John Flaxman - Flaxmans Illustrations for Dantes Divine Comedy

Canto I, lines 124

B ecause that Emperor, who reigns above,
In that I was rebellious to his law,
Wills that through me none come into his city.

He governs everywhere, and there he reigns;
There is his city and his lofty throne;
O happy he whom thereto he elects!

And I to him: Poet, I thee entreat,
By that same God whom thou didst never know,
So that I may escape this woe and worse,

Thou wouldst conduct me there where thou hast said,
That I may see the portal of Saint Peter,
And those thou makest so disconsolate.

Then he moved on, and I behind him followed.

Then he moved on, and I behind him followed.

Canto II, lines 52

A mong those was I who are in suspense,
And a fair, saintly Lady called to me
In such wise, I besought her to command me.

Her eyes were shining brighter than the Star;
And she began to say, gentle and low,
With voice angelical, in her own language:

O spirit courteous of Mantua,
Of whom the fame still in the world endures,
And shall endure, long-lasting as the world

And a fair, saintly Lady called to me

Canto III, lines 109

C haron the demon, with the eyes of glede,
Beckoning to them, collects them all together,
Beats with his oar whoever lags behind.

As in the autumn-time the leaves fall off,
First one and then another, till the branch
Unto the earth surrenders all its spoils;

In similar wise the evil seed of Adam
Throw themselves from that margin one by one,
At signals, as a bird unto its lure.

So they depart across the dusky wave,
And ere upon the other side they land,
Again on this side a new troop assembles.

So they depart across the dusky wave

Canto IV, lines 46

T ell me, my Master, tell me, thou my Lord,
Began I, with desire of being certain
Of that Faith which oercometh every error,

Came any one by his own merit hence,
Or by anothers, 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.

With sign of victory incoronate

Canto I; lines 127

O ne day we reading were for our delight
Of Launcelot, how Love did him enthral.
Alone we were and without any fear.

Full many a time our eyes together drew
That reading, and drove the colour from our faces;
But one point only was it that oercame us.

When as we read of the much-longed-for smile
Being by such a noble lover kissed,
This one, who neer from me shall be divided,

Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating.

Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating

Canto V, lines 139

A nd all the while one spirit uttered this,
The other one did weep so, that, for pity,

I swooned away as I had been dying,
And fell, even as a dead body falls.

And fell, even as a dead body falls

Canto VI, lines 13

C erberus, monster cruel and uncouth,
With his three gullets like a dog is barking
Over the people that are there submerged.

Red eyes he has, and unctuous beard and black,
And belly large, and armed with claws his hands;
He rends the spirits, flays, and quarters them.

He rends the spirits, flays, and quarters them

Canto VII, lines 1

P ap Satn, Pap Satn, Alepp!
Thus Plutus with his clucking voice began;
And that benignant Sage, who all things knew,
Said, to encourage me: Let not thy fear