The Divine Comedy

I n the midway of this our mortal life,

2 I found me in a gloomy wood, astray

3 Gone from the path direct: and e’en to tell

4 It were no easy task, how savage wild

5 That forest, how robust and rough its growth,

6 Which to remember only, my dismay

7 Renews, in bitterness not far from death.

8 Yet to discourse of what there good befell,

9 All else will I relate discover’d there.

10 How first I enter’d it I scarce can say,

11 Such sleepy dullness in that instant weigh’d

12 My senses down, when the true path I left,

13 But when a mountain’s foot I reach’d, where clos’d

14 The valley, that had pierc’d my heart with dread,

15 I look’d aloft, and saw his shoulders broad

16 Already vested with that planet’s beam,

17 Who leads all wanderers safe through every way.

18 Then was a little respite to the fear,

19 That in my heart’s recesses deep had lain,

20 All of that night, so pitifully pass’d:

21 And as a man, with difficult short breath,

22 Forespent with toiling, ’scap’d from sea to shore,

23 Turns to the perilous wide waste, and stands

24 At gaze; e’en so my spirit, that yet fail’d

25 Struggling with terror, turn’d to view the straits,

26 That none hath pass’d and liv’d. My weary frame

27 After short pause recomforted, again

28 I journey’d on over that lonely steep,

29 The hinder foot still firmer. Scarce the ascent

30 Began, when, lo! a panther, nimble, light,

31 And cover’d with a speckled skin, appear’d,

32 Nor, when it saw me, vanish’d, rather strove

33 To check my onward going; that ofttimes

34 With purpose to retrace my steps I turn’d.

35 The hour was morning’s prime, and on his way

36 Aloft the sun ascended with those stars,

37 That with him rose, when Love divine first mov’d

38 Those its fair works: so that with joyous hope

39 All things conspir’d to fill me, the gay skin

40 Of that swift animal, the matin dawn

41 And the sweet season. Soon that joy was chas’d,

42 And by new dread succeeded, when in view

43 A lion came, ’gainst me, as it appear’d,

44 With his head held aloft and hunger-mad,

45 That e’en the air was fear-struck. A she-wolf

46 Was at his heels, who in her leanness seem’d

47 Full of all wants, and many a land hath made

48 Disconsolate ere now. She with such fear

49 O’erwhelmed me, at the sight of her appall’d,

50 That of the height all hope I lost. As one,

51 Who with his gain elated, sees the time

52 When all unwares is gone, he inwardly

53 Mourns with heart-griping anguish; such was I,

54 Haunted by that fell beast, never at peace,

55 Who coming o’er against me, by degrees

56 Impell’d me where the sun in silence rests.

57 While to the lower space with backward step

58 I fell, my ken discern’d the form one of one,

59 Whose voice seem’d faint through long disuse of speech.

60 When him in that great desert I espied,

61 “Have mercy on me!” cried I out aloud,

62 “Spirit! or living man! what e’er thou be!”

63 He answer’d: “Now not man, man once I was,

64 And born of Lombard parents, Mantuana both

65 By country, when the power of Julius yet

66 Was scarcely firm. At Rome my life was past

67 Beneath the mild Augustus, in the time

68 Of fabled deities and false. A bard

69 Was I, and made Anchises’ upright son

70 The subject of my song, who came from Troy,

71 When the flames prey’d on Ilium’s haughty towers.

72 But thou, say wherefore to such perils past

73 Return’st thou? wherefore not this pleasant mount

74 Ascendest, cause and source of all delight?”

75 “And art thou then that Virgil, that well-spring,

76 From which such copious floods of eloquence

77 Have issued?” I with front abash’d replied.

78 “Glory and light of all the tuneful train!

79 May it avail me that I long with zeal

80 Have sought thy volume, and with love immense

81 Have conn’d it o’er. My master thou and guide!

82 Thou he from whom alone I have deriv’d

83 That style, which for its beauty into fame

84 Exalts me. See the beast, from whom I fled.

85 O save me from her, thou illustrious sage!

86 “For every vein and pulse throughout my frame

87 She hath made tremble.” He, soon as he saw

88 That I was weeping, answer’d, “Thou must needs

89 Another way pursue, if thou wouldst ’scape

90 From out that savage wilderness. This beast,

91 At whom thou criest, her way will suffer none

92 To pass, and no less hindrance makes than death:

93 So bad and so accursed in her kind,

94 That never sated is her ravenous will,

95 Still after food more craving than before.

96 To many an animal in wedlock vile

97 She fastens, and shall yet to many more,

98 Until that greyhound come, who shall destroy

99 Her with sharp pain. He will not life support

100 By earth nor its base metals, but by love,

101 Wisdom, and virtue, and his land shall be

102 The land ’twixt either Feltro. In his might

103 Shall safety to Italia’s plains arise,

104 For whose fair realm, Camilla, virgin pure,

105 Nisus, Euryalus, and Turnus fell.

106 He with incessant chase through every town

107 Shall worry, until he to hell at length

108 Restore her, thence by envy first let loose.

109 I for thy profit pond’ring now devise,

110 That thou mayst follow me, and I thy guide

111 Will lead thee hence through an eternal space,

112 Where thou shalt hear despairing shrieks, and see

113 Spirits of old tormented, who invoke

114 A second death; and those next view, who dwell

115 Content in fire, for that they hope to come,

116 Whene’er the time may be, among the blest,

117 Into whose regions if thou then desire

118 T’ ascend, a spirit worthier than I

119 Must lead thee, in whose charge, when I depart,

120 Thou shalt be left: for that Almighty King,

121 Who reigns above, a rebel to his law,

122 Adjudges me, and therefore hath decreed,

123 That to his city none through me should come.

124 He in all parts hath sway; there rules, there holds

125 His citadel and throne. O happy those,

126 Whom there he chooses!” I to him in few:

127 “Bard! by that God, whom thou didst not adore,

128 I do beseech thee (that this ill and worse

129 I may escape) to lead me, where thou saidst,

130 That I Saint Peter’s gate may view, and those

131 Who as thou tell’st, are in such dismal plight.”

132 Onward he mov’d, I close his steps pursu’d.

INFERNO · CANTO II

4 Now was the day departing, and the air,

5 Imbrown’d with shadows, from their toils releas’d

6 All animals on earth; and I alone

7 Prepar’d myself the conflict to sustain,

8 Both of sad pity, and that perilous road,

9 Which my unerring memory shall retrace.

10 O Muses! O high genius! now vouchsafe

11 Your aid! O mind! that all I saw hast kept

12 Safe in a written record, here thy worth

13 And eminent endowments come to proof.

14 I thus began: “Bard! thou who art my guide,

15 Consider well, if virtue be in me

16 Sufficient, ere to this high enterprise

17 Thou trust me. Thou hast told that Silvius’ sire,

18 Yet cloth’d in corruptible flesh, among

19 Th’ immortal tribes had entrance, and was there

20 Sensible present. Yet if heaven’s great Lord,

21 Almighty foe to ill, such favour shew’d,

22 In contemplation of the high effect,

23 Both what and who from him should issue forth,

24 It seems in reason’s judgment well deserv’d:

25 Sith he of Rome, and of Rome’s empire wide,

26 In heaven’s empyreal height was chosen sire:

27 Both which, if truth be spoken, were ordain’d

28 And ’stablish’d for the holy place, where sits

29 Who to great Peter’s sacred chair succeeds.

30 He from this journey, in thy song renown’d,

31 Learn’d things, that to his victory gave rise

32 And to the papal robe. In after-times

33 The chosen vessel also travel’d there,

34 To bring us back assurance in that faith,

35 Which is the entrance to salvation’s way.

36 But I, why should I there presume? or who

37 Permits it? not Aeneas I nor Paul.

38 Myself I deem not worthy, and none else

39 Will deem me. I, if on this voyage then

40 I venture, fear it will in folly end.

41 Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know’st,

42 Than I can speak.” As one, who unresolves

43 What he hath late resolv’d, and with new thoughts

44 Changes his purpose, from his first intent

45 Remov’d; e’en such was I on that dun coast,

46 Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first

47 So eagerly embrac’d. “If right thy words

48 I scan,” replied that shade magnanimous,

49 “Thy soul is by vile fear assail’d, which oft

50 So overcasts a man, that he recoils

51 From noblest resolution, like a beast

52 At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.

53 That from this terror thou mayst free thyself,

54 I will instruct thee why I came, and what

55 I heard in that same instant, when for thee

56 Grief touch’d me first. I was among the tribe,

57 Who rest suspended, when a dame, so blest

58 And lovely, I besought her to command,

59 Call’d me; her eyes were brighter than the star

60 Of day; and she with gentle voice and soft

61 Angelically tun’d her speech address’d:

62 “O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame

63 Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!

64 A friend, not of my fortune but myself,

65 On the wide desert in his road has met

66 Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn’d.

67 Now much I dread lest he past help have stray’d,

68 And I be ris’n too late for his relief,

69 From what in heaven of him I heard. Speed now,

70 And by thy eloquent persuasive tongue,

71 And by all means for his deliverance meet,

72 Assist him. So to me will comfort spring.

73 I who now bid thee on this errand forth

74 Am Beatrice; from a place I come.

75 (Note: Beatrice. I use this word, as it is

76 pronounced in the Italian, as consisting of four

77 syllables, of which the third is a long one.) Revisited with joy. Love brought me thence,

78 Who prompts my speech. When in my Master’s sight

79 I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell.”

80 She then was silent, and I thus began:

81 “O Lady! by whose influence alone,

82 Mankind excels whatever is contain’d

83 Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb,

84 So thy command delights me, that to obey,

85 If it were done already, would seem late.

86 No need hast thou farther to speak thy will;

87 Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth

88 To leave that ample space, where to return

89 Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath.”

90 She then: “Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire,

91 I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread

92 Hinders my entrance here. Those things alone

93 Are to be fear’d, whence evil may proceed,

94 None else, for none are terrible beside.

95 I am so fram’d by God, thanks to his grace!

96 That any suff’rance of your misery

97 Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire

98 Assails me. In high heaven a blessed dame

99 Besides, who mourns with such effectual grief

100 That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,

101 That God’s stern judgment to her will inclines.”

102 To Lucia calling, her she thus bespake:

103 “Now doth thy faithful servant need thy aid

104 And I commend him to thee.” At her word

105 Sped Lucia, of all cruelty the foe,

106 And coming to the place, where I abode

107 Seated with Rachel, her of ancient days,

108 She thus address’d me: “Thou true praise of God!

109 Beatrice! why is not thy succour lent

110 To him, who so much lov’d thee, as to leave

111 For thy sake all the multitude admires?

112 Dost thou not hear how pitiful his wail,

113 Nor mark the death, which in the torrent flood,

114 Swoln mightier than a sea, him struggling holds?”

115 Ne’er among men did any with such speed

116 Haste to their profit, flee from their annoy,

117 As when these words were spoken, I came here,

118 Down from my blessed seat, trusting the force

119 Of thy pure eloquence, which thee, and all

120 Who well have mark’d it, into honour brings.”

121 “When she had ended, her bright beaming eyes

122 Tearful she turn’d aside; whereat I felt

123 Redoubled zeal to serve thee. As she will’d,

124 Thus am I come: I sav’d thee from the beast,

125 Who thy near way across the goodly mount

126 Prevented. What is this comes o’er thee then?

127 Why, why dost thou hang back? why in thy breast

128 Harbour vile fear? why hast not courage there

129 And noble daring? Since three maids so blest

130 Thy safety plan, e’en in the court of heaven;

131 And so much certain good my words forebode.”

132 As florets, by the frosty air of night

133 Bent down and clos’d, when day has blanch’d their leaves,

134 Rise all unfolded on their spiry stems;

135 So was my fainting vigour new restor’d,

136 And to my heart such kindly courage ran,

137 That I as one undaunted soon replied:

138 “O full of pity she, who undertook

139 My succour! and thou kind who didst perform

140 So soon her true behest! With such desire

141 Thou hast dispos’d me to renew my voyage,

142 That my first purpose fully is resum’d.

143 Lead on: one only will is in us both.

144 Thou art my guide, my master thou, and lord.”

145 So spake I; and when he had onward mov’d,

146 I enter’d on the deep and woody way.

INFERNO · CANTO III

7 “Through me you pass into the city of woe:

8 Through me you pass into eternal pain:

9 Through me among the people lost for aye.

10 Justice the founder of my fabric mov’d:

11 To rear me was the task of power divine,

12 Supremest wisdom, and primeval love.

13 Before me things create were none, save things

14 Eternal, and eternal I endure.

15 “All hope abandon ye who enter here.”

16 Such characters in colour dim I mark’d

17 Over a portal’s lofty arch inscrib’d:

18 Whereat I thus: “Master, these words import

19 Hard meaning.” He as one prepar’d replied:

20 “Here thou must all distrust behind thee leave;

21 Here be vile fear extinguish’d. We are come

22 Where I have told thee we shall see the souls

23 To misery doom’d, who intellectual good

24 Have lost.” And when his hand he had stretch’d forth

25 To mine, with pleasant looks, whence I was cheer’d,

26 Into that secret place he led me on.

27 Here sighs with lamentations and loud moans

28 Resounded through the air pierc’d by no star,

29 That e’en I wept at entering. Various tongues,

30 Horrible languages, outcries of woe,

31 Accents of anger, voices deep and hoarse,

32 With hands together smote that swell’d the sounds,

33 Made up a tumult, that for ever whirls

34 Round through that air with solid darkness stain’d,

35 Like to the sand that in the whirlwind flies.

36 I then, with error yet encompass’d, cried:

37 “O master! What is this I hear? What race

38 Are these, who seem so overcome with woe?”

39 He thus to me: “This miserable fate

40 Suffer the wretched souls of those, who liv’d

41 Without or praise or blame, with that ill band

42 Of angels mix’d, who nor rebellious prov’d

43 Nor yet were true to God, but for themselves

44 Were only. From his bounds Heaven drove them forth,

45 Not to impair his lustre, nor the depth

46 Of Hell receives them, lest th’ accursed tribe

47 Should glory thence with exultation vain.”

48 I then: “Master! what doth aggrieve them thus,

49 That they lament so loud?” He straight replied:

50 “That will I tell thee briefly. These of death

51 No hope may entertain: and their blind life

52 So meanly passes, that all other lots

53 They envy. Fame of them the world hath none,

54 Nor suffers; mercy and justice scorn them both.

55 Speak not of them, but look, and pass them by.”

56 And I, who straightway look’d, beheld a flag,

57 Which whirling ran around so rapidly,

58 That it no pause obtain’d: and following came

59 Such a long train of spirits, I should ne’er

60 Have thought, that death so many had despoil’d.

61 When some of these I recogniz’d, I saw

62 And knew the shade of him, who to base fear

63 Yielding, abjur’d his high estate. Forthwith

64 I understood for certain this the tribe

65 Of those ill spirits both to God displeasing

66 And to his foes. These wretches, who ne’er lived,

67 Went on in nakedness, and sorely stung

68 By wasps and hornets, which bedew’d their cheeks

69 With blood, that mix’d with tears dropp’d to their feet,

70 And by disgustful worms was gather’d there.

71 Then looking farther onwards I beheld

72 A throng upon the shore of a great stream:

73 Whereat I thus: “Sir! grant me now to know

74 Whom here we view, and whence impell’d they seem

75 So eager to pass o’er, as I discern

76 Through the blear light?” He thus to me in few:

77 “This shalt thou know, soon as our steps arrive

78 Beside the woeful tide of Acheron.”

79 Then with eyes downward cast and fill’d with shame,

80 Fearing my words offensive to his ear,

81 Till we had reach’d the river, I from speech

82 Abstain’d. And lo! toward us in a bark

83 Comes on an old man hoary white with eld,

84 Crying, “Woe to you wicked spirits! hope not

85 Ever to see the sky again. I come

86 To take you to the other shore across,

87 Into eternal darkness, there to dwell

88 In fierce heat and in ice. And thou, who there

89 Standest, live spirit! get thee hence, and leave

90 These who are dead.” But soon as he beheld

91 I left them not, “By other way,” said he,

92 “By other haven shalt thou come to shore,

93 Not by this passage; thee a nimbler boat

94 Must carry.” Then to him thus spake my guide:

95 “Charon! thyself torment not: so ’t is will’d,

96 Where will and power are one: ask thou no more.”

97 Straightway in silence fell the shaggy cheeks

98 Of him the boatman o’er the livid lake,

99 Around whose eyes glar’d wheeling flames. Meanwhile

100 Those spirits, faint and naked, color chang’d,

101 And gnash’d their teeth, soon as the cruel words

102 They heard. God and their parents they blasphem’d,

103 The human kind, the place, the time, and seed

104 That did engender them and give them birth.

105 Then all together sorely wailing drew

106 To the curs’d strand, that every man must pass

107 Who fears not God. Charon, demoniac form,

108 With eyes of burning coal, collects them all,

109 Beck’ning, and each, that lingers, with his oar

110 Strikes. As fall off the light autumnal leaves,

111 One still another following, till the bough

112 Strews all its honours on the earth beneath;

113 E’en in like manner Adam’s evil brood

114 Cast themselves one by one down from the shore,

115 Each at a beck, as falcon at his call.

116 Thus go they over through the umber’d wave,

117 And ever they on the opposing bank

118 Be landed, on this side another throng

119 Still gathers. “Son,” thus spake the courteous guide,

120 “Those, who die subject to the wrath of God,

121 All here together come from every clime,

122 And to o’erpass the river are not loth:

123 For so heaven’s justice goads them on, that fear

124 Is turn’d into desire. Hence ne’er hath past

125 Good spirit. If of thee Charon complain,

126 Now mayst thou know the import of his words.”

127 This said, the gloomy region trembling shook

128 So terribly, that yet with clammy dews

129 Fear chills my brow. The sad earth gave a blast,

130 That, lightening, shot forth a vermilion flame,

131 Which all my senses conquer’d quite, and I

132 Down dropp’d, as one with sudden slumber seiz’d.

INFERNO · CANTO IV

10 Broke the deep slumber in my brain a crash

11 Of heavy thunder, that I shook myself,

12 As one by main force rous’d. Risen upright,

13 My rested eyes I mov’d around, and search’d

14 With fixed ken to know what place it was,

15 Wherein I stood. For certain on the brink

16 I found me of the lamentable vale,

17 The dread abyss, that joins a thund’rous sound

18 Of plaints innumerable. Dark and deep,

19 And thick with clouds o’erspread, mine eye in vain

20 Explor’d its bottom, nor could aught discern.

21 “Now let us to the blind world there beneath

22 Descend;” the bard began all pale of look:

23 “I go the first, and thou shalt follow next.”

