s: This being finished, the high, holy Court


s: Resounded through the spheres, "One God we praise!"


s: And then that Baron, who from branch to branch,


s: Till the extremest leaves we were approaching,


s: Plays with thine intellect thy mouth has opened,


s: Up to this point, as it should opened be,


s: So that I do approve what forth emerged;


s: But now thou must express what thou believest,


s: And whence to thy belief it was presented."


s: What thou believedst so that thou o'ercamest,


s: Towards the sepulchre, more youthful feet,"


s: Began I, "thou dost wish me in this place


s: The form to manifest of my prompt belief,


s: And likewise thou the cause thereof demandest.


s: Sole and eterne, who moveth all the heavens


s: With love and with desire, himself unmoved;


s: And of such faith not only have I proofs


s: Physical and metaphysical, but gives them


s: Likewise the truth that from this place rains down


s: Through Moses, through the Prophets and the Psalms,


s: Through the Evangel, and through you, who wrote


s: In Persons three eterne believe, and these


s: They bear conjunction both with 'sunt' and 'est.'


s: Which now I touch upon, doth stamp my mind


s: This the beginning is, this is the spark


s: Which afterwards dilates to vivid flame,


s: And, like a star in heaven, is sparkling in me."


s: Even as a lord who hears what pleaseth him


s: His servant straight embraces, gratulating


s: For the good news as soon as he is silent;


s: Three times encircled me, when I was silent,


s: I spoken had, in speaking I so pleased him.


s: To which both heaven and earth have set their hand,


s: So that it many a year hath made me lean,


s: From the fair sheepfold, where a lamb I slumbered,


s: An enemy to the wolves that war upon it,


s: With other voice forthwith, with other fleece


s: Because into the Faith that maketh known


s: All souls to God there entered I, and then


s: Peter for her sake thus my brow encircled.


s: Out of that band whence issued the first-fruits


s: Which of his vicars Christ behind him left,


s: Said unto me: "Look, look! behold the Baron


s: Near his companion, both of them pour forth,


s: Circling about and murmuring, their affection,


s: Prince glorified to be with welcome greeted,


s: Lauding the food that there above is eaten.


s: But when their gratulations were complete,


s: Silently 'coram me' each one stood still,


s: "Illustrious life, by whom the benefactions


s: Thou knowest as oft thou dost personify it


s: As Jesus to the three gave greater clearness."--


s: "Lift up thy head, and make thyself assured;


s: For what comes hither from the mortal world


s: This comfort came to me from the second fire;


s: Wherefore mine eyes I lifted to the hills,


s: Which bent them down before with too great weight.


s: "Since, through his grace, our Emperor wills that thou


s: Shouldst find thee face to face, before thy death,


s: In the most secret chamber, with his Counts,


s: So that, the truth beholden of this court,


s: Hope, which below there rightfully enamours,


s: Thereby thou strengthen in thyself and others,


s: Say what it is, and how is flowering with it


s: Thy mind, and say from whence it came to thee."


s: Thus did the second light again continue.


s: The plumage of my wings in such high flight,


s: Of greater hope possesses, as is written


s: In that Sun which irradiates all our band;


s: The two remaining points, that not for knowledge


s: How much this virtue unto thee is pleasing,


s: To him I leave; for hard he will not find them,


s: Nor of self-praise; and let him answer them;


s: And may the grace of God in this assist him!"


s: "Hope," said I, "is the certain expectation


s: From many stars this light comes unto me;


s: Who was chief singer unto the chief captain.


s: He sayeth, 'those who know thy name;' and who


s: Thou didst instil me, then, with his instilling


s: While I was speaking, in the living bosom


s: Of that combustion quivered an effulgence,


s: Sudden and frequent, in the guise of lightning;


s: Then breathed: "The love wherewith I am inflamed


s: Towards the virtue still which followed me


s: Wills that I breathe to thee that thou delight


s: In her; and grateful to me is thy telling


s: And I: "The ancient Scriptures and the new


s: The mark establish, and this shows it me,


s: Of all the souls whom God hath made his friends.


s: In his own land shall be with twofold garments,


s: And his own land is this delightful life.


s: There where he treateth of the robes of white,


s: And first, and near the ending of these words,


s: To which responsive answered all the carols.


s: Thereafterward a light among them brightened,


s: So that, if Cancer one such crystal had,


s: Winter would have a month of one sole day.


s: And as uprises, goes, and enters the dance


s: To the new bride, and not from any failing,


s: Even thus did I behold the brightened splendour


s: Approach the two, who in a wheel revolved


s: Into the song and music there it entered;


s: And fixed on them my Lady kept her look,


s: "This is the one who lay upon the breast


s: To the great office from the cross elected."


s: My Lady thus; but therefore none the more


s: Did move her sight from its attentive gaze


s: Before or afterward these words of hers.


s: To see the eclipsing of the sun a little,


s: And who, by seeing, sightless doth become,


s: While it was said, "Why dost thou daze thyself


s: To see a thing which here hath no existence?


s: Earth in the earth my body is, and shall be


s: With all the others there, until our number


s: With the two garments in the blessed cloister


s: Are the two lights alone that have ascended:


s: And this shalt thou take back into your world."


s: And at this utterance the flaming circle


s: Grew quiet, with the dulcet intermingling


s: Of sound that by the trinal breath was made,


s: The oars that erst were in the water beaten


s: Ah, how much in my mind was I disturbed,


s: When I turned round to look on Beatrice,


s: That her I could not see, although I was


s: Close at her side and in the Happy World!


s: While I was doubting for my vision quenched,


s: Out of the flame refulgent that had quenched it


s: Issued a breathing, that attentive made me,


s: Saying: "While thou recoverest the sense


s: Of seeing which in me thou hast consumed,


s: 'Tis well that speaking thou shouldst compensate it.


s: Begin then, and declare to what thy soul


s: Sight is in thee bewildered and not dead;


s: Because the Lady, who through this divine


s: I said: "As pleaseth her, or soon or late


s: Let the cure come to eyes that portals were


s: When she with fire I ever burn with entered.


s: The Good, that gives contentment to this Court,


s: The writing that love reads me low or loud."


s: The selfsame voice, that taken had from me


s: To speak still farther put it in my thought;


s: To say who aimed thy bow at such a target."


s: Such love must needs imprint itself in me;


s: For Good, so far as good, when comprehended


s: Doth straight enkindle love, and so much greater


s: Then to that Essence (whose is such advantage


s: That every good which out of it is found


s: More than elsewhither must the mind be moved


s: The truth in which this evidence is founded.


s: The voice reveals it of the truthful Author,


s: 'I will make all my goodness pass before thee.'


s: The loud Evangel, that proclaims the secret


s: Of heaven to earth above all other edict."


s: Of all thy loves reserve for God the highest.


s: But say again if other cords thou feelest,


s: Draw thee towards Him, that thou mayst proclaim


s: With how many teeth this love is biting thee."


s: Whither he fain would my profession lead.


s: Therefore I recommenced: "All of those bites


s: Which have the power to turn the heart to God


s: The being of the world, and my own being,


s: The death which He endured that I may live,


s: And that which all the faithful hope, as I do,


s: With the forementioned vivid consciousness


s: Have drawn me from the sea of love perverse,


s: And of the right have placed me on the shore.


s: The leaves, wherewith embowered is all the garden


s: As much as he has granted them of good."


s: As soon as I had ceased, a song most sweet


s: Throughout the heaven resounded, and my Lady


s: Said with the others, "Holy, holy, holy!"


s: And as at some keen light one wakes from sleep


s: By reason of the visual spirit that runs


s: Unto the splendour passed from coat to coat,


s: And he who wakes abhorreth what he sees,


s: So all unconscious is his sudden waking,


s: Chase every mote with radiance of her own,


s: That cast its light a thousand miles and more.


s: About a fourth light that I saw with us.


s: And said my Lady: "There within those rays


s: Even as the bough that downward bends its top


s: At transit of the wind, and then is lifted


s: By its own virtue, which inclines it upward,


s: Likewise did I, the while that she was speaking,


s: By a desire to speak wherewith I burned.


s: Alone hast been produced, O ancient father,


s: To whom each wife is daughter and daughter-in-law,


s: That thou wouldst speak to me; thou seest my wish;


s: And I, to hear thee quickly, speak it not."


s: Sometimes an animal, when covered, struggles


s: So that his impulse needs must be apparent,


s: How jubilant it was to give me pleasure.


s: Then breathed: "Without thy uttering it to me,


s: Than thou whatever thing is surest to thee;


s: That of Himself all things parhelion makes,


s: Thou fain wouldst hear how long ago God placed me


s: Within the lofty garden, where this Lady


s: And how long to mine eyes it was a pleasure,


s: And of the great disdain the proper cause,


s: And the language that I used and that I made.


s: Now, son of mine, the tasting of the tree


s: Not in itself was cause of so great exile,


s: But solely the o'erstepping of the bounds.


s: Four thousand and three hundred and two circuits


s: Made by the sun, this Council I desired;


s: Of his highway nine hundred times and thirty,


s: The language that I spake was quite extinct


s: (Because of human pleasure that doth change,


s: But whether thus or thus, doth nature leave


s: To your own art, as seemeth best to you.


s: Ere I descended to the infernal anguish,


s: 'El' was on earth the name of the Chief Good,


s: From whom comes all the joy that wraps me round


s: 'Eli' he then was called, and that is proper,


s: On bough, which goeth and another cometh.


s: Upon the mount that highest o'er the wave


s: From the first hour to that which is the second,


s: As the sun changes quadrant, to the sixth."


s: Found entrance through the hearing and the sight.


s: O perfect life of love and peacefulness!


s: Before mine eyes were standing the four torches


s: Enkindled, and the one that first had come


s: Were birds, and they should interchange their feathers.


s: That Providence, which here distributeth


s: Season and service, in the blessed choir


s: When I heard say: "If I my colour change,


s: Marvel not at it; for while I am speaking


s: Thou shalt behold all these their colour change.


s: My place, my place, which vacant has become


s: Of blood and stench, whereby the Perverse One,


s: Who fell from here, below there is appeased!"


s: With the same colour which, through sun adverse,


s: Painteth the clouds at evening or at morn,


s: Beheld I then the whole of heaven suffused.


s: Sure of herself, and at another's failing,


s: Even thus did Beatrice change countenance;


s: And I believe in heaven was such eclipse,


s: Thereafterward proceeded forth his words


s: With voice so much transmuted from itself,


s: The very countenance was not more changed.


s: "The spouse of Christ has never nurtured been


s: On blood of mine, of Linus and of Cletus,


s: After much lamentation, shed their blood.


s: Our purpose was not, that on the right hand


s: Of our successors should in part be seated


s: The Christian folk, in part upon the other;


s: Nor that the keys which were to me confided


s: Should e'er become the escutcheon on a banner,


s: That should wage war on those who are baptized;


s: Whereat I often redden and flash with fire.


s: In garb of shepherds the rapacious wolves


s: Are seen from here above o'er all the pastures!


s: O wrath of God, why dost thou slumber still?


s: To drink our blood the Caorsines and Gascons


s: Are making ready.  O thou good beginning,


s: Unto how vile an end must thou needs fall!


s: But the high Providence, that with Scipio


s: At Rome the glory of the world defended,


s: And thou, my son, who by thy mortal weight


s: Shalt down return again, open thy mouth;


s: What I conceal not, do not thou conceal."


