Canto 3

“Through me is the way into the woeful city; through me is the way into eternal woe; through me is the way among the lost people. Justice moved my lofty maker: the divine Power, the supreme Wisdom and the primal Love made me. Before me were no things created, unless eternal, and I eternal last. Leave every hope, ye who enter!”

“Through me is the way into the city of sorrow. Through me is the way into eternal sorrow. Through me is the way among the lost. Justice moved my great maker. Divine Power, supreme Wisdom, and primal Love made me. Before me, nothing was created except eternal things, and I last forever. Abandon all hope, you who enter!”

These words of color obscure I saw written at the top of a gate; whereat I, “Master, their meaning is dire to me.”

I saw these words written in dark colors above a gate. I said, “Master, their meaning frightens me.”

And he to me, like one who knew, “Here it behoves to leave every fear; it behoves that all cowardice should here be dead. We have come to the place where I have told thee that thou shalt see the woeful people, who have lost the good of the understanding.”

And he said to me, like someone who knew, “Here you must leave behind all fear. All cowardice must die here. We have come to the place where I told you that you would see the sorrowful people who have lost the good of understanding.”

And when he had put his hand on mine, with a glad countenance, wherefrom I took courage, he brought me within the secret things. Here sighs, laments, and deep wailings were resounding though the starless air; wherefore at first I wept thereat. Strange tongues, horrible cries, words of woe, accents of anger, voices high and hoarse, and sounds of hands with them, were making a tumult which whirls forever in that air dark without change, like the sand when the whirlwind breathes.

He placed his hand on mine and smiled, giving me courage. Then he led me into the hidden place. Sighs, laments, and deep wails echoed through the starless air. At first, the sounds made me weep. Strange languages, horrible cries, words of sorrow, angry tones, voices both high and hoarse, and the sounds of hands all joined in a tumult. It whirls forever through the unchanging darkness, like sand in a whirlwind.

And I, who had my head girt with horror, said, “Master, what is it that I hear? and what folk are they who seem in woe so vanquished?”

My head filled with horror, I said, “Master, what do I hear? Who are these people who seem so overcome by suffering?”

And he to me, “This miserable measure the wretched souls maintain of those who lived without infamy and without praise. Mingled are they with that caitiff choir of the angels, who were not rebels, nor were faithful to God, but were for themselves. The heavens chased them out in order to be not less beautiful, nor doth the depth of Hell receive them, because the damned would have some glory from them.”

And he said to me, “This miserable procession is made up of the wretched souls who lived without blame or praise. They are mixed with the cowardly choir of angels who neither rebelled nor remained faithful to God, but cared only for themselves. Heaven drove them out so that its beauty would not be diminished. Nor does the depth of Hell accept them, because the damned would gain some glory from their presence.”

And I, “Master, what is so grievous to them, that makes them lament so bitterly?”

And I said, “Master, what troubles them so much that they cry out so bitterly?”

He answered, “I will tell thee very briefly. These have no hope of death; and their blind life is so debased, that they are envious of every other lot. Fame of them the world permitteth not to be; mercy and justice disdain them. Let us not speak of them, but do thou look and pass on.”

He answered, “I will tell you very briefly. These souls have no hope of death. Their blind life is so degraded that they envy every other fate. The world does not allow their fame to endure. Both mercy and justice disdain them. Let us not speak of them. Just look and pass on.”

And I, who was gazing, saw a banner, that whirling ran so swiftly that it seemed to me to scorn all repose, and behind it came so long a train of folk, that I could never have believed death had undone so many. After I had distinguished some among them, I saw and knew the shade of him who made, through cowardice, the great refusal.¹¹ At once I understood and was certain, that this was the sect of the caitiffs displeasing unto God, and unto his enemies. These wretches, who never were alive, were naked, and much stung by gad-flies and by wasps that were there. These streaked their faces with blood, which, mingled with tears, was harvested at their feet by loathsome worms.

As I watched, I saw a banner spinning and racing so swiftly that it seemed to scorn all rest. Behind it came such a long procession of people that I could never have believed death had claimed so many. After I made out some of them, I saw and recognized the soul of the man who, through cowardice, made the great refusal.¹¹ At once I understood and was certain that these were the wretches who displeased both God and his enemies. These miserable souls, who had never truly lived, were naked and constantly stung by the flies and wasps there. The insects streaked their faces with blood, which mingled with their tears. At their feet, loathsome worms fed on the mixture.

