Divine Comedy, Cary's Translation, Hell

A pilgrim finds himself stranded in a shadowy forest, the midway point of his life, where every path seems lost to a tangled wilderness. Three fearsome creatures—a sleek leopard, a ferocious lion, and a starving she‑wolf—block his way, each embodying a different kind of dread that drives him deeper into panic. Overwhelmed, he cries out for help, his desperation echoing through the silent trees.

His pleas are answered by a solemn, aged poet who reveals himself as a guide from a distant, ancient Rome. The poet explains that the only escape from the beasts lies in a journey through realms beyond mortal sight, promising to lead the pilgrim down a hidden passage toward redemption. Together they turn toward a towering mountain, the first step on a descent into a realm of fire and sorrow that will test the limits of courage and conscience.