Giotto di Bondone

ONE GOES THROUGH ME INTO THE CITY OF PAINS,
   AND GOES THROUGH ME INTO ETERNAL HEARTACHE,
   AND GOES THROUGH ME AMONG THE LOST HUMANS.
JUSTICE MOVED MY MAKER ON HIGH TO CREATE;
   THE DIVINE POWER OF THE ALMIGHTY,
   HIGHEST SUMMIT OF WISDOM AND FIRST STATE
OF LOVE MADE ME. NOTHING WAS FORMED BEFORE ME
   UNLESS IT IS ETERNAL, AND I LAST FOR-
   EVER. ABANDON ALL HOPE UPON ENTRY.
I saw these words of shadowy color
   written at top of a gateway; so I said,
   "Master, their meaning's hard on me." And for
me, as a prudent individual, he then:
   "Here it is fitting to abandon every
   fear of suspicion, proper for all reckless
cowardice to die here. We've come to area
   where I told you that you will see the pain-
   filled people who've lost the good reason of the
intellectual." And after he put his hand
   upon my own, which I took comfort in,
   he led me on inside secretive things.
Far off longing sighs, grief-moaning cries and threaten-
   ing screams echoed throughout th' air with no stars,
   which made me begin to weep. Different kinds
of language, unbearable speech, hurt's
   utterances, accentuations of
   rage, voices loud & shrill, and slap of hands
with them, did make a ruckus, which always
   is whirled in that timelessly dye-colored air,
   just like the sand when a whirlwind swirls.[30
And I, with head encircled by horror,
   said, "Master, what is this I am hearing?
   And what people is it, so overpower-
ed even in pain?" And he said to me,
   "The gloomy souls of those who lived without
   shame and without merit keep this miserable way.
They are mixed with that nasty choir of
   the angels who were not rebels, were not in
   faith to God, but off to themselves. The heavens
reject them, so as not to be less lovely, &
   the pit of hell will not accept them, that
   the guilty have no glory over them."
And I said, "Oh master, what is so harsh
   for them that it makes them cry lament so
   grievously?" "I will tell you," he replied,
"very briefly. These ones have no hope
   of dying, and so low-down was their blind
   life, that they're jealous of every other lot.
The world lets not their reputation be famed;
   mercy and justice despise them: let's not dis-
   course on them, but take a look, you, & move on."
And I that looked, did see a banner which
   whirling ran so fast, that it seemed to me
   undeserving of a break; and behind it
there went so vast a commerce of people,
   that I wouldn't have imagined death unmade
   so many for it. Then as I perceived
some few there, did I see and recognize
   the shade of that man, th' one who made the great
   refusal that he did through cowardice.[60
Immediately, I understood and was
   certain that this was the sect of wicked
   nasties, a regret to God and to his foes.
These misfortunate souls, who never did
   truly live, were naked and got stung a lot
   by mosquitoes that were there. These left blood-
streaks on their faces which, combined with
   the tears, were gathered up by unsettling
   maggots collected at their feet. And
then while I was causing myself to take
   a look further on, I saw persons on the
   bank of a massive river; so for that
I said, "Master, now do let me know who they
   are, and what custom makes them seem to pass
   over so ready quick, as I perceive
through the dim light." And to me said he, "Things
   will be accounted for you when we halt,
   upon the sad shore of Acheron, our steps."
Then, with eyes embarrassed shamefully and look-
   ing downward, fearing that my speaking to
   him had been severe, I kept from speaking
until the stream. And see, an old man in a
   boat coming toward us, white for his ancient
   hair, screaming: "Sucks for you, wicked spirits! Do
not ever hope to see heaven: I'm coming
   to lead you to the other shore in ever-
   lasting shadows, into heat and frost. And
you who're there, living soul, get away from
   these ones that are deceased." But then when he
   saw me not about to leave, he said, "You will[90
come ashore by another road, through
   other gates, not by passing here: a less
   heavy ship's appropriate to carry you."
And my leader told him, "Charon, don't worry: thus
   is willed up where that which be willed is
   possible, & don't any more ask."
Right then were quieted the scruffy jowls
   of the bruise-hued marsh's pilot, that around
   in th' eyes had some of flaming wheels. But those
souls, which were worn out and naked, did
   change their aspect and were chattering teeth
   as soon as hearing his brutal words. They cursed
blaspheming God and their relatives, the
   human species and the place and the time
   and the seed of their heritage, and of their
birth. As many all withdrew together then,
   bitterly weeping, at the satanic
   shore that waits for each man who has no fear
of God. Demon Charon, with eyes of burning
   coal beckoning them, gathers 'em up; with
   the oar, he hits anyone that slacks off.
As from autumn the leaves are taken off,
   one after th' other, until the branch sees
   all its covering shed upon the earth,
no differently did Adam's evil seed
   traffic from that shore, each and every one,
   by signals as a falcon at its call to heed.
So senses through the darkened wave go on,
   and soon as they are off from that, he leaves,
   though a new crowd musters over there. "Son[120
of mine," said my courteous master, "those
   who pass away in wrath of God all gather
   together here from every land; and these
are ready quick to cross over the river,
   since divine justice drives them on, so fear
   is turned into desire. A good soul
does not ever pass on by through here;
   and yet, if Charon complains of you, you can
   know well by now what his sound makes clear."
This over & done with, the dark country plain
   shook so hard that, because of the fright, my
   mind bathes me again still in sweat. The land
so tearful, sad did to the wind give rise,
   which flashèd a red-rose light, crimson deep,
   that defeated me of all sensibility;
and I fell just like the man seized by sleep.