{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_8783/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_8783","id":"gutenberg_8783","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8783","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Classics of Literature","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","Epic poetry, Italian -- Translations into English","Hell -- Poetry","Italian poetry -- To 1400 -- Translations into English"],"text":"Produced by David Widger\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE VISION\n\nOF\n\nHELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE\n\n\n\n\n\nBY\n\nDANTE ALIGHIERI\n\n\n\nTRANSLATED BY\n\nTHE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A.\n\n\n\nHELL\n\nOR THE INFERNO\n\n\nPart 5\n\n\nCantos 9 - 12\n\n\n\n\nCANTO IX\n\nTHE hue, which coward dread on my pale cheeks\nImprinted, when I saw my guide turn back,\nChas'd that from his which newly they had worn,\nAnd inwardly restrain'd it.  He, as one\nWho listens, stood attentive: for his eye\nNot far could lead him through the sable air,\nAnd the thick-gath'ring cloud.  \"It yet behooves\nWe win this fight\"--thus he began--\"if not--\nSuch aid to us is offer'd.--Oh, how long\nMe seems it, ere the promis'd help arrive!\"\n\nI noted, how the sequel of his words\nClok'd their beginning; for the last he spake\nAgreed not with the first.  But not the less\nMy fear was at his saying; sith I drew\nTo import worse perchance, than that he held,\nHis mutilated speech.  \"Doth ever any\nInto this rueful concave's extreme depth\nDescend, out of the first degree, whose pain\nIs deprivation merely of sweet hope?\"\n\nThus I inquiring. \"Rarely,\" he replied,\n\"It chances, that among us any makes\nThis journey, which I wend.  Erewhile 'tis true\nOnce came I here beneath, conjur'd by fell\nErictho, sorceress, who compell'd the shades\nBack to their bodies.  No long space my flesh\nWas naked of me, when within these walls\nShe made me enter, to draw forth a spirit\nFrom out of Judas' circle.  Lowest place\nIs that of all, obscurest, and remov'd\nFarthest from heav'n's all-circling orb.  The road\nFull well I know: thou therefore rest secure.\nThat lake, the noisome stench exhaling, round\nThe city' of grief encompasses, which now\nWe may not enter without rage.\"  Yet more\nHe added: but I hold it not in mind,\nFor that mine eye toward the lofty tower\nHad drawn me wholly, to its burning top.\nWhere in an instant I beheld uprisen\nAt once three hellish furies stain'd with blood:\nIn limb and motion feminine they seem'd;\nAround them greenest hydras twisting roll'd\nTheir volumes; adders and cerastes crept\nInstead of hair, and their fierce temples bound.\n\nHe knowing well the miserable hags\nWho tend the queen of endless woe, thus spake:\n\n\"Mark thou each dire Erinnys. To the left\nThis is Megaera; on the right hand she,\nWho wails, Alecto; and Tisiphone\nI' th' midst.\"  This said, in silence he remain'd\nTheir breast they each one clawing tore; themselves\nSmote with their palms, and such shrill clamour rais'd,\nThat to the bard I clung, suspicion-bound.\n\"Hasten Medusa: so to adamant\nHim shall we change;\" all looking down exclaim'd.\n\"E'en when by Theseus' might assail'd, we took\nNo ill revenge.\"  \"Turn thyself round, and keep\nThy count'nance hid; for if the Gorgon dire\nBe shown, and thou shouldst view it, thy return\nUpwards would be for ever lost.\"  This said,\nHimself my gentle master turn'd me round,\nNor trusted he my hands, but with his own\nHe also hid me.  Ye of intellect\nSound and entire, mark well the lore conceal'd\nUnder close texture of the mystic strain!\n\nAnd now there came o'er the perturbed waves\nLoud-crashing, terrible, a sound that made\nEither shore tremble, as if of a wind\nImpetuous, from conflicting vapours sprung,\nThat 'gainst some forest driving all its might,\nPlucks off the branches, beats them down and hurls\nAfar; then onward passing proudly sweeps\nIts whirlwind rage, while beasts and shepherds fly.\n\nMine eyes he loos'd, and spake: \"And now direct\nThy visual nerve along that ancient foam,\nThere, thickest where the smoke ascends.