Amusements in a Great City of Hell

As Franchezzo and his companion descend from the tower and enter the city, they find quite a large crowd of dark spirits assembled, listening to some sort of proclamation. Evidently it is one which excites their derision and anger for there are yells and hoots and cries resounding on all sides. As Franchezzo draws yet nearer, he perceives it is one which has been read recently in the earthly counterpart and has for its object the further liberation and advancement of the people – an object which, down here in this stronghold of oppression and tyranny, only provokes a desire for its suppression and these dark beings around him are vowing to thwart its good purpose .

The more men are oppressed and the more that they quarrel and fight against the oppression with violence, the stronger these beings are here below to interfere in their affairs and to stir up strife and fightings among them. The more men become free and enlightened and improved, the less chance there is that these dark spirits will be drawn to earth by the kindling of kindred passions there and thus be enabled to mingle with and control men for their own evil purposes. 

These dark beings delight in war, misery and bloodshed and are ever eager to return to earth to kindle men's fierce cruel passions afresh. In times of great national oppression and revolt when the heated passions of men are inflamed to fever heat, these dwellers of the depths are drawn up to earth's surface by the force of kindred desires and excite and urge on revolutions, which, begun at first from motives that are high and pure and noble, will under the stress of passion and the instigation of these dark beings from the lower sphere become at last mere excuses for wild butcheries and excesses of every kind. By these very excesses a reaction is created and these dark demons and those whom they control are in their turn swept away by the higher powers, leaving a wide track of ruin and suffering to mark where they have been. Thus in these lowest Hells a rich harvest is reaped of unhappy souls who have been drawn down along with the evil spirits that tempted them.

Passage group, Hautecombe Nights, Savoie, France by Yann Forget (CC-by-SA-3.0)