Orval, or The Fool of Time And Other Imitations and Paraphrases. By Robert Lytton |
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THE FIRST CANTO OF THE INFERNO.
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 | Orval, or The Fool of Time |  |
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THE FIRST CANTO OF THE INFERNO.
PARAPHRASE.
Upon the journey of our life midway
Methought that, from the right path stray'd, I stood
In a wood obscure. Full hard it is to say
How savage, rough, and stubborn, was that wood:
Methought that, from the right path stray'd, I stood
In a wood obscure. Full hard it is to say
How savage, rough, and stubborn, was that wood:
Whereof such dread as death can scarce excel
My thought renews. But, to set forth the good
Which there I found, I needs must also tell
My thought renews. But, to set forth the good
Which there I found, I needs must also tell
What other things I did encounter there.
Into this wood how me the chance befell
To enter, memory may not well declare,
Into this wood how me the chance befell
To enter, memory may not well declare,
So full of slumber was I at that place
Whence, leaving the true path, I wander'd here.
But, soon as I had near'd a mountain's base,
Whence, leaving the true path, I wander'd here.
But, soon as I had near'd a mountain's base,
Whereby the vale subsided, that with fear
My heart had pierced, I, lifting up my face,
Beheld his shoulders in the rays, now clear,
My heart had pierced, I, lifting up my face,
Beheld his shoulders in the rays, now clear,
Of that full planet robed, which pilots right
Man's every path. Whereat, were quieted
A little the long stirrings of affright
Man's every path. Whereat, were quieted
A little the long stirrings of affright
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That in the hollow of my heart were bred
By the so piteous passage of the night.
And even as one that, with back-turnèd head,
By the so piteous passage of the night.
And even as one that, with back-turnèd head,
When up from out of ocean 'scaped to shore,
Pants, and the perilous deep doth wistful scan,
So turn'd my spirit, flying still, to explore
Pants, and the perilous deep doth wistful scan,
So turn'd my spirit, flying still, to explore
That pass yet never left by living man.
Anon, athwart the wilderness, once more
I, after rest of wearied limbs, began
Anon, athwart the wilderness, once more
I, after rest of wearied limbs, began
To foot the upward path; where of my feet
The one firm-set was lowest all the way.
And lo, a lithe she-leopard, passing fleet,
The one firm-set was lowest all the way.
And lo, a lithe she-leopard, passing fleet,
With fur of many colours coated gay,
Hard by the upslope! Nor would she retreat
Thenceforth from sight, but round my path didplay
Hard by the upslope! Nor would she retreat
Thenceforth from sight, but round my path didplay
Till oft I turn'd with purpose back to fare.
It was the season when the morning springs,
And now, amid the stars that with him were
It was the season when the morning springs,
And now, amid the stars that with him were
When Love Divine first moved those beauteous things,
The sun was rising. Hope the happy air,
The season sweet, and gay apparellings
The sun was rising. Hope the happy air,
The season sweet, and gay apparellings
Of that bright beast inspired: yet 'twas not so
With me, but what my hope was made worse dread
By vision of what seem'd a lion, who
With me, but what my hope was made worse dread
By vision of what seem'd a lion, who
Against me came with high-uplifted head,
And all so hunger-mad, 'twas even as tho'
Air's self the awe of him disquieted.
And all so hunger-mad, 'twas even as tho'
Air's self the awe of him disquieted.
Therewith a she-wolf, that did look to be
Stuff'd in her leanness with all lusts; and, long
Ere now, with miseries manifold hath she
Stuff'd in her leanness with all lusts; and, long
Ere now, with miseries manifold hath she
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Made lean the life of many a mortal throng.
So huge a heaviness she cast on me,
Wrought from her aspect fierce, of fear so strong,
So huge a heaviness she cast on me,
Wrought from her aspect fierce, of fear so strong,
That of the height all hope I lost. As one,
Glad of his getting, when to him is nigh
The time that takes it from him, maketh moan
Glad of his getting, when to him is nigh
The time that takes it from him, maketh moan
With all his being's might, even so was I,
In such a sudden sorrow so far gone;
By that unpeaceable beast continually
In such a sudden sorrow so far gone;
By that unpeaceable beast continually
Tormented; which, sore baffling me, at last
Little by little drove me backward where
The sun is silent. There, down ruining fast,
Little by little drove me backward where
The sun is silent. There, down ruining fast,
Nigh to the nether space, my sense was ware
Of one before me in the wildness vast,
That, for long silence, seem'd faint-voiced. To him,
Of one before me in the wildness vast,
That, for long silence, seem'd faint-voiced. To him,
Soon as I saw him, “Pity me!” I cried,
“Whate'er thou beest, true man, or shadow dim.”
“No man: but what was once man,” he replied.
“Whate'er thou beest, true man, or shadow dim.”
“No man: but what was once man,” he replied.
“Lombards were my begetters, both of them,
And Mantuans they, by country, either side.
