The Divine Comedy ~ English Edition, translated by H.F. Cary - Inferno

Canto IX
English Edition, translated by H.F. Cary

Circle Six

The Heretics

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1	THE hue, which coward dread on my pale cheeks
2	Imprinted, when I saw my guide turn back,
3	Chas'd that from his which newly they had worn,

4	And inwardly restrain'd it. He, as one
5	Who listens, stood attentive: for his eye
6	Not far could lead him through the sable air,

7	And the thick-gath'ring cloud. It yet behooves
8	We win this fight--thus he began-- if not--
9	Such aid to us is offer'd. --Oh, how long

10	Me seems it, ere the promis'd help arrive!
11	I noted, how the sequel of his words
12	Clok'd their beginning; for the last he spake

13	Agreed not with the first. But not the less
14	My fear was at his saying; sith I drew
15	To import worse perchance, than that he held,

16	His mutilated speech. Doth ever any
17	Into this rueful concave's extreme depth
18	Descend, out of the first degree, whose pain

19	Is deprivation merely of sweet hope?
20	Thus I inquiring. Rarely, he replied,
21	It chances, that among us any makes

22	This journey, which I wend. Erewhile 'tis true
23	Once came I here beneath, conjur'd by fell
24	Erictho, sorceress, who compell'd the shades

25	Back to their bodies. No long space my flesh
26	Was naked of me, when within these walls
27	She made me enter, to draw forth a spirit

28	From out of Judas' circle. Lowest place
29	Is that of all, obscurest, and remov'd
30	Farthest from heav'n's all-circling orb. The road

31	Full well I know: thou therefore rest secure.
32	That lake, the noisome stench exhaling, round
33	The city' of grief encompasses, which now

34	We may not enter without rage. Yet more
35	He added: but I hold it not in mind,
36	For that mine eye toward the lofty tower

37	Had drawn me wholly, to its burning top.
38	Where in an instant I beheld uprisen
39	At once three hellish furies stain'd with blood:

40	In limb and motion feminine they seem'd;
41	Around them greenest hydras twisting roll'd
42	Their volumes; adders and cerastes crept

43	Instead of hair, and their fierce temples bound.
44	He knowing well the miserable hags
45	Who tend the queen of endless woe, thus spake:

46	Mark thou each dire Erinnys. To the left
47	This is Megaera; on the right hand she,
48	Who wails, Alecto; and Tisiphone

49	I' th' midst. This said, in silence he remain'd
50	Their breast they each one clawing tore; themselves
51	Smote with their palms, and such shrill clamour rais'd,

52	That to the bard I clung, suspicion-bound.
53	Hasten Medusa: so to adamant
54	Him shall we change; all looking down exclaim'd.

55	E'en when by Theseus' might assail'd, we took
56	No ill revenge. Turn thyself round, and keep
57	Thy count'nance hid; for if the Gorgon dire

58	Be shown, and thou shouldst view it, thy return
59	Upwards would be for ever lost. This said,
60	Himself my gentle master turn'd me round,

61	Nor trusted he my hands, but with his own
62	He also hid me. Ye of intellect
63	Sound and entire, mark well the lore conceal'd

64	Under close texture of the mystic strain!
65	And now there came o'er the perturbed waves
66	Loud-crashing, terrible, a sound that made

67	Either shore tremble, as if of a wind
68	Impetuous, from conflicting vapours sprung,
69	That 'gainst some forest driving all its might,

70	Plucks off the branches, beats them down and hurls
71	Afar; then onward passing proudly sweeps
72	Its whirlwind rage, while beasts and shepherds fly.

73	Mine eyes he loos'd, and spake: And now direct
74	Thy visual nerve along that ancient foam,
75	There, thickest where the smoke ascends. As frogs

76	Before their foe the serpent, through the wave
77	Ply swiftly all, till at the ground each one
78	Lies on a heap; more than a thousand spirits

79	Destroy'd, so saw I fleeing before one
80	Who pass'd with unwet feet the Stygian sound.
81	He, from his face removing the gross air,

82	Oft his left hand forth stretch'd, and seem'd alone
83	By that annoyance wearied. I perceiv'd
84	That he was sent from heav'n, and to my guide

85	Turn'd me, who signal made that I should stand
86	Quiet, and bend to him. Ah me! how full
87	Of noble anger seem'd he! To the gate

88	He came, and with his wand touch'd it, whereat
89	Open without impediment it flew.
90	Outcasts of heav'n! O abject race and scorn'd!

91	Began he on the horrid grunsel standing,
92	Whence doth this wild excess of insolence
93	Lodge in you? wherefore kick you 'gainst that will

94	Ne'er frustrate of its end, and which so oft
95	Hath laid on you enforcement of your pangs?
96	What profits at the fays to but the horn?

97	Your Cerberus, if ye remember, hence
98	Bears still, peel'd of their hair, his throat and maw.
99	This said, he turn'd back o'er the filthy way,

100	And syllable to us spake none, but wore
101	The semblance of a man by other care
102	Beset, and keenly press'd, than thought of him

103	Who in his presence stands. Then we our steps
104	Toward that territory mov'd, secure
105	After the hallow'd words. We unoppos'd

106	There enter'd; and my mind eager to learn
107	What state a fortress like to that might hold,
108	I soon as enter'd throw mine eye around,

109	And see on every part wide-stretching space
110	Replete with bitter pain and torment ill.
111	As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles,

112	Or as at Pola, near Quarnaro's gulf,
113	That closes Italy and laves her bounds,
114	The place is all thick spread with sepulchres;

115	So was it here, save what in horror here
116	Excell'd: for 'midst the graves were scattered flames,
117	Wherewith intensely all throughout they burn'd,

118	That iron for no craft there hotter needs.
119	Their lids all hung suspended, and beneath
120	From them forth issu'd lamentable moans,

121	Such as the sad and tortur'd well might raise.
122	I thus: Master! say who are these, interr'd
123	Within these vaults, of whom distinct we hear

124	The dolorous sighs? He answer thus return'd:
125	The arch-heretics are here, accompanied
126	By every sect their followers; and much more,

127	Than thou believest, tombs are freighted: like
128	With like is buried; and the monuments
129	Are different in degrees of heat. This said,

130	He to the right hand turning, on we pass'd
131	Betwixt the afflicted and the ramparts high.

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