10 And now we had come to the last circuit, and had turned to the right hand, 111 and were intent upon another care. Here the bank shoots forth flame, and the ledge breathes a blast upward 114 which drives it back, and sequesters a path from it. Wherefore it was needful to go along the open side one by one; and I was afraid of the fire, 117 on the one hand and on the other I was afraid of falling off. My Leader said, “Along this place, one must keep upon the eyes tight the rein, 120 because one might go astray for little.” “Summae Deus clementiae,” in the bosom of the great burning, I then heard being sung, 123 which to turn made me care not less. And I saw spirits going through the flame; wherefore I looked at them and at my own steps, 126 apportioning to each my sight from moment to moment. After the end that is made to that hymn, they loudly cried: “Virum non cognosco”; 129 then began again the hymn with low voice; this finished, they cried anew: “To the wood kept herself Diana, and Helice drove therefrom, 132 who of Venus had tasted the poison.” Then to their singing they returned; then wives they cried aloud and husbands who were chaste, 135 as virtue and marriage enjoin upon us.
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