THESTORYOFTHEDIVINECOMEDY.

thestoryofthedivinecomedy.

thehell.

thepoetdante,inthethirty-fifthyearofhislife,thisbeingtheyear1300a.d.,onnewyear'sdayoftheoldreckoning,losthiswayinaroughandthornyforest,andwhenheattemptedtoregainitbymountingahillthatrosebeforehimresplendentinsunshine,encounteredaleopard,alion,andawolf.drivenbackbythese,andutterlydespairingofrescue,hemetonewhodeclaredhimselftobethatvergilwhohadsungthefalloftroyandtheflightofaeneas,andwhopromisedtotakehimthroughthelowerworldandpurgatory,evenuntoparadise.dantequestionedwhyitwaspermittedtohimtotakethejourneydeniedtosomanyothers,andwastoldthatvergilhadbeensenttohisrescuebythebeauteousbeatrice,longsinceinparadise.whenthepoet,tremblingwithfear,heardthattheshiningeyesofbeatricehadweptoverhisdangerintheforest,andthatshehadsoughtthegatesofhelltoeffecthisrescue,hisstrengthwasrenewed,evenastheflowers,chilledbythefrostsofnight,upliftthemselvesinthebrightlightofthemorningsun;andheenteredwithoutfearonthedeepandsavageway.

thisallegory,beinginterpreted,probablymeansthatthepoet,entangledinthedarkforestofpoliticalanarchy,wasdrivenfromthehillofcivilorderbytheleopardofpleasure(florence),thelionofambition(france),andthewolfofavarice(rome),andwasbydivinegracegrantedavisionofthethreeworldsthathemightrealizewhatcomesafterdeath,andbethemorefirmlyestablishedintherightpoliticalfaith,—ghibellinism.

"throughmeisthewayintothesorrowfulcity;intoeternaldoleamongthelostpeople.justiceincitedmysublimecreator.divineomnipotence,thehighestwisdom,andtheprimallovecreatedme.beforeme,therewerenocreatedthings.onlyeternal,andieternal,last.abandonhope,allyewhoenterhere!"

suchwastheinscriptionoverthedoorway,afterthereadingofwhichdante'searswereassailedbywordsofagonyandheart-rendingcries."this,"saidvergil,"isthehomeofthosemelancholysoulswholivedwithoutinfamyandwithoutpraise.cowardsandselfishinlife,theyaredeniedevenentrancetohell."astheylooked,alongtrainpassedby,stungbygadfliesandfollowingawhirlingstandard.

charon,aboutwhoseeyeswerewheelsofflame,endeavoredtodrivethepoetandhisguideawayastheystoodamongthewearyandnakedsoulsthatgatheredshiveringonthemarginofacheron;butasablastofwindandaburstofcrimsonlightcausedadeepsleeptofallonthepoet,hewaswaftedacrosstheriver,andawakinghefoundhimselfinthelimbooftheunbaptized,thefirstoftheninecirclesofhell,wherewerethesoulsofmanymen,women,andinfants,whoseonlypunishmentwas,withouthope,toliveonindesire.herewasnotorment,onlythesadnesscausedbytheever-unsatisfiedlongingfortheever-denieddivinegrace.thiswasvergil'sabode,andinthenoblecastlessetamongthegreenenamelledmeadowsdwelthomer,horace,andovid,electra,hector,andcamilla.

passingdownanarrowwalkintoaregionofsemi-darkness,theyenteredthesecondcircle,whereminosstood,judgingthesinnersandgirdinghimselfwithhistailasmanytimesaswasthenumberofthecircletowhichthespiritwastogo.hereindarknessandstormwerethecarnalsinners,whosepunishmentwastobebeatenhitherandthitherbythewinds,—semiramis,dido,cleopatra,paris,tristan,andallthosewhohadsinnedforlove,andheredanteconversedwiththespiritoffrancescadarimini,whomhehadknowninlife,andherloverpaolo,slainfortheirsinbyherhusband.thoughthereisnogreatersorrowthantobemindfulofthehappytimeinmisery,sheassureddantethatthesorrowsofhellwerelightenedbythepresenceofpaolo.

atthesightofpaolo'sgriefdantefellswooningwithpity,andawoketofindhimselfinthecirclewhereacoldrainfellforeveronthegluttons.cerberusguardedtheentrance,andnowandagaindevouredtheunhappyoneswholayproneontheirfacesinthemurkandmire.hereoofflorencerecognizedandspokewithdante,fallingbackinthemireasthepoetpassedon,torisenomoreuntilthedayofjudgment.

plutusguardedthefourthcircle,wherewereconfinedtheavariciousandprodigal,who,dividedintotwobands,rolledweightsagainsteachother,utteringwretchedinsults.downtheslopingbankstothemarshofthestyxthepoetswent,pastthesullenandangry,whoinliferefusedthecomfortofthesweetairandgladdeningsun,andwereinconsequencedoomedforevertoremainburiedinthesullenmire.asdanteandvergilpassedoverthestyxintheboatofthevilephlegyas,dantewassalutedbythespiritoftheoncehaughtyandarrogantphilippoargenti,whomherepulsed,andgladlysawsetuponandtornbythepeopleofthemire.