\" As frogs\nBefore their foe the serpent, through the wave\nPly swiftly all, till at the ground each one\nLies on a heap; more than a thousand spirits\nDestroy'd, so saw I fleeing before one\nWho pass'd with unwet feet the Stygian sound.\nHe, from his face removing the gross air,\nOft his left hand forth stretch'd, and seem'd alone\nBy that annoyance wearied.  I perceiv'd\nThat he was sent from heav'n, and to my guide\nTurn'd me, who signal made that I should stand\nQuiet, and bend to him. Ah me! how full\nOf noble anger seem'd he!  To the gate\nHe came, and with his wand touch'd it, whereat\nOpen without impediment it flew.\n\n\"Outcasts of heav'n!  O abject race and scorn'd!\"\nBegan he on the horrid grunsel standing,\n\"Whence doth this wild excess of insolence\nLodge in you? wherefore kick you 'gainst that will\nNe'er frustrate of its end, and which so oft\nHath laid on you enforcement of your pangs?\nWhat profits at the fays to but the horn?\nYour Cerberus, if ye remember, hence\nBears still, peel'd of their hair, his throat and maw.\"\n\nThis said, he turn'd back o'er the filthy way,\nAnd syllable to us spake none, but wore\nThe semblance of a man by other care\nBeset, and keenly press'd, than thought of him\nWho in his presence stands.  Then we our steps\nToward that territory mov'd, secure\nAfter the hallow'd words.  We unoppos'd\nThere enter'd; and my mind eager to learn\nWhat state a fortress like to that might hold,\nI soon as enter'd throw mine eye around,\nAnd see on every part wide-stretching space\nReplete with bitter pain and torment ill.\n\nAs where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles,\nOr as at Pola, near Quarnaro's gulf,\nThat closes Italy and laves her bounds,\nThe place is all thick spread with sepulchres;\nSo was it here, save what in horror here\nExcell'd: for 'midst the graves were scattered flames,\nWherewith intensely all throughout they burn'd,\nThat iron for no craft there hotter needs.\n\nTheir lids all hung suspended, and beneath\nFrom them forth issu'd lamentable moans,\nSuch as the sad and tortur'd well might raise.\n\nI thus: \"Master! say who are these, interr'd\nWithin these vaults, of whom distinct we hear\nThe dolorous sighs?\"  He answer thus return'd:\n\n\"The arch-heretics are here, accompanied\nBy every sect their followers; and much more,\nThan thou believest, tombs are freighted: like\nWith like is buried; and the monuments\nAre different in degrees of heat.\"  This said,\nHe to the right hand turning, on we pass'd\nBetwixt the afflicted and the ramparts high.\n\n\n\n\nCANTO X\n\nNOW by a secret pathway we proceed,\nBetween the walls, that hem the region round,\nAnd the tormented souls: my master first,\nI close behind his steps.  \"Virtue supreme!\"\nI thus began; \"who through these ample orbs\nIn circuit lead'st me, even as thou will'st,\nSpeak thou, and satisfy my wish.  May those,\nWho lie within these sepulchres, be seen?\nAlready all the lids are rais'd, and none\nO'er them keeps watch.\"  He thus in answer spake\n\"They shall be closed all, what-time they here\nFrom Josaphat return'd shall come, and bring\nTheir bodies, which above they now have left.\nThe cemetery on this part obtain\nWith Epicurus all his followers,\nWho with the body make the spirit die.\nHere therefore satisfaction shall be soon\nBoth to the question ask'd, and to the wish,\nWhich thou conceal'st in silence.\"  I replied:\n\"I keep not, guide belov'd! from thee my heart\nSecreted, but to shun vain length of words,\nA lesson erewhile taught me by thyself.\"\n\n\"O Tuscan! thou who through the city of fire\nAlive art passing, so discreet of speech!\nHere please thee stay awhile. Thy utterance\nDeclares the place of thy nativity\nTo be that noble land, with which perchance\nI too severely dealt.\"  Sudden that sound\nForth issu'd from a vault, whereat in fear\nI somewhat closer to my leader's side\nApproaching, he thus spake: \"What dost thou?  Turn.\nLo, Farinata, there! who hath himself\nUplifted: from his girdle upwards all\nExpos'd behold him.