Because I knew that some who did excel In worthiness were to that limbo[224] gone. 'Tell me, O Sir,' I prayed him, 'Master,[225] tell,' --That I of the belief might surety win, Victorious every error to dispel-- 'Did ever any hence to bliss attain By merit of another or his own?' 50 And he, to whom my hidden drift[226] was plain: 'I to this place but lately[227] had come down, When I beheld one hither make descent; A Potentate[228] who wore a victor's crown. The shade of our first sire forth with him went, And his son Abel's, Noah's forth he drew, Moses' who gave the laws, the obedient Patriarch Abram's, and King David's too; And, with his sire and children, Israel, And Rachel, winning whom such toils he knew; 60 And many more, in blessedness to dwell. And I would have thee know, earlier than these No human soul was ever saved from Hell.' While thus he spake our progress did not cease, But we continued through the wood to stray; The wood, I mean, with crowded ghosts for trees. Ere from the summit far upon our way We yet had gone, I saw a flame which glowed, Holding a hemisphere[229] of dark at bay. 'Twas still a little further on our road, 70 Yet not so far but that in part I guessed That honourable people there abode. 'Of art and science Ornament confessed! Who are these honoured in such high degree, And in their lot distinguished from the rest?' He said: 'For them their glorious memory, Still in thy world the subject of renown, Wins grace[230] by Heaven distinguished thus to be.' Meanwhile I heard a voice: 'Be honour shown To the illustrious poet,[231] for his shade 80 Is now returning which a while was gone.' When the voice paused nor further utterance made, Four mighty shades drew near with one accord, In aspect neither sorrowful nor glad. 'Consider that one, armèd with a sword,'[232] Began my worthy Master in my ear, 'Before the three advancing like their lord; For he is Homer, poet with no peer: Horace the satirist is next in line, Ovid comes third, and Lucan in the rear. 90 And 'tis because their claim agrees with mine Upon the name they with one voice did cry, They to their honour[233] in my praise combine.' Thus I beheld their goodly company-- The lords[234] of song in that exalted style Which o'er all others, eagle-like, soars high. Having conferred among themselves a while They turned toward me and salutation made, And, this beholding, did my Master smile.[235] And honour higher still to me was paid, 100 For of their company they made me one; So I the sixth part 'mong such genius played. Thus journeyed we to where the brightness shone, Holding discourse which now 'tis well to hide,