And if they were before Christianity, In the right manner they adored not God;
And among such as these am I myself.
For such defects, and not for other guilt, Lost are we and are only so far punished, That without hope we live on in desire."
Great grief seized on my heart when this I heard, Because some people of much worthiness I knew, who in that Limbo were suspended.
"Tell me, my Master, tell me, thou my Lord,"
Began I, with desire of being certain Of that Faith which o'ercometh every error, "Came any one by his own merit hence, Or by another's, who was blessed thereafter?"
And he, who understood my covert speech, Replied: "I was a novice in this state, When I saw hither come a Mighty One, With sign of victory incoronate.
Hence he drew forth the shade of the First Parent, And that of his son Abel, and of Noah, Of Moses the lawgiver, and the obedient Abraham, patriarch, and David, king, Israel with his father and his children, And Rachel, for whose sake he did so much, And others many, and he made them blessed;
And thou must know, that earlier than these Never were any human spirits saved."
We ceased not to advance because he spake, But still were passing onward through the forest, The forest, say I, of thick-crowded ghosts.
Not very far as yet our way had gone This side the summit, when I saw a fire That overcame a hemisphere of darkness.
We were a little distant from it still, But not so far that I in part discerned not That honourable people held that place.