\"  On his face was mine\nAlready fix'd; his breast and forehead there\nErecting, seem'd as in high scorn he held\nE'en hell.  Between the sepulchres to him\nMy guide thrust me with fearless hands and prompt,\nThis warning added: \"See thy words be clear!\"\n\nHe, soon as there I stood at the tomb's foot,\nEy'd me a space, then in disdainful mood\nAddress'd me: \"Say, what ancestors were thine?\"\n\nI, willing to obey him, straight reveal'd\nThe whole, nor kept back aught: whence he, his brow\nSomewhat uplifting, cried: \"Fiercely were they\nAdverse to me, my party, and the blood\nFrom whence I sprang: twice therefore I abroad\nScatter'd them.\"  \"Though driv'n out, yet they each time\nFrom all parts,\" answer'd I, \"return'd; an art\nWhich yours have shown, they are not skill'd to learn.\"\n\nThen, peering forth from the unclosed jaw,\nRose from his side a shade, high as the chin,\nLeaning, methought, upon its knees uprais'd.\nIt look'd around, as eager to explore\nIf there were other with me; but perceiving\nThat fond imagination quench'd, with tears\nThus spake: \"If thou through this blind prison go'st.\nLed by thy lofty genius and profound,\nWhere is my son? and wherefore not with thee?\"\n\nI straight replied: \"Not of myself I come,\nBy him, who there expects me, through this clime\nConducted, whom perchance Guido thy son\nHad in contempt.\"  Already had his words\nAnd mode of punishment read me his name,\nWhence I so fully answer'd.  He at once\nExclaim'd, up starting, \"How! said'st thou he HAD?\nNo longer lives he?  Strikes not on his eye\nThe blessed daylight?\"  Then of some delay\nI made ere my reply aware, down fell\nSupine, not after forth appear'd he more.\n\nMeanwhile the other, great of soul, near whom\nI yet was station'd, chang'd not count'nance stern,\nNor mov'd the neck, nor bent his ribbed side.\n\"And if,\" continuing the first discourse,\n\"They in this art,\" he cried, \"small skill have shown,\nThat doth torment me more e'en than this bed.\nBut not yet fifty times shall be relum'd\nHer aspect, who reigns here Queen of this realm,\nEre thou shalt know the full weight of that art.\nSo to the pleasant world mayst thou return,\nAs thou shalt tell me, why in all their laws,\nAgainst my kin this people is so fell?\"\n\n\"The slaughter and great havoc,\" I replied,\n\"That colour'd Arbia's flood with crimson stain--\nTo these impute, that in our hallow'd dome\nSuch orisons ascend.\"  Sighing he shook\nThe head, then thus resum'd: \"In that affray\nI stood not singly, nor without just cause\nAssuredly should with the rest have stirr'd;\nBut singly there I stood, when by consent\nOf all, Florence had to the ground been raz'd,\nThe one who openly forbad the deed.\"\n\n\"So may thy lineage find at last repose,\"\nI thus adjur'd him, \"as thou solve this knot,\nWhich now involves my mind.  If right I hear,\nYe seem to view beforehand, that which time\nLeads with him, of the present uninform'd.\"\n\n\"We view, as one who hath an evil sight,\"\nHe answer'd, \"plainly, objects far remote:\nSo much of his large spendour yet imparts\nThe' Almighty Ruler; but when they approach\nOr actually exist, our intellect\nThen wholly fails, nor of your human state\nExcept what others bring us know we aught.\nHence therefore mayst thou understand, that all\nOur knowledge in that instant shall expire,\nWhen on futurity the portals close.\"\n\nThen conscious of my fault, and by remorse\nSmitten, I added thus: \"Now shalt thou say\nTo him there fallen, that his offspring still\nIs to the living join'd; and bid him know,\nThat if from answer silent I abstain'd,\n'Twas that my thought was occupied intent\nUpon that error, which thy help hath solv'd.\"\n\nBut now my master summoning me back\nI heard, and with more eager haste besought\nThe spirit to inform me, who with him\nPartook his lot.  He answer thus return'd:\n\n\"More than a thousand with me here are laid\nWithin is Frederick, second of that name,\nAnd the Lord Cardinal, and of the rest\nI speak not.\"  He, this said, from sight withdrew.\nBut I my steps towards the ancient bard\nReverting, ruminated on the words\nBetokening me such ill.  