Satan — Canto XXXIV

Canto 34 of Inferno by Dante Alighieri

"Vexilla Regis prodeunt Inferni Towards us; therefore look in front of thee," My Master said, "if thou discernest him."

As, when there breathes a heavy fog, or when Our hemisphere is darkening into night, Appears far off a mill the wind is turning, Methought that such a building then I saw; And, for the wind, I drew me back behind My Guide, because there was no other shelter.

Now was I, and with fear in verse I put it, There where the shades were wholly covered up, And glimmered through like unto straws in glass. Some prone are lying, others stand erect, This with the head, and that one with the soles; Another, bow-like, face to feet inverts.