This question put I; and he answered me: Maketh the journey upon which I go. True is it, once before I here below Was conjured by that pitiless Erictho, Who summoned back the shades unto their bodies. Naked of me short while the flesh had been, Before within that wall she made me enter, To bring a spirit from the circle of Judas; That is the lowest region and the darkest, And farthest from the heaven which circles all. Well know I the way; therefore be reassured. This fen, which a prodigious stench exhales, Encompasses about the city dolent, Where now we cannot enter without anger." And more he said, but not in mind I have it; Because mine eye had altogether drawn me 20 25 30 35 Tow'rds the high tower with the red-flaming summit, Where in a moment saw I swift uprisen The three infernal Furies stained with blood, Small serpents and cerastes were their tresses, 40 And he who well the handmaids of the Queen Said unto me: "Behold the fierce Erinnys. She who is weeping on the right, Alecto; Each one her breast was rending with her nails; 45 They beat them with their palms, and cried so loud, 50 "Turn thyself round, and keep thine eyes close shut, 55 So far as not to blind me with his own. 60 65 Not otherwise it was than of a wind Impetuous on account of adverse heats, That smites the forest, and, without restraint, The branches rends, beats down, and bears away; Mine Right onward, laden with dust, it goes superb, 70 And puts to flight the wild beasts and the shepherds. eyes he loosed, and said: "Direct the nerve Of vision now along that ancient foam, There yonder where that smoke is most intense." 75 Even as the frogs before the hostile serpent Across the water scatter all abroad, Until each one is huddled in the earth, Thus fleeing from before one who on foot Well I perceived one sent from Heaven was he, And to the Master turned; and he made sign Ah! how disdainful he appeared to me! He reached the gate, and with a little rod He opened it, for there was no resistance. 80 85 90 "O banished out of Heaven, people despised! From which the end can never be cut off, And which has many times increased your pain? What helpeth it to butt against the fates? Your Cerberus, if you remember well, For that still bears his chin and gullet peeled." And spake no word to us, but had the look Than that of him who in his presence is; And we our feet directed tow'rds the city, And see on every hand an ample plain, Even as at Arles, where stagnant grows the Rhone, That shuts in Italy and bathes its borders, The sepulchres make all the place uneven; By which they so intensely heated were, All of their coverings uplifted were, And from them issued forth such dire laments, Sooth seemed they of the wretched and tormented. And I: "My Master, what are all those people Who, having sepulture within those tombs, With their disciples of all sects, and much 115 120 125 Here like together with its like is buried; 130 And more and less the monuments are heated." And when he to the right had turned, we passed Between the torments and high parapets. |