Myself sub Julio born, though late, at Rome
And Mantuans they, by country, either side.
Myself sub Julio born, though late, at Rome
Beneath benign Augustus dwelt, i' the day
Of feign'd and fabling gods. Poet, him come
From Troy, just offspring of Anchises grey,
Of feign'd and fabling gods. Poet, him come
From Troy, just offspring of Anchises grey,
When burn'd was Ilium, once his haughty home,
I sung. But thou, why dost thou rather, say,
To perils such return, than scale yon mount
I sung. But thou, why dost thou rather, say,
To perils such return, than scale yon mount
Delightful, source and cause of every bliss?”
“O art thou Virgil, and indeed that fount
Whence such full flow of utterance streams?” to this
“O art thou Virgil, and indeed that fount
Whence such full flow of utterance streams?” to this
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I, with shamed forehead, answer'd, “Thee I count
The light and honour of all song that is!
Requite me my much love, and study slow,
The light and honour of all song that is!
Requite me my much love, and study slow,
That me to search thy volume have constrain'd.
Thou art my master, and my maker thou,
Thou only he of whom I have obtain'd
Thou art my master, and my maker thou,
Thou only he of whom I have obtain'd
That style whose beauty me makes honour'd now!
Behold what beast compels me leave ungain'd
That height! O famed for wisdom, from her paw
Behold what beast compels me leave ungain'd
That height! O famed for wisdom, from her paw
That shakes my veins and pulses, save me!” He,
Soon as the weeping of my woe he saw,
Made response to me, “Other pathway thee
Soon as the weeping of my woe he saw,
Made response to me, “Other pathway thee
Behoves it to attempt, if from the jaw
Of this wild desert thou thyself would'st free.
She against whom thou clamourest, that she-beast,
Of this wild desert thou thyself would'st free.
She against whom thou clamourest, that she-beast,
Lets no man pass her, but doth all impede
Even to the death. The greed of whose grim breast
So cursèd is, not anything can feed
Even to the death. The greed of whose grim breast
So cursèd is, not anything can feed
Her ravenous lust, which, ever after feast,
Worse famine than before doth in her breed.
Many the beasts wherewith she couples be,
Worse famine than before doth in her breed.
Many the beasts wherewith she couples be,
And many more they shall be, till arrive
That Greyhound which shall pine her heart, till she
Wretchedly perish. Not by land shall live,
That Greyhound which shall pine her heart, till she
Wretchedly perish. Not by land shall live,
Nor yet by lucre, but by wisdom, he,
And love and virtue. And his folk shall thrive
'Twixt either Feltro. He shall lift on high
And love and virtue. And his folk shall thrive
'Twixt either Feltro. He shall lift on high
That so-low-fallen Italy for whose sake
Maiden Camilla in time past did die,
Euryalus, Nisus, Turnus: and shall make
Maiden Camilla in time past did die,
Euryalus, Nisus, Turnus: and shall make
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From his pursuing through all cities fly
Back into Hell her that Hell's bound to break
Hate first impell'd. I, therefore, for thy good
Back into Hell her that Hell's bound to break
Hate first impell'd. I, therefore, for thy good
Considering, thee now counsel and commend
To follow me. And I, from out this wood
Thy guide will be, with whom thou mayest wend
To follow me. And I, from out this wood
Thy guide will be, with whom thou mayest wend
That everlasting deep where dwells the brood
Of those whose desperate shrieks thine ears shall rend,
And gaze on spirits of the former time
Of those whose desperate shrieks thine ears shall rend,
And gaze on spirits of the former time
In dole, demanding second death; then who,
Content, in fire endure, with hope to climb
Hereafter, whensoever time be due,
Content, in fire endure, with hope to climb
Hereafter, whensoever time be due,
To the beatified: whose blissful clime
If thou to visit then aspirest too,
Unto that end another spirit shall be;
If thou to visit then aspirest too,
Unto that end another spirit shall be;
Worthier than I; to whose high ministering
Thee will I, then departing, leave. For me
He that above hath empire and is king
Thee will I, then departing, leave. For me
He that above hath empire and is king
Holds rebel to his law, and doth decree
That by my means shall none have entering
Into His state. He in all parts hath sway,
That by my means shall none have entering
Into His state. He in all parts hath sway,
But there His throne is, there His palace high,
There doth He chiefly dwell. O happy they
Whom there He chooses!”
And to him, then I,
There doth He chiefly dwell. O happy they
Whom there He chooses!”
And to him, then I,
“O poet, by that God that in thy day
Thou didst not know (this ill and worse to fly)
I charge thee, lead me where thou said'st, aright;
Thou didst not know (this ill and worse to fly)
I charge thee, lead me where thou said'st, aright;
That I may see Saint Peter's Gate, and those
That, by thy showing, be in such sad plight.”
Onward he moved: and I behind him close.
That, by thy showing, be in such sad plight.”
Onward he moved: and I behind him close.
| Orval, or The Fool of Time | |