第二层：惩妒。锡耶纳贵妇萨庇娅。
　　　
　　 我们升到阶梯的顶上，那里是山腹的第二平地层，升到那里的洗涤了罪恶。这一层和下面的第一层很相像，只是圈子小一些罢了。那里没有任何形象，也没有雕刻；山壁是空空的，山路也是平的，眼前所见的惟是一片岩石的铅色罢了。
　　　
　　 诗人说：“假使我们待在这里，希望有人来告诉我们路径，恐怕太迟慢了。”他注视太阳，以右足为枢纽。转动身体的左部。他说：“温和的阳光呀！我信任你而走进新路，我们在这里需要人引导，于是你引导我们。你使世界温暖你使世界光明。假使没有其他相反的理由，那你的光永远是我门的向导。”
　　　
　　 我们走了一会儿，约计一里路光景，因我们为意志所鼓舞，所以在短时间内能行很长的路程；那时我们听到有些精灵飞过我们，但是我们看不见他们，只听见他们召赴爱之筵席的声音，第一个声音在中飘过：“他们没有酒了！”这句话在我们身后复述了几遍。声音去远了，又听见说：“我是俄瑞丝忒斯！”这句话马上过去，并未久留。我说：“我的父亲呀！这些声音是从何而来的呢？”我发问的时候，又有第三个声音，说：“去那些对你们做了恶事的人！”我和善的老师答说：“在这个圈子里，惩戒嫉妒的罪恶，所以爱在这层是马鞭，还有些相反的话语是马勒；我想你在到达赦罪的关口之前，总能够可以听见的。你向前用心看看，你将望见那儿有许多人挨坐着，每一个都靠着山壁。”
　　　
　　 于是我瞪大我的眼睛向前看，果然望见许多灵魂披着斗篷，斗篷的颜色和岩石一般。我们更接近他们的时候，我听见叫道：“马利亚，请为我们祈祷！”我又听见他们叫着米凯勒、彼得和其他诸圣者的名姓。我相信就算人间也没有这样狠心的人，对于我所见的不表示一丝同情；因为当我接近这些灵魂的时候，我看清了他们的样子，一阵心酸，竟使我落下泪水。每人用一块粗毛布裹着；他们肩头和肩头相互偎依，背都靠着山壁。如同乞讨的瞎子，赦罪的日子，在教堂大门前求的每个人都把头倾在他邻人的肩上，如此激发人的怜悯，不仅用话语打动别人，就是他们的一副姿态也决不是没有说服力的。又如同瞎子难以感觉阳光，这些忏悔的灵魂同样拒绝了阳光，因为每个人的眼皮都被铁丝缝合着；有时捕到的野鹰不肯安静，人们便把他的眼皮缝合起来；这两件事突在有些类似。
　　　
　　 我觉得我能看见别人别人不能看见我，默默地走过，是我对不起别人，因此我转脸向着我聪明的顾问。可是他已经了解到我未说出口的意思了；不等我开口，他便说：“你说罢！简洁些，维吉尔走在我的右边，在这边行走有落入深渊的危险，那圆环的山路是没有栏杆的；在我左边的是那班虔敬的灵魂，他们的脸上。流着由缝口淌出的泪水。我转身向他们说：“呵！灵魂们呀！你们定可以见到最高贵的光，这是你们唯一的企求呀！不久，神恩便涤洗你们意识上的泡沫，把清流贯注到你们的精神里面！请你们告诉我，这将是你们对我的美意，这里是否有拉丁人，假使我知道他，也许对他会有些益处。”
　　　
　　 “我的兄弟！我们每个人都是那唯一的真实的城市一员；但你的话也许是指曾经旅行到意大利的那些灵魂罢。”答话是从我立着稍远之处传来的，因为那时我的声音很高，所以能及远处。在那些灵魂之中，我能分辨得出是谁等着要和我讲话；假使有人问我为什么，这是因为那人和瞎子一样，举着下巴正在那里的缘故。我说：“灵魂！你的苦修是为着上升，假使刚才是你回答我的，那末请告诉我：你的生长地方也好，或只你的名字。”
　　　
　　 那灵魂答道：“我是锡耶纳的女儿，我和这些人在一起忏悔我们生平的罪恶。我们将眼泪献给她，我们请求得圣者降临在我们面前。我的名字叫做萨庇娅，可是我并不真正聪明；我喜欢别人有灾祸，甚于我自己得到幸福。为免你误会我的意思，我举出一桩事实来证明，请你看看我是否糊涂，那时我的生命已趋向堕落的路。我的同乡和他们的敌人在科勒交战，当时我祷告上帝，结果也如我意：我的乡邻乡战败了，饱尝着崩溃的痛苦。当我看见他们败退的时刻，我感到一种无可比喻的快乐；于是我抬头向着上帝，傲慢地叫道：‘现在我不怕你了！’好比乌鸦刚见着最初的春光一般。我到了生命的尽头，终和上帝重新修好；而且，假使不是彼埃尔·贝底那为我作虔敬的祈祷，他的慈悲改变了我的命运，那末我还不能这么早来到这里抵偿我的债。然而，你是谁呢？你这样来探访我们；我相信你一定是睁着眼睛的，而且是能一边呼吸，一边说话的。”
　　　
　　 我对她说：“我的眼睛总有一天要被关闭在这里，只是不会长久；因为我妒嫉的目光对于上帝并非过分讨厌。使我精神上最恐惧的是下面那层的刑罚；因为那里的重物就象压碎我呀！”于是她又说：“假使你还预备回转去，那末究竟是谁把你带到这里来的呢？”我说：“伴我来的人他好像不肯说。至于我，不错，我是活人，假使你有吩咐，我很愿效劳！”
　　　
　　 她说：”呵！真是新奇的事情！这是上帝对于你仁爱的最大证明！你的祷告对于我是不会没有帮助的！假使你能回到托斯卡那，在我亲族之中请你恢复我的声名。你会在那班轻狂的众民之中找到他们，这些人民错信了塔拉莫奈港口，又失望于狄阿娜河的开掘，但最扫兴的应是那班海军大将。”

　　We reach'd the summit of the scale, and stood
　　Upon the second buttress of that mount
