'Inferno (English)' by Dante Alighieri

CANTO I

ONE night, when half my life behind me lay,
I wandered from the straight lost path afar.
Through the great dark was no releasing way;
Above that dark was no relieving star.
If yet that terrored night I think or say,
As death's cold hands its fears resuming are.

Gladly the dreads I felt, too dire to tell,
The hopeless, pathless, lightless hours forgot,
I turn my tale to that which next befell,
When the dawn opened, and the night was not.
The hollowed blackness of that waste, God wot,
Shrank, thinned, and ceased. A blinding splendour hot
Flushed the great height toward which my footsteps fell,
And though it kindled from the nether hell,
Or from the Star that all men leads, alike
It showed me where the great dawn-glories strike
The wide east, and the utmost peaks of snow.

How first I entered on that path astray,
Beset with sleep, I know not. This I know.
When gained my feet the upward, lighted way,
I backward gazed, as one the drowning sea,
The deep strong tides, has baffled, and panting lies,
On the shelved shore, and turns his eyes to see
The league-wide wastes that held him. So mine eyes
Surveyed that fear, the while my wearied frame
Rested, and ever my heart's tossed lake became
More quiet.
Then from that pass released, which yet
With living feet had no man left, I set
My forward steps aslant the steep, that so,
My right foot still the lower, I climbed.
Below
No more I gazed. Around, a slope of sand
Was sterile of all growth on either hand,
Or moving life, a spotted pard except,
That yawning rose, and stretched, and purred and leapt
So closely round my feet, that scarce I kept
The course I would.
That sleek and lovely thing,
The broadening light, the breath of morn and spring,
The sun, that with his stars in Aries lay,
As when Divine Love on Creation's day
First gave these fair things motion, all at one
Made lightsome hope; but lightsome hope was none
When down the slope there came with lifted head
And back-blown mane and caverned mouth and red,
A lion, roaring, all the air ashake
That heard his hunger. Upward flight to take
No heart was mine, for where the further way
Mine anxious eyes explored, a she-wolf lay,
That licked lean flanks, and waited. Such was she
In aspect ruthless that I quaked to see,
And where she lay among her bones had brought
So many to grief before, that all my thought
Aghast turned backward to the sunless night
I left. But while I plunged in headlong flight
To that most feared before, a shade, or man
(Either he seemed), obstructing where I ran,
Called to me with a voice that few should know,
Faint from forgetful silence, "Where ye go,
Take heed. Why turn ye from the upward way?"

I cried, "Or come ye from warm earth, or they
The grave hath taken, in my mortal need
Have mercy thou!"
He answered, "Shade am I,
That once was man; beneath the Lombard sky,
In the late years of Julius born, and bred
In Mantua, till my youthful steps were led
To Rome, where yet the false gods lied to man;
And when the great Augustan age began,
I wrote the tale of Ilium burnt, and how
Anchises' son forth-pushed a venturous prow,
Seeking unknown seas. But in what mood art thou
To thus return to all the ills ye fled,
The while the mountain of thy hope ahead
Lifts into light, the source and cause of all
Delectable things that may to man befall?"

I answered, "Art thou then that Virgil, he
From whom all grace of measured speech in me
Derived? O glorious and far-guiding star!
Now may the love-led studious hours and long
In which I learnt how rich thy wonders are,
Master and Author mine of Light and Song,
Befriend me now, who knew thy voice, that few
Yet hearken. All the name my work hath won
Is thine of right, from whom I learned. To thee,
Abashed, I grant it. . . Why the mounting sun
No more I seek, ye scarce should ask, who see
The beast that turned me, nor faint hope have I
To force that passage if thine aid deny."
He answered, "Would ye leave this wild and live,
Strange road is ours, for where the she-wolf lies
Shall no man pass, except the path he tries
Her craft entangle. No way fugitive
Avoids the seeking of her greeds, that give
Insatiate hunger, and such vice perverse
As makes her leaner while she feeds, and worse
Her craving. And the beasts with which she breed
The noisome numerous beasts her lusts require,
Bare all the desirable lands in which she feeds;
Nor shall lewd feasts and lewder matings tire
Until she woos, in evil hour for her,
The wolfhound that shall rend her. His desire
Is not for rapine, as the promptings stir
Of her base heart; but wisdoms, and devoirs
Of manhood, and love's rule, his thoughts prefer.
The Italian lowlands he shall reach and save,
For which Camilla of old, the virgin brave,
Turnus and Nisus died in strife. His chase
He shall not cease, nor any cowering-place
Her fear shall find her, till he drive her back,
From city to city exiled, from wrack to wrack
Slain out of life, to find the native hell
Whence envy loosed her.
For thyself werewell
To follow where I lead, and thou shalt see
The spirits in pain, and hear the hopeless woe,
The unending cries, of those whose only plea
Is judgment, that the second death to be
Fall quickly. Further shalt thou climb, and go
To those who burn, but in their pain content
With hope of pardon; still beyond, more high,
Holier than opens to such souls as I,
The Heavens uprear; but if thou wilt, is one
Worthier, and she shall guide thee there, where none
Who did the Lord of those fair realms deny
May enter. There in his city He dwells, and there
Rules and pervades in every part, and calls
His chosen ever within the sacred walls.
O happiest, they!"
I answered, "By that Go
Thou didst not know, I do thine aid entreat,
And guidance, that beyond the ills I meet
I safety find, within the Sacred Gate
That Peter guards, and those sad souls to see
Who look with longing for their end to be."

