第十四篇我为爱乡之情所感动，为那个已经住声的灵魂拾起落叶，归还他的老根。
于是我们走到树林的一边，那里是第二环和第二环想交之处，正义的神在那里显示他可怕的刑场。要把那新的景象弄清楚，我们到了一块什么都不生长的平地，那惨淡的树林正环绕着他，正像那惨淡的血沟环绕着树林一样。我们靠近平地的边界上。就站在那里。
那个地上铺着一层很厚的干燥的沙、和从前卡托脚下所踏的沙漠一样，哦，上帝的报复，谁要是看见我眼前的景象，他会怎样地害怕呀！我看见成群裸露的灵魂，他们都苦苦地哭泣着；他们似乎受着某种法律的约束：有的躺在那里，脊背着地；有的屈着腿坐着；有的在沙上走着不停。走着的人数多，躺着的人数少，但是他们叫苦最利害。在沙地之上，大火球慢慢地滚落着，像没有风的时候落在阿尔卑斯山上的雪球一样。从前，亚历山大到了印度那个热地方，看见火星雨点一般地落在他的兵士身上，他们小心地使火星滚在地上，立刻用脚踩灭。因为星星之火，积聚起来就可燎原呀。现在我所看见的也是这样；永久的火雨落在沙上，因此沙粒一个个都烧红了，好比打火石的火星，燃着了纸卷一般，那些罪人，不住地手舞脚蹈，在上面要避免火球的打击，在脚要逃开热沙的烫伤。
我开始说：”老师，你曾经克服过一切，除去那些闭门固拒的精灵；但是这一个大影子是谁呢，他似乎不怕火烫，他躺在那里这样自在，对于纷纷的火雨竟视若无物。”那个罪人自己，听见我向引路人问他，叫道：“我活着是这样，死了还是这样。在我的末日，虽然尤比特使尽了生平的气力，用剧烈的雷电灯击我；虽然他使蒙吉贝勒山上制造雷电的独眼巨人都困倦了，他叫道：“帮忙，帮忙，善良的火神！’如在弗雷格拉之战斗一样；但是他终没有能够报复得爽快。”于是我的引路人用力说，在以前我没有听见过：“卡帕纽斯呀！你已经受了这样的刑罚，你还要这样自傲。须知你愈加恼怒，就是你自己愈加痛苦之处。”于是他又用柔和的口气对我说：“这是围攻忒拜的七王之一；他从前把自己看得很高，不把上帝放在眼里，现在似乎他还是这样；但是，方才我对他说过了，他的恼怒正是他内心痛苦的表现。现在，你跟着我，当心不要踏在热沙上，贴近树林这边走去，”
我们默默地走到一块地方，这里有小河从树林里流出来，水色红得像血，使我害怕。好比从布利卡梅流出的泉水，给两旁的娼妓分用，这条小河横流过沙漠。河底和两岸都铺满石头：我想我们就要从这里走过去了。
我的引路说：“自从我们走进那毫无拒绝的门以来，在所有已经指点给你看过的河流之中，都没有现在这条河奇异，他能熄灭在他上面的和邻近的火球。”因为他引起了我的求知欲，我请求他给我食物，于是他又说：“在那大海之中，有一个荒废的国，名字叫做克里特，那里曾经住着世界尊重的国王，那里有一座山，名字叫伊达，从前山上是青枝绿叶，现在却枯老了。瑞阿选了这座山作他儿子避祸的摇篮；因为要他藏匿得更安稳，一班吹鼓手在那里玲珑乐，以遮掩孩子的哭声。在山中立着一个巨大的老人，他背朝向达米亚塔，他的面向着罗马，好像是他的镜子一样。他的头是纯金做的，手臂和胸膛是银做的，肚子是铜做的，其余都是好铁做的，只有一只右脚是泥土做的；但是，在这个最弱的泥脚上，却担负了最大部分的重量。在这巨像的各部分，除头部外，都已经有了裂缝，从这些裂缝里流出泪水，透入地中；这泪水经过山岩的孔隙，流入地府。就成为阿刻隆，斯提克斯，弗列格通；然后经过此地，直降到无可再降的地方，在那里成为科奇上斯；这是个什么湖，以后你可以知道，所以现在我不必多说了，”于是我对他说：“如果此地的河流是从地面上来的．为什么我们只在此地才看见呢？”他对我说：”你知道这块地方是圆形的，虽然我们已经降到这样深，但是还没有兜了全圈子；所以我们觉得奇怪，但是也不必现出惊疑的神气，”我说：“老师，弗列格通和勒特在那里？前一个你提到了，后一个你没有提到。”他答道：”你的这些问题，都使我欢喜。那沸腾的血水，解答你一个问题。至于勒特呢，他不在这里，你将来要见到的，那里灵魂经忏悔而消罪以后。就要在里面沐浴。”
最后他说：“现在是离开树林的时候了；你跟着我。河岸并未烧热，因为在上面的火球都熄灭了。”
Wrought in my bosom, I the scatter'd leaves
Collected, and to him restor'd, who now
Was hoarse with utt'rance. To the limit thence
We came, which from the third the second round
Divides, and where of justice is display'd
Contrivance horrible. Things then first seen
Clearlier to manifest, I tell how next
A plain we reach'd, that from its sterile bed
Each plant repell'd. The mournful wood waves round
Its garland on all sides, as round the wood
Spreads the sad foss. There, on the very edge,
Our steps we stay'd. It was an area wide
Of arid sand and thick, resembling most
The soil that erst by Cato's foot was trod.
