Who, mean of soul, the great refusa: made. In that vast concourse the assembly vile A mighty stream, with numbers standing near; Do these sad souls, whose state I fain would learn, As by the doubtful twilight I discern ?" "These things," he answered me, "shall all be told, Soon as our feet upon the bank are placed Of Acheron, that mournful river old.” Mine eyes cast down, my looks o'erwhelmed with shame, 79 Fearing my questions had displeased the sage, I spake not till beside the stream we came. Lo! in a vessel o'er the gloomy tide An old man comes-his locks all white with age :— Hope not that heaven shall ever bless your sight: 85 91 60. This is generally understood to mean Celestine V. whom Boniface persuaded to abdicate, and having obtained the Popedom himself, imprisoned, till he died. See canto xxvii. 105. 64. i. e. "who never used their reason," as Dante explains in his Convito Trat. ii. c 8. 83. Charon, the ferryman of Acheron. 93. That by which the spirits pass to Purgatory. See Purg. ü. 40. Thus it is willed where will and power are joined; 97 But they-soon as these threatenings met their ear— Beckoning the mournful troop, collects them there, As leaves in autumn, borne before the wind, The guilty race of Adam downward pour,- 109 115 Fresh numbers from this bank come crowding down. "All those, my son," exclaimed the courteous guide, 121 "Who in the wrath of the Almighty die, Are gathered here from every region wide: To pass the stream they rush thus hastily; 127 95. The will and the act of the Almighty are one. 114. The read. ing of" vede" is adopted by Tasso in preference to that of “renda " Sent forth a blast that melancholy realm, CANTO IV. ARGUMENT. 133 Dante, roused from his swoon by a sound of lamentations like thunder finds himself on the brink of the Vale of Woe. He follows his guide down into Limbo, where darkness reigns, till he arrives at the luminous habitation of the Poets, who receive him into their band, and shew him the honoured spirits of Antiquity. When they leave him, he re-enters the region of darkness. BROKE the deep slumber in my brain a hoarse And blend their thunders in the depth below. That though to pierce the gloom I strained my sight, Nought could I see within the gulf immense. "Now go we down to dusky regions blind," The poet said, with visage deadly pale; "I lead the way-do thou pursue behind." Then I exclaimed, of his pale looks aware, "How shall I speed, if even thou dost quail, Thou-who art wont to cheer me in despair ?" He answered me: "The loud laments I hear From tortured souls beneath us, on my face Pourtray that pity thou mistak'st for fear: But let us on-for we have far to go." He led me then within that circle's space Which first encompasseth the Vale of Woe. No wailings there were audible;-the sound Of sighs alone was heard-convulsive sighs That shook the everlasting air around. 1 13 19 25 2. This thunder proceeded from the accumulated groans in the vale of 700. Soe line 7 |