The Divine Comedy

of Dante Alighieri

Translated by
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

Contents

[INFERNO]
[Canto I. The Dark Forest. The Hill of Difficulty. The Panther, the Lion, and the Wolf. Virgil.]
[Canto II. The Descent. Dante’s Protest and Virgil’s Appeal. The Intercession of the Three Ladies Benedight.]
[Canto III. The Gate of Hell. The Inefficient or Indifferent. Pope Celestine V. The Shores of Acheron. Charon. The Earthquake and the Swoon.]
[Canto IV. The First Circle, Limbo: Virtuous Pagans and the Unbaptized. The Four Poets, Homer, Horace, Ovid, and Lucan. The Noble Castle of Philosophy.]
[Canto V. The Second Circle: The Wanton. Minos. The Infernal Hurricane. Francesca da Rimini.]
[Canto VI. The Third Circle: The Gluttonous. Cerberus. The Eternal Rain. Ciacco. Florence.]
[Canto VII. The Fourth Circle: The Avaricious and the Prodigal. Plutus. Fortune and her Wheel. The Fifth Circle: The Irascible and the Sullen. Styx.]
[Canto VIII. Phlegyas. Philippo Argenti. The Gate of the City of Dis.]
[Canto IX. The Furies and Medusa. The Angel. The City of Dis. The Sixth Circle: Heresiarchs.]
[Canto X. Farinata and Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti. Discourse on the Knowledge of the Damned.]
[Canto XI. The Broken Rocks. Pope Anastasius. General Description of the Inferno and its Divisions.]
[Canto XII. The Minotaur. The Seventh Circle: The Violent. The River Phlegethon. The Violent against their Neighbours. The Centaurs. Tyrants.]
[Canto XIII. The Wood of Thorns. The Harpies. The Violent against themselves. Suicides. Pier della Vigna. Lano and Jacopo da Sant’ Andrea.]
[Canto XIV. The Sand Waste and the Rain of Fire. The Violent against God. Capaneus. The Statue of Time, and the Four Infernal Rivers.]
[Canto XV. The Violent against Nature. Brunetto Latini.]
[Canto XVI. Guidoguerra, Aldobrandi, and Rusticucci. Cataract of the River of Blood.]
[Canto XVII. Geryon. The Violent against Art. Usurers. Descent into the Abyss of Malebolge.]
[Canto XVIII. The Eighth Circle, Malebolge: The Fraudulent and the Malicious. The First Bolgia: Seducers and Panders. Venedico Caccianimico. Jason. The Second Bolgia: Flatterers. Allessio Interminelli. Thais.]
[Canto XIX. The Third Bolgia: Simoniacs. Pope Nicholas III. Dante’s Reproof of corrupt Prelates.]
[Canto XX. The Fourth Bolgia: Soothsayers. Amphiaraus, Tiresias, Aruns, Manto, Eryphylus, Michael Scott, Guido Bonatti, and Asdente. Virgil reproaches Dante’s Pity. Mantua’s Foundation.]
[Canto XXI. The Fifth Bolgia: Peculators. The Elder of Santa Zita. Malacoda and other Devils.]
[Canto XXII. Ciampolo, Friar Gomita, and Michael Zanche. The Malabranche quarrel.]
[Canto XXIII. Escape from the Malabranche. The Sixth Bolgia: Hypocrites. Catalano and Loderingo. Caiaphas.]
[Canto XXIV. The Seventh Bolgia: Thieves. Vanni Fucci. Serpents.]
[Canto XXV. Vanni Fucci’s Punishment. Agnello Brunelleschi, Buoso degli Abati, Puccio Sciancato, Cianfa de’ Donati, and Guercio Cavalcanti.]
[Canto XXVI. The Eighth Bolgia: Evil Counsellors. Ulysses and Diomed. Ulysses’ Last Voyage.]
[Canto XXVII. Guido da Montefeltro. His deception by Pope Boniface VIII.]
[Canto XXVIII. The Ninth Bolgia: Schismatics. Mahomet and Ali. Pier da Medicina, Curio, Mosca, and Bertrand de Born.]
[Canto XXIX. Geri del Bello. The Tenth Bolgia: Alchemists. Griffolino d’ Arezzo and Capocchino.]