s: As with its frozen vapours downward falls


s: In flakes our atmosphere, what time the horn


s: Of the celestial Goat doth touch the sun,


s: Become, and flaked with the triumphant vapours,


s: Which there together with us had remained.


s: My sight was following up their semblances,


s: And followed till the medium, by excess,


s: The passing farther onward took from it;


s: From gazing upward, said to me: "Cast down


s: Thy sight, and see how far thou art turned round."


s: Since the first time that I had downward looked,


s: I saw that I had moved through the whole arc


s: Which the first climate makes from midst to end;


s: Past Gades, and this side, well nigh the shore


s: And of this threshing-floor the site to me


s: Were more unveiled, but the sun was proceeding


s: At all times with my Lady, to bring back


s: To her mine eyes was more than ever ardent.


s: To catch the eyes and so possess the mind,


s: All joined together would appear as nought


s: To the divine delight which shone upon me


s: When to her smiling face I turned me round.


s: The virtue that her look endowed me with


s: From the fair nest of Leda tore me forth,


s: And up into the swiftest heaven impelled me.


s: Its parts exceeding full of life and lofty


s: That God seemed in her countenance to rejoice:


s: "The nature of that motion, which keeps quiet


s: The centre and all the rest about it moves,


s: From hence begins as from its starting point.


s: And in this heaven there is no other Where


s: Than in the Mind Divine, wherein is kindled


s: The love that turns it, and the power it rains.


s: Within a circle light and love embrace it,


s: Even as this doth the others, and that precinct


s: But all the others measured are by this,


s: May have its roots, and in the rest its leaves,


s: O Covetousness, that mortals dost ingulf


s: Beneath thee so, that no one hath the power


s: Of drawing back his eyes from out thy waves!


s: Full fairly blossoms in mankind the will;


s: Take flight or e'er the cheeks with down are covered.


s: One, while he prattles still, observes the fasts,


s: Who, when his tongue is loosed, forthwith devours


s: Another, while he prattles, loves and listens


s: Unto his mother, who when speech is perfect


s: Forthwith desires to see her in her grave.


s: Even thus is swarthy made the skin so white


s: In its first aspect of the daughter fair


s: Of him who brings the morn, and leaves the night.


s: Thou, that it may not be a marvel to thee,


s: Think that on earth there is no one who governs;


s: Shall these supernal circles roar so loud


s: The tempest that has been so long awaited


s: Shall whirl the poops about where are the prows;


s: So that the fleet shall run its course direct,


s: And the true fruit shall follow on the flower."


s: After the truth against the present life


s: He sees who from behind is lighted by it,


s: Before he has it in his sight or thought,


s: And turns him round to see if so the glass


s: Tell him the truth, and sees that it accords


s: Therewith as doth a music with its metre,


s: That I did, looking into those fair eyes,


s: Of which Love made the springes to ensnare me.


s: And as I turned me round, and mine were touched


s: By that which is apparent in that volume,


s: Light so acute, the sight which it enkindles


s: Must close perforce before such great acuteness.


s: Would seem to be a moon, if placed beside it.


s: As one star with another star is placed.


s: A halo cincturing the light that paints it,


s: When densest is the vapour that sustains it,


s: Thus distant round the point a circle of fire


s: So swiftly whirled, that it would have surpassed


s: Whatever motion soonest girds the world;


s: That by a third, the third then by a fourth,


s: By a fifth the fourth, and then by a sixth the fifth;


s: Entire would be too narrow to contain it.


s: Even so the eighth and ninth; and every one


s: In number distant farther from the first.


s: And that one had its flame most crystalline


s: From which less distant was the stainless spark,


s: I think because more with its truth imbued.


s: Beheld me much perplexed, said: "From that point


s: Behold that circle most conjoined to it,


s: And know thou, that its motion is so swift


s: Through burning love whereby it is spurred on."


s: And I to her: "If the world were arranged


s: In the order which I see in yonder wheels,


s: What's set before me would have satisfied me;


s: But in the world of sense we can perceive


s: That has for confines only love and light,


s: To hear behoves me still how the example


s: Since for myself in vain I contemplate it."


s: So hard hath it become for want of trying."


s: My Lady thus; then said she: "Do thou take


s: What I shall tell thee, if thou wouldst be sated,


s: The circles corporal are wide and narrow


s: Which is distributed through all their parts.


s: The greater goodness works the greater weal,


s: The greater weal the greater body holds,


s: Therefore this one which sweeps along with it


s: Unto the circle which most loves and knows.


s: On which account, if thou unto the virtue


s: Apply thy measure, not to the appearance


s: Of substances that unto thee seem round,


s: Thou wilt behold a marvellous agreement,


s: Of more to greater, and of less to smaller,


s: In every heaven, with its Intelligence."


s: Is blowing from that cheek where he is mildest,


s: Because is purified and resolved the rack


s: That erst disturbed it, till the welkin laughs


s: Had me provided with her clear response,


s: And like a star in heaven the truth was seen.


s: And soon as to a stop her words had come,


s: When molten, than those circles scintillated.


s: Their coruscation all the sparks repeated,


s: And they so many were, their number makes


s: More millions than the doubling of the chess.


s: I heard them sing hosanna choir by choir


s: To the fixed point which holds them at the 'Ubi,'


s: And ever will, where they have ever been.


s: And she, who saw the dubious meditations


s: Within my mind, "The primal circles," said,


s: Thus rapidly they follow their own bonds,


s: To be as like the point as most they can,


s: And can as far as they are high in vision.


s: Those other Loves, that round about them go,


s: Thrones of the countenance divine are called,


s: Because they terminate the primal Triad.


s: And thou shouldst know that they all have delight


s: The Truth, in which all intellect finds rest.


s: From this it may be seen how blessedness


s: And not in that which loves, and follows next;


s: And of this seeing merit is the measure,


s: Which is brought forth by grace, and by good will;


s: Thus on from grade to grade doth it proceed.


s: In such wise in this sempiternal spring,


s: With threefold melody, that sounds in three


s: Orders of joy, with which it is intrined.


s: First the Dominions, and the Virtues next;


s: And the third order is that of the Powers.


s: The Principalities and Archangels wheel;


s: These orders upward all of them are gazing,


s: To contemplate these Orders set himself,


s: He named them and distinguished them as I do.


s: But Gregory afterwards dissented from him;


s: Wherefore, as soon as he unclosed his eyes


s: Within this heaven, he at himself did smile.


s: Proffered on earth, I would not have thee marvel,


s: For he who saw it here revealed it to him,


s: With much more of the truth about these circles."


s: At what time both the children of Latona,


s: As long as from the time the zenith holds them


s: In equipoise, till from that girdle both


s: Changing their hemisphere disturb the balance,


s: So long, her face depicted with a smile,


s: Did Beatrice keep silence while she gazed


s: Fixedly at the point which had o'ercome me.


s: What thou dost wish to hear, for I have seen it


s: Where centres every When and every 'Ubi.'


s: Which is impossible, but that his splendour


s: In its resplendency may say, 'Subsisto,'


s: Outside all other limits, as it pleased him,


s: Into new Loves the Eternal Love unfolded.


s: The going forth of God upon these waters.


s: E'en as three arrows from a three-stringed bow.


s: And as in glass, in amber, or in crystal


s: A sunbeam flashes so, that from its coming


s: Were those wherein the pure act was produced.


s: Such bond that it shall never be unbound.


s: But written is this truth in many places


s: Shalt see it, if thou lookest well thereat.


s: For it would not concede that for so long


s: Could be the motors without their perfection.


s: Now dost thou know both where and when these Loves


s: Nor could one reach, in counting, unto twenty


s: So swiftly, as a portion of these angels


s: The rest remained, and they began this art


s: Which thou discernest, with so great delight


s: That never from their circling do they cease.


s: The occasion of the fall was the accursed


s: Presumption of that One, whom thou hast seen


s: By all the burden of the world constrained.


s: Those whom thou here beholdest modest were


s: To recognise themselves as of that goodness


s: Which made them apt for so much understanding;


s: On which account their vision was exalted


s: By the enlightening grace and their own merit,


s: So that they have a full and steadfast will.


s: I would not have thee doubt, but certain be,


s: Much mayst thou contemplate, if these my words


s: Be gathered up, without all further aid.


s: But since upon the earth, throughout your schools,


s: They teach that such is the angelic nature


s: That it doth hear, and recollect, and will,


s: More will I say, that thou mayst see unmixed


s: The truth that is confounded there below,


s: These substances, since in God's countenance


s: They jocund were, turned not away their sight


s: From that wherefrom not anything is hidden;


s: Hence they have not their vision intercepted


s: By object new, and hence they do not need


s: To recollect, through interrupted thought.


s: So that below, not sleeping, people dream,


s: Believing they speak truth, and not believing;


s: And in the last is greater sin and shame.


s: Love of appearance and the thought thereof.


s: With less disdain, than when is set aside


s: They think not there how much of blood it costs


s: To sow it in the world, and how he pleases


s: Each striveth for appearance, and doth make


s: His own inventions; and these treated are


s: By preachers, and the Evangel holds its peace.


s: One sayeth that the moon did backward turn,


s: In the Passion of Christ, and interpose herself


s: So that the sunlight reached not down below;


s: And lies; for of its own accord the light


s: Hid itself; whence to Spaniards and to Indians,


s: As fables such as these, that every year


s: Are shouted from the pulpit back and forth,


s: In such wise that the lambs, who do not know,


s: Come back from pasture fed upon the wind,


s: And not to see the harm doth not excuse them.


s: Christ did not to his first disciples say,


s: 'Go forth, and to the world preach idle tales,'


s: And this so loudly sounded from their lips,


s: They made of the Evangel shields and lances.


s: Now men go forth with jests and drolleries


s: To preach, and if but well the people laugh,


s: The hood puffs out, and nothing more is asked.


s: But in the cowl there nestles such a bird,


s: That, if the common people were to see it,


s: They would perceive what pardons they confide in,


s: For which so great on earth has grown the folly,


s: To each indulgence they would flock together.


s: By this Saint Anthony his pig doth fatten,


s: And many others, who are worse than pigs,


s: Paying in money without mark of coinage.


s: Turn back thine eyes forthwith to the right path,


s: So that the way be shortened with the time.


s: In numbers, that there never yet was speech


s: And if thou notest that which is revealed


s: By Daniel, thou wilt see that in his thousands


s: The primal light, that all irradiates it,


s: As are the splendours wherewith it is mated.


s: Hence, inasmuch as on the act conceptive


s: The affection followeth, of love the sweetness


s: Of the eternal power, since it hath made


s: Itself so many mirrors, where 'tis broken,


s: Perchance six thousand miles remote from us


s: Is glowing the sixth hour, and now this world


s: When the mid-heaven begins to make itself


s: So deep to us, that here and there a star


s: Ceases to shine so far down as this depth,


s: The handmaid of the sun, the heaven is closed


s: Light after light to the most beautiful;


s: Not otherwise the Triumph, which for ever


s: Plays round about the point that vanquished me,


s: Seeming enclosed by what itself encloses,


s: My seeing nothing and my love constrained me.


s: Scant would it be to serve the present turn.


