Canto II of Hell

The poets, those initiated who populated Hell.
Oh Muses, help me to penetrate Hell.

Lo giorno se n'andava, e l'aere bruno
toglieva li animai che sono in terra
da le fatiche loro; e io sol uno

  m'apparecchiava a sostener la guerra
sì del cammino e sì de la pietate,
che ritrarrà la mente che non erra.

  O muse, o alto ingegno, or m'aiutate;
o mente che scrivesti ciò ch'io vidi,
qui si parrà la tua nobilitate.

  Io cominciai: «Poeta che mi guidi,
guarda la mia virtù s'ell'è possente,
prima ch'a l'alto passo tu mi fidi.

The day fell, the mortals, on Earth, where resting, I was alone and distressed: 

"O Muses, help me sustain the effort of advancing into these Places 
and prevent me to have pity of the Chosen who populates it! And You Poet, my guide, 
see whether I have the courage and if it is strong enough to achieve this difficult task." 


"You say that Dante himself, still mortal, as for Orpheus, went in the immortal world 
and that Rimbaud poet also, remained there a whole season and this was with their own body; 
that, believe me, do not surprise me from the poets who, like me, prefer what is unknown to them.

But, if they were preserved from the sufferings of Hell, it is because they were, poets like you, 
and that Poets, from their nature, are already in Hell. 
But me, why come here? Or who grants me to come there? 
I am not Orpheus neither Dante nor Rimbaud or the shadow of yourself and I do not believe 
myself  worthy of that. Therefore, I agree to come there in spite of the madness of it, but, in your wisdom,
you understand me, undoubtledly, of fearing to undertake this dark descent 
and to think of giving up a hazardous enterprise so quickly accepted in the beginning." 


And he answered to me:   
"If I understood you well, your soul is coward as it is common with man at the point of 
diverting you from this noble enterprise, you fear like the animal that flees its shadow. 
To make you forget your fears, know that I am here in the name of a Lady so blessed  
and beautiful, that I requested her to order me to let me come here and, with her eyes shining, 
she says to me:
 
"O Charles-Pierre, generous soul, who knew so well how to describe Sin, 
see my lover who wanders thus and seems lost. Go, and do what is necessary 
to move him away from the caressing she-wolves, attract him to my arms so that he will be saved. 
I am Jeanne, coming from a place where I want to go back and that love, which inspires me 
has made me leave temporarily. When I will return in front of my Master, 
I will praise you, you who knewed so well what was worth to be loved."
"

She quit talking and I added: 
"O virtuous and beautiful lady, your orders pleases me! 
But tell me the reason why, you do not fear to go down in these abysses, 
coming from the sublime dwelling where you whish to return?" 


"Since you want it, I will tell you why I do not fear to come here. 
One should fear only the things that harms others, the others are not frightening. 
God in his kindness, create me in such a way, that the misery of  mortals does not reach me, 
that the flames of Hell do not attack me, like those of the Church of France, 
that sacrificed me, did nothing but consume my Body without touching to my Heart." 


"There is a holy Virgin in heaven whose name is Marie; she  is so moved 
by the distress of whom who Love her of a Love that is only possible between mortals, 
that she convince the Master of these Places, she said to me:"

"O Jeanne, Virgin of these places! 
Why don't you come and save whom who loved you so much 
and who would like to move away, for your sake and for those who resembles you,
 from the vulgar cohort, of those who place so many traps on him? 
 Don't you hear the pitiful call of his complaint? 
Don't you see the death that threatens him, on the impetuous river, like the sea, so full with 
dangers?"


 Nobody was, I tell you, so prompt after these words, to descend from his throne 
of unhappiness. After she had spoken to me like so, she turned towards me, her eyes full with 
tears, 
which decided me to hasten. And I came to you as she wanted it; I took you off 
from this too appetising she-wolf and who had diverted you from the easy way towards these 
places.


What happens to you? Why stopping like that? Why this cowardice in your heart? 
Why dont you have neither courage nor decision, whereas I tell you about these blessed ladies 
who take care of you, beside the celestial throne and that my words ensure you of such 
greatness?" 


And, as well as the small flowers stand up in the freezing morning, 
I took courage again and ardour came to my heart, I was becoming a free man again: 
"Thank you, oh beautiful-ladies, of having helped me! And to you Baudelaire, magnanimous and 
gentleman, of having understood the words from my heart!
I come back to my first enterprise and well disposed to follow you; thus go, Poet; 
for this sole trip, you will be my Guide, you will be my Lord and my Master." 

I spoke to him as such, and we entered with a common will, 
in the difficult and savage road that goes towards the unknown.