PURGATORIO / 

"...SUCH IS THIS STEEP ASCENT,

 THAT IT IS EVER DIFFICULT AT FIRST,

 BUT MORE A MAN PROCEEDS, LESS EVIL GROWS.

  WHEN PLEASANT IT SHALL SEEM TO THEE, SO MUCH

 THAT UPWARD GOING SHALL BE EASY TO THEE

 AS IN A VESSEL TO GO DOWN THE TIDE,

 THEN OF THIS PATH THOU WILT HAVE REACHED THE END.

  THERE HOPE TO REST THEE FROM THY TOIL.  NO MORE

 I ANSWER, AND THUS FAR FOR CERTAIN KNOW."

- VIRGIL TO DANTE, PURGATORIO 4, 85-93

FROM 'THE DIVINE COMEDY' BY DANTE ALIGHIERI, c.1321, TRANSLATION BY H.F. CARY