inferno - dante as a character

i call the muses. you great heights of mind bring help to me

memory, you wrote down all i saw now shall be seen the greatness of your power

you, i began, my poet and my guide

look at me hard. am i spirit strong enough for you to trust me on this arduous road

but me? why me? who says i can?

im not your own aeneas. i am not saint paul. no one - not me could think that i am fit for this

you are the light and glory of all poets. may this serve me

my ceaseless care, the love so great that's made me search your writings through!

you are my teacher, you my lord and law

from you alone i took the fine tuned style that has, already brought me so much honour

i cannot here draw portraits of them all

my lengthy subject presses me ahead, and saying often falls far short of fact