Canto IV

I woke to heavy thunderclap 1
As if two titans met and clashed
And stood then I and stared around
To see what place had me surround 4
I found myself upon the brink
The burning edge of hell's first ring
And looked I down into abyss
Deep valley that was filled with mist 8
And cries and wails assailed my ears
As moans of sadness dim and drear
That whisper by me slowly drifting
From a crowd of spirits lifting 12
Children sighed in sadness born
Before the savior crowned in thorns.
My guide then Virgil leads ahead
As follow I in growing dread. 16
So we traversed that lonely way
With halting breath I softly prayed
And on the road through Limbo town
I saw a host all spread around 20
So all about us came these sighs
As host that gathered softly cried
'You know the crime for which we dwell
Upon these bitter slopes of hell?' 24
I answered 'No' as down we climbed,
He stumbled then, as if struck blind.
'The only sin we've ever known
Is not to worship God alone 28
These born before the risen Christ
Salvation lost for un-baptized' 30
And I myself am one of these
In circle first who live in peace
Where only torment that we know
Beyond the reach of Heaven’s glow 34
No torture but we’re left to long
Right here beyond the end of song
'Can none be saved?' I begged to know
He told me this in voice full slow
'When first I came to this foul place
I saw a Lord descend in grace 40
With crown of flames upon his brow
All sinners at the same time bowed
And gathered he the kings of old
Were lifted in his golden robe 44
And all the lords of Israel past
Were saved as helpless demons gnashed
But never fore and never since
Has comeback tour to hell by Prince 48
Now thirteen hundred years have gone
And yet poor Virgil lingers on
For always and a day I’ll bide
In death beyond the risen Christ' 52
And tears I shed when tale I heard
Of those condemned before the word
That God would let these souls be damned
In blinding fog their spirits crammed 56
Because they knew not God alone
He cast them from his shining throne 58
And sadness this now caused in me
For those whose soul know no reprieve
And Hell is always and a day
In Limbo world of gray on gray 62
Then saw I fire through the fog
As if I spy a burning log
And shapes there were that drew me in
And welcomed me to poets ring 66
Where Home, Horace, Ovid dwelled
Upon the slopes that circled hell
So moved we then towards the light
And spied I then a wondrous sight 70
A castle stood with shining walls
Surround by moat with tower tall
And walked we over this fair stream
That seemed like painted from a dream 74
And passed then under seven gates
That led to garden filled with sage
And so right there in splendid school
I met the king of golden rule 78
Whose eyes were grave and voices low
In garden filled with gentle glow
Where lords of thought from ancient times
Here gathered for a sinless crime 82
Where gentle lords and ladies great
Live on towards some unknown date
So on we walked through hell's first ring
With subjects filled but with no king 86
Beyond a point beyond all gleam
Were blinded in this downward seam
And so beyond then Limbo town
We found the gate to second round. 90

These are working out a lot faster now than I thought. I'm already starting the revision process for canto V. Thats 3 canto's so far in two days.

Lots of revised sections in this canto, I have to read it all the way through and make sure it flows, it might need a couple lines more, or less.

The one thing that I couldn't find place for is the concept that Limbo, Hell's first ring was locked now because there could be no more born before the Risen Christ. Maybe thats what I might dedicate two more lines to, it could go in the first third under the line ' before the savior crowned in thorns' bit.