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THE INFERNO. 



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DANTE'S 

DIVINE COMEDY; 

THE INFERNO. 

a Wtttal iSrase Iranslatton, 



THE TEXT OF TBB OBIGIKAL COLLATED FBOU THE BEST 
EDITIONS, AND EXPLAMATOBY HOTB8. 



JOHN A. CARLYLE, M.D. 

LONDON: 
CHAPMAN ASD hall, 186 STRAND. 



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PKErACE. 



The object of the following Prose TianaUtion is to 
give the real meaning of Dante as literally and briefly 
as possible. No single particle has been wittingly 
left unrepresented in it, for which any equivalent 
could be discovered; and the few words that have 
been added are marked in Italics. English readers, 
it is hoped, will here find a closer, and therefore, 
with all its defects, a warmer version than any that 
has hitherto been published for them. 

The Italian Text, carefully collated from the 
best editions, is printed beneath, in order to justify 
and support the Translation, which is perhaps too 
literal for standing alone ; and likewise to enable 
those who have any knowledge of Italian to under- 
stand the Original itself more easily, and with less ob- 
struction enjoy the deep rhythmic force and beauty 
of it, which cannot be transferred into any other 
language. 

New Arguments or explanatory introductions, 
intended to diminish the number and burden of in- 
dispensable notes, toe prefixed to the Cantos, The 
Notes themselves are either ori^al, or takeu directly, 
and in no case without accurate reference, from the 
best Italian commentators and historians ; and, above 



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all, from Dante's own works, wherever any thing 
appropriate could he met with. Illustrative or par- 
allel passages are quoted in them, from the Bihle, 
and from Virgil and other ancient authors, to shew 
the way in which Dante used his materials ; and 
more sparingly from Chaucei and Milton, both of 
whom had read the Divina Commedia with poetic 
warmth and insight, before producing any of their 
own great works. The endless passages which might 
have been quoted from Italian writers, are excluded 
for the sake of brevity, and as being far less near 
and less interesting to us. 

Finally, the doubtful, difficult, or obsolete words 
are explained between the notes and the original 
text, or in the notes themselves. A brief account of 
the most remarkable Editions, Comments, and Trans- 
lations, is given at the commencement, together with 
a sketch of Dante's Hell and his journey through it. 
And the volume concludes with a complete Index of 
the Proper Names that are mentioned or alluded to. 

Now this simple statement will sufficiently shew 
that the present undertaking is upon a plan quite 
different from that of the other English translations ; 
and therefore enters into no competition with them, 
and requires no apology. I am persuaded that all 
who know any thing of the manifold significance of 
the Original, or of its old and recent history, will be 
glad to see another faithful effort made to bring the 
true meaning of it nearer to English readers. But, 
for several purposes, and more especially for the 



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guidance of younger students, it may be useful to 
state also, in a few words, the reasons that have gia- 
dually led to this new experiment, and the feelings 
and conyictioDs under which it was begun. They are 
as follows : 

In the year 1831, being called to Italy by other 
duties, I first studied the Divina Conunedia, under 
guidance of the most noted literary Dilettanti of Rome 
and other places. I heard them readmit with wondrous 
gestures and declamation, and talk of it in the usual 
superlatives ; learnt by heart the stories of Francesca, 
Ugolino, &c., and could speak very fluently about 
them. But, as a whole, it took little serious hold 
of me at that time. The long, burdensome, inco- 
herent jumble of contending notes in the Paduan 
edition of 1822 — recommeoded as the best — had 
helped to darken and perplex every part of it that 
required any comment. 

During the seven years which followed, I often 
studied it again, at leisure hours, along wiUi the 
other works of Dante ; and got intimately acquainted 
with various Italians of different ranks, who, without 
making any pretensions to literature, or troubling 
themselves with conflicting commentaries, knew all 
the best passages, and would recite them in a plain, 
sober, quiet tone — now rapid, now slow, but always 
with real warmth — like people who felt the mean- 
ing, and were sure of its eiFect. To them the Divina 
Commedia had become a kind of Bible, snd given 
expression and expansion to what was highest in 
their minds. The diflerence between them and the 



nil PREFACE. 

Dilettanti seemed infinite, and Tras all the more im- 
pressive from the gradual waj in wliich it bad been 
remarked. 

The contemporary Historians, or Chioniclers, of 
Florence and other parts of Italy were afterwards 
studied, in coimexion with Dante and his earliest 
commentators; and here the meaning of the great 
Poem first began to unfold itself in detail, and apart 
from its mere liftrary merits. It became significant 
in proportion as it was felt to be true — to be, in 
fact, the sincerest, the strongest, and warmest utter- 
ance that had ever come from any human heart 
since the time of the old Hebrew Prophets. Dili- 
gent readers of those contemporary historians vrill 
find that the Poet, amongst other things, took the 
real historical facts of his age, and took them with 
surprising accuracy and transcendent impartiality, ex- 
tenuating nothing, exaggerating nothing, though often 
rising into very high fervour and indignation. And 
they wiU also find that there was enough in those 
old times to excite a great, earnest, &r-seeing man, 
such as Dante ; and send him into the depths and 
heights of Prophetic Song. Those times had already 
produced Sicilian Vespers, and tragedies enough; 
and carried vnthin them the seeds of Bartholo- 
mew Massacres, of Thirty -Years Wars, and French 
Revolutions, and the state of things that we now see 
over the whole continent of Europe and elsewhere. 
They were times of transition, like our own — the 
commencement of a New Era, big with vast energies 
and elements of change ; and " the straight way was 

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loflt." It is only the phraseology, the apparatus, and 
outwBrd circumstances that are remote and obsolete ; 
all else is the same with us as with Dante. Our 
horizon has grown wider than his : our circum- 
navigatora do not find that Mount of Fui^tory 
on the other side of the globe ; the Continents of 
America stand revealed in his Western Hemisphere 
of Ocean ; the Earth is no longer the " fixed and 
stable " Centre of our Universe : but the great prin- 
ciple of truth and justice remain unaltered. And to 
those amongst ourselves, who, with good and gene- 
rous intentions, have spoken lightly and unwisely 
concerning Dante, one has to say — not without 
sadness : Study him better. His ideas of Mercy, and 
Humanity, and Christian Freedom, and the means 
of attaining them, are not the seune as yours: not 
the same, but unspeakably larger and sounder. He 
felt the infinite distance between Right and Wrong, 
and had to take that feeling along with him. And 
those gentle qualities of his, which you praise so 
much, lie at the root of his other heroic qualities, and 
are inseparable from them. All anger and indigna- 
tion, it may safely be said, were much more painful 
to him than they can be to you. The Dante you have 
criticised is not the real Dante, but a mere scare- 
crow — seen through the unhealthy mist of your 
sentimentalisms. Why do you keep pi;eaching your 
impracticable humanities, and saying, Peace, peace ; 
when there is no peace ? Is there nothing within 
your own daily observation or experience to make 
you seek for surer footing, and prevent you from 



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toying to heal the foulest ulcers hy merely hiding 
them, and talking mildly about them? Have you 
not this very year beheld the whole of a great nation, 
ftanticly, and with world-wide re-echo, proclaim- 
ing imiversal Brotherhood, and Ereedom, and Equal- 
ity, on hollow grounds ; and then, within four short 
months, as a natural and inevitable consequence, 
slaughtering each other by thousands ? The bumanest 
men of all countries are beginning to grow sick and 
weary of such expensive sham humanities. 

But to return. Having thus acquired a clearer 
idea of the Poem, and got fairly beneath the thick 
encumbrances of Dilettantism and other eacum> 
brauces, which hide its meaning, I began to be con- 
vinced that the quantity of commentary, necessary 
to make the substance and texture of it intelligible, 
m^ht be compressed into a much smaller space than 
had been anticipated; and that conviction was con- 
firmed by a minuter examination of the most cele< 
brated modem commentators, such as Yenturi, Lorn* 
baxdi, Biagioli, &c,, ftom whom those notes in the 
Faduan edition, above mentioned, are chiefly taken, 
A practical commentator, whose main desire is to 
say nothing superfluous, has got to study them all in 
the way of duty ; and then feels it to be an equally 
clear duty to pass over the greater part of what they 
have written in perfect silence. All of us want to 
know something of Dante ; but not one in a thousand 
could endure to read long discussions which generally 
end in nothing, and which surely ought to be allowed 
to die a natural'death as rapidly as possible. 



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It was imder sucli impressions as these that I 
fiist ttought of publishing a correct edition of the 
Original Text, with English Ai^:uments, and Notes 
explaining all the difficult passages, allusions, &c. 
But this plan, I was told hj the best authorities I 
bad an opportunity of consulting, would " make a 
piebald, monstrous Book, such as has not been seen in 
this countiy ;" and therefore, not wiUiout reluctance 
and misgiving, I resolved to attempt the Literal Prose 
Translation at the same time, and send forth this 
first volume — complete in itself — by way of eiperi- 
ment. The process of breaking in pieces the har- 
mony and quiet force of the Original, and having 
to represent it so helplessly and inadequately in 
another language, has been foimd as painful as was 
anticipated, and the notes as hard to compress ; but 
from beginning to end, all the difficulties of the 
task have at least been honestly fronted ; and readers 
who are already &miliar with Dante and his com- 
mentators, will be able to estimate the quantity of 
labour required for the performance of it. 

In conclusion, I have to acknowledge the kindness 
of one highly accomplished friend, whose name I am 
not allowed to mention : he read over the proofs of 
the first eight Cantos, and suggested some useful ad- 
ditions and amendments. 

I have also to thank my printers for the patient 
diligence and dexterity with which they have gone 
through their difficult and complicated task, sub- 
mitting to numerous alterations and corrections in 
the course of it. Only two single lines of tiie Ori- 



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ginal Text — the uppermost in pages 28th and 31st 
— have been inadvertently placed so as not to gtand 
on the same pages as their translation ; and 1 am un- 
able to find any other errors connected with it. The 
common Italian punctuation, somewhat different from 
our own, has been purposely retained. 

In the Translation, line 3, page 64^, after " punish- 
ment," add ' And more he said not;' and, at page 90, 
line 13, for " slow steps, his brows," &c. put ' slow 
steps. He had his eyes upon the ground, and his 
brows,' &c. In line 13, page 67, for " spirits" read 
' shadows ;' again, in line 13, page 312, for " punish- 
ments" read ' punishment ;' aud, in page 376, line 8, 
for " middle" read ' navel.' These two omissions, 
and three errors in the Translation, are due to my 
own inadvertency ; and may perhaps be excused, 
considering the number of things that demanded at> 
tention, and particularly the way in which the Ori- 
ginal Text had to be determined as I went along. 
One readily (canto xvii. 17), though correct in it- 
self, and adopted by Foscolo, does not correspond with 
the translation: instead of " Non fer mai drappo," 
Sec, it ought to be " Non fer raai in drappo." 

J. A. C. 

CktUea, Deeanher 1848. 



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MANUSCRIPTS AND EDITIONS. 



The ManuBcripts of the Dirina Commedia, found in diffe- 
rent parts of Italy, and deBcribed by rarions Italian writers 
who had seen or examined them, were estimated by Ugo 
Foacolo (Edition of 1842-3, torn. iv. p. 49) as amounting 
in all to Bome Two Hundred. Our British Museum, our 
Oxford and other libraries public and private, also contiun 
several that are not mentioned by those writers ; and doubt- 
less there are many more in the libraries of France, Ger- 
many, &c. The number of them is indeed very remarkable, 
considering that printing was introduced into Italy nearly 
four centuries ago. And vtduable reading have been ob- 
tained from Bome of them ; but none of ours have as yet 
been thoroughly examined ; and the terms in which most 
of the Italians apeak of theirs are extravagant, vague, and 
incredible, as Foscolo justly observes : so that one is forced 
to wait for further evidence, before giving any opinion on 
the Bubject of their relative merits. The second volume 
of the Bihliograjia Dantesca^ of M. de Batinea, if it equals 

' BiBuoaaAFli Dinresci, omia Catalogo delle EdJzioni, Tradu- 
zioni, Codici Manoscritti e Comenti della Divina Commedia e delle 
Opere Minori di Dante, seguho dalla serie de' Biografi di liii, com- 
pitata dal Sig, Vuconte Colotab de Batines. Traduiione Italians, 
&tta Bul Manoscrilto FiHnceee dell' autore. Tom. i. 8*°, pp. 769. 
Piato, 1816-6. I have quoted the title of thia very useful and merito- 
rious work at full length. The aecoad volume is still unpublished. 
The first, in two parts, cont^ns an account of the Editions, Truisla- 

b 



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XIV MANUSCRIPTS AMD EDITIONS. 

the first, will famish the sober and accurate aecoont of them 
which is Btill wanted. 

The number of Editions hitherto pubhshed is up- 
wards of Two Hundred and Fifty. Of these, at least fifteen 
authentic editions, besides five of doubtful authenticity, 
were printed within the last thirty years of the fifteenth 
century ; forty-two in the sixteenth ; four in the seven- 
teenth, or poorest century of Italian hterature ; forty in 
the eighteenth; and, in the present century, more than 
one hundred and fifty. Ample details, concerning all of 
them that were published before the year 1845, will be 
found in the work of M. de Batines. Only a few of the 
most remarkable can be mentioned here — in the order of 
their dates. 

liVS. The earliest edition is that of lohanni Numeis- 
ter, printed at Fuligno in 1472, with very brief arguments 
and no comment. It is printed in clear type, and upon 
stroDg paper ; not paged or numbered. There are almost 
no points ; and no capital letters, except at the commence- 
ment of the Terzine, and in a very small number of the 
proper names. In the British Museum, there is an excel- 
lent copy of it, to which I have often referred, and not 
always without profit,* when perplexed by different read- 

tions, and Commenta printed and unprioted ; and tlu-ougliout the 
whole of it, the author caret^ill; distinguishei what he baa himaelf 
seen from what is reported by othere. 

' Thus, in canto i. ver. 4G, 1 found: Si oke parta che laere ne 
laEMissB, (hough FoBcolo Baja " all the printed copies" have tb- 
UESSB ; and, in canto xtIi. rer. 124: Et vidi fM eht tiolvsDBi. 
davanH, instead of Foscolo'a ddii davaitli. I find tremessb also in 
the very rare Neapolitan edition, printed about 147G. An exact re- 
print of the Fuligno edition, with the different readings of the other 



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MAMQSCSIFTS AND EDtTtONS. XV 

ingB. All the Bibliographers spesk of it, snd also of two 
other editions that vere printed later in the same year. 
In particnlar, the account which M. de Batinea givea of 
it is Tery accurate. I shall content myself with quoting 
one or two passages, to shew the cnrions waj in which the 
words flow together, without pointa or capitals, more espe- 
cially when the line threatens to be long. Thus : 

Penne aiua nellacipta dolent« 
perme siua neletemo dolors 
penne siua tra laperduta g«nte 

Inferno, Ui. 1-3. 

Come dautunno uleuan lefliglie 

lima apreseo dellaltra Gnchel ramo 
lendalls terra tutte lesat spoglie 

/tidiii. 112-4. 

Noi It^gwuama un^orno perdiletto 
dilaneialotto come amor lostrinse 
soli erauamo et seiualcun swpetto 

Ibid. T. 127-9. 

1477. The neit remarkable edition that I have had 
opportunities of examining, also in the Museum, is that 
of Yendelin da Spira, printed at Venice in 1477. M. de 
Batines ^vea to it the title of La Divina Comnudia, ap- 
parently through inadvertency, as he also does to editions 
printed in 1473, 1484, 1487, and 1491. The epithet Divina 
occurs in no edition of the 15th century; but ftt the end 
of this of Vendelin, in some vehement helpless versea, we 
find the expression, inclito H diuo dante allegkieri Fio- 
rentin poela; and later editions speak of the excelso, glo- 
Rioso, DiviNO, or TENERABiLE poeta Ftorentino, long 

earliest editions, would be verj acceptable; and the Miwemn now 
po«seasa good cojHea of them all. 



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XVI MANU8CK1PTS ANU EDITIONS. 

before they begin to apply the title' of Ditins to the 
poem itself. The t«it is in genend more accurate than 
that of Numeiater; and is accompanied by a long com- 
ment, which the title— falsely as we shall see — attributes 
to Benveuoto da Imola. I shall give one specimen. The 
initial letters of the Terzine stand wide apart from the 
lioes, thus : 

A mor chanullo amato amar perdona 

miprese dicoetui piacer siforte 

cbe came uedi ancoi noa mBboiulona 
A mor londuase noi adana mort« 

chain attende che uita ciepeiue 

queBte parole dalor cifui porte 
D achio inteu &c. 

Inf. V, 103-9. 



' In the Letter to Can Grande, Dante himself, speaking of the 
Title, Bays, " Ltiiri lUtilva eti: Incipii cohsdia dantis allaohebji, 
FLoasKTiiii KATioNR, HON houibps." He then gives the deiiTatian 
of the terms Corned; and Tragedy thus : " Canttedia didtur a kA/oi, 
eiila, et fU^, quod est eaniut, unde Comadia quad villantu oonftu. 
. . . Tragadia s TgdYaii ^"0^ ^t hirata, et ^S^, quau eantm hir- 
cinua, id eet f<etidu9 ad modum hiici." And after adding that Tia^ 
gedy " speaks in a style elate and sublime, and at the beginiiiDg is 
admirable and quiet, at the end or exit fetid and horriblei" while 
" Comedy begins with the asperity of a subject, and ends prosperously, 
and speaks in a remiss and humble style ■" be says it will be easy to 
Bee "why the present work is called a Comedy. For if wo consider 
the subject thereof, at the beginning it is horrible and fetid, being 
Hett ; at the end prosperous, desirable, and grateful, being Paradise. 
And if we consider the style of speech, that style is remiss and hum- 
hie, being the Tulgar speech, in which even the women talk with 
one another. Wherefore it is evident why the work is called a 
Comedy." See also Fulg. Eloq. ii. i, where Dante again says : " In 
Tragedy we assume the higher style, in Comedy the lower," &c 

TheeaiUest and most other editions of the fifteenth century trans- 



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MANUSCRIPTS AHD EDITIONS. ITll 

14.78. The Milaneae editloD of 1477-8, called Nido- 
beatine from the name of ite editor, ia the beat of all the 
early editions. There are at least two copies of it in (he 
Museum : one beautifully printed on parehmeDt, the other 
on the strong paper of those timea. A long commentary, 
generally attributed to Jacopo della Lana of Bologna, a 
contemporary of Dante, accompanies the text, vhich mns 
thus: 

Cestui non cibera terra ne peltro 
ma sapienza & amore euirtute 
e Bua nation sara tra feltio elelOa 
Diquella humil ittilia lia aalut« 
pel cuj man laueTgine Camilla 
eurialo etumo e niw> difemte 
Quest] lacaccera &c. 

Inf. i. 103-9. 

14S1. The earliest Florentine edition is that of 1481, 
vith the comment of Landino. It is magnificent both in 
size and form ; but greatly inferior to the Milan edition in 
point of correctness, la the best copy of the Musenm I 
find no fewer than fifteen instances in which verses or whole 
Terzine are left out, besides other errors. In all the copies 
I have seen, there are at least Two ElngraringB, heading 
the first and second cantos of the poem, while large blank 
spaces are left above all the other cantos ; and ia some 
rare copies as many as Twenty are found, the last seventeen 
or eighteen of which seem to be glued upon those blank 
spaces. On the whole, this edition is a decided and very 
expensive failure ; but shews the ideas which the Floren- 

lal« the title simptj : CoHtNCiA Lt couEort ki dayie uLLEaHieni m 

FIBENZE, &C. 

The Letter to Can Grande, as given in tbe London edition of 
ISLE'S (torn, iii. p. 269-S4) ia misetab]7 incorrect, and quite un- 
intelli^ble. I quote from Fraticelli'a edition. 
b2 



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ZTUl HANnSCRIPT9 AND EDITIONS. 

tinea had learnt to entertain of their great Poet. The com- 
ment of Landiao, though reprinted more than fifteen 
times at Venice and elsewhere, was never again printed at 
Florence. It is the last edition from which I shall qnote 
a specimen. The words, as will be seen, begin to stand 
more regnlarif apart from one another : 

Incontinente inteai et certo fiii 

che queatem la sects de captiui 

a dio apiaccDti et animici moi 
Questi seiagarati che mai non faz uiui 

erono ignudi et stimolati motto 

dn moecani et da ueape cheron iui 

W. iii. 61-6. 

1505. After these folio editions of the 15th century 
comes the first Aldine, printed in 1502 ; and one is glad 
to see so perfect a little volume. It bears the simple title 
of Le Terze Rime di Dante, in front; and, on the 
reverse, Lo 'nferno e 'l Pcrgatorio e 'l Paradiso 
DI Dante Alaghieri. The text is said to have been 
taken from " a manuscript copy of Cardinal Bembo, now 
in the Vatican." Batines, tom. i. p. 60. — The second Al- 
dine edition, Dante col Sito et Forma dell' Inferno 
tratta dalla istessa descrittione del Porta, printed 
in Iblh, is of the same size and form in every respect, 
page for page ; and has woodcuU at the end, representing 
the position and shape of the Inferno. I have had these 
two editions constAUtly at hand, and have found the last of 
them even more correct than the other. 

1506. The second FlorenUne edition, Commedia di 
Dante inbieme con un Dialogo circa el Sito Forma 
ET MisuRE DELLO Inferno, published by Philippo di 
Giunta in 1506, is of the same small octavo size as the 
Aldine, and in similar type ; but is much rarer than either 



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M4NOSCBIPTS AND EDITIONS. XH 

of them, and has many different readings. It is also very 
correct. My copy contains Seven woodcuts, along vith 
the Difllogne at the end, though only Six are spoken of by 
M. de Batdnes, p. 65. 

1507. The fiantt alis^itn ^fiorrntina I)t«taria)lii, 
with the comment of Landino, printed at Venice in 1507t 
by Bart, de Zanni da Portese, is a rare and cariouB edition 
with singfolar woodcnt^i, but of little practical ralne. The 
words flow together in it, as in the editions of the fifteenth 
century, lliough &e text seems mainly taken from the 

1516. The first edition with the title of Divina Corn- 
media is said to be the one printed at Venice in 1516, by 
Bernardino Stagnino de Monferra. It has become Tery 
scarce ; and I hare not been able to get sight of it to verify 
the assertion. But in the neat and rare little Venice edi- 
tion of 1655, by Gabriel CHolito di Ferrarii, of which there 
is a copy in the Museum, I do find that title. 

1564. The three Venetian editjons of 1564, 1578, and 
1596, all in folio, with the comments of Landino and Vel- 
Intello and many useful voodcnts, published by Qlovam- 
battista Sessa and his Brothers, are simply and beautiAilly, 
and on the whole very correctly printed. They are called 
Ediiioni del Gatto, from the printer's mark of a Cat with 
prey, at each important atage of the work j and then of 
a grave larger Cat, sitting at the end of it : or Edixioni del 
Gran Naso, from the striking portrait of Dante on the title- 
page. The text of them is very nearly the same as the 
Aldine, only a little modernised in spelling and punctuation. 
I have used the edition of 1578. 

1595. In 1695, the Academicians delJa Cruaca, taking 
the Aldine edition and comparing it with about one hun- 
dred different ManuEcripts, gave out their Text of the 



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XZ MANUeCEIFTS AND EDITIONS. 

Commedia, in a Bomewhat ahabby and very incorrect little 
Tolume. 

Two of the font incorrect editions published in the 1 Tih 
century have the title : La Visiome, Poema di Danie, &c. 

1727. The text ^ven by the Cruscan Academy was 
first thoronghly corrected in 1726-7, by G. A. Volpi, pro- 
fessor of philosophy at Padua; and the edition of that 
date, superintended by him, and printed at Padua by 
Oiuaeppe Comina (hence called Edizione Cominiana), ia 
much and deservedly noted for its accuracy, and has been 
more frequently reprinted than any other. 

1757. Zatta's large Venetiau edition of 1757-8, rather 
celebrated in this country, takes the text of Volpi with 
more or less fidelity. It is gaudy, pretentious, and on the 
whole decidedly ugly "with abundant engrayings." 

1791. No edition of the Divina Commedia had been 
permitted at Rome, till Lombardi's appeared in 1791, cor 
Ikema de' Svperiori. It is in three volumes quarto, with 
long comment ; and is a good, ftithful, honest edition, the 
result of many years' labour. The teat of it is taken from 
the Nidobeatine of 1477-8 ; or rather, the Cruacan text, 
as g^ven by Yolpi in the Edixione Cominiana, ia altered on 
the authority of the Nidoheatine, and of various mss. to 
which Lombard) had access in the Vatican and other libra- 
ries at Rome. The worthy Friar gives only his inittals, 
F. B. L. M. C. (Fra Baldasaare Lombardi, minor ctmventuale) 
on the title-page. 

1795. The magnificent foUo edition of Bodoni, edited 
by G. F. Diouisi — a learned, bat perverse and quarrel- 
some, admirer of Dante — was printed at Parma in 179.'). 

1807. The L^horn edition by Gaetano Poggiali (Li- 
vorno. Tommuo Mmi et C, 1807-13, 4 vols. 8") is in con- 
siderable esteem for its correctness. It gives various read- 



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MANTJSCRIPTS AND EDITIONS. ZXl 

ings from a parchment hb. — of the year 1330, aa PoggiaU 
fondly believes and asaerU — and has a commentary, or 
paraphrase of the text, in separate volumei, 

1817. " La Divina Commedia con tavole in nune," 
published at Florence, in fonr hurge folio Tolumes, and 
dedicated to CanoTa, in 1817-19, is perhaps the moat splen- 
did edition of Dante, though the plates are ngt all in good 
taste. The last volume contains a very jadicions and useful 
selection of brief notes, many of them taken from the old 
manuscript commentariea which are not generally acces- 
sible. In truth, it is the best selection that has hitherto 
been made ; and well deserves to be reprinted in a separate 
and more accessible form. 

1820-S. The text and comment of Lombardi are given 
in the Roman editions of 1815 and 1820-1, and in the 
Paduan of 1822, with numerous additional notes, readings, 
and " illuBtrationa" — forming a vast jungle, from which 
the most experienced readers of Dante may well find it 
hard to extricate themselves. The two last of these edi- 
tions, however, are indispensably necessary for any one 
who undertakes to meet the difficulties of explaining or 
editing the Divina Commedia, though they are probably 
the worst that could be recommended to any serious stu- 
dent of it. 

1843. "La Commedia di Dante Allighieri, illustrata 
da Ugo Foscolo," London, 1842-3, 4 vols. 8", is the last 
that I shall mention. It is very valuable on account of 
the number of accurate references that it contains. Foscolo 
died on the I4th of September 1827, and hes buried in the 
little cemetery at Chiswick, He had made many prepara- 
tions for a large and perfect edition of Dante i and this 
of 1842-3, superintended and corrected by "An Italian" 
well known in this country, is the result of what was found 



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XXU UANTJSCBIFTS AND EDITIONS. 

in his mannacripto. The first volume gives the long " Dia- 
corso sol Testo del Poema di Dante" enlarged and cor- 
rected, with a Prefiace by the Editor, in which the merits 
and defects of Foscolo are biiefljr and candidly etated. 
English readers will dislike the angry, disjointed, and acrid 
style of that Discourse ; and quiet aludenta of Dante will 
be able to point out various errors, exaggerations, and 
anacbroniamB ; but it ought to be remembered that poor 
Foscolo had to remove very large quantities of deep-settled 
rubbish, and deal with a class of his countrymen upon 
whom any other style would have produced less effect. 
And though he never got fairly beyond the morbid Letters 
di Jacopo Ortia, and had, as his Editor says, formed a most 
incomplete idea of Dante, let us at least thanlc him for what 
he did do so zealously and faithfully. By accurate citation 
(rf every authority within his reach, he cleared the way 
for finally determining the text of the great Poem; and 
all the editions of it, that have been published since the 
appearance of hia, contain many of the readings and re- 
storations which he contended for. 

184S. The plan that has been adopted for fixing the 
Text here given, nuiy be stated very briefly. The best 
. common edition, that of Felice Le Monnier — printed at 
Florence in 1644, and abo published in London by Ro- 
laodi, with the date of 1845 — was taken and compared 
with the Aldine, Giunljne, Cruscan, Roman, Paduan and 
other editions, besides that of Foscolo, whose notes had 
been all carefully studied ; and only such alterations were 
made as seemed fully warranted. Those notes of Foscolo, 
in various instances, failed to prove the propriety of 
changes he had introduced ; and were sometimes found 
defective in their citations. No reading has been adopted 
without good authority, as all may ascertain who choose 



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MAMUSCBIFT8 AND EDITIONS. ZZUl 

10 make the same laborioQB comparisoiu ; and, on the 
whole — after what has been done by Foacolo aad othen — 
there seem anffident mat«nal8 for detfrmining the teit 
of the great FoeiD. Would that ve had aa Bure and per- 
fect a text of our ovn Shakspeare ! 



.yCOOgIC 



COMMENTS AND TRANSLATIONS. 



The number of EMSys, Dtssertatioiia, and partial or com- 
plete Commentaries on tlie Divina Commedie, mentioned by 
M. de Batines (Bibl. Dant. torn. i. pp. 370-766) amonnts 
to no fewer than Twelye Hundred and Forty ; and seyeral 
more have been published within the last three years. 
I refer to his work for an account of them, and shall here 
notice only a few of the most remarkable. 

The earliest of all comments seems to be that of Jacopo, 
Dante's son, written in the year 1328. It .extends no 
farther than the Inferno, in the only complete mb. of it 
known to exist — a parchment ms. of the 14th century. 
No. 7764 of the Royal or National Library at Paris. The 
Proem begins thus : Per cto che del/rullo universale, novel- 
lamente data al mondo per lo illustro filoso/o e poeta dante 
allighieri jiorentino, con pia agevolezza si possa conoscere 
.... 10 Jacopo sua figlivolo dinmstrare intendo parte del 
»uo profondo et auleniico tntendtmento, &c. And, in the 
ezplanatiou of Canto xii. rer. 112, this passage occurs, 
and fixes the date ; E correvano gli antu dalla uattvitade 
del signore mcclxxxxviHj, e oggi corrono mcecxxviij ; perl dire 
si puote eke xxvtj anni compiuli Heno ch'elli ctmiacioe gtusta 
opera} &c. A certain learned advocate, Jacopo Ferrari of 

■ To underntand this quotation, we muet recollect that, in Dante'« 
time, and for Bome centariea after, the fear commenced on the 25tb 
of March, and that queila opera probably mesas " this task or myidc 



.vGooglc 



COMMENtB AND TRANSLATIONS. ZXT 

Rf^o, wlio has carefully ezamined the mb. and made 
these extracts from it, M. de Batmes aayaf ia about to 
pabliali this old comment; and it will certainly be very 
welcome to students of Dante. 

Jacopo delta Lana, of Bologna, ia the next commentator 
in point of date. Little la koowa of him, though no fewer 
than fifty-two different uss., coDtaining the whole or part 
of faia commentary, atill eziat. One of theee, a Latin trana- 
btion, dated 1349, ia in the Bodleiaa Library (MS8. Ca- 
nonici. Miacell. 449) ; and another, alao a Latin translation, 
in the Eoyal Library of Paria, dated 1351. Both theae 
trandatiooB are the aame in the Forgatorio and Paradiso ; 
and the whole tranalation in the Pariaian hs. ia by Alberico 
da Boaciate, while that of the Inferno in the Oxford hb. 
ia by "Don GniUielmua de Bemardia." The remaining 
fifty usfi. are mostly in the original Italian ; and have been 
found to correspond with the comment which is printed 
in the Venetian edition of Vendelin da Spira (see p. zv.), 
and falaely attributed to Benvenuto da Imola, And, with 
the exception of a few alterations and additions, chiefly in 
the first canto of the Inf^no, the comment in the Nido- 
beatine edition (aee p. xvii.) a also the same. In casea of 
difficulty, I have often consulted both, and got little or 
nothing but what waa to be had from other aoorces. 

The Ottimo Comento — called alao Anonmo, Buoao, An- 
tico, before it was rightly known—is a mixed commentary 
of somewhat nncertain dat«. There are twenty-two hss. 
of tiie whole or part of it, several of which beloi^ to the 
14th century. "I, the writer, have heard Dante aay," 
and such-lilce phrases occur in it. " Giotto vaa, and is, 

joumef ," begun at the very end of the old year 1399 (or in Marcb 
of onr year 1300), m> that only " 27 years were oomplet^d" ftom 
that tins till any euliet mimth of the year 1328. 



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XXVI COMMENTS AHD TEAN8LATION8. 

amougBt the paintim that men Icaow, the highest" (Pvr^. 
xi. 95) ; and Giotto died on the 8th of January 1336-7- 
Again (Titf. canto xiii.), the bridge, on vhicfa stood the 
ancient slatae of Mars, " fell in the night of the fourth day 
'of November one thousand three hundred and thirty-three, 
that is, LAST tbah" (compare VUlmi, xi. 1); and then, 
apparently, some other hand adds : " The said statue, 
fidlen into the said river Amo, remained in it for many 
YEARS." This comment was first printed at Fisa in 1827-8, 
edited by Alessandro Toni. It contains long discussions, 
very leamed for the time at which they were written, bnt 
now superfluous and extremely wearisome. In some places, 
owing to defects of the hs. and other causes, it is hardly 
intelligible. Here and there it is brief and appropriate, 
beyond any other of the old comments, and in reality an 
Ottimo Comento. The expression, " amongst us," in the 
note I have given at p. 349, shews that at least one of 
the writers was a Florentine. 

The Latin comment of Pietro AlUghieri, Dante's son, 
was first published at the expense of Lord Vernon (Flo- 
rence, 1845), in one thick volume,' edited by Vincemo 
Nannucci. It is written with a striking kind of dignity 
and reserve ; and has more meaning than appears at first 
sight. It gives explanations of the mystic or allegorical 
sense, some useful historical details, many quotations of 
parallel passages, occasional interpretations of the Uteral 
meaning ; and yet withal is much briefer than the other 

' It is laid that copies of tbis edi^on " were sent ffrati* to sll th« 

most noted public libraries uf Europe." Hight a stranger suggest 
to Lord Vernon the additloDul benefit that would be conferred, bf 
having some copies of the other comments, which he is about to 
publish, printed on thinner and lestl costly paper, for the sake of 
priTste students, nho cannot always frequent such librariesP 



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COMMENTS AKD THANSLATtOMS. ZXVU 

Parly comments. And, in spite of the fiu-fetcbed subtleties 
of Dionisi uid others, I see no valid reason for donbting 
that it is justly ascribed to Dante's aon. There are twelve 
US8. of it, some of them from the 14th century, and all 
bearing his name ; and it is expressly mentioned in the 
MihiD^se edition of 1477, and in the Florentine of 14S1. 
Fietro died in 1364, after having practised law, and filled 
the office of Chief Judge, at Verona, for many years with 
good acceptance and success. The phrase {Pvry. canto iz. 
p. 434) " np to this time, namely 1340," establishes the 
date at which the comment was written. 

In August 1373, the republic of Florence resolved to 
set apart an annual sum of one hundred gold florena for 
Lectures on Dante; and Boccaccio was the first person 
appointed to deliver them. He began in October of that 
same year, in the chnreh of San Stefauo, near the Fonte 
Tecchio ; and continued till the time of hia death in 1375. 
His comment contains the substance of those lectures, and 
goes no farther than the I7th verse of canto xvii. It is 
written in hia usual hvely, pleasant style [ and, though 
extremely difiuse, it is a genial and valuable comment, and 
gives one the sensation of having parted from a good 
friend when it suddenly ends. The beat edition of it ia 
that of Montier {Opere Volffari d% Boce. tom. x-iii. Flo- 
rence, 1831-2), in three octavo volnraes. Lord Vernon is, 
or has been, getting another comment of the 14th century, 
"faUely attributed to Boccacdo," printed at Florence. 

After the commentary of Boccaccio, comes that of his 
papil and intimate Mend, Benvenuto da Itnola, who ia 
supposed to have delivered lectures on Dante at Bologna 
in 1375} and certainly he himself (/n/em. xv. 110) apeaks 
of being there in that year, and of having incurred " the 
mortal hatred and enmity of many" by exposing^ to the 



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ZXVIU COllMEHTS AND TKANSLATIONB. 

Carditutl L^te of that time, the scaudalooi vices of 
" certain nonns (prafesBon) Hpning from the aohes of 
Sodom," He had also been at Borne in 1350 {Infem, 
xviii, 28) ; and witnesBed the aecond great Jubilee, and 
the mode of paaaing; the bridge of St. Angelo described by 
Dante. He vaa one of Petiaich's fanuliar correspondents, 
aa majr be aeea by the letter, addreased Benvenuto Imolensi, 
Rhetori auo; and was author of the Libellvt Augvttalis, 
or List and brief History of the Emperors from Jolius 
Ctesar to Wenceikna (1378), the emperor of his time-s- 
printed along with Petrarch's Latin worka, and by aome 
attributed to him. The hiatorical part of his commentary 
was published by Muiatori [Antiq. Ital, torn. >.), who first 
ascertained it to be quite different from that which had 
been printed in the Vendeline edition of 1477. 

Frmceim da Butt expluned the Difiaa Commedia at 
Pisa in 1385, and left a long commentary, vhich is still 
nnprinted ; but laige extracts are given from it in the 
Vocabolsrio della Crusca. 

Mester GuiniforU delli Bargigi, a lawyer of Bei^amo, 
who died about 1460, wrote a comment on Dante, by order 
of Filippo Maria Tisconte, Duke of Milan. Only the part 
of it which relates to the Inferno has come down to us. 
This was first pnblished at Marseilles in 1838— not " en- 
tire," as M. de Batines says -, for the editor himself tells 
us that he bad left out certain tedious theological dis- 
quisitions. It is a good, weU-arranged eommentaryi and, 
amongst other things, explains the literal sense with much 
distinctness. 

Ckrittoforo Landino, the commentator of Vii^, and 
one of the successors of Boccaccio, lectured on Dante at 
Florence from the year 1457, with increased annual salary 
of 3U0 gold florens. His comment on the Divioa Com- 



.vGooglc 



CUMMBirrB AND TKANSLATI0N8. ZXIX 

media, fitat published in 1481, and often republished, 
Bbews wliat a veight of ipeech, in regard to the great 
Poet, conld he home by men in those days. It is very 
learned, and often nnepealcably tedious ; and has few or 
none of those brief appropriate passages vhich are found 
in the Ottimo Comento ; hut contains many authentic and 
indispensable details respecting the mauuers, and cnstoms, 
and femilies of Florence. 

The briefer commentary of Velluiello was first printed 
in 1544 at Venice; and, like his commentary on Petrarch, 
it is dull, and heavy, and generally of little practical value. 

The marginal Annotations, &c. of Ludovico Dolce, in 
the Giolito edition of 1555 (see p. xiz.), have been very 
frequently reprinted. They are good, but far too short. 

The Notes of Torqualo Tatao — chiefly relating to words 
and phrasM — were first published complete in the Opart di 
Taaio (torn. zzz. Pisa, 1831), e^ted by Prof. Bosini. 

The beet commentary of the 16th century is that of 
Bernarditto Daitiello of Lucca, printed at Venice in 1568 ; 
and, greatly to the discredit of Italians, never again re- 
printed. It is brief, clear, and practical, so far as it goes ; 
and written in a very good style. 

The three Indexes of folpi, in the celebrated Cominian 
edition of 1727, form a sort of commentary, and are as 
accurate as they could be made at the time. They are 
^ven in many subsequent editions ; and at last, combined 
in one general Index, they occupy nearly 300 pages of the 
fonrth volume of foscolo's edition, published in 1843. 

The comment of Father " Pompeo Vtnturi delta Com' 
pa^nia di GeaU" came ont in its complete form, at Verona, 
in 1749, and at Venice in 1751. It is written in the true 
spirit of a Jesuit, and with less than the usual learning ; 
and has been too frequently reproduced in later editions. 
c2 



T»T COMMENTS AND TRANSLATIOMa. 

It is impossible to mention all the other commentaries 
of tbe 1 8th century. That of Lomhardi, which appeared in 
1791. is such aa could be vntten hj the honest effort 
of a vhole life, amid the "dark wood" of Dilettantism 
produced by a host of idle writers ; and ooe feels a re^ 
respect for the worthy Friar, though at times he is sur- 
pnsiugly nsliTe, or perhaps dull. 

The comment of Biagioli (Paris, 1819) is ftUl of gram- 
matical discussions and far-sooght niceties, snperflnona 
praises of Dante, and vitaperation of Lombard! and 
others ; but is in some respects really nseftd, and evidently 
written thronghont with much zeal and fidelity. The 
5936 verses, noted as beautiful by Alfieri in an autograph 
HS. of 1776, which goes no farther than the 2Ist canto 
of the Faradiso, are all duly registered by Biagioli. He 
ought not to have spoken in such a way of Lombordi: 
no difference of opinion can justi^ the language he uses. 
And why should poor Commentators hate and abuse each 
other t Would it not be far wiser to meet on some commoD 
footing of respect, or at lowest of mutual silence 7 Is tliere 
not enough, and infinitely more than enough, for them all 
in the great Masters they seek to elucidate! Only one 
thing IB unpardonable, and that is, when commentators 
become sham commentators, and merely seek to eluddate 
themselres. 

Thia account coDcludes by recommending the Paduan 
edition of 1622 to all readers who desire to have full 
specimens of discordant commentary : they will there find 
abundant, and apparently aimless, quotatiooa &om more 
than thirty difiiereot authors. But for the sake of young 
students of Dante, I shall repeat what was written some 
time ago, after a detailed examination of many old and 
recent commentators : 



.yCOOgIC 



C0HMB»T8 ASD TBAHSLATI0N8. XXXI 

" The vhcie works of Dante, in prose and verse, if 
separated from the unwieldy commentaries and diesert»- 
tiona th&t hare been accomnlating round them ever since 
his death, might be comprised in two moderate volnmea. 
The -mere language of his Italian works is not difficult ; 
all the greatest of his countrymen, in their sacceesive 
generations, from the commencement c^the I4th century, 
have been familiar with its expteesiTe forms, and contri^ 
bnted to keep them current in the very heart of Italian 
literature. Some few words have become obsolete, some 
phrases require explanation ; but on the whole the speech 
of Dante comes wonderfully entire across the five ceo- 
tories; and all the most beautiful passages are atUl quite 
fresh and clear. This is more especially true in regard to 
the great Poem, which stands as the mature representative 
of his genius, the essence and cDnsummstiou of all that 
he had endeavoured and attained. His Minor Poems and 
other works — in which we find the germs of the Divine 
Comedy, and many graceful noble preludes to it — are 
written in a statelier, less &miliar style ; and have never 
been studied with the same universal zeal. 

" The main obstruction, in reading Dante, arises from 
our ignorance of the persons and things amidst which he 
wrote. The whole time-basis of his mighty song has be- 
come dim and cold. The names and events, which once 
stirred and infiamed the thoughts of all readers, lie far 
distant, and have little or no intrinsic interest for as. 
Most of them have grown so dark and shadowy, that they 
cannot by any effort be made to dweU in our memories ; 
and so, by demanding constant notes and references, they 
serve only to interrupt our reading, and prevent us from 
rising to the full height and warmth of the subject. The 
great Poem, we soon feel, must have taken a more direct 



.vGooglc 



XXm COHHENTS AND TRANSLATIONS. 

and eameat hold of the age from which it comes, than any 
other poem, andeDt or modem ; and for that reaeon alone 
it stands more in need of explanationB, Bnt it is likevise 
dietii^nished for its intense brevity, its multiform signi- 
ficance ; and can have had no superfluous words even for 
the nearest contemporaries. The laugnage, throughont 
the whole poem, to those who are duly prepared for it, 
jiaa a tone of plun familiarity which comes home to the 
subject with marrellons sequency and effect. It is like 
the language of a brother, whose position and feelii^ we 
are understood to know in detail ; and who handles only 
the summits of things with us, leaving to us all the filling' 
up of circumstances, and the minuter shades and ramifica- 
tions of meaaiog. 

" Most of the old commentaries on Dante are written 
with a kind of lai^e complacency, and genuine though 
long-winded enthusiasm, which makes them very interest- 
ing at first sight ; hut on closer inspection, they are found 
to contain a surprising quantity of worn-out rubbish, and 
extremely little real information. They may be looked 
into more or less extensively from curiosity, and consulted 
for the sake of minute details of persons and things which 
are not to be found elsewhere ; hnt no man in a healthy 
state of mind can now read them without being forced to 
it as a duty. In regard to all public events of Dante's time, 
the contemporary historians are much safer and better 
guides.' Benvennto da Imola seems to have felt this, even 

' RicoHDANO HiLESPTNi IS the otdeit chroDicler of Florence. He 
died in 1281, when Dsote was anl; liiteea yeaiB uf age. His work 
(/»(DriaFiiiren(tn«)beginBwith Ihe current traditionB, which SK giien 
in a somewhat loose and straggling waf, aa in the other earl; his- 
tories; but what he vritsa of his oim timee, down to 1281, has a 
■iiDple unaffected air of life and autheuticit;, and is almott whollj 



Liinn;.--, Google 



OOMHBXTS AND TKAHSIAT10N8. XXZIU 

in the 14tfa century; for, as Mnntori femarlu, lie nuule 
diligent aae of all the old local chronidefl — many of which 
are dot loat — in compiliiig his commentary. 

" The more modern commentariea and diMcrtationa, 
with aome few ezceplionB, are also remarkably diffuse and 

copied, with alight alteratioiu of etjle, bj VilUm, in the fith, 6th, an4 
7th boob of his Chronicle. The best editions of Malespini are the 
Oiimtine of 1G68 and ]S9B. The other Florentine edition, of 1719, 
Dinitg impoitant panages relating to the Pop«a and their ataiice and 
dmanf, 

GioTAHHi TiLLANi began his Oronua, at he hinuelf («11« ui (lib. 
viii. cap. 36), immediately after the great Jubilee of the ;car 1300, to 
which be had gone aa a pitgiim. The aight of " the great and andent 
things of the holj city of Rome," together vith the immeoso con- 
course of Chriltians, * iromen as well aa men, from distant and 
stnnge coontiies, and ftom br sod aear," had ititred np in him a 
desire to TMord the eveata of his own city and time, " aa a memorial 
and example for (hoM that aie to come." His Chronicle begins with 
the ancient traditions, and extends to the period of his dMth in 1348. 
It ia written in a moot nalre, racy, honest style, Villtuu is known to 
hare been of the Goelph party; lisi ted France and the Netherlands 
in 1304; was one of the Friora of Florence in 1 328, and the Amba^ 
Mdor at Bologna in 1329: and, at Tarions other tiioet, ha filled hi^ 
offices in hia natiTe city. Of the Fopea he says all the good he can 
in honesty; and somelunee palliates, but never conceals their vice*. 
For their High Office his rev^enca is nnlimited, but he has to record 
whatsoerer it felt by him to be true, and has often to ipeak of the 
"Judgments of Ood"tbat come upon them for their crimes. Next 
to Dant« himself, he is the most impartial and truatworUiy anthority 
we have; and looking ftom diSbrent points of view, each with his 
om peculiar fidelity and eamestneas, they mutnolly and uninten- 
tionally conEiDi one another. The best edition of Villani is that of 
Florence, publiahed by Magheri in 1823 (8 vols. 8vo) ; and from it 
the quotations are all taken. 

The Ittoria Fiorenlma di tHno Conpagni is also good, but very 
fragmentary; and has been of little use compared with those of 
Haleapini and Villani. 



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XXXIV CX)MMENT8 AHD IKANBLATIONS. 

ODsabHtantiai ; and in general ttiey have a decidedly empty 
tone, sad a total vant of eamestneBB, which are much more 
difficult to endure in connexion vith the works of Dante 
than the thin enthusiasm of the old comm«ntatorB. In 
truth, very few of the books that have been written on 
the Bubject eeem to have cost their authors any serious 
thought at all, or been houeatly intended for the purpose 
of illustrating Dante. Real dilBculties are passed over in 
silence, or increased by a pompoas repetition of all the 
incoherencies that have been uttered respecting them. 
-The plunest passages, on the contrary, are overladen with 
nselesB discassions ; and fresh conceits are started, and 
multiplied and pursued with an ostentatious and very 
cheap disphiy of learning. Meanwhile the huge vacant 
bulk of the comment swells into more and more painful 
contrast with the piercing brevity and compactness of the 
text ; the reader's patience, however obstinate, gets quite 
exhausted ; and the conviction grows strong, that if Dante 
be unintelligible without such aids as these, he will for ever 
remain unintelligible, and continue to be the prey of idle 
men who have nothing serious about them. In the whole 
range of literature, it might perhaps be difficult to find 
any books so painfully void of all thought, and so loudly 
diffuse, as the most part of those whitfh modem Italians 
have written concerning the greatest man their country 
has produced. Every thing relating to him has beeu 
darkened and entang^d with doubts ; his character and 
works are encumbered and overladen with mere rubbish, 
collected and heaped upon them without any just criticiBni 
or discrimination. But since the time of Lombardi, and 
more especially of Foscolo — whose anger will be excused by 
those who know what he had to deal with — a better spirit 
seems to have arisen among the countrymen of Dante." 



U.g.VK.yGoOglC 



COMMENTS AND TRANSLATIONS, X3CXT 

It only remaina for me to add, that the comment given 
in the present volume is defined and limited by one simple 
role. In attempting to lessen the difficulties above men- 
tioned, and bring the great Poem nearer by explaining its 
material and temporary elements, I have endesvonred to 
imitate the Author's own economy of words, m tta m 
coDsifitent with prosajc cleamesB, and strictly suppressed 
whatever seemed irrelevant, 

The Translations are also very numerous. The 
eiu-liest is in barbarouB Latin hexameters, line for Une, 
hy one Matleo RoMlo (" Matheus Rompto"), a Benedictine 
monk of Venetian parents, who died in 1343. In a kind 
of Elegy, at the eud of the Paradiso, the good monk speaks 
of the moumfol drudgeries inflicted on him for having 
made this translation, which bad occupied him many 
years. It is not without real warmth ; and must have 
been begun' at least a very short time after Dante's death, 
which took place in I32I. It still exists complete in two 
Hse. ; and in three, imperfect. Specimens of it will be 
found in the work of M. de Batises. The only other Latin 
translation I shall here mention is that of the Abbate dalla 
Piaiza, also in hexameters, and without notes — the result 
of some twenty years' labour. The author died at Vicenza 
in 1844 ; and it was first published at Leipzig only a few 
months ago. It is incomparably the best Latin transla- 
tion, and may safely be commended to all students of 
Dante. In the preface, written by Professor C. Witte, the 
whole story of Franc«Bca is given iVom the version of 
Matteo Bonto, and from others of more recent date. 

The Spaniards have but one translation, and that ends 
with the Inferno. It is by a certain Don Fematukt de 
Villegas, archdeacon of Buigos i and was published in that 



.vGooglc 



XXXVl COMMENTS AKD TBANSLATIONB. 

"mvjr noble y mat leal" city, on the 2ad of April 1515. 
A remarkable translation, and tolerably literal, considering 
the complicated Terse and rhyme in irhich it is written. 
Nearly the whole comment of Landino is also fiuthfolly 
translated, with many additions explaining the exact literal 
sense ; so that the volume sweUs into a large folio. Pro- 
fessor C. Witte, in the preface mentioned above, ^ves the 
story of Francesca &om it; and also &om two French 
translations of nearly the same date (mss. in the libraries 
of Turin and Tienna), which aeem wonderfully true and 
literal. 

The first published French translation is that of Grai' 
gier (3 vols. 12="', Paris, 1597), dedicated to Henri IV. 
It is little esteemed, except by ravenous collectors of oM 
books. The more modem French translations — many in 
number — are, as osnal, the wont in Europe ; and some 
seriouB Frenchmen (see Reoue de> Dew Memdes for 1840, 
&c.) are beginning to feel this. The long-established fttal 
plan of curtailing, diluting, and altering every thing so aa 
to snit the current taste, is followed with Dante too. The 
prose translation by Angela Fiorentiito, an Italian residing 
at Paris, is the only exception : it is in general very fkithfU 
and Uteral ; but passes over the difficulties too lightly, and 
frequently omits the little words and phrases that are 
hardest to translate. It was first published in 1640. The 
latest translation (Paris, 1847), by A. Brizeux, in a kind 
of rhythmic prose, nnhiqipUy returns to the old method 
above described ; and is often very feeUe and very wide of 
the Original. 

The Germans have dght complete translations, some 
of them in prose ; and all, so far as I have seen, remark- 
ably fiuthful. That of K. L. Kanitegieiser, in the measure 
and rhyme of the Or^al, vent through four editions 



.vGooglc 



COMMENTS AND TRANSLATIONS. XXXTU 

from 1814, when it wu first pnblislied entire, to IfiiS. 
Bnt the best and warmest of all trsnalations, known to 
me, 18 that of " Philalethes," or Prince John of Seuo»y. It 
is in blank verse — in good, racy, dear German ; and ex- 
actly of the same length as t)ie Original. The first Ten 
Caatoa of it were priTatelf printed in 1833 ; and then, in 
1839-40, the whole translation of the Inferno and Pnrga- 
torio pablished at Leipz^ in two quarto volumes. Ilie 
Prince tells in his preface to the Inferno, how " Dante 
had long been one of his favourite authors," and how, 
amongst other things, " the high moral dignity of the 
Divine Comedy had irresistibly attracted him ;" and finally 
" stirred up in him an indescribable impulse to reproduce 
the great work in his mother toi^e, and that with as 
much literal fidelity as the genius of the German language 
(and not merely the grammars of it) would permit." A 
third volume, containing the Paradiso, ,was announced 
only a few months ago as being ready for publication. 
Another very remarkable transladon (one vol., Berlin, 
1842) is that of ^. Kopisch, a German artist and poet of 
some celebrity, who spent several years in Italy. It is also 
in blank verse, printed line for line along with the Italian 
Text, and is the most literal translation hitherto published. 
The German of it might often be hard to understand with- 
out the Italian, and the verse is of necessity somewhat 
flat and helpless ; but no such toauslatiou could have been 
made or attempted in any other modem language. 

Of OUT own Translations it is unnecessary to say much, 
as they are accessible to every one. Boyd's waa made in 
the last century, under wants and circumstances which 
no longer exist; and it seems to have become obsolete. 
Cuy's is a most excellent translation of its kind : perhaps 
there is none better in our language. But the sort of 
d 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



XXXTlll COHUENTB A 

verse in which it is written takes away much of the ftnai- 
liar and direct tone of the Original ; nnd here and there 
one finds eridence of a somewhat imperfect acquaintance 
with Itidian. Wright's is in many places very epirited; 
and even where the necessities of verse hinder him from 
giving the tme sense, you may frequently remark that he 
has thoroughly understood it. The Americans have only 
a translation of the first ten cantos of the Inferno (Boston, 
1843) i and thjit also is very Mthfiil in its way, and ought 
to be continued. 



.yCOOgIC 



THE INFERNO OF DANTE. 



In this brief Bketch of the Position and Fonn of Dante'a 
Hell and his Journey through It, I Kvoid the usual con- 
jectoreB, and state nothing; but vhat ia wuranted by bis 
own authority, quoting it for the sake of all ftuthM stu- 
dents, as follows : 

Our Earth rests "forcYer fixed and stable" in the 
Centre of Dante's universe (Conv. Tr. iU. c. 5), and the 
Heavens^ with their Planets and Stars go rerolving round 

' These Heaveiig with their inhabitants form the proper aubject 
of the Paradiao. But Dante also enmnemtei them in the second 
Treatise and fourth chapter of hie Cimmto, or Bonijuet ; and mentiont 
the order in which they coine — following the Ancient Aotronomical 
System, which makes ooi Earth Bland motionleas in the Centre. The 
Heavens, he lella us, are Ten tn nomber. Of these, the first with 
regard to our Earth is the Heaven of the Moon, " which hai the 
nnoUest circles" {l^f. iL 78], or includes the smallest space in its 
leiolutions, and moves slowest; the second, of Mercury; the third, of 
Venus ; the fourth, of the Sun which also is regarded as a " Planet " 
(/n/.i. 17); the fifth, of Mors; the aiith, of Jupiter j the seventh, of 
Sotom i the eighth, of the Stars proper : the ninth, or Primum 
Mobile, is the " Crystalline, that is, the diaphanous, or quite trans- 
parent Heaven, which is not discernible except hy the motion it 
gives " to the other eight Heavens that it includes. Beyond, or 
" outside of ail these," he adds, " Catholics place the Empyreal 
Heaven, that is to say. Heaven of flame, or luminous Heaven ; and 
represent it as being immoTeable," &c It is also the " divineet 



.vGooglc 



il THE INFBBHO OF DAHTB. 

it. Only a comparadTely small portiou of it is kaown to 
be inhabited in hia time, and thnt he calls "the nncoTered 
part," or "the great dry land" (Ibid, and Infem. xmT. 
113); and, folloving the Bible, he placee Jerusalem in 
the centre of it, or ' in the midst of the nations.' 

Immediately belov the dry land lies his Hell, as a 
kind of sink into vhich all Sin and Misery falls. The 
snccessire generations of men stand as it were on a thin 
earth-rind, with the Heavenly Stars above them, and the 
" Dark Valley" (vui/e bitia) of Hell beneath. And the Cross 
on Mount Calvary, where the Divine Man " was consumed" 
{Inf. xxxiv. 114) for their transgressions, points from the 
centre of their Temporary Dwelling-place to those same 
"beautiful Stars," wherein the "blessed people" dweU 
forever (7fl^. i. 120); and to the all-including Empyrean, 
which is the " City and H^h Seat of that Emperor who 
reigns above, and rules in every part" throughout the 
universe. And the hollow " Realm of Sorrow" convei^ies 
beneath {Inf. xxxii. 3), towards its " Emperor" Satan, 
who has his Seat {Inf. zi. CS ; zziiv. 28) at the very centre 
of the Earth or lowest point of space. And all l^ht and 

Heaven, the Heaven of tett," or peculiar abode of the Almighty : of 
which our own Milton thus Bpeaks : 

' UndeT hit boniEng vb»l> 
Th« Itudfkit Empyriu ■hook IhrougliDut, 
AU but (hs ChnuM Itwlf of God.' 

For. Lull, <i. SSI. 
' Ko« biul thg Almighty FitliiT tttaa above, 
Vtara tha pun Empn'sni "ban be >lta 
High IbnuKd ibove Bll beigbt, bent down hii ejw.' tec 
' Abom him nil the Suctltlu or Heaven 
Stood tlilDk u Mu>,' &c. 

lb. Ul. 6t. 

Beatrice comes from it, ' from singing AlleluJah ' {Inf. xii. 88 ; ii. S3, 
&c), when she givea Yiigil the nuMioQ to deliver Dante ftom the 
ravage beaita in the " dark wood." 



