The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

12 HELL. Canto III. When I had cast my eyes beyond, I weet ^® A crowd that throng the bank of a great stream, And said, " O master, unto me now mete To know what race are these, and why they seem So anxious to cross o'er to the other side. As I. discover by this feeble beam." ^^ And he to me : " These things will be descried What time we rest our footsteps at the brink Of Acheron's most melancholy tide." Then struck with shame, my eyes I downward sink. In fear lest what I said were worthy blame. And till the stream from further parley shrink. When lo ! upon a bark there towards us came A very old man, with age- whitened hair. Crying aloud, " Ah, woe, you souls of shame ! Hope not again to see the sky so fair. I come to take you to the other side. To shades eteme of heat and freezing there. But you, O soul still living, stand aside ; Depart from these, whom Death has made his own." But when he saw me still amongst them bide, *® He cried, ** By other ways and barks alone, JN"ot this way can you reach the other shore ; A lighter boat can only bear you on." My leader to him : " Charon, be not sore ; So is it willed above, where will can do ^^ That which it pleases ; do not question more." The hairy cheeks then very quiet grew Of that dread pilot of the livid lake. Around whose eyes the whirling lightnings flew. But all those souls that worn and naked quake, ^^ Changed colour, and their teeth shook loud in rage. Soon as they heard the cruel words he spake. They cursed at God and at their parentage, The human race, the place, the time, the seed Of their begetting, and their earliest age. ^^ Then all of them together on proceed. Wailing aloud, to the evil bank that stays For every one of God who takes no heed. Line 93. " A lighter boat can only bear you on." It is generally supposed by the commentators that this aUndes to the bark by which the spirits are taken to Fargatory, and which will be described hereafter. The words of Charon appear, however, to have reference to the impossibility of a living body like Dante's crossing the stream of Adieron in his boat, which can only carry spirits. Indeed, we are not told how Dante crosses the river, for at the close of this Canto he swoons on this side, and in the next he finds himself on the other, unaware how he has past.

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CaktoIV. hell. 13 The demon Charon, with his eyes ablaze, Directing them by signs, collects them all, ^^" And with his oar strikes each one that delays. Just as the withered leaves of autumn fall, The one upon the other, till the bough To earth yields all its garment, as a pall ; The evil seed of Adam downwards, so "^ Throw themselves one by one from that sad shore. At signs, like bird that to the call does go. So by the turbid wave they hurry o'er, And ere on the other side they leave the boat, Collects on this side a new-gathered store. " My son," explained my courteous leader, " note AH those who perish in the wrath of God, From every land are here together brought ; They're ready o'er the river to be rowed. So spurs them onwards, justice all divine. That to desire is changed their fear o' the rod. This way there never passes soul benign ; And if of you old Charon would complain. His meaning henceforth you must well divine." Scarce had he finished ere the darkened plain Trembled so terribly, that with the dread In thought alone I'm bathed in sweat again. Over that tearful earth a blast was sped. Which lightening shot a vermeil glow around. So that my senses conquered, wholly fled, And like one seized by sleep, I fell to the ground.

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CAISTTO IV. Dante on recovering from his swoon finds himself on the other side of the Biver Acheron. He follows Yirgil into the " blind world," and enters Limbo, which is the outer circle of Hell. Here he finds all tiiose souls who, from the want of baptism, have lost salvation, but who have done nothing to deserve actual punishment. IiOXTD thunder roused me from my slumber deep. So that^I sudden started from my swound.

Like one by force awakened from his sleep. And then my rested eyes I moved around. When I was risen, if their gaze avail * To recognise the place where I was found. True is it that above the dolorous vale Of the abyss, I stood upon the shore, Where thunder gathers from the infinite wail ;