![]() Finally he sees a hill on which the sun is shining, and his heart fills with hope. ![]() The Divine Comedy opens with Dante lost in a dark wood in a fearful valley. She with such fear O’erwhelm’d me, at the sight of her appall’d, That of the height all hope I lost. A she-wolf Was at his heels, who in her leanness seem’d Full of all wants, and many a land hath made Disconsolate ere now. And by new dread succeeded, when in view A lion came, ’gainst me as it appear’d, With his head held aloft and hunger-mad, That e’en the air was fear-struck. ![]() The hour was morning’s prime, and on his way Aloft the sun ascended with those stars, That with him rose when Love Divine first moved Those its fair works: so with joyous hope All things conspired to fill me, the gay skin Of that swift animal, the matin dawn, And the sweet season. ![]() ![]() 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 oft-times, With purpose to retrace my steps, I turn’d. …My weary frame After short pause recomforted, again I journey’d on over that lonely steep, The hinder foot still firmer. ![]()
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