s: Transcend ourselves, but truly I believe


s: Vanquished do I confess me by this passage


s: More than by problem of his theme was ever


s: For as the sun the sight that trembles most,


s: From the first day that I beheld her face


s: In this life, to the moment of this look,


s: The sequence of my song has ne'er been severed;


s: But now perforce this sequence must desist


s: From following her beauty with my verse,


s: Than any of my trumpet, which is bringing


s: With voice and gesture of a perfect leader


s: She recommenced: "We from the greatest body


s: Have issued to the heaven that is pure light;


s: Ecstasy that transcendeth every sweetness.


s: Here shalt thou see the one host and the other


s: Of Paradise, and one in the same aspects


s: Which at the final judgment thou shalt see."


s: Even as a sudden lightning that disperses


s: The eye of impress from the strongest objects,


s: Thus round about me flashed a living light,


s: And left me swathed around with such a veil


s: "Ever the Love which quieteth this heaven


s: To make the candle ready for its flame."


s: No sooner had within me these brief words


s: An entrance found, than I perceived myself


s: But that mine eyes were fortified against it.


s: Fulvid with its effulgence, 'twixt two banks


s: And on all sides sank down into the flowers,


s: And then, as if inebriate with the odours,


s: They plunged again into the wondrous torrent,


s: And as one entered issued forth another.


s: "The high desire, that now inflames and moves thee


s: To have intelligence of what thou seest,


s: Pleaseth me all the more, the more it swells.


s: Before so great a thirst in thee be slaked."


s: Thus said to me the sunshine of mine eyes;


s: Going in and out, and the laughing of the herbage,


s: Are of their truth foreshadowing prefaces;


s: Not that these things are difficult in themselves,


s: For yet thou hast not vision so exalted."


s: As I did, that I might make better mirrors


s: Still of mine eyes, down stooping to the wave


s: Which flows that we therein be better made.


s: And even as the penthouse of mine eyelids


s: Drank of it, it forthwith appeared to me


s: Out of its length to be transformed to round.


s: Then as a folk who have been under masks


s: The semblance not their own they disappeared in,


s: Thus into greater pomp were changed for me


s: The flowerets and the sparks, so that I saw


s: Both of the Courts of Heaven made manifest.


s: O splendour of God! by means of which I saw


s: The lofty triumph of the realm veracious,


s: Would be too large a girdle for the sun.


s: Reflected from the top of Primal Motion,


s: Which takes therefrom vitality and power.


s: When affluent most in verdure and in flowers,


s: So, ranged aloft all round about the light,


s: Mirrored I saw in more ranks than a thousand


s: All who above there have from us returned.


s: So great a light, how vast the amplitude


s: Is of this Rose in its extremest leaves!


s: My vision in the vastness and the height


s: The quantity and quality of that gladness.


s: There near and far nor add nor take away;


s: For there where God immediately doth govern,


s: That spreads, and multiplies, and breathes an odour


s: As one who silent is and fain would speak,


s: Of the white stoles how vast the convent is!


s: Behold how vast the circuit of our city!


s: Behold our seats so filled to overflowing,


s: That here henceforward are few people wanting!


s: On that great throne whereon thine eyes are fixed


s: For the crown's sake already placed upon it,


s: Before thou suppest at this wedding feast


s: Shall sit the soul (that is to be Augustus


s: On earth) of noble Henry, who shall come


s: Blind covetousness, that casts its spell upon you,


s: Has made you like unto the little child,


s: Who dies of hunger and drives off the nurse.


s: On the same road he will not walk with him.


s: Displayed itself to me the saintly host,


s: Whom Christ in his own blood had made his bride,


s: But the other host, that flying sees and sings


s: And the goodness that created it so noble,


s: Even as a swarm of bees, that sinks in flowers


s: To where its labour is to sweetness turned,


s: Sank into the great flower, that is adorned


s: With leaves so many, and thence reascended


s: Their faces had they all of living flame,


s: And wings of gold, and all the rest so white


s: From bench to bench, into the flower descending,


s: They carried something of the peace and ardour


s: Which by the fanning of their flanks they won.


s: Nor did the interposing 'twixt the flower


s: Of flying shapes impede the sight and splendour;


s: That naught can be an obstacle against it.


s: This realm secure and full of gladsomeness,


s: Crowded with ancient people and with modern,


s: Unto one mark had all its look and love.


s: Sparkling upon their sight so satisfies them,


s: If the barbarians, coming from some region


s: Revolving with her son whom she delights in,


s: Were wonder-struck, what time the Lateran


s: From Florence to a people just and sane,


s: With what amazement must I have been filled!


s: My pleasure not to hear, and to be mute.


s: And hopes some day to retell how it was,


s: So through the living light my way pursuing


s: Directed I mine eyes o'er all the ranks,


s: Now up, now down, and now all round about.


s: Embellished by His light and their own smile,


s: And round I turned me with rekindled wish


s: Concerning which my mind was in suspense.


s: I thought I should see Beatrice, and saw


s: An Old Man habited like the glorious people.


s: O'erflowing was he in his eyes and cheeks


s: And "She, where is she?" instantly I said;


s: Whence he: "To put an end to thy desire,


s: Me Beatrice hath sent from mine own place.


s: And if thou lookest up to the third round


s: Of the first rank, again shalt thou behold her


s: Upon the throne her merits have assigned her."


s: And saw her, as she made herself a crown


s: Reflecting from herself the eternal rays.


s: Not from that region which the highest thunders


s: As there from Beatrice my sight; but this


s: "O Lady, thou in whom my hope is strong,


s: In Hell to leave the imprint of thy feet,


s: As coming from thy power and from thy goodness


s: Thou from a slave hast brought me unto freedom,


s: By all those ways, by all the expedients,


s: Whereby thou hadst the power of doing it.


s: So that this soul of mine, which thou hast healed,


s: Pleasing to thee be loosened from the body."


s: Smiled, as it seemed, and looked once more at me;


s: And said the Old Man holy: "That thou mayst


s: Whereunto prayer and holy love have sent me,


s: Fly with thine eyes all round about this garden;


s: And she, the Queen of Heaven, for whom I burn


s: Wholly with love, will grant us every grace,


s: Because that I her faithful Bernard am."


s: Who through its ancient fame is never sated,


s: But says in thought, the while it is displayed,


s: "My Lord, Christ Jesus, God of very God,


s: Now was your semblance made like unto this?"


s: Even such was I while gazing at the living


s: "Thou son of grace, this jocund life," began he,


s: "Will not be known to thee by keeping ever


s: Thine eyes below here on the lowest place;


s: But mark the circles to the most remote,


s: Until thou shalt behold enthroned the Queen


s: To whom this realm is subject and devoted."


s: Surpasses that wherein the sun goes down,


s: Thus, as if going with mine eyes from vale


s: To mount, I saw a part in the remoteness


s: Surpass in splendour all the other front.


s: And even as there where we await the pole


s: The light, and is on either side diminished,


s: Gleamed brightest in the centre, and each side


s: And at that centre, with their wings expanded,


s: More than a thousand jubilant Angels saw I,


s: Each differing in effulgence and in kind.


s: I saw there at their sports and at their songs


s: A beauty smiling, which the gladness was


s: Within the eyes of all the other saints;


s: To attempt the smallest part of its delight.


s: Fixed and intent upon its fervid fervour,


s: His own with such affection turned to her


s: That it made mine more ardent to behold.


s: Absorbed in his delight, that contemplator


s: Assumed the willing office of a teacher,


s: "The wound that Mary closed up and anointed,


s: She is the one who opened it and pierced it.


s: Within that order which the third seats make


s: Canst thou behold from seat to seat descending


s: Down in gradation, as with each one's name


s: I through the Rose go down from leaf to leaf.


s: And downward from the seventh row, even as


s: Above the same, succeed the Hebrew women,


s: Because, according to the view which Faith


s: In Christ had taken, these are the partition


s: By which the sacred stairways are divided.


s: Upon this side, where perfect is the flower


s: Those who believed in Christ who was to come.


s: Are those who looked to Christ already come.


s: And as, upon this side, the glorious seat


s: Of the Lady of Heaven, and the other seats


s: So opposite doth that of the great John,


s: Endured, and afterwards two years in Hell.


s: And under him thus to divide were chosen


s: And down to us the rest from round to round.


s: In equal measure shall this garden fill.


s: And know that downward from that rank which cleaves


s: Midway the sequence of the two divisions,


s: Not by their proper merit are they seated;


s: But by another's under fixed conditions;


s: For these are spirits one and all assoiled


s: Well canst thou recognise it in their faces,


s: If thou regard them well and hearken to them.


s: Now doubtest thou, and doubting thou art silent;


s: But I will loosen for thee the strong bond


s: In which thy subtile fancies hold thee fast.


s: No casual point can possibly find place,


s: No more than sadness can, or thirst, or hunger;


s: Whatever thou beholdest, so that closely


s: And therefore are these people, festinate


s: More and less excellent among themselves.


s: The King, by means of whom this realm reposes


s: In so great love and in so great delight


s: Creating, at his pleasure dowers with grace


s: Diversely; and let here the effect suffice.


s: For you in Holy Scripture, in those twins


s: Who in their mother had their anger roused.


s: Therefore, with such a grace the light supreme


s: Consenteth that they worthily be crowned.


s: Without, then, any merit of their deeds,


s: Stationed are they in different gradations,


s: Differing only in their first acuteness.


s: With innocence, to work out their salvation


s: Sufficient was the faith of parents only.


s: Behoved it that the males by circumcision


s: Unto their innocent wings should virtue add;


s: But after that the time of grace had come


s: Such innocence below there was retained.


s: Hath most resemblance; for its brightness only


s: Rain down, borne onward in the holy minds


s: And the same Love that first descended there,


s: In front of her his wings expanded wide.


s: So that each sight became serener for it.


s: To be below here, leaving the sweet place


s: Enamoured so that he seems made of fire?"


s: Thus I again recourse had to the teaching


s: All is in him; and thus we fain would have it;


s: But now come onward with thine eyes, as I


s: Speaking shall go, and note the great patricians


s: Of this most just and merciful of empires.


s: Those two that sit above there most enrapture


s: Are as it were the two roots of this Rose.


s: The human species so much bitter tastes.


s: Upon the right thou seest that ancient father


s: Of Holy Church, into whose keeping Christ


s: The keys committed of this lovely flower.


s: Before his death, of her the beauteous bride


s: Who with the spear and with the nails was won,


s: The people ingrate, fickle, and stiff-necked.


s: So well content to look upon her daughter,


s: Her eyes she moves not while she sings Hosanna.


s: And opposite the eldest household father


s: When to rush downward thou didst bend thy brows.


s: But since the moments of thy vision fly,


s: Here will we make full stop, as a good tailor


s: Who makes the gown according to his cloth,


s: And unto the first Love will turn our eyes,


s: As far as possible through his effulgence.


s: By prayer behoves it that grace be obtained;


s: Grace from that one who has the power to aid thee;


s: And thou shalt follow me with thy affection


s: That from my words thy heart turn not aside."


s: "Thou Virgin Mother, daughter of thy Son,


s: Humble and high beyond all other creature,


s: Did not disdain to make himself its creature.


s: After such wise this flower has germinated.


s: Of charity, and below there among mortals


s: Thou art the living fountain-head of hope.


s: Lady, thou art so great, and so prevailing,


s: That he who wishes grace, nor runs to thee,


s: His aspirations without wings would fly.


s: Forerunneth of its own accord the asking.


s: Whate'er of goodness is in any creature.


