Inferno: Canto III

"Through me ye enter the abode of woe:
Through me to endless sorrow are conveyed:
Through me amid the souls accurst ye go.

Justice did first my lofty Maker move:
By Power Almighty was my fabric made,
By highest Wisdom, and by primal Love.

Ere I was form'd, no things created were.
Save those eternal — I eternal last:
All hope abandon — ye who enter here."

These words, inscribed in colour dark, I saw
High on the summit of a portal vast;
Whereat I cried: "O master! with deep awe

Their sense I mark." Like one prepared he said:
"Here from thy soul must doubt be cast away;
Here must each thought of cowardice be dead.

Now to that place I told thee of, arrived.
The melancholy shades shalt thou survey.
Of God — the mind's supremest good — deprived."

Then soon as he had placed his hand on mine,
With joyful look, that bade me cease to fear.
He led my steps the hidden world within.

There sighs, and sorrows, and heart-rending cries
Resounded through the starless atmosphere.
Whence tears began to gather in mine eyes.

Harsh tongues discordant — horrible discourse —
Words of despair — fierce accents of despite —
Striking of hands — with curses deep and hoarse.

Raised a loud tumult, that unceasing whirl'd
Throughout that gloom of everlasting night.
Like to the sand by circling eddies hurl'd.

Then (horror compassing my head around)
I cried: "O master, what is this I hear?
And who are these so plunged in grief profound?"

He answered me: "The groans which thou hast heard
Proceed from those, who, when on earth they were.
Nor praise deserved, nor infamy incurr'd.

Here with those caitiff angels they abide,
Who stood aloof in heaven — to God untrue.
Yet wanting course with his foes to side.

Heaven drove them forth, its beauty not to stain:
And Hell refuses to receive them too: —
From them no glory could the damn'd obtain."

"O master, what infliction do they bear,
Which makes them raise such piercing cries?" I said.
"That," he replied, "I will in brief declare.

These abject souls — no hope of death have they;
And so degraded is the life they lead,
All other states with envy they survey.

Fame is on earth denied this wretched class,
Alike by justice and by pity spurn'd:
Let us not speak of them — but look — and pass."

I look'd beyond, — and lo! a banner rose.
That whirling round and round so swiftly turn'd.
Its rapid motions seem'd to scorn repose.

So large a troop of spirits came behind,
I ne'er forsooth could have believed it true
That death had slain such myriads of mankind.

And when I had examined many a shade.
Behold! that abject one appear'd in view.
Who, mean of soul, the grand refusal made.

Straight I perceived, and instant recognized,
Before my sight, that miserable throng
By God and by his enemies despised:

These wretches, who could ne'er be call'd alive.
Were naked, and by wasps and hornets stung.
Which ever and anon around them drive.

The cruel swarm bedew'd their cheeks with blood,
Which trickled to their feet with many a tear.
Where worms disgusting drank the mingled flood.

Then looking through the murky air, I saw
A mighty stream, with numbers standing near;
Whereat I said: "O master! by what law

Do these sad souls, whose state I fain would learn,
So eagerly across the river haste.
As by the doubtful twilight I discern?"

"These things," he answer'd me, "shall all be told.
Soon as our footsteps on the bank shall rest
Of Acheron, that mournful river old."

Mine eyes cast down, my looks o'erwhelm'd with shame,
Fearing my questions had oppressed the sage,
I spake not till beside the stream we came.

Lo! in a vessel o'er the gloomy tide
An old man comes — his locks all white with age: —
"Woe, woe to you, ye guilty souls!" he cried.

"Hope not that heaven shall ever bless your sight:
'Tis mine to bear you to the other shore, —
To ice, and fire, in realms of endless night:

And thou — who breathest still the vital air —
Begone, nor stay with these who live no more."
But when he saw that yet I lingered there —

"By other ways, by other boats," said he,
"And not by this a passage must thou find;
A lighter bark than this must carry thee."

"Charon," my guide return'd, "thy wrath restrain:
Thus it is will'd where will and power are join'd; —
Therefore submit, nor question us again."

The dark lake's pilot heard; — and at the sound
Fell instant his rough cheeks, while flashing ranged
His angry eyes in flaming circles round.

But they — soon as these threatenings met their ear —
Poor, naked, weary souls — their colour changed.
And chatter'd e'en their teeth through very fear.

God they blasphemed — their parents — and of earth
The wretched habitants — their natal hour —
Their country — and the seed that gave them birth.

Then breaking forth in lamentations loud.
They gather'd close to that accursed shore
Assign'd to every one that fears not God.

Beckoning the shades with eyes of living coal,
Charon collects them all; and with his oar
Uplifted, striketh each rebellious soul.

As leaves in autumn, borne before the wind.
Fall one by one, until the naked branch
Sees all its honours to the earth consign'd;

So from that coast, at his dread signal, all
The guilty race of Adam downward launch,
Each as a bird attracted by the call.

Thus pass they o'er the gloomy waters brown.
And ere they reach the bank to which they hie.
Fresh numbers to this shore come crowding down.

"All those, my son," exclaim'd the courteous guide,
"Who in the wrath of the Almighty die,
Are gathered here from every region wide:

Goaded by heavenly justice in its ire.
To pass the stream they rush thus hastily.
So that their fear is turn'd into desire.

By virtuous soul this wave is never cross'd;
Wherefore if Charon warn thee to depart.
The meaning of his words will not be lost."

This converse closed — the dusky region dread
Trembled so awfully, that o'er my heart
Doth terror still a chilly moisture shed.

Then, flashing forth a bright vermilion flame,
Sped from that land of tears a fearful blast.
Which all my senses instantly overcame: —

Prostrate I fell, like one by sleep opprest.