Vengeance of Heav'n! Oh! how shouldst thou be fear'd
By all, who read what here my eyes beheld!
Of naked spirits many a flock I saw,
All weeping piteously, to different laws
Subjected: for on the' earth some lay supine,
Some crouching close were seated, others pac'd
Incessantly around; the latter tribe,
More numerous, those fewer who beneath
The torment lay, but louder in their grief.
O'er all the sand fell slowly wafting down
Dilated flakes of fire, as flakes of snow
On Alpine summit, when the wind is hush'd.
As in the torrid Indian clime, the son
Of Ammon saw upon his warrior band
Descending, solid flames, that to the ground
Came down: whence he bethought him with his troop
To trample on the soil; for easier thus
The vapour was extinguish'd, while alone;
So fell the eternal fiery flood, wherewith
The marble glow'd underneath, as under stove
The viands, doubly to augment the pain.
Unceasing was the play of wretched hands,
Now this, now that way glancing, to shake off
The heat, still falling fresh. I thus began:
"Instructor! thou who all things overcom'st,
Except the hardy demons, that rush'd forth
To stop our entrance at the gate, say who
Is yon huge spirit, that, as seems, heeds not
The burning, but lies writhen in proud scorn,
As by the sultry tempest immatur'd?"
Straight he himself, who was aware I ask'd
My guide of him, exclaim'd: "Such as I was
When living, dead such now I am. If Jove
Weary his workman out, from whom in ire
He snatch'd the lightnings, that at my last day
Transfix'd me, if the rest be weary out
At their black smithy labouring by turns
In Mongibello, while he cries aloud;
"Help, help, good Mulciber!" as erst he cried
In the Phlegraean warfare, and the bolts
Launch he full aim'd at me with all his might,
He never should enjoy a sweet revenge."
Then thus my guide, in accent higher rais'd
Than I before had heard him: "Capaneus!
Thou art more punish'd, in that this thy pride
Lives yet unquench'd: no torrent, save thy rage,
Were to thy fury pain proportion'd full."
Next turning round to me with milder lip
He spake: "This of the seven kings was one,
Who girt the Theban walls with siege, and held,
As still he seems to hold, God in disdain,
And sets his high omnipotence at nought.
But, as I told him, his despiteful mood
Is ornament well suits the breast that wears it.
Follow me now; and look thou set not yet
Thy foot in the hot sand, but to the wood
Keep ever close." Silently on we pass'd
To where there gushes from the forest's bound
A little brook, whose crimson'd wave yet lifts
My hair with horror. As the rill, that runs
From Bulicame, to be portion'd out
Among the sinful women; so ran this
Down through the sand, its bottom and each bank
Stone-built, and either margin at its side,
Whereon I straight perceiv'd our passage lay.
"Of all that I have shown thee, since that gate
We enter'd first, whose threshold is to none
Denied, nought else so worthy of regard,
As is this river, has thine eye discern'd,
O'er which the flaming volley all is quench'd."
So spake my guide; and I him thence besought,
That having giv'n me appetite to know,
The food he too would give, that hunger crav'd.
"In midst of ocean," forthwith he began,
"A desolate country lies, which Crete is nam'd,
Under whose monarch in old times the world
Liv'd pure and chaste. A mountain rises there,
Call'd Ida, joyous once with leaves and streams,
Deserted now like a forbidden thing.
It was the spot which Rhea, Saturn's spouse,
Chose for the secret cradle of her son;
And better to conceal him, drown'd in shouts
His infant cries. Within the mount, upright
An ancient form there stands and huge, that turns
His shoulders towards Damiata, and at Rome
As in his mirror looks. Of finest gold
His head is shap'd, pure silver are the breast
And arms; thence to the middle is of brass.
And downward all beneath well-temper'd steel,
Save the right foot of potter's clay, on which
Than on the other more erect he stands,
Each part except the gold, is rent throughout;
And from the fissure tears distil, which join'd
Penetrate to that cave. They in their course
Thus far precipitated down the rock
Form Acheron, and Styx, and Phlegethon;
Then by this straiten'd channel passing hence
Beneath, e'en to the lowest depth of all,
Form there Cocytus, of whose lake (thyself
Shall see it) I here give thee no account."
Then I to him: "If from our world this sluice
Be thus deriv'd; wherefore to us but now
Appears it at this edge?" He straight replied:
"The place, thou know'st, is round; and though great part
Thou have already pass'd, still to the left
Descending to the nethermost, not yet
Hast thou the circuit made of the whole orb.
Wherefore if aught of new to us appear,
It needs not bring up wonder in thy looks."
Then I again inquir'd: "Where flow the streams
Of Phlegethon and Lethe? for of one
Thou tell'st not, and the other of that shower,
Thou say'st, is form'd." He answer thus return'd:
"Doubtless thy questions all well pleas'd I hear.
Yet the red seething wave might have resolv'd
One thou proposest. Lethe thou shalt see,
But not within this hollow, in the place,
Whither to lave themselves the spirits go,
Whose blame hath been by penitence remov'd."
He added: "Time is now we quit the wood.
Look thou my steps pursue: the margins give
Safe passage, unimpeded by the flames;
For over them all vapour is extinct."