“O you who honor art and science both,
who are these souls whose dignity has kept
[1]their way of being, separate from the rest?”
who are these souls whose dignity has kept
[1]their way of being, separate from the rest?”
And he to me: “The honor of their name,
[2]which echoes up above within your life,
gains Heaven’s grace, and that advances them.”
[2]which echoes up above within your life,
gains Heaven’s grace, and that advances them.”
Meanwhile there was a voice that I could hear:
[3]“Pay honor to the estimable poet;
his shadow, which had left us, now returns.”
[3]“Pay honor to the estimable poet;
his shadow, which had left us, now returns.”
After that voice was done, when there was silence,
[4]I saw four giant shades approaching us;
in aspect, they were neither sad nor joyous.
[4]I saw four giant shades approaching us;
in aspect, they were neither sad nor joyous.
My kindly master then began by saying:
[5]“Look well at him who holds that sword in hand
who moves before the other three as lord.
[5]“Look well at him who holds that sword in hand
who moves before the other three as lord.
That shade is Homer, the consummate poet;
[6]the other one is Horace, satirist;
the third is Ovid, and the last is Lucan.
[6]the other one is Horace, satirist;
the third is Ovid, and the last is Lucan.
Because each of these spirits shares with me
[7]the name called out before by the lone voice,
they welcome me-and, doing that, do well.”
[7]the name called out before by the lone voice,
they welcome me-and, doing that, do well.”
And so I saw that splendid school assembled
[8]led by the lord of song incomparable,
who like an eagle soars above the rest.
[8]led by the lord of song incomparable,
who like an eagle soars above the rest.
Soon after they had talked a while together,
[9]they turned to me, saluting cordially;
and having witnessed this, my master smiled;
[9]they turned to me, saluting cordially;
and having witnessed this, my master smiled;
and even greater honor then was mine,
[10]for they invited me to join their ranks-
I was the sixth among such intellects.
[10]for they invited me to join their ranks-
I was the sixth among such intellects.
So did we move along and toward the light,
[11]talking of things about which silence here
is just as seemly as our speech was there.
[11]talking of things about which silence here
is just as seemly as our speech was there.
We reached the base of an exalted castle,
[12]encircled seven times by towering walls,
defended all around by a fair stream.
[12]encircled seven times by towering walls,
defended all around by a fair stream.
We forded this as if upon hard ground;
[13]I entered seven portals with these sages;
we reached a meadow of green flowering plants.
[13]I entered seven portals with these sages;
we reached a meadow of green flowering plants.
The people here had eyes both grave and slow;
[14]their features carried great authority;
they spoke infrequently, with gentle voices.
[14]their features carried great authority;
they spoke infrequently, with gentle voices.
We drew aside to one part of the meadow,
[15]an open place both high and filled with light,
and we could see all those who were assembled.
[15]an open place both high and filled with light,
and we could see all those who were assembled.
Facing me there, on the enameled green,
[16]great-hearted souls were shown to me and I
still glory in my having witnessed them.
[16]great-hearted souls were shown to me and I
still glory in my having witnessed them.
I saw Electra with her many comrades,
[17]among whom I knew Hector and Aeneas,
and Caesar, in his armor, falcon-eyed.
[17]among whom I knew Hector and Aeneas,
and Caesar, in his armor, falcon-eyed.
I saw Camilla and Penthesilea
[18]and, on the other side, saw King Latinus,
who sat beside Lavinia, his daughter.
[18]and, on the other side, saw King Latinus,
who sat beside Lavinia, his daughter.
I saw that Brutus who drove Tarquin out,
[19]Lucretia, Julia, Marcia, and Cornelia,
and, solitary, set apart, Saladin.
[19]Lucretia, Julia, Marcia, and Cornelia,
and, solitary, set apart, Saladin.
When I had raised my eyes a little higher,
[20]I saw the master of the men who know
seated in philosophic family.
[20]I saw the master of the men who know
seated in philosophic family.
There all look up to him, all do him honor:
[21]there I beheld both Socrates and Plato,
closest to him, in front of all the rest;
[21]there I beheld both Socrates and Plato,
closest to him, in front of all the rest;
Democritus, who ascribes the world to chance,
[22]Diogenes, Empedocles, and Zeno,
and Thales, Anaxagoras, Heraclitus;
[22]Diogenes, Empedocles, and Zeno,
and Thales, Anaxagoras, Heraclitus;
I saw the good collector of medicinals,
[23]I mean Dioscorides; and I saw Orpheus,
and Tully, Linus, moral Seneca;
[23]I mean Dioscorides; and I saw Orpheus,
and Tully, Linus, moral Seneca;