CANTO V. THUS I descended out of the first circle Down to the second, that less space begirds, And so much greater dole, that goads to wailing. There standeth Minos horribly, and snarls; I say, Examines the transgressions at the entrance; Cometh before him, wholly it confesses; Seeth what place in Hell is meet for it; Girds himself with his tail as many times 5 10 As grades he wishes it should be thrust down. Always before him many of them stand; They go by turns each one unto the judgment; 14 They speak, and hear, and then are downward hurled. "O thou, that to this dolorous hostelry Comest," said Minos to me, when he saw me, Leaving the practice of so great an office, "Look how thou enterest, and in whom thou trustest; Let not the portal's amplitude deceive thee." And unto him my Guide: "Why criest thou too? Do not impede his journey fate-ordained; It is so willed there where is power to do That which is willed; and ask no further question." And now begin the dolesome notes to grow Audible unto me; now am I come There where much lamentation strikes upon me. I came into a place mute of all light, Which bellows as the sea does in a tempest, If by opposing winds 't is combated. The infernal hurricane that never rests Hurtles the spirits onward in its rapine; Whirling them round, and smiting, it molests them. When they arrive before the precipice, 20 25 30 There are the shrieks, the plaints, and the laments, 35 I understood that unto such a torment The carnal malefactors were condemned, And as the wings of starlings bear them on 40 So doth that blast the spirits maledict; It hither, thither, downward, upward, drives them; Not of repose, but even of lesser pain. Thou fain wouldst have," then said he unto me, To sensual vices she was so abandoned, That lustful she made licit in her law, To remove the blame to which she had been led. She is Semiramis, of whom we read That she succeeded Ninus, and was his spouse; The next is she who killed herself for love, And broke faith with the ashes of Sichæus ; Helen I saw, for whom so many ruthless 45 50 55 60 Seasons revolved; and saw the great Achilles, 65 Who at the last hour combated with Love. Paris I saw, Tristan; and more than a thousand Shades did he name and point out with his finger, After that I had listened to my Teacher, Naming the dames of eld and cavaliers, Pity prevailed, and I was nigh bewildered. And I began: "O Poet, willingly Speak would I to those two, who go together, And seem upon the wind to be so light." And he to me: "Thou 'lt mark, when they shall be Nearer to us; and then do thou implore them By love which leadeth them, and they will come.” Soon as the wind in our direction sways them, My voice uplift I: "O ye weary souls! Come speak to us, if no one interdicts it." As turtle-doves, called onward by desire, With open and steady wings to the sweet nest Who visiting goest through the purple air If were the King of the Universe our friend, Of what it pleases thee to hear or speak, That will we hear, and we will speak to you, Upon the sea-shore where the Po descends 95 100 Seized this man for the person beautiful That was ta'en from me, and still the mode offends me. Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving, Seized me with pleasure of this man so strongly, That, as thou seest, it doth not yet desert me; Love has conducted us unto one death; Caïna waiteth him who quenched our life!" As soon as I had heard those souls tormented, I bowed my face, and so long held it down When I made answer, I began: "Alas! How many pleasant thoughts, how much desire, 105 110 |