s: Now doth this man, who from the lowest depth


s: Supplicate thee through grace for so much power


s: That with his eyes he may uplift himself


s: And I, who never burned for my own seeing


s: More than I do for his, all of my prayers


s: Proffer to thee, and pray they come not short,


s: That thou wouldst scatter from him every cloud


s: That the Chief Pleasure be to him displayed.


s: Still farther do I pray thee, Queen, who canst


s: Whate'er thou wilt, that sound thou mayst preserve


s: Let thy protection conquer human movements;


s: My prayers to second clasp their hands to thee!"


s: How grateful unto her are prayers devout;


s: Then unto the Eternal Light they turned,


s: Bernard was beckoning unto me, and smiling,


s: That I should upward look; but I already


s: Of the High Light which of itself is true.


s: From that time forward what I saw was greater


s: Than our discourse, that to such vision yields,


s: And after dreaming the imprinted passion


s: Remains, and to his mind the rest returns not,


s: Within my heart the sweetness born of it;


s: Even thus the snow is in the sun unsealed,


s: Even thus upon the wind in the light leaves


s: Were the soothsayings of the Sibyl lost.


s: O Light Supreme, that dost so far uplift thee


s: From the conceits of mortals, to my mind


s: Of what thou didst appear re-lend a little,


s: And make my tongue of so great puissance,


s: And by a little sounding in these verses,


s: Which I endured would have bewildered me,


s: If but mine eyes had been averted from it;


s: On this account to bear, so that I joined


s: I saw that in its depth far down is lying


s: Bound up with love together in one volume,


s: What through the universe in leaves is scattered;


s: Substance, and accident, and their operations,


s: That what I speak of is one simple light.


s: Than five and twenty centuries to the emprise


s: That startled Neptune with the shade of Argo!


s: My mind in this wise wholly in suspense,


s: And evermore with gazing grew enkindled.


s: In presence of that light one such becomes,


s: That to withdraw therefrom for other prospect


s: Because the good, which object is of will,


s: That is defective which is perfect there.


s: Shorter henceforward will my language fall


s: Of what I yet remember, than an infant's


s: Who still his tongue doth moisten at the breast.


s: Not because more than one unmingled semblance


s: Was in the living light on which I looked,


s: But through the sight, that fortified itself


s: Within the deep and luminous subsistence


s: Of the High Light appeared to me three circles,


s: Of threefold colour and of one dimension,


s: And by the second seemed the first reflected


s: Seemed fire that equally from both is breathed.


s: O how all speech is feeble and falls short


s: Is such, 'tis not enough to call it little!


s: O Light Eterne, sole in thyself that dwellest,


s: Sole knowest thyself, and, known unto thyself


s: And knowing, lovest and smilest on thyself!


s: That circulation, which being thus conceived


s: When somewhat contemplated by mine eyes,


s: Wherefore my sight was all absorbed therein.


s: To square the circle, and discovers not,


s: By taking thought, the principle he wants,


s: I wished to see how the image to the circle


s: Conformed itself, and how it there finds place;


s: But my own wings were not enough for this,


s: Had it not been that then my mind there smote


s: A flash of lightning, wherein came its wish.


s: The Love which moves the sun and the other stars.


s: A laborer, pausing in the dust and heat,


s: Lay down his burden, and with reverent feet


s: Enter, and cross himself, and on the floor


s: Far off the noises of the world retreat;


s: And leave my burden at this minster gate,


s: Kneeling in prayer, and not ashamed to pray,


s: How strange the sculptures that adorn these towers!


s: This crowd of statues, in whose folded sleeves


s: Birds build their nests; while canopied with leaves


s: Parvis and portal bloom like trellised bowers,


s: And the vast minster seems a cross of flowers!


s: But fiends and dragons on the gargoyled eaves


s: Watch the dead Christ between the living thieves,


s: And, underneath, the traitor Judas lowers!


s: Ah! from what agonies of heart and brain,


s: What tenderness, what tears, what hate of wrong,


s: What passionate outcry of a soul in pain,


s: And strive to make my steps keep pace with thine.


s: The air is filled with some unknown perfume;


s: For thee to pass; the votive tapers shine;


s: Like rooks that haunt Ravenna's groves of pine,


s: The hovering echoes fly from tomb to tomb.


s: With the pathetic words, "Although your sins


s: As scarlet be," and ends with "as the snow."


s: With snow-white veil, and garments as of flame,


s: Filled thy young heart with passion and the woe


s: From which thy song in all its splendors came;


s: And while with stern rebuke she speaks thy name,


s: The ice about thy heart melts as the snow


s: On mountain heights, and in swift overflow


s: Comes gushing from thy lips in sobs of shame.


s: Thou makest full confession; and a gleam


s: As of the dawn on some dark forest cast,


s: Seems on thy lifted forehead to increase;


s: That perfect pardon which is perfect peace.


s: I Lift mine eyes, and all the windows blaze


s: With forms of saints and holy men who died,


s: And the great Rose upon its leaves displays


s: Christ's Triumph, and the angelic roundelays,


s: No more rebukes, but smiles her words of praise.


s: And then the organ sounds, and unseen choirs


s: Sing the old Latin hymns of peace and love


s: And the melodious bells among the spires


s: O'er all the house-tops and through heaven above


s: O bringer of the light, whose splendor shines


s: The voices of the mountains and the pines,


s: Repeat thy song, till the familiar lines


s: Thy fame is blown abroad from all the heights,


s: Through all the nations; and a sound is heard,


s: Strangers of Rome, and the new proselytes,


s: In their own language hear thy wondrous word,


s: 'Ich habe unter meinen Papieren ein Blatt gefunden,


s: wo ich die Baukunst eine erstarrte Musik nenne.'


s: The poem is divided into three canticles of thirty-three cantos


s: each, plus one extra in the first, the Inferno, making a total of


s: beginning of the next tercet, establishing a kind of overlap,


s: levels, the vestibule makes a tenth.  Purgatory has seven


s: terraces, plus two ledges in an ante-purgatory; adding these to


s: the Earthly Paradise yields ten zones.  Paradise is composed of


s: nine heavens; Empyrean makes the tenth.  In the Inferno, sinners


s: are organized by three vices--Incontinence, Violence, and


s: Fraud--and further subdivided by the seven deadly sins.  In


s: Purgatory, penance is ordered on the basis of three types of


s: natural love.  Paradise is organized on the basis of three types


s: of Divine Love, and further subdivided according to the three


s: . . .this spiritual sense has a threefold division. . .so far as


s: the things of the Old Law signify the things of the New Law,


s: there is the allegorical sense; so far as the things done in


s: Christ, or so far as the things which signify Christ, are types


s: of what we ought to do, there is the moral sense.  But so far as


s: they signify what relates to eternal glory, there is the


s: anagogical sense.    (Summa Theologica I, 1, 10)


s: Gone from the path direct: and e'en to tell


s: That forest, how robust and rough its growth,


s: Renews, in bitterness not far from death.


s: Yet to discourse of what there good befell,


s: All else will I relate discover'd there.


s: How first I enter'd it I scarce can say,


s: Such sleepy dullness in that instant weigh'd


s: My senses down, when the true path I left,


s: But when a mountain's foot I reach'd, where clos'd


s: The valley, that had pierc'd my heart with dread,


s: I look'd aloft, and saw his shoulders broad


s: Who leads all wanderers safe through every way.


s: That in my heart's recesses deep had lain,


s: And as a man, with difficult short breath,


s: Forespent with toiling, 'scap'd from sea to shore,


s: Turns to the perilous wide waste, and stands


s: At gaze; e'en so my spirit, that yet fail'd


s: Struggling with terror, turn'd to view the straits,


s: That none hath pass'd and liv'd.  My weary frame


s: The hinder foot still firmer.  Scarce the ascent


s: Began, when, lo! a panther, nimble, light,


s: And cover'd with a speckled skin, appear'd,


s: Nor, when it saw me, vanish'd, rather strove


s: With purpose to retrace my steps I turn'd.


s: The hour was morning's prime, and on his way


s: Aloft the sun ascended with those stars,


s: That with him rose, when Love divine first mov'd


s: Those its fair works: so that with joyous hope


s: All things conspir'd to fill me, the gay skin


s: And the sweet season.  Soon that joy was chas'd,


s: And by new dread succeeded, when in view


s: A lion came, 'gainst me, as it appear'd,


s: With his head held aloft and hunger-mad,


s: That e'en the air was fear-struck.  A she-wolf


s: Was at his heels, who in her leanness seem'd


s: Full of all wants, and many a land hath made


s: Disconsolate ere now.  She with such fear


s: O'erwhelmed me, at the sight of her appall'd,


s: That of the height all hope I lost.  As one,


s: Mourns with heart-griping anguish; such was I,


s: Haunted by that fell beast, never at peace,


s: Impell'd me where the sun in silence rests.


s: While to the lower space with backward step


s: I fell, my ken discern'd the form one of one,


s: Whose voice seem'd faint through long disuse of speech.


s: "Spirit! or living man! what e'er thou be!"


s: He answer'd: "Now not man, man once I was,


s: And born of Lombard parents, Mantuana both


s: By country, when the power of Julius yet


s: Was scarcely firm.  At Rome my life was past


s: The subject of my song, who came from Troy,


s: When the flames prey'd on Ilium's haughty towers.


s: But thou, say wherefore to such perils past


s: Return'st thou?  wherefore not this pleasant mount


s: Ascendest, cause and source of all delight?"


s: "And art thou then that Virgil, that well-spring,


s: From which such copious floods of eloquence


s: Have issued?"  I with front abash'd replied.


s: "Glory and light of all the tuneful train!


s: Have sought thy volume, and with love immense


s: Have conn'd it o'er.  My master thou and guide!


s: That style, which for its beauty into fame


s: Exalts me.  See the beast, from whom I fled.


s: O save me from her, thou illustrious sage!"


s: "For every vein and pulse throughout my frame


s: She hath made tremble."  He, soon as he saw


s: That I was weeping, answer'd, "Thou must needs


s: Another way pursue, if thou wouldst 'scape


s: From out that savage wilderness.  This beast,


s: At whom thou criest, her way will suffer none


s: To pass, and no less hindrance makes than death:


s: Still after food more craving than before.


s: She fastens, and shall yet to many more,


s: Until that greyhound come, who shall destroy


s: Her with sharp pain.  He will not life support


s: By earth nor its base metals, but by love,


s: Wisdom, and virtue, and his land shall be


s: The land 'twixt either Feltro.  In his might


s: For whose fair realm, Camilla, virgin pure,


s: He with incessant chase through every town


s: Restore her, thence by envy first let loose.


s: That thou mayst follow me, and I thy guide


s: Will lead thee hence through an eternal space,


s: Where thou shalt hear despairing shrieks, and see


s: A second death; and those next view, who dwell


s: Content in fire, for that they hope to come,


s: Whene'er the time may be, among the blest,


s: Must lead thee, in whose charge, when I depart,


s: Thou shalt be left: for that Almighty King,


s: Adjudges me, and therefore hath decreed,


s: That to his city none through me should come.


s: He in all parts hath sway; there rules, there holds


s: Whom there he chooses!"  I to him in few:


s: "Bard! by that God, whom thou didst not adore,


s: I do beseech thee (that this ill and worse


s: I may escape) to lead me, where thou saidst,


s: That I Saint Peter's gate may view, and those


s: Who as thou tell'st, are in such dismal plight."


