CANTO IX ARGUMENT. After some hindrances, and having seen the hellish furies and other monsters, the Poet, by the help of an angel, enters the city of Dis, wherein he discovers that the heretics are punished in tombs burning with intense fire; and he, together with Virgil, passes onward between the sepulchres and the walls of the city. T HE hue,' which coward dread on my pale cheeks Chased that from his which newly they had worn, And inwardly restrain'd it. He, as one Who listens, stood attentive: for his eye To import worse, perchance, than that he held, 1 "The hue." Virgil, perceiving that Dante was pale with fear, restrained those outward tokens of displeasure which his own countenance had betrayed. 2 Erichtho, a Thessalian sorceress (Lucan, "Pharsal." 1. vi.), was em ployed by Sextus, son of Pompey the Great, to conjure up a spirit, who should inform him of the issue of the civil wars between his father and Cæsar. Farthest from Heaven's all-circling orb. The road At once three hellish furies stain'd with blood. Who tend the queen of endless woe, thus spake: I' th' midst." This said, in silence he remain'd. Their breast they each one clawing tore; themselves Him shall we change; " all looking down exclaim'd: Sound and entire, mark well the lore conceal'd The Poet probably intends to call the reader's attention to the allegorical and mystic sense of the present Canto, and not, as Venturi supposes, to that of the whole work. Landino supposes this hidden meaning to be that in the case of those vices which proceed from intem perance, reason, figured under the person of Virgil, with the ordinary grace of God, may be a sufficient safeguard; but that in the instance of more heinous crimes, such as those we shall hereafter see punished, a special grace, represented by the angel, is requisite for our defence. Under close texture of the mystic strain. And now there came o'er the perturbed waves Mine eyes he loosed, and spake: 'And now direct Thy visual nerve along that ancient foam, There, thickest where the smoke ascends." As frogs Who pass'd with unwet feet the Stygian sound. Oft his left hand forth stretch'd, and seem'd alone 66 Outcasts of heaven! O abject race, and scorn'd!' Began he, on the horrid grunsel standing, "Whence doth this wild excess of insolence Lodge in you? wherefore kick you 'gainst that will Hath laid on you enforcement of your pangs? Bears still, peel'd of their hair, his throat and maw." "Your Cerberus." Cerberus is feigned to have been dragged by Hercules, bound with a threefold chain, of which, says the angel, he still bears the marks. Lombardi blames the other interpreters for having supposed that the angel at tributes this exploit to Hercules, a fabulous hero, rather than to our Saviour. It would seem as if the good father had forgotten that Cerberus is himself no less a creature of the imagination than the hero who encountered him. This said, he turn'd back o'er the filthy way, After the hallow'd words. We, unopposed, As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles, That closes Italy and laves her bounds, The place is all thick spread with sepulchres; Excell'd: for 'midst the graves were scattered flames, Their lids all hung suspended; and beneath, I thus: "Master! say who are these, interr'd By every sect their followers; and much more "The plains of Arles." In Provence. These sepulchres are mentioned in the Life of Charlemagne, which has been attributed to Archbishop Turpin, cap. 28, and 30, and by Fazio degli Uberti, Dittamondo, L. iv. cap. xxi. "At Pola." A city of Istria, situated near the gulf of Quarnaro, in the Adriatic Sea. CANTO X ARGUMENT.-Dante, having obtained permission from his guide, holds discourse with Farinata degli Uberti and Cavalcante Cavalcanti, who lie in their fiery tombs that are yet open, and not to be closed up till after the last judgment. Farinata predicts the Poet's exile from Florence; and shows him that the condemned have knowledge of future things, but are ignorant of what is at present passing, unless it be revealed by some newcomer from earth. TOW by a secret pathway we proceed, N Between the walls, that hem the region round, I close behind his steps. I thus began: "Who through these ample orbs O'er them keeps watch." He thus in answer spake: 66 From Josaphat' return'd shall come, and bring Who with the body make the spirit die. 66 "O Tuscan! thou, who through the city of fire Alive art passing, so discreet of speech: 1 'Josaphat." It seems to have been a common opinion among the Jews, as well as among many Christians, that the general judgment will be held in the valley of Josaphat, or Jehoshaphat. "I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people, and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land."-Joel, iii. 2. 2" The wish." The wish that Dante had not expressed was to see and converse with the followers of Epicurus; among whom, we shall see, were Farinata degli Uberti and Cavalcante Cavalcanti. |