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＇2＇ Who is blessed throughout all ages。 Praise to God。
FROM THE DIVINE COMEDY。＇1＇
＇1＇ Dante called his poem a comedy； he says； for two reasons： because it has a sad beginning and a cheerful ending； and because it is written in a 〃middle〃 style； treating alike of lowly and lofty things。 Midway in life the poet finds himself lost in the forest of worldly cares； beset by the three beasts； Pride； Avarice； and Worldly Pleasure。 Virgil； who is the embodiment of moral philosophy； appears and leads him through the Hell of worldly sin and suffering； through the Purgatory of repentance； to the calm of the earthly Paradise。 Mere philosophy can go no further。 The poet is here taken under the guidance of Beatrice； the embodiment of divine wisdom； who leads him through Paradise to the throne of God。 Such； in the briefest form； is the argument of the Divine Comedy； this statement carries the actual story and the allegory side by side。 The first division of the triple vision is the Inferno。 Dante's Inferno is an inverted cone； having its mouth in a deep rugged valley； its sides sloping down to the center of the earth。 When Lucifer fell from heaven the earth retired before him； making this hollow cone。 This is divided into nine circles； in which the lost souls suffer。 These souls are grouped into three main classes： the incontinent； the violent； and the fraudulent。 The first circle of the Inferno is Limbo； where are the souls of children and the unbaptized； of the heathen philosophers and poets。 They are neither in pain nor glory； they do not shriek nor groan but only sigh。
I。 The Poets in Limbo。From the Inferno。
Broke the deep slumber in my brain a crash Of heavy thunder； that I shook myself； As one by main force roused。 Risen upright； My rested eyes I moved around； and search'd； With fixed ken； to know what place it was Wherein I stood。 For certain； on the brink I found me of the lamentable vale； The dread abyss； that joins a thundrous sound Of plaints innumerable。 Dark and deep； And thick with clouds o'erspread； mine eye in vain Explored its bottom； nor could aught discern。 〃Now let us to the blind world there beneath Descend；〃 the bard began； all pale of look： 〃I go the first； and thou shalt follow next。〃 Then I his alter'd hue perceiving； thus： 〃How may I speed； if thou yieldest to dread； Who still art wont to comfort me in doubt？〃 He then： 〃The anguish of that race below With pity stains my cheek； which thou for fear Mistakest。 Let us on。 Our length of way Urges to haste。〃 Onward； this said； he moved； And entering led me with him； on the bounds Of the first circle that surrounds the abyss。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 We were not far On this side from the summit； when I kenn'd A flame； that o'er the darken'd hemisphere Prevailing shined。 Yet we a little space Were distant； not so far but I in part Discover'd that a tribe in honour high That place possess'd。 〃O thou； who every art And science valuest I who are these that boast Such honour； separate from all the rest？〃 He answer'd： 〃The renown of their great names； That echoes through your world above； acquires Favour in heaven； which holds them thus advanced。〃 Meantime a voice I heard： 〃Honour the bard Sublime！＇1＇ his shade returns； that left us late！
No sooner ceased the sound； than I beheld Four mighty spirits toward us bend their steps； Of semblance neither sorrowful nor glad。 When thus my master kind began： 〃Mark him； Who in his right hand bears that falchion keen； The other three preceding； as their lord。 This is that Homer； of all bards supreme： Flaccus the next； in satire's vein excelling； The third is Naso； Lucan is the last。 Because they all that appellation own； With which the voice singly accosted me； Honouring they greet me thus； and well they judge。〃 So I beheld united the bright school Of him the monarch of sublimest song；＇2＇
That o'er the others like an eagle soars。 When they together short discourse had held； They turned to me； with salutation kind Beckoning me； at the which my master smiled Nor was this all； but greater honour still They gave me； for they made me of their tribe； And I was sixth amid so learn'd a band。
＇1＇ The bard sublimeVirgil。
＇2＇ The monarch of sublimest songHomer。
II。 Francesca da Rimini。＇1＇
＇1＇ Francesca da Polenta was given in marriage by her father to Lanclotto da Rimini； a man brave； but of deformed person。 His brother Paolo； who was exceedingly handsome； won her affections。 They were both put to death by Lagnciotto。
From the Inferno。 From Limbo the poet descends into the second circle； where the sin of lust is punished。 The souls in this circle are driven forever round in a tyrannous gust of wind。 They see Cleopatra and Helen and Paris and Tristan and many others whom Virgil names to the poet。 Finally he sees two spirits approaching； whom he asks permission to address。 To these he spoke：
〃O wearied spirits！ come； and hold discourse With us； if by none else restrain'd。〃 As doves By fond desire invited； on wide wings And firm； to their sweet nest returning home； Cleave the air； wafted by their will along； Thus issued； from that troop where Dido ranks； They； through the ill air speedingwith such force My cry prevail'd； by strong affection urged。 〃O gracious creature and benign！ who go'st Visiting； through this element obscure； Us； who the world with bloody stain imbrued； If； for a friend； the King of all； we own'd； Our prayer to him should for thy peace arise； Since thou hast pity on our evil plight。 Of whatsoe'er to hear or to discourse It pleases thee； that will we hear； of that Freely with thee discourse； while e'er the wind； As now； is mute。 The land＇1＇ that gave me birth； Is situate on the coast； where Po descends To rest in ocean with his sequent streams。 〃Love； that in gentle heart is quickly learnt； Entangled him by that fair form； from me Ta'en in such cruel sort； as grieves me still！ Love； that denial takes from none beloved； Caught me with pleasing him so passing well； That； as thou seest' he yet deserts me not。 Love brought us to one death： Caina＇2＇ waits The soul； who split our life。〃 Such were their words； At hearing which； downward I bent my looks； And held them there so long； that the bard cried： 〃What art thou pondering？〃 I in answer thus： 〃Alas I by what sweet thoughts； what fond desire Must they at length to that ill pass have reach'd！〃 Then turning； I to them my speech addressed； And thus began： 〃Francesca！ your sad fate Even to tears my grief and pity moves。 But tell me； in the time of your sweet sighs； By what； and how Love granted； that ye knew Your yet uncertain wishes？〃 She replied： 〃No greater grief than to remember days Of joy； when misery is at hand。 That kens Thy learn'd instructor。 Yet so eagerly If thou art bent to know the primal root； From whence our love gat being； I will do As one； who weeps and tells his tale。 One day； For our delight we read of Lancelot；＇3＇ How him love thrall'd。 Alone we were； and no Suspicion near us。 Oft…times by that reading Our eyes were drawn together； and the hue Fled from our alter'd cheek。 But at one point Alone we fell。 When of that smile we read； The wished smile so rapturously kiss'd By one so deep in love； then he； w