English

CANTO XIV.

Argument.

Third Zone of the Seventh Circle; the rebellious against God exposed to a fiery rain. — The Giant Capaneus — Source of the rivers of Hell.

T HE love I bore my native place prevail'd;
Thus gather'd I the scatter'd leaves once more,
And gave them back to him whose voice had fail'd
We journey'd on, until our steps passed o'er
The bound betwixt the third and second zone,

CANTO XIII.

Argument.

Second Zone of the Seventh Circle; the suicides, changed into trees, and tormented by the Harpies. — Pier della Vigne, Chancellor of Frederick II.
N OT yet had Nessus gain'd the further bound,
When we drew near, upon the darksome shore,
To a dim wood wherein no path is found.
Not verdure bright, but dusky hues it wore,
Not branches smooth, but gnarl'd in many a knot;

CANTO XII.

Argument.

Seventh Circle, divided into three zones; in which the violent are punished. First Zone; those who have done violence to their neighbour.
O F wild and fearful aspect was the spot
Of our descent; and somewhat there we spied,
A form with yet more dreadful horror fraught.
Ev'n as the ruin caus'd, when, from the side
Of Adigi by Trent, the cliff gave way,
With sudden crash, and smote the foaming tide,

CANTO VIII.

Argument.

The two Poets, in the bark of Phlegyas, cross the Styx, and approach the city of Dis.

N OW I narrate, continuing my lay,
That ere unto the lofty tower we came,
Our eyes unto its topmost height did stray;
For there we saw two glimmering lamps of flame,
And then a third the signal did return,
Which from long distance pale and weak became.

CANTO X.

Argument.

Dante holds discourse with the father of Guido Calvacanti, and with Farinata degli Uberti.

A ND now my Master, by a narrow path
Betwixt the walls and those sad graves of fire,
Went, and I follow'd through the land of wrath.
" O lofty Wisdom, who through labours dire
Dost lead me onward at thy will, " I said,
" Speak thou, and satisfy my strong desire.

CANTO IX.

Argument.

The Three Furies. — An Angel comes to open the gate — Sixth Circle; the Misbelievers.

W HEN my good Leader saw the pallid hue
O'erspread my cheek, beholding all in vain
His efforts, soon he smoothed his brow anew,
And stood as one who doth intently strain
To listen; for but little way the eye
Through the thick mist and darkness might attain

CANTO VIII.

Argument.

The two Poets, in the bark of Phlegyas, cross the Styx, and approach the city of Dis.

N OW I narrate, continuing my lay,
That ere unto the lofty tower we came,
Our eyes unto its topmost height did stray;
For there we saw two glimmering lamps of flame,
And then a third the signal did return,
Which from long distance pale and weak became.

CANTO VII.

Argument.

Fourth Circle; the spendthrifts and the avaricious. Fifth Circle; the wrathful, and the sullen slothful.

" P APË Satan, papi Satan, aleppi! "
Thus Pluto now began with hoarsest voice;
And the good Sage, who knew what all things be,
Said as to comfort me: " Let not this noise
Affright thee; since, whate'er the power he hath,
Yet he thy way nor hinders nor destroys. "

CANTO VI.

Argument.

Third Circle; the gluttonous. Discourse upon the discords of Florence.
A ND when my mind to me return'd again,
Which closed before my pity for that pair
Whence all my soul was 'wilder'd with sad pain,
New torments and tormented ones were there,
On every side; as all around, I wis,
My glances wander'd in the gloomy air.
Now we had come unto the third abyss

CANTO V.

Argument.

Minos judges the sinners, and assigns them their punishment. — The Second Circle, which is that of the incontinent — Francesca di Rimini.

F ROM the first circle downward did we go
Unto the second, which a smaller space
Contains, but as much more of bitter woe.
There Minos stood, with darkly-frowning face;
He searches out the sins of those who come;
He judges them, and sends them to their place.