.vGooglc 



THB INFERNO OF DANTE. xli 

he&t, all wisdom, and love, and atrengtb, comes trom the 
Stars or Hearena, and returns to them ; aU cold and dark- 
ness, all ignorance, and hatred, and weakness, comes fiom 
the Evil One, and also retams to him. He ia planted at 
the bottom of Hell, fixed in eternal Darkness and eternal 
Ice (Inf. xxxiv. 4, &c.), his head with its three emblema- 
tic facea pointing to Jerasalem, and his feet towards the 
Mount of Purgatory, which is the exact antipodes of Jeru- 
salem, And Dante, not without aignificance, ends each 
of the three great diTiaions of his Poem with the word 
Stelle or " Stars :" a Bleased Spiht fi-om above, sent by 
Divine Mercy, gives his Guide the power to reacue and 
conduct him (Inf. a. 53-120) ; and he does not visit the 
"Dark Valley" of Hell for "sport," dUetIo {Inf. xii. 87), 
but firom sore "necesaty," and because the road through 
it leads to Heaven — leads to the " Stars." The brief sim- 
ple words in which he alludes to all this at the bitterest 
stages of the "woody way" (as in cantos x. 129; xii. 85; 
XV. 49-55 ; zvi. 61, 83, &c.) will be found very significant 
by readers who rightly understand them. 

The Hell itself is an immense, obscure, circular cavern, 
becoming narrower and narrower by successive degrees 
{Inf. V. 2, &c.) as it goes deeper. The general form is 
that of an inverted cone, which has its base towards the 
" great dry land," and its apex at the centre of the Earth. 
The sides of it, on which Dante's road lies, are occupied 
by a series of Horizontal Circles, or circular stages, mostly 
separated from one another by precipitous descents, and 
gradually duninishing in size like the rows of on amphi- 
theatre. These Circles are Nine in number, with various 
subdivisions in the lowest three of them ; all of which are 
fuUy described in their proper places. 

The Souls of the "lost people "are sent down to depths 
d2 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



xlii THE INFERNO OF DANTE. 

coireapoadiBg to their gnilt, the greatest einnen falling 
into the loweat and amallest ciicular apacee, nearest to 
Loafer or Sat&n. Thar crimes, which are infltantly con- 
fessed when they come into the presence of Minos the 
Infernal Judge, take hold of them, and " weigh them down 
towards the bottom " {Inf. t. 4, &c. ; vi. 86) ; aad also 
inflict tlie inevitable and ^propriale punishment, which 
of itself reveals the natnie of those crimes. 

Immediately within the entrance comes a " Dark Plain" 
(iii. 22-130), which is as it were the Vestibule of Hell; 
and lies like a broad rii^ all round its mouth. This space 
is occupied by the miserable "caitifia" or " captives," 
caitivi or copftvi (see the verses from Landino's edition, 
p. xviii.), the worthless crew, " wbo never were alive," and 
passed their time on earth thinking only of themselveB, 
and taking no part in any thing either for good or for eviL 
The souls of this class are alike " displeaung to God and 
to his enemies ;" and neither Heaven nor the deep Hell 
will admit them. Wasps and hornets sting them forever, 
and make them hurry round the brim of Hell, punning 
an undess-g^ddy flag. " They have no hope of death," or 
even of condemnation ; " and their blind existence is so 
mean that they are envious of every other lot." 

After leaving them and croasii^ the rest of the dark 
plain, Dante comes to the great river Acheron, or ' Stream 
of Sorrow,' which flows round the brink of Hell, and 
afterwards descends (siv. 1 13-124) from rock to rock, and 
becomes the source of all the other rivers and marshes 
that are met with lower down. Crowds of guilty souls 
are seen assembling, in rapid succession, upon its shore, 
and Charon is ferrying them over. This scene, as described 
by Dante, Michelangelo has endeavoured to represent in 
the Cappella Sistina at Rome. 



.vGooglc 



THE INfEKNO OF DANTE. zliii 

By Bupermttoral means Dante u traiuported acroai the 
Stream, Oaziug round, he fiads himself upon the very 
" edge of the Abyss," aad is led down by his Guide (ir. 
13, &c.) into the First Circle, or Limbo, which contains 
the Heathen men, women, and children who lived without 
Baptism or Christianity. Virgil delicately rouses his at- 
tention, as they enter : " Thou askest not what spirits are 
these thoQ seest?" Sec. The great ancient Poets come 
forth to meet them, and receive Dante as one of their 
number. And trom " a place open, luminous, and high," 
the ancient Heroes and Sages are significantly shewn to 
him, face to &ce ; and be " is exalted, or grows higher, 
by having seen them." Cnsar is there — an Emperor with 
harness on, and with falcon eyes ; and Saladin, apart and 
solitary. 

On descending to the Second Circle, Dante finds Minos 
the Inftmal Jadge stationed at its entrance, for the reason 
given in the Argument to canto v. This circle ia the place 



Dante is carried, agun by supernatural agency, from 
the second to the Third Circle, where he finds the Epicures 
and Gluttons sufiering appropriate punishment. Canto vi. 

Flntns is found on the brink of the next or Fourth 
Circle, wherein the Avaricious and the Prodigal have their ' 
punishmeut. The souls of them are rolling dead we^hts 
on a dismal plain ; and thus continue sordid and dingy to 

' FtHcolo {Dueorm ml Tealo, pp. 307-10, &c), quoting hiltories 
and Gomnient&ries which he hdd not seen, eonfbunded Quido— the 
friend of Dante — with Ouido Vecchio hia graod&ther ; and so made 
Fianccsca the donghtet, Instead of the aunt, of that friend. The 
tragedies of Franceses and Ugolino, as I hare noted in the Argu- 
ment to canto zxziii., probably occurred both iu the same year ; 
and DO doubt pTodneed a deep impreauon on the young Foet. 



.vGooglc 



xliv THE INFEENO OF DANTE. 

oU eternity, bo that uot one of them can be recognised. 
Canto Tii, 

The descent to tbe next circle is made, along the e%e 
of a Becond Stream (tU. 105, &c.), io a dark ravine which 
it has worn ont for itself. This stream, conung from 
Acheron, forms the Stygian Marsh, or fifth Circle. In 
its putrid mud, the Wrathful, the Snllen-aonr or Gloomy- 
stnggtBh, and the Vainglorioas, have their appropriate pa- 
nishment. Phlegyas conveys the Poets across the Marsh ; 
and here Dante first diHcems the red " mosques" of the 
City of Dia, or Satan. 

The Sixth Circle is the first that lies within the City, 
and seems to be on a level with the fifth. 

The Five circles, through which the Poets have now 
passed, constitute the Upper Hell (viii. 75 ; xi. 16, &c.), in 
which the different sins of Incontinence, such as Lnst, 
Gluttony, Avarice, Prodigality, 8sc. are punished. 

The Low Hell, or City of Dis, consists of Four Circles, 
in the last three of which the different sins that indicate 
Malice, or Rebellion (xi. 16, &c.) agfunst the decrees of the 
Almighty, are punished. 

In the Sixth Circle, the Arch-heretics with their fol- 
lowers, who deny the immortality of the soul, " have 
their cemetery." The souls of them lie buried in burning 
sepnlchres, which shall be all closed up (x. 10) after the 
Great Judgment: and the lurid flames — emblems, here 
and elsewhere (xxvi. 48, &c. ; xxvii. 13, Sec), of awakened 
consciousness— shall then be hidden within the tombs. 
This Sixth Circle is as it were a connecting link (see note, 
p. 127) between the circles of Incontinence and those of 
MaUce, &c. 

The Poets, on entering the City, tnm to the right (ii. 
132) i and go through a portion of the circle (x. 2, &c.), 



.vGooglc 



THE INFEBNO OF DANTE. xIt 

with the dty-wnll oa their right hand, and the fluning 
tomba on their left ; and after having aeen enough of it, 
they torn to the left (x. 133), and go acraaB to the edge 
of the Seventh Circle. Perhaps they have taken a Uke 
section or " arc " (tU. 128) of each urde above, and then 
crossed it in the same vay — as many conunentatore affirm 
— bat thin I leave to conjectnre ; for Dante himself affirms 
no aach thing. 

The descent to the Seventh Circle is made on precipi' 
touB ahattered rocks ; to the Eighth, by means of Geryon ; 
and to the Ninth, by help of Antsus. The Arguments 
and Notes, which relate to these circles, and to their sub- 
divisions, will make them plain to all attentive readers; 
and for idle readers this book is quite unsuitable. 

In conclusion I may remark, that the great leading 
ideas of this Hell of Dante are not borrowed ideas ; but 
are the result of all that he had learnt, and seen, and 
known. Viaiona of the fiitare world had indeed been 
common amongst Heathens and Christians before, and were 
still common in his own time, as we know from many 
aourcea ; bat those visions are generally of the most inco- 
herent, dim, and fragmentary description, and could sug- 
gest little or nothing, except that the minds of serious 
men had long been exercised with such things. Dante 
was familiar with all the materials of the Middle Agea, and 
also vrith the worth and wisdom of the Ancients whom 
he sees, fece to fece, in that Limbo of his : and he openly, 
nay purposely, takes evei? document within his reach. 
And it la not so much by what has been loosely called 
Invention, as by true and clear recognition of the Nature 
of Things in that age of his, by unerring discrimination 
of what is significant from what ia insignificant, and by 



.vGooglc 



Xlvi THE INFERNO OF DANTE. 

bonodleBS diligence withal, that he cooBtracts an original 
and enduriDg work. In hii inmost heart the acatteied 
incidents gradually cohere, and expand, and become a 
living whole — fit for ntter&nce: the " Sacred Foetn for 
many years has made him lean" (Farad, xxv. 3) ; and it 
is upon condition of his not b^g a " timid &iend to 
Truth" {Ibid. T. im) that he expects to hve amongst 
future generations. He has got infinitely beyond all the 
wretched factions of Guelphs and GhibeUines of his time ; 
and seen the very roots of their sin and misery. The 
flaming ReaUties of Eternity stand risible on every side of 
him, and have taught him the " Straight Way," and given 
him power to measure the dimensions of all Popes and 
Kaisers, and estimate them by a Standard which " cou- 
qners every error." And his earthly life too, with all its 
. sadness, has thereby become " bright," and *' clear," and 
unspeakably precious ; and even in Hell he recognises all 
the good qnahties of those that are condemned. There is 
nothing more tonchiug in the whole Poem than the brief 
simple wayiu which he makes them allude to the " clear" 
and " beautiful life," the " bright world," the " sweet air, 
gladdened by the Sun," the " beauteous stars," &c. 



.yCOOgIC 



THE INFERNO. 



.yCoOgIc 



.yCOOgIC 



AEGDMENT. 



Dante finds himself asCra; in a dark Woixl, where he speiida a sight oT 
great miseiy. He lays that death ia hardly more bitter, tliaa it is to 
recall nhat he suEfered there ; but that he will (ell the fearful things 
he law, ID Older that he may also tell how be found goidaace, and 
firal b^an to diacem the real causes of all miiety. He comes to a 
Hill ; and seeing its summit already bright with the rays of the 
Sun, he begins to ascend it. The way to it looks quite deserted. 
He is met by a beautiful Leopard, which keeps distracting his atten- 
tion from the HiU, and makes'him turn back several times. The 
hour of tbe morning, the season, and the gsy outward aspect of 
that animal, give bim good hopes at first; bat he is driven down 
and terrified by a Lion and a She-woIfL Virgil comes to bis aid, 
and tella bim that the Wolf lets none pass her nay, but entangles 
and slays every one that tries to gel up the mountain by the road 
on which she stands. He says a tinie will come vhen a swift and 
strong Greyhound shall clear the earth of her, and chase her into 
Hell. And he oStn to eonduct Dante by another road i to shew 
him the eternal roots of misery and of joy, and leave him with a 
higher guide that will lead him up to Heaven. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO I. 

In the middle' of the journey of our life, I found 
myself in a dark wood ;* for the straight way was 
lost. Ah t how hard a thing it is to tell what a 
wild, and rough, and stubborn wood this was, which 
in my thought renews the feax : so bitter is it, that 
scarcely more is death. But to treat of the good 
that I there found, I will relate the other things 
that I discerned. 

Nel mezzo del cammiuidi uoBtra vita 

Mi ntiovai per una selva oscant, 

Gb^ la diritta via era smarrita, 
Ahi quanto a dir qual era h cobb. dura 

Queata selva selvaggia ed aapra e forte, 5 

Che nel peuaier rinnoTa la panra ! 
Tanto h amara, che poco h piil morte : 

Ma per trattar del ben ch' iri trovai, 

Dir6 dell' altre coae, ch' io r* ho acorte. 



' The actioa of the piMin be- 
gins on Good Friday of the year 
ISOO, as ve learn from c. 
xxi. 112, &c.; and Dante wb 
diat time 35 yeUB of ^. The 
Bible, with which he was well 
BOquainCed, says i " The days of 
our yean are threescore yeara 
ten" (Plain, xc. 10). And Dante 
himself speaks of our life as an 
areh, which we ascend and de- 
scend ; and in which the highest, 



or middle paint, "is at the 35th 
year in men of perfect constitu- 
tion." Comife, Tr. it. c. 2S. 

' la " the erroneouB wood of 
this life" (lb. c. 24) ; in the dark 
battle of those who see not be- 
yond it. " In the (errors of the 
shadow of death" (Job nil'. 17) i 
amongst men who had lost " the 
Way, the truth, and the lift." 
John xiv. S. 



,,.Goog\c 



I cannot rightly tell how I entered it, bo full of 
sleep wafi I about the moment that I left the true 
way. But after I had reached the foot of a Hill' 
there, where that valley ended, which had pained 
my heart with fear, I looked up and saw ita shoul- 
ders alxeady clothed with the rays of the Planet^ that 
leads men straight on every road. Then the fear wa« 
somewhat^ calmed, which had continued in the lake' 
of my heart the night that I passed so piteously, 

lo uou 80 ben ridir com' io v' entrai ; 10 

^ant' era pien di sonuo in aa quel pooto, 

Che la verace via abbandooai. 
Ma poi ch' io fiii al pig d' un colle giunto, 

L& Qve terminavB quella valle, 

Che m' avea di paora il cor couipaato, 15 

Gnardai in alto, e vidi le sue spalle 

Vestite g^ de' raggi del pianeta, 

Che mena dritto altrui per ogni calle. 
Allor fn la paura ud poco qneta, 

Che nel lago del cor m' era dorata 20 

La notte, ch' io passai con tauta pieta. 



' The High Ground of Chris- 
tianity; the mjBtio "holy Hill," 
frequently spoken of in the FB&lms 
and other parts of the Seripturei, 
The "Delectable MountaioB" of 
oui own Buayan. 

' The aun : in Dante's time 
garded ai a planet " The Sun of 
ri^teousnesa shall arise with beal- 
iaginhiawinge," Jfoi.iv.2. "The 
Daytpiing from on high hath yi- 
sit«d UB, to give light to them that 
sii in daikneM and in the abadon 



of death, to guide our feet into the 
wajofpeacE." tu*e i. 78, 79. - 
" He now aeca the bright sum- 
mit at the end ofttat "valley of the 
shadow of death i" but is atill far 
iiom it, BJid hreathlesa, Un poco 
does not here mean " a little while," 
^ The heart was " the abode ofthe 
vital spirit" (Cita ATuwa, p, 267) i 
and a sort of reeerroiT (lake), or 
"receptacle ofthe blood," before 
the circulation became known. See 
Landini Com. ad ttKam, 



,,Googlc 



And as he, who ■with panting breath has escaped 
from the deep sea to the shore, turns to the dan- 
geroiis water and gazes; so my mind, which still 
was fleeing, turned back to see the pass that no 
one ever left alire. 

After I had rested my wearied body, I took the 
way again along the desert strand, so that the Arm 
foot always was the lower.' And behold, almost at 
the commencement of the steep, a Leopard,^ liglit 
and very nimble, which was covered with a spotted 



£ come quei, che con lena afiannata 
Uscito fiior Ad pelogo alia riva. 
Si volge all' acqua perigliosa, e guata ; 

Cos] r anitno mio, che ancor fiiggiva. 
Si ToUe indietro a rimirar lo pasao, 
Che non laacib giammai persona viva. 

Foi ch' ebbi riposato U corpo lasso, 
Ripreai via per la piagg^ diserta, 
S) che il pi& fermo sempre era il piii basso. 

Ed ecco, quasi al cominciar dell' eita, 
Una lonza leggiera e presta molto, 
Che di pel maculato era coverta. 



' It is only nhen walking • 
s level, that the foot resting < 
the gionnd ia alwa^ the lower ; 
but ftom vette 61, it appears th&t 
Dante had afterwarda begun to 
ascend. If il pii fermo (firm, 
strong) coa he shewn to mean 
" the right loot," as mmo itanca 
(weary, weak) means " 1^ hand" 
in canto xii. 41 ; then Dante, in 
Mcending the hiH 'aUntwise, with 



its summit on his left, will have 
the right (firmo) foot always to- 
wants the base, or lower than the 
other. VideStudUIneditituDaate 
(18«}, p. 166, &c. 

' Worldly Pleiaure, with its &ir 
outside ; in what Spenser calls the 
" general intention." And Flo- 
rence in particular, that changed 
its factions nith sueh lerity^ and 
ripidi^. Parad. in. Si. 



.vGooglc 



akin : and it went not from before my face ; nay, so 
impeded my way, Uiat I hiid often turned to go 
back. 

The time was at the beginning of the morning ; 
and the Sun was mounting up with the stara, which 
were with him when Divine Love first moved those 
fair things :' so that the gay sldn of that animal, the 
hoar of time, and the sweet season, were causes to 
me of good hope ; yet not so, but that I feared at the 
sight, which appeared to me, of a Lion." He seemed 
coming upon me with head erect, and fririous hun- 



E non mi si partia dinanzi al Tolto ; 
And impedira tanto il mio cammino, 
Ch' io foi per ritonur piii volte vfilto. 

Tempo era dal prindpio del mattino ; 
E il Sol montavB in m con quelle stelle 
Ch' eran con lui, qoando 1' Amor Divino 

Hosse da prima qaellc coae belle ; 
SI che a bene sperar m' eian csgiooe 
Di qnella fera la gaietta pelle, 

L' ora del tempo, e la dolce stagione : 
Ma non' si, che paora non mi deese 
La viata, che m' apparre, d' un leone. 

Questi parea, che contra me veuesse 
Con la tcBts alta, e con rabbicBa fame ; 



' The sun is in Aries ; the lea- 
Bon Bpring. And Dante believed 
that the vorld had been created 
u\i set in motion at that »ea- 
soD ; and iikeviu that mankind 
had been redeemed by the death 
of Chriat His " holy Friday" 



(eenerJi taato) wax the greatest 
and luoat aasred of days. 

* Ambi^on or Pride ; and, in . 
paiticuJar, the King: of France, 
vha shewed tlese qualities most, 
ratuntaining tyranny, bloodshed, 
and discord all over Italy. 



.vGooglc 



ger ; bo tkat the air seemed to qoake thereat. And 
a She-wolf,' that looked fiill of all cravings in her 
leanness; and has ere nov made many live in sor- 
row : She broi^ht each heaviness upon me vrith the 
terror of her aspect, that I lost the hope of ascend- 
ing.^ And as one who is eager in gaining, and, when 
the time arrives that makes him lose, weeps and 
afflicts himself in all his thoughts ; such that restless 
beast made me, which coming against me, by little 
and little drove me back to where the Sun is silent.^ 



Si che parea cbe 1' aer n 

£d una lupa, che di tutte brame 
SembiavA carca nella soa magrezzs, 
E molte genti fe' giJt viver grame. 

Qaesta mi porse tanto di gravezza 
Con la paura, che tucia di sua vista, 
Ch' io perdd la speranza dell' altesza. 

£ quale ^ quel, cbe volentieri acqnieta, 
E giugne U tempo che perder to face, 
Che in tntti i suoi pensier piange e a' attrl 

Tal mi fece la beatia senza pace, 

Che, venendomi incontro, a pocg a poco 
Mi lipiugeva Ik dove il Sol tace. 



' Avarice, wonhip ofthis world's 
goods; and (be Court of Rmne in 
particular, *' where Christ Is dsilj 
bought and sold." Par. xvU, 61. 

The image of these three beasts 
seems to be taken from Jeremiah 
T. 6 ; " A lion out of the forest 
shall alsytliem, and » wolf of the 
evenings sbsll spoil them, a leo- 
pard shall watch over (heir cities." 



* Litetall; ; " With the fear 

which issued from her loot, that 
I lost the hope of the height" 

' Into the valley where there 
is no light of the Sun. 
"The Sun tit me Is dark. 
And Ellent u ilie Moon, 



.vGooglc 



Whilat I was roeliing downwards, there appeared 
before my eyes one who seemed hoarse' &om long 
silence. When I saw him in the great desert, I 
cried; "Have pity on me, whate'er thou he, whether 
shade or veritable man !" 

He answered me : " Not man, a man I once 
was ; and my parents were Lombards, and both of 
Mantua by country. I was bom under Julius, 
though late;^ and lived at Rome beneath the good 
Augustus, in the time of the false and lying gods. 

Mentre ch' io rorinava in basso loco, 

Dinanzi agli occhi mi si fu offerto 

Chi per limgo sUenzlo parea fioco. 
Quando vidi cestui nel gian diserto. 

Miserere di me, gridai a lui, 65 

Qoal che tu ne, od ombra, od uomo certo. 
msposemi : Non uomo, uomo gUi tiii, 

E li parent! miei farou Lombardi, 

E Mantovani per patria ambedui. 
Nacqni sub Julio, ancorch^ fosse tardi, 70 

E rissi a Roma sotto il buono Augusto, 

Al tempo degli Dei falsi e bugiardi. 



' Alluiion to the loag neglect 
of Virgil'g works befoie Dante's 
time, finrs also meuiH "jaintof 
Toiee.'' So Milltm: 



hnggd 



1, though ti 



' Virgil VB« little more than 
twenty years of age at the time of 
Julius CsSBl's death { aad there- 



fore loo young (bora too Is(e) for 
makiDghimaelfknona to the great 
Emperor, whom Dante Teneialed 
as the founder of the Roman 
monarehy. See his treatise De 
Monorchia, and Ctmvito, Tr. iv. c. 4 
and 5. Vii^l "lived," in Dante's 
sense, or applied himself to his 
great work as B poet, under Ah- 



.yCoOglc 



A Poet I was ; and Bang of the jtist' eon of An- 
chiees, who came from Troy after proud Biiim was 
burnt. But thou, why retumest thou to such dis- 
quiet? why aecendest not the delectable mountain, 
which is the beginning and the cause of aU glad- 
ness?" 

" Art thou then that Yii^, and that fountain 
which pours abroad so rich a stream of speech V I 
answered him, with bashful front. " O glory, and 
light of other poets 1 May the long zeal avail me, 
and the great love, that made me search thy volume. 
Thou art my master and my author.' Thou alone 

Poeta fdi, e cantai di quel gioato 

Figliuol d' Anchise, che venue da Troia, 

Poi che il superbo Ilion fu combuBto. 75 

Ma tu, perchb ritoml a tanta noia ? 
Perchg non eaH il dilettoao moute, 
Ch' fe principio e cagion di tutta gioia ? 

Or Be' tu quel Virgilio, e quella foute, 

Che spande di parlar ei largo fiume ? 80 

Bisposi lui con ve^gnosa froute. 

degli altri poed onore e lume, 

Tagliami il luDgo atudio e grande amore, 
Che m' han fatto cercar la tuo volume. 

To Be' lo mio maestro, e il mio autore : 85 



the tenn " Author ia applied aole- 
ly to poets, who with mueaio art 
(ait of the Muaea) bind words 



together." Ajid in another aenge, 
" Author signifies any person wor- 
thy of being believed and obeyed. 
And from this is derived the 
word Authority." Cdbp. Tr. n. 



.yCOOgIC 



art lie from whom I took the good style that hath 
done me honour. See the beast for ^hich I turned 
back. Help me from her, thou famous sage ; for 
she makes my veins and pulses tremble." 

" Thou must take another road," he answered, 
when he saw me weeping, " if thou desirest to es- 
cape from this wild place ; because this beast, for 
which thou criest, lets not men pass her way, but 
so entangles that she slays them; and has a nature 
so perrerae and vicious, that she never satiates her 
craving appetite ; and after feeding, she is hungrier 
than before. The animalfl to which she weds' her- 

Tu se' solo colui, da cni io tolai 

Lo bello stile, che m' ha fatto onore. 
Yedi la bestia, per cui io mi volsi : 

Aiutami da lei, famaso sag^o, 

Ch' ella mi fa tremar le vene e J polsi. 90 

A te convien tenere altro viaggio, 

lUspose, poi che It^primar mi vide, 

Se Tuoi campar d' eato loco selvaggio : 
Chh questa bestia, per la qual tu gride. 

Nod lascia altnii paasar per la sua via, 95 

Ma tanto lo impedisce, che 1' nccide ; 
E ha natura s) raalvagia e ria, 

Che mai non empie la bramosa voglia, 

E dopo il paste ha pib fame che pria. 
Molti son gli animali, a coi s' ammoglia, 100 

' A]luaioD to the Papal alii- Evangelirt saw committing fomi- 

uiceg ofhis^me. Id cuito zix. cation with the kings:" the wo- 

106, &c. the Popes are said to man on the scarlet beaet, "vith 

have been foieahewn in " her that seven heada and ten homa." Rev. 

sitteth on the wat«n, nhom the sviL 3, &c. 



.vGoog-lc 



10 

self are many ; and will yet be more, until the Grey- 
hound comes, that will make her die with pain. He 
will not feed on land or pelf, but on wisdom, and love, 
and manfulness ; and his nation shall be between 
Feltro and Feltro.i He shall be the salvation of that 
low Italy ,s for which Camilla the virgin, EuryaluB, 

E piii saranno ancora, infin che il Veltro 

Venk, che la faHt morir di dc^lia. 
Questi non ciberii terra nh peltro. 

Ma Bapieiiza, e amore, e virtute ; 

E sua nazion sartk tra Feltro e Feltro. 105 

Di quell' nmile Italia fia salute. 



1 Feltro and Montefeltto \ ob- 
scure places, found by coiumen- 
tatora in the nortb-eastem part of 
Italy ; the former neu Belluno, 
the Utter west of Ancona. Be- 
tween them lay the eouutry of 
Can della Scala, Lord of Verona, 
B yoaag friend and piotector of 
Dante's, nho certainly did not 
Bet his heart on " land or pelf;" 
but, in some fair measure, on 
" wisdom, and love, and man- 
fiilnesa." Troya, in hie Fellro 
^Uegotica, considers Tlgoiccioae 
della Faggiola — another eminent 
OhibeUine leader, and known to 
Dante, but of much more ques- 
tionable character than Can — to 
be the personage here aUuded to ; 
and finds two Feltros — not towns, 

which lay Uguccione'i country. 
One looks m vain for reasonable 
proofe of many thin^ that Troya 
aaserts in his high- sounding 



book ; whole Tolumes on such 
a subject are of necessity some- 
what empty. The pasaage will 
remain obscure, as it was even 



a Dante' 



; but 



;oatemporarieg ; 
will sufficiently indicate to us the 
mixture of zeal and longing for 
some deliverer, that must have 






bis mind w 



The old c 






knew Dante peraonally, thanks 
Stui naxim lard tra feltro t feltro 
(" his birth shall be between felt 
and felt," literally), imports that 
this promised delireiei " shall be 
bom of a humble race, as felt 
ia a humble and mean cloth" 
(see Comenlo dele Ottimo. toI. i. 
p. 10). Boccaccio also reads 
feltro (felt). And it is to be te- 
collected that the old nag. and 
editions of the ComneMa have no 

> HitmlemItaHam{m.a.m.Sii,) 
the region of It«me, the Empire i 



.vGooglc 



and Tumus, and Nisus,' died of vounda. He shall 
chase her through every city, till he have put her 
into Hell again ; from which envy first set her loose. 
Wherefore I think and discern this for thy best, that 
thou follow me. And I will be thy guide, and 
lead thee hence through an eternal place, where 
thou shalt hear the hopeless shrieks, shall see the 
ancient spirits in pain ; so that each calls for second 
death. And thou shalt see those who are con- 
tented in the fire; for they hope to come, when- 
soever' it be, amongst the blessed. Then to these,* 
if thou deairest to ascend, there shall be a Spirit 

Per cui raori la vergine Caiamilla, 

Eurialo, e Turoo, e Kiso di ferute : 
Qnesti la caccerii per ogni villa. 

Fin che I' att^ rimeasa nell' Inferno, 1 10 

Lii onde invidia prima dipartiUa. 
Ond' io per lo tuo me' penso e discemo, 

Che tu mi segni, ed io Bar6 tna guida, 

£ trarrotti di qui per laogo etemo, 
Ove adirai le disperate strida, 1 1 5 

Yedrai gli antichi apiriti dolenti, 

Che la seconda morte ciascou grida : 
E vederai color, che son eontenti 

Nel faoco, perch^ speran di venire, 

Qmmdo che sla, alte beate genti : 120 

AUe qnai poi se tu vorrai Balire, 



or, " poor defended Italy," &om 
the state into wUcb it had fallen. 
' Then, nx now, friends and 
chief men of all putin fall in 
the wild battle. 



* To the blesaed. Vii^ pro- 
miaeg to conduct him through 
Hell and Purgatory only. Bea- 
trice will lead him to Hearen. 



.vGooglc 



12 INFEBNO. cunoi. 

■wordiier than I to gmie thee. "With her will I 
leave thee at my parting. For that Emperor who 
reigns ahove, because I was rebellious' to his law, 
wills not that I come into his city. In all parte he 
rules ; and there he dwells. There is his city, ajid 
his high seat O happy whom he choosc8,for it I" 

And I to him : " Poet, I beseech thee by that 
God whom thou knewest not: in order that I may 
escape this ill and worse, lead me where thou now 
hast said, so that I may see the Gate of St. Peter, 
and those whom thou makest ao sad."* 

Then he moved ; and I kept on behind him. 

Anima fia a ci6 di me pift degna : 

Con lei ti lasdero nel mio partdre ; 
Ch6 quello Imperador, che lasBil regna, 

Perch' io fbi ribeUante alia aua le^e, 125 

Non vDol che in sua clttft per me si vegna. 
In tutt« parti impera, e quiri regge ; 

Quivi h la sua cittade, e 1' alto seggio : 

feliee eolui, cui ivi elegge ! 
Ed io a lui : Poeta, io ti ricbieggio 130 

Per qnello Iddio, che tu non conoBcesti, 

A ci6 ch' io fogga qnesto male e pe^o, 
Che tu mi meui lit dot' or dicesti. 

Si ch* io vegga la porta di San Pietro, 

E color, che tu fu cotanto mesti. 135 

Allor si mosse ; ed io li tenni dietro. 

' Virg3 foresaw the coming Sa- Christianily bj the Fourth Ec- 

viout : but clung and trusted to logue. 

his buman -wisdom, according to ' Oale of Piu^torj. Those 

Dan4«. See the pasaage, Purg. whom Virgil describes as ao sad 

xiii. 70-72, where Sladua tells " in the eternal place" Me the 

Viigil of bis being converted to inhabitants of HelL ^ 



.vGooglc 



ARGUMENT. 



End of the first day. Brief inTocation. Dante is dtacouragol at the 
outset, wlien he begina Beriougl; to reflect upon what he hu undet- 
taken. That very daj, his own stien^ has miserably &iled before 
the Lion and the 8he-wol£ He bids Virgil consider well whether 
there be sofficient *iitne in him, before committiiig him U> so dread- 
ful a passagfe. He recalls the great errands of iEneas and of Paul, 
and the great results of their going to the immortal world ; and, 
comparing hinuelf with them, he feela his heart quail, and is resdji 
to turn back. Vicgil discerns the fi»r that has come over him ; 
and in order to remove it, tells him how a blessed Spirit has 
descended from Heaien eipreaal; to eommsod the journey. On 
hearing this, Dante immediately casts offall pusillanimity, and at 
once accepts the Freedom and the Mission that are giveo him. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO 11. 

The day waa departing, and the brown air taking 
the animals, that are on earth, &oni their toils ; and 
I, one alone, vaa preparing myself to bea{ the war^ 
both of the journey and die pity, which memory, 
that errs not, shall relate. 

Muses, O high Genius, now help me 1 O 
Memory, that hast iascribed what I eaw, here will 
be shewn thy nobleness. 

1 began : " Poet, who guidest^ me, look if there 
be worth in me sufficient,^ before thou trust me to 

Lo giomo Be n' andava, e 1' aer brano 

Tt^Iiera gli animai, cbe aono in terra. 

Dalle &ticbe loro ; ed io sol uno 
M* apparecchiava a sostener la guerra 

SI del cammino, e b) della pietate, 5 

Che ritrarr^ la mente, che non erra. 
Muee, o alto ingegno, or m' aiatate : 

mente, che ficrivesti tAb ch' io vidi, 

Qui Bi parrit la tiia uobiljtate. 
Io cominciai : Foeta che mi guidi, 10 

Ouarda la tnia Ttrttl, b' ella 6 poBsente, 

Prima che aU' alto paaso tu mi fidi. 

1. Bnmo, brown, duic, obacure. 

12. Alto, high, deep, oi difficult ; aa io t. 142. 

'Thebittlewithlliepamiulroad, • Litemlly : " Look »t (ess- 

and irilli the pitj for those in Hea mine) my TJrtue (itrenpth, worth) 

' Tirgil Teptecents Homaa Wis- whether it be able (adequate)" Gn 

dom or InteUigenoe ; aad we shall such a journey. It hu olreadr 

Bee who seodB him, and gives him miserably failed before the Lion 

power to be a guide lo Dante. and the Wolf. 



.vGooglc 



ctmo n. INFESKO. 15 

the aitdaous passage. Thou sayest tliat Uie &ther' 
of SylviuSj wliilst subject to corruption, went to the 
icuaoTtal world, and was there in body. But if the 
Adversary of all evil was propitious, considering the 
high effect, and who and what should come from him ; 
it seems -not un£ttmg to an understanding mind. 
For in the empyreal heaven, he was chosen to be the 
father of generous Rome, and of her Empire. Both 
these,' to say the truth, were established for the 
holy place, where the Successor of great Peter sits. 
By this journey, for which thon honoureat him, he 
learned things that were the causes of his victory, 

Ta dici, che di Silrio lo parente, 

Comittibile anoora, ad immortale 

Secolo and^ e fu sensibilmente. 15 

Per6 ee 1' AvTersario A' ogni male 

Cortese fa, pensando 1' alto eBetto, 

Ch' uscir dovea di lni, e il chl, e il quale ; 
Non pare indegno ad uomo d' intelletto : 

Ch' ei fu detl' alma Roma e di auo impero 20 

Nell' empireo Ciel per padre eletto : 
La qnale, e il quale, a voler dir lo vero. 

Fur stabiliti per lo loco aanto, 

U' siede il successor del msggior Piero. 
Per quests andata, onde gli dai tu vanto, 25 

Inteee cose che foron ca^ne 

Si sua vittoria e del papale ammanto. 



I ^ La fuofe, Rome ; and il guate, 
the Empire. Both ordained bj 
I God. Conv. Tr. ii. c, fi. 



.vGooglc 



16 INFERNO. cAKio II. 

and of the Papal Mantle. AAerwaids, the Chosen 
Vessel' went thither, to bring confirmation of that 
Faith which is the enttance to the way of salvation. 
But I, why go 1 or who permits it ? I am not ^neas, 
am not Paul : neither myself nor others deem me 
worthy of it. Wherefore, if I resign myself to go, I 
fear my going may prove foolish. Thou art wise, 
and understandest better than I speak." 

And aa one who unwills what he willed, and 
with new thoughts changes his purpose, so that he 
wholly quits the thii^ commenced,^ such I made 

* - Andorri poi lo Vaa d' elezioiie, 

Per recarne conforto a quella Fede, 

Ch' ^ prindpio alia via di salvazione. 30 

Ma io, perch^ yenirri ? o chi '1 concede T 

lo non Enea, io non Paolo souo : 

Me degno a ci5 nfe io, nh altri crede. 
Per che se del Tenire io m' abbandono, 

Temo che la vennta non sia folle : 35 

Se' uiTio, e intendi me' ch' io non ragiono. 
E quale fe quei, che disTUol ci6 ch' e' voile, 

E per novi pensier cangia proposta, 

St che del cominciar tutto si tolle ; 

89. Talk, toglie (from tollere) : old form, nearer 
to the Latin. Many examples of this >ort occur ', 
which we here notice, once for alL 

' Paul, ctdled " a chosen vessel " l * Lilerslly: " Chingea his pur- 

(.^e(» ix. 15)i "caught up to the ' pose, ao that he takes IudihIT 

third heaven ;" and into Para- wholly from tbe faegintdng" Ibst 

disc, where he "heard unspeakable he has made, 
words" (2 Cor.. lii. 1-4}. Thither, 
i. «. " to the immortal world." 



-.Google 



myself on that dim coast ; for vith t>>inHBg I vasted 
the enterprise, l^iat had been so quick in its com- 



"If I have rightly nndergtood thy words," re- 
plied that shade of the Magnanimous, " thy soul is 
smit with coward fear, which oftentimes encumbers 
men, so thgt it turns them back &om honoured ep- 
terprise; as ^se seeing does a startled beast. To 
&ee thee &oin this dread, I will tell thee why I 
came, and what I heard in the first moment when 
I took pity of thee. I was amongst them who are 
suspense;' and a Lady,^ so fair and blessed that I 

Tal mi fee' io in quella oscura corta : 40 

Perchg pensacdo consumai la impreaa, 
Che fu nel cominciar cotanto tosta. 

Se io ho ben la tua parola inlesa, 

Rbpose del magnanimo qaell' ombra, 

L' anima tna h da viltade offesa, 45 

La qual molte fiate 1' nomo ingambra, 
St che d' onrata impresa Io rivolve. 
Come Mao veder bestia quand' ombra. 

Da questa tema acciocch^ tn ti solve, 

Dirotti, perch' io venni, e quel ch' io inteu, 50 

Nel primo panto che di te mi dolve. 

Io era tra color, che son soapesi, 
E Donna mi chiam6 beata e belia, 



< In Limlia Canto n. 45. I dom. She descends to Hiinun 

* Beatrice : in Dante's heut, Wiidom in it* Limbo ; ind makes 

Hana^ured into Celeitial Wis- I it gwAe her " fHend" lome way 

C2 



.vGooglc 



18 



prayed her to command, called me. Her eyes 
shone brighter than the Star;' and she began soft 
and gentle to tell me with angeUc voice, in her 
language : ' O courteous Mantuan Spirit, whose 
&me still lasts in the world, and will last as long 
as Time P My friend,^ and not of fortune, is so 

Tal cbe di comandare io la richiesi. 
LuceTtin gli occhi eaoi piil che la St«lla : 35 

E cominciommi a dir soave e piana 

Con aDgelica voce, in sua favella : 
anima corteee Mantovana, 

IH cui la f}una ancor nel mondo dura, 

B dureri quanto il moto lontana : 60 

L' amlco mio, e son della ventura, 

60. Lontaaa, used for iiatga ,■ as in Par. rv. 49. 



towards Heaien. See the Can- 
zone 1 Fbi rihe, intendendii, il tento 
dettawete, &c. ; and Dante'a beau- 
tiful comment on it, in which he 
speaks of hia Beatrice as a bleaaed 
apiriti and tells how he " went 
Bwa; as if in rapture" vbea be 
thought of her. Cone. Tr. il c. 
r, 8, &o. 

I The Sun. La beUa sleOa ch- 
it tempo misura (" the beautiful 
atai that measurea tune"). Can- 
zone Eis. 1. page 62 of Fraticelli's 
edition, Flor. 1834. " She (Wis- 
dom) is more beautiful than the 
sun, and above all the order of 
stars ; being compared with light, 
she is found before it." Wisdom 
of Solomoa ya. 29. 

' Literally : " Motion." Tem- 
piu tit nuBKnu molIU tecundum 



;iHwe(poitenu({Ari8totle): quoted 
by Dante {Com. Tr. iy. c. 2), and 
translated ; " Tune, according to 
Aristotle in the fourth (book) of 
his Physics, is the number (sum- 
mation) of motion with respect to 
flrst and after." Many editions 
read moBii) (creation) ; and per- 
haps with equally good autbority. 
' Line 61 lies open to several 
interpretations, of which the plain- 
est and best seems the following : 
" My friend, and not Ike friend of 
fortune;" he who is denr Co me, 
though sorely wounded ( Cow, Tr. i. 
0. 3), and driven about by fortune. 
Alieri, who studied Dante with 
great zeal, suggests auother re- 
markable meaning by a passage in 
his Fiiippo, where Perez tells Carlo 
that he is the friend of his choice. 



.vGooglc 



ciBio u. IKFBRNO. 19 

impeded in his way upon the desert shore, that 
he has turned back for terror. And I fear he 
may already be bo far astray, that I have risen 
too late for his relief, &om what I heard of him 
in Heaven, Now go, and with thy ornate speech, 
and with what is necessary for his escape, help him 
so, that I may be consoled thereby. I am Beatrice 
who send thee. I come &om a jdace where I desire 
to return. Love moved me, that mak^ me speak. 
When I shall be before my Lord, I oft will praise 
thee to him.' 

" She was silent then, and I began : ' O Lady, 
single in worth ; through whom mankind excels all 

Nella diserta piaggia & impedito 

Si nel cammin, che vSlto h per paura : 
E temo che non aia gift si stoarrito, 

Ch' io nu sia tardi al soccorso levata, 65 

Per quel ch' io bo di lui nel Cielo udito. 
Or muovi, e con la tua parola omata, 

E con db, che ha mestieri al suo campare, 

L' ainta si, ch' io ne sla consolata. 
Io eon Beatrice, che ti faccio andare : 70 

Yegno di loco, ove tomar diaio : , 

Amor mi mosse, che mi fa parlare. 
Qoando saro dinanzl al Signor mio, 

Di te mi loderi aovente a lui. 

Tacette allora, e poi cominciai io : 75 

Donna di virtit sola, per cni 

&c AmicB tw. ... Nob di venlvra I tstore, adopting it, explain ; "My 
ioiDiKi, &c. (Attai.BC.4). Scolari, friend, that of my choice, and not 
and other dittinguiihed comaien- | that of chancr,accideDt or caprice." 



.vGooglc 



30 INFERNO. CAMM a. 

that IB contamed vithin the heaven which has the 
emalleat circles!' So grateful to me is thy com- 
mand, that my oheyiug, were it done already, seems 
tardy. It needs not that thou more explain to me 
thy wish. But tell me tiie cause, why thou for- 
hearest not to descend into this centre here helow 
from the spacious placed to which thou bomest to 
return 7* 

" * Since thou desirest to know thus far, I will 
tell thee briefly,' she replied, ' why I fear not to 
come within this place. Those things alone are to be 
feared that have the power of hurtiiig ; the others 
not, which are not fearful. I am made such by God, 

L' umans spezie eccede ogni contento 
Da qael del, che ha minori 1 cerchi sni : 

Tanto m' aggrada il tuo comandamento, 

Che r ubbidir, se gi& fosse, m' i tardl; 80 

Pid non t' h uopo aprirmi il tuo talento. 

Ma dimmi la cagion, che non tl gnardi 
Dello scender quaggiil in qnesto centro 
Dall' ampio loco, ove tomar tu ardi. 

Da che tn vuoi saper cotanto addentro, 85 

Dirotti brevemente, mi rispose, 
Perch' io non temo di venir qua entro. 

Temer si deve sol di quelle cose 
Ch' haano potenza di fare altmi male : 
Dell' altre no, che non son pamvse. 90 



'Tbehesfenoflheraooiijwliich I ' ThewideBtcircle ofParadiae; 
goes lound (contains) our earlli, the Empyreal Hearen, which ii 
andistheneareattoitBndBmallesL | fertheat from our eulh. 



.vGooglc 



CAHTO n. INFERNO. 21 

in his grace, that your misery does not touch me; 
nor the flame of this buming assail me. There is 
a noble Lady^ in Heaven who has Buch pity of this 
hindrance, for vhich I send thee, that she breaks 
the sharp judgment there on high. She called 
Lacia,^ in her request, and said : ' Nov thy iaitb- 
ful one has need of thee ; and I commend him to 
thee.' Lucia, enemy of all cruelty, arose and came 
to the place where I was sitting with ^e ancient 
Eachel,^ She said : * Beatrice, true praise of God ; 
why helpest thou not him who loved thee bo, that 

lo son fatta da Dio, sua merc^ tale, 

Che la TOHtra mieeria non mi tange, 

Nk fiamma d' esto inceodio non m' assale. 
Donna b gentil nel Ciel, che si compknge 

Di questo impedimento, ot' io ti mando, 95 

81 che dnro giudido Usiiil frange, 
Questa chieae Lucta in sua dimando, 

E disse : Or abbiaogna il tuo fedele 

Di te, ed io a te lo raccomando. 
Lncta, uimica di dascan cmdele, 100 

Si mosse, e venne al loco dov* io era, 

Che mi aedea con 1' anticfl Racbele. 
Disae : Beatrice, loda di Dio vera, 

Che DOD Boccorri qnei che t' am6 tanto. 



' Diirine- Mercy. 

' Dinne enlightening Grace. 

Locia, the Vii^in Martjr ; ■ real 
person, transfigured like Beatrice. 
Dante finds lier in Paradise, canto 
juiii. 136, &c Vide alio Purg, 



• Contemplation. Vide Pia-g. 
xxvii.104. Contemplation of God 
and Ilia works, "wMcIi nitliout 
any mixture is tlie use of our 
highest &cultj;" but "cannot be 
tully atuined in this life." Cim. 
Tr. IT. c. 22, 



.vGooglc 



for thee he left the vulgar crowd ? Hearest thou 
not the misery of his plaint? Seest thou not the 
death which combats him upon the river, that swell- 
eth not the se&T^ None on earth were ever swift 
to seek their good, 01 flee t^eir hurt, as I to come, 
after these words were uttered, from my blessed 
seat; confiding in thy nobte speech, which honours 
thee, and them who have heard it.* 

"After saying this to me, she turned away her 
bright eyes weeping ; by which she irmde me hasten 
more to come. And thus I came to thee, as she 
desired ; took thee from before that savage beast, 
which bereft thee of the short way to the beautiful 

Che usdo per te della volgare schiera? 105 

Non odi tu la pieta del ano pianto f 

Non Tedi tn la morte che il combatte 

Sn la fiumana, ove 11 mar non ha vtmto ? 
Al mondo non fui mu persone ratte 

A &r lor pro, nh a fiig^ lor danno, 110 

Com' io, dopo cotai parole fatte, 
Venni quaggiii dal mio beato scanno, 

Fidandomi nel tuo parlare onesto, 

Che onora te, e quel che udito 1' hanno, 
FoBcia che m' ebbe ragionato qnesto, 115 

Gli occhi lucenti lagrimando volse ; 

Per che mi fece del venir pifi presto ; 
E Tenni a te cosJ, com' ella volse ; 

Dinanzi a qnella fiera ti levai, 

Che del bel monte il corto andar ti tolse. 120 



.vGooglc 



am n, INFERKO. i8 

mountaiQ. What is it then? Why, why haltest 
thon ? Why lodgeet in thy heart euch coirard feu ? 
Why art thou not \to\d tnd £ree, when three such 
blessed Ladies' care for thee in the court of Heaven, 
and my words promise thee so much good T' 

As flowerets, by the nightly chilhiess bended 
down and closed, erect themselres all open on 
their stems when the sun whitens them f tliiu I 
did, with my fainting courage. And so much good 
daring ran into my heart,^ that I began as one set 
free; "O compassionate she, who succotired mel 

Douqae che k 1 perdi6, perch^ ristui 7 

Perchg tanta viltft nel cuore allette ? 

Perchd ardire e francbezia non hai ? 
Posda che tai tre Domie benedette 

Cninn di te nelta corte del Cielo, 125 

E il mio parlar tanto ben t' impromette f 
Quale i fioretti dsl nottnmo gelo 

Chinati e chiiui, poi che il Sol gj' imbianca. 

Si drizzan tatti xg&tii in loro stelo ; 
Tal mi fee' io, di mia Tirtnte atanca: 130 

E tanto bnono ardire al cnor mi corse, 

Ch' io comindAi come persona franca : 
pietosa colei che n 



' IMiine Mercy, Once, and Reflmsea hem ireii tlie Soiih bilihl, 

risdom. '^^ apisdea In hei kind coniu by 

' Bnt ilgtl u SaoRi tlisugh Uie CBiucer rmlJM and CreHtUt b. 11. 

-YeloBil, itaapm In h« •ulkei ' Per ima mcvrni ma.- Mo^i. 



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24 INFERNO. CANTO II. 

And courteous thou, who quickly didst obey the 
true words that she gave thee ! Thoa hast dis- 
posed my heart with such desire to go, by what 
thou sayest, that I have returned to my first par- 
pose. Now go ; for both have one will : Thou 
guide, ihou h>rd and master." 

Thus I spake to him; and he moving, I entered 
on the arduous and savage way. 

E ta corteBe, ch' ubbidUti tosto 

Alle vere parole cbe ti porse I 135 

Tu m' hoi con desiderio il caor diapoato 

SI ol Tenir, con le parole tue, 

Ch' io BOn tomato nel primo proposto. 
Or ya, chfi un sol volere 6 d' ambedne : 

Tu duca, ta signore, e tu maestro. 140 

Cos) gli dissi ; e poicbg moaao foe, 
Entrai per lo cammino alto e silvestro. 



.yCOOgIC 



AEGUMENT. 



InicriptiDn over the Gate of Hell, and the impreaiion it pmducet upon 
Dante. Ticgil takes him by the hand, and leads him in. The 
dismal Rounds make him bnrst into tears. His head is quite bewil' 
dered. TTpon a Dark Plain (buia campagiia), which goes round the 
confines, be sees a Tast multitude of spirita running behind a flag 
in great haste and eonliiaion, urged on by fiirinua wasps and hor- 
nets. These are the unhappy people, who aerer were alive — never 
awakened to take any part either in good or evil, to care for any 
thing bnt themseWes. They are mixed with a similar claas of 
Alien angek. After passing through the crowd of them, the Poets 
aome to a great Bjter, which flows round the brim of HeU ; and 
then descends to fonn Ibe other rivers, the marshes, and the ice 
that we shall meet with. It is the river Acheron ; and on its Shore 
■11 that die under the wiath of God assenihle from every comitry 
to be ferried over by tbe demon Charon. Ha makes them enter his 
boat hy glaring on them with bis burning eyes. Having seen 
these, and being refused a passage by Charon, Dante is suddenly 
stunned by a riolent trembling of the ground, accompanied with 
wind and lightning, and fails down in a atate of insensibili^. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO III. 

Through me is the way into the doleful city ; 
through me the way into the eternal pain ; ttirough 
me the way among the people lost. Justice moved 
my High Maker : Divine Power made me, Wisdom 
Supreme, and Primal Love.* Before me were no 
things created, but eternal; and eternal I endure. 
Leave all hope, ye that enter. 

These words, of colour obscure, saw I written 
above a gate. Whereat I : " Master, their meaning 
to me is hard."^ 



Per me si va nella citUi dolente : 
Per me si va ndl' eterno dolwe : 
Per me si va tra la perdata gent^. 

Giuatizia mosse il mlo alto Fattore : 
Fecetni la divina Potestate, 
La somma Sapienza e il ptimo Amore. 

Dinanzi a me non fur cose create, 
Se non eteme, ed io eterno. duro : 
Lasdate ogni speranza, vol cli' entxate. 

Queste parole di colore oacnro 
Vid' io scritte al soinmo d' ana porta ; 
Per ch' io : Maestro, il senso lor m' 6 duro. 



' Eternal Power and Wisdom, 
and Lave proceeding from them, 
appoint the place of punishment 
fat Bin. Remark how Dante, un- 
der his old phraseology here and 
elsewhere, alwaja feels that no in- 
finite Love, orWiadom, or Power, 



are poaaible without Justice. To 
hhn the ^reat Trini^ is not a 
mere hearsay, but a living reality. 
' Bitter, fearflil to me. The 
Hell of Dante comes upon him 
as a very lad and paiuftil thing 
withal. See v. 23. 



.vGooglc 



cAT<ic. lu. INFSXNO. 27 

And he to me, as one experienced : " Here most 
all distrust be left ; all cowardice must here be dead. 
We are come to the place where I told ihee thou 
shouldst see the wretched people, who have lost the 
good of the intellect."' And placing his hand on 
mine, with a cheerful countenance that comforted 
me, he led me into the secret thii^. - Here sighs, 
plaints, and deep wailings resounded through the 
starless air : it made me weep at first. Strange 
tongues, horrible outcries, words of pain, tones of 
anger, voices deep and hoarse, and sound of hands 
amongst them, made a tumult, which toms itself 

Ed egH a me, come persona accorta : 

Qui si convieu lasdare ogni sospetto ; 

Ogni vilt^ convien che qui sia morta. 15 

Noi sem venuti nl luogo ot' io t' ho detto 

Che tu Tfidrtd le genti dolorose, 

Ch' hanno perdnto il ben dello intelletto. 
E poichg la sua mano atla mia pose. 

Con heto volto, ond' io mi confortai, 20 

Mi mise dentro alle segrete cose. 
duivi Bospiri, pianli, e a)ti guai 

RJBonaTan per 1' aer senza stelle. 

Per ch' io al cominciar ne lagrimai. 
Diverse lingue, orribih favelle. 

Parole di dolore, accenti d' ira, 25 

Voci alte e fioche, e suon di man con elle. 



,,Googlc 



□nceaaing in that air for ever dyed,' as sand vhen 
the whirlwind breathes. 

And Ij my head begirt with error,* said : " Mas- 
ter, what is this that I hear ? and who are these thaL- 
seem so overcome with pain?" 

And he to me : " This miserable mode the dreary 
souls of those sustain, who lived without blame, and 
without praise. They are mingled with that abject 
choir of angels, who were not rebellious, nor were 
^ithiiil to God; but were for themselves. Heaven 
chased them forth to keep its beauty &om impair ;' 
and the deep Hell receives them not, for the wicked 
would have some glory over them." 

Facevano un tnmulto, il qual s' aggira 

Sempre in quell' aria senza tempo tints, 

Come la reoa quando il turbo spiTs. 30 

Ed loT^'tvea d* error la testa cinta, 

Dissi : Maestro, che 6 quel ch' i' odo ? 

E che gente h, che par nel duol si vinta ? 
Ed egli a me : Questo misero modo 

Tengon I' anime triate di coloro, 35 

Che visser senza infamia e senza lodo. 
Miachiate sodo a quel cattivo coro 

Degli angeli che non fiiron ribelli, 

N6 fur fedeh a Dio, ma per e6 foro. 
Cacci^h i ciel per non esser men belli. 40 

Hh lo profondo inferno gli riceve, 

Ch& alcuna gloria i rei avrebber d' elli. 



' " Without time, or etenmlly 
dyed, or sluned" with dnrkneBB. 

' Lit ; " Who had my head 
begirt," &g. Some editions read 



r (horror) in line 31, instead 



.vGooglc 



And I : " Master, what ia so grievous to them, 
that makes them lament thus bitterly?" 

He answered : '* I will tell it to thee very briefly. 
.These have no hope of death; and theii blind life is 
3o mean, that they axe envious of every other lot 
Report of them the world permits not to exist. 
Mercy and Jui^ment disdains them. Let .us m^t 
speak of them ; but look, and pass." 

And I, who looked, saw an ensign, which whirl- 
ing ran so quickly that it seemed to scorn all pause.' 
And behind it came so long a train of people, that 
I should never have believed death had undone so 

Ed io : Maestro, che k tanto greve 

A lor, che kmentar gli & si forte T 

Rispose : Dicerolti molto breve. 45 

Questi non hanno speranza di morte, 

£ la lor cieca vita h tanto bassa, 

Cbe invidioal sou d' ogui altra Borte. 
Fama di loro il mondo easer non lasas, 

Misericordia e Giustizia gli sd^ina : 50 

Non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda e pasaa. 
Ed io, che ngiurdai, vidi un' insegna, 

Che gmmdo correva tanto ratta, 

Che d' ogni po»a mi pareva indegna : 
E dietro le venia si longa tratta 55 

Di gente, eh' io non averei creduto, 

Cbe morte tanta n' avesee disfatta. 

iB. Dicerolti, te] dir6 : Lat dicere. 

> Or, " uemed unwoith; of all I Hell, unworthy and unable to ea~ 
pause." The long tiain is kept tei it, and tbe giddy flag is their 
sweepiug round the eonfinea of | only marie and guide. 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



30 INFERMO. CAHTO iiL 

many. After I had recognised some amongEt tkem, 
I looked and saw the shadow of him^ who ftom 
cowardice made the great refiisal. Forthwith I un- 
derstood and felt assured, that this was the crew of 
wretches, hateful to God and to his enemies. Those 
unfortunate, who never were alive, were naked, and 
sorely goaded by wasps' and hornets that were there ; 
these made their faces stream with blood, which 
mixed with tears was gathered at their feet by loath- 
some worms. 



Poscia ch' io t* ebbi alcnn riconosciuto, 
Guardai, e vidi 1' ombra di colui 
Che fece per viltate il gran rifinto. 

Incontanente intesi, e certo ini, 
Cbe quest' era la setta dei cattivi, 
A Dio spiscenti ed a' nemici sui. 

Queati sciaurati, che mai non far Tivi, 
Erauo ignndi e stimolati molto 
Da moeconi e da vespe ch' eran iri. 

Elle rigavan lor di sangae il volto, 
Ch£ mischiato di lagrime, a' lor piedi 



' It is DDcertain to whom (he 
poet alludes in this place. Celes- 
tine V. reaigned the papal power 
ID 1294, BDd WW fallowed li; Ba- 
nllaee VIII.; hut he had Sret 
tried it for more than five months 
(Villani, lib. viii. 0. 6). He had 
lived aa a monk to the age of 
seventy- two, and was Buddenly 
elected at Ferugia, after llie papal 
chair had been kept vacant for 
more than two years by the wild 
contests of the caidinalB. He died 



soon after his resignation, and was 
canonised in 1313, e^ht years be- 
fore Dante's death. The line often 
quoted {Iff/eno, canto xiviL 105) 
proves nothing, except that Dante 
knew about Celeatine — a thing 
that needed no proo£ Each com- 
mentator may continue to seleA , 
for Dante the peraoa most pro- 
minent in iiie own imagination. 
Pueillaaimitj causes enough of 
" great refusals" in all ages. 