24 Then I his alter’d hue perceiving, thus:

25 “How may I speed, if thou yieldest to dread,

26 Who still art wont to comfort me in doubt?”

27 He then: “The anguish of that race below

28 With pity stains my cheek, which thou for fear

29 Mistakest. Let us on. Our length of way

30 Urges to haste.” Onward, this said, he mov’d;

31 And ent’ring led me with him on the bounds

32 Of the first circle, that surrounds th’ abyss.

33 Here, as mine ear could note, no plaint was heard

34 Except of sighs, that made th’ eternal air

35 Tremble, not caus’d by tortures, but from grief

36 Felt by those multitudes, many and vast,

37 Of men, women, and infants. Then to me

38 The gentle guide: “Inquir’st thou not what spirits

39 Are these, which thou beholdest? Ere thou pass

40 Farther, I would thou know, that these of sin

41 Were blameless; and if aught they merited,

42 It profits not, since baptism was not theirs,

43 The portal to thy faith. If they before

44 The Gospel liv’d, they serv’d not God aright;

45 And among such am I. For these defects,

46 And for no other evil, we are lost;

47 “Only so far afflicted, that we live

48 Desiring without hope.” So grief assail’d

49 My heart at hearing this, for well I knew

50 Suspended in that Limbo many a soul

51 Of mighty worth. “O tell me, sire rever’d!

52 Tell me, my master!” I began through wish

53 Of full assurance in that holy faith,

54 Which vanquishes all error; “say, did e’er

55 Any, or through his own or other’s merit,

56 Come forth from thence, whom afterward was blest?”

57 Piercing the secret purport of my speech,

58 He answer’d: “I was new to that estate,

59 When I beheld a puissant one arrive

60 Amongst us, with victorious trophy crown’d.

61 He forth the shade of our first parent drew,

62 Abel his child, and Noah righteous man,

63 Of Moses lawgiver for faith approv’d,

64 Of patriarch Abraham, and David king,

65 Israel with his sire and with his sons,

66 Nor without Rachel whom so hard he won,

67 And others many more, whom he to bliss

68 Exalted. Before these, be thou assur’d,

69 No spirit of human kind was ever sav’d.”

70 We, while he spake, ceas’d not our onward road,

71 Still passing through the wood; for so I name

72 Those spirits thick beset. We were not far

73 On this side from the summit, when I kenn’d

74 A flame, that o’er the darken’d hemisphere

75 Prevailing shin’d. Yet we a little space

76 Were distant, not so far but I in part

77 Discover’d, that a tribe in honour high

78 That place possess’d. “O thou, who every art

79 And science valu’st! who are these, that boast

80 Such honour, separate from all the rest?”

81 He answer’d: “The renown of their great names

82 That echoes through your world above, acquires

83 Favour in heaven, which holds them thus advanc’d.”

84 Meantime a voice I heard: “Honour the bard

85 Sublime! his shade returns that left us late!”

86 No sooner ceas’d the sound, than I beheld

87 Four mighty spirits toward us bend their steps,

88 Of semblance neither sorrowful nor glad.

89 When thus my master kind began: “Mark him,

90 Who in his right hand bears that falchion keen,

91 The other three preceding, as their lord.

92 This is that Homer, of all bards supreme:

93 Flaccus the next in satire’s vein excelling;

94 The third is Naso; Lucan is the last.

95 Because they all that appellation own,

96 With which the voice singly accosted me,

97 Honouring they greet me thus, and well they judge.”

98 So I beheld united the bright school

99 Of him the monarch of sublimest song,

100 That o’er the others like an eagle soars.

101 When they together short discourse had held,

102 They turn’d to me, with salutation kind

103 Beck’ning me; at the which my master smil’d:

104 Nor was this all; but greater honour still

105 They gave me, for they made me of their tribe;

106 And I was sixth amid so learn’d a band.

107 Far as the luminous beacon on we pass’d

108 Speaking of matters, then befitting well

109 To speak, now fitter left untold. At foot

110 Of a magnificent castle we arriv’d,

111 Seven times with lofty walls begirt, and round

112 Defended by a pleasant stream. O’er this

113 As o’er dry land we pass’d. Next through seven gates

114 I with those sages enter’d, and we came

115 Into a mead with lively verdure fresh.

116 There dwelt a race, who slow their eyes around

117 Majestically mov’d, and in their port

118 Bore eminent authority; they spake

119 Seldom, but all their words were tuneful sweet.

120 We to one side retir’d, into a place

121 Open and bright and lofty, whence each one

122 Stood manifest to view. Incontinent

123 There on the green enamel of the plain

124 Were shown me the great spirits, by whose sight

125 I am exalted in my own esteem.

126 Electra there I saw accompanied

127 By many, among whom Hector I knew,

128 Anchises’ pious son, and with hawk’s eye

129 Caesar all arm’d, and by Camilla there

130 Penthesilea. On the other side

131 Old King Latinus, seated by his child

132 Lavinia, and that Brutus I beheld,

133 Who Tarquin chas’d, Lucretia, Cato’s wife

134 Marcia, with Julia and Cornelia there;

135 And sole apart retir’d, the Soldan fierce.

136 Then when a little more I rais’d my brow,

137 I spied the master of the sapient throng,

138 Seated amid the philosophic train.

139 Him all admire, all pay him rev’rence due.

140 There Socrates and Plato both I mark’d,

141 Nearest to him in rank; Democritus,

142 Who sets the world at chance, Diogenes,

143 With Heraclitus, and Empedocles,

144 And Anaxagoras, and Thales sage,

145 Zeno, and Dioscorides well read

146 In nature’s secret lore. Orpheus I mark’d

147 And Linus, Tully and moral Seneca,

148 Euclid and Ptolemy, Hippocrates,

149 Galenus, Avicen, and him who made

150 That commentary vast, Averroes.

151 Of all to speak at full were vain attempt;

152 For my wide theme so urges, that ofttimes

153 My words fall short of what bechanc’d. In two

154 The six associates part. Another way

155 My sage guide leads me, from that air serene,

156 Into a climate ever vex’d with storms:

157 And to a part I come where no light shines.

INFERNO · CANTO V

13 From the first circle I descended thus

14 Down to the second, which, a lesser space

15 Embracing, so much more of grief contains

16 Provoking bitter moans. There, Minos stands

17 Grinning with ghastly feature: he, of all

18 Who enter, strict examining the crimes,

19 Gives sentence, and dismisses them beneath,

20 According as he foldeth him around:

21 For when before him comes th’ ill fated soul,

22 It all confesses; and that judge severe

23 Of sins, considering what place in hell

24 Suits the transgression, with his tail so oft

25 Himself encircles, as degrees beneath

26 He dooms it to descend. Before him stand

27 Always a num’rous throng; and in his turn

28 Each one to judgment passing, speaks, and hears

29 His fate, thence downward to his dwelling hurl’d.

30 “O thou! who to this residence of woe

31 Approachest?” when he saw me coming, cried

32 Minos, relinquishing his dread employ,

33 “Look how thou enter here; beware in whom

34 Thou place thy trust; let not the entrance broad

35 Deceive thee to thy harm.” To him my guide:

36 “Wherefore exclaimest? Hinder not his way

37 By destiny appointed; so ’tis will’d

38 Where will and power are one. Ask thou no more.”

39 Now ’gin the rueful wailings to be heard.

40 Now am I come where many a plaining voice

41 Smites on mine ear. Into a place I came

42 Where light was silent all. Bellowing there groan’d

43 A noise as of a sea in tempest torn

44 By warring winds. The stormy blast of hell

45 With restless fury drives the spirits on

46 Whirl’d round and dash’d amain with sore annoy.

47 When they arrive before the ruinous sweep,

48 There shrieks are heard, there lamentations, moans,

49 And blasphemies ’gainst the good Power in heaven.

50 I understood that to this torment sad

51 The carnal sinners are condemn’d, in whom

52 Reason by lust is sway’d. As in large troops

53 And multitudinous, when winter reigns,

54 The starlings on their wings are borne abroad;

55 So bears the tyrannous gust those evil souls.

56 On this side and on that, above, below,

57 It drives them: hope of rest to solace them

58 Is none, nor e’en of milder pang. As cranes,

59 Chanting their dol’rous notes, traverse the sky,

60 Stretch’d out in long array: so I beheld

61 Spirits, who came loud wailing, hurried on

62 By their dire doom. Then I: “Instructor! who

63 Are these, by the black air so scourg’d?”—“The first

64 ’Mong those, of whom thou question’st,” he replied,

65 “O’er many tongues was empress. She in vice

66 Of luxury was so shameless, that she made

67 Liking be lawful by promulg’d decree,

68 To clear the blame she had herself incurr’d.

69 This is Semiramis, of whom ’tis writ,

70 That she succeeded Ninus her espous’d;

71 And held the land, which now the Soldan rules.

72 The next in amorous fury slew herself,

73 And to Sicheus’ ashes broke her faith:

74 Then follows Cleopatra, lustful queen.”

75 There mark’d I Helen, for whose sake so long

76 The time was fraught with evil; there the great

77 Achilles, who with love fought to the end.

78 Paris I saw, and Tristan; and beside

79 A thousand more he show’d me, and by name

80 Pointed them out, whom love bereav’d of life.

81 When I had heard my sage instructor name

82 Those dames and knights of antique days, o’erpower’d

83 By pity, well-nigh in amaze my mind

84 Was lost; and I began: “Bard! willingly

85 I would address those two together coming,

86 Which seem so light before the wind.” He thus:

87 “Note thou, when nearer they to us approach.

88 “Then by that love which carries them along,

89 Entreat; and they will come.” Soon as the wind

90 Sway’d them toward us, I thus fram’d my speech:

91 “O wearied spirits! come, and hold discourse

92 With us, if by none else restrain’d.” As doves

93 By fond desire invited, on wide wings

94 And firm, to their sweet nest returning home,

95 Cleave the air, wafted by their will along;

96 Thus issu’d from that troop, where Dido ranks,

97 They through the ill air speeding; with such force

98 My cry prevail’d by strong affection urg’d.

99 “O gracious creature and benign! who go’st

100 Visiting, through this element obscure,

101 Us, who the world with bloody stain imbru’d;

102 If for a friend the King of all we own’d,

103 Our pray’r to him should for thy peace arise,

104 Since thou hast pity on our evil plight.

105 Of whatsoe’er to hear or to discourse

106 It pleases thee, that will we hear, of that

107 Freely with thee discourse, while e’er the wind,

108 As now, is mute. The land, that gave me birth,

109 Is situate on the coast, where Po descends

110 To rest in ocean with his sequent streams.

111 “Love, that in gentle heart is quickly learnt,

112 Entangled him by that fair form, from me

113 Ta’en in such cruel sort, as grieves me still:

114 Love, that denial takes from none belov’d,

115 Caught me with pleasing him so passing well,

116 That, as thou see’st, he yet deserts me not.

117 “Love brought us to one death: Caina waits

118 The soul, who spilt our life.” Such were their words;

119 At hearing which downward I bent my looks,

120 And held them there so long, that the bard cried:

121 “What art thou pond’ring?” I in answer thus:

122 “Alas! by what sweet thoughts, what fond desire

123 Must they at length to that ill pass have reach’d!”

124 Then turning, I to them my speech address’d.

125 And thus began: “Francesca! your sad fate

126 Even to tears my grief and pity moves.

127 But tell me; in the time of your sweet sighs,

128 By what, and how love granted, that ye knew

129 Your yet uncertain wishes?” She replied:

130 “No greater grief than to remember days

131 Of joy, when mis’ry is at hand! That kens

132 Thy learn’d instructor. Yet so eagerly

133 If thou art bent to know the primal root,

134 From whence our love gat being, I will do,

135 As one, who weeps and tells his tale. One day

136 For our delight we read of Lancelot,

137 How him love thrall’d. Alone we were, and no

138 Suspicion near us. Ofttimes by that reading

139 Our eyes were drawn together, and the hue

140 Fled from our alter’d cheek. But at one point

141 Alone we fell. When of that smile we read,

142 The wished smile, rapturously kiss’d

143 By one so deep in love, then he, who ne’er

144 From me shall separate, at once my lips

145 All trembling kiss’d. The book and writer both

146 Were love’s purveyors. In its leaves that day

147 We read no more.” While thus one spirit spake,

148 The other wail’d so sorely, that heartstruck

149 I through compassion fainting, seem’d not far

150 From death, and like a corpse fell to the ground.

INFERNO · CANTO VI

16 My sense reviving, that erewhile had droop’d

17 With pity for the kindred shades, whence grief

18 O’ercame me wholly, straight around I see

19 New torments, new tormented souls, which way

20 Soe’er I move, or turn, or bend my sight.

21 In the third circle I arrive, of show’rs

22 Ceaseless, accursed, heavy, and cold, unchang’d

23 For ever, both in kind and in degree.

24 Large hail, discolour’d water, sleety flaw

25 Through the dun midnight air stream’d down amain:

26 Stank all the land whereon that tempest fell.

27 Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange,

28 Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog

29 Over the multitude immers’d beneath.

30 His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard,

31 His belly large, and claw’d the hands, with which

32 He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs

33 Piecemeal disparts. Howling there spread, as curs,

34 Under the rainy deluge, with one side

35 The other screening, oft they roll them round,

36 A wretched, godless crew. When that great worm

37 Descried us, savage Cerberus, he op’d

38 His jaws, and the fangs show’d us; not a limb

39 Of him but trembled. Then my guide, his palms

40 Expanding on the ground, thence filled with earth

41 Rais’d them, and cast it in his ravenous maw.

42 E’en as a dog, that yelling bays for food

43 His keeper, when the morsel comes, lets fall

44 His fury, bent alone with eager haste

45 To swallow it; so dropp’d the loathsome cheeks

46 Of demon Cerberus, who thund’ring stuns

47 The spirits, that they for deafness wish in vain.

48 We, o’er the shades thrown prostrate by the brunt

49 Of the heavy tempest passing, set our feet

50 Upon their emptiness, that substance seem’d.

51 They all along the earth extended lay

52 Save one, that sudden rais’d himself to sit,

53 Soon as that way he saw us pass. “O thou!”

54 He cried, “who through the infernal shades art led,

55 Own, if again thou know’st me. Thou wast fram’d

56 Or ere my frame was broken.” I replied:

57 “The anguish thou endur’st perchance so takes

58 Thy form from my remembrance, that it seems

59 As if I saw thee never. But inform

60 Me who thou art, that in a place so sad

61 Art set, and in such torment, that although

62 Other be greater, more disgustful none

63 Can be imagin’d.” He in answer thus:

64 “Thy city heap’d with envy to the brim,

65 Ay that the measure overflows its bounds,

66 Held me in brighter days. Ye citizens

67 Were wont to name me Ciacco. For the sin

68 Of glutt’ny, damned vice, beneath this rain,

69 E’en as thou see’st, I with fatigue am worn;

70 Nor I sole spirit in this woe: all these

71 Have by like crime incurr’d like punishment.”

72 No more he said, and I my speech resum’d:

73 “Ciacco! thy dire affliction grieves me much,

74 Even to tears. But tell me, if thou know’st,

75 What shall at length befall the citizens

76 Of the divided city; whether any just one

77 Inhabit there: and tell me of the cause,

78 Whence jarring discord hath assail’d it thus?”

79 He then: “After long striving they will come

80 To blood; and the wild party from the woods

81 Will chase the other with much injury forth.

82 Then it behoves, that this must fall, within

83 Three solar circles; and the other rise

84 By borrow’d force of one, who under shore

85 Now rests. It shall a long space hold aloof

86 Its forehead, keeping under heavy weight

87 The other oppress’d, indignant at the load,

88 And grieving sore. The just are two in number,

89 But they neglected. Av’rice, envy, pride,

90 Three fatal sparks, have set the hearts of all

91 On fire.” Here ceas’d the lamentable sound;

92 And I continu’d thus: “Still would I learn

93 More from thee, farther parley still entreat.

94 Of Farinata and Tegghiaio say,

95 They who so well deserv’d, of Giacopo,

96 Arrigo, Mosca, and the rest, who bent

97 Their minds on working good. Oh! tell me where

98 They bide, and to their knowledge let me come.

99 For I am press’d with keen desire to hear,

100 If heaven’s sweet cup or poisonous drug of hell

101 Be to their lip assign’d.” He answer’d straight:

102 “These are yet blacker spirits. Various crimes

103 Have sunk them deeper in the dark abyss.

104 If thou so far descendest, thou mayst see them.

105 But to the pleasant world when thou return’st,

106 Of me make mention, I entreat thee, there.

107 No more I tell thee, answer thee no more.”

108 This said, his fixed eyes he turn’d askance,

109 A little ey’d me, then bent down his head,

110 And ’midst his blind companions with it fell.

111 When thus my guide: “No more his bed he leaves,

112 Ere the last angel-trumpet blow. The Power

113 Adverse to these shall then in glory come,

114 Each one forthwith to his sad tomb repair,

115 Resume his fleshly vesture and his form,

116 And hear the eternal doom re-echoing rend

117 The vault.” So pass’d we through that mixture foul

118 Of spirits and rain, with tardy steps; meanwhile

119 Touching, though slightly, on the life to come.

120 For thus I question’d: “Shall these tortures, Sir!

121 When the great sentence passes, be increas’d,

122 Or mitigated, or as now severe?”

123 He then: “Consult thy knowledge; that decides

124 That as each thing to more perfection grows,

125 It feels more sensibly both good and pain.

126 Though ne’er to true perfection may arrive

127 This race accurs’d, yet nearer then than now

128 They shall approach it.” Compassing that path

129 Circuitous we journeyed, and discourse

130 Much more than I relate between us pass’d:

131 Till at the point, where the steps led below,

132 Arriv’d, there Plutus, the great foe, we found.

INFERNO · CANTO VII

19 “Ah me! O Satan! Satan!” loud exclaim’d

20 Plutus, in accent hoarse of wild alarm:

21 And the kind sage, whom no event surpris’d,

22 To comfort me thus spake: “Let not thy fear

23 Harm thee, for power in him, be sure, is none

24 To hinder down this rock thy safe descent.”

25 Then to that sworn lip turning, “Peace!” he cried,

26 “Curs’d wolf! thy fury inward on thyself

27 Prey, and consume thee! Through the dark profound

28 Not without cause he passes. So ’t is will’d

29 On high, there where the great Archangel pour’d

30 Heav’n’s vengeance on the first adulterer proud.”

31 As sails full spread and bellying with the wind

32 Drop suddenly collaps’d, if the mast split;

33 So to the ground down dropp’d the cruel fiend.

34 Thus we, descending to the fourth steep ledge,

35 Gain’d on the dismal shore, that all the woe

36 Hems in of all the universe. Ah me!

37 Almighty Justice! in what store thou heap’st

38 New pains, new troubles, as I here beheld!

39 Wherefore doth fault of ours bring us to this?

40 E’en as a billow, on Charybdis rising,

41 Against encounter’d billow dashing breaks;

42 Such is the dance this wretched race must lead,

43 Whom more than elsewhere numerous here I found,

44 From one side and the other, with loud voice,

45 Both roll’d on weights by main forge of their breasts,

46 Then smote together, and each one forthwith

47 Roll’d them back voluble, turning again,

48 Exclaiming these, “Why holdest thou so fast?”

49 Those answering, “And why castest thou away?”

50 So still repeating their despiteful song,

51 They to the opposite point on either hand

52 Travers’d the horrid circle: then arriv’d,

53 Both turn’d them round, and through the middle space

54 Conflicting met again. At sight whereof

55 I, stung with grief, thus spake: “O say, my guide!

56 What race is this? Were these, whose heads are shorn,

57 On our left hand, all sep’rate to the church?”

58 He straight replied: “In their first life these all

59 In mind were so distorted, that they made,

60 According to due measure, of their wealth,

61 No use. This clearly from their words collect,

62 Which they howl forth, at each extremity

63 Arriving of the circle, where their crime

64 Contrary in kind disparts them. To the church

65 Were separate those, that with no hairy cowls

66 Are crown’d, both Popes and Cardinals, o’er whom

67 Av’rice dominion absolute maintains.”

68 I then: “Mid such as these some needs must be,

69 Whom I shall recognize, that with the blot

70 Of these foul sins were stain’d.” He answering thus:

71 “Vain thought conceiv’st thou. That ignoble life,

72 Which made them vile before, now makes them dark,

73 And to all knowledge indiscernible.

74 Forever they shall meet in this rude shock:

75 These from the tomb with clenched grasp shall rise,

76 Those with close-shaven locks. That ill they gave,

77 And ill they kept, hath of the beauteous world

78 Depriv’d, and set them at this strife, which needs

79 No labour’d phrase of mine to set it off.

80 Now may’st thou see, my son! how brief, how vain,

81 The goods committed into fortune’s hands,

82 For which the human race keep such a coil!

83 Not all the gold, that is beneath the moon,

84 Or ever hath been, of these toil-worn souls

85 Might purchase rest for one.” I thus rejoin’d:

86 “My guide! of thee this also would I learn;

87 This fortune, that thou speak’st of, what it is,

88 Whose talons grasp the blessings of the world?”

89 He thus: “O beings blind! what ignorance

90 Besets you? Now my judgment hear and mark.

91 He, whose transcendent wisdom passes all,

92 The heavens creating, gave them ruling powers

93 To guide them, so that each part shines to each,

94 Their light in equal distribution pour’d.

95 By similar appointment he ordain’d

96 Over the world’s bright images to rule

97 Superintendence of a guiding hand

98 And general minister, which at due time

99 May change the empty vantages of life

100 From race to race, from one to other’s blood,

101 Beyond prevention of man’s wisest care:

102 Wherefore one nation rises into sway,

103 Another languishes, e’en as her will

104 Decrees, from us conceal’d, as in the grass

105 The serpent train. Against her nought avails

106 Your utmost wisdom. She with foresight plans,

107 Judges, and carries on her reign, as theirs

108 The other powers divine. Her changes know

109 None intermission: by necessity

110 She is made swift, so frequent come who claim

111 Succession in her favours. This is she,

112 So execrated e’en by those, whose debt

113 To her is rather praise; they wrongfully

114 With blame requite her, and with evil word;

115 But she is blessed, and for that recks not:

116 Amidst the other primal beings glad

117 Rolls on her sphere, and in her bliss exults.

118 Now on our way pass we, to heavier woe

119 Descending: for each star is falling now,

120 That mounted at our entrance, and forbids

121 Too long our tarrying.” We the circle cross’d

122 To the next steep, arriving at a well,

123 That boiling pours itself down to a foss

124 Sluic’d from its source. Far murkier was the wave

125 Than sablest grain: and we in company

126 Of the inky waters, journeying by their side,

127 Enter’d, though by a different track, beneath.

128 Into a lake, the Stygian nam’d, expands

129 The dismal stream, when it hath reach’d the foot

130 Of the grey wither’d cliffs. Intent I stood

131 To gaze, and in the marish sunk descried

132 A miry tribe, all naked, and with looks

133 Betok’ning rage. They with their hands alone

134 Struck not, but with the head, the breast, the feet,

135 Cutting each other piecemeal with their fangs.

136 The good instructor spake; “Now seest thou, son!

137 The souls of those, whom anger overcame.

138 This too for certain know, that underneath

139 The water dwells a multitude, whose sighs

140 Into these bubbles make the surface heave,

141 As thine eye tells thee wheresoe’er it turn.

142 Fix’d in the slime they say: ‘Sad once were we

143 In the sweet air made gladsome by the sun,

144 Carrying a foul and lazy mist within:

145 Now in these murky settlings are we sad.’

146 Such dolorous strain they gurgle in their throats.

147 But word distinct can utter none.” Our route

148 Thus compass’d we, a segment widely stretch’d

149 Between the dry embankment, and the core

150 Of the loath’d pool, turning meanwhile our eyes

151 Downward on those who gulp’d its muddy lees;

152 Nor stopp’d, till to a tower’s low base we came.

INFERNO · CANTO VIII

22 My theme pursuing, I relate that ere

23 We reach’d the lofty turret’s base, our eyes

24 Its height ascended, where two cressets hung

25 We mark’d, and from afar another light

26 Return the signal, so remote, that scarce

27 The eye could catch its beam. I turning round

28 To the deep source of knowledge, thus inquir’d:

29 “Say what this means? and what that other light

30 In answer set? what agency doth this?”

31 “There on the filthy waters,” he replied,

32 “E’en now what next awaits us mayst thou see,

33 If the marsh-gender’d fog conceal it not.”

34 Never was arrow from the cord dismiss’d,

35 That ran its way so nimbly through the air,

36 As a small bark, that through the waves I spied

37 Toward us coming, under the sole sway

38 Of one that ferried it, who cried aloud:

39 “Art thou arriv’d, fell spirit?”—“Phlegyas, Phlegyas,

40 This time thou criest in vain,” my lord replied;

41 “No longer shalt thou have us, but while o’er

42 The slimy pool we pass.” As one who hears

43 Of some great wrong he hath sustain’d, whereat

44 Inly he pines; so Phlegyas inly pin’d

45 In his fierce ire. My guide descending stepp’d

46 Into the skiff, and bade me enter next

47 Close at his side; nor till my entrance seem’d

48 The vessel freighted. Soon as both embark’d,

49 Cutting the waves, goes on the ancient prow,

50 More deeply than with others it is wont.

51 While we our course o’er the dead channel held.

52 One drench’d in mire before me came, and said;

53 “Who art thou, that thou comest ere thine hour?”

54 I answer’d: “Though I come, I tarry not;

55 But who art thou, that art become so foul?”

56 “One, as thou seest, who mourn:” he straight replied.

