Dante Aligieri

Comprised of three books - Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso - Dante's Divine Comedy follows Dante Alighieri's epic poems follows Dante through the different sections of the afterlife; hell, purgatory, and heaven. Divine Comedy began as a project in 1308 and ended in 1320, the year before Dante's death. Told in first person, Dante follows the poet Virgil through the rings of hell and purgatory. The Divine Comedy is a highly allegorical text and renowned as one of the most influential Italian masterpieces in literature. This classic translation by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was the first to be published by an American author and is a staple in every library. With this accurate and eloquent translation, the beauty of Dante's amazing epic poetry can be fully appreciated. Inspiration to a slew or popular authors and poets, Divine Comedy is well remembered and Gustave Dore's illustrations bring Dante's masterpiece to life.

The Divine Comedy

rowanna 

jana 

lead me this way. Beyond this present ill

and worse to dread, lead me to Peter's gate

and be my guide through the sad halls of Hell.

Levi-Mae 

My fears, at this, we’re somewhat quieted,

though terror, awash in the lake of my heart, 

had lasted all the night I’d passed in anguish. 

but, feasting well, is hungrier than before. 

He will not feed on dross or cash or gelt, 

but thrive in wisdom, virtue and pure love. 

Born he shall be between the felt and felt. 

and all those souls that you say are so sad. 

Giovanni Silva

'Supposing I have heard your words aright,' the shadow of that noble mind replied, 'your heart is struck with ignominious dread.

This, very often, is the stumbling block that turns a noble enterprise off-course – as beasts will balk at shadows falsely seen.

"Since you desire to know so inwardly, then briefly," she replied, "I'll tell you why I feel no dread at entering down here.

We only dread an object when (but only wheb) that object has the power to do us harm. Nothing can otherwise occasion fear.

“She brought such heaviness upon my spirit at sight of her savagery and desperation, I died from every hope of that high summit.”

The Divine Comedy quotes

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