thenappearedtohimthemosquesofthecityofdis,withinthevalley,vermilion-huedfromthefireeternal.deepwerethemoats;thewallsappearedtobeofiron.upontheflamingsummitsatthefuries,stainedwithblood,begirtwithhydras.hereevenvergiltrembledastheywaitedthearrivalofonesentfromheaventoopenthegateandadmitthem.

within,overtheplain,werescatteredsepulchresheatedredhot,withupliftedcoverings,fromwhichissuedforthdirelamentsfromtheinfidelsandheresiarchstormentedwithin.tofarinatadegliuberti,whorosefromhistombtoaskthenewsofflorence,dantespoke,observinginthemeantimeashadethat,onhearingthetuscantongue,rosenextuberti,questioning,"whereismyson,myguido?"fancyingfromthepoet'sdelayinanswering,andhisuseofthepasttense,thathisbelovedchildnolongerenjoyedthesweetlight,cavalcantefellbackandappearednomore.

leavingthedismalplain,whosecountlesstombswouldremainopenuntilthejudgmentday,thepoetsentereduponthenextandseventhcircle,composedofthreesmallercirclesinwhichwerepunishedtheviolentagainsttheirneighbors,againstnature,andagainstgod.thesteepbanksoftheravinewereguardedbythehugeminotaur,fromwhichdanteandvergilescapedonlybyrunning.

withinphlegethon,theboilingriverofblood,stoodthetyrants,amongwhomweredionysius,azzolin,andattila,utteringloudlaments.iftheyventuredtostirfromtheirplaceoftormenttheywerepiercedbythearrowsofthecentaursthatguardedthebanks.thecentaurnessusconveyeddanteacrosstheriverintothesecondcircle,thedolorousforest,wheretheviolentagainstnature,thesuicides,weretransformedintocloselyset,twistedthorn-trees,infestedwithharpiesthatfedontheirleaves,inflictingperpetualpain;thenceintothethirdcircle,wheretheviolentagainstgod,chiefamongwhomwasthearrogantcapaneus,dweltinasandyplainsurroundedbythedolorousforest.uponthenakedsouls,someofwhomwerelyingsupine,somecrouching,othersmovingaboutcontinually,fellaperpetualshowerofflakesoffire.

pickingtheirwayalongtheedgeoftheforest,notdaringtosteponthesandwaste,thepoetscameuponalittleblood-redrivuletquenchingtheflamesaboveit,phlegethonagain,formedbytheriversacheronandstyx,whosesourceisthetearsoftime.astheyskirtedtheforesttheysawatroopofspiritshasteningpast,oneofwhom,afterasharplook,graspeddante'sgarmentexclaiming,"whatawonder!"thebakedcountenance,theghastlyface,wasthatofhisoldteacherserbrunetto,whonotdaringtostopforfearofincreasinghispunishment,followedhim,questioninghimonhisappearancebelow,andcomfortinghimbytheassuranceofhisfuturegreatness.deepweretheburnsinthelimbsoftheotherflorentinesdantemetbelow,towhomhegavetidingsofthestateofaffairsintheirformerhome.

mountingontheshouldersofthehideousmonstergeryon,thepoetswerecarriedintoafearfulabysswhosesideswerealp-likeinsteepness.thiswastheeighthcircle,malebolge,orevilpits,consistingoftenconcentricbolge,orditchesofstonewithdikesbetweenandroughbridgesrunningacrossthemtothecentre.

