In the second chapter (or Canto), Virgil explains to Dante why he has been picked to take this journey (Dante is starting to get cold feet). Virgil tells Dante that the Virgin Mary has taken pity on Dante in his plight, and she in turn told Saint Lucia to help. Saint Lucia then asked Beatrice (whom Dante loved, more on her later) to intercede. Finally Beatrice travelled down to Hell, grabbed Virgil and told him to be Dante’s guide.

Perhaps a little bureaucratic, but things start picking up very quickly. Finally Dante agrees, and the journey to Hell formally begins. …continue the journey...

Midway in the journey of our life
I came to myself in a dark wood,
for the straight way was lost.

Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita
mi ritrovai per una selva oscura,
ché la diritta via era smarrita.