Divine Comedy

I cannot well repeat how there I entered,In which I had abandoned the true way.

— Divine Comedy

So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward,Which never yet a living person left.

— Divine Comedy

And has a nature so malign and ruthless,And after food is hungrier than before.

— Divine Comedy

And as he is, who unwills what he willed,Which was so very prompt in the beginning.

— Divine Comedy

"If I have well thy language understood,"As false sight doth a beast, when he is shy.

— Divine Comedy

Beatrice am I, who do bid thee go;Love moved me, which compelleth me to speak.

— Divine Comedy

Of those things only should one be afraidOf the rest, no; because they are not fearful.

— Divine Comedy

God in his mercy such created meNor any flame assails me of this burning.

— Divine Comedy

Thou hast my heart so with desire disposedI entered on the deep and savage way.

— Divine Comedy

These have no longer any hope of death;Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass.

— Divine Comedy

And after it there came so long a trainThat ever Death so many had undone.

— Divine Comedy

True is it, that upon the verge I found meNothing whatever I discerned therein.

— Divine Comedy

Another way my sapient Guide conducts meAnd to a place I come where nothing shines.

— Divine Comedy

I understood that unto such a tormentNot of repose, but even of lesser pain.

— Divine Comedy

At the return of consciousness, that closedAnd whichsoever way I turn, and gaze.

— Divine Comedy

Then he turned round unto that bloated lip,Vengeance upon the proud adultery."

— Divine Comedy

Justice of God, ah! who heaps up so manyAnd why doth our transgression waste us so?

— Divine Comedy

Vain thought thou entertainest;Now makes them unto all discernment dim.

— Divine Comedy

O creatures imbecile,What ignorance is this which doth beset you?

— Divine Comedy

Let us descend now unto greater woe;When I set out, and loitering is forbidden.

— Divine Comedy

Fixed in the mire they say, 'We sullen wereFor with unbroken words they cannot say it.

— Divine Comedy

With weeping and with wailing,For thee I know, though thou art all defiled.

— Divine Comedy

And that Lord, who had led me thitherward,For in this nether world I will not leave thee."

— Divine Comedy

And therefore raise thee up, o'ercome the anguishIf with its heavy body it sink not.

— Divine Comedy