Italian Dante Inferno

Midway upon the journey of our life

Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita

I found myself within a forest dark,

mi ritrovai per una Selva oscura

For the straightforward pathway had been lost.

che la diritta via era smarrita

Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say

Ahi quanto a dir qual era e cosa dura

What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,

esta selva selvaggia e aspra e forte

Which in the very thought renews the fear.

che nel pensier rinova la paura!

So bitter is it, death is little more;

Tant’e’ amara che poco e’ piu’ morte;

But of the good to treat, which there I found,

ma per trattar del ben ch’i vi trovai

Speak will I of the other things I saw there.

diro’ de l’altre cose ch’i v’ho scorte

I cannot well repeat how there I entered,

Io non so ben ridir com’i v’intrai

So full was I of slumber at the moment

tant’era pien di sonno a quel punto

In which I had abandoned the true way.

che la verace via abbandonai