How many now hold themselves mighty kings
Who here like swine shall wallow in the mire,
Leaving behind them horrible dispraise!”
     I then:  “Master! him fain would I behold
Whelm’d in these dregs, before we quit the lake.” 
     He thus:  “Or ever to thy view the shore
Be offer’d, satisfied shall be that wish,
Which well deserves completion.”  Scarce his words
Were ended, when I saw the miry tribes
Set on him with such violence, that yet
For that render I thanks to God and praise
“To Filippo Argenti:”  cried they all: 
And on himself the moody Florentine
Turn’d his avenging fangs.  Him here we left,
Nor speak I of him more.  But on mine ear
Sudden a sound of lamentation smote,
Whereat mine eye unbarr’d I sent abroad. 
     And thus the good instructor:  “Now, my son! 
Draws near the city, that of Dis is nam’d,
With its grave denizens, a mighty throng.” 
     I thus:  “The minarets already, Sir! 
There certes in the valley I descry,
Gleaming vermilion, as if they from fire
Had issu’d.”  He replied:  “Eternal fire,
That inward burns, shows them with ruddy flame
Illum’d; as in this nether hell thou seest.” 
     We came within the fosses deep, that moat
This region comfortless.  The walls appear’d
As they were fram’d of iron.  We had made
Wide circuit, ere a place we reach’d, where loud
The mariner cried vehement:  “Go forth! 
The’ entrance is here!” Upon the gates I spied
More than a thousand, who of old from heaven
Were hurl’d.  With ireful gestures, “Who is this,”
They cried, “that without death first felt, goes through
The regions of the dead?” My sapient guide
Made sign that he for secret parley wish’d;
Whereat their angry scorn abating, thus
They spake:  “Come thou alone; and let him go
Who hath so hardily enter’d this realm. 
Alone return he by his witless way;
If well he know it, let him prove.  For thee,
Here shalt thou tarry, who through clime so dark
Hast been his escort.”  Now bethink thee, reader! 
What cheer was mine at sound of those curs’d words. 
I did believe I never should return. 
     “O my lov’d guide! who more than seven times
Security hast render’d me, and drawn
From peril deep, whereto I stood expos’d,
Desert me not,” I cried, “in this extreme. 
And if our onward going be denied,
Together trace we back our steps with speed.” 
     My liege, who thither had conducted me,
Replied:  “Fear not:  for of our passage none
Hath power to disappoint us, by such high
Authority permitted.  But do thou
Expect me here; meanwhile thy wearied spirit
Comfort, and feed with kindly hope, assur’d
I will not leave thee in this lower world.” 
     This said, departs the sire benevolent,
And quits me.  Hesitating I remain
At war ’twixt will and will not in my thoughts. 
     I could not hear what