inthefirstpitjasonandotherdeceiversofwomenwerebeinglashedbyhorneddemons.inpittwo,aflorentinefriendofdante'swassubmergedwithothersinfilthasapunishmentforflattery.inpitthreethesimoniacswereplacedheaddowninpursesintheearth,theirprojectingfeettorturedwithflames.thepoetscrossedthebridge,andvergilcarrieddantedowntheslopingbanksothathecouldspeaktoonewhoprovedtobetheunhappynicholasiii.,whoaccusedbonifaceforhisevildeedsandexpressedalongingforhisarrivalinthisplaceoftorture.fromthenextbridge-topdantedimlyperceivedtheslowprocessionofweepingsoothsayerswithheadsreversedontheirshoulders.therewalkedamphiarus,tiresias,manto,andmichaelscott.sogreatwasdante'ssorrowonbeholdingthemiseryofthesemenwhohadoncebeenheldinsuchgreatesteem,thatheleanedagainstacragandweptuntilreprovedbyvergilasareprobateforfeelingcompassionatthedoomdivine.throughthesemi-darknessthepoetslookeddownintopitfive,wheredevilswithfantasticnamespitchedbarratorsintoalakeofboilingpitchandspearedthosewhodaredtoraisetheirheadsabovethesurface.fromtheseevilclawsdanteandvergilescapedonlybyrunningintothesixthpit,wherewalkedthehypocritesinrichlygildedmantles.whendantewonderedattheirwearyfacesandtheirtears,hewastoldbytwoofthefratigaudenti(jollyfriars)offlorencewhosufferedhere,thatthecloaksandhoodswereofheaviestlead,aloadthatgrewmoreirksomewiththeages.caiaphas,annas,andthemembersofthecouncilthatcondemnedchristlayonthegroundtransfixedwithstakes,andovertheirbodiespassedtheslowmovingtrainofthehypocrites.thenextbridgelayinruinsasaresultoftheearthquakeatthecrucifixion,andvergilexperiencedtheutmostdifficultyinconveyingdanteupthecragstoapointwherehecouldlookdownintothedarkdungeonofthieves,wherethenakedthrongwereentwinedwithserpentsandattheirbitechangedfrommantoserpentandbackagain.someburnedandfellintoashesatthevenomousbite,onlytoriseagainandsuffernewtortures.heredantespokewithvanniiofpistoja,whorobbedthesacristyofflorence,andwhoseface"waspaintedwithamelancholyshame"atbeingseeninhismisery.theeighthpitwasbrightlylightedbytheflamesthatmovedbackandforth,eachconcealingwithinanevilcounsellor.ulyssesanddiomedwalkedtogetherinaflamecleftatthetop,forthecrimeofrobbingdeidamiaofachilles,ofstealingthepalladium,andoffabricatingthetrojanhorse.asdantelookedintopitninehesawatroopcompelledtopasscontinuallybyademonwithasharpswordwhomutilatedeachoneeachtimehemadetheroundofthecircle,sothatthewoundsneverhealed.theseweretheevilcounsellors.mahometwasthere;theretoowasali.butghastliestofsightswasthatofaheadlesstrunkwalkingthroughthegrimplain,holdingitsseveredheadbythehairlikealantern,andexclaiming"ome!"thiswasthenotoriousbertranddeborn,thetroubadour,whohadcauseddissensionbetweenhenryii.ofenglandandhisson.amongthisthrongdanterecognizedhiskinsmangeridelbello,whogavehimadisdainfullookbecausehehadnotyetavengedhisdeath.fromthetenthandlastpitofmalebolgecameastenchasgreatasthoughitcamefromallthehospitalsofvaldichiana,maremma,andsardinia,betweenjulyandseptember.alltheloathsomediseasesweregatheredintothismoattoafflicttheforgersandfalsifiers.heredantesawathamas,madkingofthebes,themadgiannihi,andmesseradamofbrescia,thefalsecoiner,who,distortedwithdropsy,wasperishingofthirst,andthinkingconstantlyofthecoolrivuletsthatdescendedfromtheverdanthillsofcasentino.

asdanteandhisguideturnedtheirbacksonthewretchedvalleyandascendedthebankthatsurroundedit,theblareofaloudhornfellupontheirears,louderthanroland'sblastatroncesvalles.thiscamefromtheplainofthegiantsbetweenmalebolgeandthemouthoftheinfernalpit.allaroundthepit,orwell,weresetthegiantswithhalftheirbodiesfixedinearth.nimrod,asapunishmentforbuildingthetowerofbabel,couldspeaknolanguage,butbabbledsomegibberish.ephialtes,briareus,andantaeuswerehere,allhorribleinaspect;antaeus,lesssavagethantheothers,liftedthetwopoets,andstoopingsetthemdowninthepitbelow.thiswasthelastandninthcircle,adismalpitforthepunishmentoftraitors,whowerefrozeninthevastlakethatcocytusformedhere.incainawerethebrothersalessandroandnapoleonedeglialberti,mutualfratricides,theirheadsfrozentogether.inantenorawasthatguelphawhohadcausedhisparty'sdefeat;butthemosthorriblesighttheyencounteredwasinptolemaea,wherecountugolino,whohadbeenshutupwithhissonsandgrandsonsinatowertostarvebythearchbishopieri,wasnowrevenginghimselfintheirplaceoftorturebycontinuallygnawingthearchbishop'shead,frozenintheicenexthisown.fartherdowntheywalkedamongthosewho,whentheyshedtearsovertheirwoehadtheirteardropsfrozen,sothateventhissolacewassoondeniedthem.dantepromisedtobreakthefrozenveilfromtheeyesofonewhoprayedforaid,butwhenhelearnedthatitwasthefriaralberigo,whosebodywasstillonearth,andwhosesoulwasalreadyundergoingpunishment,herefused,"fortoberudetohimwascourtesy."

inthefourthandlastdivisionoftheninthcircle,thea,astrongwindwasblowing.thendantesawtheemperorofthekingdomfrozenintheice,amightygiantfoultolookupon,withthreefaces,vermilion,whiteandyellow,andblack.thewavingofhistwofeatherlesswingscausedthegreatwindsthatfrozecocytus.teardropsfellfromhissixeyes;ineachmouthhewascrunchingasinner,judasiscariot,brutus,andcassius.

beingwarnedbyvergilthatitwastimetodepart,danteclaspedhisguidearoundhisneck,andvergilbegantoclimbdownthehugemonsteruntiltheyreachedhismiddle,thecentreofgravity,wherewithmuchdifficultytheyturnedandclimbedupwardalongthesubterraneancourseoflethe,untiltheyagainbeheldthestars.