Canto VII

       Table of Contents

      ARGUMENT.—In the present Canto, Dante describes his descent into the fourth circle, at the beginning of which he sees Plutus stationed. Here one like doom awaits the prodigal and the avaricious; which is, to meet in direful conflict, rolling great weights against each other with mutual upbraidings. From hence Virgil takes occasion to show how vain the goods that are committed into the charge of Fortune; and this moves our author to inquire what being that Fortune is, of whom he speaks: which question being resolved, they go down into the fifth circle, where they find the wrathful and gloomy tormented in the Stygian lake. Having made a compass round great part of this lake, they come at last to the base of a lofty tower.

“AH me! O Satan! Satan!”1 loud exclaim’d

      Plutus, in accent hoarse of wild alarm:

      And the kind sage, whom no event surpris’d,

      To comfort me thus spake: “Let not thy fear

      Harm thee, for power in him, be sure, is none

      To hinder down this rock thy safe descent.”

      Then to that sworn lip turning, “ Peace!” he cried,

      “Curs’d wolf! thy fury inward on thyself

      Prey, and consume thee! Through the dark profound

      Not without cause he passes. So ’t is will’d

      On high, there where the great Archangel pour’d

      Heav’n’s vengeance on the first adulterer proud.”

      As sails full spread and bellying with the wind

      Drop suddenly collaps’d, if the mast split;

      So to the ground down dropp’d the cruel fiend.

      Thus we, descending to the fourth steep ledge,

      Gain’d on the dismal shore, that all the woe

      Hems in of all the universe. Ah me!

      Almighty Justice! in what store thou heap’st

      New pains, new troubles, as I here beheld!

      Wherefore doth fault of ours bring us to this?

      E’en as a billow, on Charybdis rising,

      Against encounter’d billow dashing breaks;

      Such is the dance this wretched race must lead,

      Whom more than elsewhere numerous here I found,

      From one side and the other, with loud voice,

      Both roll’d on weights by main forge of their breasts,

      Then smote together, and each one forthwith

      Roll’d them back voluble, turning again,

      Exclaiming these, “Why holdest thou so fast?”

      Those answering, “And why castest thou away?”

      So still repeating their despiteful song,

      They to the opposite point on either hand

      Travers’d the horrid circle: then arriv’d,

      Both turn’d them round, and through the middle space

      Conflicting met again. At sight whereof

      I, stung with grief, thus spake: “O say, my guide!

      What race is this? Were these, whose heads are shorn,

      On our left hand, all sep’rate to the church?”

      He straight replied: “In their first life these all

      In mind were so distorted, that they made,

      According to due measure, of their wealth,

      No use. This clearly from their words collect,

      Which they howl forth, at each extremity

      Arriving of the circle, where their crime

      Contrary’ in kind disparts them. To the church

      Were separate those, that with no hairy cowls

      Are crown’d, both Popes and Cardinals, o’er whom

      Av’rice dominion absolute maintains.”

      I then: “Mid such as these some needs must be,

      Whom I shall recognize, that with the blot

      Of these foul sins were stain’d.” He answering thus:

      “Vain thought conceiv’st thou. That ignoble life,

      Which made them vile before, now makes them dark,

      And to all knowledge indiscernible.

      Forever they shall meet in this rude shock:

      These from the tomb with clenched grasp shall rise,

      Those with close-shaven locks. That ill they gave,

      And ill they kept, hath of the beauteous world

      Depriv’d, and set them at this strife, which needs

      No labour’d phrase of mine to set if off.

      Now may’st thou see, my son! how brief, how vain,

      The goods committed into fortune’s hands,

      For which the human race keep such a coil!

      Not all the gold, that is beneath the moon,

      Or ever hath been, of these toil-worn souls

      Might purchase rest for one.” I thus rejoin’d:

      “My guide! of thee this also would I learn;

      This fortune, that thou speak’st of, what it is,

      Whose talons grasp the blessings of the world?”

      He thus: “O beings blind! what ignorance

      Besets you? Now my judgment hear and mark.

      He, whose transcendent wisdom passes all,

      The heavens creating, gave them ruling powers

      To guide them, so that each part shines to each,

      Their light in equal distribution pour’d.

      By similar appointment he ordain’d

      Over the world’s bright images to rule.

      Superintendence of a guiding hand

      And general minister, which at due time

      May