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The Inferno Canto VII
Plutus is enraged by the sight of a mortal entering his realm. Virgil causes him to collapse with a few strong words, and they continue. In this circle the prodigal and avaricious are punished. It is divided into two halves, dividing the opposing classes of sinners. The souls are condemned to roll large weights back and forth around the semi-circle meeting at the center to curse each other bitterly. Dante notices that many of the avaricious souls are tonsured, which indicates that they were dignitaries of the Catholic Church; however, they are now impossible to recognize. They move on, discussing the goddess of fortune who is untouched by human concerns and distributes riches as she wills. Passing to the next circle they find a dark stream and follow it to malignant marsh called the Styx. They see the naked souls of the wrathful fighting viciously with one another in the mud, and further on, completely covered in the mire, the souls of the sullen gurgle miserably. "Sullen were we in the sweet air, that is gladdened by the Sun, carrying lazy smoke within our hearts; now lie we sullen here in the black mire." Canto VII, pg. 43 After traversing the marsh, Dante and Virgil come to a tower.
