Michelangelo

At the far end of a high bank that the
   great, broken rocks in a circle formed round,
   we came upon a crowd that was more cruelly
disposed; and here because of what we found,
   an awful stench, emitted from th' abyss,
   we stayed back till we were behind the crown
of a huge tomb, where I saw writing which
   said: «I watch Pope Anastasius, who was
   the one drawn from the right path by Photinus.»
"Our ascent will have to be delayed, so that
   the senses might get at first somewhat acclimated
   to the nasty breath; then, there'll be no looking back."
Thus did my master speak; and I told him,
   "Come up with some remuneration, so
   that the time goes not to waste." And his response:
"Do examine what I have in mind. Son of mine,"
   he then started to say, "within these cliffs are
   three lesser circles, progressive in level, just
like those which you are leaving from. They are all
   filled with spirits cursed; but since seeing the scene
   only may satisfy you, pay attention to
the how and why that they've been forced to oblige.
   Injustice is the end of every evil which
   procures malice in heaven, & such a goal as this is
a harm to others, either by force or fraud. Yet, since
   fraud is the proprietary ill of man, it's the more
   displeasing to God; and so the frauds are lower down, as
grief besieges them the more. The first circle's for
   the violent: since it uses force against three persons,
   it is differentiated and made of three lesser[30
grades. Th' use of force is fixed against God, the self
   and one's neighbor -- I mean, against them or their
   things -- as you will hear in ample logic.
Grievous wounds and causing death are harmful to
   neighbors, as are ruin, destruction and
   extortion of one's property. Hence the first
enclosure torments all murderers and each
   one that works evil, ruinous types and thieves
   in various multitudes. Mankind can lay
violent hands upon oneself and on his own
   goods; therefore, in the second ring is fitting
   that each repents in vain whatever they
deprived themselves of in your world, gambling,
   squandering their patrimony and weeping
   when they should have been of light-hearted cheer.
Someone can use violent force against
   the Trinity, denying it deep down and
   blaspheming godhead, disregarding nature in its
bounty: and so the smaller circle encloses
   both Soddom and Cahors by its seal, as
   well as any who spurn God at heart, when they talk.
Fraud, which grips every consciousness, can be practiced
   by man against another who trusts in him,
   and among whom place in their pockets no trust.
This back-alley way seems to cut off just the bond
   of love which nature forges; which is why
   hypocrisy, forms of flattery and
magicians, falsehood, thieving and simony,
   yes-men and barratry make their nest in
   the second circle, with other trash like that.[60
Through the former way is that love forgotten,
   the one which nature does produce, as is
   what's added to it, by which a special faith is found;
whence in the smaller circle -- where goes the
   universal point upon which Dis is seated, -- what-
   ever traffics in th' eternal is consumed."
And I replied: "Master, your reasoning proceeds
   fairly clear, and does distinguish pretty well
   this barratry and the people whom it possesses.
But tell me: those which the dense marsh holds, whom
   the wind leads about, and those the rain beats upon,
   and that run into each other with such harsh tongue,
why aren't they punished inside the reddish town,
   if God holds them in wrath? -- & if he does not,
   why are they presenting themselves like so?"
And to me, he said: "Why is your intelligence
   so far off from its customary brilliance? -- or
   is your mind aiming to look towards some other
way? Doesn't it remind you of those words
   in which Aristotle's Ethics addresses
   the three states of mind which heaven forbids
incontinence, ill will and animal
   savagery? -- as well as how incontinence
   offends God the least, and pleads for less of blame?
If you would review this quote by the sentence,
   and call to mind those which pay the penalty
   outside of here, above, you'll clearly witness
why it is that these wicked ones should be
   set apart, and why divine vengeance may
   hammer on them with less troubling worry."[90
"Oh sunlight which fixes every troubled sight,
   whenever you resolve my problems, you so
   satisfy me that confusion pleases me
as much as knowing th' answer. But please go
   back a bit," said I, "to where usury offends
   almighty goodwill, and untie that knot!"
He did tell me, "For one who understands,
   philosophy takes note of how nature draws
   its course from the divine intellect, and
from its artistry, & not just in one place alone;
   and if you might note Aristotle's Physics well,
   you'll find, after not too many pages, how
that art of yours, to th' extent which it can,
   follows logically, like how master makes his
   student do: so that your art is as if relative
to God. From these two points, provided you
   recall Genesis from the start, it is fitting
   to make your way and profit humanity:
but since th' usurer takes a different path,
   he disrespects nature itself and its disciple,
   and then puts his hope in another cause.
So now follow me, as getting going pleases me:
   for Pisces is glittering over the horizon,
   and the Big Dipper lies all across the north-
west; the falling off a bit further does descend."