Divine Comedy Ch. 3: The Gate of Hell

Summary

The gate is already speaking. Through me you pass into the city of woe, into eternal pain, among the people lost for aye. Justice, power, wisdom, and primeval love built it. All hope abandon ye who enter here. Dante finds the meaning hard. Virgil tells him to leave distrust behind and extinguish vile fear. They have come to see the souls who have lost intellectual good. Virgil takes his hand, looks pleasant, and leads him in.

No star pierces this air. Sighs, lamentations, and loud moans in various tongues make a tumult like sand in a whirlwind, and Dante weeps at entering. These are the wretched who lived without praise or blame, mixed with angels who were neither rebels nor true, but for themselves only. Heaven drove them out so as not to impair its lustre. Hell refuses them lest the damned take vain glory from their company. They have no hope of death. Mercy and justice both scorn them. Virgil says speak not of them, but look, and pass them by. A flag whirls without pause. A long train follows. Wasps and hornets sting their faces until blood mixed with tears is gathered by worms at their feet. Dante recognises one who, yielding to base fear, abjured a high estate.

Beyond them a throng crowds the shore of a great stream, eager to cross. Charon comes hoary in a bark, crying woe to the wicked and telling the living spirit to get hence. Virgil answers that it is willed where will and power are one. The naked spirits change colour, blaspheme God and their parents, then rush the cursed strand like autumn leaves leaving a bough, because heaven's justice has turned their fear into desire. The gloomy region trembles. A vermilion flame shoots forth. Dante drops as one with sudden slumber seized.

In this chapter:Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Stop Pretending Neutrality

Staying uncommitted can still put you in a crowd nobody claims. Dante sees the souls who lived without praise or blame chasing a whirling flag while wasps sting their faces, and Virgil tells him to speak not of them, but look, and pass them by.

This week, pick one decision you have been calling not yet and write what you are already choosing by delay; then take the smaller action that ends the stall.

This chapter

Inside the Mind: The Uncommitted

They lived without praise or blame, and now they chase a whirling flag while wasps sting their faces. Nobody in heaven or hell will claim them. Neutrality was meant to keep them off every ledger. The gate has given them a crowd that is still a non-choice, only louder and forever.

Continue this thoughtThe Hunger That Increases With Food

Coming Up in Chapter 4

A crash of thunder breaks the sleep that dropped him. Dante stands on the brink of a dark vale of sighs, and Virgil's face has already gone pale before they take the first step down.

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Original text

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Chapter 03

The Gate of Hell

“Through me you pass into the city of woe: Through me you pass into eternal pain: Through me among the people lost for aye. Justice the founder of my fabric mov’d: To rear me was the task of power divine, Supremest wisdom, and primeval love. Before me things create were none, save things Eternal, and eternal I endure. All hope abandon ye who enter here.” Such characters in colour dim I mark’d Over a portal’s lofty arch inscrib’d: Whereat I thus: “Master, these words import Hard meaning.” He as one prepar’d replied: “Here thou must all distrust behind thee leave;…

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The Gate of Hell

Summary

Why This Matters