57 To which I thus: “In mourning and in woe,

58 Curs’d spirit! tarry thou. I know thee well,

59 E’en thus in filth disguis’d.” Then stretch’d he forth

60 Hands to the bark; whereof my teacher sage

61 Aware, thrusting him back: “Away! down there,

62 “To the other dogs!” then, with his arms my neck

63 Encircling, kiss’d my cheek, and spake: “O soul

64 Justly disdainful! blest was she in whom

65 Thou was conceiv’d! He in the world was one

66 For arrogance noted; to his memory

67 No virtue lends its lustre; even so

68 Here is his shadow furious. There above

69 How many now hold themselves mighty kings

70 Who here like swine shall wallow in the mire,

71 Leaving behind them horrible dispraise!”

72 I then: “Master! him fain would I behold

73 Whelm’d in these dregs, before we quit the lake.”

74 He thus: “Or ever to thy view the shore

75 Be offer’d, satisfied shall be that wish,

76 Which well deserves completion.” Scarce his words

77 Were ended, when I saw the miry tribes

78 Set on him with such violence, that yet

79 For that render I thanks to God and praise

80 “To Filippo Argenti:” cried they all:

81 And on himself the moody Florentine

82 Turn’d his avenging fangs. Him here we left,

83 Nor speak I of him more. But on mine ear

84 Sudden a sound of lamentation smote,

85 Whereat mine eye unbarr’d I sent abroad.

86 And thus the good instructor: “Now, my son!

87 Draws near the city, that of Dis is nam’d,

88 With its grave denizens, a mighty throng.”

89 I thus: “The minarets already, Sir!

90 There certes in the valley I descry,

91 Gleaming vermilion, as if they from fire

92 Had issu’d.” He replied: “Eternal fire,

93 That inward burns, shows them with ruddy flame

94 Illum’d; as in this nether hell thou seest.”

95 We came within the fosses deep, that moat

96 This region comfortless. The walls appear’d

97 As they were fram’d of iron. We had made

98 Wide circuit, ere a place we reach’d, where loud

99 The mariner cried vehement: “Go forth!

100 The entrance is here!” Upon the gates I spied

101 More than a thousand, who of old from heaven

102 Were hurl’d. With ireful gestures, “Who is this,”

103 They cried, “that without death first felt, goes through

104 The regions of the dead?” My sapient guide

105 Made sign that he for secret parley wish’d;

106 Whereat their angry scorn abating, thus

107 They spake: “Come thou alone; and let him go

108 Who hath so hardily enter’d this realm.

109 Alone return he by his witless way;

110 If well he know it, let him prove. For thee,

111 Here shalt thou tarry, who through clime so dark

112 Hast been his escort.” Now bethink thee, reader!

113 What cheer was mine at sound of those curs’d words.

114 I did believe I never should return.

115 “O my lov’d guide! who more than seven times

116 Security hast render’d me, and drawn

117 From peril deep, whereto I stood expos’d,

118 Desert me not,” I cried, “in this extreme.

119 And if our onward going be denied,

120 Together trace we back our steps with speed.”

121 My liege, who thither had conducted me,

122 Replied: “Fear not: for of our passage none

123 Hath power to disappoint us, by such high

124 Authority permitted. But do thou

125 Expect me here; meanwhile thy wearied spirit

126 Comfort, and feed with kindly hope, assur’d

127 I will not leave thee in this lower world.”

128 This said, departs the sire benevolent,

129 And quits me. Hesitating I remain

130 At war ’twixt will and will not in my thoughts.

131 I could not hear what terms he offer’d them,

132 But they conferr’d not long, for all at once

133 To trial fled within. Clos’d were the gates

134 By those our adversaries on the breast

135 Of my liege lord: excluded he return’d

136 To me with tardy steps. Upon the ground

137 His eyes were bent, and from his brow eras’d

138 All confidence, while thus with sighs he spake:

139 “Who hath denied me these abodes of woe?”

140 Then thus to me: “That I am anger’d, think

141 No ground of terror: in this trial I

142 Shall vanquish, use what arts they may within

143 For hindrance. This their insolence, not new,

144 Erewhile at gate less secret they display’d,

145 Which still is without bolt; upon its arch

146 Thou saw’st the deadly scroll: and even now

147 On this side of its entrance, down the steep,

148 Passing the circles, unescorted, comes

149 One whose strong might can open us this land.”

INFERNO · CANTO IX

25 The hue, which coward dread on my pale cheeks

26 Imprinted, when I saw my guide turn back,

27 Chas’d that from his which newly they had worn,

28 And inwardly restrain’d it. He, as one

29 Who listens, stood attentive: for his eye

30 Not far could lead him through the sable air,

31 And the thick-gath’ring cloud. “It yet behooves

32 We win this fight”—thus he began—“if not—

33 Such aid to us is offer’d.—Oh, how long

34 Me seems it, ere the promis’d help arrive!”

35 I noted, how the sequel of his words

36 Clok’d their beginning; for the last he spake

37 Agreed not with the first. But not the less

38 My fear was at his saying; sith I drew

39 To import worse perchance, than that he held,

40 His mutilated speech. “Doth ever any

41 Into this rueful concave’s extreme depth

42 Descend, out of the first degree, whose pain

43 Is deprivation merely of sweet hope?”

44 Thus I inquiring. “Rarely,” he replied,

45 “It chances, that among us any makes

46 This journey, which I wend. Erewhile ’tis true

47 Once came I here beneath, conjur’d by fell

48 Erictho, sorceress, who compell’d the shades

49 Back to their bodies. No long space my flesh

50 Was naked of me, when within these walls

51 She made me enter, to draw forth a spirit

52 From out of Judas’ circle. Lowest place

53 Is that of all, obscurest, and remov’d

54 Farthest from heav’n’s all-circling orb. The road

55 Full well I know: thou therefore rest secure.

56 That lake, the noisome stench exhaling, round

57 The city’ of grief encompasses, which now

58 We may not enter without rage.” Yet more

59 He added: but I hold it not in mind,

60 For that mine eye toward the lofty tower

61 Had drawn me wholly, to its burning top.

62 Where in an instant I beheld uprisen

63 At once three hellish furies stain’d with blood:

64 In limb and motion feminine they seem’d;

65 Around them greenest hydras twisting roll’d

66 Their volumes; adders and cerastes crept

67 Instead of hair, and their fierce temples bound.

68 He knowing well the miserable hags

69 Who tend the queen of endless woe, thus spake:

70 “Mark thou each dire Erinnys. To the left

71 This is Megaera; on the right hand she,

72 Who wails, Alecto; and Tisiphone

73 I’ th’ midst.” This said, in silence he remain’d

74 Their breast they each one clawing tore; themselves

75 Smote with their palms, and such shrill clamour rais’d,

76 That to the bard I clung, suspicion-bound.

77 “Hasten Medusa: so to adamant

78 Him shall we change;” all looking down exclaim’d.

79 “E’en when by Theseus’ might assail’d, we took

80 No ill revenge.” “Turn thyself round, and keep

81 Thy count’nance hid; for if the Gorgon dire

82 Be shown, and thou shouldst view it, thy return

83 Upwards would be for ever lost.” This said,

84 Himself my gentle master turn’d me round,

85 Nor trusted he my hands, but with his own

86 He also hid me. Ye of intellect

87 Sound and entire, mark well the lore conceal’d

88 Under close texture of the mystic strain!

89 And now there came o’er the perturbed waves

90 Loud-crashing, terrible, a sound that made

91 Either shore tremble, as if of a wind

92 Impetuous, from conflicting vapours sprung,

93 That ’gainst some forest driving all its might,

94 Plucks off the branches, beats them down and hurls

95 Afar; then onward passing proudly sweeps

96 Its whirlwind rage, while beasts and shepherds fly.

97 Mine eyes he loos’d, and spake: “And now direct

98 Thy visual nerve along that ancient foam,

99 There, thickest where the smoke ascends.” As frogs

100 Before their foe the serpent, through the wave

101 Ply swiftly all, till at the ground each one

102 Lies on a heap; more than a thousand spirits

103 Destroy’d, so saw I fleeing before one

104 Who pass’d with unwet feet the Stygian sound.

105 He, from his face removing the gross air,

106 Oft his left hand forth stretch’d, and seem’d alone

107 By that annoyance wearied. I perceiv’d

108 That he was sent from heav’n, and to my guide

109 Turn’d me, who signal made that I should stand

110 Quiet, and bend to him. Ah me! how full

111 Of noble anger seem’d he! To the gate

112 He came, and with his wand touch’d it, whereat

113 Open without impediment it flew.

114 “Outcasts of heav’n! O abject race and scorn’d!”

115 Began he on the horrid grunsel standing,

116 “Whence doth this wild excess of insolence

117 Lodge in you? wherefore kick you ’gainst that will

118 Ne’er frustrate of its end, and which so oft

119 Hath laid on you enforcement of your pangs?

120 What profits at the fays to but the horn?

121 Your Cerberus, if ye remember, hence

122 Bears still, peel’d of their hair, his throat and maw.”

123 This said, he turn’d back o’er the filthy way,

124 And syllable to us spake none, but wore

125 The semblance of a man by other care

126 Beset, and keenly press’d, than thought of him

127 Who in his presence stands. Then we our steps

128 Toward that territory mov’d, secure

129 After the hallow’d words. We unoppos’d

130 There enter’d; and my mind eager to learn

131 What state a fortress like to that might hold,

132 I soon as enter’d throw mine eye around,

133 And see on every part wide-stretching space

134 Replete with bitter pain and torment ill.

135 As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles,

136 Or as at Pola, near Quarnaro’s gulf,

137 That closes Italy and laves her bounds,

138 The place is all thick spread with sepulchres;

139 So was it here, save what in horror here

140 Excell’d: for ’midst the graves were scattered flames,

141 Wherewith intensely all throughout they burn’d,

142 That iron for no craft there hotter needs.

143 Their lids all hung suspended, and beneath

144 From them forth issu’d lamentable moans,

145 Such as the sad and tortur’d well might raise.

146 I thus: “Master! say who are these, interr’d

147 Within these vaults, of whom distinct we hear

148 The dolorous sighs?” He answer thus return’d:

149 “The arch-heretics are here, accompanied

150 By every sect their followers; and much more,

151 Than thou believest, tombs are freighted: like

152 With like is buried; and the monuments

153 Are different in degrees of heat.” This said,

154 He to the right hand turning, on we pass’d

155 Betwixt the afflicted and the ramparts high.

INFERNO · CANTO X

28 Now by a secret pathway we proceed,

29 Between the walls, that hem the region round,

30 And the tormented souls: my master first,

31 I close behind his steps. “Virtue supreme!”

32 I thus began; “who through these ample orbs

33 In circuit lead’st me, even as thou will’st,

34 Speak thou, and satisfy my wish. May those,

35 Who lie within these sepulchres, be seen?

36 Already all the lids are rais’d, and none

37 O’er them keeps watch.” He thus in answer spake

38 “They shall be closed all, what-time they here

39 From Josaphat return’d shall come, and bring

40 Their bodies, which above they now have left.

41 The cemetery on this part obtain

42 With Epicurus all his followers,

43 Who with the body make the spirit die.

44 Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon

45 Both to the question ask’d, and to the wish,

46 Which thou conceal’st in silence.” I replied:

47 “I keep not, guide belov’d! from thee my heart

48 Secreted, but to shun vain length of words,

49 A lesson erewhile taught me by thyself.”

50 “O Tuscan! thou who through the city of fire

51 Alive art passing, so discreet of speech!

52 Here please thee stay awhile. Thy utterance

53 Declares the place of thy nativity

54 To be that noble land, with which perchance

55 I too severely dealt.” Sudden that sound

56 Forth issu’d from a vault, whereat in fear

57 I somewhat closer to my leader’s side

58 Approaching, he thus spake: “What dost thou? Turn.

59 Lo, Farinata, there! who hath himself

60 Uplifted: from his girdle upwards all

61 Expos’d behold him.” On his face was mine

62 Already fix’d; his breast and forehead there

63 Erecting, seem’d as in high scorn he held

64 E’en hell. Between the sepulchres to him

65 My guide thrust me with fearless hands and prompt,

66 This warning added: “See thy words be clear!”

67 He, soon as there I stood at the tomb’s foot,

68 Ey’d me a space, then in disdainful mood

69 Address’d me: “Say, what ancestors were thine?”

70 I, willing to obey him, straight reveal’d

71 The whole, nor kept back aught: whence he, his brow

72 Somewhat uplifting, cried: “Fiercely were they

73 Adverse to me, my party, and the blood

74 From whence I sprang: twice therefore I abroad

75 Scatter’d them.” “Though driv’n out, yet they each time

76 From all parts,” answer’d I, “return’d; an art

77 Which yours have shown, they are not skill’d to learn.”

78 Then, peering forth from the unclosed jaw,

79 Rose from his side a shade, high as the chin,

80 Leaning, methought, upon its knees uprais’d.

81 It look’d around, as eager to explore

82 If there were other with me; but perceiving

83 That fond imagination quench’d, with tears

84 Thus spake: “If thou through this blind prison go’st.

85 Led by thy lofty genius and profound,

86 Where is my son? and wherefore not with thee?”

87 I straight replied: “Not of myself I come,

88 By him, who there expects me, through this clime

89 Conducted, whom perchance Guido thy son

90 Had in contempt.” Already had his words

91 And mode of punishment read me his name,

92 Whence I so fully answer’d. He at once

93 Exclaim’d, up starting, “How! said’st thou he HAD?

94 No longer lives he? Strikes not on his eye

95 The blessed daylight?” Then of some delay

96 I made ere my reply aware, down fell

97 Supine, not after forth appear’d he more.

98 Meanwhile the other, great of soul, near whom

99 I yet was station’d, chang’d not count’nance stern,

100 Nor mov’d the neck, nor bent his ribbed side.

101 “And if,” continuing the first discourse,

102 “They in this art,” he cried, “small skill have shown,

103 That doth torment me more e’en than this bed.

104 But not yet fifty times shall be relum’d

105 Her aspect, who reigns here Queen of this realm,

106 Ere thou shalt know the full weight of that art.

107 So to the pleasant world mayst thou return,

108 As thou shalt tell me, why in all their laws,

109 Against my kin this people is so fell?”

110 “The slaughter and great havoc,” I replied,

111 “That colour’d Arbia’s flood with crimson stain—

112 To these impute, that in our hallow’d dome

113 Such orisons ascend.” Sighing he shook

114 The head, then thus resum’d: “In that affray

115 I stood not singly, nor without just cause

116 Assuredly should with the rest have stirr’d;

117 But singly there I stood, when by consent

118 Of all, Florence had to the ground been raz’d,

119 The one who openly forbad the deed.”

120 “So may thy lineage find at last repose,”

121 I thus adjur’d him, “as thou solve this knot,

122 Which now involves my mind. If right I hear,

123 Ye seem to view beforehand, that which time

124 Leads with him, of the present uninform’d.”

125 “We view, as one who hath an evil sight,”

126 He answer’d, “plainly, objects far remote:

127 So much of his large spendour yet imparts

128 The Almighty Ruler; but when they approach

129 Or actually exist, our intellect

130 Then wholly fails, nor of your human state

131 Except what others bring us know we aught.

132 Hence therefore mayst thou understand, that all

133 Our knowledge in that instant shall expire,

134 When on futurity the portals close.”

135 Then conscious of my fault, and by remorse

136 Smitten, I added thus: “Now shalt thou say

137 To him there fallen, that his offspring still

138 Is to the living join’d; and bid him know,

139 That if from answer silent I abstain’d,

140 ’Twas that my thought was occupied intent

141 Upon that error, which thy help hath solv’d.”

142 But now my master summoning me back

143 I heard, and with more eager haste besought

144 The spirit to inform me, who with him

145 Partook his lot. He answer thus return’d:

146 “More than a thousand with me here are laid

147 Within is Frederick, second of that name,

148 And the Lord Cardinal, and of the rest

149 I speak not.” He, this said, from sight withdrew.

150 But I my steps towards the ancient bard

151 Reverting, ruminated on the words

152 Betokening me such ill. Onward he mov’d,

153 And thus in going question’d: “Whence the amaze

154 That holds thy senses wrapt?” I satisfied

155 The inquiry, and the sage enjoin’d me straight:

156 “Let thy safe memory store what thou hast heard

157 To thee importing harm; and note thou this,”

158 With his rais’d finger bidding me take heed,

159 “When thou shalt stand before her gracious beam,

160 Whose bright eye all surveys, she of thy life

161 The future tenour will to thee unfold.”

162 Forthwith he to the left hand turn’d his feet:

163 We left the wall, and tow’rds the middle space

164 Went by a path, that to a valley strikes;

165 Which e’en thus high exhal’d its noisome steam.

INFERNO · CANTO XI

31 Upon the utmost verge of a high bank,

32 By craggy rocks environ’d round, we came,

33 Where woes beneath more cruel yet were stow’d:

34 And here to shun the horrible excess

35 Of fetid exhalation, upward cast

36 From the profound abyss, behind the lid

37 Of a great monument we stood retir’d,

38 Whereon this scroll I mark’d: “I have in charge

39 Pope Anastasius, whom Photinus drew

40 From the right path.—Ere our descent behooves

41 We make delay, that somewhat first the sense,

42 To the dire breath accustom’d, afterward

43 Regard it not.” My master thus; to whom

44 Answering I spake: “Some compensation find

45 That the time past not wholly lost.” He then:

46 “Lo! how my thoughts e’en to thy wishes tend!