Then he moved forward, and behind I trod.

Canto II

THE day was falling, and the darkening air
Released earth's creatures from their toils, while I,
I only, faced the bitter road and bare
My Master led. I only, must defy
The powers of pity, and the night to be.
So thought I, but the things I came to see,
Which memory holds, could never thought forecast.
O Muses high! O Genius, first and last!
Memories intense! Your utmost powers combine
To meet this need. For never theme as mine
Strained vainly, where your loftiest nobleness
Must fail to be sufficient.
FirstI said,
Fearing, to him who through the darkness led,
"O poet, ere the arduous path ye press
Too far, look in me, if the worth there be
To make this transit. &Aelig;neas once, I know,
Went down in life, and crossed the infernal sea;
And if the Lord of All Things Lost Below
Allowed it, reason seems, to those who see
The enduring greatness of his destiny,
Who in the Empyrean Heaven elect was called
Sire of the Eternal City, that throned and walled
Made Empire of the world beyond, to be
The Holy Place at last, by God's decree,
Where the great Peter's follower rules. For he
Learned there the causes of his victory.

"And later to the third great Heaven was caught
The last Apostle, and thence returning brought
The proofs of our salvation. But, for me,
I am not &Aelig;neas, nay, nor Paul, to see
Unspeakable things that depths or heights can show,
And if this road for no sure end I go
What folly is mine? But any words are weak.
Thy wisdom further than the things I speak
Can search the event that would be."
Here Istayed
My steps amid the darkness, and the Shade
That led me heard and turned, magnanimous,
And saw me drained of purpose halting thus,
And answered, "If thy coward-born thoughts be clear,
And all thy once intent, infirmed of fear,
Broken, then art thou as scared beasts that shy
From shadows, surely that they know not why
Nor wherefore. . . Hearken, to confound thy fear,
The things which first I heard, and brought me here.
One came where, in the Outer Place, I dwell,
Suspense from hope of Heaven or fear of Hell,
Radiant in light that native round her clung,
And cast her eyes our hopeless Shades among
(Eyes with no earthly like but heaven's own blue),
And called me to her in such voice as few
In that grim place had heard, so low, so clear,
So toned and cadenced from the Utmost Sphere,
The Unattainable Heaven from which she came.
'O Mantuan Spirit,' she said, 'whose lasting fame
Continues on the earth ye left, and still
With Time shall stand, an earthly friend to me,
- My friend, not fortune's - climbs a path so ill
That all the night-bred fears he hastes to flee
Were kindly to the thing he nears. The tale
Moved through the peace of I leaven, and swift I sped
Downward, to aid my friend in love's avail,
With scanty time therefor, that half I dread
Too late I came. But thou shalt haste, and go
With golden wisdom of thy speech, that so
For me be consolation. Thou shalt say,
"I come from Beatricë." Downward far,
From Heaven to I leaven I sank, from star to star,
To find thee, and to point his rescuing way.
Fain would I to my place of light return;
Love moved me from it, and gave me power to learn
Thy speech. When next before my Lord I stand
I very oft shall praise thee.'
Hereshe ceased,
And I gave answer to that dear command,
'Lady, alone through whom the whole race of those
The smallest Heaven the moon's short orbits hold
Excels in its creation, not thy least,
Thy lightest wish in this dark realm were told
Vainly. But show me why the Heavens unclose
To loose thee from them, and thyself content
Couldst thus continue in such strange descent
From that most Spacious Place for which ye burn,
And while ye further left, would fain return.'

