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MIDWAY upon the journey of our life
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I found myself within a forest dark,
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For the straightforward pathway had been lost.
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Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say
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What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,
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Which in the very thought renews the fear.
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So bitter is it, death is little more;
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But of the good to treat, which there I found,
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Speak will I of the other things I saw there.
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I cannot well repeat how there I entered,
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So full was I of slumber at the moment
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In which I had abandoned the true way.
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But after I had reached a mountain's foot,
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At that point where the valley terminated,
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Which had with consternation pierced my heart,
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Upward I looked, and I beheld its shoulders
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Vested already with that planet's rays
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Which leadeth others right by every road.
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Then was the fear a little quieted
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That in my heart's lake had endured throughout
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The night, which I had passed so piteously
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And even as he, who, with distressful breath,
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Forth issued from the sea upon the shore,
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Turns to the water perilous and gazes;
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So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward,
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Turn itself back to re-behold the pass
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Which never yet a living person left.
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After my weary body I had rested,
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The way resumed I on the desert slope,
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So that the firm foot ever was the lower.
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And lo! almost where the ascent began,
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A panther light and swift exceedingly,
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Which with a spotted skin was covered o'er!
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And never moved she from before my face,
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Nay, rather did impede so much my way,
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That many times I to return had turned.
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The time was the beginning of the morning,
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And up the sun was mounting with those stars
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That with him were, what time the Love Divine
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At first in motion set those beauteous things;
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So were to me occasion of good hope,
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The variegaled skin of that wild beast,
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The hour of time, and the delicious season;
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But not so much, that did not give me fear
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A lion's aspect which appeared to me.
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He seemed as if against me he were coming
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With head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger,
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So that it seemed the air was afraid of him;
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And a she-wolf, that with all hungerings
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Seemed to be laden in her meagreness,
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And many folk has caused to live forlorn!
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She brought upon me so much heaviness,
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With the affright that from her aspect came,
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That I the hope relinquished of the height.
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And as he is who willingly acquires
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And the time comes that causes him to lose,
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Who weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent,
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E'en such made me that beast withouten peace,
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Which, coming on against me by degrees
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Thrust me back thither where the sun is silent
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