第九篇我看见我的引路人回转来了，我的脸上带着恐怖的神色，因此他又不得不勉强镇定地安慰我。他一动不动，好似静听一般；因为在昏暗迷雾之中，他的眼睛是看不远的。他说：“我们将要战胜他们……假使不……他却给我们帮助……我觉得已经等候了多么长久呀！”
我听他前言不搭后语，断断续续的一番话，使我心里更加不安，也许我误解他的意思了。于是我问他道：“在第一圈里的灵魂、他们的刑罚只是没有希望，他们是要降入地狱的底部呢？”他答道：“我们走这条路的确是很少。从前有一次，因为术士厄里克托的魔力，我曾经到过那里，术士有本领使灵魂重返尸体；当时我新死的时间不长，他差我入城、到犹大环，召一个灵魂；这一地方最深最暗，离天最远。所以这条路我是认识的，你可以放心。但是，这个污水绕着的城，今番若不动天之怒，我们是不能进去的，”
那时他还说很多话，可是我记不清了，因为我的眼睛注视看一个高塔，顶上反照着红光；那里忽然站着三个凶神，形体近于女人，身上有血迹，并且绕着青蛇，头上还盘着小蛇和毒蛇，好像蓬散着的头发。他知道这是地狱之后的女仆，他对我说：“你看这三个可怕的厄里倪厄斯；左边的是梅盖拉，右边挥泪的是阿列克托，中间的是提希丰。”他的话就说到这里。她们各自抓破她们的胸膛，她们自己打着自己，高声叫喊，使我很害怕，因此站得贴近诗人。她们向下看着说：“米杜萨来，把他变成了石头！我们报复特修斯还没有十分的厉害。”我的老师急忙对我说：“把脸转过去，眼睛闭上，因为果尔刚快要出来，你若看见她，你就没有回生的希望了。”他说完以后，还不全然信任我的手，又加上他自己的手来掩往我的眼睛。哦，聪明的读者，在这奇异的诗幕之下，请你们注意他的涵义罢！
现在，污秽的水面上，又拥来可怕的声浪，使两岸起了震动；好像是风声，来势猛烈，发了狂似的；吹得山鸣谷应，树拔枝断，卷起沙石，乌兽匿迹。我的引路人移开他的手。说：“现在你可以向迷雾腾腾的古沼上面看了。”好像群蛙遇见了仇敌水蛇，一个个没入水中，沉到泥底伏着不动一样，我看见很多精灵鬼怪，纷纷逃避在死的隔水面上行走的一个，他用左手拨开他前面的迷雾，除此以外，他似乎没有别的劳苦。我知道这是一位天上来的使者；我转向我的老师，他做手势叫我站着不要出声，毕恭毕敬。那位天使非常愤慨。他走到城门前面，用他的小杖推开它，简直不费气力。他立在门槛上说：“从天上摔下来的魔鬼！低贱的种族！为什么你们还要这样自命不凡呢？为什么你们反抗一个不达目的不罢休的意志，因而增加你们的痛难呢？和命运争斗又有什么好处。你们的刻尔勃路斯，你们还记得他罢，他的颈项上还带着锁链的印呢。”于是他悼转身子，向水面回去了，并未和我们说一句话。他似乎很忙，还有急务在身，马上要去办呢。
我门听完这番“圣言”，心里宽舒了，就向着城门移动我们的脚步。我们走进去没有一点困难。我急着要知道城堡里面究竟是什么样子，一到里面，便左右观看；只见左右田野，都充满着新的悲哀和新的苦痛。
如在罗讷河流过的阿尔，如在靠近夸尔纳罗湾的普拉，那里坟墓林立，使地面高下不平，这里的左右的田野也是如此，景象更加凄惨；这里坟墓之间都燃着烈火，使周围的一切都是火红火红。他们的棺材盖都打开着；棺材里面有悲泣的声音，似乎是从痛苦的灵魂发出来的。我问道：“老师，这些从棺材里发出悲声的是那一种人呢？”他回答道：“这里是各种邪教的首领和他们的门徒；每个棺材里都装着出乎意料的为数众多的灵魂；他们是分类合葬，他们坟墓的热度也高低不等。”
于是他转向右边，我门走在刑场和很高的城墙之间。
Imprinted, when I saw my guide turn back,
Chas'd that from his which newly they had worn,
And inwardly restrain'd it. He, as one
Who listens, stood attentive: for his eye
Not far could lead him through the sable air,
And the thick-gath'ring cloud. "It yet behooves
We win this fight"—thus he began—"if not—
Such aid to us is offer'd.—Oh, how long
Me seems it, ere the promis'd help arrive!"
I noted, how the sequel of his words
Clok'd their beginning; for the last he spake
Agreed not with the first. But not the less
My fear was at his saying; sith I drew
To import worse perchance, than that he held,
His mutilated speech. "Doth ever any
Into this rueful concave's extreme depth
Descend, out of the first degree, whose pain
Is deprivation merely of sweet hope?"
