THE DIVINE COMEDY: Inferno, Purgatorio & Paradiso (3 Classic Translations in One Edition). Dante Alighieri

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       I understood that to this torment sad

       The carnal sinners are condemn'd, in whom

       Reason by lust is sway'd. As in large troops

       And multitudinous, when winter reigns,

       The starlings on their wings are borne abroad;

       So bears the tyrannous gust those evil souls.

       On this side and on that, above, below,

       It drives them: hope of rest to solace them

       Is none, nor e'en of milder pang. As cranes,

       Chanting their dol'rous notes, traverse the sky,

       Stretch'd out in long array: so I beheld

       Spirits, who came loud wailing, hurried on

       By their dire doom. Then I: "Instructor! who

       Are these, by the black air so scourg'd?"—"The first

       'Mong those, of whom thou question'st," he replied,

       "O'er many tongues was empress. She in vice

       Of luxury was so shameless, that she made

       Liking be lawful by promulg'd decree,

       To clear the blame she had herself incurr'd.

       This is Semiramis, of whom 'tis writ,

       That she succeeded Ninus her espous'd;

       And held the land, which now the Soldan rules.

       The next in amorous fury slew herself,

       And to Sicheus' ashes broke her faith:

       Then follows Cleopatra, lustful queen."