s: Onward he mov'd, I close his steps pursu'd.


s: Imbrown'd with shadows, from their toils releas'd


s: Prepar'd myself the conflict to sustain,


s: Both of sad pity, and that perilous road,


s: Your aid!  O mind! that all I saw hast kept


s: Safe in a written record, here thy worth


s: I thus began: "Bard! thou who art my guide,


s: Thou trust me.  Thou hast told that Silvius' sire,


s: Th' immortal tribes had entrance, and was there


s: Sensible present.  Yet if heaven's great Lord,


s: Almighty foe to ill, such favour shew'd,


s: Both what and who from him should issue forth,


s: It seems in reason's judgment well deserv'd:


s: Sith he of Rome, and of Rome's empire wide,


s: In heaven's empyreal height was chosen sire:


s: Both which, if truth be spoken, were ordain'd


s: And 'stablish'd for the holy place, where sits


s: Who to great Peter's sacred chair succeeds.


s: He from this journey, in thy song renown'd,


s: Learn'd things, that to his victory gave rise


s: To bring us back assurance in that faith,


s: Which is the entrance to salvation's way.


s: But I, why should I there presume?  or who


s: Will deem me.  I, if on this voyage then


s: Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know'st,


s: Than I can speak."  As one, who unresolves


s: What he hath late resolv'd, and with new thoughts


s: Changes his purpose, from his first intent


s: Remov'd; e'en such was I on that dun coast,


s: Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first


s: So eagerly embrac'd.  "If right thy words


s: I scan," replied that shade magnanimous,


s: "Thy soul is by vile fear assail'd, which oft


s: At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.


s: That from this terror thou mayst free thyself,


s: I will instruct thee why I came, and what


s: I heard in that same instant, when for thee


s: Grief touch'd me first.  I was among the tribe,


s: Who rest suspended, when a dame, so blest


s: Call'd me; her eyes were brighter than the star


s: Of day; and she with gentle voice and soft


s: "O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame


s: Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!


s: Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn'd.


s: Now much I dread lest he past help have stray'd,


s: From what in heaven of him I heard.  Speed now,


s: And by all means for his deliverance meet,


s: Assist him.  So to me will comfort spring.


s: (Note: Beatrice.  I use this word, as it is


s: pronounced in the Italian, as consisting of four


s: syllables, of which the third is a long one.)


s: Revisited with joy.  Love brought me thence,


s: Who prompts my speech.  When in my Master's sight


s: I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell."


s: Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb,


s: So thy command delights me, that to obey,


s: If it were done already, would seem late.


s: No need hast thou farther to speak thy will;


s: Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth


s: To leave that ample space, where to return


s: Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath."


s: She then: "Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire,


s: I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread


s: Hinders my entrance here.  Those things alone


s: Are to be fear'd, whence evil may proceed,


s: None else, for none are terrible beside.


s: I am so fram'd by God, thanks to his grace!


s: Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire


s: Assails me.  In high heaven a blessed dame


s: Besides, who mourns with such effectual grief


s: That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,


s: That God's stern judgment to her will inclines."


s: "Now doth thy faithful servant need thy aid


s: And I commend him to thee."  At her word


s: Seated with Rachel, her of ancient days,


s: She thus address'd me: "Thou true praise of God!


s: To him, who so much lov'd thee, as to leave


s: Dost thou not hear how pitiful his wail,


s: Nor mark the death, which in the torrent flood,


s: Swoln mightier than a sea, him struggling holds?"


s: "Ne'er among men did any with such speed


s: Haste to their profit, flee from their annoy,


s: As when these words were spoken, I came here,


s: Down from my blessed seat, trusting the force


s: Of thy pure eloquence, which thee, and all


s: Who well have mark'd it, into honour brings."


s: "When she had ended, her bright beaming eyes


s: Tearful she turn'd aside; whereat I felt


s: Redoubled zeal to serve thee.  As she will'd,


s: Thus am I come: I sav'd thee from the beast,


s: Who thy near way across the goodly mount


s: Prevented.  What is this comes o'er thee then?


s: Why, why dost thou hang back?  why in thy breast


s: Harbour vile fear?  why hast not courage there


s: And noble daring?  Since three maids so blest


s: Thy safety plan, e'en in the court of heaven;


s: And so much certain good my words forebode."


s: Bent down and clos'd, when day has blanch'd their leaves,


s: And to my heart such kindly courage ran,


s: My succour! and thou kind who didst perform


s: So soon her true behest!  With such desire


s: Thou hast dispos'd me to renew my voyage,


s: Thou art my guide, my master thou, and lord."


s: So spake I; and when he had onward mov'd,


s: "THROUGH me you pass into the city of woe:


s: Through me among the people lost for aye.


s: To rear me was the task of power divine,


s: Before me things create were none, save things


s: Whereat I thus: "Master, these words import


s: Hard meaning."  He as one prepar'd replied:


s: "Here thou must all distrust behind thee leave;


s: Here be vile fear extinguish'd. We are come


s: Where I have told thee we shall see the souls


s: Have lost."  And when his hand he had stretch'd forth


s: To mine, with pleasant looks, whence I was cheer'd,


s: Here sighs with lamentations and loud moans


s: Resounded through the air pierc'd by no star,


s: That e'en I wept at entering.  Various tongues,


s: Accents of anger, voices deep and hoarse,


s: With hands together smote that swell'd the sounds,


s: Round through that air with solid darkness stain'd,


s: Like to the sand that in the whirlwind flies.


s: I then, with error yet encompass'd, cried:


s: "O master!  What is this I hear?  What race


s: Are these, who seem so overcome with woe?"


s: Suffer the wretched souls of those, who liv'd


s: Without or praise or blame, with that ill band


s: Of angels mix'd, who nor rebellious prov'd


s: Nor yet were true to God, but for themselves


s: Were only.  From his bounds Heaven drove them forth,


s: Of Hell receives them, lest th' accursed tribe


s: Should glory thence with exultation vain."


s: I then: "Master! what doth aggrieve them thus,


s: That they lament so loud?"  He straight replied:


s: "That will I tell thee briefly.  These of death


s: No hope may entertain: and their blind life


s: They envy.  Fame of them the world hath none,


s: Nor suffers; mercy and justice scorn them both.


s: Speak not of them, but look, and pass them by."


s: And I, who straightway look'd, beheld a flag,


s: That it no pause obtain'd: and following came


s: Such a long train of spirits, I should ne'er


s: Have thought, that death so many had despoil'd.


s: And knew the shade of him, who to base fear


s: Yielding, abjur'd his high estate.  Forthwith


s: Of those ill spirits both to God displeasing


s: And to his foes.  These wretches, who ne'er lived,


s: By wasps and hornets, which bedew'd their cheeks


s: With blood, that mix'd with tears dropp'd to their feet,


s: And by disgustful worms was gather'd there.


s: A throng upon the shore of a great stream:


s: Whereat I thus: "Sir! grant me now to know


s: Whom here we view, and whence impell'd they seem


s: Through the blear light?"  He thus to me in few:


s: "This shalt thou know, soon as our steps arrive


s: Then with eyes downward cast and fill'd with shame,


s: Till we had reach'd the river, I from speech


s: Comes on an old man hoary white with eld,


s: Crying, "Woe to you wicked spirits! hope not


s: In fierce heat and in ice.  And thou, who there


s: Standest, live spirit! get thee hence, and leave


s: These who are dead."  But soon as he beheld


s: I left them not, "By other way," said he,


s: "By other haven shalt thou come to shore,


s: Not by this passage; thee a nimbler boat


s: Must carry."  Then to him thus spake my guide:


s: "Charon! thyself torment not: so 't is will'd,


s: Where will and power are one: ask thou no more."


s: Straightway in silence fell the shaggy cheeks


s: Around whose eyes glar'd wheeling flames.  Meanwhile


s: Those spirits, faint and naked, color chang'd,


s: And gnash'd their teeth, soon as the cruel words


s: They heard.  God and their parents they blasphem'd,


s: The human kind, the place, the time, and seed


s: That did engender them and give them birth.


s: To the curs'd strand, that every man must pass


s: Who fears not God.  Charon, demoniac form,


s: With eyes of burning coal, collects them all,


s: Beck'ning, and each, that lingers, with his oar


s: Strikes.  As fall off the light autumnal leaves,


s: One still another following, till the bough


s: Strews all its honours on the earth beneath;


s: Cast themselves one by one down from the shore,


s: Thus go they over through the umber'd wave,


s: Still gathers.  "Son," thus spake the courteous guide,


s: "Those, who die subject to the wrath of God,


s: All here together come from every clime,


s: For so heaven's justice goads them on, that fear


s: Is turn'd into desire.  Hence ne'er hath past


s: Good spirit.  If of thee Charon complain,


s: Now mayst thou know the import of his words."


s: This said, the gloomy region trembling shook


s: Fear chills my brow.  The sad earth gave a blast,


s: That, lightening, shot forth a vermilion flame,


s: Which all my senses conquer'd quite, and I


s: Down dropp'd, as one with sudden slumber seiz'd.


s: BROKE the deep slumber in my brain a crash


s: As one by main force rous'd.  Risen upright,


s: My rested eyes I mov'd around, and search'd


s: With fixed ken to know what place it was,


s: Wherein I stood.  For certain on the brink


s: The dread abyss, that joins a thund'rous sound


s: And thick with clouds o'erspread, mine eye in vain


s: Explor'd its bottom, nor could aught discern.


s: "Now let us to the blind world there beneath


s: Descend;" the bard began all pale of look:


s: "I go the first, and thou shalt follow next."


s: Then I his alter'd hue perceiving, thus:


s: "How may I speed, if thou yieldest to dread,


s: Who still art wont to comfort me in doubt?"


s: He then: "The anguish of that race below


s: With pity stains my cheek, which thou for fear


s: Mistakest.  Let us on.  Our length of way


s: Urges to haste."  Onward, this said, he mov'd;


s: And ent'ring led me with him on the bounds


s: Of the first circle, that surrounds th' abyss.


s: Here, as mine ear could note, no plaint was heard


s: Except of sighs, that made th' eternal air


s: Tremble, not caus'd by tortures, but from grief


s: Felt by those multitudes, many and vast,


s: The gentle guide: "Inquir'st thou not what spirits


s: Are these, which thou beholdest?  Ere thou pass


s: Farther, I would thou know, that these of sin


s: Were blameless; and if aught they merited,


s: It profits not, since baptism was not theirs,


s: The portal to thy faith.  If they before


s: The Gospel liv'd, they serv'd not God aright;


s: Desiring without hope."  So grief assail'd


s: My heart at hearing this, for well I knew


s: Of mighty worth.  "O tell me, sire rever'd!


s: Tell me, my master!"  I began through wish


s: Which vanquishes all error; "say, did e'er


s: Any, or through his own or other's merit,


s: Come forth from thence, whom afterward was blest?"


s: Piercing the secret purport of my speech,


s: Amongst us, with victorious trophy crown'd.


s: He forth the shade of our first parent drew,


s: Exalted.  Before these, be thou assur'd,


s: No spirit of human kind was ever sav'd."


s: We, while he spake, ceas'd not our onward road,


s: Still passing through the wood; for so I name


s: Those spirits thick beset.  We were not far


s: On this side from the summit, when I kenn'd


s: A flame, that o'er the darken'd hemisphere


s: Prevailing shin'd.  Yet we a little space


s: That place possess'd.  "O thou, who every art


s: And science valu'st! who are these, that boast


s: Such honour, separate from all the rest?"


