第一篇我智慧的小船高扯风帆，现在航行在较平静的水面，把那苦恼的海被抛在后面。我将歌唱第二国度，在那里人类的灵魂洗净了，使他有上升天堂的资格。我要将悲惨的诗篇收起，换一个调子！神圣的诗歌女神呀！我早已献身于您，请您帮助我！卡利俄佩！请伴着我一忽儿，使我的文格高尚而优美，借我以悦耳的歌喉，这是你战胜那些王女，使她们变成可怜的喜鹊，不再有回复原状之希望的歌喉。
当我离开那可鄙的幽窟那里既刺我眼，更伤我心，我的目光就和苍穹东方一般的湛蓝相融合，凉爽的气息直达这第一星天的极顶，使我愉悦万分。向东方看，那美丽的行星向我微笑。她是爱情的使者，她的光芒掩过了她的伴从双鱼星。我转向右边，观察南天之极；我看见四颗明星，除却最早的人类以外，没有别人看见过；天上似乎也因为他们的光芒而喜悦。住在北半球的人呀！你们不能被这些明星的光芒所降福，是多么可惜的事情呀！
当我转身向着北极时，北斗七星已完全没在地平线下了；我忽然看见一位孤独的老人近在面前。看见他不禁使人升起一种儿子对于父亲般由衷的尊敬，他的胡须很长。已经花白了，和头发从耳旁一齐下垂在胸前。那神圣的四星照在他的脸上。简直和白昼的阳光一样。老人摸着胡须说：“你们是谁？你们是沿着溪水，从永久的监牢里逃出来的么，谁引导你们？什么火把照着你们走出永久的幽谷、深沉的黑夜呢？地狱的法律就这样被破坏么？难道天上新定了制度，允许你们罪人接近我的岩石么？”
于是我的向导拉着我的手，示意叫我向老人鞠躬并下拜。后来，维吉尔答道：“并非我自己的力量能够到达此地；天上一位圣女下凡世间，命我伴着这个人。因为你叫我们说明来历，我不能违背你的命令。这个人还未见到他的最后一刻呢，但因他自己的猖狂，时间也并不远了。我已说过，我接受了护送他的使命。除现在听取的唯一条路径以外，再没有旁的路了。我已经把那些犯罪的人类带领他看过，现在我要把你所管理的一班涤罪的灵魂指点给他。我们的来路已长，无暇细说；总而言之，我得了上天的帮助，才能够到达你的面前。也许你欢迎我们的来访。因为他是寻求自由而来的；自由是一件宝物，有不惜牺牲性命而去寻求的，这是你所知道的。为着自由，你在乌提卡视死如归，若无痛苦，那里还有你的遗体，到那伟大的一天，他将是很光辉楷模。我们并没有破坏轮回的规律，因为他是活人，我也没有受米诺斯的束缚；我所住的圈子，那里玛尔齐亚仍放着纯洁的光明，她似乎还在祈求你把她看作你的女人呢。因为爱情的缘故，请你帮忙，允许我们经过你的七个辖区！我要在你玛尔齐亚的面前说及你的恩惠。”
于是老人说：“我住在那半球时，玛尔齐亚在我眼里是很可爱的，她所要求于我的，我从未有不允许她。但是，时至今日，她在恶流的那一岸，我也无法擅离职守，所以她不能再和我接近了；这是目下的现实。”然而，如你所说，既然有大上一位圣女引导你，那末也就用不着说这些好听的话，提起她的名字就够了。去罢！替你的同伴用灯心草搓成一根腰带，带他洗洗脸，揩去地狱里的污迹，因为带着污迹去见这里的官员是不行的，他们都是大堂里的使者。这小岛的周围，被波浪不断地冲击，那里宫缝之中生长着灯心草，别的植物就不能在那里发叶展枝，这是因为海水冲击的缘故。最后，你们不必回到我这里了。太阳要上升了，你们会找着一条较平坦的路径，由那里攀登上去。”
老人说完这句话，马上不见了。我立起来，眼望着我的引路人，一言不发。他说：“我的孩子，跟着我的脚步！我们由这里向水边走。”
黎明已把夜的最后的尾巴挤走了，我再回首望了一眼那汹涌的海水。我们沿着寂寞的坦道走去，好比一个人见到已失去的旧路，等他到了那里，似乎又感到“虚此一行”。我们到了一处，那里的露珠已在阳光下挣紥，匿在影子后面小草上的还能苟延残喘。我的老师把一双手掌在小草上摩擦；我已经明白他的目的了，把满积泪痕的面颊向着他；他把我在地狱里的污迹都洗净了，回复我本来的面目。
于是我们到了荒凉的水边，此处从未有人航行而来，也从未有人扬帆而去。在那里我的老师替我拔取灯心草做了带子，一如老人之所命。真奇怪呀！他拔取了那谦逊的植物以后，那里顷刻之间又生长出来新的。
The light bark of my genius lifts the sail,
Well pleas'd to leave so cruel sea behind;
And of that second region will I sing,
In which the human spirit from sinful blot
Is purg'd, and for ascent to Heaven prepares.
