The Inferno (The Divine Comedy series Book 1)

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The Inferno (The Divine Comedy series Book 1) Page 8

by Dante


  OUTLINE: INFERNO VIII

  WRATH (fifth Circle continues, vv. 1–81 an interpolation)

  1–6

  signal lights and an answering light

  7–12

  Dante’s questions and Virgil’s reply

  13–16

  simile: swiftly flying arrow

  17–24

  Phlegyas, his skiff; his wrath at Virgil’s rebuke

  25–30

  Dante’s weight displaces water beneath the skiff

  31–39

  Filippo Argenti: hostile exchange with Dante

  40–48

  Filippo Argenti: Dante’s reaction and Virgil’s assent

  49–51

  Virgil’s musing on the wealth of kings

  52–64

  Filippo Argenti: Dante’s wish and its fulfillment

  CITY OF DIS (sixth Circle begins)

  65–81

  approach to Dis and arrival in Phlegyas’s skiff

  82–85

  rebel angels decry the approach of living Dante

  86–93

  they will parley, but with Virgil alone

  94–96

  first address to reader in the poem

  97–108

  Dante’s concerns and Virgil’s comforting

  109–111

  Virgil leaves Dante alone for the first time

  112–120

  the rebel angels rebel once again; Virgil’s chagrin

  121–130

  Virgil’s promise of aid from above

  INFERNO VIII

  To continue, let me say that long before →

  we reached the foot of that high tower

  3

  our eyes had noted at its top

  two flaming lights displayed up there →

  to which another, so far off the eye

  6

  could hardly make it out, sent back a signal.

  And turning to that sea of wisdom, I asked: →

  ‘What does this mean? And that other fire,

  9

  what does it answer? And who are they that made it?’

  And he to me: ‘Over the filthy waves

  you may already glimpse what is to come,

  12

  if the marsh-fumes do not hide it from you.’

  Never did a bowstring loose an arrow

  that whipped away more swiftly through the air

  15

  than, even as I watched, a skiff came skimming →

  straight toward us on the water,

  under the guidance of a single helmsman,

  18

  crying: ‘Now you are caught, damned spirit!’ →

  ‘Phlegyas, Phlegyas, this time you shout in vain,’ →

  replied my lord: ‘You’ll not have us any longer →

  21

  than it takes to cross this bog.’

  Like one who learns of a deceitful plot →

  that has been hatched against him and begins to fret,

  24

  such was Phlegyas in his stifled wrath.

  My leader stepped into the boat, →

  and had me follow after.

  27

  And only then did it seem laden.

  As soon as he and I were in the bark

  the ancient prow moves off, cutting deeper

  30

  through the water than when it carries souls.

  While we crossed the stagnant swamp →

  one cloaked in mud rose up to say: →

  33

  ‘Who are you that you come before your time?’

  And I to him: ‘If I come, I do not stay.

  But you, who are you, now become so foul?’

  36

  He answered: ‘As you can see, I am one who weeps.’

  And I to him: ‘In weeping and in misery, →

  accursèd spirit, may you stay.

  39

  I know you, for all your filth.’

  When he stretched both his hands toward the boat, →

  the wary master thrust him off, saying:

  42

  ‘Away there with the other dogs!’

  Then my master put his arms around my neck,

  kissed my face and said: ‘Indignant soul,

  45

  blessed is she that bore you in her womb!

  ‘In the world this man was full of arrogance. →

  Not one good deed adorns his memory.

  48

  That is why his shade is so enraged.

  ‘How many now above who think themselves

  great kings will lie here in the mud, like swine,

  51

  leaving behind nothing but ill repute!’

  And I: ‘Master, I would be most eager

  to see him pushed deep down into this soup

  54

  before we leave the lake.’

  And he to me: ‘Before the shore

  comes into view you’ll have your satisfaction.

  57

  Your wish deserves to be fulfilled.’

  Soon I watched him get so torn to pieces

  by the muddy crew, I still give praise

  60

  and thanks to God for it.

  All cried: ‘Get Filippo Argenti!’ →

  And that spiteful Florentine spirit →

  63

  gnawed at himself with his own teeth. →

  Of him I say no more. Then we moved on,

  when such a sound of mourning struck my ears

  66

  I opened my eyes wide to look ahead.

  The good master said: ‘Now, my son,

  we approach the city known as Dis, →

  69

  with its vast army and its burdened citizens.’

