met another crimson streamlet issuing from it, and flowing through the sand. Virgil took this opportunity of describing an immense statue that stands within Mount Ida, in Crete-its head of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the middle of brass, the rest of welltempered steel, except the right foot, which is of potter's clay. In every part except the gold, there are fissures, whence proceed tears that form the three rivers of hell-Acheron, Styx, and Phlegethon, which finally unite in the Cocytus, the most dreadful of all. We took our way along the bank of this stream, lost sight of the forest, and reached a spot where we were stunned by the noise made by the river falling over a tremendous precipice, which we, too, must descend to reach the next circle. Virgil took the cord which girded my waist, and threw the end of it over. grizzly form appeared climbing up this cord, as dexterously as a sailor returning from lowering an anchor into the deep. Virgil ordered him to advance to the edge. A saint-like face the latent fiend concealed; The rest, though half immersed beneath the flood, More varied tints than marked the speckled form. A We had to seat ourselves on the back of this monster to descend the cliff. As a small ship turns from the land her prow, Perceived the trusted wings loosed from his loins The eighth circle, that of Fraud, is divided into ten gulfs, containing as many classes of deceivers. In one, seducers were kept running in two files, scourged by horned demons. In another, This figure is understood to represent Time, in each of whose several ages men have had cause to weep, except the first, or Golden Age. The personification of Fraud. flatterers were wallowing in filth. In the third, simoniacs were fixed in circular holes in the rock, with their feet uppermost, the soles burning, and the limbs convulsed. One of these betrayed himself as Pope Nicholas III., and my zeal so overcame my fear that I answered him: 'Say, now, what treasures did our Lord demand That the first wealthy bishop gained of thee!' Nicholas, whether from anger or conscious guilt, became more violently agitated; and Virgil, well pleased with his pupil's spirit, took me in his arms, and conveyed me to the next gulf, where those that pretended on earth to predict future events by means of divination and astrology, appeared walking with their necks twisted round, and their faces turned backwards. Next we looked down on barterers and public peculators in a lake of boiling pitch, like the caldrons in the arsenal of Venice, when the ships are repairing during the winter. It was not without difficulty that we obtained leave to pass on, and that under an escort of ten demons of the place. Often have I seen military evolutions, clashing tournaments, and tilting jousts; with martial music, and various inventions, native and foreign, but never any such as I now beheld. In the midst of a horrible conflict between the demons that attended and the condemned spirits that surrounded us, we escaped from their guardianship. They pursued us. The Mantuan caught me in his faithful arms, And plunging headlong downwards through the waste, A mother wakes from sleep to see the flames Fast climbing round, and snatches up her babe, We thus reached the gulf occupied by hypocrites, who pace round it continually under the pressure of immense caps and hoods, which are gilt on the outside, but leaden within. We were addressed by two who had belonged to the order of Joyous Friars of Bologna; and who, having been employed as umpires during a troublous time in Florence, had used their power only for their own aggrandisement. Caiaphas also was there, nailed to a cross, and stretched on the ground, to be trodden by every passenger. But my guide presently left the spot in anger, on account of an attempt made to mislead him. We sought another gulf, but that way was extremely difficult; 'For,' said Virgil— 'For not on downy couch, or 'neath the shade As morning fogs disperse before the sun, In the compartment of robbers, tormented by venomous serpents, we saw three shades rise up from the gulf, and two serpents of extraordinary shape attach themselves to each of them successively. Ne'er did the ivy firmer clasp the elm, Than round the human limbs the monster twined. And these robbers were distinguished citizens from the banks of the Arno. Florence, exult! thy glorious name resounds O'er land and sea, and through the depths of hell; Chanting thy praise beneath-what praise to thee! Evil counsellors, who had prostituted their talents in devising schemes of mischief, were wreathed in flames. Each fiery column bore a sentenced soul, And wrapped the victim round in viewless chains, Another gulf included alchymists, forgers, and other deceivers, who were afflicted with plague and loathsome disease. Here saw the incestuous Myrrha, the traitor Simon, the wife of Potiphar, and some criminals of recent times in Italy, mingling together, quarrelling, and insulting one another. Following the sound of a tremendous horn, we were led towards the ninth and last circle, which encloses four kinds of traitors. The shore was turreted by giants. Embodied thus around the dread abyss Of one I marked, and shrunk with pale dismay. Such a being easily lifted us both with one hand, as though we We conversed with some of them, and then a new horror appeared. Far thence, a hideous pair, together clung, Still on the head before the hindmost hung With fastened fangs, and quaffed the streaming gore; Just where the hairy scalp begins to join The suppliant's bending neck, with rage canine The Furies thus, by sad Ismeno's flood, O thou! whom man's benignant race disclaims, I cried, awhile thy horrid feast forego! Say why the eternal fibres seem to grow, And why the hideous wound for ever streams? 'Perhaps the old tradition of his crime The traitor's deeds, and clear thy injured name: Are ever open to the Muse's lay.' Slowly the sinner left his bloody meal, 6 Mortal! thou bid'st me recollect my doom, 'And oh! if aught it grieves the sentenced dead, Attend-but first the gushing tear will flow; To view the wonders of the world below. 'Thou speak'st the Tuscan tongue! then, mortal, hear A story yet unknown to human ear! The sad detail of Ugolino's fate : Here the cursed prelate, by whose arts I fell, Haply thy young remembrance yet may trace And how this prelate fanned the general flame : But to thyself, and to the fiends alone, With my four guiltless sons I drooping sat. The first sad night I passed unknown to sleep, And shewed my doom at large! Methought I stood While this infernal priest the bugle blew. "Thence with her whelps she sought the Julian steep, But Lanfranc seemed the woody pass to keep; Sismondi's chiefs and those of Gualand's name, Their fleet and famished pack of blood-hounds joined, Which closed the trembling prey before, behind; Fastened at once, and tore the savage game. 'Ere smiling morn had purpled o'er the sky I woke, and heard my children faintly cry, |