CANTO 3

Hell Gate—the trimmers—the Acheron—Charon and the damned
souls—the pilgrim’s faint

1	THROUGH ME THE WAY INTO THE GRIEVING CITY,
	THROUGH ME THE WAY INTO ETERNAL SORROW,
	THROUGH ME THE WAY AMONG THE LOST PEOPLE.
4	JUSTICE MOVED MY HIGH MAKER;
	DIVINE POWER MADE ME,
	HIGHEST WISDOM, AND PRIMAL LOVE.
7	BEFORE ME WERE NO THINGS CREATED
	EXCEPT ETERNAL ONES, AND I ENDURE ETERNAL.
	ABANDON EVERY HOPE, YOU WHO ENTER.
10	These words I saw written with dark color above a gate, and I said: “Master, their sense is hard for me”.
13	And he to me, like one alert: “Here one must abandon every suspicion, every cowardice must die here.
16	We have come to the place where I told you you will see the grieving peoples who have lost the good of the intellect”.,
19	And, putting his hand on mine with a cheerful glance from which I drew strength, he introduced me into the secret things.
22	There sighs, weeping, loud wailing resounded through the starless air, for which at the outset I shed tears.
25	Strange languages, horrible tongues, words of pain, accents of anger, voices loud and hoarse, and sounds of blows with them,
28	made a tumult that turns forever in that air darkened without time, like the sand when a whirlwind blows.

31	And I, my head girt with horror, said: “Master, what is this I hear? and what people is this who seem so overcome by grief?”
34	And he to me: “This wretched measure is kept by the miserable souls who lived without infamy and without praise.
37	They are mixed with that cowardly chorus of angels who were not rebels yet were not faithful to God, but were for themselves.
40	The heavens reject them so as not to be less beautiful, nor does deep Hell receive them, for the wicked would have some glory from them”.
43	And I: “Master, what is so grievous that it makes them lament so loudly?” He replied: “I will tell you very briefly.
46	They have no hope of death, and their blind life is so base that they are envious of every other fate.
49	The world permits no fame of them to exist; mercy and justice alike disdain them: let us not speak of them, but look and pass on”.
52	When I looked again, I saw a flag running in circles so rapidly that it seemed to scorn all pause;
55	and after it there came so long a train of people, that I would not have believed death had undone so many.
58	After I had recognized several, I saw and knew the shade of him who in his cowardice made the great refusal.
61	Immediately I understood and was certain that this was the sect of cowards, displeasing both to Go and to his enemies.
64	These wretches, who never were alive, were naked and much tormented by large flies and wasps that were there.
67	These streaked their faces with blood which, mixed with tears, at their feet was gathered up by disgusting worms.

70	And when I gazed beyond them, I saw people on the bank of a great river; so I said, “Master, now grant
73	that I may know who those are, and what disposition makes them seem so ready to cross over, as I can discern in spite of the weak light”.
76	And he to me: “These things will be made known to you when we stay our steps on the gloomy shore of Acheron”.
79	Then with eyes shamefast and cast down, afraid that my speaking might displease him, I refrained from speech until we reached the river.
82	And behold coming toward us in a boat an old man, white with the hairs of age, crying: “Woe to you, wicked souls!
85	Never hope to see the sky: I come to lead you to the other shore, to the eternal shadows, to heat and freezing.
88	And you who are over there, living soul, separate yourself from these here, who are dead”. But when he saw that I did not leave,
91	he said: “By another way, through other ports will you come to shore, not by crossing here: a lighter vessel must carry you”.
94	And my leader to him: “Charon, do not torture yourself with anger: this is willed where what is willed can be done, so ask no more”.
97	Then were quiet the woolly jowls of the pilot of the livid swamp; around his eyes he had wheels of flame.
100	But those weary, naked souls changed color and gnashed their teeth, as soon as they heard his harsh words.
103	They cursed God and their parents, the human race and the place and the time and the seed of their sowing and of their birth.
106	Then all of them together, weeping loudly, drew near the evil shore that awaits each one who does not fear God.

109	Charon the demon, with eyes like glowing coals, making signs to them, gathers them all in; he beats with his oar whoever lingers.
112	As in autumn the leaves remove themselves one after the other, until the branch sees all its raiment on the ground:
115	so the evil seed of Adam throw themselves from that shore one by one, when beckoned to, each like a falcon to its lure.
118	Thus they go off across the dark waves, and before they have disembarked over there, over here again a new flock gathers.
121	“My son,” said my courteous master, “those who die in God’s anger all come together here from every land;
124	and they are ready to cross over the river, for God’s justice so spurs them that fear turns to desire.
127	No good soul ever passes this way; and so, if Charon complains of you, you can well understand what his words mean”.
130	As he finished, the dark landscape trembled so violently that in terror my memory bathes me again with sweat.
133	The tearful earth gave forth a wind that flashed with a crimson light which overcame all feeling in me,
136	and I fell like one whom sleep is taking.