ine Justice as-whose is is called the "holy stablished ominently principles pire, and the line -hich the as sub Enue the n of the o Rome, s:-the postolic wealth 1. See nd 127 ginally As the may be of the Page 15. (Lines 37-47.) A similar passage is found Purgatorio, v. 16, "He in whose breast springs thoug thought succeeding, of his intent is ever frustrated—the of one, the other's force impeding:" and in Shakspeare: "Thus conscience doth make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, (60.) "It is probable," says Ugo Foscolo, "that the two Page 17. (Line 94.) Divine Mercy. (97.) Heavenly supposed to have been St. Lucia the Martyr. (107.) sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ur men made me afraid."-Psalm xviii. 4, From this p Milton has taken his description of the abyss-"Outra as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild."-Paradise Lost, vii. 212. Page 18. (Line 115.) "Lacrymis oculos suffusa niten En. i. 228. (121.) These words are used by Ananias dressing St. Paul. "And now why tarriest thou ?”—Act: (125.) Mercy, Grace, and Wisdom. gnises ntle." as of them CANTO III. ARGUMENT. INSCRIPTION upon the gate of Hell. Dante enters-beholds spirits, who, having lived in a state of indifference both to good and evil, are assigned the same portion as the neutral angels. The river Acheron-A blast of lightning-Dante falls into a swoon. "THROUGH me ye enter the abode of woe: Through me to endless sorrow are ye brought: By Power Almighty was my fabric wrought, Ere I was form'd, no things created were, Save those eternal-I eternal last : All hope abandon-ye who enter here." These words, inscribed in colour dark, I saw High on the summit of a portal vast; Whereat I cried: "O master! with deep awe 1. 7 Their sense I mark." Like one prepared, he said The melancholy shades shalt thou survey, I cried: "O master, what is this I hear? And who are these so plunged in grief profound Proceed from those, who, when on earth they w Here with those caitiff angels they abide, Who stood aloof in heaven-to God untrue, Yet wanting courage with his foes to side. Heaven drove them forth, its beauty not to stain ; And Hell refuses to receive them too : From them no glory could the damn'd obtain." "O master, what infliction do they bear," 37 43 I said, "which makes them raise such shrieks of woe?" He answered; "That I will in brief declare. No record hath the world of this vile class, Speak we no more of them-but look-and pass." And as I look'd, a banner I beheld, That seem'd incapable of rest, and turn'd, 49 55 I ne'er forsooth could have believed it true, That Death such myriads of mankind had slain. Straight I perceived, and instant recognized All naked stood, full sorely stung the while A mighty stream, with numbers standing near; 6 6 Do these sad souls, whose state I fain would learn, '7 As by the doubtful twilight I discern?” "These things," he answer'd me, “shall all be told, Soon as our feet upon the bank are placed Of Acheron, that mournful river old." Mine eyes cast down, my looks o'erwhelm'd with sham I spake not till beside the stream we came. Lo! in a vessel o'er the gloomy tide 8 An old man comes-his locks all white with age :"Woe, woe to you, ye guilty souls!" he cried; |