第八篇我接着着说，在我们走到堡楼脚下之前，我们看见它的顶上有两个小火把；在很远的地方有一个堡楼，远得几乎看不清楚，那里也有一个小火把，他们似乎遥遥地相互传递信息。我转向知识的海，问道：“这里说什么？那里回答什么？是谁管理着这件事呢？”他对我脱：“在这污秽的水面上，假使水气不遮断你的视线，或者你已经看见你所等待的东西了。”
即刻，好像离弦的箭，我看见水面上一个人撑着小船飞来了；他叫道：“你来了么，假装的灵魂？”我的老师说：“弗列居阿斯，弗列居阿斯，这一次你叫也没有用；你一会儿就把我们渡过去了，”弗列居阿斯像一个受欺的人，不得不把心头怒气压下；我的引路人上了船，我也跟着他上去；我上去之后，我们上去不久就开船了，因为我身重，这一次船的吃水比往时来得特别地深。
我们的船行在鬼沼上面的时候，突然从水里钻出一个灵魂。满头满身都是污泥，他说：“你没有到的时候就来这里，你究竟是准呢？”我回答他道：“我虽然来这里，但是我不留在这里；你是谁？弄到这般龌龊相。”他回答道：“你看得出，我是泪海中的一个。”我又对他说：“该死的灵魂，你哭着伤心地呆在这里吧！我认识你呢，虽然你的真面目给污泥遮盖着。”于是他伸起两手，抓住船舷想爬上来，当时我谨慎的引导人把他推下去，说：：滚开些，到你的狗群里去！”随后我的主人把手臂抱着我的颈项，吻着我的脸、他说：“愤慨的灵魂呀！孕育你的她是多么幸福呀！在阳世的时候，这个人妄自尊大，无善足录，所以死后他的影子还在这里咆哮如雷。那里有许许多多自命不凡的大人物，将要和蠢猪一样躺在这里，遗臭万年！”我说：“老师，我却很愿意在离开水面以前，看见他陷入泥沼。”他对我说：“在到彼岸以前，你尽管看他个够，这是我可以允许你的，”稍后，我看见池沼里的人联合向他攻击，攻击的剧烈使我只有感谢上帝。他们大家喊道：“向着腓力浦·网尔津蒂！”这个狂怒的佛罗伦萨人，不及报复别人，只有用自己的牙齿咬自己的肉。现在，我们势开他不必再谈他了。但是我的耳鼓又受到一种凄惨的声浪的打击，使我小心翼翼地注视着前面。
和善的老师说：“孩子，现在我们接近一个名叫狄斯的城了，这个城里的居民罪过更加深重，人数更加众多。”我说：“老师。你的话不错，我已经看得出里面的尖顶城楼，红得像初出火炉似的。”他又对我说：“这是下层地狱里永劫的火，使他们映得通红。”
我们的船开到城河里面，城河环绕着城墙，城墙如同铁壁一般。我们转了几个圈子，到了一块地方，舟主高声叫道：“上去！这里是进城的门口。”我看见城门前面，立满了众多的精灵，这是和雨一样从天掉下来的，他们怒喊道：“他是准？他还没有死，就进死的国来？”于是我的聪明老师做一个手势，表示要和他们谈话。他们怒气渐消．说：“你一个人来；让那一个大胆的回去！让他一人回转头去，自找归路，假使他能够；至于你呢，冒昧地引他到这个幽暗的乡里，你将留在我们这里。”
读者诸君，试问我听了这番冷酷的话，心里非常的害怕，我想我一个人是不会回转去的。于是我说：“亲爱的引路人呀！你有七次把我从危难中救出来，使我返到平安的境界，请你不要抛弃我，假使我们能够前进，我们即刻依着来路快些回转去罢，引导我到这里的老师对我说：“不要怕，我们的路程是谁也不能截断的：一个超于一切的已经允许我们来了。但是，你在这里等着我；你尽管放心：我决不会把你丢在下界的。”
说罢，这位和善的父亲离开我走到城门前面去了，我被困在疑惑之中，“是”和“否”交战在我的脑中。他们谈的什么话，我全然没有听见。但是他没有在那里停留多久，忽然那些精灵拥进了城，把城门关起，把我的引路人推在外面。他慢步回到我这里，他的眼睛望着地，不再充满着勇气了，他叹着说：“谁能阻止我进苦恼的城呢？”于是他又对找说：“虽然我碰了壁，但是你不要失望，因为他们的城门无论关得怎样紧，我终要攻破它的。他门的这种蛮横也不是第一次，从前在第一重门就有过这种事情，现在是没有阻碍了。你还记得那写在门上的黑沉沉的字罢。但是，现在已经有一个天使，不带随从经过各个圈子降下来了，他就要替我们把城门打开。”
We reach'd the lofty turret's base, our eyes
Its height ascended, where two cressets hung
We mark'd, and from afar another light
Return the signal, so remote, that scarce
The eye could catch its beam. I turning round
To the deep source of knowledge, thus inquir'd:
"Say what this means? and what that other light
In answer set? what agency doth this?"
