At the midpoint of my life's journey
I found myself lost in a dark forest,
having strayed from the straight path.
How difficult it is to describe
what that savage, dense, and harsh woodland was like—
the very memory renews my fear.
Death itself is hardly more bitter.
But to speak of the good I discovered there,
I'll tell of the other things I witnessed.
I cannot clearly recall how I entered,
so drowsy was I at that moment
when I abandoned the true way.
But when I reached the base of a hill
where that valley of terror ended—
the valley that had pierced my heart with dread—
I looked up and saw the summit
already clothed in rays of light
from that star which guides all travelers true.
Then the fear that had pooled
in the lake of my heart throughout
that night of such anguish began to quiet.
Like a man who, gasping for breath,
emerges from the sea onto shore
and turns back to stare at the dangerous waters,
so my soul, still in flight,
turned to gaze once more upon that passage
no living person has ever escaped.
After I had rested my weary body,
I resumed my way up the deserted slope,
always placing my weight on the lower foot.
But look—almost where the climb began,
a leopard appeared, light and swift,
covered with a spotted coat.
She would not move from before my face
but blocked my path so completely
that I turned back many times.
It was early morning,
and the sun was rising with those same stars
that accompanied it when Divine Love
first set those beautiful things in motion.
The hour, the sweet season, and that wild beast's
dappled skin gave me reason for hope—
but not enough to keep me from fearing
a lion that suddenly appeared.
He seemed to be coming straight at me,
head raised high, ravenously hungry,
so fierce the very air seemed to tremble.
And then a she-wolf, who appeared
loaded down with every kind of craving
in her gaunt frame—
she who has made so many live in sorrow.
She filled me with such dread,
such terror radiating from her presence,
that I gave up all hope of reaching the height.
Like someone who delights in winning
but when the time of loss arrives
weeps and despairs in all his thoughts,
so that restless beast made me feel
as she advanced toward me, step by step,
driving me back toward where the sun is silent.
As I rushed downward toward the lowland,
a figure appeared before my eyes—
one who seemed hoarse from long silence.
When I saw him in that vast wilderness
I cried out: "Have mercy on me,
whatever you are—shade or living man!"
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THE FOREST
“At the midpoint of my life's journey / I found myself lost in a dark forest, / having strayed from the straight path.”
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THE PANTHER
“But look—almost where the climb began, / a leopard appeared, light and swift, / covered with a spotted coat.”
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THE LION
“head raised high, ravenously hungry, / so fierce the very air seemed to tremble.”
Not a man, though once I was,
and my parents were both from Lombardy,
both Mantuans by birth.
I was born under Julius Caesar, though late in his reign,
and lived in Rome under good Augustus
in the time of the false and lying gods.
I was a poet, and I sang of that righteous
son of Anchises who sailed from Troy
after proud Ilium burned.
But you—why do you return to such torment?
Why don't you climb the Mount of Joy,
which is the source and cause of all happiness?
Are you truly that Virgil, that fountain
from which flows such a broad river of speech?
I answered him, my face flushed with shame.
You are the honor and light of all other poets.
Let my long study and great love serve me—
the love that drove me to know your work by heart.
You are my master and my author,
you alone are the one from whom I learned
the noble style that has brought me honor.
Look at the beast that forced me to turn back—
save me from her, renowned sage,
for she makes my veins and pulse tremble.
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THE SHE-WOLF
“Look at the beast that forced me to turn back— / save me from her, renowned sage,”
You must take another road,"
he replied when he saw me weeping,
"if you want to escape this savage place.
This beast that makes you cry out
lets no one pass along her way
but harasses them until she destroys them.
Her nature is so vicious and depraved
that she never satisfies her greedy appetite—
after feeding she hungers more than before.
Many are the creatures she mates with,
and there will be more, until the Greyhound comes
who will make her die in agony.
He will not feed on land or treasure
but on wisdom, love, and virtue.
Between Feltro and Feltro his birth shall be.
He will be the salvation of that humble Italy
for which the virgin Camilla died,
and Euryalus, Turnus, and Nisus fell wounded.
He will hunt her through every city
until he drives her back to Hell,
from where envy first released her.
Therefore I think it best for you
to follow me. I will be your guide
and lead you from here through the eternal realm
where you will hear the hopeless lamentations
and see the ancient suffering souls
who each cry out for a second death.
And you will see those who are content
within the fire, because they hope to join
the blessed people, whenever that may be.
If you then wish to ascend to them,
there will be a soul worthier than I
to guide you—I will leave you with her.
For that Emperor who reigns above,
because I rebelled against his law,
will not let anyone enter his city through me.
Everywhere he governs, but there he reigns.
There is his city and his high throne—
blessed is the one he chooses for that place!
Poet, I beg you
by that same God you never knew,
so that I may escape this suffering and worse,
lead me where you have promised,
so I may see the gate of Saint Peter
and those you describe as so afflicted.
Then he moved forward, and I followed behind him.
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VIRGIL AND DANTE
“Then he moved forward, and I followed behind him.”