登陆注册
15691000000016

第16章 HELL.(9)

While we were running through the dead channel, before me showed himself one full of mud, and said, "Who art thou that comest before the hour?" And I to him, "If I come I stay not; but thou, who art thou that art become so foul?" He answered, "Thou seest that I am one who weeps." And I to him, "With weeping and with wailing, accursed spirit, do thou remain, for I know thee although thou art all filthy." Then he stretched to the boat both his hands, whereat the wary Master thrust him back, saying, "Begone there, with the other dogs!" Then with his arms he clasped my neck, kissed my face, and said, "Disdainful soul, blessed be she who bore thee! This one was an arrogant person in the world; no goodness is there that adorns his memory; therefore is his shade so furious here. How manynow up there are held great kings who shall stand here like swine in mire, leaving of themselves horrible dispraises." And I, "Master, I should much like to see him ducked in this broth before we depart from the lake." And he to me, "Ere the shore allows thee to see it thou shalt be satisfied; it will be fitting that thou enjoy such a desire." After this a little I saw such rending of him by the muddy folk that I still praise God therefor, and thank Him for it. All cried, "At Filippo Argenti! " and the raging florentine spirit turned upon himself with his teeth. Here we left him; so that I tell no more of him.

But on my ears there smote a wailing, whereat forward intent I open wide my eye. And the good Master said, "Now, son, the city draws near that is named Dis, with its heavy citizens, with its great throng." And I, "Master, already in the valley therewithin I clearly discern its mosques vermilion, as if issuing from fire." And he said to me, "The eternal fire that blazes within them displays them red as thou seest in this nether Hell."We at last arrived within the deep ditches that encompass that disconsolate city. The walls seemed to me to be of iron. Not without first making a great circuit did we come to a place where the ferryman loudly shouted to us, "Out with you, here is the entrance.'

Upon the gates I saw more than a thousand of those rained down from heaven who angrily were saying, "Who is this, that without death goes through the realm of the dead folk?" And my wise Master made a sign of wishing to speak secretly with them. Then they shut in a little their great scorn, and said, "Come thou alone, and let him be gone who so boldly entered on this realm. Alone let him return on the mad path: let him try if he can; for thou, who hast escorted him through so dark a region, shalt remain here."Think, Reader, if I was discomforted at the sound of the accursed words, for I did not believe ever to return hither.[1]

[1] To this world.

"O my dear Leader, who more than seven times hast renewed assurance in me, and drawn me from deep peril that stood confronting me, leave me not," said I, "thus undone; and, if the going farther onward be denied us, let us together retrace our footprints quickly." And that Lordwho had led me thither said to me, "Fear not, for no one can take from us our onward way, by Such an one it is given to us. But here await me, and comfort thy dejected spirit and feed on good hope, for I will not leave thee in the nether world."So the sweet Father goes away, and here abandons me, and I remain in suspense; and yes and no contend within my head. I could not hear what he set forth to them, but he had not staid there long with them, when each ran vying back within. These our adversaries closed the gates on the breast of my Lord, who remained without, and returned to me with slow steps. He held his eyes upon the ground, and his brow was shorn of all hardihood, and he said in sighs, "Who hath denied to me the houses of woe?" And he said to me, "Thou, because I am wroth, be not dismayed, for I shall win the strife, whoever circle round within for the defence. This their insolence is not new, for of old they used it at a less secret gate, which still is found without a bolt. Above it thou didst see the dead inscription; and already on this side of it descends the steep, passing without escort through the circles, One such that by him the city shall be opened to us."CANTO IX. The City of Dis.--Erichtho.--The Three Furies.--The Heavenly Messenger.--The Sixth Circle, that of the Heresiarchs.

That color which cowardice painted outwardly on me when I saw my Guide turn back, repressed more speedily his own new color. He stopped attentive, like a man that listens, for the eye could not lead him far through the black air, and through the dense fog.

"Yet it must be for us to win the fight," began he, "unless--Such an one offered herself to us.[1] Oh how slow it seems till Some one here arrive! "[2]

[1] Beatrice.

[2] The messenger from Heaven, referred to in the last verses of the last canto.

I saw well how he covered up the beginning with the rest that came after, which were words different from the first. But nevertheless his speech gave me fear, because I drew his broken phrase perchance to a worse meaning than it held.

