And this blind life of theirs is so debased, They envious are of every other fate.
No fame of them the world permits to be;
Misericord and Justice both disdain them.
Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass."
And I, who looked again, beheld a banner, Which, whirling round, ran on so rapidly, That of all pause it seemed to me indignant;
And after it there came so long a train Of people, that I ne'er would have believed That ever Death so many had undone.
When some among them I had recognised, I looked, and I beheld the shade of him Who made through cowardice the great refusal.
Forthwith I comprehended, and was certain, That this the sect was of the caitiff wretches Hateful to God and to his enemies.
These miscreants, who never were alive, Were naked, and were stung exceedingly By gadflies and by hornets that were there.
These did their faces irrigate with blood, Which, with their tears commingled, at their feet By the disgusting worms was gathered up.
And when to gazing farther I betook me.
People I saw on a great river's bank;
Whence said I: "Master, now vouchsafe to me, That I may know who these are, and what law Makes them appear so ready to pass over, As I discern athwart the dusky light."
And he to me: "These things shall all be known To thee, as soon as we our footsteps stay Upon the dismal shore of Acheron."
Then with mine eyes ashamed and downward cast, Fearing my words might irksome be to him, From speech refrained I till we reached the river.
And lo! towards us coming in a boat An old man, hoary with the hair of eld, Crying: "Woe unto you, ye souls depraved!
Hope nevermore to look upon the heavens;
I come to lead you to the other shore, To the eternal shades in heat and frost.
And thou, that yonder standest, living soul, Withdraw thee from these people, who are dead!"
But when he saw that I did not withdraw, He said: "By other ways, by other ports Thou to the shore shalt come, not here, for passage;