Intro (Canto III)

[Instrumental]

"Through me the way is to the city of dolent;
Through me the way is to eternal dole;
Through me the way among the people lost

Justice incited my sublime Creator;
Created me divine Omnipotence
The highest Wisdom, and the primal Love

Before me there were no created things
Only eterne, and I eternal last
All hope abandon, ye who enter in!"

These words in sombre colour I beheld
Written upon the summit of a gate;
Whence I: "Their sense is, Master, hard to me!"

And he to me, as one experienced:
"Here all suspicion needs must be abandoned
All cowardice must needs be here extinct

[?]

And I: "O Master, what is so grievous is
To these, that maketh them lament so sore"
He answered: "I will tell thee very briefly

These people have not any hope of death"