《神曲：地狱篇》开篇：英文原著带中文翻译

Midway upon the journey of our life I found myself within a forest dark, For the straightforward pathway had been lost.

人生旅程的中途，我发现自己身处一片幽暗的森林，因为直路已经迷失。

Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say What was this forest savage, rough, and stern, Which in the very thought renews the fear.

唉，要说那森林如何荒蛮、崎岖、严酷，是多么困难的事，单是回想就令人重新恐惧。

So bitter is it, death is little more; But of the good to treat, which there I found, Speak will I of the other things I saw there.

它是如此苦涩，死亡也相差无几；但为了讲述我在那里所遇的善，我就要说说我在那里看到的其他事物。

I cannot well repeat how there I entered, So full was I of slumber at the moment In which I had abandoned the true way.

我无法清楚复述我是如何进入那里的，因为在我抛弃正路的那一刻，我满心都是睡意。

But after I had reached a mountain’s foot, At that point where the valley terminated, Which had with consternation pierced my heart,

但当我来到一座山脚下，就在那山谷终止之处，那山谷曾以惊骇刺穿我的心，

Upward I looked, and I beheld its shoulders, Vested already with that planet’s rays Which leadeth others right by every road.

我向上望去，看见它的山肩，已经披上了那颗行星的光芒，它引领众人走上每一条正路。

Then was the fear a little quieted That in my heart’s lake had endured throughout The night, which I had passed so piteously.

于是，我心中的恐惧稍稍平息，那恐惧曾在我心中如湖般持续了整夜，我竟过得如此凄惨。

And even as he, who, with distressful breath, Forth issued from the sea upon the shore, Turns to the water perilous and gazes;

正如一个人，喘着痛苦的气息，从海上逃到岸边，转身望着危险的水面，凝视不已；

So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward, Turn itself back to re-behold the pass Which never yet a living person left.

我的灵魂，仍在向前逃遁，也这样转身回望那关口，那关口从未让一个活人离开。

After my weary body I had rested, The way resumed I on the desert slope, So that the firm foot ever was the lower.

在我疲惫的身体休息之后，我又在荒凉的山坡上继续前行，使那稳固的脚始终在下方。

And lo! almost where the ascent began, A panther light and swift exceedingly, Which with a spotted skin was covered o’er!

看哪，几乎在攀登开始之处，有一只豹，轻捷异常，身上覆盖着斑驳的皮毛！

And never moved she from before my face, Nay, rather did impede so much my way, That many times I to return had turned.

她从不从我面前离开，反而如此阻挡我的去路，使我多次转身想要返回。

The time was the beginning of the morning, And up the sun was mounting with those stars That with him were, what time the Love Divine

那时正是清晨的开始，太阳正与那些星辰一同上升，当神圣的爱

At first in motion set those beauteous things; So were to me occasion of good hope, The variegated skin of that wild beast,

最初使那些美丽之物运转时，那些星辰便与他同在；因此，那野兽的斑驳皮毛、

The hour of time, and the delicious season; But not so much, that did not give me fear A lion’s aspect which appeared to me.

时辰与甜美的季节，都成为我美好希望的缘由；但还不足以让我不感到恐惧，因为一只狮子出现在我面前。

He seemed as if against me he were coming With head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger, So that it seemed the air was afraid of him;

他仿佛正朝我走来，昂着头，带着贪婪的饥饿，连空气似乎都怕他；

And a she-wolf, that with all hungerings Seemed to be laden in her meagreness, And many folk has caused to live forlorn!

还有一只母狼，她那瘦削的身躯似乎满载着一切饥饿，她曾使许多人生活孤苦！

She brought upon me so much heaviness, With the affright that from her aspect came, That I the hope relinquished of the height.

她给我带来如此沉重的压迫，加上从她外貌而来的惊恐，使我放弃了登上高处的希望。

And as he is who willingly acquires, And the time comes that causes him to lose, Who weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent,

正如一个人欣然获取，而时候到来又使他失去，他在一切思绪中哭泣，沮丧消沉，

E’en such made me that beast withouten peace, Which, coming on against me by degrees Thrust me back thither where the sun is silent.

那不肯安宁的野兽也使我如此，她一步步向我逼近，把我逼回太阳沉默的地方。

While I was rushing downward to the lowland, Before mine eyes did one present himself, Who seemed from long-continued silence hoarse.

当我向下方的低地奔去时，有一个人出现在我眼前，他仿佛因长久沉默而声音嘶哑。

When I beheld him in the desert vast, “Have pity on me,” unto him I cried, “Whiche’er thou art, or shade or real man!”

当我在广袤的荒野中看见他时，我向他喊道：「可怜我吧，无论你是幽灵还是真人！」

He answered me: “Not man; man once I was, And both my parents were of Lombardy, And Mantuans by country both of them.

他回答我：「不是人；我曾是人，我的父母都是伦巴第人，按故乡说，他们两人都是曼图亚人。

‘Sub Julio’ was I born, though it was late, And lived at Rome under the good Augustus, During the time of false and lying gods.

我生于尤利乌斯时代，虽然为时已晚，并在善良的奥古斯都治下的罗马生活，那时是虚假骗人的诸神时代。

A poet was I, and I sang that just Son of Anchises, who came forth from Troy, After that Ilion the superb was burned.

我曾是诗人，歌唱那正义的安喀塞斯之子，他在特洛伊陷落、高傲的伊利昂被焚毁之后从那里出来。

But thou, why goest thou back to such annoyance? Why climb’st thou not the Mount Delectable, Which is the source and cause of every joy?”

但你为何回到这样的烦恼？为何不攀登那愉悦之山，那是一切欢乐的源头和原因？」

“Now, art thou that Virgilius and that fountain Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech?” I made response to him with bashful forehead.

「那么，你就是那位维吉尔，就是那涌出如此广阔言语之河的源泉吗？」我带着羞怯的面容回答他。