Translating Italian prepositions in poetry?

Question

In terms of vocabulary, may the word 'per', as in canto 1 of the Inferno, be translated into the English phrase 'by means of'?Here's the excerpt in question:> Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita mi ritrovai per una selva oscura ché la diritta via era smarrita.

Answer 1

Not really correct; inside or in give better the idea of movement , the sense of dynamism

Answer 2

not really, PER in this case is referred to the fact that Dante is "IN" a selva oscura and wondering/walking by.