And when I gave myself to looking onward, I saw people on the bank of a great river; wherefore I said, “Master, now grant to me that I may know who these are, and what rule makes them appear so ready to pass over, as I discern through the faint light.” And he to me, “The things will be clear to thee, when we shall set our steps on the sad marge of Acheron.” Then with eyes bashful and cast down, fearing lest my speech had been irksome to him, far as to the river I refrained from speaking.

When I looked ahead, I saw people on the bank of a great river. So I said, “Master, please tell me who they are. What rule makes them seem so ready to cross, as I can see in the faint light?” He replied, “You will understand when we reach the sorrowful bank of Acheron.” I lowered my eyes in embarrassment, fearing that my question had annoyed him. I said nothing more until we reached the river.

And lo! coming toward us in a boat, an old man, white with ancient hair, crying, “Woe to you, wicked souls! hope not ever to see Heaven! I come to carry you to the other bank, into eternal darkness, to heat and frost. And thou who art there, living soul, depart from these that are dead.” But when he saw that I did not depart, he said, “By another way, by other ports thou shalt come to the shore, not here, for passage; it behoves that a lighter bark bear thee.”¹²

Then an old man with white hair came toward us in a boat, crying, “Woe to you, wicked souls! Never hope to see Heaven! I have come to carry you to the other bank, into eternal darkness, to heat and frost. And you, living soul, leave these dead souls.” But when he saw that I did not leave, he said, “You will reach the shore by another way, through other ports, not by crossing here. A lighter boat must carry you.”¹²

And my Leader to him, “Charon, vex not thyself, it is thus willed there where is power to do that which is willed; and farther ask not.” Then the fleecy cheeks were quiet of the pilot of the livid marsh, who round about his eyes had wheels of flame.

And my guide said to him, “Charon, do not trouble yourself. This is willed where there is power to do what is willed. Ask no more.” Then the woolly cheeks of the boatman of the pale marsh grew still. Wheels of flame surrounded his eyes.

But those souls, who were weary and naked, changed color, and gnashed their teeth soon as they heard his cruel words. They blasphemed God and their parents, the human race, the place, the time and the seed of their sowing and of their birth. Then, bitterly weeping, they drew back all of them together to the evil bank, that waits for every man who fears not God. Charon the demon, with eyes of glowing coal, beckoning them, collects them all; he beats with his oar whoever lingers.

But the weary, naked souls turned pale and ground their teeth as soon as they heard his cruel words. They cursed God and their parents, the human race, and the place, time, and seed of their conception and birth. Then, weeping bitterly, they all drew back together to the evil shore, which waits for everyone who does not fear God. Charon the demon, his eyes glowing like coals, beckons them and gathers them all. He beats anyone who lingers with his oar.

As in autumn the leaves fall off one after the other, till the bough sees all its spoils upon the earth, in like wise the evil seed of Adam throw themselves from that shore one by one at signals, as the bird at his call. Thus they go over the dusky wave, and before they have landed on the farther side, already on this a new throng is gathered.

In autumn, leaves fall one by one until the branch sees all its leaves on the ground. In the same way, Adam’s evil offspring throw themselves from the shore one by one at a signal, like birds answering a call. So they cross the dark water. Before they reach the far shore, another crowd has already gathered on this one.

“My son,” said the courteous Master, “those who die in the wrath of God, all meet together here from every land. And they are eager to pass over the stream, for the divine justice spurs them, so that fear is turned to desire. This way a good soul never passes; and therefore if Charon snarleth at thee, thou now mayest well know what his speech signifies.” This ended, the dark plain trembled so mightily, that the memory of the terror even now bathes me with sweat. The tearful land gave forth a wind that flashed a vermilion light which vanquished every sense of mine, and I fell as a man whom slumber seizes.

“My son,” said the courteous Master, “all who die under God’s wrath gather here from every land. They are eager to cross the stream because divine justice drives them, turning their fear into desire. No good soul ever passes this way. So if Charon snarls at you, you can now understand what his words mean.” When he finished speaking, the dark plain trembled so violently that even now the memory of my terror makes me sweat. The tearful land sent out a wind that flashed with a red light. The light overwhelmed all my senses, and I fell like a man overcome by sleep.