" 'That which thou wouldst,' she said, 'I briefly tell.
There is no fear nor any hurt in Hell,
Except that it be powerful. God in me
Is gracious, that the piteous sights I see
I share not, nor myself can shrink to feel
The flame of all this burning. One there is
In height among the Holiest placed, and she
- Mercy her name - among God's mysteries
Dwells in the midst, and hath the power to see
His judgments, and to break them. This sharp
I tell thee, when she saw, she called, that so
Leaned Lucia toward her while she spake - and said,
"One that is faithful to thy name is sped,
Except that now ye aid him." She thereat,
- Lucia, to all men's wrongs inimical -
Left her High Place, and crossed to where I sat
In speech with Rachel (of the first of all
God saved). "O Beatrice, Praise of God,"
- So said she to me - "sitt'st thou here so slow
To aid him, once on earth that loved thee so
That all he left to serve thee? Hear'st thou not
The anguish of his plaint? and dost not see,
By that dark stream that never seeks a sea,
The death that threats him?"
None, as thus shesaid,
None ever was swift on earth his good to chase,
None ever on earth was swift to leave his dread,
As came I downward from that sacred place
To find thee and invoke thee, confident
Not vainly for his need the gold were spent
Of thy word-wisdom.' Here she turned away,
Her bright eyes clouded with their tears, and I,
Who saw them, therefore made more haste to reach
The place she told, and found thee. Canst thou say
I failed thy rescue? Is the beast anigh
From which ye quailed? When such dear saints beseech
- Three from the Highest - that Heaven thy course allow
Why halt ye fearful? In such guards as thou
The faintest-hearted might be bold."
As flowers,
Close-folded through the cold and lightless hours,
Their bended stems erect, and opening fair
Accept the white light and the warmer air
Of morning, so my fainting heart anew
Lifted, that heard his comfort. Swift I spake,
"O courteous thou, and she compassionate!
Thy haste that saved me, and her warning true,
Beyond my worth exalt me. Thine I make
My will. In concord of one mind from now,
O Master and my Guide, where leadest thou
I follow."
And we, with no more words' delay,
Went forward on that hard and dreadful way.

Canto III

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dante's Inferno: A Journey Through Hell

Dante Alighieri's "Inferno" is a classic work of literature that has inspired countless writers, thinkers, and artists over the centuries. This epic poem takes readers on a journey through the nine circles of Hell, where sinners are punished for their transgressions against God and humanity.

At its core, "Inferno" is a deeply religious work that explores themes of sin, redemption, and the afterlife. However, it is also a masterpiece of storytelling, filled with vivid imagery, complex characters, and surprising plot twists.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the many layers of "Inferno" to better understand its meaning and significance.

The Structure of Hell

The first thing that strikes readers of "Inferno" is its intricate structure. Dante's Hell is divided into nine circles, each one reserved for a different type of sin.

The first circle is reserved for the unbaptized and the virtuous pagans, those who lived before the time of Christ and were therefore unable to receive salvation. The second circle is for the lustful, the third for the gluttonous, and the fourth for the hoarders and spendthrifts.

As Dante descends deeper into Hell, the sins become increasingly severe. The fifth circle is for the wrathful and the sullen, the sixth for the heretics, and the seventh for the violent.

The eighth circle is divided into ten bolge, or ditches, each one reserved for a different type of fraud. Finally, the ninth circle is reserved for the worst sinners of all: the traitors.

This structure is not arbitrary; each circle is carefully designed to reflect the nature of the sins it contains. For example, the second circle is constantly buffeted by strong winds, symbolizing the restless passion of the lustful.

Dante's Universe

While "Inferno" is set in Hell, it is actually part of a larger cosmology that includes Heaven and Purgatory. Dante's universe is based on the medieval Catholic worldview, which held that the universe was divided into three realms: Heaven, Earth, and Hell.

In this universe, all souls are judged after death and sent to either Heaven or Hell, depending on their deeds in life. However, not all souls are immediately sent to their final destination. Some are sent to Purgatory, a place of temporary punishment where they can atone for their sins and eventually ascend to Heaven.

This cosmology is crucial to understanding the meaning of "Inferno." Dante's journey through Hell is not just a physical one; it is also a spiritual one. As he descends deeper into the circles of Hell, he is forced to confront the sins that have been holding him back in his own life.

The Characters of "Inferno"

One of the most compelling aspects of "Inferno" is its cast of characters. Dante populates his Hell with a wide variety of sinners, each one punished in a way that reflects their specific sin.

There are historical figures like Julius Caesar, who is condemned to the sixth circle for his role in the destruction of the Roman Republic. There are also mythological figures like Minos, the judge of the underworld, and Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guards the gluttons.

However, the most fascinating characters in "Inferno" are the sinners themselves. Dante portrays them in all their complexity, showing that even the most wicked among us are capable of moments of sympathy and humanity.

For example, in the eighth circle, Dante encounters a group of fraudulent advisors who are being consumed by flames. One of these sinners, Guido da Montefeltro, tells Dante his story and reveals that he was tricked into advising a corrupt pope. He regrets his actions and begs Dante to spread the truth about his story on Earth.

This moment is a poignant reminder that even those who commit terrible sins are still human beings with their own hopes, fears, and regrets.

