Midway upon the road of our life I found myself within a dark wood, for the right way had been missed.

...so full was I of slumber at that point where I abandoned the true way.

...so did my soul, which still was flying, turn back to look again upon the pass which never had a living person left.

...and she has a nature so malign and evil that she never sates her greedy will, and after food is hungrier than before.

And as is he who unwills what he willed, and because of new thoughts changes his design, so that he quite withdraws from beginning, such I became on that dark hillside: wherefore in my thought I abandoned the enterprise which had been so hasty in the beginning.

Thy soul is hurt by cowardice, which oftentimes encumbereth a man so that it turns him back from honorable enterprise.

I come from a place whither I desire to return.

One ought to fear those things only that have power of doing harm, the others not, for they are not dreadful.

I am made by God, thanks be to Him, such that your misery toucheth me not, nor doth the flame of this burning assail me.

...and when he had moved on, I entered along the deep and savage road.