47 My son! within these rocks,” he thus began,

48 “Are three close circles in gradation plac’d,

49 As these which now thou leav’st. Each one is full

50 Of spirits accurs’d; but that the sight alone

51 Hereafter may suffice thee, listen how

52 And for what cause in durance they abide.

53 “Of all malicious act abhorr’d in heaven,

54 The end is injury; and all such end

55 Either by force or fraud works other’s woe

56 But fraud, because of man peculiar evil,

57 To God is more displeasing; and beneath

58 The fraudulent are therefore doom’d to’ endure

59 Severer pang. The violent occupy

60 All the first circle; and because to force

61 Three persons are obnoxious, in three rounds

62 Each within other sep’rate is it fram’d.

63 To God, his neighbour, and himself, by man

64 Force may be offer’d; to himself I say

65 And his possessions, as thou soon shalt hear

66 At full. Death, violent death, and painful wounds

67 Upon his neighbour he inflicts; and wastes

68 By devastation, pillage, and the flames,

69 His substance. Slayers, and each one that smites

70 In malice, plund’rers, and all robbers, hence

71 The torment undergo of the first round

72 In different herds. Man can do violence

73 To himself and his own blessings: and for this

74 He in the second round must aye deplore

75 With unavailing penitence his crime,

76 Whoe’er deprives himself of life and light,

77 In reckless lavishment his talent wastes,

78 And sorrows there where he should dwell in joy.

79 To God may force be offer’d, in the heart

80 Denying and blaspheming his high power,

81 And nature with her kindly law contemning.

82 And thence the inmost round marks with its seal

83 Sodom and Cahors, and all such as speak

84 Contemptuously of the Godhead in their hearts.

85 “Fraud, that in every conscience leaves a sting,

86 May be by man employ’d on one, whose trust

87 He wins, or on another who withholds

88 Strict confidence. Seems as the latter way

89 Broke but the bond of love which Nature makes.

90 Whence in the second circle have their nest

91 Dissimulation, witchcraft, flatteries,

92 Theft, falsehood, simony, all who seduce

93 To lust, or set their honesty at pawn,

94 With such vile scum as these. The other way

95 Forgets both Nature’s general love, and that

96 Which thereto added afterwards gives birth

97 To special faith. Whence in the lesser circle,

98 Point of the universe, dread seat of Dis,

99 The traitor is eternally consum’d.”

100 I thus: “Instructor, clearly thy discourse

101 Proceeds, distinguishing the hideous chasm

102 And its inhabitants with skill exact.

103 But tell me this: they of the dull, fat pool,

104 Whom the rain beats, or whom the tempest drives,

105 Or who with tongues so fierce conflicting meet,

106 Wherefore within the city fire-illum’d

107 Are not these punish’d, if God’s wrath be on them?

108 And if it be not, wherefore in such guise

109 Are they condemned?” He answer thus return’d:

110 “Wherefore in dotage wanders thus thy mind,

111 Not so accustom’d? or what other thoughts

112 Possess it? Dwell not in thy memory

113 The words, wherein thy ethic page describes

114 Three dispositions adverse to Heav’n’s will,

115 Incont’nence, malice, and mad brutishness,

116 And how incontinence the least offends

117 God, and least guilt incurs? If well thou note

118 This judgment, and remember who they are,

119 Without these walls to vain repentance doom’d,

120 Thou shalt discern why they apart are plac’d

121 From these fell spirits, and less wreakful pours

122 Justice divine on them its vengeance down.”

123 “O Sun! who healest all imperfect sight,

124 Thou so content’st me, when thou solv’st my doubt,

125 That ignorance not less than knowledge charms.

126 Yet somewhat turn thee back,” I in these words

127 Continu’d, “where thou saidst, that usury

128 Offends celestial Goodness; and this knot

129 Perplex’d unravel.” He thus made reply:

130 “Philosophy, to an attentive ear,

131 Clearly points out, not in one part alone,

132 How imitative nature takes her course

133 From the celestial mind and from its art:

134 And where her laws the Stagyrite unfolds,

135 Not many leaves scann’d o’er, observing well

136 Thou shalt discover, that your art on her

137 Obsequious follows, as the learner treads

138 In his instructor’s step, so that your art

139 Deserves the name of second in descent

140 From God. These two, if thou recall to mind

141 Creation’s holy book, from the beginning

142 Were the right source of life and excellence

143 To human kind. But in another path

144 The usurer walks; and Nature in herself

145 And in her follower thus he sets at nought,

146 Placing elsewhere his hope. But follow now

147 My steps on forward journey bent; for now

148 The Pisces play with undulating glance

149 Along the horizon, and the Wain lies all

150 O’er the north-west; and onward there a space

151 Is our steep passage down the rocky height.”

INFERNO · CANTO XII

34 The place where to descend the precipice

35 We came, was rough as Alp, and on its verge

36 Such object lay, as every eye would shun.

37 As is that ruin, which Adice’s stream

38 On this side Trento struck, should’ring the wave,

39 Or loos’d by earthquake or for lack of prop;

40 For from the mountain’s summit, whence it mov’d

41 To the low level, so the headlong rock

42 Is shiver’d, that some passage it might give

43 To him who from above would pass; e’en such

44 Into the chasm was that descent: and there

45 At point of the disparted ridge lay stretch’d

46 The infamy of Crete, detested brood

47 Of the feign’d heifer: and at sight of us

48 It gnaw’d itself, as one with rage distract.

49 To him my guide exclaim’d: “Perchance thou deem’st

50 The King of Athens here, who, in the world

51 Above, thy death contriv’d. Monster! avaunt!

52 He comes not tutor’d by thy sister’s art,

53 But to behold your torments is he come.”

54 Like to a bull, that with impetuous spring

55 Darts, at the moment when the fatal blow

56 Hath struck him, but unable to proceed

57 Plunges on either side; so saw I plunge

58 The Minotaur; whereat the sage exclaim’d:

59 “Run to the passage! while he storms, ’t is well

60 That thou descend.” Thus down our road we took

61 Through those dilapidated crags, that oft

62 Mov’d underneath my feet, to weight like theirs

63 Unus’d. I pond’ring went, and thus he spake:

64 “Perhaps thy thoughts are of this ruin’d steep,

65 Guarded by the brute violence, which I

66 Have vanquish’d now. Know then, that when I erst

67 Hither descended to the nether hell,

68 This rock was not yet fallen. But past doubt

69 (If well I mark) not long ere He arrived,

70 Who carried off from Dis the mighty spoil

71 Of the highest circle, then through all its bounds

72 Such trembling seiz’d the deep concave and foul,

73 I thought the universe was thrill’d with love,

74 Whereby, there are who deem, the world hath oft

75 Been into chaos turn’d: and in that point,

76 Here, and elsewhere, that old rock toppled down.

77 But fix thine eyes beneath: the river of blood

78 Approaches, in the which all those are steep’d,

79 Who have by violence injur’d.” O blind lust!

80 O foolish wrath! who so dost goad us on

81 In the brief life, and in the eternal then

82 Thus miserably o’erwhelm us. I beheld

83 An ample foss, that in a bow was bent,

84 As circling all the plain; for so my guide

85 Had told. Between it and the rampart’s base

86 On trail ran Centaurs, with keen arrows arm’d,

87 As to the chase they on the earth were wont.

88 At seeing us descend they each one stood;

89 And issuing from the troop, three sped with bows

90 And missile weapons chosen first; of whom

91 One cried from far: “Say to what pain ye come

92 Condemn’d, who down this steep have journied? Speak

93 From whence ye stand, or else the bow I draw.”

94 To whom my guide: “Our answer shall be made

95 To Chiron, there, when nearer him we come.

96 Ill was thy mind, thus ever quick and rash.”

97 Then me he touch’d, and spake: “Nessus is this,

98 Who for the fair Deianira died,

99 And wrought himself revenge for his own fate.

100 He in the midst, that on his breast looks down,

101 Is the great Chiron who Achilles nurs’d;

102 That other Pholus, prone to wrath.” Around

103 The foss these go by thousands, aiming shafts

104 At whatsoever spirit dares emerge

105 From out the blood, more than his guilt allows.

106 We to those beasts, that rapid strode along,

107 Drew near, when Chiron took an arrow forth,

108 And with the notch push’d back his shaggy beard

109 To the cheek-bone, then his great mouth to view

110 Exposing, to his fellows thus exclaim’d:

111 “Are ye aware, that he who comes behind

112 Moves what he touches? The feet of the dead

113 Are not so wont.” My trusty guide, who now

114 Stood near his breast, where the two natures join,

115 Thus made reply: “He is indeed alive,

116 And solitary so must needs by me

117 Be shown the gloomy vale, thereto induc’d

118 By strict necessity, not by delight.

119 She left her joyful harpings in the sky,

120 Who this new office to my care consign’d.

121 He is no robber, no dark spirit I.

122 But by that virtue, which empowers my step

123 To treat so wild a path, grant us, I pray,

124 One of thy band, whom we may trust secure,

125 Who to the ford may lead us, and convey

126 Across, him mounted on his back; for he

127 Is not a spirit that may walk the air.”

128 Then on his right breast turning, Chiron thus

129 To Nessus spake: “Return, and be their guide.

130 And if ye chance to cross another troop,

131 Command them keep aloof.” Onward we mov’d,

132 The faithful escort by our side, along

133 The border of the crimson-seething flood,

134 Whence from those steep’d within loud shrieks arose.

135 Some there I mark’d, as high as to their brow

136 Immers’d, of whom the mighty Centaur thus:

137 “These are the souls of tyrants, who were given

138 To blood and rapine. Here they wail aloud

139 Their merciless wrongs. Here Alexander dwells,

140 And Dionysius fell, who many a year

141 Of woe wrought for fair Sicily. That brow

142 Whereon the hair so jetty clust’ring hangs,

143 Is Azzolino; that with flaxen locks

144 Obizzo’ of Este, in the world destroy’d

145 By his foul step-son.” To the bard rever’d

146 I turned me round, and thus he spake; “Let him

147 Be to thee now first leader, me but next

148 To him in rank.” Then farther on a space

149 The Centaur paus’d, near some, who at the throat

150 Were extant from the wave; and showing us

151 A spirit by itself apart retir’d,

152 Exclaim’d: “He in God’s bosom smote the heart,

153 Which yet is honour’d on the bank of Thames.”

154 A race I next espied, who held the head,

155 And even all the bust above the stream.

156 ’Midst these I many a face remember’d well.

157 Thus shallow more and more the blood became,

158 So that at last it but imbru’d the feet;

159 And there our passage lay athwart the foss.

160 “As ever on this side the boiling wave

161 Thou seest diminishing,” the Centaur said,

162 “So on the other, be thou well assur’d,

163 It lower still and lower sinks its bed,

164 Till in that part it reuniting join,

165 Where ’t is the lot of tyranny to mourn.

166 There Heav’n’s stern justice lays chastising hand

167 On Attila, who was the scourge of earth,

168 On Sextus, and on Pyrrhus, and extracts

169 Tears ever by the seething flood unlock’d

170 From the Rinieri, of Corneto this,

171 Pazzo the other nam’d, who fill’d the ways

172 With violence and war.” This said, he turn’d,

173 And quitting us, alone repass’d the ford.

INFERNO · CANTO XIII

37 Ere Nessus yet had reach’d the other bank,

38 We enter’d on a forest, where no track

39 Of steps had worn a way. Not verdant there

40 The foliage, but of dusky hue; not light

41 The boughs and tapering, but with knares deform’d

42 And matted thick: fruits there were none, but thorns

43 Instead, with venom fill’d. Less sharp than these,

44 Less intricate the brakes, wherein abide

45 Those animals, that hate the cultur’d fields,

46 Betwixt Corneto and Cecina’s stream.

47 Here the brute Harpies make their nest, the same

48 Who from the Strophades the Trojan band

49 Drove with dire boding of their future woe.

50 Broad are their pennons, of the human form

51 Their neck and count’nance, arm’d with talons keen

52 The feet, and the huge belly fledge with wings

53 These sit and wail on the drear mystic wood.

54 The kind instructor in these words began:

55 “Ere farther thou proceed, know thou art now

56 I’ th’ second round, and shalt be, till thou come

57 Upon the horrid sand: look therefore well

58 Around thee, and such things thou shalt behold,

59 As would my speech discredit.” On all sides

60 I heard sad plainings breathe, and none could see

61 From whom they might have issu’d. In amaze

62 Fast bound I stood. He, as it seem’d, believ’d,

63 That I had thought so many voices came

64 From some amid those thickets close conceal’d,

65 And thus his speech resum’d: “If thou lop off

66 A single twig from one of those ill plants,

67 The thought thou hast conceiv’d shall vanish quite.”

68 Thereat a little stretching forth my hand,

69 From a great wilding gather’d I a branch,

70 And straight the trunk exclaim’d: “Why pluck’st thou me?”

71 Then as the dark blood trickled down its side,

72 These words it added: “Wherefore tear’st me thus?

73 Is there no touch of mercy in thy breast?

74 Men once were we, that now are rooted here.

75 Thy hand might well have spar’d us, had we been

76 The souls of serpents.” As a brand yet green,

77 That burning at one end from the other sends

78 A groaning sound, and hisses with the wind

79 That forces out its way, so burst at once,

80 Forth from the broken splinter words and blood.

81 I, letting fall the bough, remain’d as one

82 Assail’d by terror, and the sage replied:

83 “If he, O injur’d spirit! could have believ’d

84 What he hath seen but in my verse describ’d,

85 He never against thee had stretch’d his hand.

86 But I, because the thing surpass’d belief,

87 Prompted him to this deed, which even now

88 Myself I rue. But tell me, who thou wast;

89 That, for this wrong to do thee some amends,

90 In the upper world (for thither to return

91 Is granted him) thy fame he may revive.”

92 “That pleasant word of thine,” the trunk replied

93 “Hath so inveigled me, that I from speech

94 Cannot refrain, wherein if I indulge

95 A little longer, in the snare detain’d,

96 Count it not grievous. I it was, who held

97 Both keys to Frederick’s heart, and turn’d the wards,

98 Opening and shutting, with a skill so sweet,

99 That besides me, into his inmost breast

100 Scarce any other could admittance find.

101 The faith I bore to my high charge was such,

102 It cost me the life-blood that warm’d my veins.

103 The harlot, who ne’er turn’d her gloating eyes

104 From Caesar’s household, common vice and pest

105 Of courts, ’gainst me inflam’d the minds of all;

106 And to Augustus they so spread the flame,

107 That my glad honours chang’d to bitter woes.

108 My soul, disdainful and disgusted, sought

109 Refuge in death from scorn, and I became,

110 Just as I was, unjust toward myself.

111 By the new roots, which fix this stem, I swear,

112 That never faith I broke to my liege lord,

113 Who merited such honour; and of you,

114 If any to the world indeed return,

115 Clear he from wrong my memory, that lies

116 Yet prostrate under envy’s cruel blow.”

117 First somewhat pausing, till the mournful words

118 Were ended, then to me the bard began:

119 “Lose not the time; but speak and of him ask,

120 If more thou wish to learn.” Whence I replied:

121 “Question thou him again of whatsoe’er

122 Will, as thou think’st, content me; for no power

123 Have I to ask, such pity’ is at my heart.”

124 He thus resum’d; “So may he do for thee

125 Freely what thou entreatest, as thou yet

126 Be pleas’d, imprison’d Spirit! to declare,

127 How in these gnarled joints the soul is tied;

128 And whether any ever from such frame

129 Be loosen’d, if thou canst, that also tell.”

130 Thereat the trunk breath’d hard, and the wind soon

131 Chang’d into sounds articulate like these;

132 Briefly ye shall be answer’d. “When departs

133 The fierce soul from the body, by itself

134 Thence torn asunder, to the seventh gulf

135 By Minos doom’d, into the wood it falls,

136 No place assign’d, but wheresoever chance

137 Hurls it, there sprouting, as a grain of spelt,

138 It rises to a sapling, growing thence

139 A savage plant. The Harpies, on its leaves

140 Then feeding, cause both pain and for the pain

141 A vent to grief. We, as the rest, shall come

142 For our own spoils, yet not so that with them

143 We may again be clad; for what a man

144 Takes from himself it is not just he have.

145 Here we perforce shall drag them; and throughout

146 The dismal glade our bodies shall be hung,

147 Each on the wild thorn of his wretched shade.”

148 Attentive yet to listen to the trunk

149 We stood, expecting farther speech, when us

150 A noise surpris’d, as when a man perceives

151 The wild boar and the hunt approach his place

152 Of station’d watch, who of the beasts and boughs

153 Loud rustling round him hears. And lo! there came

154 Two naked, torn with briers, in headlong flight,

155 That they before them broke each fan o’ th’ wood.

156 “Haste now,” the foremost cried, “now haste thee death!”

157 The other, as seem’d, impatient of delay

158 Exclaiming, “Lano! not so bent for speed

159 Thy sinews, in the lists of Toppo’s field.”

160 And then, for that perchance no longer breath

161 Suffic’d him, of himself and of a bush

162 One group he made. Behind them was the wood

163 Full of black female mastiffs, gaunt and fleet,

164 As greyhounds that have newly slipp’d the leash.

165 On him, who squatted down, they stuck their fangs,

166 And having rent him piecemeal bore away

167 The tortur’d limbs. My guide then seiz’d my hand,

168 And led me to the thicket, which in vain

169 Mourn’d through its bleeding wounds: “O Giacomo

170 Of Sant’ Andrea! what avails it thee,”

171 It cried, “that of me thou hast made thy screen?

172 For thy ill life what blame on me recoils?”

173 When o’er it he had paus’d, my master spake:

174 “Say who wast thou, that at so many points

175 Breath’st out with blood thy lamentable speech?”

176 He answer’d: “Oh, ye spirits: arriv’d in time

177 To spy the shameful havoc, that from me

178 My leaves hath sever’d thus, gather them up,

179 And at the foot of their sad parent-tree

180 Carefully lay them. In that city’ I dwelt,

181 Who for the Baptist her first patron chang’d,

182 Whence he for this shall cease not with his art

183 To work her woe: and if there still remain’d not

184 On Arno’s passage some faint glimpse of him,

185 Those citizens, who rear’d once more her walls

186 Upon the ashes left by Attila,

187 Had labour’d without profit of their toil.

188 I slung the fatal noose from my own roof.”

INFERNO · CANTO XIV

40 Soon as the charity of native land

41 Wrought in my bosom, I the scatter’d leaves

42 Collected, and to him restor’d, who now

43 Was hoarse with utt’rance. To the limit thence

44 We came, which from the third the second round

45 Divides, and where of justice is display’d

46 Contrivance horrible. Things then first seen

47 Clearlier to manifest, I tell how next

48 A plain we reach’d, that from its sterile bed

49 Each plant repell’d. The mournful wood waves round

50 Its garland on all sides, as round the wood

51 Spreads the sad foss. There, on the very edge,

52 Our steps we stay’d. It was an area wide

53 Of arid sand and thick, resembling most

54 The soil that erst by Cato’s foot was trod.

55 Vengeance of Heav’n! Oh! how shouldst thou be fear’d

56 By all, who read what here my eyes beheld!

57 Of naked spirits many a flock I saw,

58 All weeping piteously, to different laws

59 Subjected: for on the earth some lay supine,

60 Some crouching close were seated, others pac’d

61 Incessantly around; the latter tribe,

62 More numerous, those fewer who beneath

63 The torment lay, but louder in their grief.

64 O’er all the sand fell slowly wafting down

65 Dilated flakes of fire, as flakes of snow

66 On Alpine summit, when the wind is hush’d.

67 As in the torrid Indian clime, the son

68 Of Ammon saw upon his warrior band

69 Descending, solid flames, that to the ground

70 Came down: whence he bethought him with his troop

71 To trample on the soil; for easier thus

72 The vapour was extinguish’d, while alone;

73 So fell the eternal fiery flood, wherewith

74 The marble glow’d underneath, as under stove

75 The viands, doubly to augment the pain.

76 Unceasing was the play of wretched hands,

77 Now this, now that way glancing, to shake off

78 The heat, still falling fresh. I thus began:

79 “Instructor! thou who all things overcom’st,

80 Except the hardy demons, that rush’d forth

81 To stop our entrance at the gate, say who

82 Is yon huge spirit, that, as seems, heeds not

83 The burning, but lies writhen in proud scorn,

84 As by the sultry tempest immatur’d?”

85 Straight he himself, who was aware I ask’d

86 My guide of him, exclaim’d: “Such as I was

87 When living, dead such now I am. If Jove

88 Weary his workman out, from whom in ire

89 He snatch’d the lightnings, that at my last day

90 Transfix’d me, if the rest be weary out

91 At their black smithy labouring by turns

92 In Mongibello, while he cries aloud;

93 “Help, help, good Mulciber!” as erst he cried

94 In the Phlegraean warfare, and the bolts

95 Launch he full aim’d at me with all his might,

96 He never should enjoy a sweet revenge.”

97 Then thus my guide, in accent higher rais’d

98 Than I before had heard him: “Capaneus!

99 Thou art more punish’d, in that this thy pride

100 Lives yet unquench’d: no torrent, save thy rage,

101 Were to thy fury pain proportion’d full.”

102 Next turning round to me with milder lip

103 He spake: “This of the seven kings was one,

104 Who girt the Theban walls with siege, and held,

105 As still he seems to hold, God in disdain,

106 And sets his high omnipotence at nought.

107 But, as I told him, his despiteful mood

108 Is ornament well suits the breast that wears it.

109 Follow me now; and look thou set not yet

110 Thy foot in the hot sand, but to the wood

111 Keep ever close.” Silently on we pass’d

112 To where there gushes from the forest’s bound

113 A little brook, whose crimson’d wave yet lifts

114 My hair with horror. As the rill, that runs

115 From Bulicame, to be portion’d out

116 Among the sinful women; so ran this

117 Down through the sand, its bottom and each bank

118 Stone-built, and either margin at its side,

119 Whereon I straight perceiv’d our passage lay.

120 “Of all that I have shown thee, since that gate

121 We enter’d first, whose threshold is to none

122 Denied, nought else so worthy of regard,

123 As is this river, has thine eye discern’d,

124 O’er which the flaming volley all is quench’d.”

125 So spake my guide; and I him thence besought,

126 That having giv’n me appetite to know,

127 The food he too would give, that hunger crav’d.

128 “In midst of ocean,” forthwith he began,

129 “A desolate country lies, which Crete is nam’d,

130 Under whose monarch in old times the world

131 Liv’d pure and chaste. A mountain rises there,

132 Call’d Ida, joyous once with leaves and streams,

133 Deserted now like a forbidden thing.

134 It was the spot which Rhea, Saturn’s spouse,

135 Chose for the secret cradle of her son;

136 And better to conceal him, drown’d in shouts

137 His infant cries. Within the mount, upright

138 An ancient form there stands and huge, that turns

139 His shoulders towards Damiata, and at Rome

140 As in his mirror looks. Of finest gold

141 His head is shap’d, pure silver are the breast

142 And arms; thence to the middle is of brass.

143 And downward all beneath well-temper’d steel,

144 Save the right foot of potter’s clay, on which

145 Than on the other more erect he stands,

146 Each part except the gold, is rent throughout;

147 And from the fissure tears distil, which join’d

148 Penetrate to that cave. They in their course

149 Thus far precipitated down the rock

150 Form Acheron, and Styx, and Phlegethon;

151 Then by this straiten’d channel passing hence

152 Beneath, e’en to the lowest depth of all,

153 Form there Cocytus, of whose lake (thyself

154 Shall see it) I here give thee no account.”

155 Then I to him: “If from our world this sluice

156 Be thus deriv’d; wherefore to us but now

157 Appears it at this edge?” He straight replied:

158 “The place, thou know’st, is round; and though great part

159 Thou have already pass’d, still to the left

160 Descending to the nethermost, not yet

161 Hast thou the circuit made of the whole orb.

162 Wherefore if aught of new to us appear,

163 It needs not bring up wonder in thy looks.”

164 Then I again inquir’d: “Where flow the streams

165 Of Phlegethon and Lethe? for of one

166 Thou tell’st not, and the other of that shower,

167 Thou say’st, is form’d.” He answer thus return’d:

168 “Doubtless thy questions all well pleas’d I hear.

169 Yet the red seething wave might have resolv’d

170 One thou proposest. Lethe thou shalt see,

171 But not within this hollow, in the place,

172 Whither to lave themselves the spirits go,

173 Whose blame hath been by penitence remov’d.”

174 He added: “Time is now we quit the wood.

175 Look thou my steps pursue: the margins give

176 Safe passage, unimpeded by the flames;

177 For over them all vapour is extinct.”

INFERNO · CANTO XV

43 One of the solid margins bears us now

44 Envelop’d in the mist, that from the stream

45 Arising, hovers o’er, and saves from fire

46 Both piers and water. As the Flemings rear

47 Their mound, ’twixt Ghent and Bruges, to chase back

48 The ocean, fearing his tumultuous tide

49 That drives toward them, or the Paduans theirs

50 Along the Brenta, to defend their towns

51 And castles, ere the genial warmth be felt

52 On Chiarentana’s top; such were the mounds,

53 So fram’d, though not in height or bulk to these

54 Made equal, by the master, whosoe’er

55 He was, that rais’d them here. We from the wood

56 Were not so far remov’d, that turning round

57 I might not have discern’d it, when we met

58 A troop of spirits, who came beside the pier.

59 They each one ey’d us, as at eventide

60 One eyes another under a new moon,

61 And toward us sharpen’d their sight as keen,

62 As an old tailor at his needle’s eye.

63 Thus narrowly explor’d by all the tribe,

64 I was agniz’d of one, who by the skirt

65 Caught me, and cried, “What wonder have we here!”

66 And I, when he to me outstretch’d his arm,

67 Intently fix’d my ken on his parch’d looks,

68 That although smirch’d with fire, they hinder’d not

69 But I remember’d him; and towards his face

70 My hand inclining, answer’d: “Sir! Brunetto!

71 “And art thou here?” He thus to me: “My son!

72 Oh let it not displease thee, if Brunetto

73 Latini but a little space with thee

74 Turn back, and leave his fellows to proceed.”

75 I thus to him replied: “Much as I can,

76 I thereto pray thee; and if thou be willing,

77 That I here seat me with thee, I consent;

78 His leave, with whom I journey, first obtain’d.”

79 “O son!” said he, “whoever of this throng

80 One instant stops, lies then a hundred years,

81 No fan to ventilate him, when the fire

82 Smites sorest. Pass thou therefore on. I close

83 Will at thy garments walk, and then rejoin

84 My troop, who go mourning their endless doom.”

85 I dar’d not from the path descend to tread

86 On equal ground with him, but held my head

87 Bent down, as one who walks in reverent guise.

88 “What chance or destiny,” thus he began,

89 “Ere the last day conducts thee here below?

90 And who is this, that shows to thee the way?”

91 “There up aloft,” I answer’d, “in the life

92 Serene, I wander’d in a valley lost,

93 Before mine age had to its fullness reach’d.

94 But yester-morn I left it: then once more

95 Into that vale returning, him I met;

96 And by this path homeward he leads me back.”

97 “If thou,” he answer’d, “follow but thy star,

98 Thou canst not miss at last a glorious haven:

99 Unless in fairer days my judgment err’d.

100 And if my fate so early had not chanc’d,

101 Seeing the heav’ns thus bounteous to thee, I

102 Had gladly giv’n thee comfort in thy work.

103 But that ungrateful and malignant race,

104 Who in old times came down from Fesole,

105 Ay and still smack of their rough mountain-flint,

106 Will for thy good deeds shew thee enmity.

107 Nor wonder; for amongst ill-savour’d crabs

108 It suits not the sweet fig-tree lay her fruit.

109 Old fame reports them in the world for blind,

110 Covetous, envious, proud. Look to it well:

111 Take heed thou cleanse thee of their ways. For thee

112 Thy fortune hath such honour in reserve,

113 That thou by either party shalt be crav’d

114 With hunger keen: but be the fresh herb far

115 From the goat’s tooth. The herd of Fesole

116 May of themselves make litter, not touch the plant,

117 If any such yet spring on their rank bed,

118 In which the holy seed revives, transmitted

119 From those true Romans, who still there remain’d,

120 When it was made the nest of so much ill.”

121 “Were all my wish fulfill’d,” I straight replied,

122 “Thou from the confines of man’s nature yet

123 Hadst not been driven forth; for in my mind

124 Is fix’d, and now strikes full upon my heart

125 The dear, benign, paternal image, such

126 As thine was, when so lately thou didst teach me

127 The way for man to win eternity;

128 And how I priz’d the lesson, it behooves,

129 That, long as life endures, my tongue should speak,

130 What of my fate thou tell’st, that write I down:

131 And with another text to comment on

132 For her I keep it, the celestial dame,

133 Who will know all, if I to her arrive.

134 This only would I have thee clearly note:

135 That so my conscience have no plea against me;

136 Do fortune as she list, I stand prepar’d.

137 Not new or strange such earnest to mine ear.

138 Speed fortune then her wheel, as likes her best,

139 The clown his mattock; all things have their course.”

140 Thereat my sapient guide upon his right

141 Turn’d himself back, then look’d at me and spake:

142 “He listens to good purpose who takes note.”

143 I not the less still on my way proceed,

144 Discoursing with Brunetto, and inquire

145 Who are most known and chief among his tribe.

146 “To know of some is well;” thus he replied,

147 “But of the rest silence may best beseem.