"Into this depth of the dismal shell does any one ever descend from the first grade who has for penalty only hope cut off? "[1] This question I put, and he answered me, "Seldom it happens that any one of us maketh the journey on which I am going. It is true that another time I was conjured down here by that cruel Erichtho who was wont to call back shades into their bodies. Short while had my flesh been bare of me, when she made me enter within that wall in order to drag out for her a spirit from the circle of Judas. That is the lowest place, and the darkest, and the farthest from the Heaven that encircles all. Well do I know the road: therefore assure thyself. This marsh which breathes out the great stench girds round about the woeful city wherein now we cannot enter without anger."[1] Dante asks for assurance that Virgil, whose station is in Limbo, "the first grade," knows the way.

同类推荐
  • 菩萨戒本

    菩萨戒本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说七女经

    佛说七女经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 困学纪闻

    困学纪闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Gaming Table

    The Gaming Table

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Black Dwarf

    The Black Dwarf

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 薄荷色爱情

    薄荷色爱情

    韩静熙,王学敏,张静三人是闺蜜。可是当韩静煕和端木幽遇见的时候,她们发现,原来自己真的喜欢的人在这里。三人从甜蜜到了隔阂。让我们猜一猜谁和谁到底会在一起呢?薄荷绿的爱情,薄荷蓝的青春,薄荷色的我们,来继续着完美的爱情。
  • 百蕊雨晴

    百蕊雨晴

    因容颜娇艳,成为救公主的牺牲品,祭坛上的离奇事件,引出一段身世秘事,天生仙骨的她踏上了营救父母的艰难道路,获宝器,闯秘境,爱情,友情,亲情,不断接受挑战,终有一天一定会踏上世界之巅,一家团圆。
  • 王牌校草的恶魔公主

    王牌校草的恶魔公主

    这是信子的第一本小说,如果写得不好,请指出,信子会努力的(如有雷同,纯属巧合不喜匆喷
  • 道门女侯之血色飘香

    道门女侯之血色飘香

    误中迷香,古屋中出现的昏睡男女,一起起诡异的脱衣事件,神秘失踪的警界精英,人间蒸发的奇怪家族,一时弄得人心惶惶。为解开这一系列的谜团,欧阳雪和她的伙伴们踏上了寻秘探险之路。随着事件的深入,乡下小镇笼罩层层迷雾。三百年前茅山道长的制邪秘术,不为人知的禁地奇书,封沙诡影的宏大场面,这仅仅只是一个开端……
  • 极品神医在都市

    极品神医在都市

    许逸特种部队首席军医,又是令人闻风丧胆的特种兵王。因为偷看禁法遭到反噬,本来命不久矣,却在阴差阳错下混进医院成为一名妇科实习生,在危难中他数次救险,屡立奇功,不仅在杏林中声名鹊起,更是获得了无数美女的青睐…看医流高手纵横花都,巅峰医术换来美女无数的巅峰人生……
  • 异世女仙

    异世女仙

    她,一个异世魂魄,来到了此大陆,因前世的情伤,她要踩遍天下臭男人!拜在她石榴裙下!!!!
  • 腹黑总裁:你的房东要解租

    腹黑总裁:你的房东要解租

    什么!!!沐浅浅不可置信的看着老妈,竟然让一个男的搬过来一起住!!虽然房租照交但是为什么是个男的!!好吧,既然没办法,那就为了自己的人身安全,还是定个协议比较好“沐浅浅,把客厅收拾了”“哦,来了”“沐浅浅,把碗洗了”“哦“最后,受不了的沐浅浅终于暴走了“喂,不是家务事一人一半吗!”我是你总裁,不想在公司呆了吗?“好吧,忍辱负重,老妈,不是说是个温文尔雅的人吗,那这腹黑货是谁啊?!!!我不管,我要解租!!看邋遢女怎么扑倒洁癖男神。喜欢的读者欢迎关注我的微博@沐淘淘的幸福生活,有什么意见或建议欢迎留言哦~~~
  • 涅槃日月

    涅槃日月

    青山绿水日月星辰,这些看似普通的东西终有一日成为人类最大的渴求。他看惯了无数的杀戮和生死离别,然而却依旧向往着书中才有的平凡世界。与众不同的修炼之途让他在这个世界生存都变得困难。似乎有一支手在不停地推动他的命运,不得不为了活下去而继续变得更强。
  • 潜虚

    潜虚

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 低调做人 厚黑处世

    低调做人 厚黑处世

    本书以通俗易懂的语言,生动地展示了轻松处事、灵活办事、取得成功的方法,使读者在阅读的过程中掌握为人处事的原则和方法。摆脱人生烦恼,取得人生成功。