The Divine Comedy (Complete Annotated Edition). Dante Alighieri

doth this wild excess of insolence

      Lodge in you? wherefore kick you ’gainst that will

      Ne’er frustrate of its end, and which so oft

      Hath laid on you enforcement of your pangs?

      What profits at the fays to but the horn?

Your Cerberus,4 if ye remember, hence

      Bears still, peel’d of their hair, his throat and maw.”

      This said, he turn’d back o’er the filthy way,

      And syllable to us spake none, but wore

      The semblance of a man by other care

      Beset, and keenly press’d, than thought of him

      Who in his presence stands. Then we our steps

      Toward that territory mov’d, secure

      After the hallow’d words. We unoppos’d

      There enter’d; and my mind eager to learn

      What state a fortress like to that might hold,

      I soon as enter’d throw mine eye around,

      And see on every part wide-stretching space

      Replete with bitter pain and torment ill.

As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles,5

Or as at Pola,6 near Quarnaro’s gulf,

      That closes Italy and laves her bounds,

      The place is all thick spread with sepulchres;

      So was it here, save what in horror here

      Excell’d: for ’midst the graves were scattered flames,

      Wherewith intensely all throughout they burn’d,

      That iron for no craft there hotter needs.

      Their lids all hung suspended, and beneath

      From them forth issu’d lamentable moans,

      Such as the sad and tortur’d well might raise.

      I thus: “Master! say who are these, interr’d

      Within these vaults, of whom distinct we hear

      The dolorous sighs?” He answer thus return’d:

      “The arch-heretics are here, accompanied

      By every sect their followers; and much more,

      Than thou believest, tombs are freighted: like

      With like is buried; and the monuments

      Are different in degrees of heat. “This said,

      He to the right hand turning, on we pass’d

      Betwixt the afflicted and the ramparts high.

      Footnotes

1 “The hue,” Virgil, perceiving that Dante was pale with fear, restrained those outward tokens of displeasure which his own countenance had betrayed.

2 Erichtho, a Thessalian sorceress (Lucan, “Pharsal.” 1. vi.), was employed by Sextus, son of Pompey the Great, to conjure up a spirit, who should inform him of the issue of the civil wars between his father and Cæsar.

3 The Poet probably intends to call the reader’s attention to the allegorical and mystic sense of the present Canto, and not, as Venturi supposes, to that of the whole work. Landino supposes this hidden meaning to be that in the case of those vices which proceed from intemperance, reason, figured under the person of Virgil, with the ordinary grace of God, may be a sufficient safeguard; but that in the instance of more heinous crimes, such as those we shall hereafter see punished, a special grace, represented by the angel, is requisite for our defence

4 “Your Cerberus.” Cerberus is feigned to have been dragged by Hercules, bound with a threefold chain, of which, says the angel, he still bears the marks. Lombardi blames the other interpreters for having supposed that the angel attributes this exploit to Hercules, a fabulous hero, rather than to our Saviour, It would seem as if the good father had forgotten that Cerberus is himself no less a creature of the imagination than the hero who encountered him.

5 “The plains of Arles.” In Provence. These sepulchres are mentioned in the Life of Charlemagne, which has been attributed to Archbishop Turpin, cap. 28, and 30, and by Fazio degli Uberti, Dittamondo, L. iv. cap. xxi.

6 “At Pola.” A city of Istria, situated near the gulf of Quarnaro, in the Adriatic Sea.

      Canto X

       Table of Contents

      ARGUMENT.—Dante, having obtained permission from his guide, holds discourse with Farinata degli Uberti and Cavalcante Cavalcanti, who lie in their fiery tombs that are yet open, and not to be closed up till after the last judgment. Farinata predicts the Poet’s exile from Florence; and shows him that the condemned have knowledge of future things, but are ignorant of what is at present passing, unless it be revealed by some newcomer from earth.

      NOW by a secret pathway we proceed,

      Between the walls, that hem the region round,

      And the tormented souls: my master first,

      I close behind his steps. “Virtue supreme!”

      I thus began; “who through these ample orbs

      In circuit lead’st me, even as thou will’st,

      Speak thou, and satisfy my wish. May those,

      Who lie within these sepulchres, be seen?

      Already all the lids are rais’d, and none

      O’er them keeps watch.” He thus in answer spake

      “They shall be closed all, what-time they here

From Josaphat1 return’d shall come, and bring

      Their bodies, which above they now have left.

      The cemetery on this part obtain

      With Epicurus all his followers,

      Who with the body make the spirit die.

      Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon

Both to the question ask’d, and to the wish,2

      Which thou conceal’st in silence.” I replied:

      “I keep not, guide belov’d! from thee my heart

      Secreted, but to shun vain length of words,

      A lesson erewhile taught me by thyself.”

      “O