From the first circle I departed thus
down to the second which holds less space,
but much more pain, driving the souls to shriek.

There stands Minos, snarling and terrible.
At the entrance he hears the offences
gives judgement and sends each to his place.

I say that when the evil-fated soul
appears before him, it confesses all.
This examiner of sin perceives

what part of Hell the sould belongs
and girds himself with his tail as many times
as levels below the sinner must descend.

Always they stand in front of him,
each goes in turn to judgement. They speak,
they hear, and then are hurled below.