Caption: Dante & Virgil in Hell.

In the Divine Comedy first part the Inferno, Dante Alighieri (1265--1321) and the shade of Virgil (70--19 BCE) journey through the Nine circles of Hell.

Where among others, they find Ulysses:

The greater horn of the ancient flame was stirred
      To shudder and make murmur, like a fire
      When in the wind it struggles and is blurred,
Then tossed upon a flickering crest yet higher,       As it had been a tongue that spoke, it cast
      A voice forth from the strength of its desire,

---Canto XXVI, line 85ff.

      With one ship only, and with that little band
      Which chose not to desert me; far as Spain,
Far as Morocco, either shore I scanned.
      Sardinia's isle I coasted, steering true,
      And the isles of which that water bathes the strand.
I and my crew were old and stiff of thew
      When, at the narrow strait, we could discern
      The boundaries Hercules set far in view
That none should dare beyond, or further learn.
      Already I had Sevilla on the right,
      And on the larboard Ceuta lay astern.


---Canto XXVI, line 101ff.

Then we rejoiced; but soon to grief were brought,
      A storm came out of that strange land, and found
      The ship, and violently the forepart caught.
Three times it made her to spin round and round
      With all the waves; and, as Another chose,
      The fourth time, heaved the stern up, the prow drowned,
Till over us we heard the waters close.


---Canto XXVI, line 136ff.

Go ancient shade, we ask of thee no more.

---Canto XXVII, line 21.

The last quote is a free variation by yours truly.

Images:

1. Credit/Permission: © David Jeffery, 2004 / Own work.
   Image link: dante_virgil_hell.png.
   File: Art_d file: dante_virgil_hell.png.
   
2. Credit/Permission: © David Jeffery, 2016 / Own work.
   Image link: ulysses.gif.
   File: Art_u file: ulysses.gif.