"Adown this bottom of the dismal cone,

Comes ever any from that first degree,
Whose punishment is hope cut short alone?"
Thus I enquired; and "Rarely," answered he,
"Hath any of our number cause to go
This road by which I am conducting thee:
'Tis true that I have once been here below,
Commanded by that stern Erictho's spell,
Who could the ghosts into their bodies throw.
My flesh without me had some time to dwell,
When she within this wall did me conjure,
From Judas' zone a spirit to compel.

That is the lowest place, and most obscure

And furthest from the all-moving heaven's gyre; Full well I know the road-of this be sure.

These marshes, that exhale a stench so dire,
Encompass the afflicted city, where

We cannot make an entry without ire."

And more he spoke, but which I could not bear

In mind, for now mine eyes had drawn me quite

To that high tower's top of ruddy glare.

I saw there in a moment shoot upright

Three hellish furies, all with gore embrowned,

Of female limbs and 'havior to the sight.

They were with greenest hydras girt around,

And snakes and horned vipers had for hair,

By which their haughty temples were embound.

Then he well knowing those that handmaids were

Unto the queen of endless misery,

Said, "Look upon the fierce Erinnyes there;

Thou mayst upon our left Megæra see,

Alecto on the right hand maketh wail,

Betwixt," he ended, "is Tisiphone."

Each of them beat and clove with palm and nail
Her bosom, calling out in such loud tone,
As made me fast beside the poet quail.

"Let come Medusa, yea, we'll make him stone,"

They shouted, gazing at our place below; "His outrage Theseus did not ill atone."

"Turn thee about, and keep thy face down low,

For if the Gorgon come, and if thou see, Full surely upward shalt thou never go."

So said my master, and so likewise he

Turned me, nor only to my hands was fain
To trust, but with his own blindfolded me.
O you that sound intelligence retain,

To scan the hidden lore do you endeavor,
Below the cover of the mystic strain.

And now there came along the turbid river
The crashing of an uproar full of dread,
That made on either side the margins quiver;
Not otherwise than like a wind that, sped

By the confronting heats, impetuously

Shall strike the forests, and by nothing stayed,

Break branches down, and carry flowers from tree, 70 And onward proudly sweeping, dust enrolled,

Makes both the cattle and the herdsmen flee.
Then said he, loosing from mine eyes his hold,

"Thy seeing nerve adown this ancient scum Direct, this way that bitterest fumes enfold." As frogs that see the hostile serpent come,

Disperse along the waters to their holes,

Till in the ground they nestle all and some;

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I saw above a thousand blasted souls

Fly thus before the face of one, who past
Over the Styx at ford with unwet soles.
He waved in front his left hand oft and fast,
Removing from his brow the sluggish air,
And by this travail only seemed downcast.
That heaven had sent him I was well aware,

And my wise guide made signs I should remain
Still, and should bow my head before him there.
Ah me! how full he seemed of disdain!

He came up to the gate, which open flew Before his wand, that nothing could refrain. "O you, cast out from heaven, contemned crew!"

Thus on the horrid threshold he exclaimed,

"Why does that surquedry abide in you?

Why kick against the will that's never maimed

Of its achievement and result, nor lopt,
And which your further bale has often framed?
Why dash at gate which destiny hath stopt?

Your Cerberus, if this you bear in mind,
Retaineth hence his chin and gullet cropt."

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Then turned he to the cloddy path behind,

Nor spoke, nor beckoned us, but semblance wore Of one that by some care of other kind

Was nipt and gnawed, than those beside him bore.

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And thus we turned our footsteps toward the land, After these hallowed words nought fearing more, 105 And entered, there was no one to withstand.

Then I, desiring to behold full plain

What state of being such proud walls command,
Having arrived within, about me strain

Mine eyes, and see a vast and level zone,
All full of anguish and abhorred pain.

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Like as at Arlee, where stagnates the Rhone,

Or as at Pola, the Carnaro, near

Which bathes and makes Italia's border known,

The tombs embossing all the tract appear;

So I beheld it now in every part,

Save that the manner was more savage here.

For flames were seen those monuments athwart,

Which kindled them so fervently and throughly, That iron's needed hotter by no art.

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