Chapter 14 of 147

Outhne: Inferno V

OUTHNE: INFERNO V

1–3

descent to the second Circle: the lustful

4–15

proem: Minos judge of the damned

16–20

Minos attempts to discourage Dante

21–24

Virgil repeats his magical phrase (III.95–96)

25–30

again, impressions of sound are the first Dante has

31–39

the “hellscape”: weeping, darkness, storm

40–49

two similes: starlings and cranes

50–51

Dante wants to know who are punished here; Virgil:

52–63

Semiramis, Dido, Cleopatra

64–69

Helen, Achilles, Paris, Tristan, and many others

70–78

Dante’s piteous reaction and desire to speak

79–81

he calls out to the pair of lovers

82–87

simile: doves returning to nest

88–108

Francesca’s first speech:

88–96

her kind words for Dante’s kindness

97–99

she is from Ravenna

100–108

Love … Love … Love…: her litany of joy, woe

109–111

Dante’s reaction and Virgil’s laconic question

112–120

Dante’s rumination and question to Francesca

121–138

Francesca’s second response:

121–126

despite the pain it will cause, she will speak

127–129

she and Paolo were reading of Lancelot in love

130–138

enflamed by the reading, they embraced

139–142

coda: Francesca concludes, Paolo weeps, Dante faints

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