Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/430

410 ICELANDIC VISION.

From the Poetic Edda. Tr. by Wright, St. Patrick’s Purgatory, p. 177. In the Norni’s seat sat I nine days; thence I was carried on a horse; the sun of the Gygiars shone grimly out of the apertures of the clouds.

Without and within I seemed to go through all the seven lower worlds; above and below sought I a better way, where I might have a more agreeable journey.

I must relate what I first saw, when I was come into the places of torment; scorched birds, which were souls, fled numerous as flies.

From the west saw I fly the dragons of expectation, and open the way of the fire-powerful; they beat their wings, so that everywhere it appeared to me that earth and heaven burst.

The sun's hart I saw go from the south, him led two together: his feet stood on the ground, and his horns touched heaven.

From the north saw I ride the people's sons, and they were seven together; with full horns they drunk the pure mead from the fountain of heaven's lord.

The wind became quiet, the waters ceased to flow; then heard I a fearful sound: for their husbands shameless women ground earth to food

Bloody stones those dark women dragged sorrowfully; their bleeding hearts hung out of their breasts, weary with much grief.

Many men saw I wounded go in the ways strewed with hot Cinders; their faces seemed to me all to be red with smoking blood.

Many men saw I go on the ground who had been unable to obtain the Lord’s meal; heathen stars stood over their heads, painted with fearful characters.

Those men saw I, who cherish much envy at other’s fortune; bloody runes were on their breasts marked painfully.

Men saw I there many, without joy, who all wandered pathless; that he purchases for himself, who of this world is infatuated with the vices.