The Divine Comedy: Illustrations by Gustave Doré

 

Next Previous Index Home

012

Homer, the poets, and heroes in Limbo

Inferno, Canto 4: Homer, the poets, and heroes in Limbo

After the voice had ceased and quiet was,
Four mighty shades I saw approaching us;
Semblance had they nor sorrowful nor glad.

To say to me began my gracious Master:
“Him with that falchion in his hand behold,
Who comes before the three, even as their lord.

That one is Homer, Poet sovereign;
He who comes next is Horace, the satirist;
The third is Ovid, and the last is Lucan.”