The vision of hell. Dante Alighieri

Were distant, not so far but I in part

       Discover'd, that a tribe in honour high

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

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

       Such honour, separate from all the rest?"

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

       That echoes through your world above, acquires

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

       Meantime a voice I heard: "Honour the bard

       Sublime! his shade returns that left us late!"

       No sooner ceas'd the sound, than I beheld

       Four mighty spirits toward us bend their steps,

       Of semblance neither sorrowful nor glad.

       When thus my master kind began: "Mark him,

       Who in his right hand bears that falchion keen,

       The other three preceding, as their lord.

       This is that Homer, of all bards supreme:

       Flaccus the next in satire's vein excelling;

       The third is Naso; Lucan is the last.

       Because they all that appellation own,

       With which the voice singly accosted me,

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

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       So I beheld united the bright school

       Of him the monarch of sublimest song,

       That o'er the others like an eagle soars.

       When they together short discourse had held,

       They turn'd to me, with salutation kind

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

       Nor was this all; but greater honour still

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

       And I was sixth amid so learn'd a band.

       Far as the luminous beacon on we pass'd

       Speaking of matters, then befitting well

       To speak, now fitter left untold. At foot

       Of a magnificent castle we arriv'd,

       Seven times with lofty walls begirt, and round

       Defended by a pleasant stream. O'er this

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

       I with those sages enter'd, and we came

       Into a mead with lively verdure fresh.

       There dwelt a race, who slow their eyes around

       Majestically mov'd, and in their port

       Bore eminent authority; they spake

       Seldom, but all their words were tuneful sweet.

       We to one side retir'd, into a place

       Open and bright and lofty, whence each one

       Stood manifest to view. Incontinent

       There on the green enamel of the plain

       Were shown me the great spirits, by whose sight

       I am exalted in my own esteem.

       Electra there I saw accompanied

       By many, among whom Hector I knew,

       Anchises' pious son, and with hawk's eye

       Caesar all arm'd, and by Camilla there

       Penthesilea. On the other side

       Old King Latinus, seated by his child

       Lavinia, and that Brutus I beheld,

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

       Marcia, with Julia and Cornelia there;

       And sole apart retir'd, the Soldan fierce.

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

       I spied the master of the sapient throng,

       Seated amid the philosophic train.

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

       There Socrates and Plato both I mark'd,

       Nearest to him in rank; Democritus,

       Who sets the world at chance, Diogenes,

       With Heraclitus, and Empedocles,

       And Anaxagoras, and Thales sage,

       Zeno, and Dioscorides well read

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

       And Linus, Tully and moral Seneca,

       Euclid and Ptolemy, Hippocrates,

       Galenus, Avicen, and him who made

       That commentary vast, Averroes.

       Of all to speak at full were vain attempt;

       For my wide theme so urges, that ofttimes

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

       The six associates part. Another way

       My sage guide leads me, from that air serene,

       Into a climate ever vex'd with storms:

       And to a part I come where no light shines.

CANTO V

       Table of Contents

       FROM the first circle I descended thus

       Down to the second, which, a lesser space

       Embracing, so much more of grief contains

       Provoking bitter moans. There, Minos stands

       Grinning with ghastly feature: he, of all

       Who enter, strict examining the crimes,

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       Gives sentence, and dismisses them beneath,

       According as he foldeth him around:

       For when before him comes th' ill fated soul,

       It all confesses; and that judge severe

       Of sins, considering what place in hell

       Suits the transgression, with his tail so oft

       Himself encircles, as degrees beneath

       He dooms it to descend. Before him stand

       Always a num'rous throng; and in his turn

       Each one to judgment passing, speaks, and hears

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

       "O thou! who to this residence of woe

       Approachest?" when he saw me coming, cried

       Minos, relinquishing his dread employ,

       "Look how thou enter here; beware in whom

       Thou place thy trust; let not the entrance broad

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