The divine comedy

HELL Canto 1 Canto 2 Canto 3 Canto 4 Canto 5 Canto 6 Canto 7 Canto 8 Canto 9 Canto 10 Canto 11...

The hinder foot still firmer. Scarce the ascent Began, when, lo. a panther, nimble, light, And...

For every vein and pulse throughout my frame She hath made tremble. He, soon as he saw That I was...

She then. Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire, I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread Hinders...

Here sighs with lamentations and loud moans Resounded through the air piercd by no star, That een I...

Then with eyes downward cast and filld with shame, Fearing my words offensive to his ear, Till we...

This said, the gloomy region trembling shook So terribly, that yet with clammy dews Fear chills my...

We, while he spake, ceasd not our onward road, Still passing through the wood; for so I name Those...

We to one side retird, into a place Open and bright and lofty, whence each one Stood manifest to...

Gives sentence, and dismisses them beneath, According as he foldeth him around. For when before him...

When I had heard my sage instructor name Those dames and knights of antique days, oerpowerd By...

Then turning, I to them my speech addressd. And thus began. Francesca. your sad fate Even to tears...

Thy city heapd with envy to the brim, Ay that the measure overflows its bounds, Held me in brighter...

Ah me. O Satan. Satan. loud exclaimd Plutus, in accent hoarse of wild alarm. And the kind sage,...

He thus. O beings blind. what ignorance Besets you. Now my judgment hear and mark. He, whose...

To the other dogs. then, with his arms my neck Encircling, kissd my cheek, and spake. O soul Justly...

My liege, who thither had conducted me, Replied. Fear not. for of our passage none Hath power to...

Mark thou each dire Erinnys. To the left This is Megaera; on the right hand she, Who wails, Alecto;...

As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles, Or as at Pola, near Quarnaros gulf, That closes...

Then, peering forth from the unclosed jaw, Rose from his side a shade, high as the chin, Leaning,...

We view, as one who hath an evil sight, He answerd, plainly, objects far remote. So much of his...

Of all malicious act abhorrd in heaven, The end is injury; and all such end Either by force or...

Like to a bull, that with impetuous spring Darts, at the moment when the fatal blow Hath struck...

Then on his right breast turning, Chiron thus To Nessus spake. Return, and be their guide. And if...

Here the brute Harpies make their nest, the same Who from the Strophades the Trojan band Drove with...

First somewhat pausing, till the mournful words Were ended, then to me the bard began. Lose not the...

He answerd. Oh, ye spirits. arrivd in time To spy the shameful havoc, that from me My leaves hath...

Straight he himself, who was aware I askd My guide of him, exclaimd. Such as I was When living,...

Then I again inquird. Where flow the streams Of Phlegethon and Lethe. for of one Thou tellst not,...

Were all my wish fulfilld, I straight replied, Thou from the confines of mans nature yet Hadst not...

If misery of this drear wilderness, Thus one began, added to our sad cheer And destitute, do call...

Een as the river, that holds on its course Unmingled, from the mount of Vesulo, On the left side of...

Thereat toward the right our downward course We shapd, and, better to escape the flame And burning...

But he whose succour then not first I provd, Soon as I mounted, in his arms aloft, Embracing, held...

As where to guard the walls, full many a foss Begirds some stately castle, sure defence Affording...

Hence in the second chasm we heard the ghosts, Who jibber in low melancholy sounds, With wide...

He shouted. Ha. already standest there. Already standest there, O Boniface. By many a year the...

Nor weary of his weight he pressd me close, Till to the summit of the rock we came, Our passage...

I answerd. Teacher, I conclude thy words So certain, that all else shall be to me As embers lacking...

Him dashing down, oer the rough rock he turnd, Nor ever after thief a mastiff loosd Sped with like...

I to my leaders side adherd, mine eyes With fixt and motionless observance bent On their unkindly...

Een as the frogs, that of a watry moat Stand at the brink, with the jaws only out, Their feet and...

If ye desire to see or hear, he thus Quaking with dread resumd, or Tuscan spirits Or Lombard, I...

He answerd. Were I formd of leaded glass, I should not sooner draw unto myself Thy outward image,...

By Arnos pleasant stream, I thus replied, In the great city I was bred and grew, And wear the body...

Now needs thy best of man; so spake my guide. For not on downy plumes, nor under shade Of canopy...

The sinner heard and feignd not, but towards me His mind directing and his face, wherein Was dismal...

Lucan in mute attention now may hear, Nor thy disastrous fate, Sabellus. tell, Nor shine, Nasidius....