  And I: ‘Master, I can clearly see its mosques →

  within the ramparts, glowing red

  72

  as if they’d just been taken from the fire.’

  And he to me: ‘The eternal fire

  that burns inside them here in nether Hell

  75

  makes them show red, as you can see.’

  At last we reached the moats

  dug deep around the dismal city.

  78

  Its walls seemed made of iron. →

  Not until we’d made a wide approach

  did we come to a place where the boatman bellowed:

  81

  ‘Out with you here, this is the entrance.’ →

  At the threshold I saw more than a thousand angels →

  fallen from Heaven. Angrily they shouted:

  84

  ‘Who is this, who is not dead,

  ‘yet passes through the kingdom of the dead?’

  At this my prudent master made a sign

  87

  that he would speak with them apart.

  Then they reined in their great disdain

  enough to say: ‘You come—alone. Let him be gone,

  90

  who has so boldly made his way into this kingdom.

  ‘Let him retrace his reckless path alone—

  let him see if he can, for you shall stay,

  93

  you who have led him through this gloomy realm.’

  Reader, how could I not lose heart →

  at the sound of these accursèd words?

  96

  I thought I would never make it back.

  ‘O my dear leader, who seven times and more →

  have braced my confidence and rescued me

  99

  from the grave dangers that assailed me,

  ‘do not leave me,’ I cried, ‘helpless now!

  If going farther is denied us,

  102

  let us at once retrace our steps.’

  But the mentor who had brought me there replied:

  ‘Have no fear. None can prevent our passage, →

  105

  so great a power granted it to us.

  ‘Wait for me here. Comfort yo
ur weary spirit →

  and feed it with good hope.

  108

  I will not forsake you in the nether world.’

  He goes away and leaves me there,

  my gentle father, and I remain in doubt,

  111

  ‘yes’ and ‘no’ at war within my mind.

  I could not hear what he proposed,

  but it was not long he stayed with them

  114

  before they pushed and scrambled back inside.

  Then our adversaries slammed shut the gates →

  against my master, who, left outside,

  117

  came back to me with halting steps.

  He had his eyes upon the ground, his brows

  shorn of all confidence. Sighing, he muttered:

  120

  ‘Who dares deny me access to the realm of pain?’

  To me he said: ‘Be not dismayed →

  at my vexation. In this contest I’ll prevail,

  123

  whatever they contrive to keep us out.

  ‘This insolence of theirs is nothing new:

  they showed it once before, at another gate.

  126

  It still stands open without lock or bolt.

  ‘Over it you saw the deadly writing. →

  Even now, making his unescorted way →

  down through the circles, one descends

  130

  by whom the city shall be opened.’

  OUTLINE: INFERNO IX

  1–15

  Dante’s pallor, Virgil’s reaction, Dante’s response

  16–21

  Dante’s pointed question and Virgil’s general response

  22–30

  a precision: his previous journey to the pit of hell

  31–33

  Virgil: a need now for assistance in entering the city

  34–54

  the Furies and their threat: Medusa

  55–60

  Virgil’s ministrations to threatened Dante

  61–63

  address to reader (second in poem)

  64–72

  simile: sound of advancing storm

  73–75

  Virgil uncovers Dante’s eyes as the “storm” approaches

  76–81

  simile: frogs leaving pond at the advent of a snake

  82–90

  Dante obeisant before the messenger’s angelic disdain

  91–103

  his speech to the fallen angels and abrupt departure

  104–109

  the poets’ entrance into Dis, force no longer needed

  110–111

  the sixth Circle: a plain of torment

  112–117

  simile: cemeteries at Arles and Pola

  118–123

  the tombs of the heretics, glowing red with heat

  124–131

  Dante’s question and Virgil’s answer: heresy

  132–133

  coda: the rightward turn

  INFERNO IX

  The pallor cowardice painted on my face →

  when I saw my leader turning back

  3

  made him hasten to compose his features.

  He stopped, like a man intent on listening,

  for the eye could not probe far

  6

  through that dim air and murky fog.

  ‘Yet we must win this fight,’ he began, →

  ‘or else.… Such help was promised us.

  9

  How long it seems to me till someone comes!’

  I clearly saw that he had covered up →

  his first words with the others that came after,

  12

  words so different in meaning.

  Still, I was filled with fear by what he said.