s: He answer'd: "The renown of their great names


s: That echoes through your world above, acquires


s: Favour in heaven, which holds them thus advanc'd."


s: Meantime a voice I heard: "Honour the bard


s: Sublime! his shade returns that left us late!"


s: No sooner ceas'd the sound, than I beheld


s: Four mighty spirits toward us bend their steps,


s: Of semblance neither sorrowful nor glad.


s: When thus my master kind began: "Mark him,


s: Who in his right hand bears that falchion keen,


s: The other three preceding, as their lord.


s: This is that Homer, of all bards supreme:


s: Flaccus the next in satire's vein excelling;


s: With which the voice singly accosted me,


s: Honouring they greet me thus, and well they judge."


s: That o'er the others like an eagle soars.


s: When they together short discourse had held,


s: Beck'ning me; at the which my master smil'd:


s: Nor was this all; but greater honour still


s: They gave me, for they made me of their tribe;


s: Speaking of matters, then befitting well


s: To speak, now fitter left untold.  At foot


s: Seven times with lofty walls begirt, and round


s: Defended by a pleasant stream.  O'er this


s: As o'er dry land we pass'd.  Next through seven gates


s: There dwelt a race, who slow their eyes around


s: Seldom, but all their words were tuneful sweet.


s: Open and bright and lofty, whence each one


s: Were shown me the great spirits, by whose sight


s: Anchises' pious son, and with hawk's eye


s: Who Tarquin chas'd, Lucretia, Cato's wife


s: And sole apart retir'd, the Soldan fierce.


s: Then when a little more I rais'd my brow,


s: I spied the master of the sapient throng,


s: Him all admire, all pay him rev'rence due.


s: In nature's secret lore.  Orpheus I mark'd


s: Of all to speak at full were vain attempt;


s: For my wide theme so urges, that ofttimes


s: My words fall short of what bechanc'd.  In two


s: My sage guide leads me, from that air serene,


s: And to a part I come where no light shines.


s: Down to the second, which, a lesser space


s: Embracing, so much more of grief contains


s: Provoking bitter moans.  There, Minos stands


s: Grinning with ghastly feature: he, of all


s: Gives sentence, and dismisses them beneath,


s: For when before him comes th' ill fated soul,


s: Suits the transgression, with his tail so oft


s: He dooms it to descend.  Before him stand


s: Always a num'rous throng; and in his turn


s: Each one to judgment passing, speaks, and hears


s: His fate, thence downward to his dwelling hurl'd.


s: Approachest?"  when he saw me coming, cried


s: "Look how thou enter here; beware in whom


s: Thou place thy trust; let not the entrance broad


s: Deceive thee to thy harm."  To him my guide:


s: "Wherefore exclaimest?  Hinder not his way


s: Where will and power are one.  Ask thou no more."


s: Now 'gin the rueful wailings to be heard.


s: Now am I come where many a plaining voice


s: Smites on mine ear.  Into a place I came


s: Where light was silent all.  Bellowing there groan'd


s: By warring winds.  The stormy blast of hell


s: With restless fury drives the spirits on


s: Whirl'd round and dash'd amain with sore annoy.


s: When they arrive before the ruinous sweep,


s: There shrieks are heard, there lamentations, moans,


s: And blasphemies 'gainst the good Power in heaven.


s: The carnal sinners are condemn'd, in whom


s: Reason by lust is sway'd.  As in large troops


s: The starlings on their wings are borne abroad;


s: So bears the tyrannous gust those evil souls.


s: It drives them: hope of rest to solace them


s: Is none, nor e'en of milder pang.  As cranes,


s: Chanting their dol'rous notes, traverse the sky,


s: Stretch'd out in long array: so I beheld


s: Spirits, who came loud wailing, hurried on


s: By their dire doom.  Then I: "Instructor! who


s: Are these, by the black air so scourg'd?"--"The first


s: 'Mong those, of whom thou question'st," he replied,


s: "O'er many tongues was empress.  She in vice


s: Of luxury was so shameless, that she made


s: To clear the blame she had herself incurr'd.


s: And held the land, which now the Soldan rules.


s: There mark'd I Helen, for whose sake so long


s: The time was fraught with evil; there the great


s: Achilles, who with love fought to the end.


s: A thousand more he show'd me, and by name


s: Pointed them out, whom love bereav'd of life.


s: When I had heard my sage instructor name


s: Those dames and knights of antique days, o'erpower'd


s: I would address those two together coming,


s: Which seem so light before the wind."  He thus:


s: "Note thou, when nearer they to us approach."


s: "Then by that love which carries them along,


s: Entreat; and they will come."  Soon as the wind


s: Sway'd them toward us, I thus fram'd my speech:


s: "O wearied spirits! come, and hold discourse


s: With us, if by none else restrain'd."  As doves


s: And firm, to their sweet nest returning home,


s: Cleave the air, wafted by their will along;


s: Thus issu'd from that troop, where Dido ranks,


s: They through the ill air speeding; with such force


s: My cry prevail'd by strong affection urg'd.


s: "O gracious creature and benign! who go'st


s: Us, who the world with bloody stain imbru'd;


s: If for a friend the King of all we own'd,


s: Our pray'r to him should for thy peace arise,


s: Since thou hast pity on our evil plight.


s: It pleases thee, that will we hear, of that


s: Freely with thee discourse, while e'er the wind,


s: As now, is mute.  The land, that gave me birth,


s: Is situate on the coast, where Po descends


s: To rest in ocean with his sequent streams.


s: "Love, that in gentle heart is quickly learnt,


s: Entangled him by that fair form, from me


s: Ta'en in such cruel sort, as grieves me still:


s: Love, that denial takes from none belov'd,


s: Caught me with pleasing him so passing well,


s: That, as thou see'st, he yet deserts me not.


s: "Love brought us to one death: Caina waits


s: The soul, who spilt our life."  Such were their words;


s: At hearing which downward I bent my looks,


s: And held them there so long, that the bard cried:


s: "What art thou pond'ring?"  I in answer thus:


s: "Alas! by what sweet thoughts, what fond desire


s: Must they at length to that ill pass have reach'd!"


s: Then turning, I to them my speech address'd.


s: And thus began: "Francesca! your sad fate


s: But tell me; in the time of your sweet sighs,


s: By what, and how love granted, that ye knew


s: Your yet uncertain wishes?"  She replied:


s: Of joy, when mis'ry is at hand!  That kens


s: If thou art bent to know the primal root,


s: From whence our love gat being, I will do,


s: As one, who weeps and tells his tale.  One day


s: How him love thrall'd.  Alone we were, and no


s: Suspicion near us.  Ofttimes by that reading


s: Our eyes were drawn together, and the hue


s: Fled from our alter'd cheek.  But at one point


s: Alone we fell.  When of that smile we read,


s: By one so deep in love, then he, who ne'er


s: All trembling kiss'd.  The book and writer both


s: Were love's purveyors.  In its leaves that day


s: We read no more."  While thus one spirit spake,


s: The other wail'd so sorely, that heartstruck


s: I through compassion fainting, seem'd not far


s: From death, and like a corpse fell to the ground.


s: MY sense reviving, that erewhile had droop'd


s: With pity for the kindred shades, whence grief


s: O'ercame me wholly, straight around I see


s: New torments, new tormented souls, which way


s: Soe'er I move, or turn, or bend my sight.


s: In the third circle I arrive, of show'rs


s: Ceaseless, accursed, heavy, and cold, unchang'd


s: Large hail, discolour'd water, sleety flaw


s: Through the dun midnight air stream'd down amain:


s: Stank all the land whereon that tempest fell.


s: Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange,


s: Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog


s: His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard,


s: His belly large, and claw'd the hands, with which


s: He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs


s: Piecemeal disparts.  Howling there spread, as curs,


s: The other screening, oft they roll them round,


s: A wretched, godless crew.  When that great worm


s: His jaws, and the fangs show'd us; not a limb


s: Of him but trembled.  Then my guide, his palms


s: Expanding on the ground, thence filled with earth


s: Rais'd them, and cast it in his ravenous maw.


s: E'en as a dog, that yelling bays for food


s: His keeper, when the morsel comes, lets fall


s: To swallow it; so dropp'd the loathsome cheeks


s: The spirits, that they for deafness wish in vain.


s: We, o'er the shades thrown prostrate by the brunt


s: Of the heavy tempest passing, set our feet


s: Upon their emptiness, that substance seem'd.


s: Save one, that sudden rais'd himself to sit,


s: Soon as that way he saw us pass.  "O thou!"


s: He cried, "who through the infernal shades art led,


s: Own, if again thou know'st me.  Thou wast fram'd


s: Or ere my frame was broken."  I replied:


s: "The anguish thou endur'st perchance so takes


s: Thy form from my remembrance, that it seems


s: Art set, and in such torment, that although


s: Ay that the measure overflows its bounds,


s: Were wont to name me Ciacco.  For the sin


s: Of glutt'ny, damned vice, beneath this rain,


s: E'en as thou see'st, I with fatigue am worn;


s: Nor I sole spirit in this woe: all these


s: Have by like crime incurr'd like punishment."


s: No more he said, and I my speech resum'd:


s: "Ciacco! thy dire affliction grieves me much,


s: Even to tears.  But tell me, if thou know'st,


s: What shall at length befall the citizens


s: Of the divided city; whether any just one


s: Inhabit there: and tell me of the cause,


s: Whence jarring discord hath assail'd it thus?"


s: He then: "After long striving they will come


s: To blood; and the wild party from the woods


s: Will chase the other with much injury forth.


s: Then it behoves, that this must fall, within


s: By borrow'd force of one, who under shore


s: Now rests.  It shall a long space hold aloof


s: Its forehead, keeping under heavy weight


s: The other oppress'd, indignant at the load,


s: And grieving sore.  The just are two in number,


s: But they neglected.  Av'rice, envy, pride,


s: Three fatal sparks, have set the hearts of all


s: On fire."  Here ceas'd the lamentable sound;


s: And I continu'd thus: "Still would I learn


s: More from thee, farther parley still entreat.


s: Their minds on working good.  Oh! tell me where


s: They bide, and to their knowledge let me come.


s: For I am press'd with keen desire to hear,


s: If heaven's sweet cup or poisonous drug of hell


s: Be to their lip assign'd."   He answer'd straight:


s: "These are yet blacker spirits.  Various crimes


s: Have sunk them deeper in the dark abyss.


s: If thou so far descendest, thou mayst see them.


s: But to the pleasant world when thou return'st,


s: Of me make mention, I entreat thee, there.


s: No more I tell thee, answer thee no more."


s: This said, his fixed eyes he turn'd askance,


s: A little ey'd me, then bent down his head,


s: And 'midst his blind companions with it fell.


s: When thus my guide: "No more his bed he leaves,


s: Ere the last angel-trumpet blow.  The Power


s: Adverse to these shall then in glory come,


s: Each one forthwith to his sad tomb repair,


s: Resume his fleshly vesture and his form,


s: And hear the eternal doom re-echoing rend


s: The vault."  So pass'd we through that mixture foul


s: Touching, though slightly, on the life to come.


s: For thus I question'd: "Shall these tortures, Sir!


