Page:The Triumphs of Temper.djvu/74

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^[1]"Thro' me ye pass to Spleen's terrific dome,
Thro' me, to Discontent's eternal home:
Thro' me, to those who sadden'd human life,
By sullen humour, or vexatious strife;
And here, thro' scenes of endless vapours hurl'd,
Are punish'd in the forms they plagued the world;
Justly they feel no joy who none bestow,
All ye who enter, every hope forego!"
O'er an arch'd cavern, rough with horrid stone,
On which a feeble light by flashes shone,
These characters, that chill'd her soul with dread,
Serena, fixt in silent wonder, read.
As she began to speak, her voice was drown'd
By the shrill echo of far other sound:

1. Per me si va nella citta dolente,
   Per me si va nell' eterno dolore,
   Per me si va tra la perduta gente,
   **********
   Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch' intrate.
   Queste parole di colore oscuro
   Vid' io scritte al sommo d' una porta.
   Dante, Inferno, 3.