　　Which healeth him who climbs. A cornice there,
　　Like to the former, girdles round the hill;
　　Save that its arch with sweep less ample bends.
　　
　　Shadow nor image there is seen; all smooth
　　The rampart and the path, reflecting nought
　　But the rock's sullen hue. "If here we wait
　　For some to question," said the bard, "I fear
　　Our choice may haply meet too long delay."
　　
　　Then fixedly upon the sun his eyes
　　He fastn'd, made his right the central point
　　From whence to move, and turn'd the left aside.
　　"O pleasant light, my confidence and hope,
　　Conduct us thou," he cried, "on this new way,
　　Where now I venture, leading to the bourn
　　We seek. The universal world to thee
　　Owes warmth and lustre. If no other cause
　　Forbid, thy beams should ever be our guide."
　　
　　Far, as is measur'd for a mile on earth,
　　In brief space had we journey'd; such prompt will
　　Impell'd; and towards us flying, now were heard
　　Spirits invisible, who courteously
　　Unto love's table bade the welcome guest.
　　The voice, that first? flew by, call'd forth aloud,
　　"They have no wine;" so on behind us past,
　　Those sounds reiterating, nor yet lost
　　In the faint distance, when another came
　　Crying, "I am Orestes," and alike
　　Wing'd its fleet way. "Oh father!" I exclaim'd,
　　"What tongues are these?" and as I question'd, lo!
　　A third exclaiming, "Love ye those have wrong'd you."
　　
　　"This circuit," said my teacher, "knots the scourge
　　For envy, and the cords are therefore drawn
　　By charity's correcting hand. The curb
　　Is of a harsher sound, as thou shalt hear
　　(If I deem rightly), ere thou reach the pass,
　　Where pardon sets them free. But fix thine eyes
　　Intently through the air, and thou shalt see
　　A multitude before thee seated, each
　　Along the shelving grot." Then more than erst
　　I op'd my eyes, before me view'd, and saw
　　Shadows with garments dark as was the rock;
　　And when we pass'd a little forth, I heard
　　A crying, "Blessed Mary! pray for us,
　　Michael and Peter! all ye saintly host!"
　　
　　I do not think there walks on earth this day
　　Man so remorseless, that he hath not yearn'd
　　With pity at the sight that next I saw.