.vGooglc 



CABTO in. INFERNO. SI 

And then, ae I looked onwards, I saw people on 
the Shore of a great Eiver. Whereat I said : " Mas- 
ter, now grant that I may know who these are ; and 
what usage makes them seem eo ready to pass over, 
as I discern by the feint light." 

And he : " The things shall be told thee, when we 
stay our steps upon the joyless strand of Acheron." 

Then, with eyes ashamed and downcast, fearing 
my wordfl might have offended him, I kept myself 
- &om speaking till we reached the stream. And lo ! 
an old man, white with ancient hair, comes towards us 
in a bark, shouting : " Woe to you, depraved spirits ! 
Hope not ever to see Heaven. I come to lead you to 

Da faatidiori vermi era ricolto. 
E poi che a i^piardare oltre mi diedi, 70 

Vidi gente alia riva d' im gran fiume : 

Perch' io disai ; Maestro, or mi concedi, 
Ch' io atqipia qoali eono, e qua! costame 

Le fo parer di trapassar si proate, 

Com' io discemo per lo fioco lume. 75 

Ed egli a me 1 Le cose ti fien conte, 

Quando noi fermerem li noatri passt 

Sulla trista riviera d' Acheronte. 
Allor con gli ocelli vergoguosi e bassj, 

Temendo jio '1 mio dir gli fusse grave, 80 

Infino al fiume dal patlar mi trass!. 
J Ed ecco verso noi venir per nave 

Tin Tecchio bianco per andco pelo, 

Giidando : Guai a voi, anime prave ! 
Nob isperate mai veder lo Cielo : 85 

I' vegno per menarri all' altra riva. 



.vGooglc 



the otiier shore ; into the eternal darkness ; into fire 
and ice. Aod thou, who art there alive, depart thee 
from these that are dead," But when he saw that 
I departed not, he said : ** By other ways, by other 
ferries; not here shalt thou pass' over, A lighter* 
boat must carry thee." 

And my guide to bim : " Charon, vex not thyseK. 
Thus it is willed there,^ where what is willed can be 
done : and ask no more," Then the woolly cheeks . 
were quiet of the steersman on the livid ma3rah, who 
round his eyes had wheels of flame. But those spirits, 
who were forewom and naked, changed colour and 
chattered with their teeth, soon as they heard the 

Nelle tenebre eteme, in caldo e in gelo. 
E tu che aei cost), animtt viva, 

Partiti da cotesti, che son morti. 

Ma poi ch' ei vide, ch' io non mi partiva, 90 

Disse : Per altre vie, per altri porti 

Vernii a piaggia, non qui, per paBsare : 

Rii lieve legno convien che ti porti. 
E il Duca a lui : Caron, non ti crucciare : 

Tuolsi cos) col^ dove si puote 95 

Cib che si vuole ; e piil non dimandare. 
Qutnci fur quete le lanose gote 

Al nocchier deUa livida palude, 

Che intomo agli occhi avea di fianune rote. 
Ma quell' anime, ch' eran lasse e nude, 100 

Gangi&r colore e dibattero i denti, 

Batto che isteser le parole crude. 



.vGooglc 



CAKiD ru. IMFEBNO. SS 

bitter words. They blasphemed God and their pa- 
rents ; the human kind ; the place, the time, and 
origin of their seed, and of their birth. Then all of 
them together, sorely weej^ng, drew to the accursed 
shore, which awaits every man that fears not God. 
Charon the demon, with eyes of glowing coal, beck- 
oning them, collects them all ; smites with his oar 
whoever hirers. As the leaves of autumn &11 off 
one ai^r the other, till the branch sees all its spoils 
upon the ground j so one by one the evil seed of 
Adam cast themselves &om that shore at signals, as 
the bird at its call. Thna they depart on the brown 
water ; and ere they have landed on the other shore, 
a fresh crowd collects on this. 

Besteuuniavano Iddio e i lor pareuti, 

L' nmana specie, 11 ltio§;o, il tempo, e il seme 

JA lor aemenia e di lor naedmenti. 105 

Poi si ritraaaer tutte quante insieme. 
Forte piangeudo, alia riva malvagia, 
Che attends ciascon uom, che Dio non teme. 

Caron dimonio, con occhi di bragia 
Loio accennando, tatte le raccoglie ; 110 

Batte col remo qualunque s' adagia. 

Come d' autnnno si levan le foglie 

L' una appreaso dell' altra, infin che il ramo 
Vede alia terra tatte le sue spogUe ; 

Similemente il mal seme d' Adamo : 1 15 

Gittansi di quel lito ad una ad una. 
Per cenni, come augel per suo lichiamo. 

Co«l sen vanno su per 1' onda bnmii, 
Ed avanti che sian di Ift diacese, 
Anche di qua nova schiera s' aduua. 120 



.vGooglc 



" My son," said the couiteous Master, " those 
who die under God's wrath, all assemhle here from 
every country. And they are prompt to pass the 
river, for Divine Justice ^purs them so, that fear is 
changed into desire. By this way no good spirit ever 
passes ; and hence, if Charon complains of thee, thou 
easily mayest know the import of his words." 

When he had ended, the dusky champaign trem- 
bled so violently, that the remembrance of my terror 
bathes me still with sweat. The tearful ground gave 
out wind, and flashed with a crimson light, which 
conquered all my senses : and I fell, like one who 
is seized with sleep. 

FigUuol mio, disse il Maestro cortese, 

Quelli, che muoion nell' ira di Dio, 

Tutti convegnon qui d' ogni paeae : 
E pronti sono a trapasaar lo lio, 

Ch£ la divina Giustizia li sprona 125 

Si, che la tema si volge in di^o. 
Qoind non paasa mai anima buona : 

£ per6 se Caron di te si lagna, 

Ben puoi eaper omai, che il auo dir suona. 
Fiuito questo, ta buia campagna 130 

Trera^ si forte, che dello spavento 

La mente di sudore ancor mi bagna. 
La terra logrimosa diede vento, 

E balen6 d* una luce vermiglia, 

Idi qua! mi vinse ciascun sentimento ; 135 

E caddi, come 1' uom, cui somio piglia. 



.yCOOgIC 



ARGOMENT. 



Dante is roused bj' a heavy thunder, and finds himself on the brink of 
the Abyss. Not in hie own strength has he croased the dismal 
lirer. Virgil conducts him into Limho, which is the First Circle 
of Hell, and contains the spirits of those who lived without Baptism 
o( Christianity, The only pain they suffer is, that they live in the 
desire and without the hope of seeing God. Their sighs cause the 
eternal mi to trsmhle, and there is no other audible lamenlstion 
amongst them. Aa Dante and Virgil go on, they reach a hemi- 
aphere of light smid the darkness, and are met by Homer and other 
Poets, and conducted into a Noble Castle, in which Ihey see the 
most distinguished of the Heathen women, etstesmen, sages, and 
warrion. Homer and the other Poets quit Ihem t and the; go on 
to a place of total darkneas. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO IV. 

A HEAVY thunder broke the deep sleep in my 
head; so that I started like one who is awaked by 
force. And, having risen erect, I moved my rested 
eyes around, and looked stedtastly to know the place 
in which I was. TVue is it, that I found myself upon 
the brink of the dolorous Valley of the Abyss, which 
gathers thunder of endless wailii^.* It was so dark, 
profound, and cloudy, that, with fixing my look upon 
the bottom, I there discerned nothing. 

" Now let us descend into the blind world here 
below," began the Poet all pale : " I will be first, 
and thou ahalt be second." 

RnppEMi r alto sonuo nella testa 

Un greve tuono, si ch' io mi riscossi, 

Come persona che per ton& & desta : 
& r occhio riposato intomo moesi, 

Dritto lerato, e fiso riguardai 5 

Per conoBcer lo loco dov* io fosd. 
Vero h, che in an la proda mi trovai 

DeUa valle d' abisso dolorosa, 

Che tuono accoglie d' infiniti guai. 
Oscura, profonda era, e nebulosa, 10 

Taiito che, per ficcar lo viso al fondo, 

Io non ?i discemea Tenma cosa. 
Or discendiam quaggiil nel cieco mondo, 

Incomindb il Poeta tutto smorto : 

Io sar6 primo, e tn sarai aecondo. 15 

■ Coll«eU into one thander the I buge eternal tnmipet, now that 

many wtuidi of iroe. Like ■ | his ear b liillf awakened to it 



.vGooglc 



CANTO IV. INFERNO. 37 

And I, who had lemarked his colour, said : " How 
shall I come, when thou fearest, who ait wont to be 
my strength in doubt ?" 

And he to me : " The anguish of the people who 
aie here below, on my £ice depainta that pity, which 
thou takest for fear. Let us go; for the length of 
way impels us." Thus he entered,' and made me 
enter, into the first circle that girds the abyss. Here 
there was no plaint, that could be heard,' except of 
sighs, which caused the eternal air to tremble. And 
this arose firom the sadness, without torment, of the 
crowds that were many and great, bodi of children, 
and of women and men. 

Ed io, che del color- mi fui accorto, 

DisBi : Come verri, »e ta pareati 

Che BQoli al niio dubbiore esser conforto ? 
Ed egli a me ; L' angosda delle genti, 

Che son qiu^ii, nel Tiso ml dipinge 20 

Qnella pietik, che tu per tema Knti. 
Andiam, ch^ la Tia lunga ne sosplnge. 

Cos! si mise, e cos) mi f% entrare 

Nel primo cerchio che 1' abisso cioge. 
Qnin, secondo che per aacoltare, 25 

Nou area pianto, ma' che di soapiri, 

Che r aura etema faceran tremare ; 
E Gi6 aweoia di duol senza martiri, 

Oh' avean le turbe, ch' eran molt« e grand], 

E d' infant! e di femmine e di viri. 30 

2S. Xa' etc, mote llisn : Lit. magit quam. 

' Lit: "put hinuel^ uid made I ' Liti " Here, according to ay 
me entei, into" Sec I li«teniiig, thne nag no plaint," &c. 



.vGooglc 



The good Master to me : " Thou aekest not what 
spirits are th^e thou seest? I wish thee to know, 
before thou goest farther, that they sinned not. And 
though they have merit, it suffices not ; for they had 
not Baptism, which is the portal ofthe Faith that thou 
believest. And seeing they were before Christianity, 
they worshipped not God aright And of these am 
I myself. For such defects,^ and for no other £iult, 
are we lost ; and only in so far afflicted, that without 
hope we live in desire."* 

Great sadness took me at the heart on hearing 
this ; because I knew men of much worth, who in 

Lo buon Maestro a me : Tit non dimandi 

Che epiriti son questi, che tn vedi? 

Or to' che s^pi, innanzi che piil andi, 
Ch' ei non peccaro : e s' egli hanno mercedi, 

Non basta, perch' ei non ebber battesmo, 35 

Ch' 6 porta della Fede che tn credi : 
E se furon dinanzi al CristianeBmo, 

Non adoiir debitamente Dio : 

E di questi cotai son io medesmc. 
Per tai difetd, e non per altro rio, 40 

Semo perduti, e sol di tauto offesi, 

Che senza speme yivemo in disio. 
Gran duo! mi prese al cnor, quando lo inteei, 

Perocchfe gente di molto valore 

40. fflo, reiU. Purg. vu. 7. 

' Dante nays ; Nemo, quaalam- ' quod BKnjBoiB aliguid de Chriito 

caiague tnnralibut et inleUeciuali- I aadntril. Monsroh. lib. iL p. 96. 

bM virtutibui, et secundum hahilam , „ x„g ^^t, ^^^ j. w„i,h 



.vGooglc 



that Limbo^ were BUBpense. " Tdl me. Master; tell 
me, Sii," I began, desirmg to be assured of that Faith 
which conq^uers every error ; " did ever any, by his 
own merit, or by others', go out from hence, that 
afterwards was blessed ?" 

And he, understanding my covert speech, re- 
plied : " I was new in this condition, when I saw a 
Mighty One^ come to us, crowned with sign of vic- 
tory. He took away from ua the shade of our First 
Parent, of Abel his son, and that of Noah ; of Moses 
the Legislator, and obedient Abraham the Patriarch ; 
David the King ; Israel with his father, and his sons, 

Conobbi, cbe in quel limbo eran lospesi. 45 

Dimmi, Maestro mio, diouni, Siguore, 

Comiuciai io, per voler easer certo 

Di quella fede cbe vince ogni errore : 
Usdnne mai alcuno, o per suo merto, 

O per altrui, cbe poi fosse beato 1 50 

B quei, cbe iatese il mio pailar corerto, 
Bbpose : Io era nuovo in questo state, 

Qiiaudo ci yidi venire un Poaaeote 

Con segno di Tittoria incoronato. 
Trasseci V ombra del Primo Parente, 55 

D' Abel suo figlio, e quella di No6, 

Di Mois^ L^jista, e ubbidieute 
Abraam Patriarca, e Dayid R«, 

Israel con suo padre, e co' suoi oati, 



' Limbo, from LaL Limbui, j whose luiDe Dante, out 
>rder. I verence, relraini from ulti 

' The Mighty One is Christ, thia pUce. 



.vGooglc 



and Rachel, for whom lie did bo much ;• and many 
others, and made them hlessed. And I wish thee 
to know, that, before these, no human souls were 
saved." 

We ceased not to go, though he waa speakii^ ; 
but passed the wood meanwhile, the wood,' I say, 
of crowded spirits. Our way was not yet far within 
the topmost part, when I saw a fire, which conquered 
a hemisphere of the darkness.* We were still a little 
distant firom it ; yet not so distant, that I did not in 

E con Rachele, per cui tanto fe', 60 

Ed altri molti ; e i^cegli beati : 

E 10' che sappi che, dinanzi ad essi. 

Spirit! umaui non eran salvati. 
Non lasdaram 1' ondar, perch' ei dicessi. 

Ma pHssaTBTQ la aelra tattavia, 65 

La aelva dico di apirili spessi. 
Non era lungi aacor ta nostra via 

Di qua dal sommo, qaand' io ridi un foco, 

Ch' emispeiio di tenebre vinda. 
Di longi t' eravamo ancora an poco, 70 

Ma non si, ch' io non diacerneBsi in parte, 

69. Fineia, luicea in proae, from Lat. vineere. 

1 Served Laban 14 yean. lighted by the Sun ; and here he 

* Xhe imdiBtinguished multi- finds a Nohle Castle, lighted by 

tndes, that crowd the dark outer all that was highest amongst the 

parts of Limbo, are here called a Heathen. 

"wood" of spirits; and probably • Illuminated a hemisphere of 

not without some relation to the Che darkness ; " conquered" it, 

"dart wood" of the first canto, around and above, with rays of 

There Dante saw the myaCie Hill, light. 



.vGooglc 



CAHTO lY. ISrBRMO. 41 

port discern what honourable people occupied diat 
place. 

'* O thou, tliat honoutest every Bcience and art ; 
* who are these, who have bo great distinction,* that 
separates them &oni the maimer of the rest V 

And he to me : " The glorious name, which 
sounds of them, up in that life of thine,* gains £i- 
vour in heaven that thus promotes them." 

Meanwhile a voice was heard by me : " Honour 
the great Foet ! His shade returns that was departed." 

After the voice had paused, and was silent, I saw 
four great spirits come towards us. They had an 
aspect neither sad nor joyful. The good Master be- 
gan to speak : " Mark him with that sword in hand, 

Che orrerol geate possedea quel loco. 
tu, che onori ogni scienza ed iirte, 

Questi chi son, ch' banao cotanta orranza, 

Che dal modo degli altri U diparte ? 75 

B quegli a me : L' onrata Domiuanza, 

Che di lor suona su nella tua vita, 

Grazia acqiiista nel ciel che si gli avanza. 
Intanto voce fu per me udita : 

Quorate V altiesinao Foeta ; 80 

L' ombra sua torua, cb' era dipartita. 
Poich^ la voce fu reatata e queta, 

Vidi quattro grand' ombre a uoi venire : 

Sembianza avevan ah triata nh beta. 
Lo buon MaeBtm cominci6 a dire : 85 

Mira colui con quella spada in mano, 

72. Orrnwl, aaorevole \ and orro 
' Lit,: '• have »uch honoui." | ' On j 



.yCOOgIC 



42 lUyBENO. cuna jr. 

who comes before the three as their lord. He U 
Homer, the eoTcreign Poet. The next that comes 
is Horace the satirist. Ovid is the third; and the 
last is Lucan. Because each agrees with me in the 
name,' which the one voice soimded,* they do me 
honour ; and therein they do well." 

Thus I saw assemble the goodly school of that 
lord of highest song, who, like an eagle, soars above 
the rest After they had talked a space together, 
they turned tc me with sign of salutation ;' and my 
Master smiled thereat. And greatly more besides 

Che vien dinanzi a' tre si come sire. 
Qnegli h Omero poeta soTrano : 

L' altro fe Orazio aatiro, che viene ; 

Ovidio 6 il t«rzo, e 1' ultimo h Lacano. 90 

PerA che dascon meco si conriene 

Nel nome, che send la voce sola ; 

Fannomj onore, e di cio famio bene. 
Cosi vidi adunar la bella scuola 

Di quel signor dell' aLtiaaimo canto, 95 

Che BOTra gli altri, com' aquila. Tola. 
Da ch' ebber ragionato insieme alquanto, 

YoUersi a me con aalutevol cenno : 

E il mio Maestro sorriae di tanto. 
B piiH d' onote ancota assai mi fenno, 100 



' The nune of Poet, uttered b; " . . . . The nulad cock, *hoM cla- 
the united voices of the four (v. n,, ,u™'^™oX ''^' 

80), when they saw Viigil return. jjjd ,n 443 



.vGooglc 



PiNio i». INFEBNO. 43 

they honoured me ; for they made me of their nom- 
ber, so that I was a sixth amid such intelligences.' 

Thus we went onwards to the light, speaking 
things which it is well to pass in silence, as it was 
well to apeak there where I was. We came to the 
foot of a Noble Castle, seven times circled with lofty 
Walls, defended rotmd by a iair Birulet.' This we 
passed as solid land. Through seven gates I entered 
with those sages. We reached a meadow of fresh 
verdure. On it were people with eyes slow and 
grave, of great authority in their appearance. They 

Ch' essi mi fecer della loro scbien, 
^St ch' io fut seeto trs cotanto senno, 
Cos! n' andammo infino alia lumiera 

Farlando coee, cbe il tacere h beUo, 

Si com' era il parlar coli dov" era. 105 

Temmmo al pi6 d' nn nobile castello, 

Sette volte cerchiato d' alte mora, 

Difeso intomo d' nn bel finmicello. 
Questo paasammo come terra dura; 

Per sette porte intra! con questi savi ; 1 10 

Giugnemmo in prato di &esca verdora. 
Genti t' eran con ocebi tardi e gran, 

Di grande autorit& ne' lor sembianti : 



' Lit: " amid such aenae ;" luch 
•treogth of fiumltf, oi iriidaDL 
"One of the siii" not the nith, 

' This RiTulet il undentood to 
repreflcnt Eloqaeoce, or elocution; 
and the leven lofty Walls, the Vii. 
tues of justice, tempeiance, mag- 



nanimi^, &c. The atieam ia Yery 
beautiful ; and hinders the name- 
leu spirits of Limbo from enter- 
ing. But the Poets find it small 
and ahalloir; and pass on, aa if it 
were not there, to examine what 
ia contained on the green Heights 
of the interior. 



.vGooglc 



44 INPEBNO. iiurto iv. 

Spoke seldom, with mild Toices. We retired to 
one of the sides ; into a place open, luminous, and 
h%h, so that they could all be seen. There direct,^ 
upon the green enamel, were shewn to me tiie great 
spirits whom I glory within myself in having seen.' 
I saw Electra' with many companions : amongst whom 
I knew Hector and .Xneas ; Ciesar armed, with the 
£tlcon eyes. I saw Camilla and Penthesilea. On 
the other hand I saw the Latiau king, sitting with 
Lavinia his daughter. I saw that Brutus who ex- 



Parlavaa rado, con voci soavi. 

Traemraod cosi dall' no de' canfi 
In luogo aperto, Inminoso, ed alto. 
Si che veder si potean tutti qnanti. 

Co^ diritto, eopra il verde smalto. 
Mi fur mostrati gli apiiiti magni, 
Che di vederli in me steaso m' esalto. 

lo Tidi Blettra con mold compagni, 
Tra' qnai conobbi ed Ettore, ed Bnea, 
Cesare armato con gli occhi grifagni, 

Vidi Cammilla e la Pentesilea. 
Dall' altra parte vidi 11 re Latino, 
Che con Lavinia sua figba sedea. 

Vidi quel Bmto, che cacciA Tarquino, 



' Direct in ftont, &ce to fees 
before him. 

' Or : " inwardly eialt mjB«l^ 
grow higher, for having seen." 

' Electnt, mother of DardBniu 
the foundei of Troy. She n with 
her awn descendsiiti ; amongit 



whom Dante teckone Cerar, the 
Head of hu ideal Monarchy. The 
great Emperor has hts hsmeaa 
on ; and seee with hia " black and 
liveJy eyes" i^oeulU nigrit vegelit- 
que), of which Suetonius epeaks, 
fit. Oaar. c 4$. ' 



.vGooglc 



cuno IT. IMPBKMO. 45 

pelled the Tatquiu; Lucretia, Julia, Mttrtia, and 
Cornelia. And hj himself apart, I saw Uie Sala- 

When I raised my eyeKds a little higher, I saw 
the Master' of those that know, sitting amid a philo- 
sophic femily. All regard him ; all do him honour. 
Here I saw Socrates and Plato, who before the rest 
stand nearest to him ; Democritus, who ascribes the 
world to chance f Diogenes, Anaxagoras, and Thales ; 
Empedocles, Herachtos, and Zeno, And I saw the 
good collector of the qualities,^ Dioscorides I mean ; 

Lucrezia, Julia, Marzia e Comiglia, 

E aolo in parte vidi il Saladino. 
Foi che innalzai an poco piil le ciglia, 130 

Vidi il Maestro 4i color che samio. 

Seder tra filoaofica famiglia. 
Tatti lo miran, tatti onor ^ &ano. 

Qoivi vid' io e Socrate e Platone, 

Che innaazi agE altii piii preaao gli stanno. 133 
Democrito, che il mondo a case pone, 

Diogenes, Anaasagora e Tale, 

Empedocles, £raclito e Zeuone : 
E vidi il bnono accoglitor del quale, 

139. Quale, tot qiuliU. 

■ The Silodin, renowned in the ' Democritus ot Abdera, who 

Cruudet. ■ttributed the origin oftbing* to 

'Aristotle: "that glorious Phi- the fortuitous eoneourse of em- 

losopher," aa DaUte elaewliera ealts biyon atoms, 

him ; " lo whom nature opened * Dioicorides, who collected 

most her secrets ;" tbst " Master and made experimenti on the vir- 

and Guide of human reaaon." tuea sod qualities orherba, Sic. 
Ctnt. Tr. iv. c. 5, 6. 



.vGooglc 



46 INFEBNO. CAHTO it. 

and saw Orpheus, Tully, Livy, and Seneca the mo- 
rahst ; Euclid the geometer, and PtolemEeus ; Hip- 
pocrates, Avicenna, and Galen ; Averrhoes,' who 
made the great comment, I may not paint them 
all in fidl; for the long theme so chases me, that 
many times the word comes short of the reality. 

The company of six dimiiUBhefi to two. By 
another road the sage guide leads me, out of the 
quiet, into the trembling^ air ; and I come to a part 
where there is nought that shines. 

Dioscoride dico i e vidi Orfeo, 140 

Tullio, e Lirio, e Seneca morale : 
Eaclide geom^tra, e Tolommeo, 

Ippocrate, Avicenna e Oalieno, 

ATerrois che il gran comento feo. 
io non poaao ritrar di tutti appieno ; 145 

Pero che si mi caccia il luogo Uwa, 

Cte molte volte al fatto jl dir vien meno. 
La seela compsgnia in duo si scema : 

Per sltra via mi meua il savio Duca, 

Poor della queta, nell' aura cbe trema ; 150 

E vengo in parte, ove non ^ che luca. 



' AvCTihoSs tranelated the works 
of Aristotle into Arabic, in tlie 
12th centui?, and wrote a com' 

' Lit.: "out of the quiet air. 



:o tlie air that ti 



nbles 



The 



inhabitant* of the nohle castle are 
neither sad nor joyful (v. 84^) ; 
and dwell apart, on their green 



Heights, in bright aerenity. In 
all other pula of Limbo, the lit 
trembles (v. 27) with sighs of 
aadneas. When Virgil and Dante 
leave the other four poets, thej 



hate BtiU a 



e way to go, ■ 



the obscure spirits, ere the; reach 
the storms and darkness of the 
Second Circle. 



.yCOOgIC 



AKGHMENT. 



The Serond Circle, or proper eammeQCCment of Hell ; and Minoi, 
ibe Infernal Judge, M its entrance. It eoutaini the aotili afCu- 
lul siimen ; and their puniEhinent eaDBiHtfl in being driven about 
incensantly, in total darkneas, by fierce winds. First smangM them 
comes Semlnmig, the Babylonun queen. Dido, Cleopatn, Helms, 
Achilles, Paris, and a great multitude of olhen, pass in succession. 
Dante is OTercome and benildered with pitj st the tight of tbem, 
when bia attention is suddenly atttscled to two Spirila that keep 
together, and seem strangely light upon the wind. He is unable 
to speak for some time, after finding that it ii Fnnceica of Rimini, 
with her lover Faolo ; and taUs to the ground, aa if dead, when he 
haa beard their painful story. 

Franceecs was the daughter of Ouido Vecchio da Polenta, lord of 
Raieuns, and wai given in marriage to Olsnciotlo, or Gioranni 
Sciancato (John the lame, or hipihot), eldest son of Mslalesla 
Tecchio, lord or tyrant of Rimini Paolo, her lover, waa a younger 
son of Malatesta. They were surprised and slain together by the 
husbaud, about the year 1288; and buried in Che same grave. 
Ouido NoTcUo, Che true and generous Mend, with whom Dante 
resided at Raveims, was the son of Francescs's brother, Ostagio da 
Polenta. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO V. 

Thus I descended £rom the firet circle down into 
the second, vhich encompasseB less space,^ and eo 
much greater pain, that it stings to wailing. There 
Minos sits honi£c, and grins ;* examines the crimes 
upon the entrance ; judges, and sends according as 
he girds himsel£ I iaj, that when the iU-bom 
spirit comes before him, it confesses all; and that 
sin-discemer sees what place in hell is for it, and 
with his tail makes as many circles round hinuelf 
as the d^rees* he will have it to descend. Always 

Cosl disceei del cerchio primaio 

Giit nd secondo, che men loco cinghia, 

E tanto piii dolor, che pugne a guaio. 
Stavfi Minos onibilmeate, e ringbla : 

Esaiuiiia le colpe uell' entrata, & 

Giudica e mauda, secondo che avring^iia. 
Dlco, che qaando 1' anima mal nata 

Li vien dinanzi, tutta si confessa ; 

E quel ctmoBcitor delle peccata 
Vede qnal loco d' iofemo b da essa: 10 

Cigneu colla coda tante volte, 

Quantonqae gradi vnol che Qh oa messa. , 

i. Singhia Irom Lat rivgen. 



< Each gncceune circle U 


unam imwf.- ille rifenMm Cm- . 


■nullec aa we descend. 




* Lit 1 " uta there hanibl;, 


ditcit. Ma. yL 432. 


«Ml <he<a hia teeth," Lke > d(« 


■ Nomber ofgiadea orcirclH. . 


leady to bite. Qwnter Mb,« 





.vGooglc 



before him stands a crowd of them. They go each 
ia its turn to judgment : they tell, and hear ; and 
then are irhirled doivn. 

" thou who comest to the abode of pain !" said 
Minos to me, leaTing the act of that great office when 
he saw me ; " look how thou enterest, and in whom 
tbou truBtest. Let not the wideness' of the entrance 
deceive thee." 

And my guide to him : " Why criest thou ? 
Hinder not hie fated going. Thus it is willed there 
where what is willed can be done : and ask no 
more." 

Now begin the doleful notes to reach me f now 

Sempre dinanzi a lui ne etanno molte : 
Vanno a vicenda ciascuna al giudizio ; 
Dicono e odono, e poi son giii volte. 15 

tn, che vieni al doloroeo ospizio, 
Disse Minos a me, quando mi vide, 
Lasdando 1' stto di cotanto ufizio, 

Giiarda com' entri, e di cui tu ti fide : 
Non t' ingamii 1' ampiezza dell' entrare. 20 

B a Dnca mio a lui : Perchfe pur gride ? 

Non impedir lo suo fatale andare : 
Vuolsi cosi co^ dove si puote 
Ciit che si Tuole, e piii non dimandare. 

Ora incominnau le dolenti note 2^ 

A fanniai sentire : or son venuto 



' FaciSi detetmai Avenu : Noclii 
atqiie dietpatit alTij<BaiaDiti*,&c 
Ma. li 12S. Peibapi also with 
alluuon to : " Wide i* tiie gate, 



.vGooglc 



am I come wkere much lamentii^ strikes me. I 
am come into a part* Toid of all light, which hellows 
like the sea in tempest, when it is combated by war- 
ring* wipda. The heUish storm, which never tests, 
leads the spirits with its sweep ; ■whirling, and smiting 
it vexes them. When they arrive before the ruin,' 
there the shrieks, the meanings, and the lamenta- 
tion ; there they blaspheme the divine power. 

I learnt that to such torment were doomed the 
carnal sinners, who subject reason to lust. And as 
their wings bear along the starlings,^ at the cold 

L^ dove molto pianto mi percnote. 
lo venni in loco d' ogni luce muto, 

Che mugghia, come fa mar per tempesta, 

Se da coDtrari venti h combattnto. 30 

La bofera infernal, che mai non resta, 

Mena gli spirti con la sua rapina ; 

Voltando e percotendo li molesta. 
Quando ginagon davanti alia ruina, 

Quivi le atrida, il compianto e il lamento ; 35 

Bestemmian quivi la virtil divina, 
Intesi, che a cosi fatto tormento 

Eran dannati i peccator camali, 

Che la ragion sommettono al talento. 
E come gli stomei ne portan I' ali, 40 



■ Lit.; " Mute of all lighti" 
utterly and eternally datk. See in 
canto L 60, the want of inntight 
onlyj and in canto iii. 75, the 
" f^t light" of Hell's confinea. 
In He1) itaeK there ia total daik- 
nesB and blindneae, 

* Wuida contrary to each other. | 



' The predpitoui, atuttered 

rocka which bound the siroles. 

* The starlings fly together in 
great flocka ; shooting up, and then 
turning their outspread wings to 
the wind ; rising and faHing tor- 
tuously, as ifoppoBite guBtawere 
drifting them. 



.vGooglc 



citito V. INFEBHO. 51 

season, in large and crowded troop ; ao that blast, 
the evil spirits. Hither, thither, down, up, it leads 
them. No hope ever comforts them, not of rest but 
ecen of less pain. And as the cranes go chanting 
their lays, making a long streak of themselves in 
Uie air ; so I saw the shadows come, uttering wails, 
home by that strife* of Ktnda. Whereat I said : 
" Master, who are those people, whom the black air 
thus lashes ?" 

" The first of these concerning whom thou eeek- 
est to know," he then replied, " was Empress of 
many tongues. Widi the vice of luxury she w^ 

Nel freddo tempo, a schiera krga e piena ; 

Cost quel fiato gli qpiiiti mali : 
Di qua, di Ut, di ^% di su gli meoa. 

Nulla speranza gU conforta mai. 

Nod che di posa, ma di minor pena. 45 

E come i gm von cantando lor lai, 

Facendo In aer di s6 lunga riga ; 

Cosi vid' io venir, traendo guai. 
Ombre portate dalla detta biiga : 

Per ch' io dissi : Maestro, chi son quelle 50 

Oeod, che 1' aer nero si gastiga ? 
La prima di color, di cui novelle 

Tu vuoi saper, mi disse quegli allotta, 

Fu imperatrice di molte favelle. 
A vizio di luBsuria fu si rotta, 55 

53. Jllolta, (dlora. 

■ " WlierewithtJamanunnelh, I Th« Blormiud darfcneaa ; llie pas 
b J the same also shall he be pun- siotu, unrestrained by clouded rea- 
itbed." fViidam Iff Solotiuni xi. 18. \ aoD. 



.vGooglc 



52 INFEBNO. CAHTO r. 

BO broken, that she made lust and law alike in her 
decree/ to take away the blame she had incurred, 
She is Semiraims, of whom we read that she suc- 
ceeded Nmus,' and was his spouse. She held the 
land which the Soldan rules. That other is she who 
slew herself in love,' and broke faitb to the aahes of 
Sichteus. Next comes luxurious Cleopatra." 

Helena I saw, for whom so long a time of ill 



Che libito fe' licito in sua legge 

Per torre U biasmo, in che e 
Ell' h Semimmis, di cui si legge, 

Che Buccedette a Nino, e fu sua sposa : 

Tenne la terra, che il Soldan corregge. 
L' altra 6 cold, che s' aucise amoroen, 

E ruppe fede al cener di Sicheo j 

Poi ^ Cleopatras Insstuiosa, 
Elena vidi, per cui tanto reo 



57. Torre, t 

' Lit : " the thing liked she 
made legal l^ hei decree." 

' The leading : Che tagger det- 
tt a Nino, e fii itia ipota ("who 
gave suck to Ninus, and waa bia 
aponse"), though ofieti suf^Bted, 



rtjUBO 






of the Ctmrisedia; »nd does not ac- 
cord well with the hahits of Dante. 
He has already described the licen- 
tioiunees of Semiiamia (v. 5S-7) 
with his uiual btevit; and com- 
p!etene». And bendes, both Jus- 
tin (lib. i. c. 2), and OrdbJua 
(lib. i. c. 4) whose works Dante 



knew and followed {Mmarch. lib. 
ii. p. 70), mention thit Semiratnis 
" succeeded Ninua," contrary lo 
the custom and laws of the Aa- 
sjtiana, b; aasDming the dress of 
a man, and passing for her sof 
Ntnyas, whom she thought too 
young and feeble for the govern- 
ment Not until alter many 
heroic eoterpriscs had shewn her 
power, did she make her sex and 

■ Dido, .£n. It. Hen tervata 
Jidet cineri promiaa Sichao- Itnd. 



.vGooglc 



CAHTD T. INFEBNO. 5S 

revolved ;, and I saw the great Achilles,' who fought 
at last with love. I sa^r Paris, Triatan. And more 
than a thousand ehades he shewed to me, and point- 
ing with his finger, named them, whom love had 
parted from oar life. After I had heard my teacher 
name the olden dames and cavaliers, pity conquered 
me, and I was as if bewildered. 

I began : ** Poet, willingly would I speak with 
these two that go together, and seem so light upon 
the wind." 

And he to me : " Thou shalt see when they are 
nearer to us : and do thou then entreat them by that 
love, which leads them ; and they will come." 

Soon as the wind bends them to us, I raise my 

Tempo si volae ; e vidi il gratide Achille, C5 

Che con amore b1 fine combatteo. 
Vidi Paris, Tristano ; e pi& di tuille 

Ombre moBtrommi, e nominolle a dito, 

Ch' amor di nostra vita dipartille. 
Poscia ch' io ebbi il mio Dottore ndito 70 

Nomar le donne antiche e i cavalieri, 

Pietil mi viiise, e tax qna« smarrito. 
Io cominciai : Poeta, volentieri 

Parlerei a qae' dno, cfae insieme vanno, 

E paion si al vento es«er leggieri. 75 

Bd egli a me : Yedrai, quando saiaimo 

H& presBO a noi ; e tu allor li prega 

Per quell' amor che i mena ; e qiiei verranno. 
SI tosto come il vento a noi 11 piega, 

' AohUlM wu sUin in tbe i whose lutet, Polrzena, be bMl 
Temple of Apollo, through the been induced 10 le«Te Ihe Oreciim 
treaober; of Paris, for Iotg of | cunp. 



.vGooglc 



64 INFERNO, cxm T. 

Toice : " O wearied soiils t come to speak with us, 
if none^ demes it." 

As doves called by desire, with open and steady 
wings fly throngli the air to their loved nest, home 
by their will ; so those spirits issued from the band 
where Dido* is, coming to us throogh the mal^nant 
air. Such was the force of my a^ctaous cry, 

" O living creature, gracious and benign ! that 
goest through the black' air, visitjng ua who stained 

Muovo la Toce : anime affamiate, 80 

Venite a noi parlar, s' altri nol oiega. 
Quali colombe, dal disio chiamate, 

Con r all aperte e ferme «1 dolce nido 

Volan per 1' aer dal voler portate ; 
Cotali uscir della Bchieni ov' 6 Bido, 85 

A noi venendo per 1' aer maligno, 

SI forte fa r affettuoBO grido. 
animal grazioso e benigno, 

Che visitando vai per 1' aer perso 

Noi che tignemmo il moudo di Basgtugno : 90 



' Lit.! "If olhei denies il not" 
In the old Italian, altri and allrui 
fiequently mean " aome superior 
Pawer." As examples of this, 
see canto mt. 141 ; and Purg. 
canto i. 133. 

* Fiom the band of Dido, " who 
broke Guth," Sco. ; thus indicating 
the crime of which they had been 
^illy. CoiDinentstDrs and his- 
loriana teU us of the deformities 
and hatefiilneu of Gianciotto, the 
graceM qualities ofPaolo, and the 



untaic means by which the mar- 
riage va brought about Dante 
feels that he has to take the naked 
facts, stem and bitter as they ore 
to bim, Id all their simplici^. 

' Lit : " perae air." Dante 
himself defines this vexed word 
very clearly: "perse is a colour 
mixed of purple and black, but 
the black prevails." Cme. Tr. iv. 
e. 20. It is often used by him, 
and also occurs in our own 



.vGooglc 



ciHTQ T. INFBBMO. 55 

the earth with blood. If tlie King of the UniTerse 
were our &ieiul, we would pr&y him for thy peace ; 
seeii^ tliat thou hast pity of oar perveree misfortune. 
Of that which it pleases thee to hear and to speak^ 
we will hear and speak with you, whilst the wind, 
as now, is silent. 

" The town,i where I was bom, sits on the shore, 
where Po descends to rest with his attendant gtrsama. 
LoTe, which is quickly caught in gentle heart, took 
him with the fair body of which I was berefl; f and 
the manner still afflicts me. Lore, which to no loved, 
one permits excuse from loving,* took me so strongly 

Se fosse amico il Be dell' universo, 
Noi pregheremmo loi per U tua pace, 
Poi che hai pieUt del nostra mol peirerso. 

Di quel cbe adire e che parlar ti place 
Noi adiremo e parleremo a vui, 95 

Mentrech^ il lento, come fs, si tace. 

Siede la terra, dove uata fiii, 

Su la marina dove il Po discende 
Pts aver pace co' segnaci sui. 

Amor, cfae al cor gentil ralto s' apprende, 100 

Prese costul della bella persona 
Che mi fu tolta, e il modo ancor m* offeude. 

Amor, che a nollo amato amar perdona. 
Mi pres^el cestui piacer si forte, 

97. Terra, town, city, fortreBS. 



' RiTenna ; on the coast of 
that aes, lo which the Fo, wilji 
all hia ttresms &om Alps and 
Apenainet, deaemda to reat 



» Lit:" Which wi 



to afflict me. 
• Lit; "pardons 01 



.vGooglc 



56 INFEBMO, ciHTOT. 

with delight in him,* that, as thou seest, even now it 
leaves me not. Love led us to one death. Cai'na^ 
waits for him who quenched our life." These words 
from them were offered to us. 

After I had heard those wounded souls, I bowed 
my face, and held it low until the Poet said to me : 
" What art thou thinking of ?" 

When I answered, I began: "Ah me! what 
sweet thoughts, what longing led them to the woful 
pass!" 

Then I turned agedn to them ; and I spoke, and 
began : " Francesca, thy torments make me weep 
with grief and pity. But tell me : in the time of 

Che, come vedi, imcor non m' abbandona. 105 

Amor condusse noi ad una morte : 

Caina attende chi vita ci apenae. 

Queste parole da lor ci fur porte. 
Da che io inteai quelle anime offense, 

Chinai il Tiflo, e tanto il teooi basso, 110 

Finch^ il Poeta mi disse : Che penae 1 
Quando riaposi, cominciai : lasso ! 

Quanti dolci pensier, quanto disio 

Mend costoro al doloroao passo ! 
Poi mi rivolsi a lore, e parlai io, 1 15 

E cominciai : Franceses, i tuoi mardri 

A lagrimar mi fanno tristo e pio. 
Ma dimmi : al tempo de' dolci sospiri, 

108. Porle, bma porgtre. 

' Or; "iriUiple»aiiighiin,"Sc I lowest oireU of Hell, oocapied by 
' Cains, Cmd'i place in the | fratricides, &c. Canto xiiii. 



.vGooglc 



CAHTO T. INFERNO. 57 

the sweet sighs, by what and how love granted you 
to know the dubious desires V 

And she to me : " 'Hiere is no greater pain than 
to recall a happy time in wretchedness ; and this thy 
teacher knows.^ But if thou hast such desire to 
leam the first root of onr lore, I will do like one 
who weeps and tells. 

" One day, for pastime, we read of Lancelot,* 
how love constrained him. We were alone, and 
without all suspicion. Several times that reading 

A che, e come coocedette amofe, 

Che conoBceste i dubbiosi desiri? 120 

Ed ella a me : Nessnn mag^or dolore, 

Che ricordarsi del tempo felice 

Nella miaeria; e ci6 ea il tuo dottore. 
Ma Be a coaoscer la prima radice 

Del nostra amor tu hai cotanto afietto, 125 

Far6 come colui che pioage e dice. 
Noi leggevamo im giorno per diletto 

Di Lancillotto, come amor lo strinse : 

Soli eravamo e senza alcnn sospetto. 
Per pid fiate gU occhl d sospinae 130 

ISO. SmpinK, from totpiHgere. 



' ViifiL Sea the h^andum, 
ngma, &e. of ^aeaa, when he 
has to lecall the lait glones of 
Troy (IVDf'rmaf ut opet, &<).); 
tnd begins: Sed n taatns amor 
auta eogsoicere nwtnu, Sic. As 
Fnncesca here doei. 

' Lancelot of the Lake, in the 
old Romance! of Che Round Table, 
iadeicribed tu " Che greatest knight 



□f all the world ;" and hii love for 
Queen Ouenever, or Oinevra, ti 
infinite. Oaleotto, Oallehaut, or 
Sir Qalahad U he, Rho girn suoh 
a detailed declaratian of Lancelofa 
lore to the Queen ; and ii to them, 
in the rotnance, what the book and 
ita author are here to Franceica 
and Paolo. 



.yCOOgIC 



58 INFEBNO. »Hro *. 

urged our eyea to meet, and changed the colour 
of our faces. But ooe moment alone it was that 
overcame us. When we read how the fond smile 
was kissed by such a lorer, he, who shall never be 
divided from me, kiesed my mouth all trembling. 
The book, and he who wrote it, was a Galeotto. 
That day we read in it no ferther."* 

Whilst the one spirit thus spake, the other wept 
so, that I lainted with pity, as if I had been dying ; 
and fell, as a dead body falls. 

Quella lettura, e scolorocci il viso : 

Ma solo un punto fu quel che ci yinse. 
Quando le^emmo il diaiato riso 

Engt baciato da cotanto amante, 

Qnesti, che mal da me nan fia diviao, \35 

La bocca mi bad6 tutto tremante : 

Galeotto fa il libro, e chi lo scrisse : 

Quel giorao piit non vi l^^tmno avante. 
Meatre che 1' uno spirto qaesto daese, 

L' altro piangeva si, che di pietade 140 

lo veuni men cosl com' io morisse ; 
B caddi, come corpo morto cade. 



' The fiioto of Fr«neeic»'8 story 
are giten by Hienmynai Subaa Id 
. hia«u(.fliweBiuK.Venetiia, J572, 
fol. lib. Ti. p. 308, 9. The gene.- 
log; of Che Guidos ia giien it Che 
end; and oompletel; agrees nith, 
and eiplaitia, all that is aaid re- 
specting them by Boccaccio, Ben- 



venuto da Imola, and Che other 
early CommenCat«rs. Alateredi- 
Cion(ie03) ofChesame work placea 
tLe death ofFranceaca and her loTcr 
at Che comroencemenC of the yeu 
1289. In the fii«l edition it ii 
placed between 1287 and 12£9. 
See the Argument of thia canto. 



.yCoOgIc 



AEGUMENT. 



Od recoyeriog his wiiws, Dmte gBin TOond, Uld finds hinueK in the 
midit of He* UinaeDta, md > new kind of linnen. During his 
iwoon, (as at the rirer AcheiDn). be bu been tranrported, from 
the teinpetti snd precipices of the second, into the Hiird Circle. 
It is the place appointed fbr Epicuree and Olnttons, who set their 
hearts upon the lowest species of sensual gratification. An un- 
laryinf , eternal stann of heavj hail, bul water, and mow, pours 
down upon them. The]' are all lying prostrate on the ground) 
and the three-headed monater Cerbenia keeps barking over them, 
and rending them. The shade of ■ oiliien of Florence, who had 
been nicknamed Ciaeco (Pig), eagerly sila up as the Foeta ptssi 
and from him Dante hears of various' erents, that await the two 
paiiiea bj which the ci^ ii divided and distracted. After leaving 
Ciaeco, the Foets have still gome way to go in the disguadng eir- 
ek, but notice nothing more in it. They wade on slowly in the 
mixture of the Spirits and Ibe rain, talking of the great Judgment 
and Eternity, til] they find Plutus at the next descent 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO VI. 

On sense returning, which closed iteelf before the 
misery of the two relictions that stunned me all witii 
sadness, I diBcem new torments, and new tormented 
souls, whithersoever I move, and tum^ and gaze. I 
am in the Third Circle, that of the eternal, accursed, 
cold, and heavy rain. Its course and quality is never 
new : large hail, and turbid water, and snow, it pours 
down through the darksome air. The ground, on 
which it falls, emits a putrid smell. Cerberus,^ a 
monster fierce and strange, with three throats, barks 
dog-like over those that are immersed in it. His 

Al tomar della mente, che si chiose 

Binanzi alia pieti de' duo coguad, 

Che di tristizia tutto mi confuse, 
Nuori tormenti e nuovi tormentati 

Mi veggio intomo, come eh' io mi muova, 5 

E come ch' io mi volga, e ch' io mi goati. 
Io Bono al terzo cerchio della piova 

Eterna, maledetta, fredda e greve; 

Regola e quality mni non 1' h nova. 
Grandine grossa, e acqna tiata, e neve 10 

Per I' aer tenebroso si riversa : 

Piite la terra che questo riceve, 
Cerbero, fiera crudele e diversa. 

Con tre gole caninamente latra 

Sovra la gente che qoivi i sommersa. 15 



,,Googlc 



EiKToyi. INFKBNO. 61 

eyes are red, liis beard gory and black,' his belly 
vide, and clawed his hands. He clutches the spirits, 
flays, and piecemeal rends^ them. The rain makes 
thera howl like dogs. With one side they screen 
the other: they often turn themselves, the impious 
wretches. 

When Cerberus, the great Worm,* perceived us, 
he opened his mouths and shewed his tusks : no limb 
of him kept still.* My guide, spreading his palms, 
took up earth ; and, with lull fists, cast it into his 

Gli occM ha vermigli, e la barbs unta ed atra, 

B U ventre largo, e unghiate le mani ; 

Graffia gli apirU, gli scnoia, ed idquaba. 
Urlar gh fa la piog^ come cani : 

Dell' na de' lati fanno all' altro echermo ; 20 

Yolgonsi spesso i miaeri profani. 
Quando a scorse Cerbero, il gnm vermo, 

Le bocche aperse, e mostrocd le sanne : 

NoQ avea membro ohe tenease fermo. 
£ il Duca mio diatese le sue sponae ; 25 

Preae la terra, e con piene le pugna 

IS. Iiqaatra, squatra, squarta. 



' ^'ridii ieler tanietque nj^i 
Ore Irilinguu Hor. Od. iii. 11. 

' Somewhat like the : Tergora 
tfirjpunf cattit, el viacera midant i 
Pan mjruila leamt, &c. JEu. i. 
211. 

' " Their Worm shall not die." 
Imah Ixvi 2i. 

" O Etc, in eill hour tbaa didlt give 



' Lit ; " he bad no limb that 
he kept etiU ;" he shook in all 
his limbs foe rage and hunger. 
Vijgil Bees, not without Bigni£- 
cance, that a lew handfula of mere 
sordid earth nill quell and satisfy 
this new Demon, worm, emblem 
of blind Toraoity ; instead of the 
Sjbil'a ancient sopoiiEc cake : 
Melle uporatam et aedicalit fiu- 
gibia iiffam. Mo. ti. 420. 



.vGooglc 



ravening guUots. As tKe dog, that barking craves,' 
and grows quiet when he bites his food, for he strains 
and battles only to devour it; so did those squalid 
visages of Cerberus the Demon, who thunders on 
the spirits so, that they would fiiin be deaf. 

We passed over the shadows whom the heavy 
rain subdues ; and placed our soles upon their emp- 
tiness, which seems a body. They all were lying on 
the ground save one, who sat up forthwith when he 
saw us pass before him. " O diou, who through this 
Hell art led," he said to me ; " recognise me if thou 
mayest : thou wast made before I was unmade."* 

La gittf) dentro alle bramose canne. 
Qual e quel cane che abbaiando sgagna, 

E si racquets poi che il pasto morde, 

Chh solo a ^rorarlo intende e pugna ; 30 

Cotai si fecer quelle fiicce lorde 

Delia demonio Cerbero che introua 

L' anime si, ch' esser vorrebber sorde. 
Noi paesavam bu per 1' ombre, ebe adona 

La grere pioggia, e ponevam le piante 35 

Sopra lor vanity, che par persona. 
Elle giacean per terra tutte quante, 

Fuor d' una che a seder si teyft, ratto 

Ch' ellft ci vide passarsl davante. 
to, che se' per questo inferno tratto, 40 

Mi disse, riconoscimi, se sal ; 

Tu fosti, prima ch' io diafatto, fatto, 

28. jtgvgna, tgogaa, crniea, \oagi tbr, 
' Barks, craving for his food. ] ' Want bom b«ftire I died. 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



63 



And I to h^m : " The anguisli 'which thou hast, 
perhaps -withdraws thee from my memory, so that 
it seems not as if I ever saw thee. But tell me 
who art thou, that art put in auch a wotul place, 
and in such punishment; that, though other may 
be greater, none is so displeasing." 

And he to me : " Thy city, which is so full of 
envy that the sack already overflows, contained me 
in the clear^ life. You, citizens, called me Ciaceo :' 
for the baneful crime of gluttony, as thou seest, I 

Ed io a lei : L' angoacia clie tu hai 

Forse ti tira fuor della mia mente, 

St che non par ch' io ti vedessi mat. 45 

Ma dimmi chi tn se', che id si dolente 

Luogo se' messB, ed a a) fatta pena, 

Che a' altra h maggior, nulla 6 si apiaceute. 
Ed egli a me : La tua citt^ ch' ^ plena 

D' inridia b1, che gi& tiabocca il sacco, 50 

Seco mi tense in la vita serena. 
Voi, dttadini, mi chiamaate Ciacco : 

Per la damioaa colpa della gala. 

Come tu vedi, alia pioggia mi fiacco ; 



' Our earthly li/e seems clear 
to him, in that mud and darkness, 
though enyy o»erflowB in il. 

' This Ciacco (Hog) was a kind 
of Diner-out io those old times. 
"He died," says the Ottimo Com- 

little boy. ... He was a man 
of eouit, that is, a buftbon ; and 
vei7 tamous for his love of dainlj 
meats. And bi> a buflbon, he had 
elegant manners ; and made witty 



Jeata to people of cousequenee ; 

and had a great conCenipt for the 
meaner sott." Bargigi, another 
-reiy old commentator, also tella 
how Ciacco naa fond of delicacies, 
and poor; and how, "in order to 
have more enjoymanl, lie made a 
buffoon of himself; andwasaiery 

pleasant and excellent talker 

a man that always had news for 
convetsationi and used to frequent 
the houses of the rich ; where there 



.vGoo^lc 



64 IMFSRKO. ourao Ti. 

lai^fuieh in the rain. And I, -wretched Bpirit, am 
not alone ; since aU these for like crime are in like 
punislunent." 

I answered T^iin : " Ciacco,' thy sore distress we^hs 
upon me so, that it bids me weep. But tell me, if 
thou canst, what the citizens of the divided city shall 
come to : if any one in it be just. And tell me 
the reason why such discord has assailed it." 

And he to me : " After long contention, they 
shall come to blood, and the savage* party shall expel 

Ed io anima trista non son sola, 55 

Gfag tutte qaeste a aimil pena stanno 

Per simil colpa : e piii non te' parola. 
Io gli riaposi : Ciacco, il tuo affimno 

Mi pesa b3, ch' a. lagrimar m' invita ; 

Ma dimmi, se tu sai, a che vemumo 60 

Li cittadiu della citt& partita ; 

S' alcon V h giusto ; e dirami la cagione, 

Perch^ r ha binta discordia Eissalita. 
Ed egU a me : Dopo lunga tenzone 

Verranno al sangue, e la parte seWoggia 65 

Cacceri 1' altrs con molta offenuone. 



il conunonl}' a gteM deal of talk, 

moreeapeciallyat Cable." Itmakea 
Dante almost weep to see the poor 
^fled CiaccD in such a plight 

' The name Ciaoco ia (aid also 
to haie been a familiar abbrevia- 
tion of Jaeopo (Jantea) in Dante's 

' Florence was divided bjr two 
tiujtioDS, the Neri and Bianchi, oi 
Blacks and Whites. The Whites 
are called the " savage pai^," be- 



cause it was headed b; the Cerchi, 
a rough, purse-proud family of 
merchaols (see Villaai viiL 39, 
and Baccaetto Con.), that hid re- 
cently acquired great wealth and 
Influence in Florence. Or, "party 
of the wooda, (aa it may be 
translated), because the Cerchi 
were from the woody Valdiaieve, 
or Val di Nierole. The Donati, 
comparatively poor, but poBsesa- 
ing greater talents, proud of thrir 



Ln . ^.lOOglC 



the other wiUi much offence. Then it behoves this 
to fell within three Buns, and the other to pre- 
Tail through the force of one who now keeps tack- 
ing.* It shall carry its front high for a long time, 
keeping the other iinder heavy burdens, however 
it may weep thereat and be ashamed. Two* are 
just; but are not listened to there. Pride, Envy, 
and Avarice are the three sparks which have set 

Poi appresso convien che quests cag^jia 

In£ra tre soli, e che 1' altnt sormonli 

Con la foris di tal, che testfe piaggia. 
Alto terr& lungo tempo le fronti, 70 

Tenendo V altra sotto gravi pesi, 

Come che di db piaaga, e che ne adonti. 
Giusti son dao, ma hod vi soso inteHi : 

Superbia, invidia ed aTaiizia Rono 

Le tre faville ch' hanno i cuori accesi. 75 



69. Piaggia, coasta oi 

old nobility, and terj icgrnliil of 
■U upstarts, led the opposite party. 
They " came to lilood§lied" an 
the evcaing of May-day 1300, at 
" a grand ladiea' d*Dce" on the 
Piuza di Santa Trinili ; nhieh 
naa to conclude the feBdvitiea of 
the day, and had attracted all the 
moat diitiiigiiiAlied of the young 
men. In I30I the Whites ex- 
pelled the Blac^ ; and were in 
their turn expelled, by help of 
Charles de Valoii, in the yeat 
fallowing, (. e. within less than 
"three suna" (solar years) of the 
time at which Ciacco speaks. 



icks; flatters, cajoles. 

' Charles, or perhaps Bonilace 
who sent him i and kept "tack- 
ing," or pretending to be equally 
well disposed to both parties, till 
Charles was actually in Florence. 

* The namea of these two are 
unknown ; and the coi^ectures of 
the commentatoiB are not ediff- 
ing. See Canzone ix., last stanza, 
beginning i " Casxime, a' tre men 
ret," Sic (page 28 of Fraticelii's 
edit), where Dante speaka per- 
haps of the same two just men ) 
and in a very remarkable way of 
a third — probably hia friend Guido 
Cavalcanti. 



.vGooglc 



the hearts of oil on fire." Here he ended the 
lamentable' sound. 

And I to him : *' Still I vnah thee to uutruct 
me, and to hestow a UtUe farther speech on me. 
Farinata and the Tegghiaio, who were so worthy; 
Jacopo Rusticucci, Arr^ and Mosca,^ and the rest 
who set their minds on doii^ good: tell me where 
they are, and give me to know them ; for great de- 
sire urges me to learn whether Heaven soothes or 
Hell empoisons them." 

And he to me : " They are amongst the blackest 
spirits. A different crime weighs them downwards 
to the bottom. Shouldst thou descend so far, thou 



Qui pose fine al lacrimabil snono.^ 

Ed io a Ini : Ancor to' che a 

E che di piil parlar mi facd dono. 
Farinata e il Teggfaiaio, che fur at degni, 

Jacopo Rnsticucd, Arrigo e il Mosca, 

E gli altri, cfae a ben far poser g 
Dimmi ove sono, e f& ch' io li conosca ; 

Chh gran desio mi stnnge dl sapere, 

Se il Ciel gli addolcia o 1' lufemo gh attosca. 
E quegU : Ei son tra le anime pid nere ; 

Diversa' colpa giii gli aggrava al fondo : 



' IfUnenlable eoough to Duite 
in man; ways. He belonged to 
neither party ; and hut the leaders 
of both baniihed, nhen be waa 
chief Prior, in June 1300, though 
hia relations and dearest Mends 
were amongst them. He only 
joined the Whites ii 



coming of Charles to Florence ; 
and RB£ fbr that reason exiled ; 
dqirived of all hia proper^ i and 
condemned to be burnt alire. 

' Noble Florentines, whose 
names again occur, except Arri- 
go'a. He is said to have been of 
the Fifanti family. 



.vGooglc 



wmo Ti. INFEBKO. 67 

mayest eee them. Bat if ever thou return to the 
sweet world, I pray thee recall me to the memory 
of men. More I tell thee not, and more I answer 
not." TherewithhewrithedhiBstraight eyes asquint;* 
looked at me a little ; then bent his head, and fell 
down with it like his hlind companiotiB. 

And my Guide esai to me : " He wakes no more 
until the angel's trumpet sounds. When the adverse 
Power shall come, each shall revisit his sad grave ; 
shall resume his flesh and form; ahall hear that 
which resounds tp all eternity." 

Thus passed we through the filthy mixture of 
the spirits and the rain, with paces slow, touching 
a little on the future life. 