Onward he mov'd,\nAnd thus in going question'd: \"Whence the' amaze\nThat holds thy senses wrapt?\"  I satisfied\nThe' inquiry, and the sage enjoin'd me straight:\n\"Let thy safe memory store what thou hast heard\nTo thee importing harm; and note thou this,\"\nWith his rais'd finger bidding me take heed,\n\n\"When thou shalt stand before her gracious beam,\nWhose bright eye all surveys, she of thy life\nThe future tenour will to thee unfold.\"\n\nForthwith he to the left hand turn'd his feet:\nWe left the wall, and tow'rds the middle space\nWent by a path, that to a valley strikes;\nWhich e'en thus high exhal'd its noisome steam.\n\n\n\n\nCANTO XI\n\nUPON the utmost verge of a high bank,\nBy craggy rocks environ'd round, we came,\nWhere woes beneath more cruel yet were stow'd:\nAnd here to shun the horrible excess\nOf fetid exhalation, upward cast\nFrom the profound abyss, behind the lid\nOf a great monument we stood retir'd,\n\nWhereon this scroll I mark'd: \"I have in charge\nPope Anastasius, whom Photinus drew\nFrom the right path.--Ere our descent behooves\nWe make delay, that somewhat first the sense,\nTo the dire breath accustom'd, afterward\nRegard it not.\"  My master thus; to whom\nAnswering I spake: \"Some compensation find\nThat the time past not wholly lost.\"  He then:\n\"Lo! how my thoughts e'en to thy wishes tend!\nMy son! within these rocks,\" he thus began,\n\"Are three close circles in gradation plac'd,\nAs these which now thou leav'st. Each one is full\nOf spirits accurs'd; but that the sight alone\nHereafter may suffice thee, listen how\nAnd for what cause in durance they abide.\n\n\"Of all malicious act abhorr'd in heaven,\nThe end is injury; and all such end\nEither by force or fraud works other's woe\nBut fraud, because of man peculiar evil,\nTo God is more displeasing; and beneath\nThe fraudulent are therefore doom'd to' endure\nSeverer pang.  The violent occupy\nAll the first circle; and because to force\nThree persons are obnoxious, in three rounds\nHach within other sep'rate is it fram'd.\nTo God, his neighbour, and himself, by man\nForce may be offer'd; to himself I say\nAnd his possessions, as thou soon shalt hear\nAt full.  Death, violent death, and painful wounds\nUpon his neighbour he inflicts; and wastes\nBy devastation, pillage, and the flames,\nHis substance.  Slayers, and each one that smites\nIn malice, plund'rers, and all robbers, hence\nThe torment undergo of the first round\nIn different herds.  Man can do violence\nTo himself and his own blessings: and for this\nHe in the second round must aye deplore\nWith unavailing penitence his crime,\nWhoe'er deprives himself of life and light,\nIn reckless lavishment his talent wastes,\nAnd sorrows there where he should dwell in joy.\nTo God may force be offer'd, in the heart\nDenying and blaspheming his high power,\nAnd nature with her kindly law contemning.\nAnd thence the inmost round marks with its seal\nSodom and Cahors, and all such as speak\nContemptuously' of the Godhead in their hearts.\n\n\"Fraud, that in every conscience leaves a sting,\nMay be by man employ'd on one, whose trust\nHe wins, or on another who withholds\nStrict confidence.  Seems as the latter way\nBroke but the bond of love which Nature makes.\nWhence in the second circle have their nest\nDissimulation, witchcraft, flatteries,\nTheft, falsehood, simony, all who seduce\nTo lust, or set their honesty at pawn,\nWith such vile scum as these.  The other way\nForgets both Nature's general love, and that\nWhich thereto added afterwards gives birth\nTo special faith.  Whence in the lesser circle,\nPoint of the universe, dread seat of Dis,\nThe traitor is eternally consum'd.\"\n\nI thus: \"Instructor, clearly thy discourse\nProceeds, distinguishing the hideous chasm\nAnd its inhabitants with skill exact.\nBut tell me this: they of the dull, fat pool,\nWhom the rain beats, or whom the tempest drives,\nOr who with tongues so fierce conflicting meet,\nWherefore within the city fire-illum'd\nAre not these punish'd, if God's wrath be on them?\nAnd if it be not, wherefore in such guise\nAre they condemned?