I'm reading Dante's Inferno for the first time. Impressed by the superficial simplicity of the poem - it seems like a clear story in simple language (not sure of course if it comes across like that in the original). Contrast to Milton - gorgeous language, but he will pause lovingly to discourse on the footstep of Satan, with rich embellishment of classical learning. And what's up with the love of classical learning? Nominally they both assert the supremacy of the bible over the pagan classics. It feels like their hearts aren't in it, though. Neither invokes a christian muse, after all.