Here, O ye hallow'd Nine! for in your train
I follow, here the deadened strain revive;
Nor let Calliope refuse to sound
A somewhat higher song, of that loud tone,
Which when the wretched birds of chattering note
Had heard, they of forgiveness lost all hope.
Sweet hue of eastern sapphire, that was spread
O'er the serene aspect of the pure air,
High up as the first circle, to mine eyes
Unwonted joy renew'd, soon as I 'scap'd
Forth from the atmosphere of deadly gloom,
That had mine eyes and bosom fill'd with grief.
The radiant planet, that to love invites,
Made all the orient laugh, and veil'd beneath
The Pisces' light, that in his escort came.
To the right hand I turn'd, and fix'd my mind
On the' other pole attentive, where I saw
Four stars ne'er seen before save by the ken
Of our first parents. Heaven of their rays
Seem'd joyous. O thou northern site, bereft
Indeed, and widow'd, since of these depriv'd!
As from this view I had desisted, straight
Turning a little tow'rds the other pole,
There from whence now the wain had disappear'd,
I saw an old man standing by my side
Alone, so worthy of rev'rence in his look,
That ne'er from son to father more was ow'd.
Low down his beard and mix'd with hoary white
Descended, like his locks, which parting fell
Upon his breast in double fold. The beams
Of those four luminaries on his face
So brightly shone, and with such radiance clear
Deck'd it, that I beheld him as the sun.
"Say who are ye, that stemming the blind stream,
Forth from th' eternal prison-house have fled?"
He spoke and moved those venerable plumes.
"Who hath conducted, or with lantern sure
Lights you emerging from the depth of night,
That makes the infernal valley ever black?
Are the firm statutes of the dread abyss
Broken, or in high heaven new laws ordain'd,
That thus, condemn'd, ye to my caves approach?"
My guide, then laying hold on me, by words
And intimations given with hand and head,
Made my bent knees and eye submissive pay
Due reverence; then thus to him replied.
"Not of myself I come; a Dame from heaven
Descending, had besought me in my charge
To bring. But since thy will implies, that more
Our true condition I unfold at large,
Mine is not to deny thee thy request.
This mortal ne'er hath seen the farthest gloom.
But erring by his folly had approach'd
So near, that little space was left to turn.
Then, as before I told, I was dispatch'd
To work his rescue, and no way remain'd
Save this which I have ta'en. I have display'd
Before him all the regions of the bad;
And purpose now those spirits to display,
That under thy command are purg'd from sin.
How I have brought him would be long to say.
From high descends the virtue, by whose aid
I to thy sight and hearing him have led.
Now may our coming please thee. In the search
Of liberty he journeys: that how dear
They know, who for her sake have life refus'd.
Thou knowest, to whom death for her was sweet
In Utica, where thou didst leave those weeds,
That in the last great day will shine so bright.
For us the' eternal edicts are unmov'd:
He breathes, and I am free of Minos' power,
Abiding in that circle where the eyes
Of thy chaste Marcia beam, who still in look
Prays thee, O hallow'd spirit! to own her shine.
Then by her love we' implore thee, let us pass
Through thy sev'n regions; for which best thanks
I for thy favour will to her return,
If mention there below thou not disdain."
"Marcia so pleasing in my sight was found,"
He then to him rejoin'd, "while I was there,
That all she ask'd me I was fain to grant.
Now that beyond the' accursed stream she dwells,
She may no longer move me, by that law,
Which was ordain'd me, when I issued thence.
Not so, if Dame from heaven, as thou sayst,
Moves and directs thee; then no flattery needs.
Enough for me that in her name thou ask.
Go therefore now: and with a slender reed
See that thou duly gird him, and his face
Lave, till all sordid stain thou wipe from thence.
For not with eye, by any cloud obscur'd,
Would it be seemly before him to come,
Who stands the foremost minister in heaven.
This islet all around, there far beneath,
Where the wave beats it, on the oozy bed
Produces store of reeds. No other plant,
Cover'd with leaves, or harden'd in its stalk,
There lives, not bending to the water's sway.
After, this way return not; but the sun
Will show you, that now rises, where to take
The mountain in its easiest ascent."
He disappear'd; and I myself uprais'd
Speechless, and to my guide retiring close,
Toward him turn'd mine eyes. He thus began;
"My son! observant thou my steps pursue.
We must retreat to rearward, for that way
The champain to its low extreme declines."
The dawn had chas'd the matin hour of prime,
Which deaf before it, so that from afar
I spy'd the trembling of the ocean stream.
We travers'd the deserted plain, as one
Who, wander'd from his track, thinks every step
Trodden in vain till he regain the path.
When we had come, where yet the tender dew
Strove with the sun, and in a place, where fresh
The wind breath'd o'er it, while it slowly dried;
Both hands extended on the watery grass
My master plac'd, in graceful act and kind.
Whence I of his intent before appriz'd,
Stretch'd out to him my cheeks suffus'd with tears.
There to my visage he anew restor'd
That hue, which the dun shades of hell conceal'd.
Then on the solitary shore arriv'd,
That never sailing on its waters saw
Man, that could after measure back his course,
He girt me in such manner as had pleas'd
Him who instructed, and O, strange to tell!
As he selected every humble plant,
Wherever one was pluck'd, another there
Resembling, straightway in its place arose.