The Plan of Hell — Canto XI

Canto 11 of Inferno by Dante Alighieri

Upon the margin of a lofty bank Which great rocks broken in a circle made, We came upon a still more cruel throng; And there, by reason of the horrible Excess of stench the deep abyss throws out, We drew ourselves aside behind the cover Of a great tomb, on which I saw a writing, Which said: "Pope Anastasius I hold, Whom out of the right way Photinus drew."

"Slow it behoves our going to descend, So that the sense be first a little used To the sad blast, and then we shall not heed it."

The Master thus; and unto him I said: "Some compensation find, that the time pass not Idly;" and he: "Thou seest I think of that. My son, within the compass of these rocks," Began he then to say, "are three small circles, From grade to grade, like those which thou art leaving."