Inferno – Canto 3

10 Charon the demon, with eyes of glowing coal, beckoning to them, collects them all; 111 he beats with his oar whoever lingers. As in autumn the leaves depart one after the other, until the bough 114 sees all its spoils upon the earth, in like wise the evil seed of Adam throw themselves from that shore one by one, 117 at signals, as the bird at his recall. Thus they go over the dusky wave, and before they have landed on the farther side, 120 already on this a new throng is assembled. “My son,” said the courteous Master, “those who die in the wrath of God, 123 all come together here from every land; and they are eager to pass over the stream, for the divine justice spurs them 126 so that fear is turned to desire. A good soul never passes this way; and therefore if Charon fret at thee, 129 well mayest thou now know what his speech signifies.” This ended, the gloomy plain trembled so mightily, that the memory 132 of the terror even now bathes me with sweat. The tearful land gave forth a wind that flashed a crimson light 135 which vanquished all sensation in me,

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