ITT: An Inferno / Doctor Faustus crossover fic
A
Heretofore Unknown Passage From Canto XIV in Dante’s Inferno, In the
Vernacular, Concerning a Certain Dr. Faustus.
As my most gracious guide
and I made our way through the desolate, flame-strewn wastes of that circle
where torrential rains of fire punish those guilty of violence against God,
nature, and Art, a most strange sight caught mine eye. Not a few yards away, I spied a piece of
sable fabric in the sun-parched sands.
Virgil, upon following my gaze to the scrap of clothe, said, “Oh, that
must be the damnable Doctor Faustus, who did blaspheme against the name of God
and consorted with the denizens of the inner most circles of Hell, who now is
subject to his just punishment.”“If he is as loathsome as
you say, then why, pray tell, have I never heard of this man?” I asked,
befuddled. My guide, after a hesitant
pause, reluctantly replied, “Well, that is because he is from a time beyond
your own.” Dumbfounded, I inquired, “But if persons whose time has not yet come
are also in these ghostly, charnal place, why have we not encountered these
anachronistic figures before?” Sighing, my guide grudgingly explained,
“Because, in Hell, the sinners are organized based on the time period in which
they lived, with the ones on the left are from the past, while the ones in the
right are from the future. Obviously, we
must have veered off course somewhat.”I immediately became
concerned as to why my guide was attempting to hide parts of the ghastly locale
through which I was being guided and stated as much to him. Seeking to allay my doubts as to his ability
he replied, “Well, if I were to introduce all of these unknown figures,
explaining their actions, it would serve only to continuously bog down your
allegory, as is made evident by this overly extended passage. But, as long as we are off on this tangent,
why not unearth the sinner who started this discussion and ask him of his
sins?" Quickly, I walked over to the sand in which the conjuror was
imprisoned and, with some effort, dragged him sputtering from his earthly
tomb. Holding him by the shoulders of
his gilded coat, I queried as to his ignominious fate.“Behold!” he cried,
spitting out red dust as he did so, “I am Doctor Faustus, who, having learned
all things that could be known in my time, made a pact to know yet more and
gain great power in exchange for my soul.
Despite the desire to repent and exhortations to do so by my peers, I
declined for fear that I would be killed by the demons who served me. By the
time I overcame that fear and attempted to repent it was too late. However, for my repentance I was granted a
slight reprieve, and dwell under the sands and away from the fiery deluge.“But,” I asked, “If you had
acquired all knowledge of your time, how could you not know of the torments of
Hell and the eternal bliss of Heaven?”“That
is because, I in my hubris, was able to delude myself about the nature of God’s
wrath and the extent of his love.”As I
let go of him, the sands again swallowed him up. I turned to my guide and said, “Alas, it
seems that men of knowledge are too easily led astray. Virgil, in his wisdom replied, “Yes, that is
so, but we are behind schedule and must make haste.”
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Comments