The Meaning of "Inferno"

So what is the meaning of "Inferno"? At its core, the poem is a meditation on the nature of sin and its consequences. Dante's Hell is not just a place of punishment; it is a place of education.

As he journeys through the circles of Hell, Dante sees the consequences of each sin and learns its true nature. He sees the arrogance of the proud, the despair of the envious, and the cruelty of the violent.

Through this journey, Dante is ultimately able to find redemption. He realizes the true nature of sin and the importance of leading a virtuous life. By the end of the poem, he has experienced a spiritual transformation that allows him to ascend to Heaven.

Conclusion

"Inferno" is a timeless work of literature that continues to captivate readers today. Its intricate structure, complex characters, and powerful themes make it a masterpiece of storytelling.

Dante's journey through Hell is not just a physical one; it is a spiritual one as well. Through his experiences in the circles of Hell, Dante is able to confront his own sins and find redemption.

In the end, "Inferno" is a powerful reminder that our actions in life have consequences, and that it is never too late to seek redemption and live a virtuous life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy" is a masterpiece of world literature, and its first part, "The Inferno," is a classic of Western poetry. Written in the early 14th century, the poem tells the story of Dante's journey through Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil. The Inferno is a complex and multi-layered work that combines elements of theology, philosophy, and political satire, and it has been interpreted in many different ways over the centuries. In this article, we will explore some of the key themes and motifs of the poem and try to understand what makes it such a timeless and enduring work of art.

The Structure of the Inferno

The Inferno is divided into 34 cantos, each of which is composed of three-line stanzas called tercets. The poem is written in the vernacular Italian of Dante's time, which was a bold and innovative choice at the time, as most serious literature was still written in Latin. The poem is also notable for its use of rhyme and meter, which give it a musical quality that is rare in epic poetry.

The structure of the Inferno is based on the medieval Christian concept of the afterlife, which was divided into three realms: Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Dante's journey through Hell is divided into nine circles, each of which is reserved for a different category of sinners. The circles are arranged in a descending order, with the most serious sins punished in the deepest circles. The first circle is reserved for the unbaptized and the virtuous pagans, while the ninth circle is reserved for the traitors, who are frozen in a lake of ice.

The Themes of the Inferno

The Inferno is a complex work that deals with many different themes, but some of the most important ones include sin, justice, and redemption. Dante's vision of Hell is a place where sinners are punished for their sins, but it is also a place where justice is served. Each sinner is punished in a way that is appropriate to their sin, and the punishments are often symbolic of the sin itself. For example, the gluttons are forced to lie in filth and be bitten by worms, while the wrathful are constantly fighting with each other.

At the same time, the Inferno is also a place of redemption, where sinners have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven. Dante's journey through Hell is a journey of self-discovery, and he learns many important lessons along the way. He sees the consequences of sin and the importance of living a virtuous life, and he is inspired to change his ways and seek redemption.

The Characters of the Inferno

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Inferno is its cast of characters, which includes some of the most famous figures from history and mythology. Dante's vision of Hell is a place where sinners from all walks of life are punished, regardless of their social status or wealth. Some of the most notable sinners include:

• The poet Virgil, who serves as Dante's guide through Hell. Virgil is a symbol of reason and wisdom, and he represents the classical tradition of literature and philosophy.

• The three-headed dog Cerberus, who guards the gluttons in the third circle. Cerberus is a symbol of the animalistic nature of gluttony, and he is often depicted as a monstrous beast.

• The famous lovers Paolo and Francesca, who are punished in the second circle for their adultery. Their story is one of the most famous in the poem, and it has inspired countless works of art and literature.

• The giant Nimrod, who is punished in the ninth circle for his pride. Nimrod is a symbol of human arrogance and the desire for power, and his punishment is to be frozen in ice, unable to move or speak.

• The traitor Judas Iscariot, who is punished in the deepest circle of Hell. Judas is a symbol of betrayal and treachery, and his punishment is to be chewed on by Satan himself.

The Symbolism of the Inferno

The Inferno is a highly symbolic work, and many of its images and motifs have deep meaning and significance. One of the most important symbols in the poem is the journey itself, which represents the spiritual journey of the soul. Dante's journey through Hell is a metaphor for the journey of the soul from sin to redemption, and it is a reminder of the importance of living a virtuous life.

Another important symbol in the poem is the number three, which is used throughout the work to represent the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity. The poem is divided into three parts, and each part is divided into 33 cantos, with an additional canto at the beginning of the first part. The number three is also used to represent the three realms of the afterlife, as well as the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

Conclusion

Dante Alighieri's "The Inferno" is a masterpiece of world literature that has inspired countless readers and writers over the centuries. Its complex structure, rich symbolism, and vivid characters make it a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with readers today. Whether you are a student of literature, a lover of poetry, or simply someone who enjoys a good story, the Inferno is a work that is sure to captivate and inspire you.

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