Se tanto scendi, g^ potrai vedere. 
Ma se ta tomi mai nel dolce moudo, 

Fregoti che alia mente sltmi mi reclii ; 

Rii non ti dico, e piii uoa ti rispondo. 90 

GU diritti occhi tone allora in biechl : 

Gnardommi nn poco ; e pai cidab Is testa : 

Codde con essii a par degli altri dcchi. 
E il Duca dUse a me : Piil non si desta 

Di qua dal buoq ddl' angelica tromba : 95 

Quando verr^ la nimica podesta, 
Ciascim ritroveHi la trists tombs, 

Bapiglierk sua came e saa figura, 

Udirik quel che in etemo rimbomba. 
SI trapassammo per sozza mistura 100 

Dell' ombre e della pioggia, a psssi lenli, 

Toccando on poco la rita fotura : 

' Hu eyes, vith whieh he had I he " diitorted into squinting." He 
been looking " straight" it me, j grew blind egun, like Che others. 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



68 INFBRKO. OAHWI n. 

Wherefore I said : " Master, shall diese torments 
increase after the great Sentence, or grow less, or 
remain as burning ?"' 

And he to me : " Return to thy science,^ which 
has it, that the more a thing is perfect, the more it 
feels pleasure and likewise pain. Though these 
accursed people never attain to true perfection, yet 
shall they be nearer to it after than before."^ 

We went round along that road, speaking much 
more than I repeat. We reached the point where 
the descent begins. Here found we Flutus, &e great 
enemy. 

Perch' io disai : Maestro, esti tormenti 

Crescenmno ei dopo la gran sentenza, 

Sen miuori, o saran si cocenti 7 105 

Ed egli a me : Bitoma a tua adenza, 

Che vuol, qnanto la cosa & plil perfetta, 

Piil senta il bene, e cosi la dogUenza. 
Tutlochg questa geate maledetta 

In vera perfezion giammai non vada, 1 10 

Di 1^ pi\l che di qua, easere aspetta. 
Noi aggiiramrao a tondo quella strada, 

Parlando piil asaai ch' io non ridico : 

Venimmo al punto dove si digrada : 
Qnivi trovammo Plato il gran nemico. 1 15 

114. SI digrada, descends in degrees. 

' Eqmdlj burning, at bitter. I ' Lit. ; " beyond, than on this 
' Thy Aristotelian Philosophy. | side," the great Judgment. 



.yCoOgIc 



ARGUMENT. 



PlutuB, the ancient gt>d of richEa, whom the Poets And on the blink 
of the Fourth Circle, swells with nge and aatonishment when he 
sees them about to enter it ; and succeeds in uttering some Btnnge 
words, 'Virgil, with brief and sharp reproof, nukei him collapae 
and &11 to the ground. In this circle, the Poeta find two separata 
classes of spirits, that are coming in opposite ditvctjons, rolling 
large dead Weights, amiting these sgunst each other ; and then, 
with bitter mutual reproaches, each turning round his Weight, and 
rolling it backwards, till all meet and smite again, " at the other 
joust," or farther aide of the circle. It is the souIb of the Prodigal 
and AvsriciouB that have this puniahmenl. In the left semicircle, 
which is occupied bj the avaricious, Dante notices nun}' that ue 
tonsured ; and is told that the; were once High Dignitaries of his 
Church, but have now grgwn bo dim, that it would be vain to think 
of recogruBiag any of them. 
After speaking of Fortune and the things committed to her chaq^, 
the Poets hasten serosa the circle to the next descent. Upon its 
brink the; find a stream of dark water, pouring down through ■ 
cleft, which it has worn out for itself; and they accompauf this 
walei till it forms a roarBh called Styx, which occupies the Fifth 
Circle. In this marsh they see spirits, all muddy and naked, 
assailing and tearing each other. These are the souls of the 
WrathiiiL Beneath them, and covered with the black mud, are 
the souls of the Gloomy-sluggtah, gurgliug in their throats a 
dismal chant. Tie Poets, after going a long iray round the edge 
of the loathsome pool, conie at last to the foot of a high tower. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO VII. 

" pAPE Satan I pape Satan, alepp^ !" began Pla- 
tos, with clucking! voice. And that gentle Sage, 
who knew all, eaid, comforting me : " Let not thy 
fear hurt thee; for, whatever power he have, he 
shall not hinder us from descending this rock." 

Then he turned himself to that inflated visage, 
and said : " Peace, cursed Wolf 1^ Consume thyself 
internally with thy greedy rage. Not without cause 
is our journey to the deep. It is willed on high ; 

Pape Satan, pape Satan aleppe, 

ComiDci6 Pluto colla voce chioccia : 

E quel Savio gentil, che tutto seppe, 
Diflse per confortarmi : Non ti noccia 

La tna paura, chfe, poder ch' egli abbia, 5 

Non ci teirSt lo scender questa roccia, 
Poi si rivolse a qnella enfiata ^bu, 

E disae : Taci, maledetto lapo : 

Consnma dentro te con la tua rabbia. 
Non h senza cagion 1' andare al cupo : 10 

1. Pape, Lst paptt. Ahppt, ilpha, prince, cMeE 

■" Hah Salac! hah Satan I thou perfect CMocda {atiiat.) m»n» 

Alpha;" or aomething of the sort, a brood, or cluckiHg, hen in lU- 

ifany attempt is to he at transla- liao. Readers will recollect the 

tion. Plutus probably eonlinaes "Pair.' Paixl SatanaUez! Paizl" 

Id i^ard Saten as his Alpha, Or of the Huissiera, which Benvenuto 

Prince ; and is surprised and en- Cellini heard, when he "took bis 

raged when he sees the intruders. dagger," and went to get justice 

But bis ideas are not clear, and in the courts at Paris, 

his utterance of them is very ira- ' WoU symbol of avarice. 

U.g.VK.yGbOglc 



cam va. INPERNO. 71 

there, where Michael took vengeance of the proud' 
adultery." 

As sails, swelled by the wind, fall entangled 
when the mast gives way; so fell that cruel mon- 
ster to the ground. Thus we descended into the 
fourth concavity, talung in more of the dismal bank, 
which shuts up all the evil of the nniveree. Ah, 
Justice Divine I Who shall tell in feV the many 
£resh pains and travails that I saw ? And why does 
guilt of ours thus mar us ? 

As does the sni^e, there above Charybdis, that 
breaks itself against the surge wherewith it meets ; 

Vuoki oosl ndl' alto, ove Michele 

Fe' la vendetta del superbo strupo. 
Quali dal vento le gonfinte vele 

Caggiono awolte, poichfe V tlher fiacca ; 

Tal cadde a terra la flera cnidele. 15 

Cosi Bcendemmo nella quarta lacca, 

Prendeudo piii della doleate ripa, 

Che il mal dell' uniTerso tntto insacca. 
AM ^natina di Dio ! tente 'chi stipa 

Nnove travaglie e pene, quante io Tiddi ? . 20 

E percbi nostra colpa si ue scipa? 
Gome fa t' ooda lik sovra Cariddi, 

Che si frange con quells in cui b' intoppa ; 

12, Sirspo, atupro. 21. Aipa, wastes, mara. 

' Satan, or LueiTer, and his crowds together, ao nuuy new 

pmuilmi^t. Adultery, in the paini and travails as I aaw?" 

tciiptural aense, of turning away This literal meaning of the words 

from the true God. will perhaps bear different ezpla- 

* Lit : " Wlio compresses, or nations. 



.vGooglc 



7i! IMFERNO. cam Til. 

SO have the people here to counter-dance.' Here 
saw I too many more than elsewhere,^ both oa the 
one side and on the other, with loud howlings, roll- 
ing weights by force of chest. They smote against 
each other, and then all turned upon the spot, roll- 
ing them back, shouting, ''Why boldest thou?" and 
" Why throwest thou away ?" Thus they returned 
through ^e hideous circle, on either hand, to the 
opposite point, 'shouting always in their reproach&l 
measure. Then every one, when he had reached 
it, turned through his semicircle towards the other 
joust. 

Cob) couvien che qui la gente riddi. 
Qui Tidi gente piii che altroTe troppa, 25 

E d' una parte e d' altra, con grand! urli, 

Voltando peu per forza di poppa : 
Percotevansi incontro, e poscia pnr li 

Si livolgea dascun, voltando a retro, 

Oridando! Perchfe tieni?eperch6bntli? 30 

Cosi tomaTau per lo eerchio tetro. 

Da ogai mano all' opposito punto, 

Gridando sempre in loro ontoso metro. 
Poi si volgea ciascmi, quand' era giunto, 

Per lo ano mezzo eerchio, aJl' altra giostra. 35 



24. SidS, wheel round ai 
the liiiila dtnce. 

' As the WBTes of Charjbdia 
meet and dash against the waves 
of ScylU {Xa. iiL 420, &c.) ; so 
the ipirita here, with theii bor- 

' Dante, in another place, says 



to Avarice : " Accurst be thou, 
inveterate Wolfl Ibal hast more 
pre; than all the other beasts." 
Purg. HI. 10. The avaricious and 
prodigal are also placed together 
in Purgatory, lb. 



.vGooglc 



«Mto m. INFERNO. 78 

And I, vho felt my heart as it were stung, said: 
" My Master, now shew me what these people are ; 
and whether all those tonsured spirits on our left 
were of the clergy." 

And he to me: "In their first life, all were bo 
squint-eyed in mind,' that they made no expenditure 
in it with moderation. Most clearly do their voices 
bark out this, when th«y come to the two points' of 
the circle, where contrary guilt divides them. These 
were Priests, that have not hEury covering on their 
heads, and Popes and Cardinals, in whom avarice 
does its utmost," 

£d io che avea lo cor quasi compunfo, 
Dissi : M&eatro mio, or mi dimostra 

Che gent« h questa ; e se tutii for cherci 

Questi chercuti alia sinistra nostra. 
Ed egli a me : Tutti qnanti fur guerd 40 

Si della mente in la vita primaia, 

Che con misura nullo speodio ferci. 
Assai la voce lor chiaro l' abbala, 

Quando vengono a' duo puod del cerchio. 

Ore colpa coutraria li dispaia. 45 

Questi fur Cherci, che non han coperchio 

Piloso al capo, e Papi e CardinaH, 

In cui iisa avarizia il suo aoperchio. 



' Saw erery thing so fslBely, other, and erj ; "Why holdeat, ot 

that Ihey never made anj right use graapest thou I" and "Why throw- 

of their wealth. est thou awsy?" or, Why equan- 

' When they strike against each detest thou ? 



.vGooglc 



74 IHPERNO. CiMTO ni. 

And I ; " Master, amongst such, I might svirelj 
recognise some that were defiled with these vices." 

And he to me : " Thou gaiherest vain thoughts : 
their undiBceming life, which made them vile, now 
makes them too ohsciire for any recognition. To 
all et«mify they shall continue butting one another.' 
These shall arise from their graves with closed fists ; 
and these with wasted" hair. Ill-giving, and ill- 
keeping, has deprived them of the feir world,' and 
put them to diis conflict: what a convict it is, I 
adorn no words to tell.* But thou, my Son, mayest 
see the brief mockery of the goods that are com- 

Ed io : Maestroj tra quest! cotali 

DoTrei io ben riconoscere nlcnni, 50 

Che fura immondi di cotesti mail. 
Ed egli a me ; Yani pensieri aduni : 

La Bconoscente vita, che i fe' sozzi, 

Ad ogni conoscenza or li fa bnmi. 
In eferno verranuo agli due cozzi : 55 

Questi risurgeranno del sepnlcro 

Col ptigno chiuBO, e quest! co' ciin mozzi. 
Mai dare, e mal tener Io mondo pulcro 

Ha tolto loro, e poBti a qaesta zuffa : 

Qual ella sia, parole non ci appulcro. 60 

Or puoi, £gliaol, veder la corta buffit 

De' ben, che son commessi alia Fortuna, 



' Lit ; " they shsll come to the ' Their prodigality, or their sva- 

two buttings." rice, has deprired them of Heaven. 

' The avaricious, irith closed * Their case ia cleai enough ; 

fists ; the prodigals, with their and needs no omate words o{ 

very.hair " shorn off," or tvaated. mine to set it forth. 



.vGooglc 



ciiiTO TO. ISFBESO. 75 

mitted unto Fottime, for wliich the human kind 
contend with one another.^ For all the gold that 
IB heneath the moon, oi erer was, could not give 
rest to a single one of these weary bohIs." 

" Master," I said to him, " now tell me also : 
this Fortune, of which thou hintest to me ; what is 
she, that has the good things of the world thus within 
her claws V 

And he to me ; " O foolish creatures, how great 
is this ^orance that faUB upon je I Now I wish 
thee to receire my judgment^ of her. He whose 
wisdom is transcendant over all, made the heavens 
and gave them guides ^ so that every part may shine 

Per che 1' umana gente ai Tabbuffii. 
Cbh tntto 1' oro, ch' h sotto la lana, 

E che giit fu, di queste anime stanche 65 

Non poterebbe fame posar una. 
Maeslio, disai lai, or mi di' anche : 

Questa Fortuna, di che to mi tocche, 

Che h, che i ben del mondo ba b1 tra brancfae f 
B qaegli a me ; creature scioccbe, 70 

Quanta ignoranza k quella cbe vi offende ! 

Or vo' che tn mia sentenza ne imbocche. 
Colui, lo cui saver tutto trascende, 

Fece li cieli, e di& lor chi conduce, 

72. latbocda, take into thy tnoutb. 

■ Or, mora lilerallj : " icuffle | * Gare to each of the eeleatial 

with one anatbet." ephere*, or " nine moreable hea- 

' Lit. : " I wish thee to take my veni," an Angelio Intelligence to 

jadg:ment of her into diy mouthi" I guide its oonne. Cum. Tr. il. c. 2, 

and speak it forth. I &c ; and Farad. zxriiL 77. 



.vGooglc 



76 IKFBBKO. "i™> »"■ 

to every part,* equally distributing the light. In 
like manner, for worldly Bpleadonrs, he ordained a 
general minister and guide;* to change betimes the 
vain possessions, from people to people, and from 
one kindred to another, beyond the hindrance of 
human wisdom. Hence one people commanda, an- 
other languishes; obeying her sentence, which is 
hidden like the serpent in die grass. Your know- 
ledge cannot withstand her. She provides, judges, 
and maintains her kingdom, as the other gods^ do 



SI ch' ogui parte ad ogni parte splende, 

DiBtribuendo ugaalmente la luce i 
Similemente agli spleodor moDdani 
Ordiii6 genernl miniatra e duce, 

Che permutasse a tempo U ben Tani, 

Di gente in gent«, e d' uno in altro sangue, 
Oltre la difensioo de' senni umani ; 

Per ch' una gente impera, e 1' altra langue, 
Seguendo lo giudicio di costei, 
Che h Dcculto, come in erba 1' angoe. 

Vostro saver non ha contrasto a lei : 
Ella pTowede, giudlca, e persegiie 
Suo regno, come il loro gli altri Dei. 



75 






' That each of thes. 
Dund ;i 



spher, 






t other things, b1 
on every part of out earth. 

•St Augruitinc mys: Noa 
couioj, qaiB dicunlur ferluila (uiuie 
eiiam Fortuaa namen accejiit), 
dKisui fwUot, ted latenlei, eaiqae 
tribtamia, twi viri Dti, vtl qwtnim- 



libet Spiriluum mlanlati. De Ciri- 
tate Dei, lib. v. And Dante i 
Hfram {Pyrrhui) ooeoSoi Fartu- 
nofB, quam cauiam melim et rtctiia 
noi Divinam PrniUeniiam appella- 
ti:ui, Monirchia, lib. ii. p. 110. 

» "Theae Celestial InteUigencea 
Plato naiued Ideas, which is as 
much as to »ay FomiB. The Gen- 



.vGooglc 



euno m. IKFBBKO. T7 

theirs. Her permutalioiis hare no truce. Necessi^ 
makes her be swift; so oft come dungs reqttiring 
change. This ia she, who is bo much re-riled,' even 
by those who ought to praise her, vshen blaming her 
vrongftilly, and with eril words. But she is in 
bliss, and hears it not. With the other Primal 
Creatures joyfiil, she wheels her sphere, and tastes 
her blessedness.' 

" But let us now descend to greyer misery. 
Ahready every star is felling, that was ascending 
when we entered;' and to stay too long is not per- 
mitted." 



Le sae permatazion nan hanno triegue : 

NeceHsitfi ta fa eaaer Teloce ; 

St Bpesao vien chi vicenda cousegue; 
Quest' & colei, cV £ tanta poata in croce 

Pur da color, che le doniaa dar lode, 

Dandole biasmo a torto e roala voce. 
Ma ella s' h beats, e ci6 non ode ; 

Con r altre prime creatiire lieta 

Volve BUB spera, e beata ai gode. 
Or diacendiamo omai a maggior pieta. 

Gi& ogni atella cade, che saliva 

Qoando mi moasi, e il troppo star si yieta. 



tilei esUed them gods and god- 
dease*." Com. Tr. ii. e, S. Vide 
also Parad. ixviii. 121. 
' Lit; " So oft put on the 

* Or : Blessed, ei^oja her bliss. 

"Lit : "when I moyed myMlf;" 
la lead thee in. The Poets hsve 
been six hours ia getting thul fiu. 



> tberefoie past midnighu 



136, 



. 1. 



rt 

See I 

Dante, as vt shall aee, general]; 
indicates the time by nolJng po- 
sitions of the Blars, &c. And it 
must always be reraemhered, that 
tbe time of the Vision is near the 
Temal Equinox ; >o that the dairs 
and nights- sre of equal length. 



.vGooglc 



78 IHFBIINO. ciKTo vn. 

We crossed the circle, to the other bank; near 
a spring, that boils and pours down through a cleft, 
which it has formed. The water was darker fer than 
perse.^ And we, accompanying the dusky waves, en- 
tered down by a strange path. This dreary streamlet 
makes a Marsh, that is named Styx, when it has 
descended to the foot of the grey malignant shores.' 
And I, who stood intent on looking, saw muddy peo- 
ple in that bog, all iwked and with a look of anger. 
They were smiting each other, not with hands only, 
but with head, and with chest, and with feet ; maim- 
ing one another with their teeth, piece by piece. 

Noi riddemrao il cerchio all* altra riva 100 

Sott" ima fonte, che bolle, e riTersa 

Per un foBsato che da lei diriva. 
L' acqua era bnla molto piil che persa : 

£ ooi, in compagnia dell' onde bige, 

Entnunmo giit per una via diTerea. 105 

Una palude U^ che ba nonie Stige, 

Qaesto tristo ruscel, quando h disceao 

Al pig delle maligne piagge grige. 
Ed io, che a rimirar mi stava inleso, 

Vidi genti fangose in quel pantano, 110 

Ignude tutte, e con sembiante offeso. 
Questi si percotean non pur con mano, 

Ma con la testa, e col petto, e co' piedi, 

Troncaudosi coi denti a brano a brano. 

' Perse Is a purple-black co- Xsluat, aljut mmnn Cecyto erac- 

lour. See note 3d, p. 5i. tat araam. Mn. iL 295. Coegtt 

' Him via Tartarei firt Ache- itagna alia vida, Slygiamque paiu- 

rmtit ad vndM. Turbidai hK dea. lb. 323. Cidla maligai. 

caaB vaitdqae voragine gargtt Georg. ii. 17d. 



.vGooglc 



euro. TO. INFERNO. 79 

The kind Master said : " Son, nov Bee the aools 
of those whom anger oTercame. And also I would 
hare thee to believe for certain, that there are 
people underneath the water, who sob, and make 
it bubble at the sur&ce; as thy eye may tell &ee, 
whichever way it turns. Fixed in the slime, they 
say : ' Sullen were we in the sweet air, that is glad- 
dened by the Sun,^ carrying lazy smoke within om 
hearts :* now lie we sullen here in the black mire.'' 
This hymn they gurgle in their throats, for they 
cannot speak it in &1II words." 

Lo buon Maestro disse: Figlio, or vedi 115 

L' anime di color coi vinse 1' ira : 

Ed anche to' che tu per certo credi, 
Che Botto r acqua ha gente che sospira, 

E fanpo pnUukr quest' acqua al summo. 

Come r occhio 1i dice n' che b* a^ra. 120 

Fitti net limo dicon : Tristi fnmmo 

Nell' aer dolce che dal Sol e' aU^^, 

Portando dentro sccidioso fiunmo : 
Or ci attristiam nella belletta oegra. 

Quest' inuo d gorgo^ian nella atroizo, 125 

Cbh dir nol poasou cou parola Integra. 

124. Btlktia, deposit, settlingB of muddy water. 

' Some rditions read 1 del Sol him the love of all goodneaae ; 

y alhgra, " rejoices in the sun." than i> accidie the anguish of a 

* "Accidie, orslouth, maketh a trouble heite." CbiMixT, Pernmei 

man bevj, thoughtful, and wniwe. Tale, 

Eniie and ire maken bittemesae ' " He hath cast me into the 

in herte, which bittemease is mire," Job iict. 19. " I sink in 

mother of accidie, and benimeth deep mire." Fi. liii. 2. 



.vGooglc 



80 INFEBNO. UNTO TU. 

Thus, between the dry bank ^d the putrid fen,' 
, we compassed a large arc of that loathly slough, with 
eyes turned towards those that swallow of its filth. 
We came to the foot of a tower at last. 

Cos! ^rammo della lords pozza 

Grand' arco, tra la ripa secca e il mezzo. 
Con gli occhi volti a chi del fttngo ingozza. 

Yenimmo al pife d' ana torre al dassezzo. 130 

' Mexzo (with the e ttretta, ot I and from that tiuiaferred to other 
close e), a tenn applied to an ap- things in the same state. See Lan- 
ple when it ie begioiung to rot ; I ilitw, VeUutelle, &c. 



.yCOOgIC 



ARGUMENT. 



Before Teaching the high tower, the Poets have obnncd two flams- 
signali nse from ill nulunit, and another make anawer at a great 
distance ; and now thej see Phleg7as, cotnii^ with aagrj' iipidity 
to ferry them oter. They enter hij baric ; and mil acroas the hroad 
marah, or Fifth Circle. On the paiaage, a epirit, all covered with 
mud, addresBea Baate, and is recognised by him. It ia Filippo 
Argenti, of the old Adimsri family ; who had been much noted for 
his ostentation, arrogance, and brutal anger. After leaving him, 
Dante begins to hear a sound of lamentation ; and Viigil tells him 
that the City of Dia (Satan, Lucifer) is getting near. Ha looks 
forward, through the grim Tapoar ; and diac^s it& pinnacles, red, 
as if they had come out of fire. Phlegyas lands them at the galea. 
These they find occupied fay a boat of fallm angels, who deny them 
admittance. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO VIII. 

I SAY continuing,' that, long before we reached 
the foot of tJie high tower, our eyes went upwards 
to its summit, because of two flamelets,* that we saw 
put there, and another from far give signal back ; so 
far that the eye could scarcely catch it. And I, 
turning to the Sea' of all knowledge, said : " What 
says this? and what replies yon other light? And 
who are they that made it ?" 

And he to me : " Upon the squalid waves, already 

lo dico seguitando, ch' sssai prima 
Che Doi fussimo al pi^ dell' alta torre, 
Qli occhi nostri n' andftr suso alia cima. 

Per due fiammette che vedemmo porre, 

E un' altra da lungi render cenno, 5 

Tanto, che a peua 11 potea 1' occhio torre. 

Ed io, rivolto al mar di tutto il senno, 
Dissi : Queato che dice ? e che risponde 
Quell' altro foco ? e chl son quei che il fenno 7 

Ed egli a me : Su per le sudde oude 10 



' CondnaiDgOie account of the ried oiei. The tower, with ita 

Wratbfiil, &c., begun in the pre- sentiaelB, is an outpost of the 

ceding oanto; which is the first cit; of Lucifer ; and is separated 

that ends without completing the from It by the wide marab. 
subject treated in it. ' Virgil, "who knew all" (canto 

' The two flames indicate that vij. 3) ; who "did honour to erery 

two persons are come to be fer- art and science." Canto iv. 73. 



.vGooglc 



ciHto VIII. INFSSMO. 8S 

thou mayeat discern what is expected,' if the rapoui- 
of the fen conceal it not from thee." 

Never did cord impel from itself an arrow, that 
ran l^ough the air so quickly, aa a little bark which 
I Baw come towards us then, under the piidance of 
a single steersman, who cried: "Now art thou ar- 
riTed, fell spirit?" 

" Phlegyas," Phlegyas," said my Lord, " this time 
thou criest in vain. Thou shalt not hare us longer 
than while we pass the wash." 

And as one who hears some great deceit which 
has been done to him, and then deeply grieves 

Giit pnoi scoi^ere qnello che a' aspetta, 
8e il fummo del pantan nol ti nosconde. 

Corda non pbse mai da se saetta, 
Che si corresee via per 1' aer enella, 
Com' io vidi mia nave picdoletta 15 

Veuir per 1' acqua verso uol in queUa, 
Sotto il giovemo d' xm sol galeoto, 
Che gndava : Or se' giimta, anima fella 7 

Flegi&s, Flegiiu, tu gridi a v6ta, 

Disse lo mio Signore, a qaesta volta : 20 

Ril non ci avral, ae non passando il loto. 

Quale colni che §;rande inganno aacolta 
Che gli ua fetto, e poi se ne rammarca, 



21. i/ into, the vuh. 
' What the ligiuli htve been 



* Phlegyu, the uigry ftnyman 
of the nurnh, is he who burnt the 



tenijile of ApoUa PhltgyatqHt 
miternsuLt Bnam Admamt, tt 
taagnd leiiatw voct per wnfrnw. 
&o. iBn. iL 618. 



.vGooglc 



84 INPEBNO, CANTO viii. 

thereat; such grew Phlegyas in hia gathered rage.^ 
My Guide descended into the skiff, and then made 
me enter after him; and not till I was' in, did it 
seem laden.^ Soon as my Guide and I were in the 
boat, its ancient prow went on, cutting more of the 
water than it is wont .with others. 

Whilst we were running through the dead chan- 
nel, there rose before me one full of mud, and said : 
. " Who ait thou, that comeat before thy time ?" 

And I to him ; " If I come, I stay not But 
thou, who art thou, that hast become so foul ?" 

He answered : " Thou seest that I am one who 
weep,"* 

Tal si fe' Flegi^ nell' ira accolta. 

Lo Duca mio discese sella barca, 23 

E poi mi fece entrare appresso lul, 
E sol, qnaud' io fvii dentro, parve carca. 

ToBto che il Duca ed io nel legno fui, 
Segaodo se ue va 1' antica prora 
Dell' ncqua pii che non suol pob altnii. 30 

Mentre noi correvam la morta gora, 
Binanzi mi si fece un pien di faugo, 
E disse : Chi se' tu, "che Tieni anzi ora ? 

Ed io a lui: S' io vegno, io non riraango ; 

Ma tu chi sei, che si sei fatto brutto? 35 

Riapoae ; Vedi che son ua che piango. • 



' The eagerragetliBthad come 
upon Phlegyaa in hia expectation 
of piey, is changed into bitter Bad- 
nesa when he hears that the Foeta 
are not doomed to remain. 

' By the nejght of hii living 



body. Gemait tub pendere ci/mba 
Sutilii, &c. JEn. li. 413. 

' Will not teU hia name; which 
none but the basest spirits refuse 
to da : such as Bocca degli Ah- 
biti. Canto sinl 76-112. 



,,Googlc 



And I to him : " "With weeping, and with sor- 
row, accursed spirit, continue thou! For I know 
thee, all filthy as thou art." 

Then he Etretched both hands to the boat; whereat 
the wary Master thrust him oflF, saying : " Away 
there, among l^e other dogs V"- And he put his 
arms about my neck, kissed my face, and said : 
" Indignant soul I blessed be she that bore thee.* 
In your world, that was an arrogant personage. 
Good there is none to ornament the memory of 
him: so is his shadow here in fiiry. Mow many 
up there^ now deem themselves great kings,^ that 

Ed io a Ini : Cun piangere e con lutto, 

Spirito maledetto, ti rimani ; 

Ch' io ti conoBco, ancor sie lordo tntto. 
Allora Btese al legno ambe le mani : 40 

Per che il Maestro accorto Io sospinae, 

Dicendo : Tia costi con gli altri cani. 
Lo collo poi con le braccia mi cinse, 

Badommi il yolto, e disee i Alma sdegnosH, 

Benedetta colei che in te s' incinse. 45 

Qaei fu al mondo persona o^ogliosa : 

Boutk non h che sua memoria fregi : 

Cost h V ombra sua qui furiosa. 
Qaand si tengon or lassil gran re^ 

' Among thy fellows, that keep l ' "There •boTe;" in your world. 

WDnTing one another like dogs. * Kiag^s in a general Knee : 

' Vii^ commenda Dante far men prominent for their great 

the high indignatJDD and disgust, i qualities, and worthy to be kings, 

•hich be maniieata on recognising | See the commend ofBooeaccio, 

tlii! chief repreaentatiye of empty Landini, &c. Brgem nim Jaciunt 

irrDgance, rage, and disorder, I opei .... Non aaro nilida forti : 



.vGooglc 



shall lie here like swine in mire, leaving behind 
them horrible contemnings!" 

And I : " Master, I should be glad^ to see him 
dipped in this lee, ere we quit the lake." 

And he to me : " Before the shore comes to thy 
view, thou shalt be Batisfied, It is fitting that thou 
shouldst be gratified in such a wish." A little aitet 
this, I saw the muddy people make such rending of 
him, that even now I praise and thank God for it. 
An cried: "To FiHppo Argenti!"" The wradiful 



Che qui staranno come porci in brago, 

Di se lasciando orribili diepregi ! 

Ed io : Maestro, molto sareL vago 
Di vederlo attufTare in questa broda. 
Prima che noi uscissimo del lago. 

Ed egli a me ; Aranti che la proda 
Ti si lasci veder, tu aaral aazio : 
Di tal disio converHi che tu goda. 

Dopo ci6 poco, vidi quelto strazio 
Far di coetui alle fangoae genti, 
Che Dio ancor ne lodo e ne ringrazio. 

Tatti gridavano : A Fihppo Argenti. 



50 



pectoris, &c. Seneca, 7%- 
cboruB, act ii. 

his brutal rage 



' GUd 



Uduei 



1 in the 



vile mud, though infinitely aboTe 
canng lor him peraonally. 

' Filippo Argenti wm of the 
CuTicciali tamily — a branch of 
the Adinuri — and "wa« lo rich 
that he bad the hone, on which 



he used to ride, ahod with Silver 
(Argenlo) ; and from this he de- 
rived hia surname. He was a 
man oflarge size, dark and sin- 
eity, and of marvelloui atrength ; 
and beyond all other* choleric, 
even on the alighleat occaaiona. 
And except this, there ia no men- 
tion of any thing that he did." 
Boccaccio C^m. See oJao Dcctm^ 
a. ix. Not. 8. 



.vGooglc 



WKTO VIII. ItrVEBNO. 87 

Florentine spirit tamed with his teeth upoD himself. 
Here we left him, so that of him I speak no more. 

But in my ears a lamentation smote me, whereat 
I bent my eyes' intently forwards. And the kind 
Master said : " Now, Son, the city^ that is named of 
Bis draws nigh, with the heavy citizens, with the 
great company."^ 

And I : " Master, already I discern its mosques, 
distinctiy there within the valley, red as if they had 
come out of fire." 

And to me he said : " The eternal fire, that in* 
ward bums them, shews them red, as thou seest, in 
this low* Hen." 

Lo Fioreatino spirito bizzarro 

In se medeBmo si volgea co' dead. 
Qatvi il lasciamma, che piti noa tie nttrro : 

Ma negli orecchi mi percosae un duolo, 65 

Per ch' io avanti inteato V occhio sbarro. 
E il boon Maestro disse : Omai, flgliuolo, 

8' appressa la citt^ cbe ha nome Dite, 

Co' gravi cittadin, col grande stiiolo. 
Ed io : Maestro, gi^ le aue meschite 70 

lA entro certo nella valle cemo 

Vermiglie, come ae di fuoco uscit« 
Fossero. Ed ei mi dlsse : II foco eterno, 

Cb' entro le aflbca, le dimostra rosse. 

Come ta vedi in questo basso inferno. 75 



' Idt; " I noW my eye," &c, 
* Compare ^n, vi. Sil~&&6, 



' Heevy with guilt (canto v 
86) ; and veiy n 



< Lav, oi deep Uell; eilled the 
" bottom" (auito vi. 86) ; the 
" bottom of the dismal shelL" 
Cuito ix. 16. The whole of it 
is occupied by the city to which 



.vGooglc 



We DOW arrived in the deep fosses, which moat 
that joyless city. The walls Beemed to me as if 
they were of iron. Not hefore making a long cir- 
cuit, did ve come to a place where the boatman 
loudly raied to us ; " Go out : here ia the entrance." 
Above the gates I saw more than a thousand spirits, 
rained from Heaven,' who angrily exclaimed : " Who 
is that, who, wi^out death, goes through the king- 
dom of the dead V 

And my sage Master made a sign of wishing to 
speak with them in secret. Then they somewhat 
hid^ their great disdain, and said : " Come thou 

Noi pur giugnemmo dentro all' alte fosse, 

Che vallan qnella terra BCOOBolata : 

lie mora mi pares, che ferro fosse. 
Non aenza prima far grande aggirata, 

Tenimmo in parte, dove il nocchier, forte, 80 

Uscite, ci grid6 ; qm ^ 1' entratal 
lo vidi piii di mitle in sulle porte 

Dal ciel piovnti, che stizzosamente 

Sicean ; Chi i costui, che senza morte 
Ya per lo regno della morta gente f 85 

E il savio mio Maestro fece segno 

Di Toler lor parlar segretamente. 
Allor chiusero un poco il gran disdegno, 

E disser : Vien tu solo, e quei sen vada. 



llie Poeta are now approaclimg:. I more fully eipUined b7 tlic PoM 

Tbe upper Hell can'gista of the himaelf. 

Five CirdcB which thej hive al- ' Angels fallen &ola UeaTnl. 

ready paHed. In canto xL 16, ' Lit : " closed their great dii- 

&c. this diTision of Hell will be Ma." 



.vGooglc 



alone ; and let hiir* go, wlio has entered so daringly 
into this kingdom. Let him return alone liis fooUsli 
way : try, if he can ; for thou ehalt atay here, that 
hast escorted him through so dark a country." 

Judge, Reader, if I was discouraged at the sound 
of the accursed words ; for I heliered not that I ever 
should return by it. " O my loved Guide, who 
more than seven times hast restored me to safety,' 
and rescued from deep peril that stood before me, 
leave me not so tmdone," I said : " and if to go far- 
ther be denied us, let us retrace our steps together 
rapidly," 

And that Lord, who had led me thither, said to 

Che st ardito entr6 per questo regno : 90 

Sol si ritonii per la f olle strada : 
Provi Be sa ; ch^ tu qui timarrai, 
Che scorto 1' hai per st boia cootrada. 

Fenaa, licttor, e' io mi disconfortai 

Nel suon delle parole maledette : 95 

Ch' io non credetti ritomarci mai. 

caro Duca mio, che piii di sette 
Volte m' hu Bicnrt& reuduta, e tratto 
V alto perigUo ehe iucoutra mi stette, 

Non mi lasciar, diss' io, cost disfatto : 100 

£ se r andar piil oltre m' h negato, 
RitTOTiam 1' orme nostre insieme ratto. 

B quel Signor, che IJ m' avea menato, 

' Lit: "Hast given back safety painfiiUj seeking, rat some com- 

to me." The eipreaaion "more menWtors have done, what seven 

than seven times" is put for any dangers these could be from which 

indefinite nnmher. Bcccac. Com. Dante had been delivered by Vir- 

And there is no necewiti for gil. 



.vGooglc 



90 IHFERNO. CAHTO vm. 

me : " Fear not ; for our passage noue can take firom 
us : by Such has it been girea to as.' But thou, 
wait here for me ; and comfort and feed thy wearied 
spirit with good hope ; for I wjll not forsake thee 
in the low world," 

Thus the gentle Father goes, and leaves me here. 
And I remain in doubt ; for yes and no contend 
within my head. I could not hear that which he 
offered to them. But he had not long stood with 
them, when they all, vying with one another, rushed 
in again.* These our adversaries closed the gates on 
the breast of my Master, who remained without ; and 
turned towards me with slow steps, his brows shorn 

Mi disse : Non temer, ch^ il nostro pasao 

Non ci pu6 torre alcun : da tal n' 6 dato. 105 

Ma qui m' attendi ; e lo spirito lasso 
Conforta e ciba di speranza buona, 
Ch' io non ti lascer6 nel mondo basso. 

Cosi sen va, e qnivi m' abbandona 

Lo dolce padre, ed io rimango in forse ; 1 10 

Cbh il si, e il no nel capo mi tenioDa. 

Udir non potei quello che a lor porse i 
Ma ei son stette Ijk con essi guari, 
Che ciascun dentro a pruova si ricorse. 

Chiuser le porte quei nostri avreraari 1 15 

Nel petto al mio Signer, che flior rimase. 
E rivolsesi a me con pass! ran. 

Gli occhi alia terra, e le ciglia a?ea rase 

' By aacb high tuthori^, i.e. I ' A praBna. "Certatim," Or, 
by CeleBtial Wiedom. Canto iL trying who conliit get in flnt 
p. IT, &c 1 Bliad with isge. 



.vGooglc 



cANio no. IKFERNO. 91 

of all boldness, and said vith sighs : " Who hath de- 
nied me the woful houses?"' And to me he said: 
" Thou, be not discouraged at my auger ; for I shall 
master the trial, whatever be contrived within for 
hindrance. This insolence of theirs is nothing new ; 
for they shewed it once at a less secret gate, that still 
is found unbarred. Over it thou sawest the dead 
inscriptiou.3 And already, on this side of it, comes 
down the' steep, paesii^ the circles without escort. 
One by whom the city shall be opened to us."' 

D' og:Di baldanza, e dicea ne' sospiri : 
Chi m' ha oegate le doleoti case ? 1^0 

Ed a me disse ; Tn, perch' io m' adiri, 

Non sbigottir, ch' io Tincer6 la pniova, 

Qaal ch' alia difension dentro a' aggiri. 
Queata lor tracotauza Don ^ nQovo, 

Chfe gpk r usaro a men eegreta porta, 125 

La qaal senza serrame ancor si trova. 
Sovr* eaaa vedestil la scritta morta : 

E gi^ di qua da lei discende I' erta, 

Fassando per li cerchi senza acorta 
Tal, cbe per lui ne fia la terra aperta. 131) 

127. VedeitA. vedesti tu. 

■ . . . . Quni fi/rltina negdrat : of Easter ere {" labhaln tatto"), 

U patriam redilui. ^n. i. 435. | are these words: Hodit portat 

' The gate of eutrance, over i mortis, et Menu pariler Saivalar 

vhich IB seen the dark inscrip- Hotter diirupil. 

tion. Viigil tells Dante that the ■ LiL : " Such, Chat by him 

demoua epposEd the entmice of the city shall be opened to ua." 

Chriat into Hell. In the aerrice The Angel who is coming. 



.yCOOgIC 



.yCOOgIC 



ARGUMENT. 



Dinte grows pale irith tea wben he sees his Guide come back from 
the gate, repulied by the Demona, and disturbed in countenince. 
Virgil endeaTOurs to escourage him, but in peqileied and brolcen 
■orda. which only mcreaae his fear. They cannot enter the City 
of LuciteT in (heir own strength. The three Furies suddenly sp- 
pear, and threaten Dante <rith the head of Medusa. Virpl bids 
him Cum round; and screens him from the sight of iL The Angel, 
whom Virgil has been eipecting, comes sctobb the angry marsh ; 
puta all the Demons to flight, and opens the gates. The Poets 
then go in, without any opposition { snd they find a wide plain, 
all corered with burning sepulchres. It is the Siith Circle! and 
in the sepiilchres are puniahed the Heretics, with all their followers, 
of ereiy sect. The Poets turn to the right hand, md go on be- 
tween the flaming tombs and the high trails of the city. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO IX. 

That colour ■which cowardice painted on my 
face, when I saw my Guide turn back, repressed 
in him more quickly his new colour.^ He stopped 
attentive, lite one who listens; for his eye could 
not lead him far, through the black air and the 
dense fog. " Yet it behoves us to gain this bat- 
tle," he began. " K not such help was offered 

to us.^ Oh 1 how long to me it seems till some one' 



Quel color che vilt^ di fuor mi pinse, 
Teggendo il Daca mio tomare in volta, 
Pid toato dentro il bqo dqovo ristrinse. 

Attento si ferm6, com' uom che ascolta ; 

Ch^ r occhio nol potea meuare a Imiga 5 

Per r aer nero, e per la nebbia folta. 

Pnre a noi conrerri rincer la punga, 
Cominci6 ei ; se non... tal ne e' offerse. 
Oh quanto tarda a me cb' altri qui giunga I 

7. Paaga, pugns ; (u venga, vegna, &c. 

' Th« paleness "which cow- ' LiL; "Such(l.e. Beitrice, or 

ardice painted outwardly on me," Diraie Wisdom) offered herself to 

made my Gtiide, in order to re- ua." ir ne are not to gain Ihe 

store my courage, "more quickly battle — but that is impossible, 

tepreaa within him the new co. considering the help that has been 

lour," which that repulse of the promised to us. 

Demons hsd given hitn. Piaie ' AIM, some higher Power. 

also meani " thrust, or urged." See verse 81 : and note 1st, p. 54. 



.vGooglc 



95 

I saw well how he covered the beginmi^' with 
the other tliat came after, which were words dif- 
fering from the first. But not the less his lan- 
guage gare me fear ; for perhaps I drew his broken 
speech to a worse meaning than he held. " Into 
this bottom of the dreary shell,^ does any ever de- 
scend from the first degree, whose only punishment 
is hope cut ofi"?" 

This qnestioQ I made, and he replied to me : 
" Rarely it occurs that any of us makes this journey 
on which I go. It is true, that once befiire I was 

lo vidi ben, si com' ei ricopene 10 

La cominciar con 1' altro, cbe poi venae, 
Che fur parole alle prime diverse. 

Ma Dondimen panra il sue dir dienne. 
Perch' io traeva la parola trODca 
Forse a peggior sentenzia, ch' ei non tenne. 15 

Id queato fondo della trista couca 
DisceDdepiai alcnn del prima grado, 
Che sol per pena ha la spereuza cioncat 

Qaesta question fee' io ;' e qnei : Dl rado 
Incontra, mi rispose, che di nui 20 

Faccia il cammino alcuu per quale to vodo. 

Vero h che altra fiata quaggiil fui 

13. Dieime, ne d»de. 20. Nixi, nra. 

' The beginning: "If not" — below growi nonower." Boccatcio 

with the : " Such help," &c. Com. Dante, in his terror, puts 

' " Shell, from the resemblance this indirect question to ascertain 

that Bome shells have to the es- whether Virgil has been down 

sendal form of Hell ; which, as fi-om Limbo before, and knows 

we have (aid, is broad above, and the way. 



.vGooglc 



down here, conjured by fell Erictho,' ■who recalled 
tte shadows to their bodies. My flesh bad been 
but short time divested of me, when she made me 
enter within that wall, to draw out a spirit &om 
the Circle of Judas.^ That is the lowest place, and 
the most dark, and farthest from the Hsaven,^ which 
encircles all. Well do I know the way ; so reassure 
thyself. This marsh, which breathes the mighty 
stench, all round begirds the doleful city, where 
we cannot now enter without anger." 

And more he said : but I have it not in memory j 

Congiunito da qnella Eriton cmda, 
Clie richianuiTa 1' ombre a' corpi bdi. 

Di poco era di me la came nnda, 25 

Ch' ella mi face entrar dentro a quel muro, 
Per tranie un spirto del cerchio di Giuda. 

Qnell' k il piii basso loco, e il ptii oscuro, 
E il pi& Ionian dal Ciel che tatto gira : 
Ben BO il cammin ; per6 ti fa secuif. 30 

Qiiesta palnde, che il gran puzzo spira, 
Cinge d' intomo la dttii dolente, 
U' Don potemo entrare omai senz' ira. 

Ed altro disse, ma non 1' ho a mente ; 



' Erictho, a sorceresB, men- of Erictho in tbe same general 

lianed by Lucan, yi. SOS, &c. sense ; and prabably takes some 

Aud Oyid; Illuc menlia inopi, u( old tradilion of the middle ages 

quam furic^ Erichtho Impulil. respecting Virgit, wbo was thought 

£pi»t Saj^ho Phaorti, v. 139. to hare bcEn a great ma^cion. 

Femficii) /amoM /nit Thrnala mu- ' The GiurfeoM, where the worst 

Her ; cujut maen hie pro qudlibet kind of traitors are placed. Vide 

vended pmitaT. Crispin. Com. canto xxxiv. 117, 

Ovid. Dante here uses the name ' The Empyreal Heaven, 



.vGooglc 



cuno a. INFEBNO. 97 

for mj eye bad drawn me wholly to tlie high tower 
with glowing summit, where all at once I saw erect 
three Hellish Furies, stained with blood; who had 
the limbs and attitude of women, and were girt with 
greenest hydra«. For hair, they had little serpents 
and cerastes,' wherewith their horrid temples were 
bound. 

And he, knowing well the handmaids of the 
Queen' of ererlasting lamentation, said to me : 
" Mark the fierce Erynnis ! This is Megaera on 
the left hand; she, that weeps upon the right, is 

Perocch^ 1' occhio m' avea tntto tratto 35 

\ix V alta torre sUa dma rovente. 
Ore in nn pnnto ridi dritte ratto 

Tre forie infernal di sangae dnte, 

Che membra femminili aveuto, ed atto ; 
E con idre verdiasime eran ciote : 40 

Serpentelli e ceraste avean per crine, 

Onde lei fi^ra temple eran avrinte. 
E quei, che ben conobbe le meschiue 

Delia Begina dell' etemo piaato. 

Guards, mi disse, le feroci Erine. 45 

Qnesta h Megera dal aiDistra canto : 

QueUa, che piange dal AeaUm, h Aletto : 



43. MeKhiae, gerre, dsmigeUe. 

"C«ut«liom'd,Hyflnu,«oaElrip« ire placed hero « emblem* of 

■•""' lebellion aniiut God, «nd ita re- 

AndDlpui; nut K thick nruni'i] ,_ ^ 

Badiopi with Wood or omgoB." ' Pro«erpine. See Par. LotI, 

Par. Lett, i. IIS. IT. 2G9. Dembiam Ditit. £tL tL 

-aciii. tL 67B, &c. The Fiuiei 879. 



.vGooglc 



Alecto. Teeiphone is in the middle." And tiiere- 
with he was silent. 

With her clawa each was rendii^ her breast ; 
they were smiting themselres with their palms, and 
crying so loudly, that I pressed close to the Poet 
for fear, " Let Medusa come, that we may change 
him into stone," they all cried, looking downwards. 
" Badly did we avenge the assault of Theseus."' 

" Turn thee backwards, and keep thy eyes shut ; 
for if the Goigon shew herself, and thou shouldst 
see her, there would be no returning up again." 
Thus said the Master, and- he himself turned me, 
and trusted not to my hands, but closed me also 

Tesifone b nel mezzo : e tacque a tanto. 
Coll' nnghie si fendea ciascuna il petto ; 

Batteansi a palme, e gridavan a! alto, 50 

Ch' io mi strinsi al Poeta per sospetto. 
Venga Medusa, si il farem di smalto : 

Gridavan tutte riguardando in giaso ; 

Mai noi veng^amino in Teseo I' aesalto. 
Volgiti indietro, e tien lo viso chinso ; 55 

Cbh Be il Gorgon si moatra, e ta il vedessi. 

Nulla sarebbe del tornar mai boso. 
Coal diase il MaeBtro ; ed egli stessi 

Mi Tolse, e non si tenne alle mie mam, 

Che con le sue ancor non mi chiodessi. 60 ' 

5S. Stent, stcBso ; as elli for ello, egli. 



' Allusion lo the descent of 
TheseuB and Pirithoue into Hell i 
■nd the escape of Theaeui, by aid 
of Heicules. Otbei mortals ven- 



ture down in consequence. The 
Sedel, alerniimque iidebil Iifftia 
Tbeiem {Mn. rL 617) does not 
seem vengeance miffioient. 



.vGooglc 



with his own. O ye, who have sane intellects, mark 
the doctrine, which conceala itself beneath the veil 
of the strange veracB !' 

And now there came, upon the turbid waves, 
a crash of feariul sound, at which the shores both 
trembled : a sound as of a wind, impetuous for the 
adverse heats,^ which smites the forest without any 
stay ; shatters off the boughs, beats down, and sweeps 

voi, che axets gl' intelletti saui, 
Mirate la dottrina, che s' asconde 
Sotto il velame degh versi strani. 

E gift venla su per le torbid' onde 

Un fracasso d' uu saoa pien di spavento, 65 

Per cui tremavauo ambedne le sponde ; 

Non altrimenti &tto che d' un vento 
Impetnoso per gh awersi ardori, 
Che fier la selra senza alean rattento ; 

Li rami scbianta, abbatte, e porta fuori : 70 

69. Fier, ferisce ; fiere in canto x. 69. 





the clear conriction that it is not 


rekllion against the Almighty— 


worth repeating. Readers, who 


igsinst the Source of all light. 


choose to satisfy themselveE, may 


ind peace, and joy — and its eter- 


consult Boccaccio, the Oltimo, 


nal consequences, is too terrible ; 


Landino, Velulcllo, He. ; and, 


Ig a thing not to be realised or 


amongst the more modem, Volpi, 


endured without Divine aaaist- 


Venluri, Lonibardi, &c. The Co- 


anoe. Compare the fear that 


wefKo^Boiiiieo of Rossctti, though 


eomea over Dante, before and 


always acute and ingenious, is far 


after entering the upper part of 


too wild and absurd for any se- 


Hell, in eantoa 2d, Sd, and 4tb. 


rious reader of Dante. 


A careful peruaal of -what the 


■ Rushing towards the rarer. 


old and De» commentators say 


heated air, as if it were a great 


coDKnung this pMMge, leads to 





.vGooglc 



100 lyFEBNO. ou™ a. 

a.va,j : dnst^ in front, it goes superb, and makes tbe 
wild beasts and the Bhepherda flee. 

He loosed my eyes, and said : " Now turn tiy 
nerve of vision on tliat ancient foam, there where 
the smoke is harshest."^ 

As frogs, before their enemy the serpent, run 
all asunder through the water, till each sqtiats' upon 
the bottom; so I saw more than a thousand ruined 
spirits flee before one, who passed the Stygian ferry 
with dry feet He waved that gross air £rom his 
countenance, often movii^ his lef^ hand before htm ,- 
and only of that trouble seemed he weary. Well 
did I perceive that he was a Messenger of Heaven ; 

Dinanzi poWeraso va superbo, 

E f& fuggir le fiere e li pastori. 
Gti occhi mi aciolse, e disse : Or drizzs il nerbo 

Del viao an per qnelU schiuma antka. 

Per indi ove quel ftunino £ piii acerbo. 75 

Come le rane inuanzi alia nimica 

Biscia per 1' acqua ai dileguan tutte. 

Fin ch' alia terra dascuna s' abbica ; 
Vid' io pill di mille aoime distrutte 

Fnggir cos! diuanzi ad nn, che al paaso 80 

Passava Stige colle piante asciatte. 
Dal volto rimorea, quell' aer grasao, 

Menando la smistra innanzi speaso ; 

G sol di quell' angoacia parea lasao. 
Ben m' acconi ch' egli era del Ciel meno, 85 



' Or deneest : where the evil I ' ■' Makea a beap of itMl^" or 
BpiriM tie getCingoat of BighL I gatheia itself up, on the bottom. 



.vGooglc 



tamo IX. INFEBHO. 101 

and I turned to the Master. And he made a sign 
that I should stand quiet, and bow down to him. 
All, how full he seemed to me of ind^nation ! He 
reached the gate, and with a wand opened it; for 
in it there was no resistance. 

" Outcasts of Heaven ! race despised !" began 
he, upon the horrid threshold. " Why dwells this 
insolence in you ? Why spurn ye at that Will,' 
whose object never can be frustrated, and which 
often has increased your pain? What profits it to 
butt against the Fates ? Your Cerberus, if ye re- 

E Tolsimi al Maestro : e qnei fe' segno, 
Ch' io stessi clteto, ed inchinaesi ad esso. 

AM qnanto mi parea pien di diadegno ! 
Giunae alia porta, e con una vei^etta 
L' aperse, chh non v' ebbe alcun ritegno. 90 

cacriati del ciel, gente dispetta, 
Coininci6 egli in su 1' orribil soglia, 
Ond' esta oltracotanta in voi s' alletta ? 

Perch^ licalcitrate a quella voglia, 

A cui non puote il fin mai esser mozzo, 95 

E cbe pill Tolte t' ha cresciuta dogUa ? 

Che giova nelle Fata dar di cozeo? 
Cerbero Tostro, se ben vi ricorda. 



' The Ange! ayoida using the | >nd their loud b«rking Cerberui, 
name of God in addiesung the in the verses that tallow, ss being 
Demons ; and Calces their Fates | the only terms Gt for them. 
K 2 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



lOS INFEBNO. Duno a. 

member, still bears his chin and hia throat peeled 
for doing so."' 

Then he returned by the filthy way, and spake 
no word' to us ;* but looked like one whom other 
care urges and incites than that of those who stand 
before him. And we moved our feet towards the 
city, secure after the sacred words. We entered 
into it without any strife. And I, who was de- 
sirous to behold the condition^ which such a for- 
tress encloses, as soon as I was in, sent my eyes 
around; and saw, on either hand, a spacious plain 
full of sorrow and of eyil torment. 

Ne porta aucor pelato il mento e il gozzo. 
Poi si rivolse per la strada lorda, 100 

E non fe' motto a noi ; ma fe' BembiaDt« 

D' aomo, coi altni cura etiiiiga e morda, 
Che quella di eolui che gli h davante. 

E Doi movemmo i piedi in vgr la terra, 

Sicnri appresBO le parole sante. 105 

Deatro V eDtraiumo eema. alcuna guerra : 

Ed io, ch' avea di riganrdar disio 

La condizion che tal fortezza serra. 
Com' io fai dentro, l' occhio intomo invio ; 

E Teggio ad ogni man grande campagna 110 

Piemi di daolo e di tormento rio. 

' Alluding; to the old table of JEti. vi. S9S. See alao ^n. m 

Hercul™, and hi, dragging Cer- 296. 

berua with the threefold chain, ' Come to eiecote what in 

which has left its marl ; Tar- been willed in Heaven, and cDt 

lareujn ilk {Hercaki) nHmu cut- to parl^ witb at. 

todein in eincla petieit, Ipiiiu a ' The condition of those thai 

salh regit traxitpit tremmtem. are withio it 



.vGooglc 



cuno a. INFEBNO. lOS 

As at Aries, where the Rhone atagiates, aa at 
Pola near the QuarnaFo gulf, which shuts up Italy 
and bathes its confines, the sepulchres* make all the 
place irneven ; so did they here on every dde, only 
the maimer here was bitterer. For amongat the 
tombs were scattered Samea, whereby they were 
made all over so glowing-hot, that iron more hot 
no craft requires. Their covers were all raised up ; 
and out of t^em proceeded moans so grievous, that 
they seemed indeed (he moans of spirits sad and 
wounded. 

And I : " Master, what are these people who, 

St come ad Arli, ove il Rodano stagna, 

SI com' a Pola preaso del Quamaro, 

Che Italia chiude e i auoi termini bagna, 
Fanno i sepolcr! tutto il loco varo : 115 

Cob! facevaa qiUTi d'ogni parte, 

Salvo che il modo v* era piil amaro; 
Ch^ tra gli avelli fiamme erano sparte. 

Per le quali eran ei del tutto accesi, 

Che ferro piti non chiede verun' arte. 120 

Tatti gh lor coperchl eran eospeai, 

E fuor n' ofidTan si duri lamenti, 

Che ben pareau di miseri e d' ofled. 
Ed io : Maestro, quai son quelle genti, 

lis. Varo, (aria, dia^nale. 

I At Aries, where the Rhone r mecoiu inouiida, which are sap- 
stagnates before the >ea ; and at posed to hare been sepulchrea. 
Pola, a oily of latria, near the The old legends respecting them 
gulf of (luomaio, there are nu- | are now quite obsolete. 



.vGooglc 



104 INFERNO. cimo n. 

buried within tliose chests,^ make themaelves heard 
by their painful sighfi V 

And he to me ; " These are the Arch-heretics 
with their followers of every sect ; and much more, 
than thou thinkest, the tombs are laden. Like with 
like is buried here ; and the monuments are more 
and less hot." 

Then, afier turning to the r^ht hand, we passed 
between the tortures and the high batdemente. 

Che seppellite deutro da quell' arche 125 

Si fan sentir coi sospiri doleuti ? 
Ed egh a me : Qui bod gli ereuarche 

Co' lor aeguaci d' ogni aetta, e molto 

Pid che nou credi, son le tombe carche. 
Simile qui con simile h sepolto : 130 

E i monimenti son piil, e men caldi. 

E poi ch' alia man destra si fu Tfilto, 
Passammo tra i martiri e gli alti spaldi. 

I Archt, srks, cheats, cofiers. I which the bodies are depouted, 
The term area 'is properly applied and which, with its lid, resemble* 
to the put of a moDument in | a chest. 



.yCoOgIc 



ARGUMENT. 



The PoetB go on, cloae by tlie will of the oitf, with the Gei; tombg ' 
on their left; uid Dmte, obaerving that the lidi of these tie all 
open, inquires [f it would be poaaible to lee the ipiiiti contained 
in them. Viigil, undentanding the full import uid object of hii 
question, telle him that the Epicurean Heretics sre all buried in 
the part through which thej are then paaaing ; and that he will 
therefore soon hsTe his widi gratified. Whilst thejr sre speaking, 
the loul of Farinata, the great Qhibelline chie^ of whom Dante 
has been thinking, sddresses him from one of the sepulchres. 
Farinsta was the falber-in-law of Guido CavalcanU, Dante's most 
intimate friend ; and CsTslcante de' Cavalcanti, the lather of 
Guido, rises up in the same sepulchre, when he hears the living 
Toice, and looia round to see if his Bon is there. Amongst other 
things, Farinats foretells the duration of Dante's exile! and ex- 
plains to him bow the spirits in Hell have of themselves no know- 
ledge concerning events that are actually paising on earth, but 
odIj of things distant, either in the past or the future. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO X. 

