CANTO VIII

I SAY , continuing, that as on we went,
Long ere the base of that high tower we hit,
Our eyes were drawn up to its battlement
Because of two flames that we saw there lit,
And yet another answering them discerned
So far, the eye scarcely could distinguish it.
To the Sea of all Intelligence I turned,
And spoke: " What says this beacon, and what replies

CANTO VI

When my mind came back, that had closed at sight
Of those two kinsfolk in their misery bound,
Pity of which in sorrow had mazed me quite,
New torments, new tormented ones around,
Whatever step I take, wherever strain
My eyes, I see, peopling the shadowy ground.
I am now in the Third Circle of the Rain,
Eternal, cold, accurst, and charged with woe.

CANTO V

From the first circle I thus descended down
Into the second, which less space admits,
And so much more pain that it stings to groan.
There Minos, hideously grinning, sits,
Inspects the offences at the entering in,
Judges and, as he girds himself, commits.
I mean, that when the ill-born spirit comes in
Before his presence, it confesses all;

CANDO IV

Rumble of thunder upon my brain deep-drowsed
So shook the sleep that at the heavy sound
I started, like a man by force aroused.
And my now rested eyes casting around
I rose upright, with peering gaze intent
To know the place wherein myself I found.
True it is, I stood on the edge of the descent
Where the hollow of the gulf out of despair

CANTO III

T HROUGH ME THE WAY IS TO THE C ITY OF W OE :
T HROUGH ME THE WAY INTO THE ETERNAL PAIN ;
T HROUGH ME THE WAY AMONG THE LOST BELOW .
R IGHTEOUSNESS DID MY MAKER ON HIGH CONSTRAIN .
M E DID DIVINE Authority UPREAR ;
M E SUPREME W ISDOM AND PRIMAL L OVE SUSTAIN .
B EFORE I WAS, NO THINGS CREATED WERE
S AVE THE ETERNAL, AND I ETERNAL ABIDE .

CANTO II

The day was going, and the darkened air
Was taking from its toil each animal
That is on the earth; I only, alone there,
Essayed to arm my spirit against all
The terror of the journey and pity's plea,
Which memory, that errs not, shall recall.
O Muses, O high Genius, strengthen me!
O Memory, that what I saw hast writ,

CANTO I

Midway the journey of this life I was 'ware
That I had strayed into a dark forest,
And the right path appeared not anywhere.
Ah, tongue cannot describe how it oppressed,
This wood, so harsh, dismal and wild, that fear
At thought of it strikes now into my breast.
So bitter it is, death is scarce bitterer.
But, for the good it was my hap to find,

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

" Of many thousand kisses the poor last "
Thus, dying, spake the Roman to the Queen —
She whose undreamed-of face mine eyes had seen
In her pavilion as it floated past.
" Of many thousand kisses the poor last " ;
The Royal Empress took his hands between
Her hands; I saw her tears, and saw her lean
Over his face ... and felt the silence vast.

The death-pale splendid queen, in white and gold

ROMEO AND JULIET

A river through our meadow rushed and sang; —
I knew that it was going to the sea;
So when she leaned out from her balcony,
To talk to Romeo, a sudden pang
Went through my heart, — for while I watched him hang
Within a swaying, moon-lit, leafy tree —
I knew that they were rushing to the sea.
With smiles and tears, and words that thrilled and rang!

I saw her bend above him with soft grace,

AS YOU LIKE IT

I WAS a child, and my green Shakespere took
Into a meadow, underneath a tree
Where oft' I went to read, and eagerly —
With trembling fingers — opened my new book. ...
I liked the pages and their broken look
Of measured lines. ... Then people talked to me,
And to each other, — and I seemed to see
A girl who sighed and held a shepherd's crook;

And then I heard poor Celia, who was tired,