And like one who is eager in winning, but, when the time comes that makes him lose, weeps and is saddened in all his thoughts, such did that peaceless beast make me, as, coming on against me, she pushed me back, little by little, to where the sun is silen
Canto one. Dante is climbing the hill, has passed the leopard and lion and now tells of his encounter with the she-wolf. She is able to make him run back down the hill. Simile alludes to merchants or gamblers whose financial lives depend on fortune - the
While I was running down to the depth there appeared before me one who seemed faint through long silence. When I saw him in that vast desert, I cried to him, "Have pity on me whatever you are, shade or living man!
Canto one. Dante has just run from the she-wolf in the allegorical dark wood of his mind when he sees Virgil appearing in the distance. These are the first words spoken in the Inferno, and since they are spoken to a concrete historical figure, this is the
Are you, then, that Virgil, that fount which pours forth so broad a stream of speech?" I answered him, my brow covered with shame. "O glory and light of other poets, may the long study and the great love that have made me search your volume avail me! You
Canto one, after Virgil has introduced himself to Dante through place of origin and his writings. He has just asked Dante why he turned his back on the hill that could bring him joy and fled back downwards into misery. This is the first moment in which Vi
He will not feed on earth or pelf, but on wisdom, love, and virtue, and his birth shall be between felt and felt. He shall be the salvation of that low-lying Italy for which the virgins Camilla and Auryalus, Turnus, and Nisus died of their wounds.
Canto one. Dante has asked Virgil to help him defeat the she-wolf and Virgil has responded that she has a greedy, indefatigable appetite and slays everyone who crosses her. Here, Virgil is speaking of the "hound" who will come and make her die in pain. Vi
O Muses, O high genius, help me now! O memory that wrote down what I saw, here shall your worthiness appear!
Canto two. Dante speaking, first invocation of the poem. This is the beginning of the second Canto, which is all about words, so Dante asks for help in remembering everything so he may accurately write it down. Muses are Greek gods, then high genius which
In this journey, which you affirm he made, he learned things that were the cause of his victory and of the papal mantle. Later, the Chosen Vessel went there, that he might bring thence confirmation of that faith which is the beginning of the way of salva
Canto two. Dante is speaking to Virgil. Dante is voicing his doubts about his worthiness for the task at hand. Fearful and intimidated. First he is speaking of Aeneas then of Paul. He says "you affirm he made" while he speaks of Paul's journey with more c
I am Beatrice who send you. I come from a place to which I long to return. Love moved me and makes me speak. When I am before my Lord I will often praise you to Him.
Canto two. Virgil is talking and recounting to Dante Beatrice's words to him which began his trip. She longs to return to heaven, though she is untouched by hell. Canto two is all about words, so although she claims it is love that moves her, it has also
These words of obscure color I saw inscribed over a portal; whereupon I said, "Master, their meaning is hard for me.
Canto three. Dante has just read the words inscribed in the gateway to Hell and is speaking to Virgil. The obscure color may either be literal, and worn by time and the grime of Hell. However, it is also possible that they are obscure because they are rhe
And he to me, "Such is the miserable condition of the sorry souls of those who lived without infamy and without praise. They are mingled with that base brand of angels who were neither rebellious nor faithful to God, but stood apart. The heavens drive the
Canto three. Virgil is speaking to Dante. This is pre-Hell, within the gates but not within a circle. Here, the neutral and ambivalent are punished for not taking a stand. Of course, this is not real theology (neutral angels are not biblical in origin); r
As the leaves fall away in autumn, one after another, till the bough sees all its spoils upon the ground, so there the evil seed of Adam: one by one they cast themselves from that shore at signals, like a bird at its call. Thus they go over the dark wate
Canto three. Dante is describing the way the damned cross into Hell. Charon the demon carries them in a boat over the Acheron. Dante's metaphor of the leaves on the ground is used to emphasize the sheer number of the damned that travel across the river in
Thus I saw assembled the fair school of that lord of the highest song who, like an eagle, soars above the rest. After they had talked awhile together, they turned to me with sign of salutation; at which my master smiled; and far more honor still they sho
Canto four. Dante is in limbo, where all the pagans and unbaptized children reside. At the time of this passage, he is in an area called the "Elisian field" in which all the virtuous pagans reside. An "Elisian field" is a Virgilian place. Since in Virgil'
I mean that when the ill-begotten soul comes before him, it confesses all; and that discerner of sins sees which shall be its place in Hell, then girds himself with his tail as many times as the grades he wills that it be sent down.