　　Mine eyes a load of sorrow teemed, when now
　　I stood so near them, that their semblances
　　Came clearly to my view. Of sackcloth vile
　　Their cov'ring seem'd; and on his shoulder one
　　Did stay another, leaning, and all lean'd
　　Against the cliff. E'en thus the blind and poor,
　　Near the confessionals, to crave an alms,
　　Stand, each his head upon his fellow's sunk,
　　
　　
　　So most to stir compassion, not by sound
　　Of words alone, but that, which moves not less,
　　The sight of mis'ry. And as never beam
　　Of noonday visiteth the eyeless man,
　　E'en so was heav'n a niggard unto these
　　Of his fair light; for, through the orbs of all,
　　A thread of wire, impiercing, knits them up,
　　As for the taming of a haggard hawk.
　　
　　It were a wrong, methought, to pass and look
　　On others, yet myself the while unseen.
　　To my sage counsel therefore did I turn.
　　He knew the meaning of the mute appeal,
　　Nor waited for my questioning, but said:
　　"Speak; and be brief, be subtle in thy words."
　　
　　On that part of the cornice, whence no rim
　　Engarlands its steep fall, did Virgil come;
　　On the' other side me were the spirits, their cheeks
　　Bathing devout with penitential tears,
　　That through the dread impalement forc'd a way.
　　
　　I turn'd me to them, and "O shades!" said I,
　　
　　"Assur'd that to your eyes unveil'd shall shine
　　The lofty light, sole object of your wish,
　　So may heaven's grace clear whatsoe'er of foam
　　Floats turbid on the conscience, that thenceforth
　　The stream of mind roll limpid from its source,
　　As ye declare (for so shall ye impart
　　A boon I dearly prize) if any soul
　　Of Latium dwell among ye; and perchance
　　That soul may profit, if I learn so much."
　　
　　"My brother, we are each one citizens
　　Of one true city. Any thou wouldst say,
　　Who lived a stranger in Italia's land."
　　
　　So heard I answering, as appeal'd, a voice
　　That onward came some space from whence I stood.
　　
　　A spirit I noted, in whose look was mark'd
　　Expectance. Ask ye how? The chin was rais'd
　　As in one reft of sight. "Spirit," said I,
　　"Who for thy rise are tutoring (if thou be
　　That which didst answer to me,) or by place
　　Or name, disclose thyself, that I may know thee."
　　
　　"I was," it answer'd, "of Sienna: here
　　I cleanse away with these the evil life,
　　Soliciting with tears that He, who is,
　　Vouchsafe him to us. Though Sapia nam'd
　　In sapience I excell'd not, gladder far
　　Of others' hurt, than of the good befell me.
　　That thou mayst own I now deceive thee not,
　　Hear, if my folly were not as I speak it.
　　When now my years slop'd waning down the arch,
　　It so bechanc'd, my fellow citizens
　　Near Colle met their enemies in the field,
　　And I pray'd God to grant what He had will'd.
　　There were they vanquish'd, and betook themselves
　　Unto the bitter passages of flight.
　　I mark'd the hunt, and waxing out of bounds
　　In gladness, lifted up my shameless brow,
　　And like the merlin cheated by a gleam,
　　Cried, "It is over. Heav'n! I fear thee not."
　　Upon my verge of life I wish'd for peace
　　With God; nor repentance had supplied
　　What I did lack of duty, were it not
　　The hermit Piero, touch'd with charity,
　　In his devout orisons thought on me.
　　"But who art thou that question'st of our state,
　　Who go'st to my belief, with lids unclos'd,
　　And breathest in thy talk?"--"Mine eyes," said I,
　　"May yet be here ta'en from me; but not long;
　　For they have not offended grievously
　　With envious glances. But the woe beneath
　　Urges my soul with more exceeding dread.
　　That nether load already weighs me down."
　　
　　She thus: "Who then amongst us here aloft
　　Hath brought thee, if thou weenest to return?"
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　
　　"He," answer'd I, "who standeth mute beside me.
　　I live: of me ask therefore, chosen spirit,
　　If thou desire I yonder yet should move
　　For thee my mortal feet."--"Oh!" she replied,
　　"This is so strange a thing, it is great sign
　　That God doth love thee. Therefore with thy prayer
　　Sometime assist me: and by that I crave,
　　Which most thou covetest, that if thy feet
　　E'er tread on Tuscan soil, thou save my fame
　　Amongst my kindred. Them shalt thou behold
　　With that vain multitude, who set their hope
　　On Telamone's haven, there to fail
　　Confounded, more shall when the fancied stream
　　They sought of Dian call'd: but they who lead
　　Their navies, more than ruin'd hopes shall mourn."