148 Time would not serve us for report so long.

149 In brief I tell thee, that all these were clerks,

150 Men of great learning and no less renown,

151 By one same sin polluted in the world.

152 With them is Priscian, and Accorso’s son

153 Francesco herds among that wretched throng:

154 And, if the wish of so impure a blotch

155 Possess’d thee, him thou also might’st have seen,

156 Who by the servants’ servant was transferr’d

157 From Arno’s seat to Bacchiglione, where

158 His ill-strain’d nerves he left. I more would add,

159 But must from farther speech and onward way

160 Alike desist, for yonder I behold

161 A mist new-risen on the sandy plain.

162 A company, with whom I may not sort,

163 Approaches. I commend my TREASURE to thee,

164 Wherein I yet survive; my sole request.”

165 This said he turn’d, and seem’d as one of those,

166 Who o’er Verona’s champain try their speed

167 For the green mantle, and of them he seem’d,

168 Not he who loses but who gains the prize.

INFERNO · CANTO XVI

46 Now came I where the water’s din was heard,

47 As down it fell into the other round,

48 Resounding like the hum of swarming bees:

49 When forth together issu’d from a troop,

50 That pass’d beneath the fierce tormenting storm,

51 Three spirits, running swift. They towards us came,

52 And each one cried aloud, “Oh do thou stay!

53 Whom by the fashion of thy garb we deem

54 To be some inmate of our evil land.”

55 Ah me! what wounds I mark’d upon their limbs,

56 Recent and old, inflicted by the flames!

57 E’en the remembrance of them grieves me yet.

58 Attentive to their cry my teacher paus’d,

59 And turn’d to me his visage, and then spake;

60 “Wait now! our courtesy these merit well:

61 And were ’t not for the nature of the place,

62 Whence glide the fiery darts, I should have said,

63 That haste had better suited thee than them.”

64 They, when we stopp’d, resum’d their ancient wail,

65 And soon as they had reach’d us, all the three

66 Whirl’d round together in one restless wheel.

67 As naked champions, smear’d with slippery oil,

68 Are wont intent to watch their place of hold

69 And vantage, ere in closer strife they meet;

70 Thus each one, as he wheel’d, his countenance

71 At me directed, so that opposite

72 The neck mov’d ever to the twinkling feet.

73 “If misery of this drear wilderness,”

74 Thus one began, “added to our sad cheer

75 And destitute, do call forth scorn on us

76 And our entreaties, let our great renown

77 Incline thee to inform us who thou art,

78 That dost imprint with living feet unharm’d

79 The soil of Hell. He, in whose track thou see’st

80 My steps pursuing, naked though he be

81 And reft of all, was of more high estate

82 Than thou believest; grandchild of the chaste

83 Gualdrada, him they Guidoguerra call’d,

84 Who in his lifetime many a noble act

85 Achiev’d, both by his wisdom and his sword.

86 The other, next to me that beats the sand,

87 Is Aldobrandi, name deserving well,

88 In the upper world, of honour; and myself

89 Who in this torment do partake with them,

90 Am Rusticucci, whom, past doubt, my wife

91 Of savage temper, more than aught beside

92 Hath to this evil brought.” If from the fire

93 I had been shelter’d, down amidst them straight

94 I then had cast me, nor my guide, I deem,

95 Would have restrain’d my going; but that fear

96 Of the dire burning vanquish’d the desire,

97 Which made me eager of their wish’d embrace.

98 I then began: “Not scorn, but grief much more,

99 Such as long time alone can cure, your doom

100 Fix’d deep within me, soon as this my lord

101 Spake words, whose tenour taught me to expect

102 That such a race, as ye are, was at hand.

103 I am a countryman of yours, who still

104 Affectionate have utter’d, and have heard

105 Your deeds and names renown’d. Leaving the gall

106 For the sweet fruit I go, that a sure guide

107 Hath promis’d to me. But behooves, that far

108 As to the centre first I downward tend.”

109 “So may long space thy spirit guide thy limbs,”

110 He answer straight return’d; “and so thy fame

111 Shine bright, when thou art gone; as thou shalt tell,

112 If courtesy and valour, as they wont,

113 Dwell in our city, or have vanish’d clean?

114 For one amidst us late condemn’d to wail,

115 Borsiere, yonder walking with his peers,

116 Grieves us no little by the news he brings.”

117 “An upstart multitude and sudden gains,

118 Pride and excess, O Florence! have in thee

119 Engender’d, so that now in tears thou mourn’st!”

120 Thus cried I with my face uprais’d, and they

121 All three, who for an answer took my words,

122 Look’d at each other, as men look when truth

123 Comes to their ear. “If thou at other times,”

124 They all at once rejoin’d, “so easily

125 Satisfy those, who question, happy thou,

126 Gifted with words, so apt to speak thy thought!

127 Wherefore if thou escape this darksome clime,

128 Returning to behold the radiant stars,

129 When thou with pleasure shalt retrace the past,

130 See that of us thou speak among mankind.”

131 This said, they broke the circle, and so swift

132 Fled, that as pinions seem’d their nimble feet.

133 Not in so short a time might one have said

134 “Amen,” as they had vanish’d. Straight my guide

135 Pursu’d his track. I follow’d; and small space

136 Had we pass’d onward, when the water’s sound

137 Was now so near at hand, that we had scarce

138 Heard one another’s speech for the loud din.

139 E’en as the river, that holds on its course

140 Unmingled, from the mount of Vesulo,

141 On the left side of Apennine, toward

142 The east, which Acquacheta higher up

143 They call, ere it descend into the vale,

144 At Forli by that name no longer known,

145 Rebellows o’er Saint Benedict, roll’d on

146 From the Alpine summit down a precipice,

147 Where space enough to lodge a thousand spreads;

148 Thus downward from a craggy steep we found,

149 That this dark wave resounded, roaring loud,

150 So that the ear its clamour soon had stunn’d.

151 I had a cord that brac’d my girdle round,

152 Wherewith I erst had thought fast bound to take

153 The painted leopard. This when I had all

154 Unloosen’d from me (so my master bade)

155 I gather’d up, and stretch’d it forth to him.

156 Then to the right he turn’d, and from the brink

157 Standing few paces distant, cast it down

158 Into the deep abyss. “And somewhat strange,”

159 Thus to myself I spake, “signal so strange

160 Betokens, which my guide with earnest eye

161 Thus follows.” Ah! what caution must men use

162 With those who look not at the deed alone,

163 But spy into the thoughts with subtle skill!

164 “Quickly shall come,” he said, “what I expect,

165 Thine eye discover quickly, that whereof

166 Thy thought is dreaming.” Ever to that truth,

167 Which but the semblance of a falsehood wears,

168 A man, if possible, should bar his lip;

169 Since, although blameless, he incurs reproach.

170 But silence here were vain; and by these notes

171 Which now I sing, reader! I swear to thee,

172 So may they favour find to latest times!

173 That through the gross and murky air I spied

174 A shape come swimming up, that might have quell’d

175 The stoutest heart with wonder, in such guise

176 As one returns, who hath been down to loose

177 An anchor grappled fast against some rock,

178 Or to aught else that in the salt wave lies,

179 Who upward springing close draws in his feet.

INFERNO · CANTO XVII

49 “Lo! the fell monster with the deadly sting!

50 Who passes mountains, breaks through fenced walls

51 And firm embattled spears, and with his filth

52 Taints all the world!” Thus me my guide address’d,

53 And beckon’d him, that he should come to shore,

54 Near to the stony causeway’s utmost edge.

55 Forthwith that image vile of fraud appear’d,

56 His head and upper part expos’d on land,

57 But laid not on the shore his bestial train.

58 His face the semblance of a just man’s wore,

59 So kind and gracious was its outward cheer;

60 The rest was serpent all: two shaggy claws

61 Reach’d to the armpits, and the back and breast,

62 And either side, were painted o’er with nodes

63 And orbits. Colours variegated more

64 Nor Turks nor Tartars e’er on cloth of state

65 With interchangeable embroidery wove,

66 Nor spread Arachne o’er her curious loom.

67 As ofttimes a light skiff, moor’d to the shore,

68 Stands part in water, part upon the land;

69 Or, as where dwells the greedy German boor,

70 The beaver settles watching for his prey;

71 So on the rim, that fenc’d the sand with rock,

72 Sat perch’d the fiend of evil. In the void

73 Glancing, his tail upturn’d its venomous fork,

74 With sting like scorpion’s arm’d. Then thus my guide:

75 “Now need our way must turn few steps apart,

76 Far as to that ill beast, who couches there.”

77 Thereat toward the right our downward course

78 We shap’d, and, better to escape the flame

79 And burning marle, ten paces on the verge

80 Proceeded. Soon as we to him arrive,

81 A little further on mine eye beholds

82 A tribe of spirits, seated on the sand

83 Near the wide chasm. Forthwith my master spake:

84 “That to the full thy knowledge may extend

85 Of all this round contains, go now, and mark

86 The mien these wear: but hold not long discourse.

87 Till thou returnest, I with him meantime

88 Will parley, that to us he may vouchsafe

89 The aid of his strong shoulders.” Thus alone

90 Yet forward on the extremity I pac’d

91 Of that seventh circle, where the mournful tribe

92 Were seated. At the eyes forth gush’d their pangs.

93 Against the vapours and the torrid soil

94 Alternately their shifting hands they plied.

95 Thus use the dogs in summer still to ply

96 Their jaws and feet by turns, when bitten sore

97 By gnats, or flies, or gadflies swarming round.

98 Noting the visages of some, who lay

99 Beneath the pelting of that dolorous fire,

100 One of them all I knew not; but perceiv’d,

101 That pendent from his neck each bore a pouch

102 With colours and with emblems various mark’d,

103 On which it seem’d as if their eye did feed.

104 And when amongst them looking round I came,

105 A yellow purse I saw with azure wrought,

106 That wore a lion’s countenance and port.

107 Then still my sight pursuing its career,

108 Another I beheld, than blood more red.

109 A goose display of whiter wing than curd.

110 And one, who bore a fat and azure swine

111 Pictur’d on his white scrip, addressed me thus:

112 “What dost thou in this deep? Go now and know,

113 Since yet thou livest, that my neighbour here

114 Vitaliano on my left shall sit.

115 A Paduan with these Florentines am I.

116 Ofttimes they thunder in mine ears, exclaiming

117 ‘O haste that noble knight! he who the pouch

118 With the three beaks will bring!’” This said, he writh’d

119 The mouth, and loll’d the tongue out, like an ox

120 That licks his nostrils. I, lest longer stay

121 He ill might brook, who bade me stay not long,

122 Backward my steps from those sad spirits turn’d.

123 My guide already seated on the haunch

124 Of the fierce animal I found; and thus

125 He me encourag’d. “Be thou stout; be bold.

126 Down such a steep flight must we now descend!

127 Mount thou before: for that no power the tail

128 May have to harm thee, I will be i’ th’ midst.”

129 As one, who hath an ague fit so near,

130 His nails already are turn’d blue, and he

131 Quivers all o’er, if he but eye the shade;

132 Such was my cheer at hearing of his words.

133 But shame soon interpos’d her threat, who makes

134 The servant bold in presence of his lord.

135 I settled me upon those shoulders huge,

136 And would have said, but that the words to aid

137 My purpose came not, “Look thou clasp me firm!”

138 But he whose succour then not first I prov’d,

139 Soon as I mounted, in his arms aloft,

140 Embracing, held me up, and thus he spake:

141 “Geryon! now move thee! be thy wheeling gyres

142 Of ample circuit, easy thy descent.

143 Think on th’ unusual burden thou sustain’st.”

144 As a small vessel, back’ning out from land,

145 Her station quits; so thence the monster loos’d,

146 And when he felt himself at large, turn’d round

147 There where the breast had been, his forked tail.

148 Thus, like an eel, outstretch’d at length he steer’d,

149 Gath’ring the air up with retractile claws.

150 Not greater was the dread when Phaeton

151 The reins let drop at random, whence high heaven,

152 Whereof signs yet appear, was wrapt in flames;

153 Nor when ill-fated Icarus perceiv’d,

154 By liquefaction of the scalded wax,

155 The trusted pennons loosen’d from his loins,

156 His sire exclaiming loud, “Ill way thou keep’st!”

157 Than was my dread, when round me on each part

158 The air I view’d, and other object none

159 Save the fell beast. He slowly sailing, wheels

160 His downward motion, unobserv’d of me,

161 But that the wind, arising to my face,

162 Breathes on me from below. Now on our right

163 I heard the cataract beneath us leap

164 With hideous crash; whence bending down to’ explore,

165 New terror I conceiv’d at the steep plunge:

166 For flames I saw, and wailings smote mine ear:

167 So that all trembling close I crouch’d my limbs,

168 And then distinguish’d, unperceiv’d before,

169 By the dread torments that on every side

170 Drew nearer, how our downward course we wound.

171 As falcon, that hath long been on the wing,

172 But lure nor bird hath seen, while in despair

173 The falconer cries, “Ah me! thou stoop’st to earth!”

174 Wearied descends, and swiftly down the sky

175 In many an orbit wheels, then lighting sits

176 At distance from his lord in angry mood;

177 So Geryon lighting places us on foot

178 Low down at base of the deep-furrow’d rock,

179 And, of his burden there discharg’d, forthwith

180 Sprang forward, like an arrow from the string.

INFERNO · CANTO XVIII

52 There is a place within the depths of hell

53 Call’d Malebolge, all of rock dark-stain’d

54 With hue ferruginous, e’en as the steep

55 That round it circling winds. Right in the midst

56 Of that abominable region, yawns

57 A spacious gulf profound, whereof the frame

58 Due time shall tell. The circle, that remains,

59 Throughout its round, between the gulf and base

60 Of the high craggy banks, successive forms

61 Ten trenches, in its hollow bottom sunk.

62 As where to guard the walls, full many a foss

63 Begirds some stately castle, sure defence

64 Affording to the space within, so here

65 Were model’d these; and as like fortresses

66 E’en from their threshold to the brink without,

67 Are flank’d with bridges; from the rock’s low base

68 Thus flinty paths advanc’d, that ’cross the moles

69 And dikes, struck onward far as to the gulf,

70 That in one bound collected cuts them off.

71 Such was the place, wherein we found ourselves

72 From Geryon’s back dislodg’d. The bard to left

73 Held on his way, and I behind him mov’d.

74 On our right hand new misery I saw,

75 New pains, new executioners of wrath,

76 That swarming peopled the first chasm. Below

77 Were naked sinners. Hitherward they came,

78 Meeting our faces from the middle point,

79 With us beyond but with a larger stride.

80 E’en thus the Romans, when the year returns

81 Of Jubilee, with better speed to rid

82 The thronging multitudes, their means devise

83 For such as pass the bridge; that on one side

84 All front toward the castle, and approach

85 Saint Peter’s fane, on th’ other towards the mount.

86 Each divers way along the grisly rock,

87 Horn’d demons I beheld, with lashes huge,

88 That on their back unmercifully smote.

89 Ah! how they made them bound at the first stripe!

90 None for the second waited nor the third.

91 Meantime as on I pass’d, one met my sight

92 Whom soon as view’d; “Of him,” cried I, “not yet

93 Mine eye hath had his fill.” With fixed gaze

94 I therefore scann’d him. Straight the teacher kind

95 Paus’d with me, and consented I should walk

96 Backward a space, and the tormented spirit,

97 Who thought to hide him, bent his visage down.

98 But it avail’d him nought; for I exclaim’d:

99 “Thou who dost cast thy eye upon the ground,

100 Unless thy features do belie thee much,

101 Venedico art thou. But what brings thee

102 Into this bitter seas’ning?” He replied:

103 “Unwillingly I answer to thy words.

104 But thy clear speech, that to my mind recalls

105 The world I once inhabited, constrains me.

106 Know then ’twas I who led fair Ghisola

107 To do the Marquis’ will, however fame

108 The shameful tale have bruited. Nor alone

109 Bologna hither sendeth me to mourn

110 Rather with us the place is so o’erthrong’d

111 That not so many tongues this day are taught,

112 Betwixt the Reno and Savena’s stream,

113 To answer SIPA in their country’s phrase.

114 And if of that securer proof thou need,

115 Remember but our craving thirst for gold.”

116 Him speaking thus, a demon with his thong

117 Struck, and exclaim’d, “Away! corrupter! here

118 Women are none for sale.” Forthwith I join’d

119 My escort, and few paces thence we came

120 To where a rock forth issued from the bank.

121 That easily ascended, to the right

122 Upon its splinter turning, we depart

123 From those eternal barriers. When arriv’d,

124 Where underneath the gaping arch lets pass

125 The scourged souls: “Pause here,” the teacher said,

126 “And let these others miserable, now

127 Strike on thy ken, faces not yet beheld,

128 For that together they with us have walk’d.”

129 From the old bridge we ey’d the pack, who came

130 From th’ other side towards us, like the rest,

131 Excoriate from the lash. My gentle guide,

132 By me unquestion’d, thus his speech resum’d:

133 “Behold that lofty shade, who this way tends,

134 And seems too woe-begone to drop a tear.

135 How yet the regal aspect he retains!

136 Jason is he, whose skill and prowess won

137 The ram from Colchos. To the Lemnian isle

138 His passage thither led him, when those bold

139 And pitiless women had slain all their males.

140 There he with tokens and fair witching words

141 Hypsipyle beguil’d, a virgin young,

142 Who first had all the rest herself beguil’d.

143 Impregnated he left her there forlorn.

144 Such is the guilt condemns him to this pain.

145 Here too Medea’s inj’ries are avenged.

146 All bear him company, who like deceit

147 To his have practis’d. And thus much to know

148 Of the first vale suffice thee, and of those

149 Whom its keen torments urge.” Now had we come

150 Where, crossing the next pier, the straighten’d path

151 Bestrides its shoulders to another arch.

152 Hence in the second chasm we heard the ghosts,

153 Who jibber in low melancholy sounds,

154 With wide-stretch’d nostrils snort, and on themselves

155 Smite with their palms. Upon the banks a scurf

156 From the foul steam condens’d, encrusting hung,

157 That held sharp combat with the sight and smell.

158 So hollow is the depth, that from no part,

159 Save on the summit of the rocky span,

160 Could I distinguish aught. Thus far we came;

161 And thence I saw, within the foss below,

162 A crowd immers’d in ordure, that appear’d

163 Draff of the human body. There beneath

164 Searching with eye inquisitive, I mark’d

165 One with his head so grim’d, ’twere hard to deem,

166 If he were clerk or layman. Loud he cried:

167 “Why greedily thus bendest more on me,

168 Than on these other filthy ones, thy ken?”

169 “Because if true my mem’ry,” I replied,

170 “I heretofore have seen thee with dry locks,

171 And thou Alessio art of Lucca sprung.

172 Therefore than all the rest I scan thee more.”

173 Then beating on his brain these words he spake:

174 “Me thus low down my flatteries have sunk,

175 Wherewith I ne’er enough could glut my tongue.”

176 My leader thus: “A little further stretch

177 Thy face, that thou the visage well mayst note

178 Of that besotted, sluttish courtezan,

179 Who there doth rend her with defiled nails,

180 Now crouching down, now risen on her feet.

181 “Thais is this, the harlot, whose false lip

182 Answer’d her doting paramour that ask’d,

183 ‘Thankest me much!’—‘Say rather wondrously,’

184 And seeing this here satiate be our view.”

INFERNO · CANTO XIX

55 Woe to thee, Simon Magus! woe to you,

56 His wretched followers! who the things of God,

57 Which should be wedded unto goodness, them,

58 Rapacious as ye are, do prostitute

59 For gold and silver in adultery!

60 Now must the trumpet sound for you, since yours

61 Is the third chasm. Upon the following vault

62 We now had mounted, where the rock impends

63 Directly o’er the centre of the foss.

64 Wisdom Supreme! how wonderful the art,

65 Which thou dost manifest in heaven, in earth,

66 And in the evil world, how just a meed

67 Allotting by thy virtue unto all!

68 I saw the livid stone, throughout the sides

69 And in its bottom full of apertures,

70 All equal in their width, and circular each,

71 Nor ample less nor larger they appear’d

72 Than in Saint John’s fair dome of me belov’d

73 Those fram’d to hold the pure baptismal streams,

74 One of the which I brake, some few years past,

75 To save a whelming infant; and be this

76 A seal to undeceive whoever doubts

77 The motive of my deed. From out the mouth

78 Of every one, emerg’d a sinner’s feet

79 And of the legs high upward as the calf

80 The rest beneath was hid. On either foot

81 The soles were burning, whence the flexile joints

82 Glanc’d with such violent motion, as had snapt

83 Asunder cords or twisted withs. As flame,

84 Feeding on unctuous matter, glides along

85 The surface, scarcely touching where it moves;

86 So here, from heel to point, glided the flames.

87 “Master! say who is he, than all the rest

88 Glancing in fiercer agony, on whom

89 A ruddier flame doth prey?” I thus inquir’d.

90 “If thou be willing,” he replied, “that I

91 Carry thee down, where least the slope bank falls,

92 He of himself shall tell thee and his wrongs.”

93 I then: “As pleases thee to me is best.

94 Thou art my lord; and know’st that ne’er I quit

95 Thy will: what silence hides that knowest thou.”

96 Thereat on the fourth pier we came, we turn’d,

97 And on our left descended to the depth,

98 A narrow strait and perforated close.

99 Nor from his side my leader set me down,

100 Till to his orifice he brought, whose limb

101 Quiv’ring express’d his pang. “Whoe’er thou art,

102 Sad spirit! thus revers’d, and as a stake

103 Driv’n in the soil!” I in these words began,

104 “If thou be able, utter forth thy voice.”

