Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/40



ROKE the deep lethargy within my head

A heavy thunder, so that I upstarted,

Like to a person who by force is wakened;

And round about I moved my rested eyes,

Uprisen erect, and steadfastly I gazed,

To recognize the place wherein I was.

True is it, that upon the verge I found me

Of the abysmal valley dolorous,

That gathers thunder of infinite ululations.

Obscure, profound it was, and nebulous,

So that by fixing on its depths my sight

Nothing whatever I discerned therein.

"Let us descend now into the blind world,"

Began the Poet, pallid utterly;

"I will be first, and thou shalt second be."

And I, who of his color was aware,

Said: "How shall I come, if thou art afraid,

Who 'rt wont to be a comfort to my fears?"