"There on the filthy waters," he replied,
"E'en now what next awaits us mayst thou see,
If the marsh-gender'd fog conceal it not."
Never was arrow from the cord dismiss'd,
That ran its way so nimbly through the air,
As a small bark, that through the waves I spied
Toward us coming, under the sole sway
Of one that ferried it, who cried aloud:
"Art thou arriv'd, fell spirit?"—"Phlegyas, Phlegyas,
This time thou criest in vain," my lord replied;
"No longer shalt thou have us, but while o'er
The slimy pool we pass." As one who hears
Of some great wrong he hath sustain'd, whereat
Inly he pines; so Phlegyas inly pin'd
In his fierce ire. My guide descending stepp'd
Into the skiff, and bade me enter next
Close at his side; nor till my entrance seem'd
The vessel freighted. Soon as both embark'd,
Cutting the waves, goes on the ancient prow,
More deeply than with others it is wont.
While we our course o'er the dead channel held.
One drench'd in mire before me came, and said;
"Who art thou, that thou comest ere thine hour?"
I answer'd: "Though I come, I tarry not;
But who art thou, that art become so foul?"
"One, as thou seest, who mourn:" he straight replied.
To which I thus: "In mourning and in woe,
Curs'd spirit! tarry thou. I know thee well,
E'en thus in filth disguis'd." Then stretch'd he forth
Hands to the bark; whereof my teacher sage
Aware, thrusting him back: "Away! down there,
"To the' other dogs!" then, with his arms my neck
Encircling, kiss'd my cheek, and spake: "O soul
Justly disdainful! blest was she in whom
Thou was conceiv'd! He in the world was one
For arrogance noted; to his memory
No virtue lends its lustre; even so
Here is his shadow furious. There above
How many now hold themselves mighty kings
Who here like swine shall wallow in the mire,
Leaving behind them horrible dispraise!"
I then: "Master! him fain would I behold
Whelm'd in these dregs, before we quit the lake."
He thus: "Or ever to thy view the shore
Be offer'd, satisfied shall be that wish,
Which well deserves completion." Scarce his words
Were ended, when I saw the miry tribes
Set on him with such violence, that yet
For that render I thanks to God and praise
"To Filippo Argenti:" cried they all:
And on himself the moody Florentine
Turn'd his avenging fangs. Him here we left,
Nor speak I of him more. But on mine ear
Sudden a sound of lamentation smote,
Whereat mine eye unbarr'd I sent abroad.
And thus the good instructor: "Now, my son!
Draws near the city, that of Dis is nam'd,
With its grave denizens, a mighty throng."
I thus: "The minarets already, Sir!
There certes in the valley I descry,
Gleaming vermilion, as if they from fire
Had issu'd." He replied: "Eternal fire,
That inward burns, shows them with ruddy flame
Illum'd; as in this nether hell thou seest."
We came within the fosses deep, that moat
This region comfortless. The walls appear'd
As they were fram'd of iron. We had made
Wide circuit, ere a place we reach'd, where loud
The mariner cried vehement: "Go forth!
The' entrance is here!" Upon the gates I spied
More than a thousand, who of old from heaven
Were hurl'd. With ireful gestures, "Who is this,"
They cried, "that without death first felt, goes through
The regions of the dead?" My sapient guide
Made sign that he for secret parley wish'd;
Whereat their angry scorn abating, thus
They spake: "Come thou alone; and let him go
Who hath so hardily enter'd this realm.
Alone return he by his witless way;
If well he know it, let him prove. For thee,
Here shalt thou tarry, who through clime so dark
Hast been his escort." Now bethink thee, reader!
What cheer was mine at sound of those curs'd words.
I did believe I never should return.
"O my lov'd guide! who more than seven times
Security hast render'd me, and drawn
From peril deep, whereto I stood expos'd,
Desert me not," I cried, "in this extreme.
And if our onward going be denied,
Together trace we back our steps with speed."
My liege, who thither had conducted me,
Replied: "Fear not: for of our passage none
Hath power to disappoint us, by such high
Authority permitted. But do thou
Expect me here; meanwhile thy wearied spirit
Comfort, and feed with kindly hope, assur'd
I will not leave thee in this lower world."
This said, departs the sire benevolent,
And quits me. Hesitating I remain
At war 'twixt will and will not in my thoughts.
I could not hear what terms he offer'd them,
But they conferr'd not long, for all at once
To trial fled within. Clos'd were the gates
By those our adversaries on the breast
Of my liege lord: excluded he return'd
To me with tardy steps. Upon the ground
His eyes were bent, and from his brow eras'd
All confidence, while thus with sighs he spake:
"Who hath denied me these abodes of woe?"
Then thus to me: "That I am anger'd, think
No ground of terror: in this trial I
Shall vanquish, use what arts they may within
For hindrance. This their insolence, not new,
Erewhile at gate less secret they display'd,
Which still is without bolt; upon its arch
Thou saw'st the deadly scroll: and even now
On this side of its entrance, down the steep,
Passing the circles, unescorted, comes
One whose strong might can open us this land."