The Inferno of DanteGeneral Books, 2013 - 88 pages This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920 edition. Excerpt: ... CANTO V The Second Circle: The Lascivious. Minos. Carnal Sinners. Francesca da Rimini. Thus I went down from where the first round lies Unto the second where less space extends And so much greater pain it goads to cries. There Minos, snarling horribly, attends, He probes the misdemeanors at the door And as he binds himself he dooms and sends. I mean, when comes the ill-born spirit o'er To stand before him, all is then confessed; And this well-practised Judge of sin, therefore, Selects the place in Hell which suits it best; His tail as many times is round him curled As rounds below it falls at his behest . Throngs ever stand before him from our world, Each one in turn to judgment then draws nigh, They speak, they hear, and straightway down are hurled. "O thou, who to this doleful hostelry Art come," said Minos, seeing me at his side, The act remitting of his office high, "Ware how thou enterest, where thou dost confide, Be not deceived by the broadness of the gate " "Why dost thou too cry out," then said my Guide. "Seek not to interrupt this course of Fate: 'T is thus decreed where there is power to do Whate'er is willed; no more to parley wait " Ora incomincian le dolenti note A farmisi sentire; or son venuto La dove molto pianto mi percote. Io venni in loco d'ogni luce muto, Che mugghia come fa mar per tempesta, Se da contrari venti e combattuto. La bufera infernal, che mai non resta, Mena gli spirti con la sua rapina; Voltando e percotendo li molesta. Quando giungon davanti alla ruina, Quivi le strida, il compianto e il lamento; Bestemmian quivi la virtu divina. Intesi che a cosi fatto tormento Enno dannati i peccator carnali, Che la ragion sommettono al talento. E come gli stornei ne portan l ' ali Nel freddo... |