105 There stood I like the friar, that doth shrive

106 A wretch for murder doom’d, who e’en when fix’d,

107 Calleth him back, whence death awhile delays.

108 He shouted: “Ha! already standest there?

109 Already standest there, O Boniface!

110 By many a year the writing play’d me false.

111 So early dost thou surfeit with the wealth,

112 For which thou fearedst not in guile to take

113 The lovely lady, and then mangle her?”

114 I felt as those who, piercing not the drift

115 Of answer made them, stand as if expos’d

116 In mockery, nor know what to reply,

117 When Virgil thus admonish’d: “Tell him quick,

118 I am not he, not he, whom thou believ’st.”

119 And I, as was enjoin’d me, straight replied.

120 That heard, the spirit all did wrench his feet,

121 And sighing next in woeful accent spake:

122 “What then of me requirest?” “If to know

123 So much imports thee, who I am, that thou

124 Hast therefore down the bank descended, learn

125 That in the mighty mantle I was rob’d,

126 And of a she-bear was indeed the son,

127 So eager to advance my whelps, that there

128 My having in my purse above I stow’d,

129 And here myself. Under my head are dragg’d

130 The rest, my predecessors in the guilt

131 Of simony. Stretch’d at their length they lie

132 Along an opening in the rock. ’Midst them

133 I also low shall fall, soon as he comes,

134 For whom I took thee, when so hastily

135 I question’d. But already longer time

136 Hath pass’d, since my souls kindled, and I thus

137 Upturn’d have stood, than is his doom to stand

138 Planted with fiery feet. For after him,

139 One yet of deeds more ugly shall arrive,

140 From forth the west, a shepherd without law,

141 Fated to cover both his form and mine.

142 He a new Jason shall be call’d, of whom

143 In Maccabees we read; and favour such

144 As to that priest his king indulgent show’d,

145 Shall be of France’s monarch shown to him.”

146 I know not if I here too far presum’d,

147 But in this strain I answer’d: “Tell me now,

148 What treasures from St. Peter at the first

149 Our Lord demanded, when he put the keys

150 Into his charge? Surely he ask’d no more

151 But, Follow me! Nor Peter nor the rest

152 Or gold or silver of Matthias took,

153 When lots were cast upon the forfeit place

154 Of the condemned soul. Abide thou then;

155 Thy punishment of right is merited:

156 And look thou well to that ill-gotten coin,

157 Which against Charles thy hardihood inspir’d.

158 If reverence of the keys restrain’d me not,

159 Which thou in happier time didst hold, I yet

160 Severer speech might use. Your avarice

161 O’ercasts the world with mourning, under foot

162 Treading the good, and raising bad men up.

163 Of shepherds, like to you, th’ Evangelist

164 Was ware, when her, who sits upon the waves,

165 With kings in filthy whoredom he beheld,

166 She who with seven heads tower’d at her birth,

167 And from ten horns her proof of glory drew,

168 Long as her spouse in virtue took delight.

169 Of gold and silver ye have made your god,

170 Diff’ring wherein from the idolater,

171 But he that worships one, a hundred ye?

172 Ah, Constantine! to how much ill gave birth,

173 Not thy conversion, but that plenteous dower,

174 Which the first wealthy Father gain’d from thee!”

175 Meanwhile, as thus I sung, he, whether wrath

176 Or conscience smote him, violent upsprang

177 Spinning on either sole. I do believe

178 My teacher well was pleas’d, with so compos’d

179 A lip, he listen’d ever to the sound

180 Of the true words I utter’d. In both arms

181 He caught, and to his bosom lifting me

182 Upward retrac’d the way of his descent.

183 Nor weary of his weight he press’d me close,

184 Till to the summit of the rock we came,

185 Our passage from the fourth to the fifth pier.

186 His cherish’d burden there gently he plac’d

187 Upon the rugged rock and steep, a path

188 Not easy for the clamb’ring goat to mount.

189 Thence to my view another vale appear’d

INFERNO · CANTO XX

58 And now the verse proceeds to torments new,

59 Fit argument of this the twentieth strain

60 Of the first song, whose awful theme records

61 The spirits whelm’d in woe. Earnest I look’d

62 Into the depth, that open’d to my view,

63 Moisten’d with tears of anguish, and beheld

64 A tribe, that came along the hollow vale,

65 In silence weeping: such their step as walk

66 Quires chanting solemn litanies on earth.

67 As on them more direct mine eye descends,

68 Each wondrously seem’d to be revers’d

69 At the neck-bone, so that the countenance

70 Was from the reins averted: and because

71 None might before him look, they were compell’d

72 To’ advance with backward gait. Thus one perhaps

73 Hath been by force of palsy clean transpos’d,

74 But I ne’er saw it nor believe it so.

75 Now, reader! think within thyself, so God

76 Fruit of thy reading give thee! how I long

77 Could keep my visage dry, when I beheld

78 Near me our form distorted in such guise,

79 That on the hinder parts fall’n from the face

80 The tears down-streaming roll’d. Against a rock

81 I leant and wept, so that my guide exclaim’d:

82 “What, and art thou too witless as the rest?

83 Here pity most doth show herself alive,

84 When she is dead. What guilt exceedeth his,

85 Who with Heaven’s judgment in his passion strives?

86 Raise up thy head, raise up, and see the man,

87 Before whose eyes earth gap’d in Thebes, when all

88 Cried out, ‘Amphiaraus, whither rushest?

89 ‘Why leavest thou the war?’ He not the less

90 Fell ruining far as to Minos down,

91 Whose grapple none eludes. Lo! how he makes

92 The breast his shoulders, and who once too far

93 Before him wish’d to see, now backward looks,

94 And treads reverse his path. Tiresias note,

95 Who semblance chang’d, when woman he became

96 Of male, through every limb transform’d, and then

97 Once more behov’d him with his rod to strike

98 The two entwining serpents, ere the plumes,

99 That mark’d the better sex, might shoot again.

100 “Aruns, with more his belly facing, comes.

101 On Luni’s mountains ’midst the marbles white,

102 Where delves Carrara’s hind, who wons beneath,

103 A cavern was his dwelling, whence the stars

104 And main-sea wide in boundless view he held.

105 “The next, whose loosen’d tresses overspread

106 Her bosom, which thou seest not (for each hair

107 On that side grows) was Manto, she who search’d

108 Through many regions, and at length her seat

109 Fix’d in my native land, whence a short space

110 My words detain thy audience. When her sire

111 From life departed, and in servitude

112 The city dedicate to Bacchus mourn’d,

113 Long time she went a wand’rer through the world.

114 Aloft in Italy’s delightful land

115 A lake there lies, at foot of that proud Alp,

116 That o’er the Tyrol locks Germania in,

117 Its name Benacus, which a thousand rills,

118 Methinks, and more, water between the vale

119 Camonica and Garda and the height

120 Of Apennine remote. There is a spot

121 At midway of that lake, where he who bears

122 Of Trento’s flock the past’ral staff, with him

123 Of Brescia, and the Veronese, might each

124 Passing that way his benediction give.

125 A garrison of goodly site and strong

126 Peschiera stands, to awe with front oppos’d

127 The Bergamese and Brescian, whence the shore

128 More slope each way descends. There, whatsoev’er

129 Benacus’ bosom holds not, tumbling o’er

130 Down falls, and winds a river flood beneath

131 Through the green pastures. Soon as in his course

132 The steam makes head, Benacus then no more

133 They call the name, but Mincius, till at last

134 Reaching Governo into Po he falls.

135 Not far his course hath run, when a wide flat

136 It finds, which overstretchmg as a marsh

137 It covers, pestilent in summer oft.

138 Hence journeying, the savage maiden saw

139 ’Midst of the fen a territory waste

140 And naked of inhabitants. To shun

141 All human converse, here she with her slaves

142 Plying her arts remain’d, and liv’d, and left

143 Her body tenantless. Thenceforth the tribes,

144 Who round were scatter’d, gath’ring to that place

145 Assembled; for its strength was great, enclos’d

146 On all parts by the fen. On those dead bones

147 They rear’d themselves a city, for her sake,

148 Calling it Mantua, who first chose the spot,

149 Nor ask’d another omen for the name,

150 Wherein more numerous the people dwelt,

151 Ere Casalodi’s madness by deceit

152 Was wrong’d of Pinamonte. If thou hear

153 Henceforth another origin assign’d

154 Of that my country, I forewarn thee now,

155 That falsehood none beguile thee of the truth.”

156 I answer’d: “Teacher, I conclude thy words

157 So certain, that all else shall be to me

158 As embers lacking life. But now of these,

159 Who here proceed, instruct me, if thou see

160 Any that merit more especial note.

161 For thereon is my mind alone intent.”

162 He straight replied: “That spirit, from whose cheek

163 The beard sweeps o’er his shoulders brown, what time

164 Graecia was emptied of her males, that scarce

165 The cradles were supplied, the seer was he

166 In Aulis, who with Calchas gave the sign

167 When first to cut the cable. Him they nam’d

168 Eurypilus: so sings my tragic strain,

169 In which majestic measure well thou know’st,

170 Who know’st it all. That other, round the loins

171 So slender of his shape, was Michael Scot,

172 Practis’d in ev’ry slight of magic wile.

173 “Guido Bonatti see: Asdente mark,

174 Who now were willing, he had tended still

175 The thread and cordwain; and too late repents.

176 “See next the wretches, who the needle left,

177 The shuttle and the spindle, and became

178 Diviners: baneful witcheries they wrought

179 With images and herbs. But onward now:

180 For now doth Cain with fork of thorns confine

181 On either hemisphere, touching the wave

182 Beneath the towers of Seville. Yesternight

183 The moon was round. Thou mayst remember well:

184 For she good service did thee in the gloom

185 Of the deep wood.” This said, both onward mov’d.

INFERNO · CANTO XXI

61 Thus we from bridge to bridge, with other talk,

62 The which my drama cares not to rehearse,

63 Pass’d on; and to the summit reaching, stood

64 To view another gap, within the round

65 Of Malebolge, other bootless pangs.

66 Marvelous darkness shadow’d o’er the place.

67 In the Venetians’ arsenal as boils

68 Through wintry months tenacious pitch, to smear

69 Their unsound vessels; for th’ inclement time

70 Sea-faring men restrains, and in that while

71 His bark one builds anew, another stops

72 The ribs of his, that hath made many a voyage;

73 One hammers at the prow, one at the poop;

74 This shapeth oars, that other cables twirls,

75 The mizen one repairs and main-sail rent

76 So not by force of fire but art divine

77 Boil’d here a glutinous thick mass, that round

78 Lim’d all the shore beneath. I that beheld,

79 But therein nought distinguish’d, save the surge,

80 Rais’d by the boiling, in one mighty swell

81 Heave, and by turns subsiding and fall. While there

82 I fix’d my ken below, “Mark! mark!” my guide

83 Exclaiming, drew me towards him from the place,

84 Wherein I stood. I turn’d myself as one,

85 Impatient to behold that which beheld

86 He needs must shun, whom sudden fear unmans,

87 That he his flight delays not for the view.

88 Behind me I discern’d a devil black,

89 That running, up advanc’d along the rock.

90 Ah! what fierce cruelty his look bespake!

91 In act how bitter did he seem, with wings

92 Buoyant outstretch’d and feet of nimblest tread!

93 His shoulder proudly eminent and sharp

94 Was with a sinner charg’d; by either haunch

95 He held him, the foot’s sinew griping fast.

96 “Ye of our bridge!” he cried, “keen-talon’d fiends!

97 Lo! one of Santa Zita’s elders! Him

98 Whelm ye beneath, while I return for more.

99 That land hath store of such. All men are there,

100 Except Bonturo, barterers: of ‘no’

101 For lucre there an ‘aye’ is quickly made.”

102 Him dashing down, o’er the rough rock he turn’d,

103 Nor ever after thief a mastiff loos’d

104 Sped with like eager haste. That other sank

105 And forthwith writhing to the surface rose.

106 But those dark demons, shrouded by the bridge,

107 Cried “Here the hallow’d visage saves not: here

108 Is other swimming than in Serchio’s wave.

109 Wherefore if thou desire we rend thee not,

110 Take heed thou mount not o’er the pitch.” This said,

111 They grappled him with more than hundred hooks,

112 And shouted: “Cover’d thou must sport thee here;

113 So, if thou canst, in secret mayst thou filch.”

114 E’en thus the cook bestirs him, with his grooms,

115 To thrust the flesh into the caldron down

116 With flesh-hooks, that it float not on the top.

117 Me then my guide bespake: “Lest they descry,

118 That thou art here, behind a craggy rock

119 Bend low and screen thee; and whate’er of force

120 Be offer’d me, or insult, fear thou not:

121 For I am well advis’d, who have been erst

122 In the like fray.” Beyond the bridge’s head

123 Therewith he pass’d, and reaching the sixth pier,

124 Behov’d him then a forehead terror-proof.

125 With storm and fury, as when dogs rush forth

126 Upon the poor man’s back, who suddenly

127 From whence he standeth makes his suit; so rush’d

128 Those from beneath the arch, and against him

129 Their weapons all they pointed. He aloud:

130 “Be none of you outrageous: ere your time

131 Dare seize me, come forth from amongst you one,

132 “Who having heard my words, decide he then

133 If he shall tear these limbs.” They shouted loud,

134 “Go, Malacoda!” Whereat one advanc’d,

135 The others standing firm, and as he came,

136 “What may this turn avail him?” he exclaim’d.

137 “Believ’st thou, Malacoda! I had come

138 Thus far from all your skirmishing secure,”

139 My teacher answered, “without will divine

140 And destiny propitious? Pass we then

141 For so Heaven’s pleasure is, that I should lead

142 Another through this savage wilderness.”

143 Forthwith so fell his pride, that he let drop

144 The instrument of torture at his feet,

145 And to the rest exclaim’d: “We have no power

146 To strike him.” Then to me my guide: “O thou!

147 Who on the bridge among the crags dost sit

148 Low crouching, safely now to me return.”

149 I rose, and towards him moved with speed: the fiends

150 Meantime all forward drew: me terror seiz’d

151 Lest they should break the compact they had made.

152 Thus issuing from Caprona, once I saw

153 Th’ infantry dreading, lest his covenant

154 The foe should break; so close he hemm’d them round.

155 I to my leader’s side adher’d, mine eyes

156 With fixt and motionless observance bent

157 On their unkindly visage. They their hooks

158 Protruding, one the other thus bespake:

159 “Wilt thou I touch him on the hip?” To whom

160 Was answer’d: “Even so; nor miss thy aim.”

161 But he, who was in conf’rence with my guide,

162 Turn’d rapid round, and thus the demon spake:

163 “Stay, stay thee, Scarmiglione!” Then to us

164 He added: “Further footing to your step

165 This rock affords not, shiver’d to the base

166 Of the sixth arch. But would you still proceed,

167 Up by this cavern go: not distant far,

168 Another rock will yield you passage safe.

169 Yesterday, later by five hours than now,

170 Twelve hundred threescore years and six had fill’d

171 The circuit of their course, since here the way

172 Was broken. Thitherward I straight dispatch

173 Certain of these my scouts, who shall espy

174 If any on the surface bask. With them

175 Go ye: for ye shall find them nothing fell.

176 Come Alichino forth,” with that he cried,

177 “And Calcabrina, and Cagnazzo thou!

178 The troop of ten let Barbariccia lead.

179 With Libicocco Draghinazzo haste,

180 Fang’d Ciriatto, Grafflacane fierce,

181 And Farfarello, and mad Rubicant.

182 Search ye around the bubbling tar. For these,

183 In safety lead them, where the other crag

184 Uninterrupted traverses the dens.”

185 I then: “O master! what a sight is there!

186 Ah! without escort, journey we alone,

187 Which, if thou know the way, I covet not.

188 Unless thy prudence fail thee, dost not mark

189 How they do gnarl upon us, and their scowl

190 Threatens us present tortures?” He replied:

191 “I charge thee fear not: let them, as they will,

192 Gnarl on: ’t is but in token of their spite

193 Against the souls, who mourn in torment steep’d.”

194 To leftward o’er the pier they turn’d; but each

195 Had first between his teeth prest close the tongue,

196 Toward their leader for a signal looking,

197 Which he with sound obscene triumphant gave.

INFERNO · CANTO XXII

64 It hath been heretofore my chance to see

65 Horsemen with martial order shifting camp,

66 To onset sallying, or in muster rang’d,

67 Or in retreat sometimes outstretch’d for flight;

68 Light-armed squadrons and fleet foragers

69 Scouring thy plains, Arezzo! have I seen,

70 And clashing tournaments, and tilting jousts,

71 Now with the sound of trumpets, now of bells,

72 Tabors, or signals made from castled heights,

73 And with inventions multiform, our own,

74 Or introduc’d from foreign land; but ne’er

75 To such a strange recorder I beheld,

76 In evolution moving, horse nor foot,

77 Nor ship, that tack’d by sign from land or star.

78 With the ten demons on our way we went;

79 Ah fearful company! but in the church

80 With saints, with gluttons at the tavern’s mess.

81 Still earnest on the pitch I gaz’d, to mark

82 All things whate’er the chasm contain’d, and those

83 Who burn’d within. As dolphins, that, in sign

84 To mariners, heave high their arched backs,

85 That thence forewarn’d they may advise to save

86 Their threaten’d vessels; so, at intervals,

87 To ease the pain his back some sinner show’d,

88 Then hid more nimbly than the lightning glance.

89 E’en as the frogs, that of a wat’ry moat

90 Stand at the brink, with the jaws only out,

91 Their feet and of the trunk all else concealed,

92 Thus on each part the sinners stood, but soon

93 As Barbariccia was at hand, so they

94 Drew back under the wave. I saw, and yet

95 My heart doth stagger, one, that waited thus,

96 As it befalls that oft one frog remains,

97 While the next springs away: and Graffiacan,

98 Who of the fiends was nearest, grappling seiz’d

99 His clotted locks, and dragg’d him sprawling up,

100 That he appear’d to me an otter. Each

101 Already by their names I knew, so well

102 When they were chosen, I observ’d, and mark’d

103 How one the other call’d. “O Rubicant!

104 See that his hide thou with thy talons flay,”

105 Shouted together all the cursed crew.

106 Then I: “Inform thee, master! if thou may,

107 What wretched soul is this, on whom their hand

108 His foes have laid.” My leader to his side

109 Approach’d, and whence he came inquir’d, to whom

110 Was answer’d thus: “Born in Navarre’s domain

111 My mother plac’d me in a lord’s retinue,

112 For she had borne me to a losel vile,

113 A spendthrift of his substance and himself.

114 The good king Thibault after that I serv’d,

115 To peculating here my thoughts were turn’d,

116 Whereof I give account in this dire heat.”

117 Straight Ciriatto, from whose mouth a tusk

118 Issued on either side, as from a boar,

119 Ript him with one of these. ’Twixt evil claws

120 The mouse had fall’n: but Barbariccia cried,

121 Seizing him with both arms: “Stand thou apart,

122 While I do fix him on my prong transpierc’d.”

123 Then added, turning to my guide his face,

124 “Inquire of him, if more thou wish to learn,

125 Ere he again be rent.” My leader thus:

126 “Then tell us of the partners in thy guilt;

127 Knowest thou any sprung of Latian land

128 Under the tar?”—“I parted,” he replied,

129 “But now from one, who sojourn’d not far thence;

130 So were I under shelter now with him!

131 Nor hook nor talon then should scare me more.”—.

132 “Too long we suffer,” Libicocco cried,

133 Then, darting forth a prong, seiz’d on his arm,

134 And mangled bore away the sinewy part.

135 Him Draghinazzo by his thighs beneath

136 Would next have caught, whence angrily their chief,

137 Turning on all sides round, with threat’ning brow

138 Restrain’d them. When their strife a little ceas’d,

139 Of him, who yet was gazing on his wound,

140 My teacher thus without delay inquir’d:

141 “Who was the spirit, from whom by evil hap

142 Parting, as thou has told, thou cam’st to shore?”—

143 “It was the friar Gomita,” he rejoin’d,

144 “He of Gallura, vessel of all guile,

145 Who had his master’s enemies in hand,

146 And us’d them so that they commend him well.

147 Money he took, and them at large dismiss’d.

148 So he reports: and in each other charge

149 Committed to his keeping, play’d the part

150 Of barterer to the height: with him doth herd

151 The chief of Logodoro, Michel Zanche.

152 Sardinia is a theme, whereof their tongue

153 Is never weary. Out! alas! behold

154 That other, how he grins! More would I say,

155 But tremble lest he mean to maul me sore.”

156 Their captain then to Farfarello turning,

157 Who roll’d his moony eyes in act to strike,

158 Rebuk’d him thus: “Off! cursed bird! Avaunt!”—

159 “If ye desire to see or hear,” he thus

160 Quaking with dread resum’d, “or Tuscan spirits

161 Or Lombard, I will cause them to appear.

162 Meantime let these ill talons bate their fury,

163 So that no vengeance they may fear from them,

164 And I, remaining in this self-same place,

165 Will for myself but one, make sev’n appear,

166 When my shrill whistle shall be heard; for so

167 Our custom is to call each other up.”

168 Cagnazzo at that word deriding grinn’d,

169 Then wagg’d the head and spake: “Hear his device,

170 Mischievous as he is, to plunge him down.”

171 Whereto he thus, who fail’d not in rich store

172 Of nice-wove toils; “Mischief forsooth extreme,

173 Meant only to procure myself more woe!”

174 No longer Alichino then refrain’d,

175 But thus, the rest gainsaying, him bespake:

176 “If thou do cast thee down, I not on foot

177 Will chase thee, but above the pitch will beat

178 My plumes. Quit we the vantage ground, and let

179 The bank be as a shield, that we may see

180 If singly thou prevail against us all.”

181 Now, reader, of new sport expect to hear!

182 They each one turn’d his eyes to the other shore,

183 He first, who was the hardest to persuade.

184 The spirit of Navarre chose well his time,

185 Planted his feet on land, and at one leap

186 Escaping disappointed their resolve.

187 Them quick resentment stung, but him the most,

188 Who was the cause of failure; in pursuit

189 He therefore sped, exclaiming: “Thou art caught.”

190 But little it avail’d: terror outstripp’d

191 His following flight: the other plung’d beneath,

192 And he with upward pinion rais’d his breast:

193 E’en thus the water-fowl, when she perceives

194 The falcon near, dives instant down, while he

195 Enrag’d and spent retires. That mockery

196 In Calcabrina fury stirr’d, who flew

197 After him, with desire of strife inflam’d;

198 And, for the barterer had ’scap’d, so turn’d

199 His talons on his comrade. O’er the dyke

200 In grapple close they join’d; but the other prov’d

201 A goshawk able to rend well his foe;

202 And in the boiling lake both fell. The heat

203 Was umpire soon between them, but in vain

204 To lift themselves they strove, so fast were glued

205 Their pennons. Barbariccia, as the rest,

206 That chance lamenting, four in flight dispatch’d

207 From the other coast, with all their weapons arm’d.

208 They, to their post on each side speedily

209 Descending, stretch’d their hooks toward the fiends,

210 Who flounder’d, inly burning from their scars:

211 And we departing left them to that broil.

INFERNO · CANTO XXIII

67 In silence and in solitude we went,

68 One first, the other following his steps,

69 As minor friars journeying on their road.

70 The present fray had turn’d my thoughts to muse

71 Upon old Aesop’s fable, where he told

72 What fate unto the mouse and frog befell.

73 For language hath not sounds more like in sense,

74 Than are these chances, if the origin

75 And end of each be heedfully compar’d.

76 And as one thought bursts from another forth,

77 So afterward from that another sprang,

78 Which added doubly to my former fear.

79 For thus I reason’d: “These through us have been

80 So foil’d, with loss and mock’ry so complete,

81 As needs must sting them sore. If anger then

82 Be to their evil will conjoin’d, more fell

83 They shall pursue us, than the savage hound

84 Snatches the leveret, panting ’twixt his jaws.”

85 Already I perceiv’d my hair stand all

86 On end with terror, and look’d eager back.

87 “Teacher,” I thus began, “if speedily

88 Thyself and me thou hide not, much I dread

89 Those evil talons. Even now behind

90 They urge us: quick imagination works

91 So forcibly, that I already feel them.”

92 He answer’d: “Were I form’d of leaded glass,

93 I should not sooner draw unto myself

94 Thy outward image, than I now imprint

95 That from within. This moment came thy thoughts

96 Presented before mine, with similar act

97 And count’nance similar, so that from both

98 I one design have fram’d. If the right coast

99 Incline so much, that we may thence descend

100 Into the other chasm, we shall escape

101 Secure from this imagined pursuit.”

102 He had not spoke his purpose to the end,

103 When I from far beheld them with spread wings

104 Approach to take us. Suddenly my guide

105 Caught me, ev’n as a mother that from sleep

106 Is by the noise arous’d, and near her sees

107 The climbing fires, who snatches up her babe

108 And flies ne’er pausing, careful more of him

109 Than of herself, that but a single vest

110 Clings round her limbs. Down from the jutting beach

111 Supine he cast him, to that pendent rock,

112 Which closes on one part the other chasm.

113 Never ran water with such hurrying pace

114 Adown the tube to turn a landmill’s wheel,

115 When nearest it approaches to the spokes,

116 As then along that edge my master ran,

117 Carrying me in his bosom, as a child,

118 Not a companion. Scarcely had his feet

119 Reach’d to the lowest of the bed beneath,

120 When over us the steep they reach’d; but fear

121 In him was none; for that high Providence,

122 Which plac’d them ministers of the fifth foss,

123 Power of departing thence took from them all.

124 There in the depth we saw a painted tribe,

125 Who pac’d with tardy steps around, and wept,

126 Faint in appearance and o’ercome with toil.

127 Caps had they on, with hoods, that fell low down

128 Before their eyes, in fashion like to those

129 Worn by the monks in Cologne. Their outside

130 Was overlaid with gold, dazzling to view,

131 But leaden all within, and of such weight,

132 That Frederick’s compar’d to these were straw.

133 Oh, everlasting wearisome attire!

134 We yet once more with them together turn’d

135 To leftward, on their dismal moan intent.

136 But by the weight oppress’d, so slowly came

137 The fainting people, that our company

138 Was chang’d at every movement of the step.

139 Whence I my guide address’d: “See that thou find

140 Some spirit, whose name may by his deeds be known,

141 And to that end look round thee as thou go’st.”

142 Then one, who understood the Tuscan voice,

143 Cried after us aloud: “Hold in your feet,

144 Ye who so swiftly speed through the dusk air.

145 Perchance from me thou shalt obtain thy wish.”

146 Whereat my leader, turning, me bespake:

147 “Pause, and then onward at their pace proceed.”