  Perhaps I understood his broken phrase

  15

  to hold worse meaning than it did.

  ‘Does ever anyone from the first circle,

  where the only penalty is hope cut off, →

  18

  descend so deep into this dismal pit?’

  I put this question and he answered: →

  ‘It seldom happens that a soul from Limbo

  21

  undertakes the journey I am on.

  ‘It is true I came here once before,

  conjured by pitiless Erichtho,

  24

  who could call shades back into their bodies.

  ‘I had not long been naked of my flesh

  when she compelled me to go inside this wall

  27

  to fetch a spirit from the circle of Judas. →

  ‘That is the lowest place, the darkest, →

  and farthest from the heaven that encircles all.

  30

  Well do I know the way—so have no fear.

  ‘This swamp, which belches forth such noxious stench,

  hems in the woeful city, circling it.

  33

  Now we cannot enter without wrath.’ →

  And he said more, but I do not remember,

  for my eyes and thoughts were drawn

  36

  to the high tower’s blazing peak

  where all at once, erect, had risen

  three hellish, blood-stained Furies: →

  39

  they had the limbs and shape of women,

  their waists encircled by green hydras.

  Thin serpents and horned snakes entwined,

  42

  in place of hair, their savage brows.

  And he, who knew full well the handmaids

  of the queen of endless lamentation,

  45

  said to me: ‘See the fierce Furies!

  ‘That is Megaera on the left. On the right

  Alecto wails. In the middle

  48

  is Tisiphone.’ And with that he fell silent.

  Each rent her breast with her own nails.

  And with their palms they struck themselves, shrieking.

  51

  In fear I pressed close to the poet.

  ‘Let Medusa come and we’ll turn him to stone,’ →

  they cried, looking down. ‘To our cost,

  54

  we failed to avenge the assault of Theseus.’ →

  ‘Turn your back and keep your eyes shut,

  for if the Gorgon head appears and should you see it,

  57

  all chance for your return above is lost.’

  While my master spoke he turned me round →

  and, placing no trust in my own hands,

  60

  covered my face with his hands also.

  O you who have sound intellects,

  consider the teaching that is hidden

  63

  behind the veil of these strange verses.

  And now there came, over the turbid waves, →

  a dreadful, crashing sound

  66

  that set both shores to trembling.

  It sounded like a mighty wind,

  made violent by waves of heat,

  69

  that strikes the forest and with unchecked force

  shatters the branches, hurls them away, and,

  magnificent in its roiling cloud of dust, drives on,

  72

  putting beast and shepherd to flight.

  He freed my eyes and said: ‘Now look →

  across the scum of that primeval swamp

  75

  to where the vapor is most dense and harsh.’

  As frogs, before their enemy the snake, →

  all scatter through the water

  78

  till each sits huddled on the bank,

  I saw more than a thousand lost souls flee

  before one who so lightly passed across the Styx

  81

  he did not touch the water with his feet. →

  He cleared the thick air from his face, →

  his left hand moving
it away,

  84

  as if that murky air alone had wearied him.

  It was clear that he was sent from Heaven, →

  and I turned to the master, who signaled me →

  87

  to keep silent and bow down before him.

  Ah, how full of high disdain he seemed to me!

  He came up to the gate and with a wand →

  90

  he opened it, and there was no resistance.

  ‘O outcasts of Heaven, race despised,’ →

  he began on the terrible threshold, ‘whence

  93

  comes this insolence you harbor in your souls? →

  ‘Why do you kick against that will

  which never can be severed from its purpose,

  96

  and has so many times increased your pain?

  ‘What profits it to fight against the fates?

  Remember your own Cerberus still bears

  99

  the wounds of that around his chin and neck.’

  Then he turned back along the wretched way →

  without a word for us, and he seemed pressed,

  102

  spurred on by greater cares

  than those of the man who stands before him.

  We turned our steps toward the city,

  105

  emboldened by his holy words.

  We entered without further struggle. →

  And I, in my desire to see

  108

  what such a guarded fortress holds,

  as soon as I had entered eagerly surveyed

  the wide plain stretching on all sides,

  111

  so filled with bitter torment and despair.

  Just as at Arles where the Rhone goes shallow, →

  just as at Pola, near Quarnero’s gulf,

  114

  which hems in Italy and bathes her borders,

  the sepulchers make the land uneven,

 

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