The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio & Paradiso. Dante Alighieri

Counselled the Pharisees that it was meet

       To put one man to torture for the people.

      Crosswise and naked is he on the path,

       As thou perceivest; and he needs must feel,

       Whoever passes, first how much he weighs;

      And in like mode his father-in-law is punished

       Within this moat, and the others of the council,

       Which for the Jews was a malignant seed."

      And thereupon I saw Virgilius marvel

       O'er him who was extended on the cross

       So vilely in eternal banishment.

      Then he directed to the Friar this voice:

       "Be not displeased, if granted thee, to tell us

       If to the right hand any pass slope down

      By which we two may issue forth from here,

       Without constraining some of the black angels

       To come and extricate us from this deep."

      Then he made answer: "Nearer than thou hopest

       There is a rock, that forth from the great circle

       Proceeds, and crosses all the cruel valleys,

      Save that at this 'tis broken, and does not bridge it;

       You will be able to mount up the ruin,

       That sidelong slopes and at the bottom rises."

      The Leader stood awhile with head bowed down;

       Then said: "The business badly he recounted

       Who grapples with his hook the sinners yonder."

      And the Friar: "Many of the Devil's vices

       Once heard I at Bologna, and among them,

       That he's a liar and the father of lies."

      Thereat my Leader with great strides went on,

       Somewhat disturbed with anger in his looks;

       Whence from the heavy-laden I departed

      After the prints of his beloved feet.