As in that season, when the sun least veils His face that lightens all, what time the fly Gives way...

Now upward rose the flame, and stilld its light To speak no more, and now passd on with leave From...

Then roard awhile the fire, its sharpend point On either side wavd, and thus breathd at last. If I...

Who, een in words unfetterd, might at full Tell of the wounds and blood that now I saw, Though he...

Whence heaping woe on woe he hurried off, As one grief stung to madness. But I there Still lingerd...

So we discoursd to where the rock first showd The other valley, had more light been there, Een to...

Both are of Latium, weeping he replied, Whom torturd thus thou seest. but who art thou That hast...

To whom I answring. Oh. as thou dost hope, The other may not flesh its jaws on thee, Be patient to...

Though my oerweighty limbs have taen from me The power to move, said he, I have an arm At liberty...

Then tenderly he caught me by the hand; Yet know, said he, ere farther we advance, That it less...

Great was his prowess, when the giants brought Fear on the gods. those arms, which then he piled,...

And one, from whom the cold both ears had reft, Exclaimd, still looking downward. Why on us Dost...

His jaws uplifting from their fell repast, That sinner wipd them on the hairs o th head, Which he...

Then cried out one in the chill crust who mournd. O souls so cruel. that the farthest post Hath...

Now came I and with fear I bid my strain Record the marvel where the souls were all Whelmd...

Arise, my master cried, upon thy feet. The way is long, and much uncouth the road; And now within...

As from this view I had desisted, straight Turning a little towrds the other pole, There from...

When we had come, where yet the tender dew Strove with the sun, and in a place, where fresh The...

As more and more toward us came, more bright Appeard the bird of God, nor could the eye Endure his...

Not without purpose once more to return, Thou findst me, my Casella, where I am Journeying this...

Them sudden flight had scatterd over the plain, Turnd towrds the mountain, whither reasons voice...

O spirits perfect. O already chosen. Virgil to them began, by that blest peace, Which, as I deem,...

A larger aperture ofttimes is stoppd With forked stake of thorn by villager, When the ripe grape...

He thus to me. Such is this steep ascent, That it is ever difficult at first, But, more a man...

Ah. when thou to the world shalt be returnd, And rested after thy long road, so spake Next the...

Now was the hour that wakens fond desire In men at sea, and melts their thoughtful heart, Who in...

When we had passed the threshold of the gate Which the souls ill affection doth disuse, Making the...

Along the bank to rightward come with us, And ye shall find a pass that mocks not toil Of living...

I now my leaders track not loth pursued; And each had shown how light we fard along When thus he...

I noted not so busied was my thought How much we now had circled of the mount, And of his course...

We reachd the summit of the scale, and stood Upon the second buttress of that mount Which healeth...

I do not think there walks on earth this day Man so remorseless, that he hath not yearnd With pity...

I was, it answerd, of Sienna. here I cleanse away with these the evil life, Soliciting with tears...

As one, who tidings hears of woe to come, Changes his looks perturbd, from whateer part The peril...

Evening was there, and here the noon of night; and full upon our forehead smote the beams. For...

Meanwhile the leader, who might see I movd, As one, who struggles to shake off his sleep, Exclaimd....

Now who art thou, that through our smoke dost cleave. And speakst of us, as thou thyself een yet...

O Marco. I replied, shine arguments Convince me. and the cause I now discern Why of the heritage no...

Een as a sleep breaks off, if suddenly New radiance strike upon the closed lids, The broken slumber...

All indistinctly apprehend a bliss On which the soul may rest, the hearts of all Yearn after it,...

So spake my guide, to whom a shade returnd. Come after us, and thou shalt find the cleft. We may...

With swan like wings dispread and pointing up, Who thus had spoken marshald us along, Where each...

Up, he exclaimd, brother. upon thy feet Arise. err not. thy fellow servant I, Thine and all others...

O sovran Master. when shall I rejoice To see the vengeance, which thy wrath well pleasd In secret...

That questioning so tallied with my wish, The thirst did feel abatement of its edge Een from...

First somewhat movd to laughter by his words, Statius replied. Each syllable of thine Is a dear...

Thereat my face and steps at once I turnd Toward the sages, by whose converse cheerd I journeyd on,...

Whence I replied. If thou recall to mind What we were once together, even yet Remembrance of those...

Like as the bird, that winter near the Nile, In squared regiment direct their course, Then stretch...

At length, as undeceivd they went their way. And we approach the tree, who vows and tears Sue to in...

If thou, he answerd, hadst rememberd thee, How Meleager with the wasting brand Wasted alike, by...

