THE DIVINE COMEDY OF DANTE ALIGHIERI Translated by THE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A. Contents HELL CANTO I. CANTO II. CANTO III. CANTO IV. CANTO V. CANTO VI. CANTO VII. CANTO VIII. CANTO IX. CANTO X. CANTO XI. CANTO XII. CANTO XIII. CANTO XIV. CANTO XV. CANTO XVI. CANTO XVII. CANTO XVIII. CANTO XIX. CANTO XX. CANTO XXI. CANTO XXII. CANTO XXIII. CANTO XXIV. CANTO XXV. CANTO XXVI. CANTO XXVII. CANTO XXVIII. CANTO XXIX. CANTO XXX. CANTO XXXI. CANTO XXXII. CANTO XXXIII. CANTO XXXIV. NOTES TO HELL. PURGATORY CANTO I. CANTO II. CANTO III. CANTO IV. CANTO V. CANTO VI. CANTO VII. CANTO VIII. CANTO IX. CANTO X. CANTO XI. CANTO XII. CANTO XIII. CANTO XIV. CANTO XV. CANTO XVI. CANTO XVII. CANTO XVIII. CANTO XIX. CANTO XX. CANTO XXI. CANTO XXII. CANTO XXIII. CANTO XXIV. CANTO XXV. CANTO XXVI. CANTO XXVII. CANTO XXVIII. CANTO XXIX. CANTO XXX. CANTO XXXI. CANTO XXXII. CANTO XXXIII. NOTES TO PURGATORY. PARADISE CANTO I. CANTO II. CANTO III. CANTO IV. CANTO V. CANTO VI. CANTO VII. CANTO VIII. CANTO IX. CANTO X. CANTO XI. CANTO XII. CANTO XIII. CANTO XIV. CANTO XV. CANTO XVI. CANTO XVII. CANTO XVIII. CANTO XIX. CANTO XX. CANTO XXI. CANTO XXII. CANTO XXIII. CANTO XXIV. CANTO XXV. CANTO XXVI. CANTO XXVII. CANTO XXVIII. CANTO XXIX. CANTO XXX. CANTO XXXI. CANTO XXXII. CANTO XXXIII. NOTES TO PARADISE. PREFACE A CHRONOLOGICAL VIEW HELL CANTO I In the midway of this our mortal life, I found me in a gloomy wood, astray Gone from the path direct: and e’en to tell It were no easy task, how savage wild That forest, how robust and rough its growth, Which to remember only, my dismay Renews, in bitterness not far from death. Yet to discourse of what there good befell, All else will I relate discover’d there. How first I enter’d it I scarce can say, Such sleepy dullness in that instant weigh’d My senses down, when the true path I left, But when a mountain’s foot I reach’d, where clos’d The valley, that had pierc’d my heart with dread, I look’d aloft, and saw his shoulders broad Already vested with that planet’s beam, Who leads all wanderers safe through every way. Then was a little respite to the fear, That in my heart’s recesses deep had lain, All of that night, so pitifully pass’d: And as a man, with difficult short breath, Forespent with toiling, ’scap’d from sea to shore, Turns to the perilous wide waste, and stands At gaze; e’en so my spirit, that yet fail’d Struggling with terror, turn’d to view the straits, That none hath pass’d and liv’d. My weary frame After short pause recomforted, again I journey’d on over that lonely steep, The hinder foot still firmer. Scarce the ascent Began, when, lo! a panther, nimble, light, And cover’d with a speckled skin, appear’d, Nor, when it saw me, vanish’d, rather strove To check my onward going; that ofttimes With purpose to retrace my steps I turn’d.