Now by a narrow path, between the city-wall 
and the torments, my Master goes on, and I behind 
him.' " O Virtue supreme ! who through the im- 
pious circles thus wheelest me, as it pleases thee," 
I began ; " speak to me, and satisfy my wishes. 
Might those people, who lie within the sepulchres, 
be seen ? The covers all are raised, and none keeps 
guard," 

And he to me : " AH shall be closed up, when, 
from Jehosaphat,^ they return here with the bodies 

Ora sen ra per uno stretto calle, 

Tn il maro della t«mi e li martiri, 

Lo mio Maestro, ed io dopo le spalle. 
virtil somma, che per gli empi giri 

Mi Tolvi, comindai, come a te piace ; 5 

Parlami, e soddisfommi a' miei desiri. 
La geute, che per U sepolcri gi&ce, 

Potrebbesi Teder ? gii, son leyati 

Tutti i coperchi, e nesaun giiardia face. 
Ed egli a me : Tatti saran serrati, 10 

Qiiaadc di losaphat qui tomeranno 



' Lit. :" Behind hU shoulders." 
' From (he Talley of Jehoaa- 
phat, where, according to the ge- 
neral opinion of that time, the 
laat judgment ia to be held. " I 
will also gather bH nations, and 
will hring them down into the 



Let tl 



wakene 



come up to the valley of Jehoaa- 
phat : for there will I ait to judge 
all the heathen round about" 
Joel iiL 2, 12. 



.vGooglc 



"■TO n. INPERNO, '107 

■which they have left ahove. In this part are en- 
tombed with EpiciiruB all his followers, who make 
the soul die with the body. Therefore to the ques- 
tion, which thou askest me, thou shalt soon have 
satis&ction here within ; and also to the wish' which 
thou holdest secret from me," 

And I : " Kind Guide, I do not keep my heart 
concealed from thee, except for brevity of speech, 
to which thou hast ere now^ disposed me." 

" O Tuscan ! who through the city of fire goest 
alive, Bpeaking thus decorously ; may it please thee 

Coi corpi, che lassik hanno lasciati. 
Sno nmitero da questa parte hmmo 

Con Epicnro tutti i suoi seguaci, 

Che 1' anima col corpo morta fanno. J5 

Perf) alia dimande che mi faci 

Qoinci entro soddisfatto saiu toato, 

E al disio ancor, che tn mi tad. 
Ed io : Bnon Dnca, non tegno nascosto 

A te mio cor, se non per dicer poco ; 20 

E tn m' hai non pnr ora a ci6 disposto. 
ToBCO, che per la cittJk del foco 

Tivo ten vai cos! parlando onesto, 

Piacciati di ristare in questo loco. 



' Probably the wM to aee F«- 
rinata. Canto vu 79, &c Dtuite 
bas now reached the "bottom," 
where Ciacco told him he might 
find Farinata ; and is reioiiided of 
Qiis b; hearing Virgil speak of 
EpieuTiu. S«a note, p. 108. 



' LiL ; " Not only now ;" not 
onl; by tby example and admoni- 
tions here (caoto iii. 51, 76, and 
IK. 86), but also by the old and 
well-known brevity of thy style, 
"hast thou diapoaed me to speak 
little," 



.vGooglc 



108* mFE&NO. ouno x. 

to stop in this place. Thy speech cleatly shews thee 
a natiye of that nohle country, Trhich perhaps I 
vexed too much." Suddenly this sound issued from 
one of the chestSj whereat in fear I drew a little closer 
to my Guide. 

And he said to me : " Tom thee round. What 
art thou doing 1 Lo there Farinata I' who has raised 
himself erect From the girdle upwards thou shalt 
see h™ all." 

Already I had fixed my look on his : and he 
was risiiig with a breast, and countenance, as if he 

La tna loqnela ti fa maoifesto 25 

Di queUa nobil patda natio. 

Alia qnal foree fiii troppo molesto. 
Snbitamente questo saooo usclo 

Tf ana dell' arcbe : per6 m' accoatai, 

Temendo, on poco piit al Duca mio. 30 

Ed d mi disse : Tolgiti : che fai 1 

Tedi 1^ Farinata, che s' h dritto : 

Dalla dntola in sn tatto il Tedrai. 
lo area gi& il mio viso nel ano fitto ; 

Ed ei s' ergea col petto e coUa froute, 35 



' Fuinats d^ll Uberti, a ft- 
moui leader of Ihe Ohibellum in 

the time of Frederict IL md of 
Hinft^d. The &iml; of the 
Uberti wu one of the oldeat and 
most powerful in Floieoce. In 
the Cbrooiclea of Maleipini, Vil- 
lani, &c. there ia frequent men- 
tioD made of Farinata and his 
deeds and gapnga. Daring, clear- 



lighted, prudent, i 
he stood abore all the <itheT Flo. 
rentinea of hia time j and tiie 
name he left aeemi to haTe pro- 
duced B deep inpresaion upon 
Danle. Boccaccio, Landini, and 
othera, tell ua that he denied the 
immortali^ of the tool ; and be- 
longed to the " sect of the Epi- 



.vGooglc 



ciKTO X UiFEBNO. 109 

entertained great scorn of Hell. And the bold and 
ready hands of my Cruide pushed me amongst the 
Bepultures to him, saying : " Let thy words be num- 
bered."' 

As soon as I was at the foot of his tomb, he 
looked at me a little ; and then, almoBt contemptu- 
ously, he asked me : " Who were thy ancestors V 

I, being desirous to obey, concealed it not ; but 
opened the whole to him : whereupon he raised his 
browB a little. Then he said : " Fiercely adverse 
were they to me, and to my progenitors, and to my 
party ; so that twice I 8cattere<P them." 

" If they were driven forth, they returned irom 

Come BTesBe lo Inferno in gran dispitto : 
E U animose man del Duca e pronte 

Mi pinaer tra le sepolture a lui, 

Dicendo ; Le parole tne siea conte. 
Tosto che si pih della sua tomba ttn, 40 

Gnardommi mi poco, e poi qUasi sdegnoso 

Mi dimandj) : Chi fur li magglor tni 1 
lo, ch' era d' ubbedir disideroBO, 

Nod gliel celaj, ma tutto gliel' aperai : 

Ond' ei levb le ciglia im poco in boso ; 45 

Poi diase : Fieramente furo aTYersi 

A me ed a' miei primi, ed a mia parte, 

SI che per due fiate gli dispersi. 
S' ei fiir cftcciati, ei tomar d' ogni parte, 

36. DiajpUto, dinpetto. 4S. Sato, nuo. 

■ Or 1 " Let tliy words be I 'In the ycu 1248 ; and after 
deu, compact, or brieC" | the bsttle of Montsperti in 1260. 



.vGooglc 



110 IITFEESO. curao x. 

every quarter, both timeB," I answered him. " But 
youia have not rightly leamt that art," 

Then, beside him, there rose a shadow, Tisible 
to the chin.' It had raised itself, I think, upon its 
knees. It looked around me, as if it had a "wish to 
see whedier some one were with me. Bat when 
all its expectation was quenched, it said, weeping: 
" If through this blind prison thou goest by height 
of genius, where is my son? And why is he not 
with thee?" 

And I to him : " Of myself I come not. He, 
that waits yonder, leads me through this place j 
whom perhaps thy Guido^ had in disdain." 



Rispou io lui, I' una e 1' altra fiats ; 

Ma i Tostri non appreser ben qnell' arte. 
Allor snrse alia Tiafa scoperehiata 

Ud' ombra longo questa Infino al mento : 

Credo che a' raa inginocchion levata. 
D' intoino mi goardb, come talento 

AresBe di veder s' altri era meca ; 

Ha poi che il sospicar fii tntto apento, 
Piaugendo disse ; Se per questo cieco 

Csrcere vai per altezza d' ingegno, 

Mio figlio ot' fe ? e perch^ non 6 teco ? 
Ed io a lui : Da me stesso non vegno : 

Colni, che attende 1&, per qui mi mena, 

Forse col Goido vostro ebbe a disdegno. 



50 



' Lit ; " Rose discovered to , 
kUw, doum to the chin." This is 
theqjiade ofCaTalcantede'Caval- 
canti, the fiilher of Dante's friend 



Guido. He waa of the Cruelph 
party. Maleip. c. 105, 168. 

' Guido CaTilcanU, celebrated 
as a poet and philosopher in those 



.vGooglc 



oudoi. INFERHD. Ill 

Already Ills words and the maimer of his pnii- 
ishment had read his name to me. Hence my an- 
Bwer was bo fiill. Rising instantly erect, he cried: 
" How saidst thou ? He had ?• Lirea he not still ? 
Does not the sweet light* strike his eyesf When 
he perceived that I made some delay before my an- 
swer, he fell supine, and shewed himself no more. 

But that odier, magnanimous, at whose desire I 

Le sue parole, e il modo della pena 

M' averan di costni gUi letto il nome : 65 

Verb fo la rispoata cosi piena. 
Di snbito drizzato gridit : Gome 

Dicesti : egli ebbe ? non viv* egU ancora f 

Nod fiere gli occM sooi lo dolce lome ? 
Qnando s* accorse d' alcana dimora 70 

Ch' io faceva dinauzt alia rispoata, 

Supin ncfldde, e piil non paire fuora. 
Ma quell' altro magnanimo, a cui posts 



73. Puts, tequesL 

3S4) Dante Bpealu of Guido'i 
svenioD to the Latiii tongue. It 
must hsTe been either for that 
reaxin, or fbr bis foolish par^- 
Tiolence, with which Dante by no 
means ajmpalliised, that he is 
here said to have held Virgil 
(Poet, or emblem of Wiadom) in 
disdain. Several of hia poems 
are still extant 

■ " He had ;" u of a thing past. 

' "Tnilj the light is aweet, 
and a pleasant thing it is for the 
eyes to behold the sun." Ecclti. 
iL7. 



S9. Fiere, ferisee, 

times, and now chiefly remar^ble 
for his iotimaU friendship with 
Dante, which continued till the 
time of hia death, in December 
1300. He married Che daughter 
of Facinata in 1266 {ViOani, viL 
la) ; so tbst he must have been 
much older than Dante, who wai 
bom in 126S. He took a sealous 
and violent share in the party- 
squabbles of the lime, and wai 
one of those that were banished 
when Dante held the office of 
chief Prior in 1300. Vmaai, viiL 
41, 42. In the Vita Nuosa (p. 



.vGooglc 



112 INFERNO, CAHTO I. 

bad stopped, chaoged not his aspect, nor moved his 
neclc, nor bent his side. " And if,'* contiiiaing his 
former words, he said, " they have leamt that art 
badly, it more torments me tiian tins bed. Sut the 
&ce of Uie Queen,' who reigns here, shall not be 
fifty times rekindled ere thou shalt know the hard- 
ness of that art.' And so mayest thou return to 
the sweet world,' tell me why that people is so fierce 
against my kindred in all its laws V* 

Bestato m' era, non mnld aspetto, 

Nh mosse coUo, nh pieg6 sua costa. ' 75 

E se, contdnuando al piimo detto, 
Egli ban qnell' arte, dUse, male appreea, 
Cit) mi torments piil che qnesto letto. 

Ma non dnqoanta Tolte fia racceaa 
La tsicda della donna, che qni regge, 80 

Che til aaprai qnanto quell' arte pesa. 

E se ta niai nel dolce mondo regge, 
Dimmi, perch^ qnel popolo ^ si empio 
Incontio a' miei in dascuna sna le^e ? 



S2. Reggi, rieda ; from an obsolete leib. 



1 Tria VWgiKU ara Diiaue. Mn. 
iv. Sll. Proaerpiue, Diani, or 
Ihe'Moon. 

> Not fif^montliBaha]! piss be- 
fore tlioii know the whole weight, 
or difficult, of Uiat irt of return- 
ing from exile. The Cardinal da 
Piato, wbo had come to make a 
iMt attempt at reconciling the two 
ftetions, quitted Florence on the 
4th of June, 1304. Villiail, viiL 
69. And, &om that time, the 



party with which Dante had been 
baaiahed lost all hope. 

* I adjure thee by th; wish to 
return, tell me, &c. See also 
T. 94. 

* " Whenerer any law wat 
made foi Fecalling the exiles, the 
Uberti were always eieepud." 
Bern, da IneUt, Boccac., &c. And 
the bones of the bmilj were 
taken out of their tombs, and 
oast into the Amo. lUd. 



.vGooglc 



eAMToi. INFBBKO. 118 

Wtereat I to him : " The havoc, and the great 
slaughter, which dyed the Arbia red,^ causes such 
orations in our temple."* 

And sighing, he shook his head ; then said : " In 
that I was not single ; nor without cause, assuredly, 
should I have stirred with the others. But I was 
single there, where all consented to extirpate Flo- 
rence,' I alone with open face defended her." 



Ond' io a lul : Lo Htzazio e il gnnde scempio, 
Che fece V Arbia colorata in rosso. 
Tale oraziou fa far oel nostro tempio. 

Poi ch' ebbe sospirando il capo scosao ; 
A cifi noQ fill io sol, disae, ah certo 
SenzB cagion sarei con gli altri mosao : 

Ma fu' io sol col^ dove BoSerto 

Fu per ciascoDo di torre via Fiorenza, 
Golui clie la difeae a viso aperto. 



85 



' At the battle of Montaperti, 
neai the river Aihis, which took 
pUoe on Tuesday the 4th of Sep- 
tember, 1250, uid made that day 
very memorable. The army of 
the Florentine Guelphs, with Iheir 
allies, amounting to more than 
thirty thouaand foot and three 
thouaand horae, waa defeated 
there, and trampled to pieces, 
by Farinala with a much smaller 
force. Afofejp. cap. 167 [ FiUani, 
vL 78. 

' The Conncili were held in the 
shnrches at Florence till the year 
1281. Macchiat. lib. ii. And 
Ben». da Imola sap that, even 



in hi> time, they frequently met 
in a chureh adjoining the Palace 
of the Priors. Otikioiu means alio 

or speech ; and may here be taken 
in either sense. 

* Lit : " Where by erery one 
it was sufi^red (voted) to Uke 
away Florenoe," &c. A council 
of the Ghibellinea waa held at 
Empoli, after the battle of Mont- 
aperti, in which it waa proposed 
that Florence should he destroyed. 
Fsrinata alone opposed the mea- 
sure, and said : " If there were 
no other but himself, be would 
defend it with sword in hand, as 



.vGooglc 



114 IHFBBMO. curaox. 

" All ! SO may thy seed have rest," I prayed him, 
" solve the knot which haa here involved my judg- 
ment. It seems that you see beforehand -what time 
brings with it, if I rightly hear ; and have a different 
manner with the present." 

"Like one who has imperfect vision, we see the 
things," he said, ** which are remote &om us : so 
much light the Supreme Ruler still gives to us.' 
When tbey draw nigh, or are, our intellect is alto- 
gether void f and except what others bring us, we 



Deh Be ripon mai vostra semenza, * 

Pregai io Ini, solvetemi quel uodo, 
Che qni ha Inviluppata mia sentenza. 

E' par che voi v^^jiate, ae ben odo, 
Dinanzi qnel, che il tempo bcco oddatie, 
E nel presente teoete altro modo. 

Noi veggiam come quei, che ha mala luce, 
Le coae, disae, che ne son lontano ; 
Cotanto ancor ne aplende il sommo Dace : 

Qaando s' appreasano, o son, tatto k vano 
Noatro intelletto j e, a' altri nol d apporta, 



long Bi there was life in Ui 
body." The rest, " seeing the 
man they had to desl with, and hia 
■DthariQr, and follawerg, desisted. 
And thus our city escaped tiom 
Buch fury, by the tJout of one 
oiKzen." itfofeip. o. 170; FiUoni, 
viiL 81. 

' Lit : " So much does the 
Supreme Bulec still shine to ua." 

' They see thinga distant, whe- 



ther past or future \ but not things 
■t liand, or present. General 
opinion of the Fathers. 

" The departed spirits know 
things past and to come ; yet 
are ignorant of things piesenL 
Agamemnon foretells what should 
happen unto Ulysses, yet igno- 
rantly inquires what is become 
of hia own son." Browne, Vm 
Buritil, cap. iv. 



.vGooglc 



canoi. INyBBKO. 115 

lotow npthing of your human state. Therefore thou 
mayest understand that all our knowledge shall be 
dead, from that monient -when the portal of tie Fu- 
ture shall be closed."* 

Then, aa compunctious foir my &ult,* I said : 
" Now will you therefore tell that &]len one, that 
hiB child is still joined to the Uving.^ And if I 
was mute before, at the reponse, let him know, it 
was because my thoughts already were in that error* 
vhich you have resolTed for me." 

And now my Master was recalling me. Where- 

NuUa sapem di TOetro atato omaao. 105 

PeT& comprender puoi che tntta moFt& 

E^ nostra conosceiiza da quel punto, 

Che del fiitoro fia chiusa la porta. 
Allor, come di mia colpa compunto, 

Dissi : Or direte dnnque a quel caduto, 1 10 

Che il suo nato h co' im aucor congiunto. 
E s' io fui diaozi alia Hwposta mato, 

Faf el aaper che il fei, perchft peneava 

Gift nell' error che m' avete aoluto. 
E giil il MaesbD mio mi richiamava : 1 15 



lOS. Sigiem, Mpil 

' Alterlhe last Judgment, when 
"there shall be time no longeii' 
wijen all the tonibs ahall be tetled 
up. See T. 10, Stt 

* Fault of not faaving told Ca* 
valcaDte that hia son wai atiie ; 
and thereb; having given him 
additional pain. 



113. Ei, 



luL 



' " For to him that ii joined 
to all the living there ia hope." 
EccUi. ix. 4. 

* Etna of believiag that the 
spirita in Hell, who could apeak 
so cleailj of thinga paat and fu- 
ture, were likewiae acquainted 
with things present. 



.yCoOgIc 



116 . INFERNO. ca™> I. 

fore I, in more haste, besought diB spirit to, tell me 
who w^s with him. 

He said to me : " With more than a thousand lie 
I here. The second Frederick' is here within, and 
the Cardinal;* and of the rest I speak not." There- 
with he hid himself. 

And I towards the ancient Poet turned my steps. 



Per ch' io pregai lo spirito piil avacdo, 
Che mi dicesse, chi coa lui si stava. 

Dissemi : Qui con piil di miUe giaccio : 
Qua entro h lo aecondo Federico, 
E il Cardinale, e degU altri mi taccio. 

Indi b' aecose : ed io in v6r 1' antico 
Poeta Tolsi i passi, ripensondo 



' The Emperor Frederick the 
Second, who died on the 13th of 
December, 12S0, in the fifly- 
sixth jesr of his age. As Em- 
peror he reigned thirty years, 
thirty-eight as King; of Germany, 
and fifty-two as King of the Tno 
Sicilies. One learra from the old 
Chronicles, &c. that he spent his 
eorlj life in energetic HtudLes, and 
made his Court in Sicily very 
&mouB by princely patronage of 
literature and all that was highest 
in those times. In his later years 



he s 



1 hflv 



moyed i 



veiy turbid elemen 

of Saracens, Papal 

tions, and unireisal suspicion of 

his nearest friends. The fUiaJoua 



book De Tribut Irapoiloriiui was 
imputed to him ; and be gate 
cause enough besides for the 
charge of heresy i 






In !the treatise 



De Vulgari BUkjuiq (lib. 1. cap, 
12), Dante speaks of his literary 
influence, Sic. in high terms. 

* Ottaviano degli Ubaldini, a 
Florentine, made Cardinal by In- 
nocent IV. in 1246 i and distin- 
guished from other Cardinals by 
bis talent?, bis great influence, 
and vebement adherence to the 
Gliibellino party. " If there be 
any aoul, I haie lost mine for 
the OhibelliDea," is a profane ex- 
clamation of his, reported by all 
the ol " 



.vGooglc 



outrol. INrEKNO. 117 

reTolvir^ that Baying which seemed hostile to me.^ 
He moved on ; and then, as we were going, he said 
to me: "Why art thou so bewildered T' And I 
satisfied him in his questioD. 

" Let thy memory retain what thou hast heard 
against thee," that S^e exhorted me. "And now 
mark here," and he raiEed his finger. " When thou 
shalt stand before the sweet ray of that Lady^ whose 
bright eye seeth all, from her shalt thou know the 
journey of thy life."* 

Then to the sinister hand* he turned his feet 



A quel parlar che mi parea nemico. 

Egli si mosse ; e poi cosl andando 
Mi disae : PerchS sei tu st amarrito f 
Ed io 11 soddisfeci al mio dlnumdo. 

La mente tua conserri quel che ndito 
Hai contra te, mi comandb quel Sag^, 
Ed ora atteadi qui ; e diizz6 11 dito. 

Quando sarai dinanzi al dolce laggio 
Di qnellfl, il cni bell' occliio tutto rede, 
Da lei saprai di tua vita il viaggio. 

Appresao volse a man sinistra il piede : 



' F»rinaU'» prophecy about hit 

* Beatrice, or CeleatUI Wis- 
dom. Se« canto ii. 

' Thy earthly joys lad h< 
ace gone. The gay Leopard will 
never impede thee again. Thou 
shalt go through this dark Hell, 



and see all its biltemess ; and then 
■halt thou come Io that heavenly 
Light which will leach thee the 
journey of thy life, and the eternal 
Ihings that depend on it 

' The Poeta always lum to the 
left nhen going to i worse class 



.vGooglc 



1 18 llfFEBMO. cxtrto x. 

We left the wall, and went towards the middle, by 
a path that strikes into a valley, which evea up there 
annoyed ua with its fetor.' 

Lasciammo 11 mnro, e gimmo in v^r lo mezzo 
Per un eentier, che ad una valle fiede, ' ]35 

Che in fin laaeii facea apiacer suo lezzo. 

' Lit: " WWch made iti 
displease even up there." 



.yCOOgIC 



ARGUMENT. 



After crosaiDg Ihe Sillh Circle, the Foet« come lo a rocky precipice 
wMch separates it from Ihe circleB beneath. Thej' find a laige 
monument, alandmg on the Tory edge of tie preoipioe, with an 
inBcriptioii indicatuig that it contsina a heretical Pope ; and are 
forced to take ahetCet behind it, on account of the fetid exhalation 
that is rising from the abyaa. Virgil explains vhat kind of ginners 
■re pumshed in the three circlea which they have Milt to lee ; and 
why the carnal, the gluttonous, the aTaricioua and prodigal, the 
wrathful and gloamy-sluggiah, are not punished within the city 
ofDis. Dante then inquiiei how usury oSends God; and Virgil 
haring answered him, they go on, townrds the place at which a 
pasaage leads down to the Seventh Circle, 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO XL 

Upon the edge of a h^h bank, formed by lai^e 
broken Etones in a circle, we came above a still 
more cruel throng.^ And here, because of the hor- 
rible excess of stench* which the deep abyss throws 
out, we approached it under cover of a great monu- 
ment, whereon I saw a writing that said : " I hold 
Pope Anastasius, whom Photinus drew from the 
straight way."^ 

Ik bu r estremiti d' un' alta ripa, 

Che foceTan gran pietre rotte in cerchio, 
Venimmo aopni piit cradele stipa : 

E quivi per 1' orribile Boperchio 

Del puzzo, che il profondo abieso gitta, 5 

Ci raccoBtammo dietro ad mi copercbio 

D' mi graude aTello,.ov' io vidi una si^tta 
Che dicera : AnastaBio papa giiardo, 
Lo qual trasse Fotin della via dritta. 



' Crowd of greater ainners in 
greater pnnUbmeDt, below tJie 
precipice to which the PoeU have 



dred yean later, that a Pope An- 
aatasiuB bad been dnwn from the 
atraight way by Fhotiniu, the He- 
retic of Tbeaaloiiica ; ukt had 
died a horrible death in come- 
quence. See the oommentB of 
Bocckccio, Landino, VeUutello, 
DaniellD, &c The Jesuits Bel- 
larmino, Venturi, &c. baie en- 
dearoured to shew that thei* was 
jio Buch Pope in the time of Pho- 



-.Googlc 



ciHto i[. INFERNO. ISl 

" Our descent we mnst delay, till sense be some- 
what used to tlie dismal blast, and then we shall not 
heed it." Thus the Master. And I said to him : 
'* Find some compensation, that the time may not 
be lost." And he : " Thou seest that I intend it." 

" My Son, within these stones," he then began 
to say, " are three circlets' in gradation, like those 
thou leavest. They aU are filled with spirits accurst. 
But, that the sight of ihese hereafter may of itself 

Lo nostro sceuder conrien eseer tardo, 10 

St che s' ansi prima uu poco il senso 

Al tristo fiato, e poi non fia rignardo. 
Cosl il Maestro. Ed io ; Alcun compenso, 

Diffli lui, trova, che il tempo uon pass! 

Perdato. Ed egli : Tedi ch' a oi6 penso. 15 

Figliuol mio, dentro da cotesti sassi, 

Comincib poi a dir, son tze cerchietti 

Bi grado in grado, come quel che lasai. 
Tutti son pien di spirti maledetti : 

Ma perchfe poi ti basti pur la vista, 20 

11. J" owl, s" aveizi. 18. Laiai, laaci. 

tinuB. The question, whether any GhibeUine Carduutt, and the great- 
heretical Pope orEmperot of that est of the Ghihelline chiefa, in the 
name erer exiated, may remun a same circle. "This cry of thine 
matter of indifterence to lu. The will do like wind, which strike* 
practical meaning of the paauge with greatest (ores the highest 
is ier7 erident Dante wishes all aummita." Farad, xvIL 133. 
men to know his opinion, that ' " Circlets," from the small- 
Popea are not exempt from he- nesa oftheir size, compared with 
mj, and that it deierrci greater those above. " Id gradatioD," 
pnniabmeot in them than in other i.e, one after another, becoming 
men. He finds an Emperor, a imaller. 



.vGooglc 



1£S INFERNO. canojL 

suffice thee, hearkeo how and -wherefore they are 
pent up. Of all malice, which gains hatred ia Hea- 
ven, the end is injury; and every such end, either 
by violence or by &aud, a^iieveth others. Bat 
because fraud is a vice peculiar to man, it more 
diepleaees God ; and therefore the fraudulent are 
placed beneath,' and more pain assails them. 

" All the first circle is for the violent. But as 
violence may be done to three persons, it is formed 
and distinguished into three rounds.' To God, to 
one's self, and to one's neighbour, may violence be 
done : I say to them and to their things, as thou 
shalt hear with open demonstration. 

" By violence, death and paiitlul wounds may 

Intendi come, e percb^ son costretti 

D' ogni malizia ch' odio in Cielo acqnistn, 
Inginria h il fine ; ed ogni fin cotale 
COD forza, o con irode altmi contrista. 

Ma perchfe frode k dell' nom proprio male, 2i 

Pid Hpiace a Dio ; e perA stan di sntto 
Oli fivdolenti, e piit dolor g^ assale. 

De' Tiolentl il prime cerchio h tntto, 
Ma perchfe n & forza a tre persone. 
In tre ^roni i dislinto e coatrutto. ^ 

A Dio, a ah, al prossimo si puone 

Far forza ;, dico in loro, e in lor cose. 
Come ndind con aperta r^one, 

Morte per forza, e fenite dogliose 

1 Quafn aulem dunbia Kodii, id | bembie at ; led fiaa eSi ^f 
eat, imt vi out fiaadt fiat ii^Bria ROforc. Cicero, d« Offie. L 1& 
tttrvmqiu alienunmum ab I ' Concentrio spieo, «rTuiji>< 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



c*iiTO II. INFEBNO. 123 

be brought upon* one's neighbour; and upon his 
subBtance, derastadons, burnings, and injurious ex- 
tortionB : wherefore the first round torments all 
homicidee, every one who strikes maliciously, all 
plunderers and robbers, in difierent bands. A man 
may lay violent hand upon himself, and upon his 
property: and therefore in the second round must 
every one repent in vain who deprives himself of 
your world,* games away and dissipates hia wealth, 
and weeps there where he should be joyoas.^ Vio- 
lence may be done against the Deity, in the heart* 



Nel proBsimo si danno, e nel aao avere 
Ruine, incendi e toilette dannoee ; 

Onde omicidi, e ciascon che mal fiere, 
Gaastatori e predon, tatti tormenta 
Lo giroD piimo per diverse schiere. 

Fnote aomo avere in si man violenta 
E ne' saoi beni ; e per6 nel secondo 
Giron conrieu che senza pro si penta 

Qualonqae priva ah del vostro mondo, 
Biscazza e fonde la sua facultade, 
E piange lii dove esser dee giocondo. 

PaoBsi far forza nella Deitade, 



35 



' LiL J " Are pxen to the 
neighbour.'^ Caifrtatim dattira' 
gem. Georg-. iii. £G6. CtKum 
dart Fulnui. Xn. x. 733. 

) Conimiti aelf-murdei. 

> Dante hu vi euneatneu that 
ia deep, a&j' infinite ; but that 
only nukes him feel the beautf 
and bounty of Ood's oreatiouwith 



deameu and intenaj^. To 



* "The Tool bath wud in hii 
beort, There ia no Ood." Pubm 
ziv. 1; M. I. "Outoftheheut 

of men proceed evil thouglita 

blaBphemy, pride, foollahneaa." 
Mark viL 21, 22. 



.vGooglc 



184 IIi-FKHNO. cuno ir. 

denying and blaspheming Him ; and insulting Nature 
and her bounty : and hence the smallest' round seals 
with its mark^ both Sodom and Cahors,' and all -who 
speat with disparagement of Qlod in their hearts. 

*' Fraud, which gnaws every conscience,* a man 
may practise upon those who confide in him; and 
upon those who lend no special confidence, ITiis 
latter mode* Beema only to cut off the bond of love 
which Nature makes : hence in the second circle 



Col cor negando e bestemmiando qoella, 
B spr^^do Natura, e sua bontade ! 

E perb lo minor giron ao^elU 
Del B^;no boo e Sodoma, e Caona, 
E chi, spr^iando Dio, col cor iavella. 

La frod^, ond' ognl coscienza h morsa, 

Ptio r nemo Qsare in quel, cb' in lui si fida, 
E in quei che fidanza non imborsa. 

Qaesto mode di retro par che ucclda 
Pur lo viucol d' amor che & Natura : 
Onde nel cerchio secondo s' annida 



■ Included within the athpr 
two, aud therefore amalleat. 

' " If any man worship the 
beaet and his image, and receive 
his Mark in hia forehead, or tn 
his hand, the aaiae shall drink of 
the wine of the wrath of God." 
Rtv. xii. 9, 10. 

» Cahora, a city of Guienoe : 
B nest of uauters in Dante's time. 
Boccaccio eays that in Florence 
CamtiBo was lynonymous with 
ummio, usurer. See Ducangt, 



Ghaaar. art. Caarcird, fbr some 
curious particulars respecting the 
numbers and hatetiil work of those 
Usurers. 

' GnawB eveiy one conscious 
of haTing practised it. Or: gnaws 
the conaeience of everyonej from 
its beingso common in tbosetimes. 

' Fraud in general, without 
TJolation of aiif special confid- 
ence, breaks onl; the common 
bond of love that unites man b> 



.vGooglc 



EiBTO 11. INFERNO. 125 

nests hypocrisy, flattery, sorcerers, cheatmg, theft 
and simony, panders, harterers, and like filth. In 
the other mode is forgotten that love which Nature 
makes, and also that which afterwardB is added,^ 
givii^ birth to special trust Hence in the smallest 
circle, at the centre of the universe and seat of Dis,^ 
every traitor is eternally consumed." 

And I : " Master, thy discourse proceeds most 
clearly, and excellently distinguisheB this gulf, and 
the people that possesses it. But tell me : Those 
of the fat marsh ^ those whom the wind leads, and 

Ipociisia, lusinghe e chi affiittara, 

Falsity ladroneccio e aimonia. 

Ruffian, baratti, e simile lordnra. 60 

Per Y altro modo qaell' amor s' obblia 

Che fa Natara, e qael ch' 6 poi a^unto, 

Di che la fede spez'ial si cria ; 
Onde nel cerchio minore, ov' h il panto 

Dell' universo, ia su che Dite siede, 65 

Qualuiiqae trade in etemo 6 coQBunto. 
£d io : Maestro, assai chiaro procede 

La tuaragioDS, ed asaai ben distingue 

Questo baratro, e il popol che il possiede. 
Ma dimmi : Quel della palude pingue 70 

Che mena il vento, e che batt« la pioggia. 



> Fraud, or treacheiy, a^^ainst which Dia aita." Se« canto 

relatianB, bene&clorB, frieixls, &c xxii?. 

breaks thia aiMitional bond of ' " Those or the &t niarsh" 

love. See .£r. Ti. 609. are the Wralhful, &c. Canto viji. 

' LiL; "Where ia the point "Those whom the wind leads." 

(centre) of the universe, upon the Carnal sinners. Canto v. 



.vGooglc 



whom the rain beats ; and those who meet with 
tongues BO sharp, — why are they not poniBhed in 
the red city, if God's anger be upon them? And 
if not, why are they in such plight V 

And he to me : " Wherefore errs thy mind so 
much beyond its wont? Or are thy thoughts turned 
somewhere else ? Rememberest thou not the words 
wherewith thy Ethics^ treat of the three dispositions 
which Heaven wills not, incontinence, malice, .and 
mad bestiality ? And how incontinence less offends 
God, and receives less blame t If thou rightly con- 

S che s" incontnm con at aspre lingne, 
Perehfi non dentro della citfi roggia 

Son ei pnniti, se Dio gli ha in ira ? 

G se non gli ha, perch^ aono a tal fogg^T 75 

Ed egli a me : Ferch^ tauto delira, 

Disae, lo ingegno tuo da quel eV ei suoleT 

Ovrerla mente dove altroye mira? 
Non ti rimembra di quelle parole. 

Con le qnai la taa Etica pertratta 80 

Le tre disposizion, che il Ciel non Vnole ; 
Incontinenza, malizia e la matta 

Bestialitade ? e come incontinenza 

Men Dio offende, e men biaaimo accatta? 

73. Roggia, rossa, red with Sre, 

" Wbora the rain beats," the ' The Elbios of AristoUe, 

Gluttons and Epicures. Canto vi. nhich thou hut made tby own 

"Those with tongues so sliarp," b; stodj. Lib. vii. cap. 1. "Be- 

Ihe Prodigal and AvariciouB. spectiiig morala, three thing! are 

Canto tiL The; of the 0(HiflneB, to be avoided ; malice, inconti- 

"who never were alire" (canto nenoe, and bestiality." See also 

iii.), are not taken into account. Ibid. cap. B, Sec. 



.vGooglc 



c*ino IL INFBBNO. MT 

siderest this doctrine, and recallest to thy memory 
who they are that Buffer punishment above, without,' 
thou easily wilt see why they are separated fiota 
these fell spirits, and why, with less anger. Divine 
Justice strikes them." 

"O Sual^ who healeat all troubled vision, thou 
makest so glad when thou resolvest me, that to 
doubt ia not less grateful than to know. Turn thee 
yet a little back, to where thou sayest that usury 
offends the Divine Goodness,^ and unravel the knot," 

Se tu rignardi ben qaeata sentenzn, S* 

E rechiti alia mente cM son quelli, 
Che sn di fuor soaten^n penitenza, 

Tu vedraj ben perch6 da questi felli 
Siea dipartiti, e perch^ men cnicciata 
La divina giustizia gli martelli. lEtA 

O Sol, cbe aani ogni vista tnrbata, 
Tu mi cont£nti si, qnando tu Bolvi, 
Che, DOD men che saver, dubbiar m' aggrata. 

Ancora nn poco indietro ti riTolri, 

Diss' io, I& dove di' cbe uaura offende #5 

Lb divina bontade, e il groppo svolvi. 



' Incontinence ii poniBhed id 
the five circles, which are above, 
without the city of Dia ; and ma- 
lice and bestiality, in the three 
lowest circles within it Heresy 
lies between them in the Sixth 
Circle, like a kind of connecting 
link ; a preparation foi the (ran- 

lice and brutishnesi. That tomb 



of the Pope is put on Jhe verge 
of the precipice, and exposed to 
the blast of the abyss, in order to 
shew, amoDgst other things, what 
crimes heresy may lead to, espe- 
cially in those of high station. 

' " Light of other Poets." 
Canto i. 82. 

' See Tetses 46-50, where this 
ia said in substance. 



.vGooglc 



128 INFBRHO. CiBio u. 

He aaid to me : " PhiloBophy, to Mm wlio heara^- 
it, points out, not in one place alone, how Nature 
takes her course from the Divine Intellect, and from 
its art. And, if thou note well thy Physics, thou 
wilt find, not many pages from the first, that your 
art, as ikr as it can, follows her,' as the scholar does 
his master ; so that your art is, as it were, the grand- 
child* of die Deity. By these two,* if thou recallest 
to thy memory Grenesis" at the beginning, it behoves 



Filosofia, mi disse, a cM I'attende, 
Nota non pure in una sola parte. 
Come Natnra lo suo corso prende 

Dal divino InteUetto e da sua arte : 
B Be tu ben la tua Fisica note, 
Tn troverai non dopo molte carte, 

Che r arte vostra quella, quanto paote, 
Segne, come il maestro fa il discente, 
S) che Tostr' arte a Dio quasi h nipote. 

Ba queste doe, se tu ti rechi a mente 
Lo Genesi dal prlncipio, < 



' Lit: " Wlio ittends to it ;■' 
considera it right];. Some edi- 
tions read: Chi la iatende,"who 
UDderstands it ;" but without good 
authority. 

' Nature. In ihe Phjucs of 
Aristotle, il 2 : Jr$ imilatur na- 
luram m qaaahtn jntett^ 

' Your art being the daughter 
of Nature, and Nature the daugh- 
ter of the Deity. 



* By Nature and Art ; by real 
•rorfc, agreeable to Nature and 
Art, "it behoves," Sic. 

' Allusion to the labour ap- 
pointed for Adam and all hia pos- 
terity: " And the Lord God took 
the man, and put hini into the 
garden of Eden to dresa it, and 
to keep it" Geneiit a. IS. " In 
the Bweat of thy faee abalt thou 
eat bread." Und. ill 19. 



.vGooglc 



maa to g^ hie bread, and multiply the people.^ 
Aad because the uBurer takes another way, he con- 
tenms Nature in herself, and in her follower,* placing 
elsewhere his hope. 

" But follow me now, as it pleases me to go ; for 
the Fishes^ glide on the horizon, and all the Wain 
lies over Caunis, and yonder far onwards we go 
down the cliff." 

Frender sua fita, ed evanzar k gente. 
E perch^ 1' nsuriere altra via tiene. 

Per ah Natura, e per la sua aeguace 1 10 

Dispregia, potchi in altro pon la spene. 
Ma Begnimi oramai, che il gir mi place : 

Cb6 i Pesci guizzan au per 1' orizzonta, 

E il Carro tutto aovra Coro giaee, , 
E il balzo via ]& oltre si diamonta. 1 15 



> Lit.: "To take, or receive. 
Ma life (gustenanoe), and adTUice 
the people." The "Hdvance" sd- 
niitR of different iiitcrpretatioiia> 
Boccaccio translates it, "multi- 
ply;" snd the words in the fint 
chapter of Genesis, " Be fruitful 
and multiply, and replenish the 
eatth," also suggest that meaning. 

' Art See v. 103. The usurer 
tniats in his gains bj usury alone. 
Our systems of Political Eco- 
nomy, and 'out Money Market, lie 



very far remote from those times 
of Dante. 

* The constellation of the 
Fishes, now above the horizon, 
is that nhich immediately pre- 
cedes Aries ; and, as the sun is 
in Aries (note 1st, p. S), the 
time here indicated is some tno 
hours before sunrise. The posi- 
tion of the Wain, or Great Bear, 
in the north-west {Cauma is the 
Latin name for the north-west 
wind), indioates the same thing. 



,,Cooglc 



.yCOOgIC 



ASGUMENT. 



The way down to the Se»euth Circle commence* in » wild chasm of 
shattered rocka. Its entrsnee is occupied by the Minotaur, horrol* 
of Crete, and emblem of the bloodthire^ Tiolence and brutality 
that are punished below. The monater begins to gnaw himself 
threateningly ; but Vii^il directs emphaUc words to him, which 
instantly make him plunge about in powerless fUiy, and leave 
the passage free for some time. Dante is then led down amongst 
loose atones, which arc lying so steep, that they give way under 
the weight of his feet The river of Blood comes to view as they 
appioBch the bottom of the precipice. It goei round the whole 
of the Serenth Circle, and forms the Fiist of its three diyisionB. 
All who have committed Violence against othera are tormented in 
it i some being immersed to the eyebrows, some to the throat, &c., 
according to the difierent degrees of guilt; and troops of Centaurs 
are running along its outer bank, keeping each sinner at his pro- 
per depth. Nessus is appointed by Chiron, chief ofthe Centaurs, 
to guide Dante to the shallowest part of the river, and carry him 
across it. He names several of (he tyrants, morderers, aBSBSsinB, 
&C. that appear as they go along ; and then repasses the river by 
himself to rejoin his companions. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XII. 

The place to which we came, in order to descend 
the bank, was alpine, and such, from what was there 
besides, that every eye would shun' it. As ia the 
ruin, which struck the Adige in its flank, on this 
side Trent," caused by earthquake or by defective 
prop ; for fiwin the summit of the mountain, whence 
it moved, to the plain, the rock is shattered so, thai 
it might give some passage to one that were above : 
such of that rocky steep was the descent. And on 

Era lo loco, ove a scender la riVa 
Venimmo, alpestio ; e, per quel ch' ivi er" aneo, 
Ta], cb' ognl vista ne sarebbe schiva. 

Qual 6 quella mina, cbe nel fianco 
Di qna da Trento 1' Adice percoMe J 

per tremnoto o per sostegno manco ; 

Che da cima del monte, onde si mosse, 
Al piano, ^ si la roccia discoscesa, 
Ch' alcuna via darebbe a cbi su fosse : , 

Cotal di quel burrato era la acesa. 10 

' Such, from the MinoUur in 1310, when be was probiblv 

which lay ipread oier it (ver. 11, Blajingwith Bartolom.delUScili. 

&a,), thKt "eveiy look vould be. See the Padiun edition ofDinlf- 

■h; nf it" But the Adige ia s rapid itieuo, 

' Dante had doubtless seen the and seems ta haie been tbiis 

iall of the mountain, which he "struct in flank," or thnul oul 

here describes, as it could not of its cauiae, at various pltccii 

haTe been far fiom Verona. One by the mountains it had undet- 

luch fall took place near Bivoli mined. 



.vGooglc 



tumo m. IXFEBNO. 193 

the top of the broken cleft lay spread the infiimy 
of Crete,' which was conceived in the fidse cow,* 
And when he saw us, he gnawed himself, like one 
whom anger inwardly consumes. 

My Sage cried towards hjni : " Perhaps thou 
thinkest the Duke' of Athens may be here, who, 
in the world above, gave thee thy death ? Get thee 
gone. Monster ! For he comes not, instructed by thy 
sister ;* but passes on to see your punishments." 

As a bull, that breaks loose, in the moment when 
he has received the fatal stroke, and cannot go, but 

E in sn la pnnta deUa rotta lacca 

L' infamia di Creli era distesa, 
Che ta concetta nella falsa vacca : 

E quando vide noi, se steeso morse, 

St come quel cui 1' irn dentro fiacca. 15 

Lo Savio mio in v6[ lui grid6 : Forse 

Tu credi che qui sU il Dues d' Ateue, 

Che sn nel mondo la morte ti porse ? 
Partiti, bestia, chh questinon riene 

Anunaestrato dalla tua sorella, 20 

Ma rasu per veder 1e vostre peue. 
Qua] t quel tore, che si slaccia in quella 

Che ha ricevuto gi& 'I colpo mortale, 

Che gir non sa, ma qua e ^ saltella ; 



< The MinoUor. Ma. tL 26, the MinoUur ipring up from iu 

&o. Ovid. Mel. viii. 155, &o. lair, m blind fiuy. 

' PasiphaE ; lapptutaqut jvrit, * Ariadne, by whose inatnic- 

tec. M'a. Ti. 25, &c. lions Thewus via* enabled to staf 

* Tbeaeiu. ShalcespeaTe'i "re- Ihe Minotaur, and make his ea- 

nownedDuke." The name makes cape from its labTriuth. 



.vGooglc 



134 INFERHO. CAKTO m. 

plunges Mther and thither ; so I saw the Minotaur 
do. And my wary Guide cried : " Kun to the passage. 
Whilst he is in Airy, it is good that thou d^cend." 

Thus we took our way downwards on the ruin* 
of diose stones, whidi often moved beneath my 
feet, from the onosaal weight.^ I went musing, 
and he said : " Perhaps thou art thinking of this 
&llen mass, guarded by that bestial lage, which I 
quelled just now. I would have thee know, that, 
when I went the other time, down here to the deep 
Hell,^ this rock had not yet fallen. But certainly, 
if I distinguish rightly, short while before He came, 
who took from Dis the great prey of the upmost 

Vid' io lo Minotaaro far cotale. 25 

E quegU accorto grid6 : Coni a] varco ; 

Mentre ch' i in fiuia, h baon che tu ti cale. 
Cost prendemmo via g;ijl per lo scarco 

Di quelle pietre, che apeaao moviend 

Sotto i miei piedi per lo nuovo carco. 30 

lo gta pensando j e quel disse ; Ta peosi 

Foree a qaesta roviaa, ch' h gnardata 

Da qnell' ira bestial, cb' io ora speDsi. 
Or to' che aappi, che I' altra fiata 

Ch' io diaced quaggiil nel bssao Inferno, 35 

Queata roccia uon era ancor caacata. 
Ma certo, poca ptia, se ben dlscemo, 

Che TenisBe Colui, che la gran preda 

Lerb a Dite del cercbio aupemo, 

'Lit: "Di»cb»rge,"&o. Stonea I • Weight of Ws body j on a way 
Ijing as steep as wben thvj were | frequented only by apinta. 
firat aluttered and fell. | ' See canto ix. 25, &c. 



.vGooglc 



CABTO xa. iSFBRNO. 135 

circle,! on g\[ g^^gg (jjg ^^^ loathsome valley trem- 
bled so, that I thought the Universe felt love, 
whereby, as some believe, the world has oft-times 
been converted into chaos.* And in that moment,' 
here, and elsewhere,' this ancient rock made such 
dowii£d. 

" But fix thy eyes upon the valley ^ for the river 
of blood draws nigh, in which boils every one who 
by violence injures others. blind cupidity! O 
fboUsh anger ! which so incites us in the short life i 
and then, in the eternal, steeps us so bitterly." 

Da tntte parti 1' alta valle feda 40 

Trem6 si, ch' io pensai che 1' Univeno 
Sendsse amor, per lo quale ^ chi creda 

Pill volte il mondo in cam conferso : 
E in quel punto qnesta vecchia roccia 
Qui, e altrove, tal fece riverso. 45 

Ma ficcB gli occM a vaHe ; chg s* approcda 
La riTiera del sangae, in la qual bolle 
Qnal che per violenza in altrui noccia. 

deca cupidigia, o ira folle, 
Che s) ei aproni nella vita corta, 50 

E nell' etema poi el mal c' immoUe I 



' Took the Patrisrolw ("great 
prey" of Dis till then) &om Lim- 
bo. Canto i>. 52, &c. 

' Opinion of Enipedoclea, Ariat 
MetaphyiA. i; Lucret.!. 717, Src. 

' When Christ died. " And 
the euth did quake, and Che rocks 
rent ; and the graves were opened : 



and nan; bodiei of the aainti 
which Elept arose, and came out 
of their graveB, and went into the 
holy city." Matt. iiviL fil, &e. 

' In the place of the Hypo- 
crites. Canto ssii. 1S6, &c. 

* Look down ; " fix thy eyu 
(a eoMe) Talleywards." 



.vGooglc 



1S6 INFSaiiO. UHTO in. 

I saw a wide foss bent arcwiee, as embracing all 
the plain, according to what mj Guide had told me. 
And between it and the foot of the ban^ were Cen- 
taurs, rumung one behind the other, armed with 
arrows, as they were wont on earth to go in himting. 
Perceiving us descend, they all stood stiU ; and from 
the band three came £>rdi with bows and javelins 
chosen first. And one of them cried from &r : 
" To what torment come ye, ye that descend the 
coast ? Tell &om thence : if not, I draw the bow." 

My Master said : " Our answer we will make to 
Chiron, there near at hand. Unhappily' thy will 
was always thus rash." 

lo Tidi on' ampia foesa in orco torta. 

Gome quella che tutto il piano abbracda, 

Secondo ch' area detto la mia scorta : 
G tra il pi& delta ripa ed essa, in tracda 55 

Correan Centauri armati di iaette, 

Come Bolean nel moudo andare a caccia. 
Vedendod calar dascan listette, 

E della echiera tre si dipartiro 

Con archi e asdcduole prima elette : 60 

E r un grid6 da lungi : A qiial martiro 

Veuite voi, che scendete la coata 7 

Ditel coBtmci, se non, 1' arco tiro. 
Lo mio Maestro disse ; La risposta 

Farem noi a Chiron coatil di presso : 65 

Mai fu la Toglia tna sempre ai tosta. 



I Virgil will ezplun liis emnd only 
I to Cbiron, the sage pbydcUn. 



.vGooglc 



CAHTO xu. IHFERNO. 137 

Then tooclung me, he Baid : " That is Nesaus, 
who died for the Mr Dejanira, and took Tengeance 
for himself.' He in the middle, tliat is looking 
down upon his hreast, is the great Chiron,* he who 
nursed Achilles. That other is Fholus,' who was 
BO iiill of rage. Around the foss they go hj thou- 
sands, piercing with their arrows whatever spirit 
wrenches itself out of the blood farther than its 
guilt has allotted for it." 

We drew near those rapid beasts. Chiron took 
an arrow, and with the notch put back hie beard 
upon his jaws. "When he had uncovered his great 
mouth, he said to his companions : " Have ye per- 

Poi mi tentis e disse : Quegli h Nesso, 

Che mori per la bella Delanira, 

E fe' di b£ la veadetta egli Btesao. 
fi quel di meiEo, che al petto si mira, 70 

% il gran Chirotie,.il qoal nudrio Achille : 

Quell' altro h Folo, che fu b1 pien d' ita. 
Dintomo al fosse vanno a nulle a mille, 

Saettando qaol' anima n srelle 

Del sangue piD che sua colpa sortille. 75 

Noi d appressammo a quelle fiere snelle : 

Chiron prese uuo etrale, e con la cocca 

Fece la barba indietro alle mascelle. 
Qnando »' ebbe Bcoperts la gran bocca, 

Disse ai compagui : Siete vol accord, 80 



' Vengeance npon Herenles, 
liy " tha enTenomed robe." See 
the wliole ttory in Ond. Melam. 
Ix. 101, &c. 



■ MagiiM, PhiUyridu Chinm, 
&c. Oeorg. iiL 54S. 

' FarenUi Ctntaurat kit domaU, 
IOuititmqiie,P>iahimiiiie. Ib.ii.WS. 



.vGooglc 



ceived that be beliind movee what he toaches ? The 
feet of the dead are not wont to do so." 

Aad mj good Guide, who was already at his 
breast, where the two natnrea join, replied : " In- 
deed be is alire, and solitary thus have I to shew 
him the dark Talley. Necessity brings him to it,' 
and not sport. From singing AlMuiab, cione She* 
who gave me tias new office. He is no robber, 
nor I a tbievish spirit. But by that virtue" through 
which I move my steps on such a woody way/ 
give us one of thy companions whom we may foU 

Che quel di rietro more ci6 cb' ei toccat 
Cos) non station &re i pig de' mortd. 

E il mio buon Dnca, che gi^ gli era al petto, 

Ove le dne natnre bod conaorti, 
RispoBe ; Ben h vivo ; e s) soletto 8S 

Mostrarli mi convien La valle bnia : 

Necessitik il c' induce, e Don diletto. 
Tal si parti da cantare alleluia, 

Che mi commise qaest' uficio naovo ; 

Non k ladron, n^ io anima Alia. 90 

Mn per quelia virtb, per cui ia muovo 

Li pasai miei per b) selva^^ strada, 

Banne un de' taoi, a cui noi aiamo a pmovo, 

93. A pmovo, from Lat prope, near. 

' " And there was no other j also the " Gceat voice o( tnnch 

way," So, Psrg. canto L 62. people in Heaven, eaying Alle- 

' Liti "Such (Beatrice, Ce- luiali ... as the voice of many 

lesSal Wiadom) eame from sing- waters, and aa the voice of many 

ing Alleluiahi" and "gave me thnnderinga," &c. Rev.ai.\,6. 

(HnnuQ Wisdom) this new of- ■ That Ugh Celestial mission, 

fice." See note 2d, p. 17. See * Or; "wild," obalnicted way. 



.vGooglc 



uno Ul. INFEBNO. 1S9 

low,' that he may shew as where the ford is, and 
carry over him upon his back, &r he is not a spirit 
to go through the air." 

Chiron beat round on his right breast, and said 
to Neasus : " Turn, and guide them so ; and if 
another troop meet you, ward it off." 

We moyed onwards with the trusty guide, along 
the border of the purple seething, wherein the boiled 
spirits gave loud yells. I saw people, to the eye- 
brows immersed in it ; and the large Centaur said : 
" These are tyrants who took to blood and plunder. 
Here they lament their merciless offences. Here is 
Alexander f and fierce Dionysius, who made Sicily 

Che ne dimostri ^ ove si gnads, 

E che porti cestui in su la groppa, 95 

C)ih non h spirto che per I'aer vada. 
Chiron ei volse in sulla destra poppe, 

E disse a Nesao : Toma, e s} li guida ; 

E fa cansar, a' altra acbiera v* intoppa. 
Noi ci movemmo colla acorta flila 100 

LuDgo la proda del bollor vermiglio. 

Ore 1 boUiti feceano site strida. 
lo vidi gente sotto iafino al ciglio ; 

E il gran Centaoro disse : Ei son tiranni, 

Che dier ael sangae e nell' aver di pi|^o. 105 

Quivi ai piougon li apietati danni : 

Quiri i Alessandro, e Dionisio fero. 



' Lit, : " To whom wa may be ' AleMwder the Oreat, uxord- 

HUT," &.e. Neanu adit, numMt- log to the eailieit commentatore, 

qatvalau.tatutqutiiadvrum. Ovid. Pietro (Dante's son), Boccaccio, 

Met. ix. lOS. Landino, &c. And their opinion 



,,Googlc 



140 



have years of woe. And that brow with hair ao 
black is Azzolino;^ and that other, who ia blond, is 
Obizzo^ of Este, who in verity was sii£bcated, up in 
the world, by his step-son." 

Then I turned me to the Poet, and he said : " Let 
him be chief guide to thee now,' and me second." 

A little faitber on, the Centaur paused beside 

Che fe' Cicilia aver dolorou anni : 
E qoella ih^nte che ha il pel cosi uero 

G Azzolino ; e qnell' altro, ch' h biondo> 110 

% Obizzo da Ksti, il qua! per veto 
Fn apeuto dal figliaatro sa nel mondo. 

AUor mi Tolsi al Poeta ; e quei diase i 

Qnesti ti sia or piimo, ed io secondo. 
Poco piit oltre il Cent&nro s' affisse 1 15 



is confirmed by the paasage in 
Lucan, hegiiinmg ; IClk Pe^Uei 
proiei vesaaa Philippi, FeUx prade, 



Phan 



. 21, &o. 



AiexBuder is praiaed, but for Via 
liberalit]' on];, in the Consilo, 
Tr. iv. c. 

' Azzolino, or Ezzelina di 
Romano, Lieutenant of the Em- 
peror Frederick II. ; and after- 
wards Chief of the Ghibellines, in 
the Marea Tierigisna and great 
part of Lombard;. He died in 
1260 J and was "the most cruel 
and formidable tyrant that ever 
lived among Cbrietians." VU- 
Ion, vi. 72. No eiaggeratton 
here in the Guelph historian. 

' Marquis of Ferrars, "a fu- 
rious, creel, rapacious tyrant" 



When weakened b; disease, in the 
year 1293, he waa amothered by 
his own BOD Axxo, who is here 
called a step-son in consequence. 
He was a Guelph, counterpart to 
Ezzelino the Ohibelline. Dante 
had an equal hatred of both Ac- 
tions. The Monarchy, for which 
he strore so zealously, waa to 
be a thing infinitely above both. 
Azzo is again alluded to in canto 
xviil 56 ; and in Purg. v. 77. ■ 

' Lit : " Let him be first to 
thee," &c. Let him shew thee 
these tyrants, assassins, and mur- 
derers. Phlegyas, whom we saw 
on the angry marsh, is Grand- 
&ther of the Centaurs, in the an- 
cient myths : and like him they 
are emblems of ViolcDce. 



.vGooglc 



curro ni. INPEEKO. 141 

a people which, as &r as the throat, seemed to issue 
from that boiliiig stream. He shewed us a spirit 
by itself apart, saying : " He, lq God's bosom, 
pierced the heart which stall is veuerated . on the 
Thames."^ 

Then some I saw, who kept the bead and like- 
wise all the chest out of the river ; and of these I 
recognised many. Thus more and more that blood 
grew shallow, until it covered the feet only : and 
here lay our passage through the foss. " As thou 



SoTia nna gente, che infino alia gola 
Parea che di qnel bolicame nsciue. 

Moetrocci nn' ombra dall' nn canto sola, 
Dicendo ; Colni fesae, in grembo a Die, 
Lo cnor che in sol Tamigi aucor A cola. 

P<u vidi genti, che di taoT del rio 
Tenean la t«sta e ancor tntto 11 casso : 
E di Gostoro aasai riconobb' io. 

Cost a piil a piil si &Gea basso 
Qael sangne si, che copria pnr li piedi ; 
E qoivi fii del foiso 11 nostro pasio. 



' Ony de Montfbrt, during nuw 
and the eleTatJon of th« boat in > 
ehonih M Viterbo, itsbbed Prince 
Henry, the ion of Richard of Corn- 
wall, and nephew of Henry III., 
in rerenge fbr the death of hia 
&ther Simon de Montfort, Bftil 
of Leicester. ViUani {ra. 39) 
aays, " that tbe heart of Heniy, 
in a golden cup, naa placed on a 
pillu at London bridge over the 



liver Tbamei, fbr a memoiial lo 
the English of the aud outrage." 
Some Italian commentotoia make 
ancor >i cola mean " atill drips," 
as if calling for Tengeance : but 
that is quite a modem interpreta- 
tion, and hardly deserrea uotice. 
Guy is put apart from che rett, 



and the place where his i 



.vGooglc 



142 INFEBKO. cMTO DX. 

seest the boiling stream, cm this side, continually 
dimimsh," said the Centaur, " so I would have thee 
to belioTe that, on dus other,^ it lowers its bottom 
more and more, till it comee again to where tyranny 
is doomed to mourn. Divine Justice here torments 
that Attila, who was a sconi^e on earth; and Fyr- 
rhus and Sextos ^ and draws eternal tears, which 
with its boiling it unlocks, &om Binier of Cometo, 
from Rinier Pazzo,' who on the highways made so 
much war." 

Then he turned back, and by ^limHAlf repassed 
the ford. 