\"  He answer thus return'd:\n\"Wherefore in dotage wanders thus thy mind,\nNot so accustom'd? or what other thoughts\nPossess it?  Dwell not in thy memory\nThe words, wherein thy ethic page describes\nThree dispositions adverse to Heav'n's will,\nIncont'nence, malice, and mad brutishness,\nAnd how incontinence the least offends\nGod, and least guilt incurs?  If well thou note\nThis judgment, and remember who they are,\nWithout these walls to vain repentance doom'd,\nThou shalt discern why they apart are plac'd\nFrom these fell spirits, and less wreakful pours\nJustice divine on them its vengeance down.\"\n\n\"O Sun! who healest all imperfect sight,\nThou so content'st me, when thou solv'st my doubt,\nThat ignorance not less than knowledge charms.\nYet somewhat turn thee back,\" I in these words\nContinu'd, \"where thou saidst, that usury\nOffends celestial Goodness; and this knot\nPerplex'd unravel.\"  He thus made reply:\n\"Philosophy, to an attentive ear,\nClearly points out, not in one part alone,\nHow imitative nature takes her course\nFrom the celestial mind and from its art:\nAnd where her laws the Stagyrite unfolds,\nNot many leaves scann'd o'er, observing well\nThou shalt discover, that your art on her\nObsequious follows, as the learner treads\nIn his instructor's step, so that your art\nDeserves the name of second in descent\nFrom God.  These two, if thou recall to mind\nCreation's holy book, from the beginning\nWere the right source of life and excellence\nTo human kind.  But in another path\nThe usurer walks; and Nature in herself\nAnd in her follower thus he sets at nought,\nPlacing elsewhere his hope.  But follow now\nMy steps on forward journey bent; for now\nThe Pisces play with undulating glance\nAlong the' horizon, and the Wain lies all\nO'er the north-west; and onward there a space\nIs our steep passage down the rocky height.\"\n\n\n\n\nCANTO XII\n\nTHE place where to descend the precipice\nWe came, was rough as Alp, and on its verge\nSuch object lay, as every eye would shun.\n\nAs is that ruin, which Adice's stream\nOn this side Trento struck, should'ring the wave,\nOr loos'd by earthquake or for lack of prop;\nFor from the mountain's summit, whence it mov'd\nTo the low level, so the headlong rock\nIs shiver'd, that some passage it might give\nTo him who from above would pass; e'en such\nInto the chasm was that descent: and there\nAt point of the disparted ridge lay stretch'd\nThe infamy of Crete, detested brood\nOf the feign'd heifer: and at sight of us\nIt gnaw'd itself, as one with rage distract.\n\nTo him my guide exclaim'd: \"Perchance thou deem'st\nThe King of Athens here, who, in the world\nAbove, thy death contriv'd.  Monster! avaunt!\nHe comes not tutor'd by thy sister's art,\nBut to behold your torments is he come.\"\n\nLike to a bull, that with impetuous spring\nDarts, at the moment when the fatal blow\nHath struck him, but unable to proceed\nPlunges on either side; so saw I plunge\nThe Minotaur; whereat the sage exclaim'd:\n\"Run to the passage! while he storms, 't is well\nThat thou descend.\"  Thus down our road we took\nThrough those dilapidated crags, that oft\nMov'd underneath my feet, to weight like theirs\nUnus'd.  I pond'ring went, and thus he spake:\n\n\"Perhaps thy thoughts are of this ruin'd steep,\nGuarded by the brute violence, which I\nHave vanquish'd now. Know then, that when I erst\nHither descended to the nether hell,\nThis rock was not yet fallen.  But past doubt\n(If well I mark) not long ere He arrived,\nWho carried off from Dis the mighty spoil\nOf the highest circle, then through all its bounds\nSuch trembling seiz'd the deep concave and foul,\nI thought the universe was thrill'd with love,\nWhereby, there are who deem, the world hath oft\nBeen into chaos turn'd: and in that point,\nHere, and elsewhere, that old rock toppled down.\nBut fix thine eyes beneath: the river of blood\nApproaches, in the which all those are steep'd,\nWho have by violence injur'd.\"  O blind lust!\nO foolish wrath! who so dost goad us on\nIn the brief life, and in the eternal then\nThus miserably o'erwhelm us.  