s: When the great sentence passes, be increas'd,


s: He then: "Consult thy knowledge; that decides


s: That as each thing to more perfection grows,


s: It feels more sensibly both good and pain.


s: Though ne'er to true perfection may arrive


s: This race accurs'd, yet nearer then than now


s: They shall approach it."  Compassing that path


s: Much more than I relate between us pass'd:


s: Till at the point, where the steps led below,


s: Arriv'd, there Plutus, the great foe, we found.


s: "AH me!  O Satan!  Satan!" loud exclaim'd


s: And the kind sage, whom no event surpris'd,


s: To comfort me thus spake: "Let not thy fear


s: Harm thee, for power in him, be sure, is none


s: To hinder down this rock thy safe descent."


s: Then to that sworn lip turning, "Peace!"  he cried,


s: "Curs'd wolf! thy fury inward on thyself


s: Prey, and consume thee!  Through the dark profound


s: Not without cause he passes.  So 't is will'd


s: On high, there where the great Archangel pour'd


s: Heav'n's vengeance on the first adulterer proud."


s: As sails full spread and bellying with the wind


s: Drop suddenly collaps'd, if the mast split;


s: So to the ground down dropp'd the cruel fiend.


s: Thus we, descending to the fourth steep ledge,


s: Gain'd on the dismal shore, that all the woe


s: Almighty Justice! in what store thou heap'st


s: New pains, new troubles, as I here beheld!


s: Wherefore doth fault of ours bring us to this?


s: Against encounter'd billow dashing breaks;


s: Such is the dance this wretched race must lead,


s: Whom more than elsewhere numerous here I found,


s: From one side and the other, with loud voice,


s: Both roll'd on weights by main forge of their breasts,


s: Then smote together, and each one forthwith


s: Roll'd them back voluble, turning again,


s: Exclaiming these, "Why holdest thou so fast?"


s: Those answering, "And why castest thou away?"


s: So still repeating their despiteful song,


s: They to the opposite point on either hand


s: Travers'd the horrid circle: then arriv'd,


s: Both turn'd them round, and through the middle space


s: Conflicting met again.  At sight whereof


s: I, stung with grief, thus spake: "O say, my guide!


s: What race is this?  Were these, whose heads are shorn,


s: On our left hand, all sep'rate to the church?"


s: He straight replied: "In their first life these all


s: In mind were so distorted, that they made,


s: According to due measure, of their wealth,


s: No use.  This clearly from their words collect,


s: Which they howl forth, at each extremity


s: Arriving of the circle, where their crime


s: Contrary' in kind disparts them.  To the church


s: Were separate those, that with no hairy cowls


s: Are crown'd, both Popes and Cardinals, o'er whom


s: I then: "Mid such as these some needs must be,


s: Whom I shall recognize, that with the blot


s: Of these foul sins were stain'd."  He answering thus:


s: "Vain thought conceiv'st thou.  That ignoble life,


s: Which made them vile before, now makes them dark,


s: Forever they shall meet in this rude shock:


s: These from the tomb with clenched grasp shall rise,


s: Those with close-shaven locks.  That ill they gave,


s: And ill they kept, hath of the beauteous world


s: Depriv'd, and set them at this strife, which needs


s: No labour'd phrase of mine to set if off.


s: Now may'st thou see, my son! how brief, how vain,


s: The goods committed into fortune's hands,


s: For which the human race keep such a coil!


s: Not all the gold, that is beneath the moon,


s: Or ever hath been, of these toil-worn souls


s: Might purchase rest for one."  I thus rejoin'd:


s: "My guide! of thee this also would I learn;


s: This fortune, that thou speak'st of, what it is,


s: Whose talons grasp the blessings of the world?"


s: He thus: "O beings blind! what ignorance


s: Besets you?  Now my judgment hear and mark.


s: He, whose transcendent wisdom passes all,


s: The heavens creating, gave them ruling powers


s: To guide them, so that each part shines to each,


s: Their light in equal distribution pour'd.


s: From race to race, from one to other's blood,


s: Decrees, from us conceal'd, as in the grass


s: The serpent train.  Against her nought avails


s: Your utmost wisdom.  She with foresight plans,


s: Judges, and carries on her reign, as theirs


s: The other powers divine.  Her changes know


s: She is made swift, so frequent come who claim


s: Succession in her favours.  This is she,


s: To her is rather praise; they wrongfully


s: With blame requite her, and with evil word;


s: But she is blessed, and for that recks not:


s: Rolls on her sphere, and in her bliss exults.


s: Descending: for each star is falling now,


s: That mounted at our entrance, and forbids


s: Too long our tarrying."  We the circle cross'd


s: That boiling pours itself down to a foss


s: Sluic'd from its source.  Far murkier was the wave


s: Of the' inky waters, journeying by their side,


s: Enter'd, though by a different track, beneath.


s: The dismal stream, when it hath reach'd the foot


s: Of the grey wither'd cliffs.  Intent I stood


s: To gaze, and in the marish sunk descried


s: Betok'ning rage.  They with their hands alone


s: Struck not, but with the head, the breast, the feet,


s: Cutting each other piecemeal with their fangs.


s: The good instructor spake; "Now seest thou, son!


s: The souls of those, whom anger overcame.


s: This too for certain know, that underneath


s: The water dwells a multitude, whose sighs


s: Into these bubbles make the surface heave,


s: As thine eye tells thee wheresoe'er it turn."


s: Fix'd in the slime they say: "Sad once were we


s: In the sweet air made gladsome by the sun,


s: Now in these murky settlings are we sad."


s: Such dolorous strain they gurgle in their throats.


s: But word distinct can utter none."  Our route


s: Thus compass'd we, a segment widely stretch'd


s: Between the dry embankment, and the core


s: Of the loath'd pool, turning meanwhile our eyes


s: Downward on those who gulp'd its muddy lees;


s: Nor stopp'd, till to a tower's low base we came.


s: We reach'd the lofty turret's base, our eyes


s: Its height ascended, where two cressets hung


s: Return the signal, so remote, that scarce


s: The eye could catch its beam.  I turning round


s: To the deep source of knowledge, thus inquir'd:


s: "Say what this means?  and what that other light


s: "There on the filthy waters," he replied,


s: "E'en now what next awaits us mayst thou see,


s: If the marsh-gender'd fog conceal it not."


s: Never was arrow from the cord dismiss'd,


s: That ran its way so nimbly through the air,


s: As a small bark, that through the waves I spied


s: Of one that ferried it, who cried aloud:


s: "Art thou arriv'd, fell spirit?"--"Phlegyas, Phlegyas,


s: This time thou criest in vain," my lord replied;


s: "No longer shalt thou have us, but while o'er


s: The slimy pool we pass."  As one who hears


s: Of some great wrong he hath sustain'd, whereat


s: In his fierce ire.  My guide descending stepp'd


s: Close at his side; nor till my entrance seem'd


s: The vessel freighted.  Soon as both embark'd,


s: Cutting the waves, goes on the ancient prow,


s: More deeply than with others it is wont.


s: While we our course o'er the dead channel held.


s: One drench'd in mire before me came, and said;


s: "Who art thou, that thou comest ere thine hour?"


s: I answer'd: "Though I come, I tarry not;


s: But who art thou, that art become so foul?"


s: "One, as thou seest, who mourn:" he straight replied.


s: To which I thus: "In mourning and in woe,


s: Curs'd spirit! tarry thou.g I know thee well,


s: E'en thus in filth disguis'd."  Then stretch'd he forth


s: Hands to the bark; whereof my teacher sage


s: Aware, thrusting him back: "Away! down there;


s: "To the' other dogs!" then, with his arms my neck


s: Encircling, kiss'd my cheek, and spake: "O soul


s: Justly disdainful! blest was she in whom


s: Thou was conceiv'd!  He in the world was one


s: Here is his shadow furious.  There above


s: How many now hold themselves mighty kings


s: Who here like swine shall wallow in the mire,


s: Leaving behind them horrible dispraise!"


s: I then: "Master! him fain would I behold


s: Whelm'd in these dregs, before we quit the lake."


s: Be offer'd, satisfied shall be that wish,


s: Which well deserves completion."  Scarce his words


s: For that render I thanks to God and praise


s: Turn'd his avenging fangs.  Him here we left,


s: Nor speak I of him more.  But on mine ear


s: Whereat mine eye unbarr'd I sent abroad.


s: And thus the good instructor: "Now, my son!


s: Draws near the city, that of Dis is nam'd,


s: With its grave denizens, a mighty throng."


s: Gleaming vermilion, as if they from fire


s: Had issu'd."  He replied: "Eternal fire,


s: That inward burns, shows them with ruddy flame


s: Illum'd; as in this nether hell thou seest."


s: We came within the fosses deep, that moat


s: This region comfortless.  The walls appear'd


s: As they were fram'd of iron.  We had made


s: Wide circuit, ere a place we reach'd, where loud


s: The' entrance is here!"  Upon the gates I spied


s: More than a thousand, who of old from heaven


s: Were hurl'd.  With ireful gestures, "Who is this,"


s: They cried, "that without death first felt, goes through


s: The regions of the dead?"  My sapient guide


s: Made sign that he for secret parley wish'd;


s: They spake: "Come thou alone; and let him go


s: If well he know it, let him prove.  For thee,


s: Here shalt thou tarry, who through clime so dark


s: Hast been his escort." Now bethink thee, reader!


s: What cheer was mine at sound of those curs'd words.


s: "O my lov'd guide! who more than seven times


s: From peril deep, whereto I stood expos'd,


s: Desert me not," I cried, "in this extreme.


s: Together trace we back our steps with speed."


s: Replied: "Fear not: for of our passage none


s: Hath power to disappoint us, by such high


s: Expect me here; meanwhile thy wearied spirit


s: Comfort, and feed with kindly hope, assur'd


s: I will not leave thee in this lower world."


s: At war 'twixt will and will not in my thoughts.


s: I could not hear what terms he offer'd them,


s: But they conferr'd not long, for all at once


s: To trial fled within.  Clos'd were the gates


s: His eyes were bent, and from his brow eras'd


s: All confidence, while thus with sighs he spake:


s: "Who hath denied me these abodes of woe?"


s: Then thus to me: "That I am anger'd, think


s: Shall vanquish, use what arts they may within


s: For hindrance.  This their insolence, not new,


s: Erewhile at gate less secret they display'd,


s: Which still is without bolt; upon its arch


s: Thou saw'st the deadly scroll: and even now


s: On this side of its entrance, down the steep,


s: One whose strong might can open us this land."


s: THE hue, which coward dread on my pale cheeks


s: Imprinted, when I saw my guide turn back,


s: Chas'd that from his which newly they had worn,


s: Who listens, stood attentive: for his eye


s: Not far could lead him through the sable air,


s: And the thick-gath'ring cloud.  "It yet behooves


s: We win this fight"--thus he began--"if not--


s: Such aid to us is offer'd.--Oh, how long


s: Me seems it, ere the promis'd help arrive!"


s: Clok'd their beginning; for the last he spake


s: Agreed not with the first.  But not the less


s: To import worse perchance, than that he held,


s: Into this rueful concave's extreme depth


s: Descend, out of the first degree, whose pain


s: This journey, which I wend.  Erewhile 'tis true


s: Once came I here beneath, conjur'd by fell


s: Erictho, sorceress, who compell'd the shades


s: Back to their bodies.  No long space my flesh


s: Was naked of me, when within these walls


s: She made me enter, to draw forth a spirit


s: From out of Judas' circle.  Lowest place


s: Farthest from heav'n's all-circling orb.  The road


s: Full well I know: thou therefore rest secure.