Canto five. Dante is speaking. He is telling of Minos, the judge of sins in Hell. Minos is the king of Crete who was cuckolded because of his wife's passion for a bull (in Greek mythology). Normally, a judge would make judgments with his head, but Minos m
Love, which is quickly kindled in a gentle heart, seized this one for the fair form that was taken from me- and the way of it afflicts me still. Love, which absolves no loved one form loving, seized me so strongly with delight in him, that, as you see, i
Canto five. In the second circle (lust). Francesca is speaking to Dante, telling her story. Their conversation is the parody of a confession as Dante urges Francesca to tell her story. However, her rhetoric is so beautiful and the sin of lust so easy for
The good master said, "Son, you see now the souls of those whom anger overcame; and I would also have you know for certain that down under the water are people who sigh and make it bubble at the surface, as your eye tells you wherever it turns. Fixed in
Canto seven. Virgil is speaking to Dante. They have just passed through the fourth circle of Avarice and Prodigality and arrived to the river Styx to reach the fifth circle of Anger and Sullenness. The people that Virgil is referring to are in the muddy r
Phlegyas, Phlegyas, this time you shout in vain," said my lord. "You shall not have us longer than while crossing the mire." As one who listens to some great deception that has been practiced on him, and then repines at it, such Phlegyas became in his fa
Canto eight. Virgil is speaking to Phlegyas. Phlegyas was the son of Ares and the father of one of Apollo's lovers, Coronis. His daughter had an affair while pregnant with Apollo's child, and Apollo sent his sister Artemis to kill her. Phlegyas, out of wr
Yet we must win this fight," he began, "or else....such did she offer herself to us! Oh, how long to me it seems till someone come!" I saw well how he covered up the beginning with the rest that came after, which were words different from the first; but
Canto nine. Virgil is speaking to himself and Dante is listening to him. Virgil has just been denied access to the City of Dis by the rebellious angels who stand guard. This is the first time Virgil has failed at gaining passage through a threshold in the
It is true that once before I was down here, conjured by that cruel Erichtho who was wont to call back shades into their bodies. My flesh had been but short while divested of me, when she made me enter within that wall to draw forth a spirit from the cir
Canto nine. Virgil is speaking to Dante. Virgil has just had his first major failures because he was not allowed passage through the gates of Dis into the city, even though his words had never failed him before, and then he doubted in Beatrice's words and
Then he stretched both his hands to the boat, whereat the wary master thrust him off, saying, "Away there with the other dogs!" then he put his arms about my neck, kissed my face, and said, "Indignant soul, blessed is she who bore you! He was an arrogant
Canto nine. Virgil is speaking to Dante. Virgil and Dante are on Phlegyas's skiff, and Dante has just yelled at and condemned Philippo Argenti. Argenti, who is wrathful, arrogant, and violent tries to reach into the boat, perhaps to capsize or physically
Turn your back, and keep your eyes shut; for should the Gorgon show herself and you see her, there would be no returning above." Thus said the master, and he himself turned me round and, not trusting to my hands, covered my face with his own hands as wel
Canto nine. Virgil is speaking to Dante. Virgil and Dante are waiting outside of the City of Dis for Heavenly aid to arrive so they may pass through the gates, because Virgil failed to gain them entry to the city. Now, the inhabitants of Dis are trying to
As the frogs before their enemy the snake all vanish through the water, till each cocks itself on the bottom, I saw more than a thousand ruined souls flee before one that strode dry-shod over Styx. He was clearing that gross air from before his face, oft
Canto nine. The angel has just arrived to gain access to the City of Dis for Dante and Virgil. Dante's first impressions of the angel's arrival were only auditory since Virgil had just covered his eyes to protect him from seeing the head of Medusa, which
And he to me, "All shall be closed when from Jehoshaphat they return here with the bodies which they have left above. In this part Epicurus with all his followers, who make the soul die with the body, have their burial-place.