Behoovd us, one by one, along the side, That borderd on the void, to pass; and I Feard on one hand...

Again drew near my side the very same, Who had erewhile besought me, and their looks Markd...

When still he saw me fixd and obstinate, Somewhat disturbd he cried. Mark now, my son, From...

And now as glimmring dawn appeard, that breaks More welcome to the pilgrim still, as he Sojourns...

She spake; and I replied. I know not how To reconcile this wave and rustling sound Of forest...

Onward a space, what seemd seven trees of gold, The intervening distance to mine eye Falsely...

The space, surrounded by the four, enclosd A car triumphal. on two wheels it came Drawn at a...

No sooner on my vision streaming, smote The heavnly influence, which years past, and een In...

A little space refraining, then she spake. What dost thou muse on. Answer me. The wave On thy...

The blessed shore approaching then was heard So sweetly, Tu asperges me, that I May not remember,...

Through the high wood, now void the more her blame, Who by the serpent was beguild I past With step...

Next springing up into the chariots womb A fox I saw, with hunger seeming pind Of all good food....

I not remember, I replied, that eer I was estrangd from thee, nor for such fault Doth conscience...

I sufferd it not long, and yet so long That I beheld it bickring sparks around, As iron that comes...

Whence, after uttrance of a piteous sigh, She towrds me bent her eyes, with such a look, As on her...

She somewhat smild, then spake. If mortals err In their opinion, when the key of sense Unlocks not,...

Sudden, as I perceivd them, deeming these Reflected semblances to see of whom They were, I turnd...

Mine eye, that far as it was capable, Pursued her, when in dimness she was lost, Turnd to the mark...

O thou of primal love the prime delight. Goddess. I straight replyd, whose lively words Still shed...

Though mainly prompt new question to propose, Her silence and changd look did keep me dumb. And as...

But all the mighty standard yet had wrought, And was appointed to perform thereafter, Throughout...

Me doubt possessd, and Speak, it whisperd me, Speak, speak unto thy lady, that she quench Thy...

The angels, O my brother. and this clime Wherein thou art, impassible and pure, I call created, as...

In me its lord expected, and that horn Of fair Ausonia, with its boroughs old, Bari, and Croton,...

And now the visage of that saintly light Was to the sun, that fills it, turnd again, As to the...

Looking into his first born with the love, Which breathes from both eternal, the first Might...

O fond anxiety of mortal men. How vain and inconclusive arguments Are those, which make thee beat...

Now, if my words be clear, if thou have taen Good heed, if that, which I have told, recall To mind,...

The song fulfilld its measure; and to us Those saintly lights attended, happier made At each new...

Much more than vainly doth he loose from shore, Since he returns not such as he set forth, Who...

And lo. forthwith there rose up round about A lustre over that already there, Of equal clearness,...

True love, that ever shows itself as clear In kindness, as loose appetite in wrong, Silenced that...

Florence, within her ancient limit mark, Which calls her still to matin prayers and noon, Was...

As embers, at the breathing of the wind, Their flame enliven, so that light I saw Shine at my...

Soon, as the saintly spirit, by his silence, Had shown the web, which I had stretehd for him Upon...

To Beatrice on my right l bent, Looking for intimation or by word Or act, what next behoovd. and...

Thus is one heat from many embers felt, As in that image many were the loves, And one the voice,...

When, disappearing, from our hemisphere, The worlds enlightener vanishes, and day On all sides...

So, by that form divine, was givn to me Sweet medicine to clear and strengthen sight, And, as one...

If thou, like me, beheldst the charity That burns amongst us, what thy mind conceives, Were utterd....

I straight obeyd; and with mine eye returnd Through all the seven spheres, and saw this globe So...

I was as one, when a forgotten dream Doth come across him, and he strives in vain To shape it in...

O ye. in chosen fellowship advancd To the great supper of the blessed Lamb, Whereon who feeds hath...

Next issued from the deep imbosomd splendour. Say, whence the costly jewel, on the which Is founded...

Next from the squadron, whence had issued forth The first fruit of Christs vicars on the earth,...

As when, for ease of labour, or to shun Suspected peril at a whistles breath, The oars, erewhile...

I ended, and therewith a song most sweet Rang through the spheres; and Holy, holy, holy, Accordant...

Then by the spirit, that doth never leave Its amorous dalliance with my ladys looks, Back with...

As when the sturdy north blows from his cheek A blast, that scours the sky, forthwith our air,...

But for we far have wanderd let us seek The forward path again; so as the way Be shortend with the...

No sooner to my listning ear had come The brief assurance, than I understood New virtue into me...