s: That lake, the noisome stench exhaling, round


s: The city' of grief encompasses, which now


s: We may not enter without rage."  Yet more


s: For that mine eye toward the lofty tower


s: Had drawn me wholly, to its burning top.


s: At once three hellish furies stain'd with blood:


s: In limb and motion feminine they seem'd;


s: Around them greenest hydras twisting roll'd


s: Their volumes; adders and cerastes crept


s: Instead of hair, and their fierce temples bound.


s: Who tend the queen of endless woe, thus spake:


s: "Mark thou each dire Erinnys. To the left


s: I' th' midst."  This said, in silence he remain'd


s: Their breast they each one clawing tore; themselves


s: Smote with their palms, and such shrill clamour rais'd,


s: That to the bard I clung, suspicion-bound.


s: Him shall we change;" all looking down exclaim'd.


s: "E'en when by Theseus' might assail'd, we took


s: No ill revenge."  "Turn thyself round, and keep


s: Thy count'nance hid; for if the Gorgon dire


s: Be shown, and thou shouldst view it, thy return


s: Upwards would be for ever lost."  This said,


s: Himself my gentle master turn'd me round,


s: Nor trusted he my hands, but with his own


s: Sound and entire, mark well the lore conceal'd


s: Under close texture of the mystic strain!


s: And now there came o'er the perturbed waves


s: Loud-crashing, terrible, a sound that made


s: Impetuous, from conflicting vapours sprung,


s: That 'gainst some forest driving all its might,


s: Plucks off the branches, beats them down and hurls


s: Afar; then onward passing proudly sweeps


s: Its whirlwind rage, while beasts and shepherds fly.


s: Mine eyes he loos'd, and spake: "And now direct


s: Thy visual nerve along that ancient foam,


s: There, thickest where the smoke ascends." As frogs


s: Before their foe the serpent, through the wave


s: Ply swiftly all, till at the ground each one


s: Lies on a heap; more than a thousand spirits


s: Who pass'd with unwet feet the Stygian sound.


s: He, from his face removing the gross air,


s: Oft his left hand forth stretch'd, and seem'd alone


s: That he was sent from heav'n, and to my guide


s: Turn'd me, who signal made that I should stand


s: He came, and with his wand touch'd it, whereat


s: "Outcasts of heav'n!  O abject race and scorn'd!"


s: Began he on the horrid grunsel standing,


s: "Whence doth this wild excess of insolence


s: Lodge in you? wherefore kick you 'gainst that will


s: Ne'er frustrate of its end, and which so oft


s: Hath laid on you enforcement of your pangs?


s: What profits at the fays to but the horn?


s: Bears still, peel'd of their hair, his throat and maw."


s: This said, he turn'd back o'er the filthy way,


s: Beset, and keenly press'd, than thought of him


s: Who in his presence stands.  Then we our steps


s: There enter'd; and my mind eager to learn


s: What state a fortress like to that might hold,


s: I soon as enter'd throw mine eye around,


s: And see on every part wide-stretching space


s: Replete with bitter pain and torment ill.


s: As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles,


s: The place is all thick spread with sepulchres;


s: So was it here, save what in horror here


s: Excell'd: for 'midst the graves were scattered flames,


s: Wherewith intensely all throughout they burn'd,


s: That iron for no craft there hotter needs.


s: Their lids all hung suspended, and beneath


s: From them forth issu'd lamentable moans,


s: Such as the sad and tortur'd well might raise.


s: I thus: "Master! say who are these, interr'd


s: Within these vaults, of whom distinct we hear


s: The dolorous sighs?"  He answer thus return'd:


s: "The arch-heretics are here, accompanied


s: By every sect their followers; and much more,


s: Than thou believest, tombs are freighted: like


s: Are different in degrees of heat."  This said,


s: He to the right hand turning, on we pass'd


s: Betwixt the afflicted and the ramparts high.


s: Between the walls, that hem the region round,


s: And the tormented souls: my master first,


s: I close behind his steps.  "Virtue supreme!"


s: I thus began; "who through these ample orbs


s: In circuit lead'st me, even as thou will'st,


s: Speak thou, and satisfy my wish.  May those,


s: Who lie within these sepulchres, be seen?


s: Already all the lids are rais'd, and none


s: O'er them keeps watch."  He thus in answer spake


s: "They shall be closed all, what-time they here


s: From Josaphat return'd shall come, and bring


s: Their bodies, which above they now have left.


s: Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon


s: Both to the question ask'd, and to the wish,


s: Which thou conceal'st in silence."  I replied:


s: "I keep not, guide belov'd! from thee my heart


s: Secreted, but to shun vain length of words,


s: A lesson erewhile taught me by thyself."


s: "O Tuscan! thou who through the city of fire


s: Alive art passing, so discreet of speech!


s: Here please thee stay awhile. Thy utterance


s: To be that noble land, with which perchance


s: I too severely dealt."  Sudden that sound


s: Forth issu'd from a vault, whereat in fear


s: Approaching, he thus spake: "What dost thou?  Turn.


s: Expos'd behold him."  On his face was mine


s: Already fix'd; his breast and forehead there


s: Erecting, seem'd as in high scorn he held


s: E'en hell.  Between the sepulchres to him


s: My guide thrust me with fearless hands and prompt,


s: This warning added: "See thy words be clear!"


s: He, soon as there I stood at the tomb's foot,


s: Ey'd me a space, then in disdainful mood


s: Address'd me: "Say, what ancestors were thine?"


s: I, willing to obey him, straight reveal'd


s: The whole, nor kept back aught: whence he, his brow


s: Somewhat uplifting, cried: "Fiercely were they


s: From whence I sprang: twice therefore I abroad


s: Scatter'd them."  "Though driv'n out, yet they each time


s: From all parts," answer'd I, "return'd; an art


s: Which yours have shown, they are not skill'd to learn."


s: Then, peering forth from the unclosed jaw,


s: Rose from his side a shade, high as the chin,


s: Leaning, methought, upon its knees uprais'd.


s: If there were other with me; but perceiving


s: That fond imagination quench'd, with tears


s: Thus spake: "If thou through this blind prison go'st.


s: Where is my son? and wherefore not with thee?"


s: I straight replied: "Not of myself I come,


s: By him, who there expects me, through this clime


s: Had in contempt."  Already had his words


s: And mode of punishment read me his name,


s: Exclaim'd, up starting, "How! said'st thou he HAD?


s: No longer lives he?  Strikes not on his eye


s: The blessed daylight?"  Then of some delay


s: Supine, not after forth appear'd he more.


s: Meanwhile the other, great of soul, near whom


s: I yet was station'd, chang'd not count'nance stern,


s: Nor mov'd the neck, nor bent his ribbed side.


s: "And if," continuing the first discourse,


s: "They in this art," he cried, "small skill have shown,


s: That doth torment me more e'en than this bed.


s: But not yet fifty times shall be relum'd


s: Her aspect, who reigns here Queen of this realm,


s: Ere thou shalt know the full weight of that art.


s: So to the pleasant world mayst thou return,


s: As thou shalt tell me, why in all their laws,


s: "The slaughter and great havoc," I replied,


s: "That colour'd Arbia's flood with crimson stain--


s: To these impute, that in our hallow'd dome


s: The head, then thus resum'd: "In that affray


s: I stood not singly, nor without just cause


s: Assuredly should with the rest have stirr'd;


s: But singly there I stood, when by consent


s: Of all, Florence had to the ground been raz'd,


s: "So may thy lineage find at last repose,"


s: I thus adjur'd him, "as thou solve this knot,


s: Which now involves my mind.  If right I hear,


s: Ye seem to view beforehand, that which time


s: Leads with him, of the present uninform'd."


s: "We view, as one who hath an evil sight,"


s: He answer'd, "plainly, objects far remote:


s: So much of his large spendour yet imparts


s: The' Almighty Ruler; but when they approach


s: Then wholly fails, nor of your human state


s: Except what others bring us know we aught.


s: Hence therefore mayst thou understand, that all


s: Our knowledge in that instant shall expire,


s: Then conscious of my fault, and by remorse


s: Smitten, I added thus: "Now shalt thou say


s: To him there fallen, that his offspring still


s: Is to the living join'd; and bid him know,


s: 'Twas that my thought was occupied intent


s: Upon that error, which thy help hath solv'd."


s: I heard, and with more eager haste besought


s: Partook his lot.  He answer thus return'd:


s: "More than a thousand with me here are laid


s: Within is Frederick, second of that name,


s: I speak not."  He, this said, from sight withdrew.


s: Betokening me such ill.  Onward he mov'd,


s: And thus in going question'd: "Whence the' amaze


s: That holds thy senses wrapt?"  I satisfied


s: The' inquiry, and the sage enjoin'd me straight:


s: "Let thy safe memory store what thou hast heard


s: To thee importing harm; and note thou this,"


s: With his rais'd finger bidding me take heed,


s: "When thou shalt stand before her gracious beam,


s: Whose bright eye all surveys, she of thy life


s: Forthwith he to the left hand turn'd his feet:


s: We left the wall, and tow'rds the middle space


s: Went by a path, that to a valley strikes;


s: Which e'en thus high exhal'd its noisome steam.


s: By craggy rocks environ'd round, we came,


s: Where woes beneath more cruel yet were stow'd:


s: Whereon this scroll I mark'd: "I have in charge


s: From the right path.--Ere our descent behooves


s: We make delay, that somewhat first the sense,


s: To the dire breath accustom'd, afterward


s: Regard it not."  My master thus; to whom


s: Answering I spake: "Some compensation find


s: That the time past not wholly lost."  He then:


s: "Lo! how my thoughts e'en to thy wishes tend!


s: My son! within these rocks," he thus began,


s: "Are three close circles in gradation plac'd,


s: As these which now thou leav'st. Each one is full


s: Of spirits accurs'd; but that the sight alone


s: And for what cause in durance they abide.


s: "Of all malicious act abhorr'd in heaven,


s: Either by force or fraud works other's woe


s: But fraud, because of man peculiar evil,


s: The fraudulent are therefore doom'd to' endure


s: All the first circle; and because to force


s: Three persons are obnoxious, in three rounds


s: Hach within other sep'rate is it fram'd.


s: To God, his neighbour, and himself, by man


s: And his possessions, as thou soon shalt hear


s: At full.  Death, violent death, and painful wounds


s: Upon his neighbour he inflicts; and wastes


s: By devastation, pillage, and the flames,


s: His substance.  Slayers, and each one that smites


s: In malice, plund'rers, and all robbers, hence


s: In different herds.  Man can do violence


s: To himself and his own blessings: and for this


s: Whoe'er deprives himself of life and light,


s: In reckless lavishment his talent wastes,


s: And sorrows there where he should dwell in joy.


s: To God may force be offer'd, in the heart


s: And nature with her kindly law contemning.


s: And thence the inmost round marks with its seal


s: Contemptuously' of the Godhead in their hearts.


s: "Fraud, that in every conscience leaves a sting,


s: May be by man employ'd on one, whose trust


s: Strict confidence.  Seems as the latter way


s: Broke but the bond of love which Nature makes.


s: Whence in the second circle have their nest


s: Theft, falsehood, simony, all who seduce


s: With such vile scum as these.  The other way