Classic Poem

CANTO IX.

Argument.

The Three Furies. — An Angel comes to open the gate — Sixth Circle; the Misbelievers.

W HEN my good Leader saw the pallid hue
O'erspread my cheek, beholding all in vain
His efforts, soon he smoothed his brow anew,
And stood as one who doth intently strain
To listen; for but little way the eye
Through the thick mist and darkness might attain
" Surely with us the victory must lie, "
Thus he began — " yet powerful is our aid
Oh! with what tardy step he draweth nigh! "
Well I perceivid that his speech he stay'd,
In other guise than was his first intent;
But not the less thereby was I afraid,
Because, perchance, where his discourse was rent,
I fill'd the void with words of sadder scope
And yet more fearful purpose than he meant.
" From the first region, to this darksome slope
Doth it e'er chance that any may descend
Of those whose only pain is lack of hope? "
I said; and he replied: " But rarely tend
The steps of any who among us dwell,
Along the path by which my way I wend.
'Tis true, that erst unto this depth of hell,
Conjured by Erichtho I came, when she
Call'd back the spirit, with her cruel spell,
Unto its corpse once more. New-fallen from me
That fleshly raiment, when she sent me here,
To summon hence a Shade, of those who be
With Judas in the lowest and most drear
Abode of sorrow, furthest from the skies:
But well I know the path; thou need'st not fear.
This marsh, whence such ill savour doth arise,
Encircles round the mournful city's wall,
Where we must enter aye in wrathful guise. "
And more he said than I can now recall;
Because with mind intent I fix'd mine eye
On the red summit of the bastion tall.
For there I saw three dreadful Ones on high
Appear; they seem'd of female form and mien,
The hellish Furies, tinged with bloody dye:
And they were girdled with the hydra green;
Their locks were serpents and the hornid snake,
Binding their temples with foul, slimy sheen.
And he who knew full well the hags who wake
Around the Queen of everlasting woe,
" Behold the fierce Erinnyis, " he spake
Lo! at the left doth sad Megaera go;
Alecto weepeth at the right; and there,
In midst, Tisiphoni. " And silent now,
My Leader stay'd his speech: then did they tear
Their breast with their own nails, and shriek so shrill,
That I to Virgil closely clung in fear.
" Come thou, Medusa, thy revenge fulfil
And turn him unto stone " (thus with wild cries
They spake); " the deeds of Theseus it were ill
To leave unpunish'd " " Turn thee, close thine eyes;
For, if thou seest the Gorgon's dreadful face,
Thou never more mayst look upon the skies. "
Thus Virgil spake; and he with eager pace
Turn'd me, nor trusting to my hands, amain
His own upon my eyelids did he place.
O ye, whose intellects are clear and sane,
Look at the doctrine that is hid beneath
The dusky veil of my mysterious strain.
Now, passing o'er the turbid lake of death,
Came a wild sound of terror; and each shore
Trembled before the blast of that fierce breath.
None otherwise than stormy winds, that roar
Through tracks of adverse heat, with furious might
Tear from the trees, which erst fair blossoms bore,
Branches and boughs, and toss them in the fight;
Proudly the dusty whirlwinds soar on high,
And put the shepherds and their flocks to flight.
Then he unclosed my lids, and said: " Thine eye
Direct above the foul and ancient lake,
Where thickest clouds of pungent vapour lie. "
Even as the frogs before the dreaded snake
Rush through the water, till in fear and haste
To land for safety they themselves betake;
More than a thousand of those spirits lost,
Thus fled from One who came, and with swift pace
Pass'd over Styx dry-shod. And as he cross'd,
Oft with his hand removed he from his face
The filthy air, whereby alone he seem'd
Anguish to feel, or pain, or weariness.
Him as a heavenly messenger I deem'd,
And to my Master turn'd; and he made sign
Of silent rev'rence. Ah! how brightly gleam'd
From every look and gesture calm disdain!
Unto the gate he came, and with a wand
He open'd it; for none might him refrain.
" O chased from Heaven, most miserable band! "
Now he began, upon the threshold dim,
" Wherefore so bold, in battle thus to stand?
Why do ye set at nought the words of Him
Whom none may balk of his most Sovereign Will,
And who hath often fill'd unto the brim
Your cup of pain? To strive with fate is ill;
Your Cerberus, of that all-powerful wrath,
Bears on his chin and throat the traces still. "
Then back he sped along the filthy path,
And unto us he spake not; in such wise
As doth the man who in his spirit hath
Far other care than what before him lies.
Unto the walls we then our steps did turn,
Securely, since his message from the skies
Here he declared. Within the city's bourne,
We w─ùnt in peace; and I, who much desired
The manner of this fortress to discern,
When we had enter'd, gazed around, inspired
With wonder, and beheld on every side
Great fields all full of woe and pain untired.
For, as at Arles, where Rhone doth stagnant 'bide,
And as at Pola, near Quarnaro's bay,
Which closeth Italy with its salt tide,
The sepulchres are scatter'd, old and gray;
Even thus, in every part they met my eyes,
Save that their manner here more sadly lay;
Because among the tombs did flames arise,
And burn'd so fiercely that, in sooth, no more
He needs who at the forge the iron tries.
Those fiery sepulchres no covering wore,
And forth there issued such a mournful moan
As well might come from suffering sad and sore.
And I: " My Master, fain by me were known
What souls are buried here, who fill the air
With wailing voice, and in their anguish groan. "
And he to me: " Heresiarchs they were,
And followers of divers sects, with whom,
More than thou deem'st, the graves their load do bear.
Here like with like are buried; and each tomb
With more or less of burning fire doth glow. "
Then to the right we turn, amid the gloom,
And 'twixt the sufferers and the lofty walls we go.