Three things remain with us from paradise: stars, flowers and children. - Dante Alighieri

Even as he who glories while he gains will, when the time has come to tally loss, lament with every thought and turn despondent,

As soon as that majestic force,
which had already pierced me once
before I had outgrown my childhood, struck my eyes,

I turned to my left with the confidence
a child has running to his mamma
when he is afraid or in distress

to say to Virgil: 'Not a single drop of blood
remains in me that does not tremble — I know the signs of the ancient flame.'

But Virgil had departed, leaving us bereft:
Virgil, sweetest of fathers,
Virgil, to whom I gave myself for my salvation.

And not all our ancient mother lost
could save my cheeks, washed in the dew,
from being stained again with tears.

F. CARY, M.A. HELL
OR THE INFERNO Part 3. LIST OF CANTOS Canto 5
Canto 6
CANTO V FROM the first circle I descended thus
Down to the second, which, a lesser space
Embracing, so much more of grief contains
Provoking bitter moans. There, Minos stands
Grinning with ghastly feature: he, of all
Who enter, strict examining the crimes,