The Divine Comedy by Dante: The Vision of Hell, Or The Inferno: Canto IX

The hue, which coward dread on my pale cheeks     Imprinted, when I saw my guide turn back,     Chas'd that from his which newly they had worn,     And inwardly restrain'd it. He, as one     Who listens, stood attentive: for his eye     Not far could lead him through the sable air,     And the thick-gath'ring cloud. "It yet behooves     We win this fight"--thus he began--"if not--     Such aid to us is offer'd.--Oh, how long     Me seems it, ere the promis'd help arrive!"     I noted, how the sequel of his words     Clok'd their beginning; for the last he spake     Agreed not with the first. But not the less     My fear was at his saying; sith I drew     To import worse perchance, than that he held,     His mutilated speech. "Doth ever any     Into this rueful concave's extreme depth     Descend, out of the first degree, whose pain     Is deprivation merely of sweet hope?"     Thus I inquiring. "Rarely," he replied,     "It chances, that among us any makes     This journey, which I wend. Erewhile 'tis true     Once came I here beneath, conjur'd by fell     Erictho, sorceress, who compell'd the shades     Back to their bodies. No long space my flesh     Was naked of me, when within these walls     She made me enter, to draw forth a spirit     From out of Judas' circle. Lowest place     Is that of all, obscurest, and remov'd     Farthest from heav'n's all-circling orb. The road     Full well I know: thou therefore rest secure.     That lake, the noisome stench exhaling, round     The city' of grief encompasses, which now     We may not enter without rage." Yet more     He added: but I hold it not in mind,     For that mine eye toward the lofty tower     Had drawn me wholly, to its burning top.     Where in an instant I beheld uprisen     At once three hellish furies stain'd with blood:     In limb and motion feminine they seem'd;     Around them greenest hydras twisting roll'd     Their volumes; adders and cerastes crept     Instead of hair, and their fierce temples bound.     He knowing well the miserable hags     Who tend the queen of endless woe, thus spake:     "Mark thou each dire Erinnys. To the left     This is Megaera; on the right hand she,     Who wails, Alecto; and Tisiphone     I' th' midst." This said, in silence he remain'd     Their breast they each one clawing tore; themselves     Smote with their palms, and such shrill clamour rais'd,     That to the bard I clung, suspicion-bound.     "Hasten Medusa: so to adamant     Him shall we change;" all looking down exclaim'd.     "E'en when by Theseus' might assail'd, we took     No ill revenge." "Turn thyself round, and keep     Thy count'nance hid; for if the Gorgon dire     Be shown, and thou shouldst view it, thy return     Upwards would be for ever lost." This said,     Himself my gentle master turn'd me round,     Nor trusted he my hands, but with his own     He also hid me. Ye of intellect     Sound and entire, mark well the lore conceal'd     Under close texture of the mystic strain!     And now there came o'er the perturbed waves     Loud-crashing, terrible, a sound that made     Either shore tremble, as if of a wind     Impetuous, from conflicting vapours sprung,     That 'gainst some forest driving all its might,     Plucks off the branches, beats them down and hurls     Afar; then onward passing proudly sweeps     Its whirlwind rage, while beasts and shepherds fly.     Mine eyes he loos'd, and spake: "And now direct     Thy visual nerve along that ancient foam,     There, thickest where the smoke ascends." As frogs     Before their foe the serpent, through the wave     Ply swiftly all, till at the ground each one     Lies on a heap; more than a thousand spirits     Destroy'd, so saw I fleeing before one     Who pass'd with unwet feet the Stygian sound.     He, from his face removing the gross air,     Oft his left hand forth stretch'd, and seem'd alone     By that annoyance wearied. I perceiv'd     That he was sent from heav'n, and to my guide     Turn'd me, who signal made that I should stand     Quiet, and bend to him. Ah me! how full     Of noble anger seem'd he! To the gate     He came, and with his wand touch'd it, whereat     Open without impediment it flew.     "Outcasts of heav'n! O abject race and scorn'd!"     Began he on the horrid grunsel standing,     "Whence 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, 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,     Or as at Pola, 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.