148 I staid, and saw two Spirits in whose look

149 Impatient eagerness of mind was mark’d

150 To overtake me; but the load they bare

151 And narrow path retarded their approach.

152 Soon as arriv’d, they with an eye askance

153 Perus’d me, but spake not: then turning each

154 To other thus conferring said: “This one

155 Seems, by the action of his throat, alive.

156 And, be they dead, what privilege allows

157 They walk unmantled by the cumbrous stole?”

158 Then thus to me: “Tuscan, who visitest

159 The college of the mourning hypocrites,

160 Disdain not to instruct us who thou art.”

161 “By Arno’s pleasant stream,” I thus replied,

162 “In the great city I was bred and grew,

163 And wear the body I have ever worn.

164 but who are ye, from whom such mighty grief,

165 As now I witness, courseth down your cheeks?

166 What torment breaks forth in this bitter woe?”

167 “Our bonnets gleaming bright with orange hue,”

168 One of them answer’d, “are so leaden gross,

169 That with their weight they make the balances

170 To crack beneath them. Joyous friars we were,

171 Bologna’s natives, Catalano I,

172 He Loderingo nam’d, and by thy land

173 Together taken, as men used to take

174 A single and indifferent arbiter,

175 To reconcile their strifes. How there we sped,

176 Gardingo’s vicinage can best declare.”

177 “O friars!” I began, “your miseries—”

178 But there brake off, for one had caught my eye,

179 Fix’d to a cross with three stakes on the ground:

180 He, when he saw me, writh’d himself, throughout

181 Distorted, ruffling with deep sighs his beard.

182 And Catalano, who thereof was ’ware,

183 Thus spake: “That pierced spirit, whom intent

184 Thou view’st, was he who gave the Pharisees

185 Counsel, that it were fitting for one man

186 To suffer for the people. He doth lie

187 Transverse; nor any passes, but him first

188 Behoves make feeling trial how each weighs.

189 In straits like this along the foss are plac’d

190 The father of his consort, and the rest

191 Partakers in that council, seed of ill

192 And sorrow to the Jews.” I noted then,

193 How Virgil gaz’d with wonder upon him,

194 Thus abjectly extended on the cross

195 In banishment eternal. To the friar

196 He next his words address’d: “We pray ye tell,

197 If so be lawful, whether on our right

198 Lies any opening in the rock, whereby

199 We both may issue hence, without constraint

200 On the dark angels, that compell’d they come

201 To lead us from this depth.” He thus replied:

202 “Nearer than thou dost hope, there is a rock

203 From the next circle moving, which o’ersteps

204 Each vale of horror, save that here his cope

205 Is shatter’d. By the ruin ye may mount:

206 For on the side it slants, and most the height

207 Rises below.” With head bent down awhile

208 My leader stood, then spake: “He warn’d us ill,

209 Who yonder hangs the sinners on his hook.”

210 To whom the friar: “At Bologna erst

211 I many vices of the devil heard,

212 Among the rest was said, ‘He is a liar,

213 And the father of lies!’” When he had spoke,

214 My leader with large strides proceeded on,

215 Somewhat disturb’d with anger in his look.

216 I therefore left the spirits heavy laden,

217 And following, his beloved footsteps mark’d.

INFERNO · CANTO XXIV

70 In the year’s early nonage, when the sun

71 Tempers his tresses in Aquarius’ urn,

72 And now towards equal day the nights recede,

73 When as the rime upon the earth puts on

74 Her dazzling sister’s image, but not long

75 Her milder sway endures, then riseth up

76 The village hind, whom fails his wintry store,

77 And looking out beholds the plain around

78 All whiten’d, whence impatiently he smites

79 His thighs, and to his hut returning in,

80 There paces to and fro, wailing his lot,

81 As a discomfited and helpless man;

82 Then comes he forth again, and feels new hope

83 Spring in his bosom, finding e’en thus soon

84 The world hath chang’d its count’nance, grasps his crook,

85 And forth to pasture drives his little flock:

86 So me my guide dishearten’d when I saw

87 His troubled forehead, and so speedily

88 That ill was cur’d; for at the fallen bridge

89 Arriving, towards me with a look as sweet,

90 He turn’d him back, as that I first beheld

91 At the steep mountain’s foot. Regarding well

92 The ruin, and some counsel first maintain’d

93 With his own thought, he open’d wide his arm

94 And took me up. As one, who, while he works,

95 Computes his labour’s issue, that he seems

96 Still to foresee the effect, so lifting me

97 Up to the summit of one peak, he fix’d

98 His eye upon another. “Grapple that,”

99 Said he, “but first make proof, if it be such

100 As will sustain thee.” For one capp’d with lead

101 This were no journey. Scarcely he, though light,

102 And I, though onward push’d from crag to crag,

103 Could mount. And if the precinct of this coast

104 Were not less ample than the last, for him

105 I know not, but my strength had surely fail’d.

106 But Malebolge all toward the mouth

107 Inclining of the nethermost abyss,

108 The site of every valley hence requires,

109 That one side upward slope, the other fall.

110 At length the point of our descent we reach’d

111 From the last flag: soon as to that arriv’d,

112 So was the breath exhausted from my lungs,

113 I could no further, but did seat me there.

114 “Now needs thy best of man;” so spake my guide:

115 “For not on downy plumes, nor under shade

116 Of canopy reposing, fame is won,

117 Without which whosoe’er consumes his days

118 Leaveth such vestige of himself on earth,

119 As smoke in air or foam upon the wave.

120 Thou therefore rise: vanish thy weariness

121 By the mind’s effort, in each struggle form’d

122 To vanquish, if she suffer not the weight

123 Of her corporeal frame to crush her down.

124 A longer ladder yet remains to scale.

125 From these to have escap’d sufficeth not.

126 If well thou note me, profit by my words.”

127 I straightway rose, and show’d myself less spent

128 Than I in truth did feel me. “On,” I cried,

129 “For I am stout and fearless.” Up the rock

130 Our way we held, more rugged than before,

131 Narrower and steeper far to climb. From talk

132 I ceas’d not, as we journey’d, so to seem

133 Least faint; whereat a voice from the other foss

134 Did issue forth, for utt’rance suited ill.

135 Though on the arch that crosses there I stood,

136 What were the words I knew not, but who spake

137 Seem’d mov’d in anger. Down I stoop’d to look,

138 But my quick eye might reach not to the depth

139 For shrouding darkness; wherefore thus I spake:

140 “To the next circle, Teacher, bend thy steps,

141 And from the wall dismount we; for as hence

142 I hear and understand not, so I see

143 Beneath, and naught discern.”—“I answer not,”

144 Said he, “but by the deed. To fair request

145 Silent performance maketh best return.”

146 We from the bridge’s head descended, where

147 To the eighth mound it joins, and then the chasm

148 Opening to view, I saw a crowd within

149 Of serpents terrible, so strange of shape

150 And hideous, that remembrance in my veins

151 Yet shrinks the vital current. Of her sands

152 Let Lybia vaunt no more: if Jaculus,

153 Pareas and Chelyder be her brood,

154 Cenchris and Amphisboena, plagues so dire

155 Or in such numbers swarming ne’er she shew’d,

156 Not with all Ethiopia, and whate’er

157 Above the Erythraean sea is spawn’d.

158 Amid this dread exuberance of woe

159 Ran naked spirits wing’d with horrid fear,

160 Nor hope had they of crevice where to hide,

161 Or heliotrope to charm them out of view.

162 With serpents were their hands behind them bound,

163 Which through their reins infix’d the tail and head

164 Twisted in folds before. And lo! on one

165 Near to our side, darted an adder up,

166 And, where the neck is on the shoulders tied,

167 Transpierc’d him. Far more quickly than e’er pen

168 Wrote O or I, he kindled, burn’d, and chang’d

169 To ashes, all pour’d out upon the earth.

170 When there dissolv’d he lay, the dust again

171 Uproll’d spontaneous, and the self-same form

172 Instant resumed. So mighty sages tell,

173 The Arabian Phoenix, when five hundred years

174 Have well nigh circled, dies, and springs forthwith

175 Renascent. Blade nor herb throughout his life

176 He tastes, but tears of frankincense alone

177 And odorous amomum: swaths of nard

178 And myrrh his funeral shroud. As one that falls,

179 He knows not how, by force demoniac dragg’d

180 To earth, or through obstruction fettering up

181 In chains invisible the powers of man,

182 Who, risen from his trance, gazeth around,

183 Bewilder’d with the monstrous agony

184 He hath endur’d, and wildly staring sighs;

185 So stood aghast the sinner when he rose.

186 Oh! how severe God’s judgment, that deals out

187 Such blows in stormy vengeance! Who he was

188 My teacher next inquir’d, and thus in few

189 He answer’d: “Vanni Fucci am I call’d,

190 Not long since rained down from Tuscany

191 To this dire gullet. Me the beastial life

192 And not the human pleas’d, mule that I was,

193 Who in Pistoia found my worthy den.”

194 I then to Virgil: “Bid him stir not hence,

195 And ask what crime did thrust him hither: once

196 A man I knew him choleric and bloody.”

197 The sinner heard and feign’d not, but towards me

198 His mind directing and his face, wherein

199 Was dismal shame depictur’d, thus he spake:

200 “It grieves me more to have been caught by thee

201 In this sad plight, which thou beholdest, than

202 When I was taken from the other life.

203 I have no power permitted to deny

204 What thou inquirest.” I am doom’d thus low

205 To dwell, for that the sacristy by me

206 Was rifled of its goodly ornaments,

207 And with the guilt another falsely charged.

208 But that thou mayst not joy to see me thus,

209 So as thou e’er shalt ’scape this darksome realm

210 Open thine ears and hear what I forebode.

211 Reft of the Neri first Pistoia pines,

212 Then Florence changeth citizens and laws.

213 From Valdimagra, drawn by wrathful Mars,

214 A vapour rises, wrapt in turbid mists,

215 And sharp and eager driveth on the storm

216 With arrowy hurtling o’er Piceno’s field,

217 Whence suddenly the cloud shall burst, and strike

218 Each helpless Bianco prostrate to the ground.

219 This have I told, that grief may rend thy heart.”

INFERNO · CANTO XXV

73 When he had spoke, the sinner rais’d his hands

74 Pointed in mockery, and cried: “Take them, God!

75 I level them at thee!” From that day forth

76 The serpents were my friends; for round his neck

77 One of then rolling twisted, as it said,

78 “Be silent, tongue!” Another to his arms

79 Upgliding, tied them, riveting itself

80 So close, it took from them the power to move.

81 Pistoia! Ah Pistoia! why dost doubt

82 To turn thee into ashes, cumb’ring earth

83 No longer, since in evil act so far

84 Thou hast outdone thy seed? I did not mark,

85 Through all the gloomy circles of the abyss,

86 Spirit, that swell’d so proudly ’gainst his God,

87 Not him, who headlong fell from Thebes. He fled,

88 Nor utter’d more; and after him there came

89 A centaur full of fury, shouting, “Where

90 Where is the caitiff?” On Maremma’s marsh

91 Swarm not the serpent tribe, as on his haunch

92 They swarm’d, to where the human face begins.

93 Behind his head upon the shoulders lay,

94 With open wings, a dragon breathing fire

95 On whomsoe’er he met. To me my guide:

96 “Cacus is this, who underneath the rock

97 Of Aventine spread oft a lake of blood.

98 He, from his brethren parted, here must tread

99 A different journey, for his fraudful theft

100 Of the great herd, that near him stall’d; whence found

101 His felon deeds their end, beneath the mace

102 Of stout Alcides, that perchance laid on

103 A hundred blows, and not the tenth was felt.”

104 While yet he spake, the centaur sped away:

105 And under us three spirits came, of whom

106 Nor I nor he was ware, till they exclaim’d;

107 “Say who are ye?” We then brake off discourse,

108 Intent on these alone. I knew them not;

109 But, as it chanceth oft, befell, that one

110 Had need to name another. “Where,” said he,

111 “Doth Cianfa lurk?” I, for a sign my guide

112 Should stand attentive, plac’d against my lips

113 The finger lifted. If, O reader! now

114 Thou be not apt to credit what I tell,

115 No marvel; for myself do scarce allow

116 The witness of mine eyes. But as I looked

117 Toward them, lo! a serpent with six feet

118 Springs forth on one, and fastens full upon him:

119 His midmost grasp’d the belly, a forefoot

120 Seiz’d on each arm (while deep in either cheek

121 He flesh’d his fangs); the hinder on the thighs

122 Were spread, ’twixt which the tail inserted curl’d

123 Upon the reins behind. Ivy ne’er clasp’d

124 A dodder’d oak, as round the other’s limbs

125 The hideous monster intertwin’d his own.

126 Then, as they both had been of burning wax,

127 Each melted into other, mingling hues,

128 That which was either now was seen no more.

129 Thus up the shrinking paper, ere it burns,

130 A brown tint glides, not turning yet to black,

131 And the clean white expires. The other two

132 Look’d on exclaiming: “Ah, how dost thou change,

133 Agnello! See! Thou art nor double now,

134 “Nor only one.” The two heads now became

135 One, and two figures blended in one form

136 Appear’d, where both were lost. Of the four lengths

137 Two arms were made: the belly and the chest

138 The thighs and legs into such members chang’d,

139 As never eye hath seen. Of former shape

140 All trace was vanish’d. Two yet neither seem’d

141 That image miscreate, and so pass’d on

142 With tardy steps. As underneath the scourge

143 Of the fierce dog-star, that lays bare the fields,

144 Shifting from brake to brake, the lizard seems

145 A flash of lightning, if he thwart the road,

146 So toward th’ entrails of the other two

147 Approaching seem’d, an adder all on fire,

148 As the dark pepper-grain, livid and swart.

149 In that part, whence our life is nourish’d first,

150 One he transpierc’d; then down before him fell

151 Stretch’d out. The pierced spirit look’d on him

152 But spake not; yea stood motionless and yawn’d,

153 As if by sleep or fev’rous fit assail’d.

154 He ey’d the serpent, and the serpent him.

155 One from the wound, the other from the mouth

156 Breath’d a thick smoke, whose vap’ry columns join’d.

157 Lucan in mute attention now may hear,

158 Nor thy disastrous fate, Sabellus! tell,

159 Nor shine, Nasidius! Ovid now be mute.

160 What if in warbling fiction he record

161 Cadmus and Arethusa, to a snake

162 Him chang’d, and her into a fountain clear,

163 I envy not; for never face to face

164 Two natures thus transmuted did he sing,

165 Wherein both shapes were ready to assume

166 The other’s substance. They in mutual guise

167 So answer’d, that the serpent split his train

168 Divided to a fork, and the pierc’d spirit

169 Drew close his steps together, legs and thighs

170 Compacted, that no sign of juncture soon

171 Was visible: the tail disparted took

172 The figure which the spirit lost, its skin

173 Soft’ning, his indurated to a rind.

174 The shoulders next I mark’d, that ent’ring join’d

175 The monster’s arm-pits, whose two shorter feet

176 So lengthen’d, as the other’s dwindling shrunk.

177 The feet behind then twisting up became

178 That part that man conceals, which in the wretch

179 Was cleft in twain. While both the shadowy smoke

180 With a new colour veils, and generates

181 Th’ excrescent pile on one, peeling it off

182 From th’ other body, lo! upon his feet

183 One upright rose, and prone the other fell.

184 Not yet their glaring and malignant lamps

185 Were shifted, though each feature chang’d beneath.

186 Of him who stood erect, the mounting face

187 Retreated towards the temples, and what there

188 Superfluous matter came, shot out in ears

189 From the smooth cheeks, the rest, not backward dragg’d,

190 Of its excess did shape the nose; and swell’d

191 Into due size protuberant the lips.

192 He, on the earth who lay, meanwhile extends

193 His sharpen’d visage, and draws down the ears

194 Into the head, as doth the slug his horns.

195 His tongue continuous before and apt

196 For utt’rance, severs; and the other’s fork

197 Closing unites. That done the smoke was laid.

198 The soul, transform’d into the brute, glides off,

199 Hissing along the vale, and after him

200 The other talking sputters; but soon turn’d

201 His new-grown shoulders on him, and in few

202 Thus to another spake: “Along this path

203 Crawling, as I have done, speed Buoso now!”

204 So saw I fluctuate in successive change

205 Th’ unsteady ballast of the seventh hold:

206 And here if aught my tongue have swerv’d, events

207 So strange may be its warrant. O’er mine eyes

208 Confusion hung, and on my thoughts amaze.

209 Yet ’scap’d they not so covertly, but well

210 I mark’d Sciancato: he alone it was

211 Of the three first that came, who chang’d not: thou,

212 The other’s fate, Gaville, still dost rue.

INFERNO · CANTO XXVI

76 Florence exult! for thou so mightily

77 Hast thriven, that o’er land and sea thy wings

78 Thou beatest, and thy name spreads over hell!

79 Among the plund’rers such the three I found

80 Thy citizens, whence shame to me thy son,

81 And no proud honour to thyself redounds.

82 But if our minds, when dreaming near the dawn,

83 Are of the truth presageful, thou ere long

84 Shalt feel what Prato, (not to say the rest)

85 Would fain might come upon thee; and that chance

86 Were in good time, if it befell thee now.

87 Would so it were, since it must needs befall!

88 For as time wears me, I shall grieve the more.

89 We from the depth departed; and my guide

90 Remounting scal’d the flinty steps, which late

91 We downward trac’d, and drew me up the steep.

92 Pursuing thus our solitary way

93 Among the crags and splinters of the rock,

94 Sped not our feet without the help of hands.

95 Then sorrow seiz’d me, which e’en now revives,

96 As my thought turns again to what I saw,

97 And, more than I am wont, I rein and curb

98 The powers of nature in me, lest they run

99 Where Virtue guides not; that if aught of good

100 My gentle star, or something better gave me,

101 I envy not myself the precious boon.

102 As in that season, when the sun least veils

103 His face that lightens all, what time the fly

104 Gives way to the shrill gnat, the peasant then

105 Upon some cliff reclin’d, beneath him sees

106 Fire-flies innumerous spangling o’er the vale,

107 Vineyard or tilth, where his day-labour lies:

108 With flames so numberless throughout its space

109 Shone the eighth chasm, apparent, when the depth

110 Was to my view expos’d. As he, whose wrongs

111 The bears aveng’d, at its departure saw

112 Elijah’s chariot, when the steeds erect

113 Rais’d their steep flight for heav’n; his eyes meanwhile,

114 Straining pursu’d them, till the flame alone

115 Upsoaring like a misty speck he kenn’d;

116 E’en thus along the gulf moves every flame,

117 A sinner so enfolded close in each,

118 That none exhibits token of the theft.

119 Upon the bridge I forward bent to look,

120 And grasp’d a flinty mass, or else had fall’n,

121 Though push’d not from the height. The guide, who mark’d

122 How I did gaze attentive, thus began:

123 “Within these ardours are the spirits, each

124 Swath’d in confining fire.”—“Master, thy word,”

125 I answer’d, “hath assur’d me; yet I deem’d

126 Already of the truth, already wish’d

127 To ask thee, who is in yon fire, that comes

128 So parted at the summit, as it seem’d

129 Ascending from that funeral pile, where lay

130 The Theban brothers?” He replied: “Within

131 Ulysses there and Diomede endure

132 Their penal tortures, thus to vengeance now

133 Together hasting, as erewhile to wrath.

134 These in the flame with ceaseless groans deplore

135 The ambush of the horse, that open’d wide

136 A portal for that goodly seed to pass,

137 Which sow’d imperial Rome; nor less the guile

138 Lament they, whence of her Achilles ’reft

139 Deidamia yet in death complains.

140 And there is rued the stratagem, that Troy

141 Of her Palladium spoil’d.”—“If they have power

142 Of utt’rance from within these sparks,” said I,

143 “O master! think my prayer a thousand fold

144 In repetition urg’d, that thou vouchsafe

145 To pause, till here the horned flame arrive.

146 See, how toward it with desire I bend.”

147 He thus: “Thy prayer is worthy of much praise,

148 And I accept it therefore: but do thou

149 Thy tongue refrain: to question them be mine,

150 For I divine thy wish: and they perchance,

151 For they were Greeks, might shun discourse with thee.”

152 When there the flame had come, where time and place

153 Seem’d fitting to my guide, he thus began:

154 “O ye, who dwell two spirits in one fire!