S) come tn da qnesta parte vedi 
Lo bulicame che sempre ai icema, 
Disse il Ceotauro, vogUo che ta credi, 

Che da qaeat' altra a piil a piil giit prema 
Lo foado Huo, infiu che si raggiange 
Ove la tirannia convien che gema. 

La diTiaa giastizia di qua posge 
Qaell' Attila cbe fa flsgello in terra, 
E Pirro, e Sesto ; ed in etemo mnnge 

Le lagrime, che col bollor disaerra, 
A lUnier da Cometo, a Rinier Fazzo, 
Che fecero alle atrade tanta gnerra. 

Foi Bi rivolee, e ripassosu il guazzO. 



' Neaaui beepi wading acroas 
the broad ford, at the aame Idme 
that he ia telling Dante hoir, od 
both aidea of them, ths stream 

■ Pyrrhns, King of Epirai. 
Sertua the Pirate, son otFompey. 



Sextttt trot, magna prolet iitdigva 
parente. Sea, Lucan, li. 420. 

' Two noted robbera and ssau- 
aina, both on a grea acale, in the 
time of Frederiek II. The latter 
belonged to the noble family of 
the Pazzi in Florenee. 



.vGooglc 



AKGUMENT. 



The Second Round, or ring, of the Seventh Circle ; the dismal m;*tic 
Wood of Self-murderen. The aouls of these have taken root in 
the ground, and become stunted treea, wilh withered leaTei uid 
branches ; inslead of Ihiit, producing poison. The obaccne Hat- 
piei, insatiable forebodera of miaei; and despair, sit wailing upon 
them and devooring them, Pietro delle Vigne, the great Chan- 
cellor of Frederick II.. is one of the suicides ; and be tells Dante 
what had made him destroy himself, and also in what msjincr the 
■ouls are converted into those uncouth trees. Their diacoune ia 
interrupted by the noise of two spirits sll naked and torn, trho 
come rushing through the dense wood, pursued bf eager female 
hell-hounds. The first of them is Lano, a Siennese; the second, 
Jacopo da Sant' Andrea, a Paduiii. Both had violently wasted 
their substance, and thereby brought themsehes to an untimely 
end, aitd to tbis punishinenL Danle finds a counlryman, who, 
after squandering all bis substance, had hanged himself ; and hean 
him apeak superstitiouBl; about the cslammea of Florenoe. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO xni. 

Nessus had not yet reached the other side,^ when 
we mored into a wood, which by no path was marked. 
Not green the foliage, but brown in colour ; not 
smooth the branches, but gnarled and warped; ap- 
ples none were there, but withered aticts with poison. 
No holte* so rough or dense hare those wild beaBts, 
that hate the ctdtLvated tracts, between Ceciua and 
Cometo.' 

Here the imseemly Harpies make their nest, 
who chased die Trojans from the Strophades with 
dismal note of fiitute woe.* Wide wings they bave^ 



NoN era ancor di Ki Wesso arrivato, 
Qnando noi d mettemmo per un bosco, 
Che da neesnn sendero era segnato. 

Non froudi verdl, ma di color fosco ; 
Non rami schietd, ma nodoei e inrold ; 
Non pomi t* eran, ma stecchi con tosco. 

If on ban b) aspri sterpi nh al folti 

Quelle fiere selvage, che in odio hanno 
Tra Cecnna e Cometo i luoghi colti. 

Quivi le bnitte Arpie lor nido fanno, 
Che cacdAr delle Strofade i Troiani 
Con tristo annunzio di fatoro danno. 



I OftheriTCT of blood. 

* LiL: "Na roots, trunki, or 
■hoote so rough," &c. 

' Cecina, a small river to the 
math of Leghorn ; Cotneto, > 
town in the PatriTnony of the 



Cbuich. The district between 

them is still wild, and entan^ed 
with foresta and mBrehes. 

' See the prophecj of Celcno 
the Harpj, &c. ; and its efiect on 
the Trcgaiu. ^n. iii. 2M-362. 



.vGooglc 



cuno lUL INFERNO. 145 

and necks and (acea human, feet with chiws,' and 
their large belly feathered. They make tueful cries* 
on the strange trees. 

And the kind Master began to say to me : " Be- 
fore thou goest farther, know that thou art in the 
second round ; and shalt be, until thou come to the 
horrid sand.^ Therefore look well, and thou shalt 
see things that will confirm my speech."* 

Already I heard wailings uttered on every side, 
and saw no one to make them ; wherefore I, all 
bewildered, stood etill. I believe he thought that 

Ale hanno late, e colli e visi amani, 

Fi^ con arldgli, e pennuto il gran ventre : 

Fsnno lament! in bu gU alberi atrani. 15 

E il bnon Maestro : Prima che piil entre, 

Sappi che sei nel secondo girone. 

Mi comindd a dire ; e sarai, mentre 
Che tn verrai all' orribil sabbione. 

Tab rignarda bene, e si vedrai 20 

Cose, che daran fede al mio seimoue. 
Id Bentda gii d' ogni parte trar guai, 

E non vedea persona cbe il facewe ; 

Per ch' io tutto amamto m' arrestai. 



' Virginei volucrvm imltui,/adu- rus. -Cn. iii. 21-B6. Some edi- 

lim BfniTit Proluciei, toKoqae dons read ; Che torrien fide al 

aaxie, et pallida temper Ora/ame. mio lermone, "»h[ch would take 

Mn, iii. 216, &c. swa; belief frorn my speech," i.e. 

' Fox tetrum dira inter odorem. which would be incrediblt if I re- 

tbid. 228. lated them. The wards in Terae 

' Id the third round. See 48, &e., which made Foacolo 

canto ST. adopt this reading, ought to have 

' What I hsTs said of Polydo- aisde him reject it. 



.vGooglc 



146 I2«FEKNO. ctsto niL 

I imagined bo many voices came, amongst those 
stumps, &om people who hid themselves on our 
account. Therefore the Master said : " If tiiou 
hreakest off any twiglet &om one of these plants, 
the thoughts, which thou haat, will all become de- 
fective," 

Then I stretched my hand a Uttle forward, and 
plucked a bianchlet from a great thorn ; and the 
trunk of it cried: "Why dost thou rend me ?" And 
when it had grown dark with hlood, it again began 
to cry : " Why tearest thou me ? Hast thou no 
breath of pity ? Men we were, and now are turned 
to trees. Truly thy hand should be more merd&l, 
had we been sonls of serpents." 

As a green brand, that is burning at one end, at 

I' credo ch' ei credette ch' io credesae, 25 

Che taute voci uBcisser tia qne' bronchi 

Da gente che per noi ai naecondeBse. 
Veib diase il Maestro : Se ta troDchi 

Qualche &ascbetta d' una d' este piante, 

Li penuer ch' hai si faran tutti moncM, 30 

Allor porsi la mano nn poco avante, 

E coki on ramnscel da nu gran pnmo, 

£ il troDco Buo grid6 ; Perchg mi schiante t 
Da clie fatto fu poi di saugae bmso, 

Bicaminci6 a giidar : Perdi^ mi scerpi 7 35 

Non bai tu spiito di pietate alcano T 
Uomini fummo, ed or siam fatti sterpi : 

Ben dovrebb' eaaer la tua man piil pia, 

Se Btate foaaimo anime di serpi. 
Come d' un stizzo verde, cbe arso sia 40 



.vGooglc 



CABTO an. IKFBBKO. 147 

the other drops, and hisses with the wind which is 
escaping ; so from that lent, words and hlood came 
forth together : whereat I let fall the top,^ and stood 
like one who is afraid. 

" J£ he, O wounded spirit 1" my Sage replied, 
" could have beliered before, what he has seen only 
in my verse,' he would not have stretched forth his 
hand against thee ; but the inciedihility of the thing 
made me prompt him to do what grieves myself. 
But teU him who thou wast ; so that, to make thee 
some amends, he may refresh thy fame up in the 
world, to which he is permitted to return." 

And the trunk : " Thou so allurest me with thy 

Dall' nn de' capi, che dall' altro geme, 

E cigiols per vento che va via ; 
SI della Bcheggia rotta usciva insieiue 

Parole e snngue : ond' io lasciai la cima 

Cadere, e stetti come 1' uom che teme. 45 

S' egli avesse potuto creder prima, 

Bispose il Savio mio, aaima lesa, 

Ci6 che ha veduto pur con la mia rima, 
Non averebbe in te la maa distesa; 

Ma la cosa incredibile mi fece 50 

ludurlo ad ovra, ch' a me atesao pesa. 
Ma dilli chi tu fissti, si che, in vece 

D' alcuna ammenda, tua fama rinfreachi 

Nel mondo su, dove tornar gli lece. 
E il tconco : Si col dolce dir m' adeschi, 55 

> Which he had broken oS I vrhich he has already dluded. See 
• In the atory of Polydonis, to I (p. 145) ver. 21, and note 4. 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



148 

sweet words, diat I cannot keep silent; and let it 
not seem bardensome to yon, if I enlarge a little 
in discourse.' I am he,* who held both keys of 
Frederick's heart, and turned them, locking and 
unlocking so softly, that from his secrets I excluded 
almost eTeiy other man. So great fidelity bore I 
to ^e glorioDs office, that I lost diereby both sleep 
and life. The harlot,' that never from Ciesar's dwell- 

Ch' io non posso tscere ; e vol noa grari 
Ferch' io on poco a ragionar m' inveschi. 

lo son colni, che teoni ambo le chiaTi 
Bel cor di Federigo, e che le volsi 
Serrando e dissemmdo si soavi, 60 

Che dal segreto suo qaaBi ogni aom tola : 
Fede portai al glorioso ufizio, 
Tanto ch' io ue perdei lo sonno e i polu. 

La meretrice, che mai dnll' ospizio 



' Lit. : " If r un enticed, Ot 
caught in the lure, to discourse 
awhile." AcUicare and im:acare 
are both deriTed from eica, a bait 
or lure. 

' PietrodeUeVigDe(rfennri<), 
secietar;, protonotary, chancellor, 
Ac. of the Emperor Frederick II. 
He waa hem of very poor parents, 
at Capua, tonards the end of the 
twelfth century ; begged hie way 
to Bologna, and studied there with 
great zeal and efTect | attracted 
the notice of the Emperor, and 
stood in the highest bvonr with 
him for miny yean, tranaactiDg 



all hia greatest a^ira. In his 
prosperity, he remembered his 
poor mother and slater ; and 
seems to have been every way 
a Qoble and hraie-hearted man, 
with whom Dante could deeply 
sympathise. Itnas not till after 
the Council of Lyons, in 1245, 
when Frederick became entangled 
with universal suspicion, that he 
was accused of treachery, and de- 
stroyed himself in that bitter "sor- 
row and disdain." Six Books of 
his Latin letters are still extant, 
and one Canzone in Italian. 
• Envy. See ler. 78. 



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UMto irii. INFERNO. 149 

ing turned her adulterous eyes/ common bane, and 
vice of courts, inflamed all minds against me ; and 
these BO inflamed Augustus, th^ my joyous honours 
were changed to dismal sorrows. My soul, in its 
disdainful mood, thinking to escape disdain by death, 
made me, though just, unjust (gainst myself. By 
the new roots of this tree, I swear to you, never 
did I break feith to my lord, who was so worthy 
of honour. And if any of you return to Uie world, 
strengthen the memory of me, which still lies pros- 
trate from the blow that envy gave it." 

The Poet listened a while, and then said to me : 

I>i Cesare non torse gU occhi putti, 63 

Morte comune, e delle corti yizlo, 
In£amm& contra me gli animi tutti, 

E gl' in£ammad infiamm&r si Augusts, 

Che i lieti onor tornaro in tristi lutti. 
L' animo mio, per disdeguoso gusto, 70 

Credendo col morir Aiggir disdegno, 

Ingiusto fece me contra me giasto. 
Per le nuove radicl d' esto leguo 

Yi giuro, clie giammai non ruppi fede 

Al mio signor, cbe fa d' onor si degno. 75 

E se di Toi alcun nel mondo riede, 

Conforti la memoria mia, che giace 

Ancor del colpo che invidia le diede. 
Un poco attese, e poi : Da cli' ei si tace, 



' By Caaar ii meant the Em- | looee the harlot Wol£ Canto i. 

ferot; called also Augiutua in 100-111. " Tbtough Envj of the 

ler. 68. Adulterous, i. e. dialoyal, Devil uame death into the world." 

•educing eyes. Enrf first aet | Witd. ii. 24. 

o2 



.vGooglc 



150 niFEBSO. Gurro un. 

" Since he is silent, lose not iLe hour ^ but speak, 
and ask him, if thou wouldst know more." 

Whereat I to him: "Do thoa ask him ferther, 
respecting what thou thinkest will satisfy me ; for 
I could not, sach pity is npon my heait.*^ 

He therefore resumed : " iSo may the man^ do 
freely for thee what thy words entreat him, O im- 
prisoned spirit, please thee tell us &rther, how the 
Boul gets boTmd up in these knots. And tell ns, if 
tboa roayest, whether any ever frees itself from such 
members."* 

Then the trunk blew strongly, and soon that 
wind was changed into these words : " Briefly shall 

Disse il Foeta a me, non perder 1' cm ; 80 

Ma parla, e chiedi a Ini, ae piti ti piace. 
Ond' io a Ini ; Dimandal tu ancora 

Di quel che credi ch' a me soddisfaccia ; 

Ch' io non potrei : (anU piet^ m' accora. 
Peri) ricominci6 : Se 1' nom ti laccia 85 

Liberamente d6 che il too dir prega, 

Spirito incarcerato, ancor ti piacda 
Di dime come 1' aoima si lega 

Tn questi nocchi ; e dinne, se tu puoi, 

S' alcuna mai da Ud membra ni spiega. 90 

AUor soffib Io tronco forte, e poi 

Si convertl qnel vento in cotal voce : 



' The moment, the occKuon. 

' Dtint« well knew the great 
tatk of FredericlL's chief man ; 
and the wa; in which he had en- 
deavoured Co peiform it. 



auch tnembeia ;" eBoapea Iro 
thoae knot^ stunted forms, : 
whieh it is kept imprisoned. 



.vGooglc 



you be answered. When the fierce spirit quite the 
body, fi-om which it has torn itself, Minos sends it 
to the seventh gulf. It fells into die wood, and no 
place is chosen for it ; but wherever fortune flings 
it, there it sprouts, like grain of spelt ; shoots up 
to a sapling, and to a savage plant. The Harpies, 
feeding then upon its leaves, give pain, and to the 
pain an outlet.^ Like the others, we shall go for our 
spoils ;* yet none shall thereby clothe himself with 
diem ^ain : for it is not just that a man have what 
he takes &om himself. Hither shall we drag them, 
and through the mournful wood our bodies shall 

Brevemente aaA risposto a vai. 
Quando si parte 1' anima feroce 

Dal corpo, ond* ella stetaa e' i diavelta, 95 

Minos la manda alia settima foce. 
Cade in la selva, e non V 6 parte ecelta j 

Ma ik dove fortuna la balestra, 

Quivi germoglia come gran di spelta ; 
Sai^ in vermena ed in pianta silvestra : 100 

Le Arpie, pascendo poi delle sue fogtie, 

Fanno dolore, ed al dolor finestra. 
Come 1' altre, verrem per nostre apoglie. 

Ma non per6 ch' alcana sen rivesta : 

Chh non h giusto aver ci6 ch' uom si toglie. 105 
Qni le straadneremo, e per la mesta 

Selva saranno i nostri corpi appesi. 



.it : " Qive a window for Ibe | ' Like the otliei souls, it (be 

' Tb\a Viigil : Tagmiem laio last judgment, ne alisll go Tor our 
orefeaeitrim. £n.iLlS2. | bodies, &c. 



.vGooglc 



be suspended, each on the thorny tree of its tor- 
mented shade."' 

We still were listening to the trunk, thinking 
it would tell us more, when by a noise we were 
surprised; like one who feels the boar and chase 
approaching to his stand ;^ who hears the beasts and 
the branches crashing. And, lo ! on the left hand,^ 
two spirits, naked and torn, fleeing so violently that 
they broke every fen* of the wood. 

The foremost : " Come now, come, O death !"" 
And the other, who thought himself too slow, cried : 

Ciascono al prun dell' ombra sna molesta. 
Noi eravamo ancora al tronco atten, 

Credendo ch' altro ne volraae dire ; 110 

Quando noi fommo d' nn romor Borpreai, 
Similemeute a colni, che venire 

Sente il porco e la cacda alia sua posta, 

Ch' ode le beetie e le frasche stormire. 
Ed ecco duo dalla sinistra costa, 1 IS 

Nudi e graffiati fViggendo si forte, 

Che della selva rompifeno ogni rosta. 
Qael dinanzi : Ora accorri, accorri, morte. 

E r altro, a cni pareva tardar troppo, 



' MoUila is here taken for mo- 
leilala, " sfBicted, tormented," thst 
being the plainest CDnatniotJon. 
Lombardi, and others before Mm, 
make it mean "hostile, injurious, 
or homicidal." 

' BOBC and hounds, &c. coming 
to the place where he is BtaUoued, 



' On the way to tlie next di- 
yision, and to the greitei sinnen. 

* " Fan," for leaf ot bDtig;li. 
Others take it to mean " impedi- 
ment" Milton, Par. Lett, v. 6 : 

" LeavM uid rlllg, Aurota'i Tan." 

■ Or: "Help now, help," tee. 
Hasten to mjr relieC 



;.Xiooglc 



ctmo lUL INFERNO. 153 

" Lano,' thy legs were not bo ready at the jousts of 
Toppo." And then, his breath perhaps failing him, 
of himself and of a bush he made one group .' 

Behind them, the wood was filled with black 
braches, eager and fieet, as greyhounds that have 
escaped the leash. Into him, who squatted, they 
thrust their teeth, and rent him piece by piece ; then 
carried off his miserable limbs. 

My Guide now took me by the hand, M»d led me 
to the bush, which was lamenting through the bleed- 
ing fractures, in yain. " O Jacopo da Sant* Andrea !"* 

Gridava : Lano, s) non fiiro accorte 120 

Le gambe tne alle g^iostre del Toppo. 

E poi che forse gli &Uia la lena, 

Di s6 e d' nn cespoglio fe' un groppo. 
Dirietro a loro era la aeWa plena 

Di nere cagne bramose e correnti, 125 

Come veltri che oscisser di catena. 
In quel, che s' appiatt^, miser 11 denti, 

B quel dilaceraro a brano a brano ; 

Poi sen port&r quelle membra dolenti. 
Freaemi allor la mia scorta per mano, 130 

E menommi al cespuglio che piangea 

Per le rottnre sanguinenti, invano. 
Jacopo, dicea, da Sanf Andrea, 









ble Gunil}', who, after squandering 
hii properly, snd thereby reducing 
himself to despair, sought deatli 
in (he " jouBts." or fight of Toppo 
(in 1288), which is mentioned by 
Villaoi, m 120. 



' Thrusting himself into 
bush. These plants are of a 
proportioned to the importin< 
the spirits which they imprison. 

" A Padnan, " who had man 
wealth than any of bis country- 
men," and wasted it in the in- 



the 



of 



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154 INFEBNO. cuno int. 

it cried, " what hast thou gained by makiiig me thy 
screen 1 What blame have I of thy sinful life V 

When the Master had stopped beside it, he said : 
" Who wast thou, who, through so many wounds, 
blowest forth with blood thy dolorous speech V 

And he to us : " Ye spirits, who are come to 
see the ignominious mangling which has tbiia dis- 
joined my leaves from me, O gather them to t^e 
foot of the dismal shrub ! I was of the city that 
changed its first patron for the Baptist,^ on which 

Che t' 6 giovato di me fare schermo 7 

Che colps ho to della tua vita rea? 135 

QoEDdo il Maestro iii sott' esao fermo, 
Disae : Chi fusti, che per tante punte 
Soffi col sangue doloroso sermo ? 

E qnegli a uoi : anime, che giunte 

Siete a veder lo strazio disonesto, 140 

Che le mie iiroDdi h& al d& me disgiunte, 

Baccoglietele al pi6 del triato cesto : 
lo fui della citt^ che nel Battista 
Cangi5 '1 primo padrone : ond' el per qnesto 



auiesC fashion. See BenT. da 
Imala, Cma, Lano and be re- 
present the class of ainners nho 

stance (canto li. 41) ; and the 
hell-hounds are to them whtt the 
Harpies are to the self-murderers. 
' Florence, according to the 
old traditions given by Malesplnl, 
Villani, &c. was founded by the 
Romanai who ehoae Mars for 
their patron or protector ,■ was 



destroyed b; Attila, and then re- 
built by Charlemagne, nith St 
John the Baptist for its patron. 
Hence the vengeance of Mus, 
"with his art;" and the super- 
stitions veneration (often men- 
tioned by the old chroniclers) for 
the remnant of his statue, whicb 
stood at the end of the bri^ 
over the Arno, and was at last 
swept away by a flood ui 1333. 
See ViUmi, li. i. 



.vGooglc 



CAHTO lui. IMFBRNO. 155 

account he with his art will always make it sor- 
rowiiil. And were it not that at the passage of 
liie Amo there yet remains some semblance of him, 
those citizens, who afterwards rebuilt it on the ashes 
left by AttUa, would have laboured in vain. 

" I made a gibbet for myself of my own dwell- 
ing."' 



Sempre con 1' arte sua la far& trista, 
E se non fosse clie in sul passo d' Arno 
Itimane ancor di lui alcuna yiata ; 

Quei dttadm, che poi la rifondamo 
Soyra il cener che d' Attila rimase, 
Avrebber fatto lavorare indamo. 

lo fei giabbettc a me delle mie case. 



145 



I Wlio ihU was, that hiaig 
himself in hia own house, remains 
unknown. RocCO de' Moizi and 
Lotto degli Agli, both of Doble 
fiuniliea in Florence, are men- 
tioned by the oldest conimenta- 
tore, as having been driven by 
the despair and poverty (" hell- 



honads"), which the; had brought 
upon themielTea, to seek death in 
this tvaj. Boccaccio saya : " In 
those times, as if it had l>een a 
curse sent by God upon our ci^, 
many hanged themaelves ; so that 
ev€tj one can apply the words to 
whomsoerer he pleases. 



.yCOOgIC 



.yCOOgIC 



ARGUMENT. 



Dante caimot go on till he hu collected the scattered leaves, and 
Te»toied Ihem to tliaC wretebed ahnib in which the aoul of hi< 
countiynian is unpriaoiied. He is then led by Virgil, across the 
Temainder of the wood, to the edge of the Third Round, or ring, 
of the Seienth Circle. It is a naked plain of burning Saodj the 
place appointed for the puniihmciit of thoie who have done Vio- 
lence againEt God, against Nature, aod aguniC Nature aod ArL 
Canto xL 46, &c. The riolent against God, the leaat numeroiu 
claaa, are lying supine upon the sand, and in greater torment 
than flie rest The violent against Nature and Art are sitlmg 
all crouched up i and the violent against Nature are moving 
about, in large troopa, with a speed proportioned to their guilt 
A doiT eternal Shower of Fire is &lliDg upon them alL Capaneus 
is amongst the supine, unsubdued by the flames, blaspheming 
with his old decisiveness and fuiy. After speaking with hira, the 
Poets go on, between the burning sand and the wood of lelf-mur- 
derera, and soon come to a crimson streamlet that gushes forth 
&om the wood and ctosees the sandy plain. Virgil here explains 
the origin of all the rivers and marshes of Hell. 



.yCOOgIC 



INFERNO. 



CANTO XIV. 



The love of my native place constraining me, 
I gathered wp the scattered leaves ; and gave them 
back to him, -who was already hoarse. Then we 
came to the limit, where the second round is sepa- 
rated &om the third, and where is seen the feariiil 
art of justice. To make the new things clear, I 
say we reached a plain which from its bed repels 
all plants. The dolorous wood is a garland to it 
round about, as to the wood the dismal foss.' Here 
we stayed our feet close to its very edge. The 
giound was a sand, dry and thick, not different 

PoiCH£ la cariti del oatio loco 

Mi atrinse, rannai le fi^nde sparte, 

E reude' le a colui, ch' era gifk roco. 
Indi venimmo al fine, ove ai parte 

Lo secondo giron dal terzo, e dove 5 

Si vede di giuatizis orribil' arte. 
A ben manifeatar le cose Duove, 

Dico cb' arrivammo ad nna landa, 

Che dal suo letto ogni pianta rimnoTe. 
La dolorosa aelva 1' h ghirlanda 10 

latomo, come il fosso tristo ad esaa ; 

Quivi fermammo i piedi a randa a landa. 
Lo apazzo era una rena arida c apesaa. 



' The wood ofthe su[cidesgocB I 
all round the burning plain, as | 



.vGooglc 



in its ^hioQ &om tliat which once was trodden by 
the feet of Cato.' 

O vengeance of God I how shouldst thou be 
feared by every one who reads what waa revealed 
to my eyes I I saw many herds of naked souls, 
who were all lamenting very miserably; and there 
seemed imposed upon them a diverse law : Some 
were lying sapine upon the ground ; some sitting 
all crouched up ; and others roaming incessantly. 
Those that moved about were much more numerous ; 
and those that were lying in the torment loere fewer, 
but uttered louder cries of pain.^ 

Non d' ultra fog^ fatta che colei, 

Che da' pi& di Catou g^ fit aoppressa, 15 

vendetta di Dio, quanto tu dei 

Eaaer temata da daacun, che legge 

Cid che fa manifesto agU occhi miei ! 
D' auime nude vidi molte gregge, 

Che piangean tutte assai miserameDte, 20 

E parea poata lor diveraa legge. 
Supiu giaceva in terra alcuna geote j 

Alcuna ei sedea tutta raccolta, 

Ed altra andava coutinuBmeDte. 
Qudla che giva iutomo era pi& molto, 25 

G quella men, che giaceva al tormento. 

Ma piii al duoto avea la lingua sciolta. 



■ Tb« Libyan desert, oift vhich 
Cato conducted the remaina of 
Pompey's army. See Lmoii. ix. 
375, &.C. 



' Lit.; " Had the tongue raon 
let loose for the pain •" were ii 
greater tonnent, and had to cr; 



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160 INFERNO. . OUTTO iir. 

Over all the great sand, felling slowly, rained 
dilated Hakes of fire, like those of snow in Alps 
without a wind. As the flames which Alexander, 
in the hot regions of India, saw iall upon hia host, 
entire' to tiie ground ; whereat he with his legions 
took care to tramp the soil, for the fire was more 
easily extinguished while alone : so fell the eternal 
heat, by which the sand was kindled, like tinder 
beue^h the fiint and steel, redoubling the pain. 
Ever restless was the dance' of miserable hands, now 
here, now there, shaking off the fresh bunung. 

SoTra tutto il sabbion d' un cader lento 

Piovean di fuoco dilatate falde, 

Come di neve in alpe seuza vento. 30 

Quali Alesaandro in quelle parti calde 

B' India vide sovra lo suo stuob 

Fiamme cadere infino a terra salde ; 
Per ch' ei provride a scalpitar lo suoto 

Con le sue acbiere, perciocch.^ il rapore 35 

Me' ai atingaeva meutre ch' era solo : 
Tale Bcendeva 1' eternale ardore ; 

Onde r arena s' acceadea, com' esca 

Sotto il focile, a doppiar lo dolore. 
Senza riposo mai era la tresca 40 

Delle miaere mani, or quindi or quind 

Iscotendo da se 1' arsiua freaca. 



' " Whole," unchanged to the 
ground. Thia tradition about 
Alexander ia said to be taken 
from some lappoaed letter of his 
to Aristotle. See Landino, Com. 



' TherreKoviaaaortarNea- 
politan duDoe, conaiiting; mainly 
of rapid complicated geaturea, and 
mOTemeiits of the hands. See 
Benr. da Imola, Com. 



.vGooglc 



unto IIT. INFERNO. 161 

I began : " Master, thou who conc^uerest aU 
thinga, save tbe hardened Demons, that came forth 
against us at the entrance of the gate : who is that 
great spirit, who seems to care not for the burning ; 
and lies disdainful and contorted, so that the rain 
seems not to ripen him 1" 

And he himself, remarking that I asked my 
Guide concerning him, exclaimed : " What I was 
living, that am I dead. Though Jove weary oat his 
smith, £rom whom in anger he took the sharp holt 
with which on my last day I was transfixed; and 
though he weary out the others, one by one, at the 
black forge in Mongibello,' crying : ' Help, help. 



lo comiDciai : Maestro, tu che vinci 
Tutte le cose, fitot che i Dimon duri, 
Ch' all' entrar della porta incoutro uscinci, 

Chi i quel grande, che non paj che curi 
Lo incendio, e giace dispettoso e torto, 
St che la piog^ aoa par che il matnri ? 

E quel medesmo, che si fue accorto 
Ch' io dimandava il mio Daca di Ini, 
Gnib : Qual fui tito, tal son morto. 

Se Oiove stanchi il suo fabbro, da cui 
Crucdato prese la folgore acuta, 
Onde 1' ultimo di percosso fui ; 

E s' egli stanchi gU altri a muta a muta 
lu Moi^bello alia fuciua negra, 
Gridando : Baon Yulcano, duta, ainta. 



' ^tna, in which Vuloan »nd I forged tiie thunderbolts of Jupi- 
his Cyclops {/Etii«t Cydvpa) \ ter. See Xn. viiL 419, &c 

f2 



.vGooglc 



162 INFERNO. cMTD inr. 

good Vulcan !' as he did at the strife of Phlegra ; 
and burl at me with all lua might, yet should he 
not thereby have joyful vengeance."' 

Then my Guide spake with a force such as I 
had not heard before : " O Capaneus P in that thy 
pride remains unquenched, thou art punished more. 
No torture, save thy own raging, would be pain 
proportioned to thy fury." 

Then to me he turned with gentler lip, saying : 
" This was one of the seven kings who laid siege 
to Thebes; and he held, and seems s^ to hold 
God in defiance, and to prize him lightly. But, as 
I told him, his revilings are ornaments that well 



SI com' ei fece alia pugna ^ Flegra ; 
E me Baetti di tntta sua forza, 
Hon ne potrebbe aver vendetta all^;ra. 

AUora U Daca mio pailtt di forza 

Tanto, ch' io non V avea s) forte udito : 
Capaneo, iu ab che non s' anunorza 

La tiia Buperbia, sei tn piil punito : 
Nnllo martirio, fuor che la t»a rabbia, 
Sarebbe al tuo furor dolor compito. 

Poi si rivoke a me con migUor labbia, 
Dicendo : Quel fd 1' un de' sette r^ 
Ch' assiser Tebe ; ed ebbe, e par ch' e^ abbia 

Dio in disd^no, e poco par che 11 pregi : 
Ma, come io die« lui, li suoi dispetti 



' See SutJuB, TKib. iiL 598, I tiTe of blasphemy and am^uiee, 
&c.; ud z. 828, fto. I m the Canzone of Dante which 

* Capaneus is tihe represent*- | begiiu : O patria degua Ac 



.vGooglc 



curto XIV. INFERNO. 163 

befit his breast. Now folloTT me, and see thou place 
not yet thy feet upon the burning sand j but always 
keep them back close to the wood." 

In silence we came to where there gushes forth 
from the wood a Httle rivulet, the redness of which 
still makes me shudder. As from the Bulicame' 
issues the streamlet, which the siuful women share 
amongst themselves ; so this ran down across the 
sand. Its bottom and both its shelving banks were 
petrified, and also the margins near it; whereby I 
discerned that our passage lay there. 

" Amidst all the rest that I have shewn thee, 
since we entered by the gate whose threshold is 

Sono al Buo petto assai debiti fregi. 
Or mi vien dietro, e guarda che uon metti 

Ancor li piedi nell' arena arsiccia ; 

Ma sempre al bosco git ritieni stretti. 75 

Tacendo divenimmo Ik ove spiccia 

Fuor della selva nn picciol fiumicello, 

Lo cui roaaore ancor mi raccapriccia. 
Qusle del Bohcame esce il ruscelio, 

Che partoD poi tra lor le peccatricl ; 80 

Tal per 1' arena giil sen giva quello. 
Lo fondo ano ed ambo le pendici 

Fatf eran pietra, e i mai^ni da lato : 

Per ch' to m' accorsi che il passo era lici. 
Tra tutto 1' altro cb' io t' ho dimostrato, 85 

Poscia che not eutrammo per la porta, 

Lo cni sogliare a nesaimo ^ negato, 

' The Bulicame, bete alluded I Bocc, Land., &c. speak of " the 
to, is a hot spring near Viterbo. | ainftil women" that lived near it 



.vGooglc 



Ifl4 INFEBNO. eiKio iiv. 

denied to none,' thy eyes have discerned nothing 
so notable as the present stream, Trhich quenches 
all the flames above it." These were words of my 
Ghiide. Wherefore I prayed him to bestow on me 
the food,^ for which he had bestowed the appetite. 

" In the middle of the sea lies a waste country," he 
then said, " which is named Crete,* under whose King 
the world once was chaste.* A mountain is there, 
called Ida, which once was glad with waters and with 
foliage : now it is deserted like an antiquated thing. 

Cosa non fu dagli tuoi occhi scorta 

Notabile, com' 6 il preaente rio, 

Che aopra &h tut(« fiammelle ammorta. 90 

Queste parole far del Duca mio : 

Per ch' io pregai, che mi largisBe il paato, 

Di coi largito m' nveva il disio. 
In mezzo il mar siede on paese gnasto. 

Diss' egli allora, che a' appella Greta, 9^ 

Sotto il cui Rege fu gift il mondo casto. 
Una montagna t' h, che gi& fa lieta 

D' acqne e di fronde, che si chiama Ida ; 

Ora fe deaerta come cosa yieta. 



99. 



Viela, grown old, or stale ; dim with age. 






' " Gate, that Glill i 
btrred." See p. 91, and note 2d. 

* To explain why that stream 
ii so notable. 

' Creta Jovit magni media jacet 
ituula jxmte, Mmi Idaui ubi, el 
gentis aambula nostra, i^n. iu. 
104. " Cradle" of the Trojans ; 
and af lUime and its Empire, &c. 

' Dante, quoting the redit el 



Virgo, redeuni SatiBTiia rigta oi 
Virgil, says: Virgo vocabattr Ju- 
liliat quata et Ailream axaba'- 
Satumia regno dtctboKtur s^" 
lemparoj qam et Aarea amctf- 
banl. Jaitilia polinima eil »■ 
Jum mi Monarcka. Ergt nd i^ 
rsiun muniti diipoiitionem nT'^ 
tvT, eise Moaarehiaa, &c M""- 
arch. lib. I p. 2S. 



.vGooglc 



cA»io I.T. INFBENO. 165 

Bliea^ of old chose it for the ^thful cradle of her 
SOIL ; and the better to conceal him, when he wept, 
caused cries to be made on it. 

" Within the mountain stands erect? a great Old 
Man, who keeps his shoulders tamed towards Da- 
mietta, and looks at Borne as if it were his mirror. 
His head is shapen of fine gold, his arms and his 
breast are pure silver ; then he is of brass to the 
clefl : from thence downwards he is all of chosen iron, 
save that the right foot is of baked clay ; and he rests 

Bea la acebe pk per cuna fida 100 

Del suo figliaolo, e per celarlo meglio, 
Quando piaagea, vi facea for le grida. 

Dentro dal monte sta dritto un gran veglio, 
Che tien volte le spalle iuTgr Damiata, 
£ Eoma guards si come sao speglio. 105 

La sua testa ^ di fine oro formata, 
E puro argeuto son le braccia e il petto ; 
Poi ^ di rame infino alia forcata : 

Da indi in giuBo ^ tutto ferro elelto, 

Salvo che U destro piede h terra cotta, 1 10 



■ Rhea, oi Cjbele, &c, daugh- 
ler of HesTBD and Euth, and 
wife of Saturn, oi Chronoa, cod- 
cealing her aon Japiter. Hinc 
maler cuUtui Cybek, Corgbantiaqiie 
mra, Maamqae netmu : Anc fida 
lihnlia lacris, &c Ma. iii. II 1. 

* With his golden head towarda 
Heaven ; and the poor foot of 
cla;, on which he chiefly stands, 
towards Dis. LooMng sadly at 



Bome, the eentre of temporal and 
Bpiritual govenuneDt, as the niir- 
loi of his conditioiL This image 

their taonarchies is taken from 
Daaifl {il 31, &c.) ! and its asso- 
ciations fiom the old poetic tra- 
ditions. A new life and aigni£- 
cancY is given to both. The tears 
of Sin and Miaeiy, lettiming to 
Satan, make the image complete. 



.vGooglc 



166 IITFBRKO. cum> in. 

more on this* tlian on the other. Every part, ex- 
cept the gold, is hroken with a fissure that drops 
tears, which collected perforate that grotto.^ Their 
coarse descends from rock to rock into this vaUey. 
They* form Acheron, Styx, and Phlegethon j then, 
hy this narrow conduit, go down to where there is . 
no more descent.* They form Cocytus ; and thou 
shalt see what kind of lake that is : here therefore 
I describe it not." 

And I to him : " If the present rill thus flows 
down from our world, why does it appear to us only* 
on this bank V 

E Bta in sn quel, piil che in sn 1' altro, eretto. 
Ciascmia part«, fnor che 1* oro, ^ rotta 

D' una fessura che lagrime goccia, 

Le qnali accolte foran qoella grotta. 
Lor corso In qaeata vaUe si diroccia : 1 15 

FanDO Acheroute, Stige, e Flegetonta ; 

Poi sen van giil per questa stretta docda 
Infin 1^ ore piii non ai dismoDta ; 

Fanno Cocito ; e qual aia queUo atagno, 

Tu U Tederai ; per6 qui non si conta. 120 

Ed io a lui : Se il preeente rigagno 

Si deriva cos! dal nostro moudo, //}|i ' 

Perchfe ci appar pure a questo vivagno f (Jt I ' 

lis. Si diroccia, falls from rocb (o rock. 



this" els; footi supports himself 



(," ot work through, 
I in which llie Ime^ 



Btanda ; and then io Hell flow 
donn from circle to circle. 

> Thgse tears ofSin and Miseiy, 
< To the Centre of the Earth. 
" Ifit thus descends from circle 



.vGooglc 



cuno iiT. INFERNO. 167 

And he to me ; " Thou knowest that the place 
is round : and though thou hast come far, altraye to 
the left, descending towards the bottom ; thou hast 
not yet turned through the entire circle. Where- 
fore if aught new appears to us, it ought not to 
bring wonder on thy countenance." 

And I again : " Master, where is Fhlegethon, 
and Lethe ; for thou speakest not of the one, and 
sayest that the other is formed by this rain ?"' 

" In all thy questions truly thou pleaseet me," 
he answered; " but the boiling of the red water 
might well resolve one' of those thou askest. Lethe 

Ed egli a me : Tn eai cbe il laogo h tondo, 
E tutto che tu sii TCDUto molto 125 

Pur a nniBtra fpii calando al fondo, 

Won Be' ancor per tutto 11 cerchio vfllto ; 
Perchfe, se cosa n' apparisce nuova, 
Non dee addur maraTiglia al tuo volto. 

Ed io ancoT : Maestro, ove si trova 130 

Flegetonte e Let^o, chfe dell' bq taci, 
E r altro di' cbe si fa d' esta piova? 

In tutte tae questioii certo mi piaci, 
Kispose ; ma il boUor dell' acqua roeaa 
Dovea ben solTer 1' una cbe ta faci. 135 



to .circle, nhy have we not Been it 
before J Doc> not at Brat con- 
cave that the river of blood ' The rain of teua. S«« ter. 
(canto ziL 46, &c) can be Phle- 113. 

gethon; Virgil himself having de- ' Thou mighteit have known 

icribed it ag a river of flame ; Qaa that the titer of blood waB Fhle- 

rapiiiiu JlammU ambit torTtntibta gethon. 



.vGooglc 



thou fihalt see, but out of this abyss,' there where 
the spirits go to wash themselyes, when their guilt 
is taken off by penitence." 

Then he said : " Now it is time to quit the wood. 
See that thou follow me. The mai^ins, which are 
not bnming, form a path ; and over them all fire 
is quenched."* 

Letfe Tedrai, ma fiior di questa fossa, 

lA ove Tuiao I' anime a lav&rsi, 

Qoando la colpa pentnta & rimossa. 
Poi disse : Omai h tempo da Bcostarsi 

Dal boBCo ; fa che diretro a me Yegne. 140 

Li ma^ni fan via, che non son and, 
B BOpra loro ogni vapor si spt^e. 



' Not in Hell, but in Purga- used in the Latin sense of " heat, 

toiy. Purg. canto xxviii 25-130. or fire." Semuila aa^ttimt So- 

* See neit canto, ler. 1 - 2. Fa- bora ; restinclia dome iHgar anntt, 

par, both here and at yei. S5, a &c Mn. v. 697. 



.yCOOgIC 



ARGUMENT. 



rbe crimson slream — whose coune is straiglil uiross the ring of 
burning Band, towards llie centre of Hell — sends forth a dark ex- 
halation that quenches all the flames over itaelf and its elevated 
margin;. Upon one of these Danle continuei to follow hi* Guide, 
ia silence, till Ihej have got fat from the wood, when they meet a 
troop of apirils coming along the sand by the aide of the bank. 
Dante is recognised bj one of them, who tskea him by the slcirt ; 
and, on £xing his eyes over the baked and withered figure, be ilnds 
it is Bninetto Latini, bis old master. Tbey speak to each other 
with great respect and affection, recalling the past, and looking 
fomard to the future under the pre^iire of separate eternities. 
Their colloquy has a dark background, which conld not be altered ; 
and it stands there in deep perennial warmth and beauty. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XV. 

Now one of tlie hard margins bears us on, 
and the smoke of the rivulet makes shade above, 
BO that &om the fire it shelters the water and the 
banks.' As the Flemings between Bruges and Cad- 
eand, dreading the flood that rushes towards them, 
make their bulwark^ to repel the sea ; and as the 
Paduans, along the Brenta, to defend their towns 
and villages, ere Chiaxentana feels the heat:" in like 
feshion those banks were formed, thouglr not bo high 

Ora cen porta 1' nn de' dmi maigini, 
E il fiunmo del ruscel di sopra adn^jia. 
Si che dal fuoco ealva 1' acqoa e gli Brgini. 

Quale i Fiamminghi, tra Gazzante e Bniggia, 

Temendo il fiotto che in ¥&r lor s' avrenta, 5 

Fanno lo Bchermo, perch^ il mar si faggia ; 

£ quale i Padovan, luogo k Brenta, 
Per difender lor ville e.lor caatelli, 
Anzi che Chiarentana il caJdo senta ; 

A tale imagine eran fatti quelli, 10 

Tatto che n6 el alii nh si grossi, 

2. Aduggia, from uggia, sliade, or shadow. 

I Hie exhalation of the [tviilet ' Before the enow begioe lo 

" quenches all the flanies above tnelt on the Carinthiaii Alps, and 

iC" Canto xiv. SO. swell the Brenta- It flows be- 

' Die d/ke here alluded to is tween strong embankments, on s 

said to be still kept up. Cadaand bed raised b; its sedimeat above 

is some twenty miles north-east the level of the plain, like other 

from Bruges. rivers in that part of Italj. 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



OAHio IT. INPBRNO. 171 

nor so huge, tlie master, whoever it might be, made 
them. 

Already we were so far remored from the wood, 
that I should not have seen where it was, had I 
turned back, when we met a troop of spirits, who 
were coming alongside the bank ; and each looked 
at us, as in die evening men are wont to look at 
one another under a new moon •} and toward us 
sharpened theii vision,^ as an old tailor does at the 
eye of his needle. 

Thus eyed by that family, I was recognised by 
one who took me by the skirt, and said : " What a 
wonder !"' 

Qnal che si fosse, lo maestro felli. 
6& eravam dalla selva rimosBi 

Tanto, ch' io noa awei ™to dov' era. 

Perch' io indietro rivolto mi fossi, 15 

Qnaudo incontrammo d' anime una schiera, 

Che venia lungo 1' argine, e ciascuna 

Ci rignardava, come suol da sera 
Guardar 1' im 1' altro eotto naova lima ; 

E si vgr uoi agoEzavan le ciglia, 20 

Gome vecchio sartor fa aella cnma. 
Cos! adocchiato da cotal famiglia, 

Fui Gonosciuto da on, che mi preae 

Per lo lembo, e grido : Qual maraviglia ! 



' Lit; "The one is wont to look I ' Lit: " Shirpenod tlieit eye- 

at the other undet K new moon ;" browB," &b. ; pointed them, aa if 

■bich gives a feeble light, ao u to frowning, at ua. 

make lecognition difficult I ' To aee thee here in the body. 



.vGooglc 



172 INFERNO. CAMTO n 

And I, when he stretched out hia arm to me, 
fixed my eyes on hia baked aspect, eo that the 
BcoTching of hie visa^ hindered not my mind &om 
knowing him. And bending my face to his, t an- 
swered : " Are you here, Ser Bnmetto r^ 

And he : " O my son ! let it not displease thee, 



Ed io, quando il bug braccio a me diatese, 
Ficcai gli occhi per lo cotto aspetto 
Si, che 11 viso abbmciato noD difese 

La conoscenza sua al mio intelletto ; 
E chinando la mia alia Bua faccia, 
Risposi ; Siete toi qui, Ser Brunetto ? 

E quegli : figlinol mio, noa ti dispiaccia. 



' BninettD Latini, of the Porta 
del Duomo in Floience. Dante's 
teacher ; ■ man noted for his 
learning in those tiinea, and for 
bis politeness and manifold dei- 
lerity. The Fiorentine Guelphs 
sent him as their ambassador to 
Alonzo X., King of Spain, in 
1260 {Maiei/aiii, c. 162) , and he 
was afterwards appointed secretary 
and notary of the city. Villani 
(riii. 10) calls him " a great phi- 
losopher, and supreme master of 
rhetoric, as well in speaking as in 
writing," &c. ; but adds that " he 
was a worldly man." The early 
coTnmenUt«rs (Boccaccio, Benv. 
da Imola, &c.) mention that, 
baring made an error in some 
conuact drawn up by him in bis 
capacity of notary, aud being too 



proud to acknowledge the possi- 
bility of it, he was accused of 
fraud, and left Florence in high 
disdain. He died in 1294. Two 
works of bis still remain. One of 
these is the Teaaretto (little Trea- 
snre), in short, jingling, quaint 
rhymes— too feeble and empty for 
any aerioua perusal ; hot curious 
IS a specimen of old Italian, and 
as bearing a faint outward resem- 
blance in some phrases and in- 
cidents to the CoBUHedia. The 
other, Le Tritar or Taero, is a 
hind of encyclopedia, written in 
the French of those times, or, as 
Brunetto himself says, en ronuuii, 
sebm le paMi de Froact. It has 
never been printed. There is s 
manuscript copy of it in the Bri- 
tish Museum. 



.vGooglc 



CANTO IV. IMFERHO. 173 

if Brunetto Latini turn back -with thee a little, and 
let go his train."' 

I said : " With all my power I do beseech it of 
you. And if you wish me to sit down with you, 1 
will do BO, if it pleases him there, for I go with him." 

" O my son," he said, *' whoever of this flock 
stops one instant, hes a hundred years thereafter, 
without fanning hiinself* when the fire strikes him. 
Therefore go on : I will follow at thy skirts ^ and 
then will I rejoin my band, that go lamenting their 
eternal miseries." 

I durst not descend from the road to go level 
with him ; but kept my head bent down, like one 

Se Branetto Latini un poco teco 

\ Ritoma indietro, e lascia andar la traccia. 

lo diisi Ini : Quonto posso ven preco ; 

B se Tolete che con voi m' asseggia, 3a 

Farol, se place a costui, chh vo seco. 
figliuol, diaae, qua! di quests greg^ 

S' arresta puato, giace poi cent' anni 

Seuza arrostarsi quando il fuoco il feggia, 
Per6 va oltre : io ti verri a' panni, 40 

E poi rigiugnerfi la mia masnada, 

Che va piftngendo i suoi eterni danni. 
Io non osava scender della strada 

Per andar per di lui ; ma il capo chino 



' Let bis traiD, or compuiioDB 22, Sic), without power to defend 

in file, gD on nilhout him. hiinBelf trom the flunea. 

• Lies prostrate like Ihe con- ' Lit,: "I nill come at thy 

tumadauBblupheineiB (canto ziT. clothea." On a loner levek- 



.vGooglc 



174 INFERNO. CAHTO IT. 

who walks in reverence. He began : " What chance, 
or destiny, brings thee, ere thy last day, down here ? 
And who is this that shews the way V 

" There above, up in the clear life, I lost my- 
self," replied I, " in a valley, before my age was 
fiill.' Only yester mom I turned my back to it 
He appeared to me, <u / toas returning into it, and 
guides me home again' by this path." 

And he to me : " If thou follow thy star, thou 
canst not fail of glorious haven, if I discerned rightly 
in the feir life.' And if I had not died so early, seeing 



Tenea, com' aom cbe riverente vada. 

Ei comincio : Qual fortuna, o destano, 
Anzi r ultima dl qnag^il ti mena ? 
E chi 6 qnesti, che mostra il cammino ? 

Lassii dl sopra in la vita eerena, 

Bispos' io lui, mi smarri' in una valle, 
Avauti che 1' etk mia fosse pieua. 

Pur ier mattina le volai le spalle : 
Qaesti m' apparve, ritoruando in quella, 
E riducemi a ca' per qneato calle. 

Ed egli a me : Se tn segui toa Stella, 
Nan pnoi Mire a glorioso porto, 
Se ben m' accorsi nella vita bella. 

E s' to non fossi si per tempo morto. 



45 



' Loit "the Ktraighl way" be- 


fallen. Spent a long night of 


fore I had come to the lull raa- 


aorrow, and did not awoke from 


rity, i.e. to the 85th year of mj 


it till yester mom. See canto i. 


age; but did not till then feel 


' Or : " Brings me b»ck to a 


that I h»l lo.t it, or begin to see 


home.'' Ca' for caia. 


the fiill miaerj ind darkness of 


» Our earthly life i " besuKtul" 


the " T»Uey" into whioh I had 


to him in that etemal gloom. 



.vGooglc 



eiKTO IT, INFERNO. 175 

heaven so kind to thee, 1 would have cheered thee 
in the work. But that ungrateful, malignant people, 
who of old came down from Fioaole,' and still savours 
of the mountain and the rock, will make itself an 
enemy to thee for thy good deeds. And there is 
cause : for amongst the tart sorb-trees, it befits not 
the sweet fig^ to fructiiy. Ancient report on earth 
names them blind,' a people avaricious, envious, and 



Veggendo il cielo a te cobi beuigDO, 
Dato t' Bvrei all' opera conforto. 

Ma qucir iograto popolo maligno, 
Che discese di Fieeole ab antico, 
£ tiene aocor del monte e del niacigno, 

11 si farft, per tuo ben far, nimico : 
Ed 6 ragion ; ch^ tra gli lazzi aorbi 
Si disconvien frattare nl dolce fico. 

Yecchift fama Del mondo li chiama orbi, 
Gente avara, mvidiosa, e auperba : 



' The old chronjeles tty that 
Florence was first founded by 
Romans, whose deBcendanta, after 
many centuries of perpetual con- 
tention with the cit; of Fiesole, 
made its inhabitants come down 
and mis with Ihem. To this dou- 
ble origin of the Florentines Vil- 
lani frequent]; attributes all theii 
idlestine wara. 

1 Boccaccio and others sb; that 
the tamily of the Elisei, of which 
Dante's was a branch, bad its ori- 
gin Irom the Fraugipani of Rome. 
And the " sweet fig" alludes to 



the "noble and lirtuous Romans;" 
the "tart sorbs," to the "rude 
and harsh Fieaolana." These are 
terms used by Villani in speaking 
of the Romans and Fiesolans. 

' Villani (ii. 1.) aays the Flo- 
rentines " were called blind ever 
afl^-," from having foolishly open- 
ed their gates to Attila, who put 
many of them to death, and " com- 
manded that the city should be 
dettroyed, burnt, and laid waste ; 
BO that one atone might not be 
left upon another, ... in the year 
MO." 



.vGooglc 



176 INFERNO. oimo »v. 

proud : look that thou cleaaae thyself of their cus- 
toms. Thy fortune reserves euch honour for thee, 
that both parties will have a hunger of thee ; but 
far from the beak shall be the grass.' Let the beasts 
of Fiesole make litter of themselves, and not touch 
&e plant, if any yet springs up amid their rankness, 
in which the holy seed revives of those Komans who 
remained there when it became the nest of so much 
malice."* 

" Were my desire all fulfilled," I answered him, 
" you had not yet been banished from human na- 
ture ; for in my memory is fixed, and now goes to 

Dai lor costumi fa che ta ti forbi. 
La tna fortuna tanto onor ti serba, 70 

Che r una parte e 1' altra avranno iame 

Di te ; ma laagi fia dal becco 1' erba, 
Facdan le bestie Fiesolane strame 

Di lor medesme, e non tocchin la plants, 

S' alcmia surge ancor uel lor letame, 75 

In cai rivira la semeuta santa 

Di quel Boman, che vi rimaser quando 

Fu fatto il nido di malizta tauta. 
Se fosse pieuo tutto il mio dimando, 

Eisposi lui, Toi non sareste ancora SO 

Dell' umaua uatura posto in baudo ; 
Chfe in la mente m' h fitta, ed or m' accuora 

' The Neri and Bianclii (note : as " beak :■' and the pissige IW 
2d, p. 64) will bolt hunger after be transUled : " Far ftom Ibe be- 
thee ; but nelthei will get thee to goat shall be the graaa ;" hi fnm 
take part with them. Thou shall 
Stand thyself alone. Parad. x<ii. 69. 

Bicco means " he-goat" as well 



.vGooglc 



cANio IV. INFERNO, 177 

my heart, the dear, kind, paternal image of you, 
when in the world, hour by hour, you taught me 
how man makes himself eternal. And whilst I live, 
beseems my tongue should shew what gratitude I 
have for it. That which you relate about my course, 
I write ;' and ieep it, with another text, for a Lady 
to comment,^ who will be able if I get to her. Thus 
much I would have you know : So conscience chide 
me not, I am prepared for Fortune as she wills. 
Not new to my ears is such earnest.^ Therefore, 
let Fortune turn her wheel as pleases her, and the 
boor his mattock."* 

La cara buona imagine paterna 

Di Toi, qoaDdo nel mondo ad ora ad ora 

M' insegnavate come 1' uom s' eterna : 85 

E quant' io 1' abbo in grado, mentr* io vivo 
ConTieu, che nella mia lingua si scema. 

Ci6 che narrate di mio corso, scrivo, 
E aerbolo a chiosar con altro teato 
A donna che il aaprfe, s' a lei arrivo. 90 

Tanto TOgl' io che vi sia manifesto. 
Pur che mia coscienza non mi^gura, 
Che alia fortuua, come vnol, eon presto. 

Non ^ nuova agli orecchi miei tale arra : 

Per6 giri Fortuna la sua rota, 95 

Come le piace, e il villan la sua marra. 



' " Such eamesf of what is 
coming. The date of 1300 (note 
1b1, p. 2j mual be conBtantly held 

* " Let the boor of Fieaole dig 
and sow wbal he chooses." 01- 
limo Con. Let him do his voraL 



' Inscribe i 



in my memorj. 



' The " other test" is the pro- 
phecy of Ciacco and Farinala, re- 
garding Dante's exile ; and the 
Lady, able to explain both, ia 
Beatrice, or Celestial Wisdom. 



.vGooglc 



178 INFERKO. ciNio IT. 

Thereupon my Master turned back on hia right,^ 
and looked at me, then said : " He listens well who 
marks it."* 

Not the less I go on speaking with Ser Brunetto, 
and ask who ^e the most noted and highest of his 



And he to me : " It is good to know of some. 
Of the rest it will be laudable that we keep silence, 
as the time would be too short for so much talk. In 
brief, know that all were clerks, and great scholars, 
and of great renown ; by one same crime on earth 
de£led. Priscian^ goes with that wretched crowd, 

Lo mio Maestro allora in sulla gota 

Destra si volse indietro, e i^aardommi ; 

Poi disse : Bene ascolta chi la nota. 
Nfe per tanto di men parlando f ommi 100 

Con Ser Bnmetto, e dimando chi sono 

Li suoi compagni pid noti e piil sommi. 
Ed egli a me : Saper d' alcuoo h buono : 

DegU altri fia laudabile il tacerci, 

Cb^ il tempo saria corto a tanto suono. 105 

In somma sappi, che tntti fur cherci, 

E letterati grandi e di gran fama ; 

D' un medesmo peccato al moudo lerd. 
Prismn sen va con quella turba grama, 

' Lit. : " On hit right cheek l Virgil dludes (o hie Qidcqtad rrit, 

turned himself back," &c. Deli- iupermda omnuJortumiftTetido tit 

cutely inilicstea that Brunetto i> (^n. t, 710); wLich Daate bw 

an the right hand ; and their way . marked with eflecL 

on tberigbtbauk of (hestreamlet. I ' Friscian, the grammarian of 

See canto xvii 31. Cseurea, and teacher of gram- 

' Or: "Marks the laying." I aax; understood by Dante's son 



.vGooglc 



CASIO IV, IKrERHO. 179 

and Francesco d' Accorso ;^ also, if thou hadst had 
any longing for such scurf, thou mightest have seen 
him* there, who by the Servant of servants was trans- 
lated from the Amo to the Bacchiglione, where he 
left his ill-strained nerves. I would say more, but 
my going and my speech must not be longer ; for 
there I see new smoke arising firom the great sand.' 
People are coming with whom I may not be. Let 
my Treasure,* in which I stUl live, be commended 
to thee. And more I ask not." 



E Francesco d' Accorso ; anco Tedervi, 

S' avessi avuto di tal tigna brama, 
Colni potei, che dal Serro de' serri 

Fa trasmutato d' Arno in Sacchiglione, 

Ore Ia8ci6 li mal protesi nervi. 
Di pi& direi ; ma 11 Tenir, e il sermoue 

Piii lungo esser aon pub, pcr6 ch' io veggio 

Lh surger nuovo funmio dal sabbione. 
Gente vien con la quale esser aon de^o. 

Sieti raccomandato il mio Tesoro 

Nel quale io vivo ancora ; e piii non cheg^o. 



no 



111. Tigna, 'L3,t tinea. 112. Potti, potevi. 



I, and the other old com- 
s, to be put here as a re- 
presentative of the clasE, i.e. the 
leachere of youth. 

I France«co,sonofAccorso(^c- 
ewthil) the celebrated Florentine 
JDterpreter of Roman law; and like 
him^ profesHOT at Bologna. See 
the comraent of Betiv. da Imota ; 
and the account he there gives of 
hie visit to Bologna in 137S. 



