Dante, Inferno
Limbo in the First Circle
Virgil explains the sorrow of souls who lack the faith and initiation required by the poem’s religious order. Dante grieves to learn that many people of great worth remain suspended in Limbo. Within that circle, a place of honour sets renowned figures apart. Their intellectual and poetic standing grants distinction, but it does not remove the broader deprivation described by the guide.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryVirgil explains the sorrow of souls who lack the faith and initiation required by the poem’s religious order. Dante grieves to learn that many people of great worth remain suspended in Limbo.
Further detail
LiteraryWithin that circle, a place of honour sets renowned figures apart. Their intellectual and poetic standing grants distinction, but it does not remove the broader deprivation described by the guide.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the exact supplied Thompson & Thomas edition of H. F. Cary’s translation. Figures, places and events belong to Dante’s literary vision; their assigned roles are distinguished from historical biography, other classical traditions and independently established descriptions of an afterlife.
Original passages
Source 1
Dante's Inferno
Desiring without hope." Sore grief assail'd My heart at hearing this, for well I knew Suspended in that Limbo many a soul Of mighty worth. "Oh,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 32
Passage read against the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace normalised and original-leaf mapping checked. Plate art separately visually inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0032
- Original scan leaf
- 39
- Recorded leaf number
- 39
- Current Reader position
- 32
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
The renown of their great names, That echoes through the world above, acquires Favor in heaven, which holds them thus advanced." Meantime a voice I heardOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 33
Passage read against the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace normalised and original-leaf mapping checked. Plate art separately visually inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0033
- Original scan leaf
- 40
- Recorded leaf number
- 40
- Current Reader position
- 33
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Homer in the Company of Poets
The supreme poet who leads the classical company greeting Virgil in Limbo.
Shared source pageHorace in Dante’s Limbo
The poet named Flaccus, praised for satire within the classical company.
Shared source pageLucan in Dante’s Limbo
The last poet named in the classical company that welcomes Dante as a sixth member.
Shared source pageOvid in Dante’s Limbo
The poet named Naso, standing third in the company that receives Dante.