[Canto XXX. Other Falsifiers or Forgers. Gianni Schicchi, Myrrha, Adam of Brescia, Potiphar’s Wife, and Sinon of Troy.]
[Canto XXXI. The Giants, Nimrod, Ephialtes, and Antaeus. Descent to Cocytus.]
[Canto XXXII. The Ninth Circle: Traitors. The Frozen Lake of Cocytus. First Division, Caina: Traitors to their Kindred. Camicion de’ Pazzi. Second Division, Antenora: Traitors to their Country. Dante questions Bocca degli Abati. Buoso da Duera.]
[Canto XXXIII. Count Ugolino and the Archbishop Ruggieri. The Death of Count Ugolino’s Sons. Third Division of the Ninth Circle, Ptolomaea: Traitors to their Friends. Friar Alberigo, Branco d’ Oria.]
[Canto XXXIV. Fourth Division of the Ninth Circle, the Judecca: Traitors to their Lords and Benefactors. Lucifer, Judas Iscariot, Brutus, and Cassius. The Chasm of Lethe. The Ascent.]
[PURGATORIO]
[I. The Shores of Purgatory. The Four Stars. Cato of Utica. The Rush.]
[II. The Celestial Pilot. Casella. The Departure.]
[III. Discourse on the Limits of Reason. The Foot of the Mountain. Those who died in Contumacy of Holy Church. Manfredi.]
[IV. Farther Ascent. Nature of the Mountain. The Negligent, who postponed Repentance till the last Hour. Belacqua.]
[V. Those who died by Violence, but repentant. Buonconte di Monfeltro. La Pia.]
[VI. Dante’s Inquiry on Prayers for the Dead. Sordello. Italy.]
[VII. The Valley of Flowers. Negligent Princes.]
[VIII. The Guardian Angels and the Serpent. Nino di Gallura. The Three Stars. Currado Malaspina.]
[IX. Dante’s Dream of the Eagle. The Gate of Purgatory and the Angel. Seven P’s. The Keys.]
[X. The Needle’s Eye. The First Circle: The Proud. The Sculptures on the Wall.]
[XI. The Humble Prayer. Omberto di Santafiore. Oderisi d’ Agobbio. Provenzan Salvani.]
[XII. The Sculptures on the Pavement. Ascent to the Second Circle.]
[XIII. The Second Circle: The Envious. Sapia of Siena.]
[XIV. Guido del Duca and Renier da Calboli. Cities of the Arno Valley. Denunciation of Stubbornness.]
[XV. The Third Circle: The Irascible. Dante’s Visions. The Smoke.]
[XVI. Marco Lombardo. Lament over the State of the World.]
[XVII. Dante’s Dream of Anger. The Fourth Circle: The Slothful. Virgil’s Discourse of Love.]
[XVIII. Virgil further discourses of Love and Free Will. The Abbot of San Zeno.]
[XIX. Dante’s Dream of the Siren. The Fifth Circle: The Avaricious and Prodigal. Pope Adrian V.]
[XX. Hugh Capet. Corruption of the French Crown. Prophecy of the Abduction of Pope Boniface VIII and the Sacrilege of Philip the Fair. The Earthquake.]
[XXI. The Poet Statius. Praise of Virgil.]
[XXII. Statius’ Denunciation of Avarice. The Sixth Circle: The Gluttonous. The Mystic Tree.]
[XXIII. Forese. Reproof of immodest Florentine Women.]
[XXIV. Buonagiunta da Lucca. Pope Martin IV, and others. Inquiry into the State of Poetry.]
[XXV. Discourse of Statius on Generation. The Seventh Circle: The Wanton.]
[XXVI. Sodomites. Guido Guinicelli and Arnaldo Daniello.]
[XXVII. The Wall of Fire and the Angel of God. Dante’s Sleep upon the Stairway, and his Dream of Leah and Rachel. Arrival at the Terrestrial Paradise.]
[XXVIII. The River Lethe. Matilda. The Nature of the Terrestrial Paradise.]
[XXIX. The Triumph of the Church.]
[XXX. Virgil’s Departure. Beatrice. Dante’s Shame.]
[XXXI. Reproaches of Beatrice and Confession of Dante. The Passage of Lethe. The Seven Virtues. The Griffon.]
[XXXII. The Tree of Knowledge. Allegory of the Chariot.]
[XXXIII. Lament over the State of the Church. Final Reproaches of Beatrice. The River Eunoe.]