' Andrea de' Mozii, of (he rich 
Florentine family of that name, 
Bishop of Florence in Dante's 

acandalouB habits, translated b; 
the Pope ("Servant of aervajits") 
to Vicenza, on the liver Bacchi- 

' Smoke raised by a new crowd 

' U Trhor, or Tesoro, men- 



.vGooglc 



180 



INFERNO. 



Then he turned back, and seemed like one of 
those who mn for the green cloth at Verona through 
the open £eld ; and of them seemed he who gains, 
not he who loses.* 

Poi Bi rivolse, e parve di coloro 

Che corrono a Verona il drappo verde 
Per la campagna ; e parve di coatoro 

Qnegli che Tince, e uon colni che perde. 



tioned in note, p. 172, In the 
Italian version (lib. iL cap. 31} 
or this work, Bninetto calls the 
sin, for vhich be is here punished, 
"uno deUUaxUise tecolare." And 
in the Teioretlo he eays of himself : 
Sai che siam ienuti un poco mon- 
danelti, "thou knowest that we 
are held to be a Hltle wotldl}'." 
Anotbet work, caJled II Palaffio, 



El coUec^on of ptofene Jesta and 
Ptoterbe in ttrxe rime, now hap- 
pSy almost unintElligible, has long 

' In Dante's time, at Verona, 
there was an annual race of the 
tind here alluded to. The run- 
were all stript ; and " none 
but the quickest competed for the 
e," or palid, as it was called. 



.yCOOgIC 



AKGUMENT. 



)aiite beeps foUowing hig Guide oD tbe aam« path, and bia slread; 
got so tar ai to bear the crimson Btream (ailing: into the next cir- 
cle, vheD another troop of spirits presCDts itself under the burning 
rain. They are the souls of men diatinguished in war and council, 
Buflbring punishment for the same crime as Brunetto and bia com- 
panions. Three of them, seeing Dante to be their countryman by 
bii dreas, quit the troop and run towards bim, entreating bim to 
atop- The; allude to their wretched condition, as if under a aenae 
of shame ; and make their names known in order to induce bim 
to listen to their eager inquiries. Two of them, TeggMaio and 
Roaticucci, are mentioned before (canto vi. 79) : all three were 
Holed for their talents and patriotism ; and the zeal they atiU 
have for Florence suspends " Ibeir ancient wail" of torment. He 
ananers them with great respect; and, in brief emphatic words, 
declares the condition of the " perverse city." Virgil then leads 
him to the place where the water deacenda ; makes him unloose 
a cord wherewith he had girded himself) and casts it down into 
the abyss, on which a atrange and monsttous shape comes swim- 
ming up tbroiigb the dark air. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO XVI. 

Already I was in a. place where the reeoimdiiig 
of the water, that fell into the other circle,' was heard 
like the hum which bee-hives make; when three 
shades ti^ether, running, quitted a troop that passed 
beneath the rain of the sharp torment. They came 
towards us, and each cried : " Stay thee, thoa who ■ 
by thy dress to us appearest to be some one from 
our perverse city." 

Ah me ! what wounds I saw upon their hmhs, 
recent and old, kindled^ by the Sames. It pains me 
yet, when I hut think thereof. 

To theic cries my Teacher listened j turned his 

Gil em in loco, ove s' odia il rimbombo 

Dell' acqaa, che cades nell' altro giro, 

Simile a quel, che 1' amie fanno, rombo ; 
Qnando tre ombre insleme si pardro, 

Correndo, d' una tonua che passava 5 

Sotto la pioggia dell' aspro martiro. 
Yenieii v^r not ; e ciascima gridava ; 

Sostati tn, che all' abito ne sembri 

Esaere slcon di nostra terra prava. 
Aim^ che plaghe ridi ne' lor membri 10 

B«centi e vecebie dalle fiamme incese ! 

Ancor.men duol, pur cb' io me ne rimembri. 
Alle lor gtida il mio Dottor s' attese. 



' Into die eighth oirele ; place i ' Or ; ' 

ofpuiusbinentfor the frauduleiiL | in," and « 



.vGooglc 



cuTO xn. INFERNO. 183 

iace toward me, and said : " Now wait ; to tkese 
coiirteBy is due. And were there not the fire, which 
the nature of the place d&rts, I should say the haste 
befitted thee more than them." 

They recommenced, as we stood stiU, their an- 
cient wail ; and when they had reached us, all the 
three made of themselves a wheel.* As champions, 
naked and anointed, were wont to do, spying their 
grasp- and vantage, ere they came to blows and 
thrusts at one another ; thus, wheeling, each dii'ected 
his visage toward me, so that the neck kept travel- 
ling in a direction contrary to the feet.* 

Volse il Tiso vSr roe, e : Ora aspetts, 

DisBe i a castor si vaole easer cortese : 15 

E Be HOD fosse il fuoco che aaetta 

La natum del luogo, io dicerei, 

Che meglio stesse a te, ch' a lor, la fretta. 
Ricomindar, come noi ristemnio, ei 

L' sntico verso ; e quando a noi far giunti, 20 

Fenno una mota di se tutti e trei. 
Qoal Boleano 1 campion far oudi ed onti, 

Avviaaudo lor presa e lor vantaggio, 

Prima che sieo tra lor battuti e pimti : 
Goat, rotando, ciascima il visaggio 25 

Diizzava a me, a) che in contrario il collo 

Faceva a' pi6 continue viag^o. 

< Began to nheel round, one ' Lit.: "The neck inadt; con- 
following the other. The next tinuoua journey in contrary rfi- 
circle is so near, tbat they cannot reciion l^senio) la the feet." They 
turn back «ith Dante, as Bmnetto kept turaing round in their circle, 
did ; and they dare not tlani still. and looking with their faces con- 
See canto XT. 37-39. stanlJy towards Dante. 



.vGooglc 



184 IKFBRHO. euro m. 

And one of th^n began : " If the misery of this 
loose place,^ and oni dreary and scorched aspect,' 
bring ns and our prayers into contempt, let our fame 
incline thy mind to tell us who thou art, that thus 
securely movest thy living feet' through HelL He 
in whose footsteps ^on seest me tread, all naked 
and peeled though he he, was higher in degree 
than thou beUeveet. Grandson of tlie good Gual- 
diada,' his name was Guidoguerra ; and in his life- 

E, se miseria d' esb) loco sollo 
Rende in dispetto noi e aotbri preghi, 
Comincib 1' uno, e il tristo aspetto e brollo ; 30 

La fama nOBtra il too animo pieghi 
A dime chi tn se', che i TiTi piedi 
Cosl ucuro per lo Inferno freghi. 

Qnesti, 1' orme di cui pestar mi vedi, 
Tutto che undo e dipelato vada, 35 

Fu di grado maggior che ta non credi. 

Nepote fii d^la buoDa Gnaldrada ; 
Guidogaerra ebbe nome, ed in sna vita 



' " Loose," Bandy plain, nliich 
" from its bed repels all planls." 

' Ot : " Sad aud peeled Mpect" 
BtoIIb, or bmUo, meana " nahed," 
or " bumt naked." See also 
canto xixiv. 60. 

» Lit. : " Robbest thy living 
feet through Hell ;" vith louder 
step than ipirita. 

* Gualdtada, daughter of Bel- 
lincione Beiti, "the greateat and 
moat honoured cavalier of Flor- 
ence," long bmous for her beauty, 
modesty, and noble fraokneia. See 



Fillmi, V. 37 ; Boccaccio, Landino, 
&C. The incident connected with 
her marriage, related by them all, 
will not bear the test of dates, or 
of what Dante himself says else- 
where {Parad, sy. andivL) ; but it 
St least shews hei fkme. Guido- 
guerrs lEd the Guelpbs of Flor- 
ence, at (he bsRle of BeneTenlo, 
on the last of February, 126fi-6, 
aod signally oontributed to the 
lictoiy of Charles of Anjon orer 
Manfred. Makipmi, e. iSO ; Vil- 



la«i,' 



8-10. 



.vGooglc 



currajvi. INFERNO. 185 

time he did much with counsel and with sword. The 
other, that beats the sand behind me, is Tegghiaio 
Aldobrandi,^ whose fame should be grateful up in 
the world. And I, who am placed with them in 
torment, was Jacopo Rusticucci f and certainly, more 
than aught else, my savage wife injures me." 

Had I been sheltered from the fire, I should 
have thrown myself amid them below, and I believe 
my Teacher would have permitted it; but as I should 
have burnt and baked myself, fear.overcame the good 
will which made me greedy to embrace them. 

Fece col senna assai e con la spada, 

L' altro, che apprcsso me 1' arena trita, 40 

& Tegghiaio Aldobrandi, la cui voce 
Nel mondo su dovrebbe esser gradita. 

Ed io, che poeto son con lore in croce, 
laccpo Rusticucci fui ; e certo 
La fiera moglie pii) ch' altro mi nuoce. 45 

8' io fussi stato dal fuoco coverto, 
Gittato mi sarei tra lor disotto, 
£ credo che il Dottor 1' arris eofferto. 

Ma perch' io mi sarei bruciato e cotto, 
Tinse paurs la mia buona voglia, 50 

Che di loro abbraceiar mi facea ghiotto. 



' Tegghiaio (pronounced Ttg- 
ghia' here and »t ver. 79, canto 
vl), of the Adimari fkmilj, dis- 
tinguiflhed aa a statesman and boI- 
dier. Amongst olbei things, he 
zealoiul; attempted to dissuade 
the Florentines ftom the expedi- 
tion nhich ended in the liieastrous 



battle of Montaperto. Maleepiai, 
1. 166 ; ViUani, vL 77, &c. 

• A rich Florentine, of " ple- 
beian family," famous for his 
talents and generosity. Had Io 
separate himself from that " sa- 
vage wife," to whom he owes his 
miserable punishment 



.vGooglc 



186 INFBBNO, cuiMiYL 

Then I began ; " Not contempt, but sorrow, yonr 
condition fixed within me, so deeply that it will not 
leave me soon,* when this my Lord spake words to 
me, by which I felt that such men as you are might 
be coming. Of your city am I, and always with af- 
fection have I rehearsed and beard your deeds and 
honoured names. I leave the gall, and go for the 
Bweet apples* promised me by my veracious Guide. 
But to the centre it behoves me first to fall."^ 

" So may thy spirit long animate thy members," 



Poi cominciai : Non diapetto, ma doglia 
La Toatra condizion dentro mi fieae 
Taoto, che tardi tutta si diapoglia, 

Tosto che questo mio Signor mi disse 
Parole, per le qnali io mi pensai, 
Che, qnal voi siete, tal gente venisse. 

Di Tostra terra sono ; e sempre mai 
L' ovTB di Toi e gli onorati nomi 
Con aSezion ritrassi ed ascoltai. 

Lascio lo fete, e to pei doici pomi 
Promeesi a me per lo rerace Duca ; 
Ma fino al centro pria cDnvien ch' io to 

Se lungsmente 1' anima conduca 

Le membra tue, rispose quegli allora. 



' Lit,! "Filed lorrow within " Sweetapples"ofFaith«iie«r' 

me 10 much, to sucli a degree, luCing Freedom i Intila ofW 

that late, or slowly, it ia all di- venlj Mercy, Grace, and Wisdom, 

vested :" it wil! cling to roe long. See cmto ii. p. 23. 
Real and deep aadneaa. ^ Must go down lo tbe 'Ci; 

' " Gall of bittemesg, and the centre of Hell, before he on l>^ 

bond of iniquity." Actt liii. 33. gin to ascend. 



^vGooi^lc 



cOTOiTt INPBRSO. 187 

he then replied, " and so thy feme shine after thee ; 
tell, if courtesy and valour abide within our city as 
they were wont, or have gone quite out of it ? For 
Gnglielmo Borsiere,' who h&a been short time in 
pain with us, and yonder goes with our companions, 
greatly torments us with his words." 

" The upstart people* and the sudden gains, O 
Florence, have engendered in thee pride and ex- 
cess, so that thou already weepest thereat." 

Thus I cried with face upliiled ; and the three, 
who underetood this as an answer, looked at one 
another as men look when truth is told. " If other- 

E se la &ma toa dopo te luca, 
CoTteaia e valor, di', ae dimora 

Nella nostra dttk si come suole, 

se del tutto se n' & gito fliora ? 
Ch^ Gugliehno Botsiere, il qnal si daole 70 

Con noi per poco, e va lii coi compsgni, 

Aasai ne cruccia con le sne parole. 
La gente nnava, e i subiti goadagui, 

Orgog^o e dismisura han generata, 

Fiorenza, in te, si che ta pk ten piagni. 75 

Cos) gridai colla faccia levata ; 

E i tre, che db inteser per risposta, 

Quatar 1' un 1' altro, come al ver si guata. 



' A Florentine, diitiaguished ' Or: "New people;" people 

for faia " courteoua uid elegant new]; settled in Florence, such aa 

ounnera, and great readineea uid tiie Cerchi, &c. Nearl; all of tbe 

mL in oonteraation." See Boc- White party, the patty which Dante 

caccio, Cam. ; and Qecam. Giom. L joined in resisting the coming of 

i*w.8. Cbarles. See canto vi., p. 6t, Sic. 



.vGooglc 



188 INFBESO. tuuiTom. 

while it costs thee bo little to satisfy others,"' they 
all replied, '* happy thou, who thus speakest at thy 
will ! Therefore, if thou escape out of these gloomy 
regions, and return to see again the beauteous stars ; 
when thou shalt rejoice to say, ' I was,'* see that thou 
speak of us to raen." 

Then they broke their wheel; and, as they fled, 
their nimble legs seemed wings. An " Amen" could 
not have been said so quickly as they vanished. 
Wherefore it pleased my Master to depart. I fol- 
lowed him ; and we had gone but litde, when the 
sound of the water was so near us, that in speaking 
we should scarce have heard each other. 

Se r altre volte si poco ti costa, 

Risposer tutti, il soddisfare altrui, 80 

Felice te, che si parli a tua poata ! 
Per6, se caiupi d' eati luoghi btii, 

E tomi a riveder le belle stelle, 

Quando ti gioveriL dicere ; lo ftu, 
Fa che di noi aUa gente favelle, 85 

Indi rupper la ruota, ed a fiiggirai 

Ale Bembiaron le lor gambe soelle. 
Un amen non saiia potuto dirsi 

Tosto eosi, com' ei faro spariti : 

Ferch^ al Maestro parve di partirsi. 90 

lo lo seguiva, e poco eravam id, 

Che il Buou dell' acqua n' era si vicino, 

Che per parlar saremmo appena uditi. 



■ They hint at his freedom in 
speaking the truth, and the exile 
Sic. which it is to cost him. 

' ' I was' in those " gloomy re- 



gions." £1 kac oUb 
juvabit. JEa. i. 103. Vl tri 
she sole donas, loca turbida, adi 
Ibid. vi. 534. 



.vGooglc 



As that river' — which has a path of its own, 
first* &om Monte Viso toward the east, on the left 
skirt of the Apennine; which is called Acquacheta 
aboTe, ere it descends to its low bed, and is vacant 
of that name* at ForH — resounds from the mountain, 
there above San Benedetto, in falling at a descent, 
where ibr a thousand there should be refuge :^ tbns 
down from a steep bank we found that tainted water 
re-echoing, so that in little time it would have stun- 
ned the ear. 

Gome quel fiume, ch' ha proprio cammino 

Prima da monte Veso in v^r levante, 95 

Salla sinistra coata d' Apennino, 
Che si chiama Acquacheta auso, avante 

Che si divaUi giil nel basso letto, 

E a Forll di quel nome & vacante, 
Bimbomba l£i savTa San Benedetto 100 

DoU' alpe, per cadere ad mia acesa, 

DoTc doTTta per mille esser ricetto ; 
Goal, giii d' una ripa discoscesa, 

Trovammo risonar qaell' acqua tinta. 

Si che in poc' ora avria 1' orecchia offesa. 105 



' The Montane, whicli passes 
the Abbey of St. Benedict ; and 
there deBcende into the plain of 
Bomsgna, "its low bed." It is 
the first of the rivera, on the left 
(northern) skirts of the Apen- 
nines, that hu a course ofits onn 
to the sea, near Ravenna. All the 
rest before it, liom Monte Vino 
eaatwards, are liibutsties or "at- 
lendents" ofthePo. 



Or: " Before any other river," 
Has lost the name of Acqua- 
cheta (chela, still, quiet), and 
taken that of Montone before 
reaching ForlL 

' The Abbey being rich enough 
to shelter thousands, iaatead of 
the few that are in it. Dove per.. 
haps refers to iceia: and there is 
a story told about aome Tillage 
(caeteUo), " capable of containing 



.vGooglc 



190 INFERNO. OAHto ivi. 

I had a cord' girt round me ; and with it I thought 
some time to catch the Leopard of the painted skin. 
After I had quite unloosed it from me, as my Guide 
commanded me, I held it out to him coiled and wound 

lo BTeva una corda intomo cinta, 

E con eaaa pensai alcuna volta 

Prender la lonza alia pelle diplnta. 
Poscia che 1' ebbi tutta da me sciolta, 

St come il Duca m' area comandato, 1 10 

PoreUa a Lui aggroppata e ravralta. 



r the pkc 



man; people," wli 
been Ijuilt "very 
where Ihia water falls." Boce. 
Com. Those who adopt this lat- 
ter meaning read docea, irstead of 
dovria, in line 102. 

' In the Bible, the eipreaaiona, 
lo "gird," to have the "loins 
girded about," to " gird with 
strength," &c. alwaja denote pre- 
paration for some work of a se- 
rious kind ; and Dante himself 
(,Purg. TiL 114) speaks of one 



■ the c 



1 of e 






painted Leopard represents Flor- 
ence, or Worldly Pleasure ; and 
the eord, with which he had once 
hoped to catoh her (in man; 
senses), has become a thing that 
he requires to get rid of. He quite 
uolooaea it, and rolls it up in hja 
brief way ; and Virgil CWiadoin) 
casta it with energy and decision 
iuto tlie deep abysa, aa a fit lure 
for the monster that ia to appear. 
The plain solution, if we err not, 



lies io taking Oie myrtio cord as 
an embt^ra of the mere human 
"righteousnesses," the Gemblancea 
of strength, with which he had 



t himt 



o do his li 



battle. Readers, who desire to 
fill up the details, will turn back 
to Canto First, and see how he at- 
tempts to ascend the bright Hill 
unaided and alone ; how the sight 
of the Leopard on the way to it 
strongly attracts his attention, 
pleases and encourages him ; and 
how he gets the Grat lesson of his 
weakness from the Lion and the 
Wol£ Id the cantos that fal- 
low, he gels many lessons of the 
same kind. The prophecies of 
his separation from the Leopard 
{esile, poverty, &c,) thicken on 
him. He sees Farinata, Brunetto, 
Guidoguerra, &c The necessity 
of casting off all shams and aem- 
hlancea, and seeking firm footing 
in the Infinitudes and Eternities, 
becomes more and more apparent 



.vGooglc 



CANTO ITI. INFERNO. 191 

up. Then he bent himself toward the right side,' 
and threw it, some distance from the edge, down 
into that deep abyss. 

" Surely," said I within myself, " something new 
must answer this new signal, which my Master so 
follows with his eye." 

Ah ! how cautious ought men to be with those 
who see not only the deed, but with their mind look 
through into the thoughts ! He said to me : " What 
I expect will soon come up ; and what thy diought 
dreams of, soon must be discovered to thy view." 

Always to that truth which has an air of false- 
hood, a man should close his lips, if possible ; for, 
though blameless, he incurs reproach.' But here 

Ond' ei si Tolse inver lo destro lato, 

E alquanto di Inngi dalla aponda 

La gitt^ gjoM in quell' alto burrato. 
£ pur conrien che noriti risponda, 115 

Dicea &a me medesmo, al nuoro cenno 

Che il Maestro con 1' occhia st seconda. 
Ahi quauto cauti g^ uomini easer denno^ 

PresBO a color, che non veg^n pur I' opra, 

Ma per entro i peusier miran col senno ! 120 

Qi disse a me : Tosto veiik di sopra 

Ci6 ch' io atteudo ; e che il tno pensier sogna, 

Tosto convien ch' al tuo tIbo si scopra. 
Sempre a quel ver, ch' ha facda di meuzogna, 

De' r uom ctuuder le labbra quauf ei puote, 125 

Fer6 che senza colpa fa vergogna ; 

' Like one who \» gomg to I ' " Causea ahame" to himieif; 
throw with his right hand. | by relating what seems unliksl}'. 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



192 INFERNO. UHTO ivL 

keep silent I cannot ; and, Eeader, I sweei to thee, by 
tlie jioteB^ of this my Comedy — so may they not be 
void of lasting fevonr — that I saw, through that air 
gross and dark, come swimming upwards, a figure* 
marreUons to every sted&st heart;' like as he returns, 
who Eometimes goes down to loose the anchor, which 
grapples a rock or other thing that in the sea is hid, 
who spreads the arms and gathers up the feet.* 

Ma qui tacer nol poBso : e per le note 

Di qnesta Commedia, letter, ti g^nro, 

S' elle non aien di lunga grazia vote, 
Ch' io vidi per quell' aer grosso e scnro 130 

Venir notaudo una figora in snso, 

Meravigliosa ad ogni cor racnro, 
SI come toma colui cbe va giueo 

Talvolta a solver 1' tincora, ch' aggrappa 

scoglio, od altro, cbe nel mare b chinao, 135 

Che in su si stende, e da pid si rattiappa. 



arpbeui lyre 

Nlghl.- 

Par. Lo,l, ML U. 
* Forma triccrporit umbra. £n. 
. 289. "The beast that ucend- 
h out of the hottomlcSB pit," 



■" The beut shall ucend." &c, 
" and they that dwell on the etuth 
ahall wonder." See. iviL 8. 

• Lit; "'WTio above" {in the 
upper part of hia body) " apreads 
himBelf, and at the feet draw" him- 
self together," ai he is EwirDmiiig 
up from the aaohor. 



.yCoOgIc 



AEGUMENT. 



[he monWer Geryon is deBcribed ; and the Poets leare the rooky nur- 
gin or the Etreamlet, and ga donn, an the right hand, to the place 
where he has landed himself. Viigi! lemaiaB with him, and aends 
Dante, bj himself alone (not without algnillcance), to eee the last 
clias of ainnera that are puaished on the burning sand, — the Uiurera 
who have done Violenoe to Nature and Art. Canto li. 94, Sc^ 
They are sitting all crouched up, teaia gushing from theii e;ee ; 
and each of them has a Purse, stamped with armorial beaiings. 
hanging from his neck. Dante looks into the faces of aomej but 
finds it quite impoaaible to recognise any one of them. He briefly 
eiaminea theii condition, in the way of duty ; listens to a few 
words that make him understand it completely ; and then turns 
sway without speaking at all to them. He goee back to hta Guide j 
and Geryon conTeys them down to the Eighth Circle. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO XVII. 

" Behold the savage beast with the pointed 
tail, that passes mountains, and breaks through waJls 
and weapons ! Behold him that pollutes the vhok 
world."^ Thus began my Guide to speak to me ; and 
beckoned >>im to come ashoie, near the end of oiir 
rocky path.* And that uncleanly image of Fraud 
came onward, and landed his head and bust, but 
drew not his tail upon the bank. 

His face was the &ce of a just man, so mild an 
aspect had it outwardly;* and the rest was all a rep- 
tile's body. He had two paws, hairy to the ann- 

Ecco la fiera con la coda agnzza, 
Che passa i monti, e rompe mura ed armir 
Ecco colei che tutto il mondo appuzza : 

Si cominci6 lo mio Dnca a parlanni ; 
Ed accennolle che Tenisee a proda, ^ 

Vicino al fin de' passef^ati marmi : 

E qnella sozza imagine di iroda. 

Sen veune, ed arrivd la testa e il busto ; 
Ma in su la riva uon trasse la coda. 

La faccia sua era faccia d' nom ^usto, ^^ 

tsnto beaigna avea di fuor la peDe ; 
E d' un serpente tntto 1' altro fusto. 

Duo branche avea pilose infin 1' ascelle : 

1 " DiEeaeeB all the world with marbles" (stony mar^iu of ''<' 

Eteilch;"fi]lsicwi(hShaDiiofever7 atieuulet) " walked on" b; u& 
sort and their resulle. Canto v. ' Lit : " It bad llie ikin w'- 

' Lib: " Near the end of the vatdly so mild." 



^vGooi^lc 



cimoivii. INFKaUO. 195 

pits; the neck, and the breast, and both the flanks, 
were painted ^rith knots and circlets. Never did 
Tartars nor Turks with more colours make ground 
or broidery^ in cloUi ; nor by Arachne were such 
webs laid on her loom. 

As at times the cherries lie on shore, that are 
part in water and part on land ; and as, amongst 
the guzzling Germans, the beaver adjusts himself 
to make bis war f so lay that worst of savage beasts 
upon the brim* which closes the great sand with 
stone. In the void* swam all his tail, twisting up- 
wards the venomed fork, which, as in scorpions, 
armed the point. 

Lo dosso, e il petto, ed ambedue le coste 

Dipinte avea di nodi e di rotelle. 15 

Con piil color, sommeBse e soprapposte 

Non fer mai drappo Tartari n£ Turchi, 

Ne far tai tele per Aragtie imposts. 
Come tal volta stanno a riva i burchi, 

Che parte sono in acqua e parte in terra, 20 

£ come 1^ tra 11 Tedeschi lurchi 
Lo bevero s* assetta a far sua guerra; 

Cos! la fiera pessima si stava 

Sn r orlo, che di pietra U sabbion serra. 
Hel vano tutta sua coda goiizava, 25 

Torcendo in su la venenosa forca 

Che, a gulsa di scorpion, la puuta armava. 

' Simaesie, Ihe gromidwork of 1 ' Ring of rook between the 

the cloth; and sopprapotte, the sand and the deep centtal " void." 

raised work. Or broidery. * The empty apace over the 

' i.e. to catch his prej. I abysB. 



.vGooglc 



196 INFEBNO. cuTo iTii. 

My Gniide said : " Now must we bend our way 
a Utde, to that wicked brute which couches there." 
Then we descended on the right,' and maSe ten 
paces towards the edge,* that we might quite avoid 
the sand and flames. 

And when we came to him, I saw upon the 
sand, a little ferther onwards, people sitting" neat 
the empty space. Here my Master said to me : 
" That thou mayest take full experience of this 
round, go now and mark the mien of these. Let 
thy talk with them be brief Till thou retumest, 

Lo Duca disse : Or convien che si torca 
La nostra via an poco, iufino a quella 
Bestia malvagia, cbe colk si corca. 30 

Per6 scendemmo alia destra mammeUa, 
E dieci paasi femmo in sullo stremo, 
Per ben cessat la rena e la fianunella : 

E qoando no! a Id venuti semo, 
Foco piti oltre ytg^ in su la rena 35 

G«nte seder propinqua al luogo scemo. 

Quivi il Maestro ; Acciocch^ tntta piesa 
Eaperienza d' esto giroD porti. 
Mi disse, or va, e Tedi la lor meua. 

Li tuoi ragionameuti slen \k corti : 40 

33. Cellar, evitara, Parad. xm. 133. 

' "Ontherightbreasl." Down > Usurers, "sittiiig all crouched 

from the elevated margin at the up." Canto xit. 23. They aie 

EtieamUt. near the end of the saod ; close to 

' Edge of the abyaa. Wentlen the rim of etone, or Janet bound- 

paceB from the sand. ary of the circle. Vei. 24. 



.vGooglc 



cuiTQiTn. . TIirBBNO. 197 

I will Bpeak with this beatt, that he may lend us 
his strong shoulders. 

Thus also, on the utmost limit' of that seventh 
circle, all alone I went to where the woftd folk were 
seated. Thiough the eyes their grief was bursting 
forth; on this nde, on that, they with their hands 
kept warding off,^ sometimes the flames, aometimes 
the burning soil,. Not otherwise the dogs in sum- 
mer do, now with snout, now with paw, when they 
are bitten by fleas, or flies, or breeses. 

Directing my eyes into the visages of some, on 
whom the dolorous fire descends, I knew not one 
of tliem f but I observed tiiat from the neck of each 

Mentre che tomi, parler6 con qaesta, 

Che ne couceds i snoi omeri forti. 
CobI ancor, eu per la strema testa 

Di quel settimo cerchio, tutto boIo 

Andai ove sedea la gente mesta. 43 

Per ^ occhi faori scoppiava lor dudlo : 

Di qoit, di lit soccorrien con le maui, 

Qnando a' vapori, e quando al caldo stiolo. 
Nod Bltnmenti &n di state 1 cani, 

Or col ceffo or cot pi6, quando son moral 50 

da pulci o da mosche o da tafaoi. 
Foi clie nel Tiso a certl gli occhl porsi, 

Ne' qnali il doloroao iiioco casca, 

Non ne couobbi alcun ; ma io m' accorsi 



< Along the "extreme head," 
or stooy border, of tbat serentli 
circle, nent alsa to ue the third 
clau of liimera, hsTing Rlieody 
aeeo the other two. 



* Or, " made help, a 
Bgainit the flames," &•:. 

' They are all of them " too 
obscure for any recognition" 
(canto vii. 53) ; too .despicable 



,,Googlc 



198 IBTBKMO. CAKtomt. 

there Kimg a pouch, which had a certain colour and 
a certain impress, and thereon it aeems their eje sdll 
feeds. 

And as I came amongst Uiem looking, on a yel- 
low parse I saw azure, that had the semblance and 
gesture of a lion.^ Then, jtlj look continuing its 
course, I saw another of them, redder than blood, 
display a goose more white than butter.* And one 
who, with a sow azure and pregnant, had his argent 
sacklet stamped,' said to me: "What dost thou in 
this pit ? Get thee gone : and, because thou art still 

Che dal collo a ciaecon pendea una taaca, 55 

Ch' area certo colore e certo segno, 
£ quindi par che il loro occhio si paica. 

E com' io lignardando tra lor Tegno, 
Id una borsa gialla vidi azzurro, 
Che di lione avea &ccia e contegno. 60 

Poi procedendo di mio sgoardo il curro, 
Yidine un' aitra piU che Bangne rossa 
MoBtrare ud' oca bisuca pi& che burro. 

Ed un, che d' una scrofa azzurra e grossa 

Segnato avea lo suo sacchetto bianco, 65 

Mi disee : Che fai tu in qneata fossa 7 

Or te ne va : e perchg se' vivo aoco. 



for being named. Have notliiiig 
left for eternity but those puraes 
sad emblems of nobility, on 
which their eye seems lo feed. 
Anintam pklurtt patcit inata, .... 
largoque hvmectat Jluinjne vaUum. 
JEn. i. M4. Cmgtitii tmdiqtit 
laccU, &c. Hor. Serm. i. 70, 8ic 
' Arms of the Gianflgliazzi, 



FiorenCines of the Guelph pu^. 
Maleip. c. 163. 

' Arms of the - Ubbriachi, an 
iDcient family or dislinctjoo in 
Florence, and of the Ohihelline 
party. Maletp. c. 137, &&; Ftf- 
tam, vi. 33, &o. 

* The arms of the SoroYJgni 
(Scrqft) of Padua. 



.vGooglc 



cano ini. INFBENO, 199 

alirq, know that my neighbour Yitaliano^ shall sit 
here at my left side. With these Florentines am I, 
a Paduan. Many a time they din my ears, shout- 
ing : * Let the sovereign cavalier* come, who will 
bring the pouch with the three goats I' " Then he 
writhed his mouth, and thmst his tongue out,^ like 
an ox that licks his nose. And I, dreading lest 
longer stay might anger him who had adm<Tiiished 
me to stay short time, turned back from those fore- 
wearied souls. 

I found my Graide, who had already mounted 

Sappi che il mio vicin Vitaliano 

8eder& qui dnl mio sisistro fiasco. 
Con qoesti Fiorentiu son Fadovano ; 70 

Spesse fiate m' iutruonan gli orecchi, 

Oridando : Yegna il cavalier sovrauo, 
Che recheri la tasca coi tre becchi, 

Qniudi storse la bocca, e di fiior trasse 

La lingua, come bue che d uaso leccbi. 75 

Ed io, temendo nol piii star crucciaase 

Lui che di poco star m' avea ammonito, 

Tomai indietro dall' aoime lasse. 
Trovai lo Duca mio ch' era salito 



< Vitiliuio del Deute, s rich 
Paduan nobleman. DanU, being 
still aliTB, can report what he 
hears about him, &t. 

* Meeaer Oioranni Buiamonte, 



" the 1 



those times," a Florentine of th 
Bicci famil;, whose arms wei 
three "he-g0Bl8i" not "beats, 
as some have thought. lilt cu. 



tribal hitqaia, &,e., is the eipres- 
sion of Pietro, Dante's eon. 

' Mark of the heartiest, and the 
meanest contempt; iodioating the 
real rant of those noble usurers. 
One sees it yet, with its old ac- 
companiments, amongst the low- 
est classes in Italj; and it comes 
to them from the Romana. See 
Pers. Sat. i. 58-60. 



.yCoOgIc 



200 INFERNO. c.«TO iTO. 

on the haunch of the dreadfiol animal ; and he said 
to me : " Now be stout and bold I Now by such 
stairs miut we descend. Mount thou in &ont; for 
I wish to be in t^e middle, that the tail may not 
do hurt to thee." 

As one who has the shivering of the quartan eo 
near, that he has his nails already pale, and trem- 
bles all, still keeping the shade ;' such I became 
when these words were uttered.* But his Uireats' 
excited shame, which makes the servant bold in 
presence of a worthy master. 

Oik aulla groppa del fiero animale, 80 

E disae a me : Or sie forte e ardito. 
Omai si scende per al f&tte scale : 

MoDta dinanzi, ch' io voglio esser mezzo, 

SI che la coda non possa far male. 
Qual^ coM, ch' ha si presso il ribrezzo • 85 

Delia quartana, ch' ha gii 1' m^hie smorte, 

E trema tutto, pur guardando il rezzo ; 
Tal divemi' io alle parole porte : 

Ma vei^gna mi fer le sue minacce, 

Cbe innanzi a buon signor fa servo forte. 90 



I CoiitinuJng,uimenedKnddi». 
cauraged, in tlie shade which is 
cold and hurtful to him. With 
a frightful Italian ague coining 
upon him ; trembling all over, and 
without heart to move till some 
one force him. 

' Or, more lit : " At the words 
directed^' to me. 

' These " threats" of Virgil, 



looks of h^hest calmness and 
Eecurity (mere visible presence 
of Wisdom), which mate Danle 
ashamed of his trembling, and 
give him stiength to mount, re- 
call the expreaaian (Mn. iv. S8), 
Utnaque Sftinmta ingetilet, so 
much tortured by commentator*. 
The reading followed by Gary is 
vithout any good authotj^. 



.vGooglc 



wmo iviL IHFERNO. 201 

I placed myself on those huge Ghoulders, and 
wished to say, only the voice came not' as I thought : 
" See that thou embrace me." 

But he, who at other times assisted me in other 
difficulties,* soon as I mounted, clasped me with his 
arms, and held me up. Then he said : " Geryon, 
now move thee. Be thy circles wide, and gradual 
thy descent : think of the unusual burden that thou 
hast." 

As the bark' goes &om its station backwards, 
backwards, so the monster took himself from thence ; 



lo m' assettai in su quelle spallacce ; 
8) voUi dir, ma la voce non venae 
Com' io credetti : Fa che tu m' abbracce. 

Ma esso che altra yolta mi Bovrenne 
Ad altro forte, tosto ch' io montai. 
Con le braccia m' avrlnse e mi soBtenne : 

E diaae ! Qerion, moriti omai : 

Le niote larghe, e lo scender ua poco : 
FensB la nuova soma che tu hai. 

Come la naTicella esce di loco 

In dietro in dietro, al quindi si tolse ; 



' Still unable to speak bota 
feat. Inceptui clamor fnuiratur 
hiantei. Md. vi. 19S. 

• Lit. : " Who otLet time ai- 
siated me at othei difficult en- 
cwnter," the word rinmBfrD.fiuJD, 
or aome auch, being understood 
after forte. Uany edition! have 
Ad alio forlt, or Ail idlo,farit, in 
liae 95 i and the eomntentaton 



say Jd alio means " above, or in 
oue of tbe higher circles ;" and 
that /atte is used adverbially, and 
refeiB lo nt' afivinie. Foacolo 
gives tbe explanation wrong; hut 
succeeds in shewing that the Ad 
altro fnrte of ToreLi, &c. makea 
B somewhat better reading. 

■ Recalls the wherries, or barks 
{burcM), of verse 19. 



.vGooglc 



and vhen he felt himself quite loose,' there where 
his hreaet had been he turned his taO, and stretching 
moved it, like an eel, and with his paws gathered 
the air to him. 

Greater fear there was not, I beheve, when Phae- 
ton let fall the reins,* whereby the sky, as yet ap- 
pears,^ was burnt; nor when poor Icarus felt his 
loins unfeather by the heatii^ of the wax,* his father 
crying to him, " Perilous thy way !"* than was my 
fear, when I saw myself in the air on all sides, and 
saw extinguished every sight, save of the beast^ 

E poi ch' al tutto si sent] a giaoco, 
lA OT* era il petto, la coda riToke ; 

E qnella tesa, come angailla, moese ; 

E con le branche 1' aere a s^ raccolse. 105 

Ma^oT paura non credo che foase, 

Qnando Fetonte abbaudon6 li freni. 

Per che il del, come appare ancor, si cosBe ; 
N^ qnando Icaro misero le reni 

Sent) apemiar per la scaldata cent, 1 1 

Gridando il padre a lui : Mala via tieni ; 
Che fu la mia, qnando vidi ch' io era 

Nell' aer d' og:ni parte, e vidi speuta 

Ogni veduta, fuor che della fiera. 



' Or : " Quite et play j" at fall 
play in the void. 

' Geiidd ybrmirime iora reniiji(. 
Metam. ii. 200. 

' In the Milky Way, according 
to the Pythagoreani. Compare 
Comnto, Tr. ii. cap. 15; and Pa- 



' Jtapidi vicinia solw MaOit 
oderaiai, peimaruvi vmaita, eerat. 
Tabutrant eeta : nudot quatU OU 
lacerloi, &c Metam. TiiL 22S. 
* Lit : " III way Ihou keepeit" 
' " Saw ereiy aight quenched, 
escept thia of the beast;" saw 
nothing but the beast 



.vGooglc 



cuno nil. IMFEBNO. SOS 

He goes on swinmung slowly, slowly; wheels and 
desc^ads; but I perceive it not, otherwise than by 
a wind upon my face and horn below.' Already, 
on the right hand, I heard the whirlpool^ make a 
hideous roarii^ under us; whereat I stretched my 
head forth, looking downwarda,^ Then was I more 
terror-struck at the descent; for I saw fires and 
heard lamentings, so that I shrunk all trembling. 
And then I saw — what I had not seen before — the 
sinking and the wheeling,^ through the great evils 
which drew near on diverse sides. 

Ella sen va notando lenta leota ; 115 

Buota, e diacende ; ma non me n' accorgo, 

Se non ch' al tIho e disotto mi venta. 
lo sentia gik dalla man destra il gorgo 

Far sotto noi un orribile stroscio ; 

Per che con gU occhi in giil la testa Bporgo. 120 
Allor ta' io piit timido alio scobclo : 

Ferd ch' io vidi fiiochi, e seutii pianti ; 

Ond' io tremando tntto mi raccoBcio. 
E vidi poi, che nol vedea davanti, 

Lo Bcendere e il girar, per li gran mali 125 

Che a' appreasavan da divern cand. 



IIS. Gorgo, liit, gmget, 
^ 121. JcMcio, deacetit, precipice. 

' " It bloire on liU face," from to the right, and keeps circling 

the Hireling ; and " beneath," or domi mth the rocky precipice on 

on hii feet, from the einkisg. that hand. 

* Into which the red stream ia ' Lit: " With eyes doimwards, 

Wling. " On the right hand," my head I itretob." 

indicating that Gerjon had turned * The descending and circling, 



.vGooglc 



204 INFERNO. ciHTO iviT 

As the falcon, that has been long upon his 'wings 
— that, without seeing bird or lute, makes t^ fal- 
coner cry, "Alas! thou Btoope8t"^descends weary;* 
then swiftly moves himself wifli many a circle, and 
far Irom his master sets himself disdain&l and sullen ; 
BO at the bottom Geryon set us, close to the foot of 
the ragged rock ; and, from our weight relieved, he 
bounded off like an arrow from the string.* 

Come il falcon ch' h stato asaai su 1' ali, 

Che, Benza veder logoro o uccello. 

Fa dire al falconiere ; Oim^ tu cali I 
Disceade lasso, onde si muove snello 130 

Per cento niote, e da lungi si pone 

Dal suo maeatro, disdegnoso e fello ; 
Cost ne pose al fondo Gerioue 

A piede a pih della alagliata rocca : 

E, discarcate le nostre persone, 135 

Si dilegu6, come da- corda cocca. 



J piede a i>ii, " at foot at foot" Iteration 
tda a nmda (canto xly. 12), iricin vjeino, &c 



which onl; the wind on his 
and feel had made bim feel 
fore, he now seen by the sue 
sion of hoiTOia (graa mali) that 
present themselyes. The reading 
of thia passag:e given in the (1S42) 
ei^tion of FOBColo seems quite 
unintelligible. £ udi' poi, che 
noa F udia davanle ia the CniEcaii 
reading of ver. ]24. It is 



simple than the one we bare 
adopted ; and rests on inferior 
authority. 

I . . . . " autu . . . teai-j now 
To Btoop with weaHcd wjnga^" ftc. 
far. LmI, m. 70. 

' " Aa notch ^ aimtB from 
cord." Geryon has been disap- 
pointed of the pre; he expected ; 
and ie angry, like the falcon. 



.yCoOgIc 



AEGUMENT. 



During tlie " circling and ginkiog," on the bacli of Gerjon, Dante 
has observed the outlines of the lowest Hell, and here briefly de- 
scribea tfaem. He is now far beneath the circles of Violence, &c ; 
and baa to see the punishment of far giaver sina. Eiery thing 
around him is ra»de of dark solid rock. The high wall of the 
great circular shaft, in which he has descended with Geryon, forma 
the outer barrier of the Eighth Circle, where he and bia Guide 
have just been landed. The circle itself occupies the whole of b 
shelving space, which Hes beLneen the foot of the high wall and 
the brim of another (lower) shaft or "well" that is exact]}' in the 
centre { and it is divided (in successive rings) into ten deep fossea 
or chasms, resembling the trenches which begird s fortress, and 
each contuning a different claae of ainncra. Acrgss these chasma, 
and the banks which separate them ironi one another, run clills 
from the outer border of the circle down Co the central well, form- 
ing lines of road and bridges that also resemble those by which 
• the fortress is entered from diilbrent sides. The well contains the 
Traitors, and Satan, " Emperor of the dolorous kingdom," in the 
middle of them. Virgil turns to the left, and conducts Dante 
along the outer edge of the first chasm, till they come to one of 
the cliffs. This they ascend i and, turning to the right, pass two 
of the bridges, and examine the chasms beneath them. In the 
First are Panders (Ai^^ni) and lying Seducers, hurrying along 
in two separate crowds — meeting one another— all naked and 
scoui^«d by Homed Demons. In the Second, Flatterers im- 
meraed in £ltL 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XVIII. 

There is a place in Hell called Malelwlge,^ all 
of stone, and of aa iron colour, like the barrier* which , 
winds round it. Right in the middle yawns a well 
exceeding wide and deep, whose structure its due 
place shall tell,^ The border* therefore that lemains, 
between the well and the foot of the high rocky bank, 
is round ; and it has its bottom divided into ten val- 

LnoGo h in mfemo, detto Malebo^, 

Tutto di pietra e di color ferrigno, 

Come la cerchia che d' iotomo il volge. 
Nel diitto mezzo del campo maligno 

Vaneg^ nn pozzo assel lai^o e profondo, 5 

Di cui 8no luogo contert* 1' ordigno. 
Quel ciugbio, che rlmane, adua^ue ^ toudo, 

Tra il pozzo e il pi^ dell' alta ripa duia, 

B ha distinfai in died valli il fondo. 



' Name giyen to tbis Eighth 
Circle, ou &ccmmt of the ten 
" Evil" Bolgie, OF Bolge, which it 
coDtuna. Bolgia (Lat iulga), in 
its original fligiiificatioQ, '* a bag, 
budget, Tslise, oi poctmanteau," 
came aftemarde to mean " any 
dark hole, nest, repoMtoty, chasm, 
or gnlf." Bouge, its derivative in 
French, bas something of the lat- 
ter sense ; while its diminutive 
bmgetle (budget) still retains 
o^inal meaniD^ Pietro di Dante 



sajB : Per Mgiat, id tit, eettibula 
(" porches" or " courts"), &o. 
The plsce of Satan is getting 
near; and aU these meanings sug- 
gest ideas. 

' The " high hank of rock" 
(ver. S) which dividee it &om the 
Seienth Circle. 

' Will be described in iU place. 



. of a. 



" belt," 



between the brim of the lows 
(central) well and the fool of th^ 
high bank. 



.vGooglc 



cuiTO iTiir. tNFEKNO. 207 

leys. As is the form that ground presenta,' where to 
defend the walls successive ditches begird a castle ; 
such image these made here. And as, &om the 
tlireBholds of the fortress, there are bridges to the 
outward bank ; so &om the basis of the rock pro- 
ceeded cli& that crossed the embankments and the 
ditches, down to the well which truncates and col- 
lects them.' 

In this place, shaken from the back of Geryon,* 
we found ourselves ; and the Poet kept to the left, 
and I moved behind. On the r^ht hand I saw new 

Quale, dove per guardia deUe moni 10 

Rb e piii foesi dngon li castelli, 

La parte dor* ei son rende figura ; 
Tale immagine qoivi facean quelli : 

E come a tai forteize da' lor sogU 

Alia ripa dl faor son ponlicelli i 13 

Cos! da imo della roccia scogli 

Movien, che riddean gli argini e 1 fosai, 

Infino al pozzo che i tronca e raco^U. 
In questo Inogo, dolla achiena scossi 

K Gerion, troTammod : e il Poeta 'iO 

Tenne a sinistra, ed io dietro mi mossi. 
Alia man destra vidi nnova pteta ; 

' Quale flgara la pmte rende, give them communication wilh 

&c. The whole roimd of Hsie- Satan and hia emissaries, proceed 

bolge piesenta [he ume aapect from " the basil of &e rack," or 

at "the part" on which numerous outer maigin of Maleliolge ; and 

fnssea are made for defence ofa . convecge as the; descend towards 

castle or fortress. I the central well which ti 

* These flint; clifis that rivet sod oollecta them in ita i 

the dark chasma together, and ' Set down by him in 



.vGooglc 



SOS INFERMO. cum inn 

misery, new torments, and new tormentors, where- 
with the first chasm was filled. In its bottom tlie 
sinnfera were naked : from the middle, on our side,' 
they came facing us ; and, on the other side, aloLg 
with us, but with larger steps.* Thus the Kornans, 
because of the great throng, in the year of Jubilee, 
upon the bridge have taken means to pass the peo- 
ple over ; so that, on the one side, all have their faces 
toward the Castle, and go to St. Peter's ; at the other 
ledge, they go towards the Mount.' 

On this side, on that, along the hideous stone, 

NuotI tormenlj e nuovi frnstatori, 

Di che la prima bol|^ era repleta. 
Nel foudo erano Ignndi i peccatoii : 25 

Dal mezzo in qua ci venian verso il volto ; 

Di 1& con noi, ma con paasi maggiori : 
Come i Roman, per l' eserdto molto, 

h' anno del Giubbileo, su per lo ponte 

Hamio a passar la gente mode tolto ; 30 

Che dall' nn lato tatti bauno la fronte 

Verso il costello, e Taono a santo Pietro, 

Dall' allra sponda vanno verso il monte. 
Di qua, di Ut, sn per lo aasso tetro 



' In the halfof the chasm nest 
lo UE. Taken lengthwise. 

' " Larger Btepi Ihca atri." 
Chased by Demons, rer. 3S. 

> In the year 1300 (date of the 
Vision of Dante), when Boni&ce 
VIII. proclaimed the first Ju- 
bilee, the concourse of pil^ms 
was so gieat that it became ne- 
eessar; to divide the bridge of 



St Angelo lengthwbc, and mile 
all tboie who were going towirdi 
the Castle (of St. Angelo) ami 
SL Peter's keep on one side; ai 
those who were Fetuming Ercni it, 
on the other side. The "mouQl" 
ia Monte Giordano, or mere pn>- 
bably that part of the Juiieuluni 
on which (he church of St Pi«n 
in Montorio ilaods. 



^vGooi^lc 



nurto XTin. INFZRIfO. 209 

I saw homed ' Demons' with large scourges, who 
smote th^m fiercely from behind. Ah ! how they 
made them lift their legs at the first strokes ! And 
truly none waited for the second or the third. 

As I went on, my eyes were met by one, and 
instantly I said : " Him I have seen beibre."* I 
therefore stayed my feet to rec<^be him ; and the 
kind Guide stood still with me, and allowed me to 
go back a little. And that scourged spirit thought 
to hide himself, lowering his face j but little it availed 
him, for I said : " Thou, that dost cast thy eye upon 
the ground ! If the features which thou wearest be 

Vidi Dimon comuti con gran ferze, 35 

Che U. battean cmdelmeute di retro. 
AM come facean lor levar le berze 

Alle prime percosse I E gik nesBuno 

Le seconde aspettaTa ah le terze. 
Mentr' io andava, gli occhi miei in uno 40 

Furo Bcoutrati ; ed lo si tosto disai : 

Gift di yeder costui hod son digiuno. 
Fercio a figurarlo i picdi affissi ; 

E it dolce Dnca meco si ristette, 

E assentj ch' alquaoto indietro gissi. 4i> 

B quel fraetato celar si credette 

Bassando il viao ; ma poco gli Talse, 

Ch' io dissi : Tu che 1" occhio a terra gette, 
Se le fazion cbe parti non son false, 

< Horned here only. And kin- giuno from Lat jyniaa, " empty, 

dred sumen meetiDg, u in canto void of:" ts, j^imas kujui ora- 

TiL (•OHM auret. Cic. Oral. 30. Uted 

' Lit, ; " Alrendy I am not again in the same SEnse, canto 

without liaTing seen him." Di- xxviil S7- 



.vGooglc 



210 INFERNO. tASTO mil. 

not felse, thou art Venedico Caccianimico.' But 
what brings thee to such a bitmg pickle ?"* 

And he to me : " Unwillingly I tell it ; but thy 
clear speech,* that makes me recollect the former 
world, compels me. It was I who led the fair Ghi- 
sola to do the Marquis' will, however the unseemly 
tale may sound.* And I am not the only Bolognese 
that weeps here : nay, this place is so filled with us, 
that as many tongues are not now taught to aay Sipa 



Venedico sei tn Camanimico. 

Ma che d mena a s) pungenti salse 7 

Ed egli a me : Mai volentier lo dico ; 
Ma sfonami la tua diiara favella, 
Che mi fa soTvenir del mondo antico. 

lo fill colui, che la Ghiaola bella 

Condussi a far la voglia del Marchese, 
Come che snoni la sconda novella. 

E non pnr io qui piango Bolognese ; 
Anzi n' ^ qnesto luogo tanto pieno, 
Che tan t« liogue non son ora apprese 



' A Boli^ese (if those fea- 
tures of his be resl) of distin- 
guished family, nho persuaded 
his beautiful sister Ghisola, under 
fiJse pretences, to do the will of 
Azzo III., Marquis of Ferrara, 
that "step-son" of canto liL 112. 
See Ottimo Com. ; and that of Beny. 
da Imola, who was at Bologna in 
1875, and knew the family. 

* Salae (" aaucea," seaBoning of 
the lash) was also the name of " a 



Tery steep and hollow place" near 
Bologna, into which the bodies of 
those who were deemed unworthy 
of christian burial used to be 
thrown. Benv. da Imola Com. 

• " Clear" living soiee, that 
reminds him of old things on 
earth. The shadows have hoarse, 



Seeca 



other 



isages. 



.vGooglc 



cuiTO irni. lyPEBMO. SI I 

between Savena and the Reno.' And if thou desirest 
assurance and testimony thereof, recall to thy memory 
our avioicious heart."* 

And as he thus spake, a Demon smote him with 
Ms lash, and said : " Away I Ruffian, there are no 
women here for coin."' 

I rejoined my Elscort. Then, with a few steps, 
we came to where a diflf proceeded from the bank. 
This we very easily ascended ; and, turning to the 
right upon its jagged ridge,^ we quitted those eternal 
circles.^ 

A dicer sipa tra Savena e il Reno ; 

B se di d6 vuoi fede o testimonio, 

Kecati a meate il noatro avaro seno. 
CoBi parlando il percosae uu Demonio 

Delia sua scuriada, e disse : Via, 65 

Ruffian, qui non bob femmiae da como. 
lo mi raggiunai con la Scorta mia : 

Poscia con pochi pasai divenlmmo. 

Dove uno acoglio deUa ripa uscia. 
Assai legg^eramCate quel Ealimmo, 70 

E Tolti a destra au per la sua sche^ia. 

Da quelle cerchie eteme ci partimmo. 



'Bologna lies between the ' Lit. : " Iti iplinler." Or "its 

men Savens and Reno. Sipa splintered pari," taking Kheggia 
(or si po) is the cheerful " yes," for irheggiata, 
or " tmly," of the Bolognese to ' Circles of the violent Sic., or 

the present time. those guilt; of direct sine. The 

' Dante had studied in Bologna. Poeta take a difTereut way, in thia 
' Or : "to coin )" to make circle of the Fraudulent, from 
nhaC ibey have taken in the circlea 
ahove. They " held to the left" 



.vGooglc 



When we reached the part where it yawns be- 
neath^ to leave a passage for the scoui^ed, my Guide 
said : " Stay, and let the look strike on thee* of these 
other ill-bom spirits, whose faces thou hast not yet 
seen, for they have gone along with us." 

From the ancient bridge we viewed the train, 
who were coining towards us, on the other side, 
diased likewise by the scoiirge. The kind Master^ 
without my asking, said to me : " Ixwk at that great 
soul who comes, and seems to shed no tear for pain. 
"What a regal aspect he yet retains ! ' That is Jason, 

Quando uoi fummo lEk, dor* ei vaneggia 

Di sotto, per dar pasao agli sferzati, 

Lo Dnca diase : Attienti, e fa che feggia 75 

Lo viso in te di questi altri mal nati, 

A' queli ancor oon vedesti la faccia, 

Perocchfe son con noi inweme andati. 
Dal vecchio ponte guardavam la traccia, 

Che Tenia verso noi dall' altra banda, 80 

E che la ferza similmente scaccia. 
II buon Maestro, senza mia dimanda. 

Mi disse : Guarda quel grande che viene, 

E per dolor non par lagrima spanda. 
Quanto aapetto reale ancor ritiene I 85 

75. Feggia, bom fiedere. Canto x. ISfi. 

(•er. 21) afteF Gecjon quitted shajl rJso find that iJie way (like 

them i and now they turn " to that of Fraud or sham goodneae) 

the right" in going toirards th« leads more directly to Satan, 

oentre of Hell, instead o/tuniing ' Where the cliffforma a bridge 

to the left aa heretofore. Com- OTer the first chasm, 

pare cantos ix. 132; s. 133; liii. » Take a direct, and painiU, 

1J5, 130; xir. 126, &c. We view of them too. See ver. 27. 



.vGooglc 



cmo mil, INFERNO. 213 

who, by courage and by counsel, bereft the Colchians 
of the ram. He passed,' by tbe isle of Lemnos, after 
the bold merciless women had given all their males 
to death. There, with tokens^ and fair words, did 
he deceive the young Hypsipyle, who had before 
deceived all the rest.' He left her there, pregnant 
and forlorn. Such guilt condemns him to such tor- 
ment ; and also for Medea^ vengeance is taken. 
With him go all who pract^ the like deceit.^ And 
let this suffice to know respecting the first valley, 
and those whom it devours,"' 



Qaelli h Jason, che per cnore e per lenno 

li Colchl del monton privati fene. 
Ello paaab per 1' isola dl Lenno, 

Foi che le ardite femmiue spietate 

Tntti li maschi loio a morte dlenno. 
Ivi, con segni e con parole ornate, 

Isifile ingann^ la giovinetta, 

Che prima 1' altre avea tutte ingannate. 
LaicioUa qoifi gra?ida e soletta : 

Tal colpa a tal martiro Ini condanna ; 

E anche dl Medea si fa veadetta. 
Con lui sen tb cbi da tal parte inganna : 

E qnesto basti della prima valle 

Sapere, e di color che in s6 assanna. 



' On hii ws; lo Colchis. 

* Tokeiu of marriage. 

' B/ gating the life of her &- 
Iher Thoa*. See her $tory in 
Stat Theb. v. *9, &o, 

* For baimg foiaaien Medes. 



' " In such relation deceive ;" 
cheat with similai piomises. 

" " Seizea with its tuaka;" se- 
cures for the eternal scourging. 
Compare the asianaa in canto luix. 
29 i andPurf. xiv. 19. 



.vGooglc 



214 INFSBIfO. (UNTO mn. 

We had already come to where the narrow path- 
way' crosses the Becond bank, and makes of it a 
buttress for another arch. Here we heard people 
moaning in the other chasm, and puffing with' mouth 
and nostrils, and knocking on themselves with their 
palms. The banks were crusted over with a mould 
from the vapour below, which concretes upon them, 
which did battle witfi the eyes and with the nose. 

The bottom is so deep, that we could see it no- 
where without mounting to the ridge of the arch, 
where the cliff stands highest.' We got upon it j and 
then, in the ditch beneath, I saw a people dipped 



Gi& eravam 1^ 've lo stretto calle 

Con r airline secondo s' incrocicchia, 
E f a di quello ad un altr' arco spalle. 

Quindi sentimmo gente che s' annicchia 
Nell' altra bolgia, e che col mnso sbuffa, 
E s^ medesma con le palme picchia. 

Le ripe eran grommate d' una muffs. 
Per r alito di giil che vi si appasta, 
Che con gli occhi e col naao facea zuffa. 

Lo fondo ^ cupo s), che non ci basta 
Luogo a veder senza montare al dosso 
Dell' arco, ove lo scoglio piii sovrBBta. 

Quivi venimmo, e quindi giil nel fosao 
Vidi gente attnfiata in uno stereo, 



' The flinlj"cliF'wHcb goes 
itraight down to the cenlial well, 



^ " Made Btrife;" asBailed with 
pungent alench both the eyes sad 



.vGooglc 



ouiTO XVIII. IKFEBNO. 215 

in excrement, that seemed as it had flowed &om 
human privies. 

