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Dante's Hell, Fourth Canto, Second Part

Continuation from previous poem We reached the footer of a castle steep, Seven times by walls encircled very tall, Defended by a river hard to leap. We overpassed it as hard ground at all; Through seven doors I entered with these wise: We reached a fresh green lawn nice to enthrall. There were people with old and severe eyes Whose appearance exuded mighty guide: They seldom spoke, had voices with sweet rise. We were turned out then walking far outside, In open terrain, tall and full of light, Such as the view of all was just implied. There straight on, staying over the green bright, The wonderful souls I was clearly shown That seeing them in me I feel delight. I saw Elettra with mates not alone, Hector and Aeneas were there, Caesar armed, with eyes of rapacious tone. I saw Camilla and Pantasilea in pair; On other side I saw the Latin king With child Lavinia sat on a chair. Bruto who Tarquinio pushed out bring, Lucrets, July, Marsia and Cornelia; And saw Saladin to solitude cling. After I elevated a bit more my cilia I saw sat the master and those who know Philosophers’ memorabilia. All him admire, just all is honor grow: I then saw Socratis and Plato here, Who well closer to him than others stow; Democritus, whose world is random mere, Diogenes, Anaxogoras and Thales then Empedocles, Heraclitus , Zenon were; And the good collector I saw when Dioscoris was; and Orpheus I saw, Tulio, Lino , Seneca moral been; Euclid geometric, Ptolemy raw, Hippocrat, Avicen, Galien too, Averois, who the great comment foresaw. I cannot fully tell of all just through, But the full theme is pushing me so long, That many times my word becomes not true. The group of six is now of two less strong: Another way is choosing my guide bright Out of the quiet air, to trembling wrong. And I am going where there is no light.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014




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Book: Shattered Sighs