The Online Library of Liberty

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• Ave Dante
• Preface
• Inferno I
• Inferno Ii
• Inferno Iii
• Inferno Iv
• Inferno V
• Inferno Vi
• Inferno Vii
• Inferno Viii
• Inferno Ix
• Inferno X
• Inferno Xi
• Inferno Xii
• Inferno Xiii
• Inferno Xiv
• Inferno Xv
• Inferno Xvi
• Inferno Xvii
• Inferno Xviii
• Inferno Xix
• Inferno Xx
• Inferno Xxi
• Inferno Xxii
• Inferno Xxiii
• Inferno Xxiv
• Inferno Xxv
• Inferno Xxvi
• Inferno Xxvii
• Inferno Xxviii
• Inferno Xxix
• Inferno Xxx
• Inferno Xxxi
• Inferno Xxxii
• Inferno Xxxiii
• Inferno Xxxiv

INFERNO VI

• On my return to consciousness, which closed
• before the kindred couple’s piteous case,
• which utterly confounded me with grief,
• new torments all around me I behold,
• and new tormented ones, where’er I move,
• where’er I turn, and wheresoe’er I gaze.

• In the third circle am I, that of rain
• eternal, cursèd, cold and burdensome;
• its measure and quality are never new.
• Coarse hail, and snow, and dirty-colored water
• through the dark air are ever pouring down;
• and foully smells the ground receiving them.

• A wild beast, Cerberus, uncouth and cruel,
• is barking with three throats, as would a dog,
• over the people that are there submerged.
• Red eyes he hath, a dark and greasy beard,
• a belly big, and talons on his hands;
• he claws the spirits, flays and quarters them.
• The rainfall causes them to howl like dogs;
• with one side they make shelter for the other;
• oft do the poor profaners turn about.

• When Cerberus, the mighty worm, perceived us,
• his mouths he opened, showing us his fangs;
• nor had he any limb that he kept still.
• My Leader then stretched out his opened palms,
• and took some earth, and with his fists well filled,
• he threw it down into the greedy throats.
• And like a dog that, barking, yearns for food,
• and, when he comes to bite it, is appeased,
• since only to devour it doth he strain
• and fight; even such became those filthy faces
• of demon Cerberus, who, thundering, stuns
• the spirits so, that they would fain be deaf.

• Over the shades the heavy rain beats down
• we then were passing, as our feet we set
• upon their unreal bodies which seem real.
• They each and all were lying on the ground,
• excepting one, which rose and sat upright,
• when it perceived us pass in front of it.

• “O thou that through this Hell art being led,”
• it said to me, “recall me, if thou canst;
• for thou, before I unmade was, wast made.”

• And I to it: “The anguish thou art in
• perchance withdraws thee from my memory so,
• it doth not seem that thee I ever saw.
• But tell me who thou art, that in so painful
• a place art set, and to such punishment,
• that none, though greater, so repulsive is.”

• And he to me: “Thy town, which is so full
• of envy that the bag o’erflows already,
• owned me when I was in the peaceful life.
• Ciacco, you townsmen used to call me then;
• for my injurious fault of gluttony
• I ’m broken, as thou seest, by the rain;
• nor yet am I, sad soul, the only one,
• for all these here are subject, for like fault,
• unto like pain.” Thereat he spoke no more.

• “Thy trouble, Ciacco,” I replied to him,
• “so burdens me that it invites my tears;
• but tell me, if thou canst, to what will come
• the citizens of our divided town;
• if any one therein is just; and tell me
• the reason why such discord hath assailed her.”

• And he to me then: “After struggling long
• they ’ll come to bloodshed, and the boorish party
• will drive the other out with much offence.
• Then, afterward, the latter needs must fall
• within three suns, and the other party rise,
• by help of one who now is ‘on the fence.’
• A long time will it hold its forehead up,
• keeping the other under grievous weights,
• howe’er it weep therefor, and be ashamed.
• Two men are just, but are not heeded there;
• the three sparks that have set men’s hearts on fire,
• are overweening pride, envy and greed.”

• Herewith he closed his tear-inspiring speech.
• And I to him: “I ’d have thee teach me still,
• and grant the favor of some further talk.
• Farinàta and Tegghiàio, who so worthy were,
• Jàcopo Rusticùcci, Arrigo and Mosca,
• and the others who were set on doing good,
• tell me where these are, and let me know of them;
• for great desire constraineth me to learn
• if Heaven now sweeten, or Hell poison them.”

• And he: “Among the blackest souls are these;
• a different fault weighs toward the bottom each;
• if thou descend so far, thou mayst behold them.
• But when in the sweet world thou art again,
• recall me, prithee, unto others’ minds;
• I tell no more, nor further answer thee.”

• His fixed eyes thereupon he turned askance;
• a while he looked at me, then bowed his head,
• and fell therewith among the other blind.

• Then said my Leader: “He ’ll not wake again
• on this side of the angel-trumpet’s sound.
• What time the hostile Podestà shall come,
• each soul will find again its dismal tomb,
• each will take on again its flesh and shape,
• and hear what through eternity resounds.”

• We thus passed through with slowly moving steps
• the filthy mixture of the shades and rain,
• talking a little of the future life;

• because of which I said: “These torments, Teacher,
• after the Final Sentence will they grow,
• or less become, or burn the same as now.”

• And he to me: “Return thou to thy science,
• which holdeth that the more a thing is perfect,
• so much the more it feels of weal or woe.
• Although this cursèd folk shall nevermore
• arrive at true perfection, it expects
• to be more perfect after, than before.”

• As in a circle, round that road we went,
• speaking at greater length than I repeat,
• and came unto a place where one descends;
• there found we Plutus, the great enemy.