Thus I inquiring. "Rarely," he replied,
"It chances, that among us any makes
This journey, which I wend. Erewhile 'tis true
Once came I here beneath, conjur'd by fell
Erictho, sorceress, who compell'd the shades
Back to their bodies. No long space my flesh
Was naked of me, when within these walls
She made me enter, to draw forth a spirit
From out of Judas' circle. Lowest place
Is that of all, obscurest, and remov'd
Farthest from heav'n's all-circling orb. The road
Full well I know: thou therefore rest secure.
That lake, the noisome stench exhaling, round
The city' of grief encompasses, which now
We may not enter without rage." Yet more
He added: but I hold it not in mind,
For that mine eye toward the lofty tower
Had drawn me wholly, to its burning top.
Where in an instant I beheld uprisen
At once three hellish furies stain'd with blood:
In limb and motion feminine they seem'd;
Around them greenest hydras twisting roll'd
Their volumes; adders and cerastes crept
Instead of hair, and their fierce temples bound.
He knowing well the miserable hags
Who tend the queen of endless woe, thus spake:
"Mark thou each dire Erinnys. To the left
This is Megaera; on the right hand she,
Who wails, Alecto; and Tisiphone
I' th' midst." This said, in silence he remain'd
Their breast they each one clawing tore; themselves
Smote with their palms, and such shrill clamour rais'd,
That to the bard I clung, suspicion-bound.
"Hasten Medusa: so to adamant
Him shall we change;" all looking down exclaim'd.
"E'en when by Theseus' might assail'd, we took
No ill revenge." "Turn thyself round, and keep
Thy count'nance hid; for if the Gorgon dire
Be shown, and thou shouldst view it, thy return
Upwards would be for ever lost." This said,
Himself my gentle master turn'd me round,
Nor trusted he my hands, but with his own
He also hid me. Ye of intellect
Sound and entire, mark well the lore conceal'd
Under close texture of the mystic strain!
And now there came o'er the perturbed waves
Loud-crashing, terrible, a sound that made
Either shore tremble, as if of a wind
Impetuous, from conflicting vapours sprung,
That 'gainst some forest driving all its might,
Plucks off the branches, beats them down and hurls
Afar; then onward passing proudly sweeps
Its whirlwind rage, while beasts and shepherds fly.
Mine eyes he loos'd, and spake: "And now direct
Thy visual nerve along that ancient foam,
There, thickest where the smoke ascends." As frogs
Before their foe the serpent, through the wave
Ply swiftly all, till at the ground each one
Lies on a heap; more than a thousand spirits
Destroy'd, so saw I fleeing before one
Who pass'd with unwet feet the Stygian sound.
He, from his face removing the gross air,
Oft his left hand forth stretch'd, and seem'd alone
By that annoyance wearied. I perceiv'd
That he was sent from heav'n, and to my guide
Turn'd me, who signal made that I should stand
Quiet, and bend to him. Ah me! how full
Of noble anger seem'd he! To the gate
He came, and with his wand touch'd it, whereat
Open without impediment it flew.
"Outcasts of heav'n! O abject race and scorn'd!"
Began he on the horrid grunsel standing,
"Whence doth this wild excess of insolence
Lodge in you? wherefore kick you 'gainst that will
Ne'er frustrate of its end, and which so oft
Hath laid on you enforcement of your pangs?
What profits at the fays to but the horn?
Your Cerberus, if ye remember, hence
Bears still, peel'd of their hair, his throat and maw."
This said, he turn'd back o'er the filthy way,
And syllable to us spake none, but wore
The semblance of a man by other care
Beset, and keenly press'd, than thought of him
Who in his presence stands. Then we our steps
Toward that territory mov'd, secure
After the hallow'd words. We unoppos'd
There enter'd; and my mind eager to learn
What state a fortress like to that might hold,
I soon as enter'd throw mine eye around,
And see on every part wide-stretching space
Replete with bitter pain and torment ill.
As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles,
Or as at Pola, near Quarnaro's gulf,
That closes Italy and laves her bounds,
The place is all thick spread with sepulchres;
So was it here, save what in horror here
Excell'd: for 'midst the graves were scattered flames,
Wherewith intensely all throughout they burn'd,
That iron for no craft there hotter needs.
Their lids all hung suspended, and beneath
From them forth issu'd lamentable moans,
Such as the sad and tortur'd well might raise.
I thus: "Master! say who are these, interr'd
Within these vaults, of whom distinct we hear
The dolorous sighs?" He answer thus return'd:
"The arch-heretics are here, accompanied
By every sect their followers; and much more,
Than thou believest, tombs are freighted: like
With like is buried; and the monuments
Are different in degrees of heat." This said,
He to the right hand turning, on we pass'd
Betwixt the afflicted and the ramparts high.