Divine Comedy Ch. 14: The Rain of Fire

Summary

Soon as the charity of native land works in his bosom, Dante collects the scattered leaves and restores them to the hoarse trunk. They come to the limit that divides the second round from the third. A plain from its sterile bed repels each plant. The mournful wood waves round it as a garland. On the edge their steps stay: arid sand, thick, like the soil Cato once trod. Naked spirits weep under different laws: some lie supine, some crouch, others pace without end. The pacers are more numerous; those who lie beneath are fewer, but louder. Dilated flakes of fire fall slowly, as snow on an Alpine summit when the wind is hushed. The ground glows as a stove. Unceasing is the play of wretched hands, shaking off heat that still falls fresh.

Dante asks who is yon huge spirit that heeds not the burning, but lies writhen in proud scorn. The spirit himself answers: such as I was when living, dead such now I am. If Jove weary his smiths in Mongibello and launch at me with all his might, he never should enjoy a sweet revenge. Virgil, louder than Dante has heard him, names Capaneus: thou art more punished in that this thy pride lives yet unquenched; no torrent, save thy rage, were pain in proportion. One of the seven kings who girt Thebes, he still holds God in disdain. That mood is an ornament suited to the breast that wears it. Follow; set not thy foot in the hot sand; keep close to the wood.

A little brook gushes from the forest's bound, crimson, stone-built, with margins at each side. Of all shown since the unbarred gate, nought else so worthy of regard: over this river the flaming volley is quenched. In Crete an ancient form looks toward Rome: gold head, silver, brass, steel, a clay foot, all but the gold rent. Tears from the fissure become Acheron, Styx, Phlegethon, and at last Cocytus, of which Virgil will not yet speak. Lethe is not in this hollow; spirits will lave there after penitence. Time is now we quit the wood. Pursue my steps: the margins give safe passage, for over them all vapour is extinct.

In this chapter:Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Walk the Margin Where the Fire Dies

Unchanged scorn can do more of the burning than the flakes that fall. Capaneus lies in the sand the same man he was, Virgil names the unquenched pride as the pain, and a small stone brook is the first place the volley actually goes out.

This week, stop arguing with the person who will not move, name the margin that already quenches heat, and put your feet on that line instead of testing the sand.

This chapter

Inside the Mind: Capaneus

He lies in the sand the same man he was. Virgil names the unquenched pride as the pain, more than the flakes that fall. Scorn that will not change has to keep the fire lit from inside. The posture is the punishment because it is the only self he will still consent to be.

Continue this thoughtThe Hunger That Increases With Food

Coming Up in Chapter 15

One solid margin will bear them, wrapped in mist that saves from fire. A troop will come beside the pier, sharpening their sight as an old tailor at his needle, and one will catch Dante by the skirt.

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Original text

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Chapter 14

The Rain of Fire

Soon as the charity of native land 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…

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The Rain of Fire

Summary

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