Virgil's Mission — Canto II

Day was departing, and the embrowned air Released the animals that are on earth From their fatigues; and I the only one Made myself ready to sustain the war, Both of the way and likewise of the woe, Which memory that errs not shall retrace.

O Muses, O high genius, now assist me! O memory, that didst write down what I saw, Here thy nobility shall be manifest!

I began: "Poet, who dost guide me, Regard my manhood, if it be sufficient, Ere to the arduous pass thou dost confide me. Thou sayest, that of Silvius the parent, While yet corruptible, unto the world Immortal went, and was there bodily. But I, why thither come, or who concedes it? I not Aeneas am, I am not Paul, Nor I, nor others, think me worthy of it."

"If I have well thy language understood," Replied that shade of the Magnanimous, "Thy soul attainted is with cowardice, Which many times a man encumbers so, It turns him back from honoured enterprise, As false sight doth a beast, when he is shy."

"That thou mayst free thee from this apprehension, I'll tell thee why I came, and what I heard At the first moment when I grieved for thee. I was among the rest who are suspended, And me a Lady blessed and beautiful Called in such wise, that I besought her to command me."

"Her eyes were shining brighter than the Star; And she began to say, gentle and low, With voice angelical, in her own language: 'O spirit courteous of Mantua, Of whom the fame still in the world endures, And shall endure, long-lasting as the world;"

"'A friend of mine, and not the friend of fortune, Upon the desert slope is so impeded Upon his way, that he has turned through terror, And may, I fear, already be so lost, That I too late have risen to his succour, From that which I have heard of him in Heaven. Bestir thee now, and with thy speech ornate, And with what needful is for his release, Assist him so, that I may be consoled.'"

"'Beatrice am I, who do bid thee go; I come from there, where I would fain return; Love moved me, which compelleth me to speak. When I shall be in presence of my Lord, Full often will I praise thee unto him.'"

"Then paused she, and thereafter I began: 'O Lady of virtue, thou alone through whom The human race exceedeth all contained Within the heaven that has the smallest circles, So grateful unto me is thy commandment, To obey, if now 'twere done, were tardy. No more is needful save to tell thy wish; But tell me of the cause why thou dost not Shun the descending down into this centre.'"

"'Since thou wouldst fain know so inwardly, Briefly will I tell thee,' she replied, 'Why I fear not to enter here within. One ought to be afraid of those things only That have the power of doing others harm; Of the rest, no; because they are not fearful. God in his mercy such created me That misery of yours attains me not, Nor any flame of this great conflagration.'"

"'A gentle Lady is in Heaven, who grieves At this impediment, to which I send thee, So that stern judgment there above is broken. She summoned Lucia in her request, And said, — Now doth thy faithful one have need Of thee, and unto thee I recommend him. Lucia, foe of all that cruel is, Hastened away, and came unto the place Where I was sitting with the ancient Rachel.'"

"'She said: — Beatrice, true praise of God, Why succourest thou not him, who loved thee so, For thee he issued from the vulgar herd? Dost thou not hear the pity of his plaint? Dost thou not see the death that combats him Beside the flood, where ocean has no vaunt?'"

"Never were persons in the world so swift To work their weal and to escape their woe, As I, after such words as these were uttered, Came hither downward from my blessed seat, Confiding in thy dignified discourse, Which honours thee, and those who've listened to it."

"After she thus had spoken unto me, Weeping, her shining eyes she turned away; Whereby she made me swifter in my coming; And unto thee I came, as she desired; I drew thee forth from before that savage beast, Which barred the beautiful mountain's short ascent."

"What is it, then? Why, why dost thou delay? Why is such baseness bedded in thy heart? Why dost thou not have daring and assurance, Since three such Ladies blessed have a care For thee in the court of Heaven, and my speech Doth promise thee so great a good?"

As flowerets, by the nightly chill bowed down And closed, when the sun whitens them, uplift them All open on their stalks, so I my courage: And so much good courage to my heart there coursed, That I began, like an intrepid person: "O she compassionate, who succoured me, And courteous thou, who hast obeyed so soon The words of truth which she addressed to thee! Thou hast disposed my heart to such desire Of the adventure, with these words of thine, That to my first intent I have returned. Now go, for one sole will is in us both, Thou Leader, and thou Lord, and Master thou." Thus said I to him; and when he had moved, I entered on the deep and savage way.