Canto ten. Virgil and Dante are inside the gates of the City of Dis, seeing the punishment of the heretical. Virgil is explaining to Dante what will happen after the second coming of Christ. Epicurus was a pre-Socratic philosopher who believed in material
Like one who has bad light, we see the things," he said, "which are remote from us: so much does the Supreme Ruler still shine on us; but when they draw near, or are, our intelligence is wholly vain, and unless others bring us word, we know nothing of yo
Canto ten. Virgil and Dante are inside the gates of the City of Dis, in the sixth Circle, which is that of heresy. Farinata is speaking to them, responding to Dante's question about how much of the future the damned souls here can see. Farinata tells him
I was going along thinking, and he said, "Perhaps you are thinking on this ruin, guarded by that bestial wrath which I quelled just now. Know then that the other time I came down here into the nether Hell this rock had not yet fallen. But certainly, if I
Canto twelve. Virgil and Dante are in the seventh circle, that of Violence, which contains those who committed violence against others, against themselves, and against God, either in self or in possessions. Virgil and Dante had encountered the Minotaur at
We drew near to those fleet beasts; and Chiron took an arrow and, with the notch of it, brushed back his beard upon his jaws; and when he had uncovered his great mouth, he said to his companions, "Have you observed that the one behind moves what he touch
Canto twelve. Virgil and Dante are in the seventh circle, where the sins of violence are punished. They are walking towards the Phlegethon, the river of blood in which those who were violent towards others reside. Centaurs, more half-man half-animal creat
Nessus had not yet reached the other side when we moved forwards through a wood which was not marked by any path. No green leaves, but of dusky hue; no smooth boughs, but gnarled and warped; no fruits were there, but thorns with poison. Those wild beasts
Canto thirteen. Virgil and Dante are in the seventh circle, that of violence, and they are moving past Phlegethon, the river of blood in which the violent against others are punished, and into the dark wood in which the suicides and violent against themse
And the stub said, "You so allure me with your sweet words that I cannot keep silent' and may it not burden you that I am enticed to talk a little. I am he who held both the keys of Frederick's heart, and turned them, locking and unlocking, so softly tha
Canto thirteen. Dante and Virgil are in the dark forest of the suicides in the seventh circle. The seventh circle is the circle of violence, and here they are in the area which punishes those who are violent against themselves. Dante, at Virgil's command,
What I was living, that am I dead. Though Jove weary out his smith, from whom in anger he took the sharp bolt by which on my last day I was smitten' and though he weary out the others, turn by turn, in Mongibello at the black forge, crying, 'Good Vulcan,
Canto fourteen. Dante and Virgil are in the seventh circle of violence. They have just exited the dark wood of the suicides and are standing on the border of the wood, looking upon the burning plane in which those who were violent against God are punished
If my prayer were all fulfilled," I answered him, "you would not yet be banished from human nature, for in my memory is fixed, and now saddens my heart, the dear, kind, paternal image of you, when in the world hour by hour you taught me how man makes him
Canto fifteen. Dante and Virgil are in the seventh circle, that of Violence. They are walking along the border of the burning plane in which those who are violent against God are punished. Violence against God includes blasphemy and violence against the c
To that truth which has the face of a lie a man should always close his lips so far as he can, for through no fault of his it brings reproach; but here I cannot be silent; and, reader, I swear to you by the notes of this Comedy - so may they not fail of
Canto sixteen. Dante and Virgil are in the seventh circle, the circle of violence. They have nearly finished traversing the circle (the only sin they have yet to see is usury, which shall make an appearance in the following Canto) and they are standing in
I do not think that there was greater fear when Phaethon let loose the reins, whereby the sky, as yet appears, was scorched, nor when the wretched Icarus felt his loins unfeathering by the melting wax, and his father cried to him, "You go an ill way!" th
Canto seventeen. Dante and Virgil are riding on the back of Geryon to get to Malebolge after they have finished traversing the seventh circle (Violence). Geryon is a mythical creature which would entice strangers to be his guests, then kill and eat them.