Forth from th' eternal prison-house have fled?"

       He spoke and moved those venerable plumes.

       "Who hath conducted, or with lantern sure

       Lights you emerging from the depth of night,

       That makes the infernal valley ever black?

       Are the firm statutes of the dread abyss

       Broken, or in high heaven new laws ordain'd,

       That thus, condemn'd, ye to my caves approach?"

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       My guide, then laying hold on me, by words

       And intimations given with hand and head,

       Made my bent knees and eye submissive pay

       Due reverence; then thus to him replied.

       "Not of myself I come; a Dame from heaven

       Descending, had besought me in my charge

       To bring. But since thy will implies, that more

       Our true condition I unfold at large,

       Mine is not to deny thee thy request.

       This mortal ne'er hath seen the farthest gloom.

       But erring by his folly had approach'd

       So near, that little space was left to turn.

       Then, as before I told, I was dispatch'd

       To work his rescue, and no way remain'd

       Save this which I have ta'en. I have display'd

       Before him all the regions of the bad;

       And purpose now those spirits to display,

      

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