[PARADISO]
[I. The Ascent to the First Heaven. The Sphere of Fire.]
[II. The First Heaven, the Moon: Spirits who, having taken Sacred Vows, were forced to violate them. The Lunar Spots.]
[III. Piccarda Donati and the Empress Constance.]
[IV. Questionings of the Soul and of Broken Vows.]
[V. Discourse of Beatrice on Vows and Compensations. Ascent to the Second Heaven, Mercury: Spirits who for the Love of Fame achieved great Deeds.]
[VI. Justinian. The Roman Eagle. The Empire. Romeo.]
[VII. Beatrice’s Discourse of the Crucifixion, the Incarnation, the Immortality of the Soul, and the Resurrection of the Body.]
[VIII. Ascent to the Third Heaven, Venus: Lovers. Charles Martel. Discourse on diverse Natures.]
[IX. Cunizza da Romano, Folco of Marseilles, and Rahab. Neglect of the Holy Land.]
[X. The Fourth Heaven, the Sun: Theologians and Fathers of the Church. The First Circle. St. Thomas of Aquinas.]
[XI. St. Thomas recounts the Life of St. Francis. Lament over the State of the Dominican Order.]
[XII. St. Buonaventura recounts the Life of St. Dominic. Lament over the State of the Franciscan Order. The Second Circle.]
[XIII. Of the Wisdom of Solomon. St. Thomas reproaches Dante’s Judgement.]
[XIV. The Third Circle. Discourse on the Resurrection of the Flesh. The Fifth Heaven, Mars: Martyrs and Crusaders who died fighting for the true Faith. The Celestial Cross.]
[XV. Cacciaguida. Florence in the Olden Time.]
[XVI. Dante’s Noble Ancestry. Cacciaguida’s Discourse of the Great Florentines.]
[XVII. Cacciaguida’s Prophecy of Dante’s Banishment.]
[XVIII. The Sixth Heaven, Jupiter: Righteous Kings and Rulers. The Celestial Eagle. Dante’s Invectives against ecclesiastical Avarice.]
[XIX. The Eagle discourses of Salvation, Faith, and Virtue. Condemnation of the vile Kings of A.D. 1300.]
[XX. The Eagle praises the Righteous Kings of old. Benevolence of the Divine Will.]
[XXI. The Seventh Heaven, Saturn: The Contemplative. The Celestial Stairway. St. Peter Damiano. His Invectives against the Luxury of the Prelates.]
[XXII. St. Benedict. His Lamentation over the Corruption of Monks. The Eighth Heaven, the Fixed Stars.]
[XXIII. The Triumph of Christ. The Virgin Mary. The Apostles. Gabriel.]
[XXIV. The Radiant Wheel. St. Peter examines Dante on Faith.]
[XXV. The Laurel Crown. St. James examines Dante on Hope. Dante’s Blindness.]
[XXVI. St. John examines Dante on Charity. Dante’s Sight. Adam.]
[XXVII. St. Peter’s reproof of bad Popes. The Ascent to the Ninth Heaven, the ‘Primum Mobile.’]
[XXVIII. God and the Angelic Hierarchies.]
[XXIX. Beatrice’s Discourse of the Creation of the Angels, and of the Fall of Lucifer. Her Reproof of Foolish and Avaricious Preachers.]
[XXX. The Tenth Heaven, or Empyrean. The River of Light. The Two Courts of Heaven. The White Rose of Paradise. The great Throne.]
[XXXI. The Glory of Paradise. Departure of Beatrice. St. Bernard.]
[XXXII. St. Bernard points out the Saints in the White Rose.]
[XXXIII. Prayer to the Virgin. The Threefold Circle of the Trinity. Mystery of the Divine and Human Nature.]
[APPENDIX]

INFERNO

Inferno: Canto I

Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself within a forest dark,
For the straightforward pathway had been lost.

Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say
What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,
Which in the very thought renews the fear.