I beheld\nAn ample foss, that in a bow was bent,\nAs circling all the plain; for so my guide\nHad told.  Between it and the rampart's base\nOn trail ran Centaurs, with keen arrows arm'd,\nAs to the chase they on the earth were wont.\n\nAt seeing us descend they each one stood;\nAnd issuing from the troop, three sped with bows\nAnd missile weapons chosen first; of whom\nOne cried from far: \"Say to what pain ye come\nCondemn'd, who down this steep have journied?  Speak\nFrom whence ye stand, or else the bow I draw.\"\n\nTo whom my guide: \"Our answer shall be made\nTo Chiron, there, when nearer him we come.\nIll was thy mind, thus ever quick and rash.\"\n\nThen me he touch'd, and spake: \"Nessus is this,\nWho for the fair Deianira died,\nAnd wrought himself revenge for his own fate.\nHe in the midst, that on his breast looks down,\nIs the great Chiron who Achilles nurs'd;\nThat other Pholus, prone to wrath.\"  Around\nThe foss these go by thousands, aiming shafts\nAt whatsoever spirit dares emerge\nFrom out the blood, more than his guilt allows.\n\nWe to those beasts, that rapid strode along,\nDrew near, when Chiron took an arrow forth,\nAnd with the notch push'd back his shaggy beard\nTo the cheek-bone, then his great mouth to view\nExposing, to his fellows thus exclaim'd:\n\"Are ye aware, that he who comes behind\nMoves what he touches?  The feet of the dead\nAre not so wont.\"  My trusty guide, who now\nStood near his breast, where the two natures join,\nThus made reply: \"He is indeed alive,\nAnd solitary so must needs by me\nBe shown the gloomy vale, thereto induc'd\nBy strict necessity, not by delight.\nShe left her joyful harpings in the sky,\nWho this new office to my care consign'd.\nHe is no robber, no dark spirit I.\nBut by that virtue, which empowers my step\nTo treat so wild a path, grant us, I pray,\nOne of thy band, whom we may trust secure,\nWho to the ford may lead us, and convey\nAcross, him mounted on his back; for he\nIs not a spirit that may walk the air.\"\n\nThen on his right breast turning, Chiron thus\nTo Nessus spake: \"Return, and be their guide.\nAnd if ye chance to cross another troop,\nCommand them keep aloof.\"  Onward we mov'd,\nThe faithful escort by our side, along\nThe border of the crimson-seething flood,\nWhence from those steep'd within loud shrieks arose.\n\nSome there I mark'd, as high as to their brow\nImmers'd, of whom the mighty Centaur thus:\n\"These are the souls of tyrants, who were given\nTo blood and rapine.  Here they wail aloud\nTheir merciless wrongs.  Here Alexander dwells,\nAnd Dionysius fell, who many a year\nOf woe wrought for fair Sicily.  That brow\nWhereon the hair so jetty clust'ring hangs,\nIs Azzolino; that with flaxen locks\nObizzo' of Este, in the world destroy'd\nBy his foul step-son.\"  To the bard rever'd\nI turned me round, and thus he spake; \"Let him\nBe to thee now first leader, me but next\nTo him in rank.\"  Then farther on a space\nThe Centaur paus'd, near some, who at the throat\nWere extant from the wave; and showing us\nA spirit by itself apart retir'd,\nExclaim'd: \"He in God's bosom smote the heart,\nWhich yet is honour'd on the bank of Thames.\"\n\nA race I next espied, who held the head,\nAnd even all the bust above the stream.\n'Midst these I many a face remember'd well.\nThus shallow more and more the blood became,\nSo that at last it but imbru'd the feet;\nAnd there our passage lay athwart the foss.\n\n\"As ever on this side the boiling wave\nThou seest diminishing,\" the Centaur said,\n\"So on the other, be thou well assur'd,\nIt lower still and lower sinks its bed,\nTill in that part it reuniting join,\nWhere 't is the lot of tyranny to mourn.\nThere Heav'n's stern justice lays chastising hand\nOn Attila, who was the scourge of earth,\nOn Sextus, and on Pyrrhus, and extracts\nTears ever by the seething flood unlock'd\nFrom the Rinieri, of Corneto this,\nPazzo the other nam'd, who fill'd the ways\nWith violence and war.\"  This said, he turn'd,\nAnd quitting us, alone repass'd the ford.","title":"The Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 05","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":4120}