155 If living I of you did merit aught,

156 Whate’er the measure were of that desert,

157 When in the world my lofty strain I pour’d,

158 Move ye not on, till one of you unfold

159 In what clime death o’ertook him self-destroy’d.”

160 Of the old flame forthwith the greater horn

161 Began to roll, murmuring, as a fire

162 That labours with the wind, then to and fro

163 Wagging the top, as a tongue uttering sounds,

164 Threw out its voice, and spake: “When I escap’d

165 From Circe, who beyond a circling year

166 Had held me near Caieta, by her charms,

167 Ere thus Aeneas yet had nam’d the shore,

168 Nor fondness for my son, nor reverence

169 Of my old father, nor return of love,

170 That should have crown’d Penelope with joy,

171 Could overcome in me the zeal I had

172 T’ explore the world, and search the ways of life,

173 Man’s evil and his virtue. Forth I sail’d

174 Into the deep illimitable main,

175 With but one bark, and the small faithful band

176 That yet cleav’d to me. As Iberia far,

177 Far as Morocco either shore I saw,

178 And the Sardinian and each isle beside

179 Which round that ocean bathes. Tardy with age

180 Were I and my companions, when we came

181 To the strait pass, where Hercules ordain’d

182 The bound’ries not to be o’erstepp’d by man.

183 The walls of Seville to my right I left,

184 On the other hand already Ceuta past.

185 “O brothers!” I began, “who to the west

186 Through perils without number now have reach’d,

187 To this the short remaining watch, that yet

188 Our senses have to wake, refuse not proof

189 Of the unpeopled world, following the track

190 Of Phoebus. Call to mind from whence we sprang:

191 Ye were not form’d to live the life of brutes

192 But virtue to pursue and knowledge high.”

193 With these few words I sharpen’d for the voyage

194 The mind of my associates, that I then

195 Could scarcely have withheld them. To the dawn

196 Our poop we turn’d, and for the witless flight

197 Made our oars wings, still gaining on the left.

198 Each star of the other pole night now beheld,

199 And ours so low, that from the ocean-floor

200 It rose not. Five times re-illum’d, as oft

201 Vanish’d the light from underneath the moon

202 Since the deep way we enter’d, when from far

203 Appear’d a mountain dim, loftiest methought

204 Of all I e’er beheld. Joy seiz’d us straight,

205 But soon to mourning changed. From the new land

206 A whirlwind sprung, and at her foremost side

207 Did strike the vessel. Thrice it whirl’d her round

208 With all the waves, the fourth time lifted up

209 The poop, and sank the prow: so fate decreed:

210 And over us the booming billow clos’d.”

INFERNO · CANTO XXVII

79 Now upward rose the flame, and still’d its light

80 To speak no more, and now pass’d on with leave

81 From the mild poet gain’d, when following came

82 Another, from whose top a sound confus’d,

83 Forth issuing, drew our eyes that way to look.

84 As the Sicilian bull, that rightfully

85 His cries first echoed, who had shap’d its mould,

86 Did so rebellow, with the voice of him

87 Tormented, that the brazen monster seem’d

88 Pierc’d through with pain; thus while no way they found

89 Nor avenue immediate through the flame,

90 Into its language turn’d the dismal words:

91 But soon as they had won their passage forth,

92 Up from the point, which vibrating obey’d

93 Their motion at the tongue, these sounds we heard:

94 “O thou! to whom I now direct my voice!

95 That lately didst exclaim in Lombard phrase,

96 ‘Depart thou, I solicit thee no more,’

97 Though somewhat tardy I perchance arrive

98 Let it not irk thee here to pause awhile,

99 And with me parley: lo! it irks not me

100 And yet I burn. If but e’en now thou fall

101 into this blind world, from that pleasant land

102 Of Latium, whence I draw my sum of guilt,

103 Tell me if those, who in Romagna dwell,

104 Have peace or war. For of the mountains there

105 Was I, betwixt Urbino and the height,

106 Whence Tyber first unlocks his mighty flood.”

107 Leaning I listen’d yet with heedful ear,

108 When, as he touch’d my side, the leader thus:

109 “Speak thou: he is a Latian.” My reply

110 Was ready, and I spake without delay:

111 “O spirit! who art hidden here below!

112 Never was thy Romagna without war

113 In her proud tyrants’ bosoms, nor is now:

114 But open war there left I none. The state,

115 Ravenna hath maintain’d this many a year,

116 Is steadfast. There Polenta’s eagle broods,

117 And in his broad circumference of plume

118 O’ershadows Cervia. The green talons grasp

119 The land, that stood erewhile the proof so long,

120 And pil’d in bloody heap the host of France.

121 “The old mastiff of Verruchio and the young,

122 That tore Montagna in their wrath, still make,

123 Where they are wont, an augre of their fangs.

124 “Lamone’s city and Santerno’s range

125 Under the lion of the snowy lair.

126 Inconstant partisan! that changeth sides,

127 Or ever summer yields to winter’s frost.

128 And she, whose flank is wash’d of Savio’s wave,

129 As ’twixt the level and the steep she lies,

130 Lives so ’twixt tyrant power and liberty.

131 “Now tell us, I entreat thee, who art thou?

132 Be not more hard than others. In the world,

133 So may thy name still rear its forehead high.”

134 Then roar’d awhile the fire, its sharpen’d point

135 On either side wav’d, and thus breath’d at last:

136 “If I did think, my answer were to one,

137 Who ever could return unto the world,

138 This flame should rest unshaken. But since ne’er,

139 If true be told me, any from this depth

140 Has found his upward way, I answer thee,

141 Nor fear lest infamy record the words.

142 “A man of arms at first, I cloth’d me then

143 In good Saint Francis’ girdle, hoping so

144 T’ have made amends. And certainly my hope

145 Had fail’d not, but that he, whom curses light on,

146 The high priest again seduc’d me into sin.

147 And how and wherefore listen while I tell.

148 Long as this spirit mov’d the bones and pulp

149 My mother gave me, less my deeds bespake

150 The nature of the lion than the fox.

151 All ways of winding subtlety I knew,

152 And with such art conducted, that the sound

153 Reach’d the world’s limit. Soon as to that part

154 Of life I found me come, when each behoves

155 To lower sails and gather in the lines;

156 That which before had pleased me then I rued,

157 And to repentance and confession turn’d;

158 Wretch that I was! and well it had bested me!

159 The chief of the new Pharisees meantime,

160 Waging his warfare near the Lateran,

161 Not with the Saracens or Jews (his foes

162 All Christians were, nor against Acre one

163 Had fought, nor traffic’d in the Soldan’s land),

164 He his great charge nor sacred ministry

165 In himself, rev’renc’d, nor in me that cord,

166 Which us’d to mark with leanness whom it girded.

167 As in Socrate, Constantine besought

168 To cure his leprosy Sylvester’s aid,

169 So me to cure the fever of his pride

170 This man besought: my counsel to that end

171 He ask’d: and I was silent: for his words

172 Seem’d drunken: but forthwith he thus resum’d:

173 “From thy heart banish fear: of all offence

174 I hitherto absolve thee. In return,

175 Teach me my purpose so to execute,

176 That Penestrino cumber earth no more.

177 Heav’n, as thou knowest, I have power to shut

178 And open: and the keys are therefore twain,

179 The which my predecessor meanly priz’d.”

180 Then, yielding to the forceful arguments,

181 Of silence as more perilous I deem’d,

182 And answer’d: “Father! since thou washest me

183 Clear of that guilt wherein I now must fall,

184 Large promise with performance scant, be sure,

185 Shall make thee triumph in thy lofty seat.”

186 “When I was number’d with the dead, then came

187 Saint Francis for me; but a cherub dark

188 He met, who cried: “‘Wrong me not; he is mine,

189 And must below to join the wretched crew,

190 For the deceitful counsel which he gave.

191 E’er since I watch’d him, hov’ring at his hair,

192 No power can the impenitent absolve;

193 Nor to repent and will at once consist,

194 By contradiction absolute forbid.”

195 Oh mis’ry! how I shook myself, when he

196 Seiz’d me, and cried, “Thou haply thought’st me not

197 A disputant in logic so exact.”

198 To Minos down he bore me, and the judge

199 Twin’d eight times round his callous back the tail,

200 Which biting with excess of rage, he spake:

201 ‘This is a guilty soul, that in the fire

202 Must vanish.’ Hence perdition-doom’d I rove

203 A prey to rankling sorrow in this garb.”

204 When he had thus fulfill’d his words, the flame

205 In dolour parted, beating to and fro,

206 And writhing its sharp horn. We onward went,

207 I and my leader, up along the rock,

208 Far as another arch, that overhangs

209 The foss, wherein the penalty is paid

210 Of those, who load them with committed sin.

INFERNO · CANTO XXVIII

82 Who, e’en in words unfetter’d, might at full

83 Tell of the wounds and blood that now I saw,

84 Though he repeated oft the tale? No tongue

85 So vast a theme could equal, speech and thought

86 Both impotent alike. If in one band

87 Collected, stood the people all, who e’er

88 Pour’d on Apulia’s happy soil their blood,

89 Slain by the Trojans, and in that long war

90 When of the rings the measur’d booty made

91 A pile so high, as Rome’s historian writes

92 Who errs not, with the multitude, that felt

93 The grinding force of Guiscard’s Norman steel,

94 And those the rest, whose bones are gather’d yet

95 At Ceperano, there where treachery

96 Branded th’ Apulian name, or where beyond

97 Thy walls, O Tagliacozzo, without arms

98 The old Alardo conquer’d; and his limbs

99 One were to show transpierc’d, another his

100 Clean lopt away; a spectacle like this

101 Were but a thing of nought, to the hideous sight

102 Of the ninth chasm. A rundlet, that hath lost

103 Its middle or side stave, gapes not so wide,

104 As one I mark’d, torn from the chin throughout

105 Down to the hinder passage: ’twixt the legs

106 Dangling his entrails hung, the midriff lay

107 Open to view, and wretched ventricle,

108 That turns th’ englutted aliment to dross.

109 Whilst eagerly I fix on him my gaze,

110 He ey’d me, with his hands laid his breast bare,

111 And cried; “Now mark how I do rip me! lo!

112 “How is Mohammed mangled! before me

113 Walks Ali weeping, from the chin his face

114 Cleft to the forelock; and the others all

115 Whom here thou seest, while they liv’d, did sow

116 Scandal and schism, and therefore thus are rent.

117 A fiend is here behind, who with his sword

118 Hacks us thus cruelly, slivering again

119 Each of this ream, when we have compast round

120 The dismal way, for first our gashes close

121 Ere we repass before him. But say who

122 Art thou, that standest musing on the rock,

123 Haply so lingering to delay the pain

124 Sentenc’d upon thy crimes?”—“Him death not yet,”

125 My guide rejoin’d, “hath overta’en, nor sin

126 Conducts to torment; but, that he may make

127 Full trial of your state, I who am dead

128 Must through the depths of hell, from orb to orb,

129 Conduct him. Trust my words, for they are true.”

130 More than a hundred spirits, when that they heard,

131 Stood in the foss to mark me, through amazed,

132 Forgetful of their pangs. “Thou, who perchance

133 Shalt shortly view the sun, this warning thou

134 Bear to Dolcino: bid him, if he wish not

135 Here soon to follow me, that with good store

136 Of food he arm him, lest impris’ning snows

137 Yield him a victim to Novara’s power,

138 No easy conquest else.” With foot uprais’d

139 For stepping, spake Mohammed, on the ground

140 Then fix’d it to depart. Another shade,

141 Pierc’d in the throat, his nostrils mutilate

142 E’en from beneath the eyebrows, and one ear

143 Lopt off, who with the rest through wonder stood

144 Gazing, before the rest advanc’d, and bar’d

145 His wind-pipe, that without was all o’ersmear’d

146 With crimson stain. “O thou!” said ‘he, “whom sin

147 Condemns not, and whom erst (unless too near

148 Resemblance do deceive me) I aloft

149 Have seen on Latian ground, call thou to mind

150 Piero of Medicina, if again

151 Returning, thou behold’st the pleasant land

152 That from Vercelli slopes to Mercabo;

153 “And there instruct the twain, whom Fano boasts

154 Her worthiest sons, Guido and Angelo,

155 That if ’t is giv’n us here to scan aright

156 The future, they out of life’s tenement

157 Shall be cast forth, and whelm’d under the waves

158 Near to Cattolica, through perfidy

159 Of a fell tyrant. ’Twixt the Cyprian isle

160 And Balearic, ne’er hath Neptune seen

161 An injury so foul, by pirates done

162 Or Argive crew of old. That one-ey’d traitor

163 (Whose realm there is a spirit here were fain

164 His eye had still lack’d sight of) them shall bring

165 To conf’rence with him, then so shape his end,

166 That they shall need not ’gainst Focara’s wind

167 Offer up vow nor pray’r.” I answering thus:

168 “Declare, as thou dost wish that I above

169 May carry tidings of thee, who is he,

170 In whom that sight doth wake such sad remembrance?”

171 Forthwith he laid his hand on the cheek-bone

172 Of one, his fellow-spirit, and his jaws

173 Expanding, cried: “Lo! this is he I wot of;

174 He speaks not for himself: the outcast this

175 Who overwhelm’d the doubt in Caesar’s mind,

176 Affirming that delay to men prepar’d

177 Was ever harmful. “Oh how terrified

178 Methought was Curio, from whose throat was cut

179 The tongue, which spake that hardy word. Then one

180 Maim’d of each hand, uplifted in the gloom

181 The bleeding stumps, that they with gory spots

182 Sullied his face, and cried: ‘Remember thee

183 Of Mosca, too, I who, alas! exclaim’d,

184 “The deed once done there is an end,” that prov’d

185 A seed of sorrow to the Tuscan race.”

186 I added: “Ay, and death to thine own tribe.”

187 Whence heaping woe on woe he hurried off,

188 As one grief-stung to madness. But I there

189 Still linger’d to behold the troop, and saw

190 Things, such as I may fear without more proof

191 To tell of, but that conscience makes me firm,

192 The boon companion, who her strong breast-plate

193 Buckles on him, that feels no guilt within

194 And bids him on and fear not. Without doubt

195 I saw, and yet it seems to pass before me,

196 A headless trunk, that even as the rest

197 Of the sad flock pac’d onward. By the hair

198 It bore the sever’d member, lantern-wise

199 Pendent in hand, which look’d at us and said,

200 “Woe’s me!” The spirit lighted thus himself,

201 And two there were in one, and one in two.

202 How that may be he knows who ordereth so.

203 When at the bridge’s foot direct he stood,

204 His arm aloft he rear’d, thrusting the head

205 Full in our view, that nearer we might hear

206 The words, which thus it utter’d: “Now behold

207 This grievous torment, thou, who breathing go’st

208 To spy the dead; behold if any else

209 Be terrible as this. And that on earth

210 Thou mayst bear tidings of me, know that I

211 Am Bertrand, he of Born, who gave King John

212 The counsel mischievous. Father and son

213 I set at mutual war. For Absalom

214 And David more did not Ahitophel,

215 Spurring them on maliciously to strife.

216 For parting those so closely knit, my brain

217 Parted, alas! I carry from its source,

218 That in this trunk inhabits. Thus the law

219 Of retribution fiercely works in me.”

INFERNO · CANTO XXIX

85 So were mine eyes inebriate with view

86 Of the vast multitude, whom various wounds

87 Disfigur’d, that they long’d to stay and weep.

88 But Virgil rous’d me: “What yet gazest on?

89 Wherefore doth fasten yet thy sight below

90 Among the maim’d and miserable shades?

91 Thou hast not shewn in any chasm beside

92 This weakness. Know, if thou wouldst number them

93 That two and twenty miles the valley winds

94 Its circuit, and already is the moon

95 Beneath our feet: the time permitted now

96 Is short, and more not seen remains to see.”

97 “If thou,” I straight replied, “hadst weigh’d the cause

98 For which I look’d, thou hadst perchance excus’d

99 The tarrying still.” My leader part pursu’d

100 His way, the while I follow’d, answering him,

101 And adding thus: “Within that cave I deem,

102 Whereon so fixedly I held my ken,

103 There is a spirit dwells, one of my blood,

104 Wailing the crime that costs him now so dear.”

105 Then spake my master: “Let thy soul no more

106 Afflict itself for him. Direct elsewhere

107 Its thought, and leave him. At the bridge’s foot

108 I mark’d how he did point with menacing look

109 At thee, and heard him by the others nam’d

110 Geri of Bello. Thou so wholly then

111 Wert busied with his spirit, who once rul’d

112 The towers of Hautefort, that thou lookedst not

113 That way, ere he was gone.”—“O guide belov’d!

114 His violent death yet unaveng’d,” said I,

115 “By any, who are partners in his shame,

116 Made him contemptuous: therefore, as I think,

117 He pass’d me speechless by; and doing so

118 Hath made me more compassionate his fate.”

119 So we discours’d to where the rock first show’d

120 The other valley, had more light been there,

121 E’en to the lowest depth. Soon as we came

122 O’er the last cloister in the dismal rounds

123 Of Malebolge, and the brotherhood

124 Were to our view expos’d, then many a dart

125 Of sore lament assail’d me, headed all

126 With points of thrilling pity, that I clos’d

127 Both ears against the volley with mine hands.

128 As were the torment, if each lazar-house

129 Of Valdichiana, in the sultry time

130 ’Twixt July and September, with the isle

131 Sardinia and Maremma’s pestilent fen,

132 Had heap’d their maladies all in one foss

133 Together; such was here the torment: dire

134 The stench, as issuing steams from fester’d limbs.

135 We on the utmost shore of the long rock

136 Descended still to leftward. Then my sight

137 Was livelier to explore the depth, wherein

138 The minister of the most mighty Lord,

139 All-searching Justice, dooms to punishment

140 The forgers noted on her dread record.

141 More rueful was it not methinks to see

142 The nation in Aegina droop, what time

143 Each living thing, e’en to the little worm,

144 All fell, so full of malice was the air

145 (And afterward, as bards of yore have told,

146 The ancient people were restor’d anew

147 From seed of emmets) than was here to see

148 The spirits, that languish’d through the murky vale

149 Up-pil’d on many a stack. Confus’d they lay,

150 One o’er the belly, o’er the shoulders one

151 Roll’d of another; sideling crawl’d a third

152 Along the dismal pathway. Step by step

153 We journey’d on, in silence looking round

154 And list’ning those diseas’d, who strove in vain

155 To lift their forms. Then two I mark’d, that sat

156 Propp’d ’gainst each other, as two brazen pans

157 Set to retain the heat. From head to foot,

158 A tetter bark’d them round. Nor saw I e’er

159 Groom currying so fast, for whom his lord

160 Impatient waited, or himself perchance

161 Tir’d with long watching, as of these each one

162 Plied quickly his keen nails, through furiousness

163 Of ne’er abated pruriency. The crust

164 Came drawn from underneath in flakes, like scales

165 Scrap’d from the bream or fish of broader mail.

166 “O thou, who with thy fingers rendest off

167 Thy coat of proof,” thus spake my guide to one,

168 “And sometimes makest tearing pincers of them,

169 Tell me if any born of Latian land

170 Be among these within: so may thy nails

171 Serve thee for everlasting to this toil.”

172 “Both are of Latium,” weeping he replied,

173 “Whom tortur’d thus thou seest: but who art thou

174 That hast inquir’d of us?” To whom my guide:

175 “One that descend with this man, who yet lives,

176 From rock to rock, and show him hell’s abyss.”

177 Then started they asunder, and each turn’d

178 Trembling toward us, with the rest, whose ear

179 Those words redounding struck. To me my liege

180 Address’d him: “Speak to them whate’er thou list.”

181 And I therewith began: “So may no time

182 Filch your remembrance from the thoughts of men

183 In th’ upper world, but after many suns

184 Survive it, as ye tell me, who ye are,

185 And of what race ye come. Your punishment,

186 Unseemly and disgustful in its kind,

187 Deter you not from opening thus much to me.”

188 “Arezzo was my dwelling,” answer’d one,

189 “And me Albero of Sienna brought

190 To die by fire; but that, for which I died,

191 Leads me not here. True is in sport I told him,

192 That I had learn’d to wing my flight in air.

193 And he admiring much, as he was void

194 Of wisdom, will’d me to declare to him

195 The secret of mine art: and only hence,

196 Because I made him not a Daedalus,

197 Prevail’d on one suppos’d his sire to burn me.

198 But Minos to this chasm last of the ten,

199 For that I practis’d alchemy on earth,

200 Has doom’d me. Him no subterfuge eludes.”

201 Then to the bard I spake: “Was ever race

202 Light as Sienna’s? Sure not France herself

203 Can show a tribe so frivolous and vain.”

204 The other leprous spirit heard my words,

205 And thus return’d: “Be Stricca from this charge

206 Exempted, he who knew so temp’rately

207 To lay out fortune’s gifts; and Niccolo

208 Who first the spice’s costly luxury

209 Discover’d in that garden, where such seed

210 Roots deepest in the soil: and be that troop

211 Exempted, with whom Caccia of Asciano

212 Lavish’d his vineyards and wide-spreading woods,

213 And his rare wisdom Abbagliato show’d

214 A spectacle for all. That thou mayst know

215 Who seconds thee against the Siennese

216 Thus gladly, bend this way thy sharpen’d sight,

217 That well my face may answer to thy ken;

218 So shalt thou see I am Capocchio’s ghost,

219 Who forg’d transmuted metals by the power

220 Of alchemy; and if I scan thee right,

221 Thus needs must well remember how I aped

222 Creative nature by my subtle art.”

INFERNO · CANTO XXX

88 What time resentment burn’d in Juno’s breast

89 For Semele against the Theban blood,

90 As more than once in dire mischance was rued,

91 Such fatal frenzy seiz’d on Athamas,

92 That he his spouse beholding with a babe

93 Laden on either arm, “Spread out,” he cried,

94 “The meshes, that I take the lioness

95 And the young lions at the pass:” then forth

96 Stretch’d he his merciless talons, grasping one,

97 One helpless innocent, Learchus nam’d,

98 Whom swinging down he dash’d upon a rock,

99 And with her other burden self-destroy’d

100 The hapless mother plung’d: and when the pride

101 Of all-presuming Troy fell from its height,

102 By fortune overwhelm’d, and the old king

103 With his realm perish’d, then did Hecuba,

104 A wretch forlorn and captive, when she saw

105 Polyxena first slaughter’d, and her son,

106 Her Polydorus, on the wild sea-beach

107 Next met the mourner’s view, then reft of sense

108 Did she run barking even as a dog;