Summary: Canto VII
Virgil and Dante continue down toward the Fourth Circle
of Hell and come upon the demon Plutus. Virgil quiets the creature
with a word and they enter the circle, where Dante cries out at
what he sees: a ditch has been formed around the circle, making
a great ring. Within the ring, two groups of souls push
weights along in anger and pain. Each group completes a semicircle
before crashing into the other group and turning around to proceed
in the opposite direction. The souls condemned to this sort of torturous,
eternal jousting match, Virgil explains, are those of the Avaricious
and the Prodigal, who, during their lives, hoarded and squandered, respectively,
their money.
Dante, as before, inquires whether he knows
any of the souls here. Virgil informs him that most of the Avaricious
are corrupt clergymen, popes, and cardinals but adds that the experiences they
undergo here render them unrecognizable. He notes that the Avaricious
and Prodigal share one essential characteristic: they were not prudent
with the goods of Fortune. Dante asks Virgil to explain the nature
of this “Fortune.” Virgil replies that Fortune has received orders
from God to transfer worldly goods between people and between nations.
Her swift movements evade human understanding; thus, men should
not curse her when they lose their possessions.
Pondering this explanation, Dante follows Virgil down
to the Fifth Circle of Hell, which borders the muddy river Styx.
They see souls crouched on the bank, covered in mud, and striking
and biting at each other. They are the Wrathful, those who were
consumed with anger during their lives. Virgil alerts Dante to the
presence of additional souls here, which remain invisible to him
as they lie completely submerged in the Styx—these are the Sullen,
those who muttered and sulked under the light of the sun. They now
gurgle and choke on the black mud of the swampy river.
Summary: Canto VIII
Continuing around the Fifth Circle of Hell, Virgil and
Dante come to a tall tower standing on the bank, its pinnacle bursting
with flames. Virgil and Dante encounter the boatman Phlegyas, who takes
them across the Styx at Virgil’s prompting. On the way, they happen
upon a sinner whom Dante angrily recognizes as Filippo Argenti.
He has no pity for Argenti and gladly watches the other sinners
tear him apart as the boat pulls away.
Virgil announces that they are now approaching
the city of Dis—Lower Hell. As they near the entrance, a host of
fallen angels cries out. They demand to know why one of the living dares
to try to enter Dis. Virgil again provides a rationale for Dante’s
presence, but, for the first time, he proves unsuccessful in gaining
entrance. The demons slam the gate in Virgil’s face, and he returns
to Dante hurt but not defeated.
Summary: Canto IX
Dante grows pale with fear upon seeing Virgil’s failure.
Virgil, who appears to be waiting for someone impatiently, weakly
reassures Dante. Suddenly, Dante sees three Furies—creatures that
are half woman, half serpent. They shriek and laugh when they notice Dante,
and call for Medusa to come and turn him into stone. Virgil quickly
covers Dante’s eyes so that he will not see Medusa’s head.
