Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/84

64 They all are full of spirits maledict;

But that hereafter sight alone suffice thee,

Hear how and wherefore they are in constraint.

Of every malice that wins hate in Heaven,

Injury is the end; and all such end

Either by force or fraud afflicteth others.

But because fraud is man's peculiar vice,

More it displeases God; and so stand lowest

The fraudulent, and greater dole assails them.

All the first circle of the Violent is;

But since force may be used against three persons,

In three rounds 't is divided and constructed.

To God, to ourselves, and to our neighbor can we

Use force; I say on them and on their things,

As thou shalt hear with reason manifest.

A death by violence, and painful wounds,

Are to our neighbor given; and in his substance

Ruin, and arson, and injurious levies;

Whence homicides, and he who smites unjustly,

Marauders, and freebooters, the first round

Tormenteth all in companies diverse.

Man may lay violent hands upon himself

And his own goods; and therefore in the second

Round must perforce without avail repent