And whilst I was searching with my eyes, down 
amongst it, I beheld one witli a head so smeared 
in filtia, that it did not appear whether he was lay- 
man or clerk,' He bawled to me : " Why art thou 
so eager in gazing at me, more than the others in 
their nastiness V 

And I to him : " Because, if I rightly recollect, 
I have seen thee before with thy hair dry : and thou 
art Alesaio Interminei* of Lucca. Therefore do I 
eye thee more than all the rest," 

And he then, beating his pate '^ " Down to this, 

Che dagli uman prirati pares moaso ; 
E mentre ch' io lEl gii con 1' occhio cerco, 115 

Vidi an col capo a! di merda lordo, 

Che non parea b' era laico o chereo. 
Qad mi sgndd ; Percb^ sei tu si ingordo 

Di r^uardar pitl me che gU altri bruttiT 

Ed io a Ini : Perchfe, Be beu licordo, 120 

Gift t' ho Yeduto coi capelli asciufti, 

E sei Alessio Interminei da Lucca ! 

Pero f adocchio pi^ che gli altri tutti. 
Ed egli allor, batteudosi la zucca : 



* There was do seeing whether 
he had the tonsure of a priest or 

' The InCerminelU (in 1301) 
were at the head ol the Ghibel- 
lines and Whites in Lucca ( Vil- 
Cani, Tiii 46) ; and the gieil 
Ghibelline chie^ Castruccio Cai- 



tracani, va» of tbeii fiunily, FOL 
ix. 6S, &c. Alessio " beameared 
every one with flattery, even the 
meanest of the populace." Oaatt 
uTiguebat, mines lingebat, etiamvi' 
hairaoi, BeuT. da Imola Com. 

' Zacea, "gourd or pumpkin," 
in it9 ori^al meanii^ : still a 



.vGooglc 



aiG INFEBNO. CANTO ivui, 

the flatteries wherewith my tongue was never weary- 
have sunk me !" 

Thereupon my Guide said to me : " Stretch thy 
face a little forwards, that thy eyes may fiUly reach- 
the visage of that unclean, dishevelled strumpet,' 
who yonder with her filthy nails scratches herself, 
now cowering low, now standing on her feet. It is 
Thais, the harlot, who answered her paramour, when 
he said: *Dost thou thank me much?' 'Nay, won- 
drously.'^ And herewith let our view rest sated."' 



Que^il m' hanno Bommerso le lusinghe, 
Ond' io non ebbi mai la lingua stucca. 

Appreeao ci6 lo Duca : Fa che pingbe. 
Mi disse, un poco il viso pitl arante, 
S) che la facda ben con g^ occhi attinghe 

Di quella sozza acapigliata fante, 

Che li Bi graffia con 1' onghie merdose, 
Ed or b' accoBcia, ed ora h in piede stante. 

Tdda fe, la pnttana che rispose 
Al drudo ano, quando diase : Ho io grazie 
Grandi appo te ? Anzi meravigliose. 

E quinci aien ie nostre viste sazie. 



125 



&Tourite nuiie, amangsl the Ica- 
liana, for heads of a certain de- 

' Oninii malier, qua tit fa-aX- 
taria, qaiai ilircai in via, &c. 
Eccles. (Vulgate) ix. 10. 

' Id the Eaauchut of Terence 



(act ill icene 1), it is Gnatlio, 
and Dot Thais heraelf, who usea 
the expresBioD alluded to. Th>. 
Magnaa errs agere gratiat Thaii 
niiki ? On. Ingattts. 

' "And DOW, BDOugh of Ihia 



.yCOOgIC 



ARGUMENT. 



Id the Third ohaAm are the SimomBts. The heart of Dinte uema 
■Imoat too full for utterance when he comes in aight of them, lo 
him they are, ai it vere, a more hateful apeciei of paadera and 
aeducen than thoae he baa juat left ; and the; lie beneath the vile 
flatteren "that call evil good, and good evil; that put darknesa 
for light, and light for dartneaa." It ia they who have prostituted . 
the things of God for gold and silver, and made "His house ■ 
den of Ihievea." They are all fixed one by one in narrov round 
holes, along the aides and bottom of the rock, with (he head 
downwarda, ao that nothing more than the feet and part of the 
1^ stands oat The soles of them are tormented with flamea, 
nbich keep fliclering from the heela to the toes, and bum with 
a brightneaa and intensity proportioned to the dif&rent degrees 
of guile. Dante ia carried donu by bia Guide to the bottom of 
the ehaim ; and there finda Pope Nicholas the Tbiid, vho, with 
■ weeping voice, declares hia own evil waya, and those of his auc- 
ceaaors Boui&ce the Eighth and Clement the Fifth. The Poet 
answers with a sorrow and indignation proportionate to hia re- 
verence for the MysUs Keys, speaking aa if under the preasure 
of it. Virgil then lilb him up again, and lightly carries him to 
the rough aummit of the arch which forms a passage over the 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO XIX. 

O Simon Magus !^ O wretched followers of his 
and robbers ye,' who for gold and silver prostitute 
the things of God, that should he wedded unto 
righteonsneas ! Now must the trumpet' soimd for 
you ; for ye are in the third chasm. 

Already we had moimted to the following graye, 
on that part of the cliff which hangs right* oTer the 



Simon mago, o miseri seguaci, 
Che le cose di Dio, clie di bontate 
Deono esaere spose, e voi rapaci 

Per oro e per argento adolterate : 
Or convien cbe per vol suoni la tromba, 
Ferocch^ nella terza bolgia state. 

Gii, eravamo alia seguente tomba 
Montati, dello scoglio in qneUa parte 
Che appnnto sorra mezzo U foaso piomba. 



I " And nhen Simon uw .... 
he ofleted Uion money, sajring. 
Give me alio this power .... 
But Peter said imto him, Thy 
money periah with thee, because 
thou hast thought the ^ft of God 
may be purchased for money." 



* " And je tapaeioua" l 
lowers. The e before tnii (v. 
cannot well be lelt out. It occ 
in too many of the best 
editions ; and, though it inier- 






Tupts the striot gramnutioBl seme, 
it increases the force and fire of 
the passage. Fietro di Dante, bji 
way of comment, quotes /oAn x. li 
" He that entereth not by the 
door into the aheepfoM, but climb- 
eth up some other way, the same 
is a thief and a robber." 

* " Cry aioud, apare not : lifl 
op thy Toice like a trumpet," &c 
liaiah iTiiL 1. 

* Lit ; " Plumbs exactly," or 
hangs plumb, &c 



.vGooglc 



ciKTO III. INPEENO. 219 

middle of tiie foss. O Wisdom Supreme, what art 
thou shewest in heaven, on earth and in the evil 
world, and how justly thy Goodness dispenses !^ 

I saw the hvid stone, on the sides and on the 
bottom, full of holes, all of one breadth ; and each 
was round. Not less wide they seemed to me, nor 
larger, than those that are in my beauteous San 
Giovanni made for stands' to the baptizers ; one 



Somma Sapienza, qnanta k I' arte 
Che moetri In delo, in terra e nel mal mondo, 
E quanto ^usto tua Virtii comparte I 

lo Tidi, per le cost« e per Id fondo, 
Pieua la pletra lirida di fori 
D' nn lai^ tutti, e dascono era tondo. 

Non mi parean meno ampi nh mag^ori, 
Che qoei cbe son nel mio bel San OioTanni 
Fatti per Inogo de' battezzatori ; 



10 



' Throughout the Unherae, 
Duite finds that evei; one is re- 
wirded and punuhed exscd; ac- 
cording to hii deeerts, with an 
infinite Goodness, and infinite 
Justice inaeparahle &am it. He 

Mid obserres that their hesda sre 
turned downwarda and fixed in 
the ground, aa befita their avarice 
and low desirea. Campaie Purg, 
liz. lIS-121. 

■ Bound the old font in the 
Bapiiler; of St. John — where 
great numbers of the Florentines 
oied to asaemlile on stated da^a for 
baptiam — Landino lafa, "little 



wells" (ot narrov circular bales, 
called fK/attti from their shape) 
" were made for the priests to 
stand in, when baptizing ; that 
they might be nearer to the water" 
of the font, and free hoai the 
preaaule of the crowd. Dante 
broke one of these to saie the 
life of B boy who had gat into 
it in aport, apparently with head 
dowDwardi, and could not be ei- 
tricated, but wsa " drowning" or 
" Bufibcating' ' is it ; and he wants 
to Bet all men right in regard to 
his real moUve for breaking it 
See Cam. of Benv. da Imola, VeU 
lutello, Ottimo, &c. Judging bj 



.vGooglc 



220 INFEEHO. ciBio m. 

of wiiicli, not many yeajs ago, I broke to eave one 
that Tras drowning in it: and be this a seal to un- 
deceive all men. From the mouth of each emeii^ed 
a sinner's feet, and le^ to the, calf; and ^e rest 
remained within. The soles of all were burning 
both ; wherefore the joints quivered so strongly, 
tliat they would have enapt in pieces withes and 
grass-iopes. As the flaming of things oiled moves 
only on their outer sur&ce ; so was it there, &om 
tiie heels to the toes. 
. " Master ! who is that who writhes himself, 
quivering more than all his fellows," I said, "and 
sucked by ruddier flame I"'- 

L' an degli qnali, ancor non ^ molt* atmi, 

Rupp' io per un che dentro vi umegara : 20 

E qnesto sia su^el ch' ogni noma sganni. 

Faor della bocca a ciaacun soperchUva 
D' iin peccator !i piedi, e delle gambe 
Infino al p«sHo ; e 1' altro dentro stava. 

Le piante erano accese a tutti intrambe ; 25 

Perch^ si forte guizzavau le gimite, 
Che spetzate av^rian ritorte e strambe. 

Qoal suote il fiammegg^ delle cose ante 
MDoversi pur su per 1' estrema bnccia, 
Tal era 11 da' calcagni alle ponte. ' 30 

' Chi h colui, Maestro, che si cruccia, 

Guizzando piii che gli altri snoi cooaorti. 
Bias' io, e cui piii rossa fiamma sacda? 

the old prints (edition of ISOT), I ' "'Whom i raddier (atconger) 
these paaulti must have been flame luoki," or driei up, flicker- 
nude Utlie top* of ihort pilkn. I log on tliesolea of turn. 



.vGooglc 



cuno in. IITFEBKO. S21 

And he to me : " If tiiou wilt have me carry 
thee doTn there, by that lower bank,' thou ehalt 
learn from him about himself and about his wrongs." 

And I : " Whatever pleases thee, to me is grate- 
fiil. Thou art my lord ; and knowest that I depart 
not from thy will : also thou knowest what is not 
spoken." 

Then we came upon die fourth bulwark.* "We 
tamed and descended, on the left hand, down there 
into the perforated and narrow bottom. And the 
kind Master did not yet depose me firom his side, 
till he brought me to the clef): of him who bo la- 
mented with his legs. ," Whoe'er thoa be that hast 

Gd ^li a me : Seta Tnoi eh' io ti porti 

Laggiil per quella ripa che piil glace, 35 

Ba Ini st^inu di s6 e de' suoi torti. 
Ed io : Tanto m' h bel, quanto a te piace : 

Tu se' Signore, e sai ch' io non mi parto 

Dal tuo volere, e sai quel che si tace. 
Allor T«iummo in su 1' argine quarto ; .40 

Tolgemmo, e diaoendemmo a mano stanca 

Lag^it nel fondo foracchiato ed arto. 
E il buon Maestro ancor dalla sua anca 

Non mi dipose, sin mi giunse al rotto 

Pi quel che a) piangeva con la zacca. ' 45 

qual che sei, che '1 di su tien di sotto, 

41. Slanea, sinistra. See aot«, p. 4. 

' "Tlutbsnkwhichliei lower," hence the inaec margin of eBch 

or il neuet to tlie central well. chum fa lower than the outer. 
The whole of Malebolge descenda ' Went down troai the bridge 

(loping towards the centre ; and to the fourth bank. 



.vGooglc 



thy upper part beneath, O unhappy spirit, planted like 
a state !" I began to say ; " if thou art able, speak." 

I stood, like the friar who is confessing a treach- 
erous assassin that, aAer being fixed, recalls him to 
delay the death.^ And he cried: "Art thou there 
already standing, Boni&ce?* Art thou there already 
standing ? By several years the writ' has lied to me. 
Art thou so quickly sated with that wealth, for which 
thou didst not fear to seize the comely Lady* by ^- 
ceit, and then make havoc of her ?" 



Anima trista, come pal commessa, 
Conuncia' io a dir, se paoi, fa motto, 

lo Btava come U frate che confeaaa 
Lo perfido assasgiu che, poi ch' ^ titto, 
Bichiama Ini, perch^ la morte cessa. 

Ed ei grid6 : Sei tu gik costl ritto, 
Sei ts gi& cost) ritto, Bonifazio 7 
Di parecchi aoul mi meut) lo scritto. 

Sei tu si tQsto di quell' arer sazio. 

Per lo qnal non temeati torre a inganno 
La bella Bonna, e di poi fiune strazio ? 



■ " For he delajF, oi aroids 
the death" a few moments longer, 
by preten^g that he haa some- 
thing more to confess. In Dante's 

deep hole in the ground, with 
their heads downwards, and hurled 
alive." Thia horrid kind ofpun- 
iihraent waa called prnpagginare 
or pmpaggiae, from the manner 
of planting vines. 
' Takes Dante for Boniface 



VIII., who did not die till 130S ; 
■nd is surprised U> find him 
"standing" erect, Inalead of being 
instantly planted (as a Simonist) 
with feet upwards in that hole 
which he himself fiUs. 

• "Writ," i.e. teil or acripture 
of future events, which the spirits 
in Hell are perniilted to read 
with their " imperfect viaion." 
Canto I. 100, 8l0. 

* The beautiful Lady is the 



.vGooglc 



I became like those vho stand as if bemocked, not 
comprehending what is ansireied to them, and tmable 
to reply. Then Virgil Baid : " Say to >>im quickly, 
' I am not he, I am not he vhom thou believesL' " 

And I rephed as was enjoined me j whweat the 
spirit quite wrenched his feet. Thereafter, s^hing 
and with voice of weeping, he said to me : " Then 
what oskest thou of me ? If to know who I am con- 
cemeth thee so much, that thou haet therefore passed 
the bank, leant that I was clothed with die Great 
Mantle. And rerily I was a son^ of the She-bear, 

Tal mi fee* io, quai son color che atanno. 
Per non intender cU> ch' h lor rispoBtD, 
Quasi Bconiati, e rispcnder non sanno. 60 

Allot Vii^ilio disse : Dilli tosto, 

Non son colui, non boh colai che credi. 
Ed io rispoBi come a me ia impoBto ; 

Perch^ Io spirto tutti Btorse i piedi ; 
Foi BOBpirando, e con voce di pianto, 65 

Mi diBse i Dunqne che a me richiedi 7 

Se di taper ch' io na ti cal cotanto, 
Che tu abbi perA la ripa scorsa, 
Sappi ch' io fui Teatito del gran manto : 

E veramente fdi figUaol dell' Orsa, 70 



Church, iriuch Boni&ce (in 1294) 
bad dired to seize by fraud. He 
first induced Celestine to resign, 
and got himaelf elected b; secret 
■greenieDt witli Cliules II. of 
Sicily j then secured Celeatine in 
prison, and began like a perfect 
hero in Simony, fill. viii. 6. 



' Nicholas III. of the Omni 

{Bears) family. He WM msda 



1277; 






An- 



guet 12BI, after having enriched 
bU his nephews (" the cubs or 
whelpi") by "open Simony," uid 
every otlier means in his power. 
VilL va Si, &c. ; Mideip. c, 204, 



.vGooglc 



SS4 

w eager to advance the Wlielps, &at I pursed wealth 
above, and here myself.' Beneath my head are dr^- 
ged the others who preceded me in simony, cowering 
along the fissoie of the stone.* I too shall &11 down 
thither, when he comes for whom I took thee when 
I put the sadden question. But longer is the time 
abeady, that I have baked my feet and stood in- 
verted thiiB, than he shall stand planted with glow- 
ing feet.' For after him, from westward there shall 
come a lawless Shepherd,* of uglier deeds, fit to 



Cnpdo si, per avanzar g^ Otsatti, 
Che BM r avere, e qni me misi in boras. 

Di sotto b1 capo mia son gli altri tratti, 
Che precedetter me simoii^igiando, 
Fer la fesanra della pietra piatd. 

Ls^il caacherf) io altFes), qtiando 
Verri colni ch' io credea che ta fossi, 
Allor ch' io fed il subito dimando. 

Ma piil h il tempo gik che i pi^ mi coeai, 
E ch' io son state coei eottOBOpra, 
Ch' ei uoa stai^ piantato coi jah roHsi : 

Gh^ dopo loi venit, di piil laid' opra, 
Di v6t ponente nu Pastor senza I^ge, 
Tal che conTien che lui e me ricopra. 



' " AboTe (on eaith) pat wesltH, 
md here put myself in pune." 

* Are dragged, or aucked in, 
u it were through tbe neck of 
that Hell-pum -, and lie " iquat" 
or cowering in it. 

' Nicliols8diediiiI281,iot]iat 
he had "alreidy" (in ISOO) been 



lliere 19 yean : wherets Boni&ce 
would have to "atind pknted with 
his feet red" only 11 yean; or 
from hia death in 1303 to that of 
Clement in 1314. 

* Berlnnd de Ootte, Archbiab^ 
of Bordeaux ; mode Fope in 130JI, 
under veiy ghameflil oondilion*. 



.vGooglc 



CAVTO XIX. IKFESMO. %S5 

cover ^^m and me. A new Jason' will it be, of 
whom we read in Maccabees ; and as to that hiffh 
prieat bis king was pliant ; so to this shall be he 
who governs France."* 

I know not if here I was too hardy, for I an- 
swered him in tbis strain : " Ah I Now tell ms 
how much treasure our Lord required of St. Peter, 
before he put the kejs into his keeping ? Surely 
he demanded noi^ht but ' Follow me I' Nor did 
Feter, nor the others, ask of Matthias gold or silTflr, 

NnoTO lason sarii, di cui si legge 85 

Ne' Maccabei : e come a quel fa molle 

Suo Be, cos) fia a lui chi Francia regge. 
lo non so s' io mi fui qui troppo folle, 

Gh' io pur riaposi lui a questo metro ; 

Deb or mi di' qoauto tesoro voile 90 

Tfostro Signore in prima da San Pietro, 

Che ponease le chiavi in sua balla ? 

Certo non chiese se nan, Viemmi dietro. 
N6 Pier n6 gli altri chiesero a Mattia 

Oro o argento, quando fa. sortito 95 



thTough the mfloence of Philip 
the Fair, of Fruice. Vilimi, viit. 
80. He took the title of Cle- 
ment V.| uid it was he who tnuiB- 
feired the holy see to Avignon. 
He fsToured the Ghibellinea, and 
the Emperor (Henry VII.), in 
whom Dante took bo lively ■□ 
intereat; but that does not help 
him here. 
' Juoa," that ungodly wretch," 



who puichsHed the office of high 
priest, from king Antiochus, with 
his " three hundred and three- 
gcore talents i" and degraded it 
h; the introduction of heathenish 
customB. 2 MticaA, a. 9-13, 
&e. 

• King Philip IV. (note 4, 
p. 224) : the " Pest ot France." 
Purg. vii. 109. He reigived &om 
1285 to 1311. fj/f. ii. 6a, 



.vGooglc 



'when he was chosen^ for the office which the guilty 
aoul had lost. Therefore stay thou here, for thou art 
juaUy puniflhed;' and keep well rfie ill-got money,' 
which againat Charles made thee he bold. And 
were it not that rererence for the Great Keys thon 
heldest in the glad life yet* hinders me, I should 
use etill heavier words ; for your avarice grieves 
the world; trampling on the good, and raising up 

Nel laogo, cbe perdd 1' aaima fia. 
Per6 ti Bta, che ta ae' ben punito; 

E guarda ben la mal tolta moneta 

Ch' esser ti fece contra Carlo ardito. 
E se non fosse ch' aucor lo mi vleta 100 

La riverenza deUe somme Chiari, 

Che tn tencBti nella vita lieta, 
lo nserei parole ancor piiL gravi; 

Ch.h la Tostra avanzia il moudo attrista, 

Calcando i bnoni o sollevando i pravi. 105 



' Wbeu cliosen b; lot, " to take 
part of the mtuiBtiy and apoatle- 
ahip, from nhich Judas" (Traitor 
and bUckeat of Simonists) "by 
transgression fell" Acti i. 25. 

■ Ferh ti Ua, &c. may also be 
Tendered : " Therefore it befita 
thee, that thou art veU punished." 

• " Thy money periah with 
thee." Aelt vilL 20. ViUani 
(viL 57) relates how John of 
Pcocida gave largely of the money 
of the Emperor Paleologua to 
Nicholaa and his nephew, and 
thereby obtained his soneldoa for 
the revolt against Cbsr)es I. of 



Sicily, which began (the year 
after Nicholas's death) with the 
Sicilian Vespers. " Ill-got money" 
also beTore this had made him 
bold against Charles, who con- 
temptuously refused alliance with 
his family. VUhmi, ml St. 

• "Yet," i.e. though thou art 
In HelL Dante reverenced the 
great keys, and detested the ava- 
rice and baseness of those who 
abused them; as be weli might, 
considering what they represented. 
Unhappily for itself, the Inqui- 
sition of Spain prohibited and 
suppressed this whole paisaga. 



.vGooglc 



aano m. JNFBRKO. 22~ 

&e wicked.' Shepherds such as ye the Evangeliet 
perceived, when she, that sitteth on the waters,* 
was seen by him committiug fornication with the 
kings ; she that was born with seven heads, and 
in her ten horns had a witness so long as virtue 
pleased her spouse. Ye have made you a god of 
gold and silver;* and wherein do ye differ from 
the idolater, save that he worships one, and ye a 
hundred?* Ah Coustantine ! to how much ill gave 



Di voi pastor b' accorse il Vangeliata, 
Qiiando colei, che siede sovra 1' acqae, 
Puttan^^ar co' regi a lul fii vista : 

Quella che con le sette teste nacque, 
E dalle diece coma ebbe aigomento, 
Pin che virtute al suo marlto ptacqne. 

Fatto t' avete.Dio d' oro e d' ai^nto s 
E che altro 6 da vol all' idolatre, 
Se non ch' egli ono, e voi n' ontte cento T 

AM Costantis, di quanto mal At matre. 



' Coinpire Omvilo, Tr. iv. o. 1. 

'Of. " You Shepherds Ihe 
Evangelist diaceraed," &c., when 
the angel aheved him " the great 
wlioFe that sitteth upon maa; 
waters: with whom the kinga of 
the earth have committed fonii- 
cation, and the inhabitants of the 
earth have been drunk with the 
wine of her famication," &c. 
Sai. xvii. 1. In Purg. zxiiL 
143-9, the "Sacred Edifice, trans- 
formed" by ita profane alliance 



with temporal thii^fs, is described 
a> putting forth seren heads and 
ten horns ; and the Chureh of 
Rome under Bontikce ia spoken 
of as " a loose barlol" gazing 
ronnd with wanton eyes. 

' " Of their silver and thrir 
gold have tbs; made them idols." 
Hoa. liii. *. See also Ephei. v. S g 
and Cotom. ili. S. 

• Ye make an idol of evety 
piece of silver and gold, of eveiy 
species of gain. 



.vGooglc 



birdi, not thy conTereioD, but that dower* wMch 
the first rich Father took from thee !" 

And whilst I sung these notes to him, whether 
it was rage or conscience gnawed him, he violently 
sprawled with both bis feet. And indeed I think 
it pleased my Guide, with so satisfied a look did 
be keep listening to the sound of the true words 
uttered. Therefore with both bis arms be took 
me ; and, when be bad me quite upon bis breast, 
remounted by the path where be had descended. 
Nor did be weary in holding me clasped to him, 



Non la toa conversion, ma qaella dote 
Che da te prese il primo ricco patre I 
' £ mentre io gli cantava cotai note, 
O ira o coacienza che il mordesse. 
Forte Bpingava con ambo le piote. 

Io credo ben ch' ol mio Dnca piaceaee. 
Con b} contenta labbia sempre atteae 
Lo suon delle parole vere espresse. 

Per& con ambo le braccia mi prese, 
£ poi che tutto su mi s* ebbe al petto, 
Rimont^ per la via onde dlscese ; 

K6 si Btanc6 d' avermi a s6 ristretto. 



' Dante again slludes to 
pretended g^tt of ConsUntine in 
Purg. Xjsil 125; in Pamd. xn. 
6S : and in his treatise De Moa- 
arcbia (lib. iii.) lie speaks of ii 
a thing tliat is doubliiil, a gift 
that the enipecor could not 1 
liiUj tnake-, if he erer did make 



it Milton (Prose WoTka) hu 

translated the pasEage in the text: 

"ih CDDBtditias I of hoir much in 



.vGooglc 



CAKTOin. INFBRMO. •• 229 

till he bore me away to the summit of the arch 
vhich is a crossway &om the fourth to the fiAh 
rampart. Here' he placidly set down the burden, 
pleasing to him on the rough steep cliff, which to 
the goats would be a painful passage. 

Thence another valley was dlscoveted to me. 

SI men porto soTia il cohno dell' arco, 

Che dal quarto el quinto argine ^ tragetto. 
Qnivi soavemente ipose il carco, 130 

Soave per lo scoglio sconcio ed erto, 

Che sarebbe alle capre duro varco. 
Indi nn altro Tsllon mi fu scOTerto. 



128. 5i for sldchi (Pur;, x 



. 12)i n 



130. Spoie, fiom apone, to lay down, ficc 



■ " Here," i.i. on the summit j 
of the »rch, he iweetly or gently 
laid down the hutden, which had 
been a burden sweet to him along 
the ugly clifC In such way is 
Dante. lifted up and carried by 
his myBtiD Guide &om that den 



of the Simoniits. The " true 
words pteaaed" {etpreise, yet. 123) 
from him are brief, and entangled 
with infinite disdain and hatred- 
See what our own Milton aaya, 
on this aame subject, in his "Re- 
fbrmation in England." 



.yCoOgIc 



.yCOOgIC 



ARGUMENT. 



Fiom the aioh of the bridge, to wUeh hii Guide hu ouried him, 
Duite now leei the Divinen, Augura, Soreeisn, &.<:. Homing 
slowly along the bottom of the Fourth Chasm. By help of their 
iacuitidonB sod e?i) agenti, they hsd endeavoured to pry into Che 
Future which belongs to Che Almighty «lone, mCerfering with Hit 
eeciet decrees ; and now their laeei are painfully twisted the con- 
trary way ; and, being unable Co look before them, they ate {breed 
to walk baekwsrda. The Gnt that Vii^ names is Amphiarant ; 
then TireaiBS the Theban projdiet, Arun* the Tiucui. Next 
comes Manto, daughter of Tiresios ) on seeing whom, Vofpi re- 
lates the origin of Mantua his native oi^. Afterwards he rapidly 
points out Eurypylua, the Grecian augur; Michael Scot, the great 
magiciao, with slender loins (probably Erom his norCbem dress) ; 
Ouido Bonatti ofForli; Aedente, shoemaker of Parma, who left 
his leather and his awls Co practise diiinadon ; and the wretched 
women who wroughC malicious witchcraft with their herbs and 
waxen images. And now the Moon is setting in the western 
•ea t titoe presset, and the Poets hasten to the next chasm. 



.yCoOgIc 



INFKONO. 



CANTO XX. 



Of new punielunent I Have to dictate verse, and 
to give matter for the twentieth canto of the first Lay, 
which concerns the sunken.^ 

I now was all intent on looliing into the depth 
discovered to me, which was bathed with tears of 
anguish ; and through tlie circular valley I saw a 
people coming, silent and weeping, at tlie pace 
which the litanies' make in this world. When my 
sight descended lower on them,' each seemed won- 
drously distorted, from the chin to the commence- 

Di nuoYB pens ml convien far versi, 
E dar materia al veatesimo casto 
Delia prima canzon, ch' k de' BOmmerei. 

lo era g^ disposto tutto qnanto 

A risguardar nello scoverto fondo, 5 

Che si bagnava d* angoscioao pianto : 

E vidi gente per lo vaUon tondo 

Venir, tacendo e lagrimando, al passo 
Che fanno le letanie in queato mondo, 

Come il tIbo mi scese in lor piii basso, 10 

Mirabilmente apparre esser travolto 
CiaHcnn dal mento al principio del caaao. 



' The spirita sunk in Hell. 
Ctaamie bere, and Contica in 
Parg. sxiiii. 140, are the terms 
applied by Dante (o the three 
great Parts of hig Poeiu. 

' At the slow and mouiniiil 



pace of them that in long pnv 
cesuon chant the solemn litaniea. 
VUL ii. IS. 
' When they came nearer the 

bridge, Bo that I law farther down 
amongat them. 



.vGooglc 



uim n. INFKBNO. 288 

ment of the cheat,' bo that the face was turned 
towards the loina; and they had to come backward, 
ioi to look before them was denied.' Perhaps by 
force of palsy some hare been thus quite distorted; 
but I have not seen, nor do belieTe it to be so. 

Reader, so God grant thee to take profit of thy 
reading, now think for thyself how I could keep my 
visage dry,^ when near at hand I saw our image so 
contorted, that the weeping of the eyes bathed the 
binder parts at t^eir division ? Certainly I wept, 
leaning on a branch of the hard cliS*, so that my 

Che dalle rem era tomato il volto ; 

£ indietro venir gli conveniB, 

Percli^ il veder dinaiui era lor tolto. 15 

Forse per forsa gi^ di porlaaia 

Si tniTolse cosi alcun del tutto ; 

Ma io nol vidi, nd credo cbe sia. 
Se Dio ti lascl, Lettor, prender finitto 

Di toa lezioue, or pensa per te stesso, 20 

Com' io potea tener lo viso ascintto, 
Quaudo la nostra imagiae da presso 

Yidi si torts, che il pianto degli occhi 

Le natiche bagnava per lo fesso. 
Certo io piangea, po^jiato ad un de' rocchi 25 

Del duro scoglio, si che la mia Scorta 



Hit ban at nun, mi gm him up to 



' Or : " Distorted" in the neck. Though m 
* Lit.: " To look forward wm 
tateo awaj from them." 
' " BUht H detonn what belli of A ^ue, till flraier thoogbts reilrained 
Dryeycd Iwbaldt Adun coold Par. Cut, il. 1H. 



.vGooglc 



234: 



INFERNO. 



Guide said to me : " Art thou, too, like the other 
fools? Here pity lives when it ia rightly dead.' 
Who more impious than he that sorrows at God's 
judgment?^ Raise up thy head, raise up, and see 
him for whom the earth opened herself before the 
eyes of the Thebans, when they all cried, ' "Whither 
rushest thou, Amphiaraiis ?* Why leavest thou the 
war?" And he ceased not rushing headlong down 



Mi dieee ; Ancor se' tn degli altri sciocchi 7 
Qui vive la pieUi quand* h ben morta. 
Chi h piii ecellerato di colui, 
Ch' al ^udido divin passion porta J 
Drieza la testa, drizza, e vedi a cui' 
S' aperse agli occhi de' Teban la terra, 
Quando gridaTan tntti : Dove rui, 
Anfiarao 1 percb^ lasci la guerra T 
E non restA di ruinare a valie 



■ The "TiresUa and Phinena 
propheta old," &c. oomeg upon 
Dante too, and makes him weep 
bitterly ; but hia Bible, in many 
places, apeaks clearly of those 
diviners, eoreerers, "wiae men," 
&0', and he doea not doubt of 
theii existence. Fieti meana 
' piety* (LaL pielai) aa well aa 
' pi^' in the old ItaUan. 

' Or perhaps, alluding to the 
crime here punished i " Who 
more wicked than he that bean 
a passion for the decrees of Ood" 
— ihat seeks to look into the Fu- 
ture which belongs to Him alone t 



This meaning agrees best wilh 
the comment of Pietro di Danle. 

' One of the seven kinga that 
besieged Thebes. Qui pracepi 
per inane mu? SUt. Titb. viii 
81. Lydgate, in his Siege i/ 
Thebei, part iiL, calls him "Am- 
phiorai the Biahop," and gives 
details of hia iaU into Hell : 

d biahopt with harse and 



"This 



And thus Oe DevD for 
Llche hia deaert paid h 



.vGooglc 



curao a. INFERNO. 235 

to Minos, who lays hold on every sinner. Maik 
how he has made a breast of his shoulders : because 
he wished to see too far before him, he now looks 
behind and goes backward.' 

" Behold Tiresias* who changed bis aspect, when 
of male be was made woman, all his limbs trans- 
forming: and afterwards be bad again to strike the 
two inTolved serpents with his rod, before he could 
resume his manly plmnes. 

" That is Aruns^ coming back before him, who, 

Fino a Minbs, che ciaacbeduno afferra. 
Mira, ch' ha fatto petto delle spalle : 

Perchfe voile Teder troppo davante, 

Dirietro guarda, e fa ritroso calle. 
Tedi Tiresia, che mut^ sembiante, 40 

Qmmdo di moschio femmina diveime, 

Cangiandosi le membra tutte quante ; 
E prima poi ribatter le convenne 

Li duo serpent! awolti con la verga, 

Che riaveBse le maBcliili penne. 43 

Aronta h qnei ch' al ventre ^ a' attci^ 



' Lit: "MakeBbackiFftrdwa]'." 
Perhaps from Ittadh iliv. 29 : 

" That fruBtraleth the tokens of 
the liars (iJiDiRorun Vulg-), and 
maketh diviaers (arioliu) mad ; 
Ihat turneth wise men backward 



(r.. 



.«)," A 



' Timrias, the prophet ofThebes, 
according to the ancient mystic 
&ble, iriu changed into a woman 
when he struck the two great 
seipenti ; and on s««Dg them 



again, at the end of seven years, 
and itriking them in the ssme 
ns;, he recovered hia originsl 
sex and form- Nam duo mag- 
aomm mridi cogn'itia tilva Corpora 
terptnlum bacali violaarrat irtu : 
Deqat of™ factia (mrMle) Jib- 
mino, &.C. Ovid. Met. iiL 824. 

* An Etruscan sooths^er, who 
predicted to the Romans tbeii 
civil wars and the victoiy of Ck- 
■ar. Armu incttiiil deiaitt tmrun 



.vGooglc 



in the mountains of Luni where hoes^ the Carrarese 
tiutt dwells beneath, amongst white maihles had the 
care for his abode ; from which he could obserre &e 
stara and sea with unobstructed view. 

" And she that covers her bosom, which thou 
seest not, with her flowing tresses, and has all hei 
hair on the other side, was Manto,* who eearched 
through many lands, then settled there where I was 
bom: whence it pleases me to have thee listen a 
little to me. AA^r her &ther departed out of life, 
and the city^ of Bacchus became enslaved, she for 
a long time roamed through the world. Up in iair 

Cbe ne' monti di Luni, dove ronca 

Lo Carrarese che di sotto alberga, 
Ebbe tra biancM marmi la spelonca 

Per sua dimora ; onde a gnardar le stelle 50 

E il mar uon g^ era la vednta tronca. 
E quella che ricopre le mammelle, 

Cbe tn non vedi, cod le trecce sciolte, 

E ha di 1^ ogni piioaa pelle, 
Manto fii, che cerc6 per terre molte, 55 

Foscia si pose 1^ dove nacqu' io : 

Onde nn poco mi place che m' ascolte. 
PoBcia cbe il padre auo di vita uscio, 

E venue serva la clttit di Baco, 

Questa grsn tempo per lo mondo g^o. 60 



Luna, &.C Lucan. L 586. The 
mouatkina of Looi are abare 
Cuiara, still bmous for marblea. 
' Lit : " Stubs" (Lat. nacare). 
Cleui* lad cultiviln the soil 



' Muto, daughter of Tireaiis, 
quitted Tbebes (nadva ci^ of 
Bacchua), when it wai "gqiIst- 
ed" by the tjnnt Cieon, uncle 
of Eteocles ind Polynicei. 



.vGooglc 



cuno u. INFERNO. £87 

Italy there lies a lake, at the foot of the Alps tliat 
near the Tyrol shut in Germany, and it is called 
BenacuB.* Through a thousand fountains, I heliere, 
and more, the Pennine, between Garda and Val 
Camonica, is irrigated by the water which etagnates 
in tiiat lake. At the middle there is a place' where 
the Trentine pastor, and he of Brescia, and the Ve- 
ronese might bless, if they went that way. Pes- 
chiera,^ a fortress beautiful and strong to front the 
Brescians and the Bergamese, sits where the shore 
around is lowest. There all that la the bosom of 

SuBO in Italia bella ^ace on laco 

Appi^ dell' Alpe, che aerra Lamagna 

Sovra Tiralli, ed ha nome Benaco. 
Per mille fonti, credo, e piii si bagna, 

Tra Garda e Val Camonica, Pennina 65 

Dell' acqua che nel detto lago stagna. 
Ln(^ h nel meziio 14, dove il Trentino 

Pastore, e quel di Brescia, e il Veronese 

Segnar porta, se f^se quel cammino. 
Siede Peschiera, bello e forte araese 70 

Da frouteggiar BreBcianl e Bergamaschi, 

Ove la riva intomo piii discese. 
Ivi convien che tutto quanto caacbi 

' Now Ligo di QatAa. The diocesea of Trent, Bresda and Ve- 

put of the Alps, from whicli its rona meet ; and the three biabopi 

natera flow down " in more than might " croaa," or ^Te the aign 

a thousand etreuns," were for- of benediction to their Sooka. 

merlj called Alpei Paiut (Pen- ' Peschiera still "sits a for- 

nioe Alps) ; and Val Camonica tress," st the head of the Mincio. 

is to the wesL The water is rapid *nd beaulifiillr 

' Prsto di Fame, where the clear as it flows tiom the Lake, 



.vGooglc 



tS8 INFERNO. cum XX. 

Beaacufi caimot stay, has to descend and make itself 
a river, down through the green pastures. Soon as 
the water sets head to run, it is no longer named 
Benacus, but Miucio, to Govemo, where it fidls 
into the Fo. Not iar has it Sowed, when it finds a 
leTel, on which it spreads and makes a marsh thereof, 
and is wont in summer ta be at times unwhole- 
some.' The cruel^ yiigin, passing that way, saw land 
amidst the fen, uncultivated and naked of inhabit- 
ants. There, to shun all human intercourse, she 
halted with her ministers to do her arts ; and there 

Ci6 che in grembo a Benaco Btar non pu6, 

E fassi finme giil pe' Terdi paachi. 75 

Tosto che 1' Bcqua a correr mette co', 

Non piii Beoaco, ma Mindo si chiama 

Fino a GoTemo, dove cade in Po. 
Non molto ha coroo, che trova una lama, 

Nella qual bI distende e la impalnda, 80 

E Buol di state talora esser grama. 
Quindi paseando la vei^ne cruda 

Vide terra nel mezzo del paabino, 

Senza cultnra, e d' abitanti nuda. 
Li, per faggire ogni consorzio mnauo, 85 

Rietette co' suoi aerri a far sue arid, 

76. Metie co", mette capo ; Bbocca, 

■ Lit: " AfflictJie, or Borrow- tions. Time hmuba Sfaaiho Ex- 

fiJ," on account of the malaria eeplum paterii pralibel iaiigiiiiia», 

tad fever it produces. el, onnef Ter draim acta pyrai, 

' " Cruel" or fell, like Ericlho taaeii de nuife parenlU, SeTaintctt 

(canto 11. 23), froni the bloodf jibrai, et adhuc ajAraatia reddit. 

accompaniments of her coiyuja- Fiieera,&o. Stat Theb, lY.iSS, 



.vGooglc 



tumo XE. IHFEBNO. £89 

she lived and left her bod^ TOcaDt.' Afterwards the 
men, that were scattered round, gathered together 
on that apot; for it was strong by reason of the 
marsh it had on every side. They built the city 
over those dead bones; and for her who £rst chose 
the pkce, they called it Mantua* without other au- 
gury. Once the inhabitants were denser in it, be- 
fore the madness of Casalodi was cheated by Fina- 
monte.^ Therefore Icharge thee, if thou ever hearest 

E visse, e vi laacib ano corpo vaoo. 
Gli nomini poi, che intomo erano sparti, 

S' accolsero a quel luogo, eh' era forte 

Per lo pantan ch' avea da tutte parti. 90 

Fer Ifl cittk aovra quell' osaa morte ; 

E per colei, che il luogo prima elesae, 

Mantora 1' appellar senz' altra eorte. 
Gift for le genii sue dentro piil spesse, 

Prima che la mattia di Casalodi, 95 

Da Pinamonte ioganno ricevesBe. 
Per6 1' aseeuno, che se ta mai odi 



' JaU her bod J Toid of life. 

* CompBre ^Q. x. 199, &c, 
FatidioB Mantui, el Tmd filitii 
anmit. Qui rutdi faatritqae dtdU 
libi, Mantua, noam ,- Mantua Ji'twi 
oni, led fion gemu tsmibut »niin.' 
Oens illi tripUx, &0. 

who (about 1276) ersftilj per- 
suaded Alberto de' Caealodi, Lord 
of Mantua, and chief of the DO- 
bilitf, that be might pacify the 
people by bsDisking the moat 



odioua and ponerful of the nobles 
fbi a time to their own castles. 
" This being done, Finamonte 
bimaelf seized the goTenimenI, 
with great tumult and applause 
of the people ; and forlhirith 
cnielly eitBrminated nearly all 
the noble and renovned families, 
with award and fire la)4ng waste 
their houBBB," &c. Ben». da 
Imola Cam. Other leu sure de- 
tails are given in Mnratori, Her. 
Ital. torn. XX. 



.vGooglc 



S40 INFEBNO. 012)10 u. 

otber origin given to my city, let no £ilsehood de- 
fraud the truth," 

And I : " Master, thy -words are to me so certain, 
and BO take hold of mj belief, that all others would 
be to me like coals quenched out.' But telJL me of 
the people that are paseing,^ if thou seest any of them 
worthy of note ; for to that alone my mind recurs."^ 

,Then he said to me: "He there, who from the 
cheeks reaches forth the beard upon his dusky shoul- 
ders, was an augur, when Greece was so empty of 
males, that hardly they remained even in the cra- 
dles ^ and in Aulis he, with Calchas, gave the time 
for cutting the first cable. Burypylus his name ; 

Orig^nar la loia t«rra altrimenti. 

La Teritjt nulla menzogDS frodi, 
Ed io : Maestro, i tuoi ragioDaineuti 100 

Mi son s! certi, e prendon e) mia fede, 

Che gli altri mi Bahen carboni spenti. / 

Ma dimmi della gente che precede, 

Se ta ne vedi alcou degDO di nota ; 

Chfe solo a ci6 la mia meote rifiede. lOS 

Allor mi disse ; Qael, che dalla gota 

Foi^ la barba in bu le spalle brune, 

Fu, quando Grecia fu di maschi vota 
Si ch' appena limaBer per le cune, 

Augure, e diede il ptmto cod Calcanta 110 

In Aulide a tagliar la prima iiuie. 



' Wou]d have neilLer light not 

' Lit: "That pcoeeed," or go 
on like those "processioas ofthe 
litanies." See note, p. 232. 



* " Strikes hack ;" unpetuoudf 
Tetania. Compare canto xriii. 75, 
and Purg. xn. 101. 

* When Greece aeat its "thoa- 
sand ships" tn Troy. 



.vGooglc 



and my high Tragedy thiis sings him in some place :' 
well knowest it thoa, who knowest the whole. 

" That other who is so small about the flanks 
was Michael Scot;* and of a truth he knew the 
play of magic frauds. 

" See Guido Bonatti ;' see Asdente,* who now 



Euripilo ebbe nome, e cob! il canta 
L' alta mia Tragedfa in alcun loco ; 
Ben lo sal tu cbe la sai tutta qaanta. 

Quell' altro cbe ne' fiancbi h coat poco, 
Michele Scotto to, che veramente 
Delle ma§;iche firode seppe il ginoco. 

Yedi Gnido Bonatti, redi Asdente, 



I Satpemi Ewypylum i 
orscuJa Phabi MillimHi, &c 
iL 114. The ^neid is e 
Tragedy o 



id with K 



: calls I 



ele- 



vated Btyle 



See the ' 



which Dante giv«e, in his Letter 
to Can Oiande, foi calling his 
own Poem & Coined;. Alio De 
Vttlg. Eloq. ii. 4. 

* Our own Sir Michael Scot of 
Balffearie, whose " taemory atill 
ntrrivei in many a legend." See 
Notes of Sir Walter Scott, Lag 
tflheLast Mimtret. Michael was 
pbyiician and ssttologer to the 
Emperor Frederick II., who died 
in 1250; and not less famous in 
Italy than in Scotland. Yillani 
(x. 101, 137 1 zii. 19, &c) men- 
tions some of hia prophecies as 
hiTing been fulfilled in the next 



the " great philosopher," &o. 
Boccaccio aaja ; " Not long since 
there was in this city (of Flo- 
rence) a great master in necro- 
msttcy, who was called Michele 
Scolto, because he was of Scot- 
land ; and from man; noble 
people be receiTed verjr great 
honour," &o. Dte, Giorn, viii. 9. 
' Astrologer of Forli : stood 
in higb favour with Guido da 
MoDtefeltro, and was present at 
the memorable defeat of the 
French befbre that city on the 
first of May, 1282. 



dna.y 



.81. 



* " Aadente the shoemaker of 
Parma," Dante elsewhere disdain- 
fully says, " would be more noble 
than any of his fellow- oitizena. 



.vGooglc 



242 INFEBNO. CAtno ix. 

woold TiBh he had attended to his leather and his 
cord, but too late repents. See the -wretched toomen 
who left the needle, the shuttle, and the spmdle, 
and made themaelTes dirineresaes. They wrought 
witchcraft with herbs and images. 

" But now come ! for Cain and the thorns^ al- 
ready holds the confine of both hemispheres, and 
under Seville touches the wave ; and already yester- 
night the Moon was round : well must thou remem- 
ber ; for she did not hurt thee once in the deep 
wood."* 



Ch' BTere iutcao al cnoio ed alio spago 
Ora Yorrebbe, ma tardi ra pente. 

Vedi le triste che lasciaron 1' ago, 
La spola e il faso, e fecersi indovine ; 
Fecer malle con erbe e con imago. 

Mft Tieniie omai ; chh ffh tiene il confine 
D' amenduo gli emispen, e tocca V onda 
Sotto Sibilia, Caino e le spine. 

E gii iemotte fu la Luna tonda ! 

Ben ten dee ricordar, chh non ti nocque 
Alcuna volta per la aelva fonda. 



if noblenesi eonsisted icerel? in 
being mncli known And talked 
o£" Coavilo, Tr. iv. cap. 16. 

1 The Man i' the Moon ofltalian 
childien in those old Ijnies : here 
put for the Moon itself. " Round" 
or fiill " yesternight" (which in 
Italy and other Catholic countries 
■till meaoB the night before yea- 
terday) i and consequently exactly 



oppoiite to the a 



he ri 



Now 



— settingf ai 



1 the « 



&rther east j ao that (he time here 
indicated by the Moon'a being <» 
the " confine of both hemisphens," 
or touching the 'wave beyond Se- 
ville on the western horiion, it 
about an hour after aniuise on 
the Saturday tnorniDg;. 
' Somewhat helped thee once. 



.vGooglc 



Thus lie spake to me, and we went on mean- 
while, 



i parlava, ed andavamo introcque. 



i 30. Introcqitt, fnttanto ; LU. mter kae. 

in the Dark Wood, before thou I lenae, or mere humaa Knowledge, 

Mweit the Sunlit Hill. Canto i. pore but cold and feeble reflex 

The MtKin is " the lesser of tbe Sun), " nude to rule the 

light" (Phaosopty in the mystic I Night" Gm. L 16. 



.yCoOgIc 



.yCOOgIC 



ARGUMENT. 



The Poets come to the arch of the Fillh Chum or Budget which 
holds the Bartereri, the Peculators who nude tnfBc of their 
public offices for money. As the Tyrants md AssaHins (canto 
xii.) are steeped in boiling Blood, and hsTC the Centaurs (em- 
blems of Violence) watering them with arrons, and keeping each 
at his proper depth ; so here the Barteren lie coiered with Slthjr 
Pitch, and get thamselres rent in pieces by horrid Demons — Sha- 
dows of their sins — wbeaeTer they appear above its surface. The 
chasm is very dark, and at first Dante can see nothing but the 
pitch boiling in iL A Demon arriTes with one of the Senators of 
Lucca on hii ihoulders, throws him down from the bridge, tells 
what a harvest of Barterers there is in that city, and hastens awaji 
for mote. Other Demons, hitherto concealed beneath the bridge 
- (like secret ains), rush out and fiercely teach the poor sneaking 
senator onder what conditions he has to swim in the pitch. After 
some parley with Malacoda, chief of the Fiends, the Poets are sent 
on, along the edge of the chasm, with an ugly and questionable 
escort of Ten. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XXI. 

Thus from bridge to bridge we came, with other 
talk which my Comedy cares not to recite ; and held 
the snmniit,^ when we stood still to see the other 
cleft of Malebolge and other rain lamentings : and 
I found it marveUoasly dark. 

As in the arsenal' of the Venetians boils the 
clammy pitch, to caolk their danu^ed ships, in win- 
ter when they cannot navigate ; and, instead thereof,' 
one builds his ship anew, one plugs the ribs of that 
which hath made many voyages ; some hammer at 
the prow, some at the stem; some make oars, and 

Cos) di ponte in ponte, altro parlando 

Che la mis Commedla cautar non cora, 

Yemmmo ; e tenevamo il cohno, quando 
Ristemmo per veder 1' altra fessura 

Di Malebolge, e gli inltri piauti vam : 5 

E Tidila inirabilmente oscura. 
Quale nell' Araanii de' Finiziani 

Bolle 1' inverao la tenace pece 

A rintpalmar li legni lor non sani, 
Che naTicar non pomio ; e in quells vece 10 

Chi fii suo legno uuoto, e cbi ristoppa 

Le coste a quel che piii viaggi fece ; 
Chi hbatte da prods, e chi da poppa ; 

■ Of the fifth Breh. So Milton: I * Bosieat of Aiseosts in thi»e 

.. Tk. -«i .1... hij 11. ■._■._< times, when Dante uw it Ar- 

*' The ma tut Didfl (be ahepheiil ^ 

fidd, ^o"^ " the Veoatiui name. 

Nowthe lop ofHeBiendothhatd." I * TDEtud of loye^^. 



.vGooglc 



OUTOXXL IKPBBKO. i^T 

some twist ropes ; one mends the jib, and one ttie 
mainsail ; So, not hj fire but by art Dirine, a dense 
pilch boiled down there, and overglued the banks 
on every side. It I saw; but saw nought therein, 
except the bubbles which the boiling raised, and 
the hearing and compressed subsiding of the whole.* 
WHlflt I was gazing fixtly down on it, my 
Guide, saying, " Take care, take care !" drew* me 
to him from the place where I was standii^. Then 
I turned myself, like one who longs to see what he 
must shun, and who is dashed with sudden fear, so 
that he puts not off his £ight to look ; and behind 



Altri & remi, ed altri volge sarte ; 
Chi terzeniolo, ed aMimon rintoppa : 

Tal, non per fuoco, ma per divina arte 
BoUia lagg^uso una pegola epessa, 
Che mTiscava la ripa d' ogni parte. 

lo vedea lei, ma aon vedeva in easa 
Ma' che le bolle cbe H boUor leTava, 
E gou£ar tutta, e riseder compreasa. 

Mentr* io la^il fibamente mirava, 

Lo Duca mio dicendo : Goarda, guarda I 
Mi trasse a sg del luogo dov' io stava. 

AUor mi rolsi come 1' uom, cui tarda 
Di veder qoel cbe gli coavien faggire, 
E mi pauia subita sgagliarda, 

Che, per veder, non indugia il partire ! 



.^ 



' Lit: "And laa the nhole one who is so daunted b; a aud^n 

■well, and subside compreaied." feu that "he delsya not his de- 

' " Drew me" with that oty of parting" to look^runs flrat, and 

his ; made me nuh to him, like then looks. 



.yCoOgIc 



£48 mYSBJXO. cum> IIL 

hb I Baw a black Demon come mimmg up tlie ciiff. 
Ah, hoir ferociona was his aspect ! And how bitter 
he seemed to me in gesture, with his wings oat- 
spread, and light of foot !^ TTia shoulders that were 
sharp and high, a sinner with both haunches laded ; 
and of each foot he held the sinew^ grasped. " Ye 
Malebranche' of our bridge !" he said, " lo ! one of 
Santa Zita's Elders.* Thrust him under, while I 
return for others^ to that cit^ which is well pro- 

E vidi dietro a uoi un DiaTol neto 

Correndo su per lo scogllo Tenure. 30 

Ahi qaanto egli era nell' aapetto fiero ! 

E qnanto mi parea nell' atto acerbo. 

Con r ale aperte, e sovra i fih le^ero 1 
L' omero suo, cb' era acuto e euperbo, 

Carcava ui peccator con ambo 1' anche, 35 

Ed a tenea de' pi^ ghermito il uerbo. 
Del nostro poute, disse, o Malebranche, 

Ecco nn degli Anzian di Santa Zita ; 

Mettetel sotto, ch' io tomo per anche 
A quella terra che n' h ben fomita. 40 



' Or : " Light upon his feet" 

* A sinner Uded the gibboiu 
sboulders of him ; and he held 
the " liaev" (tendon of Achilles 
that lifta the heel) grasped in 
clutchea. 

* Malebrancht, i,e. Evil elutehes 
or talons. Name of the Fiends 
in Alii chum. 

* Elden or chief iDagistraCes 
of Lneca, vheie Santa Zita is 
■till venerated. . Tcadition >ajB 



she was s limpU maid-aervMit 
of the Fatinelli family, and for 
her hoi; life canonized in the 
time of Dante. Tlie Elder here 
meant is piobablj one Martino 
Bottajo, who "wu in office at 
that time (1300), and died md- 
denlj'." Buti, and Otdmo Com. 
• Other barterers. The adverbs 
KiicAg, anco, are often used for 
allri, alln>. See Cinonio Parti' 
ceUe, xzv. 8. 



.yCoOgIc 



euno m. INPEBITO. @49 

vided with them. Every man there is a barterer, 
except Bonturo:' there they make 'Ay' of 'No' 
for money." 

Down he threw him, then wheeled along the 
flinty cliff; and never was mastiff loosed with such 
a haste to follow thief." The sinner plunged in, 
and came up agaiii writhing convolved.' But the 
Demons, who were beneath the bridge, cried : 
" Here the Sacred. Face besteads not;* here swim 

Ogni nom v* k barattieT, Aior che Boutnro : 
Del no per 1i deuar Ti si fa ita. 

Laggiil il butt6, e per lo scoglio duro 
Si volse ; e mai non fu masttuo sciolto 
Con tanta &etta a segnitar lo fiiro. 45 

Qoei b' attuff^, e tom6 au convolto ; 

Ma i Demon, che del ponte avean coverchio, 
Oridar : Qoi non ha luogo il Santo Volto ; 



' Ironically, Bontaro de' Dati 
being the greategl of all barteren 
or peculitcra in Lucca, and well 
known aa such. Beer, da Imola 
Com. I and Moialoii Aer. Ital. 



Lombaidl, Biafioli, &o. some- 
what arbitrarily iniXe cutwobv 
mean " turned with bead and feet 
downwards ;" and l^ombardi saya 



"this posture, similar to that of 
one who is in fenent prayer, may 
be the object of the Diabolio sar- 
caam which follows" in Terse 48. 
The sense of "besmeared, rolled 
M the pUch" has an air of plati. 
Cude here, in apite of all the iire- 
lerant examples cited by the Cms- 
cans. The nearest and plainest 
meaning is obviously that of the 
Lat emutolutiu, from which the 
word is immediately denied. 

' No hypocritical prayers can 
help thee here. The " VoUo 
Santo," a lery ancicDt Crucifli, 
■till Btanding in the Cathedral of 



.vGooglc 



£50 INFERHO. Duno m. 

ye otherwise than in the Serchio.' Therefore, if 
thou wouldst not prove the aharpnesB of our drags, 
come not out abore the piteh." Then they struck 
him with more than a hundred prongs, and said: 
" OoTered thou must dance thee here ;* so that, if 
thou canst, thou mayest pilfer priyately." Not other- 
vise do the cooks make their vassals dip the fiesh 
into the middle of the boiler with their hooka, to 
hinder it fiom floating. 

The kind Master said to me : " That it may not 
he seen that thou art here, cowei down behind a 
jagg which has some screen for thee;' and whatever 
outrage may be done to me, fear not thouj for I 

Qui si nuota altrimenti che nel Serchio : 
Perd se tu nou vuoi de' nostri graffi, 50 

Non &r Bovra la pegola soyerchio. 

Poi r addent&r con piti di cento raS, 
Diaser : Coverto caurien clie qui balli. 
S) che, ee pnoi, nascosamente accaffi. 

Non altrimenti i cnochi a' lor vasaaUi 55 

Fanuo attu&re in merao la caldaia 
La came cog^ micin, perch^ non galU. 

Lo boon Maestro : Acciocch^ non si paia 
Che tu ci sii, mi disse, pil f acquatta 
Dopo imo echeggio, che alcun schenno t' haia; GO 

E per nulla offeosion, che a me sia &tta, 
Non temer tn, ch' io ho le cose conte, 



' RiTei that passes uear Lucca. 

» Muat have thy sport here 
under coTcr of the boiling pitch ; 
and barter in it if thou cuut 



* Or : " So that thou majrest 
h»e Bome screen for thyselt" 
7^ pott (" dopo") avecla laieboM. 
Eclog. ilL 20. 



.vGooglc 



OAMTO XII. INFERNO. ^51 

know these matters, haying once before been in the 
like affray."^ Then he passed beyond the head of the 
bridge ; and when he arrived on the sixth bank, it 
was needful for hi'm to have a stedfast front. With 
that fury and that storm, wherewith the dogs rush 
forth upon the poor man who where he stops sud- 
denly seeks alms, rushed those Hermns from be- 
neath the brii%e, and turned against him all their 
hooks. But he cried : " Be none of ye outrageous. 
Before ye touch me with your forks, let one of you 
come forth to hear me, and then take counsel about 
hooking me," 

All cried : " Let Malacoda^ go." Thereat one 

Perch' altra Tolta f oi a tal baratta. 
Posda pased di 1& dal co' del poote, 

£ com' ei giunee in su la ripa gesta, 65 

Meatier g^ fu d' aver sicura fronte. 
Con quel fiirore, e con quella tempests, 

Ch' escono i cani addoaso al poverelio, 

Che di Bubito chiede ore s* arrests \ 
Usdron qnei di sotto al ponticello, 70 

E Tolser contra Ini tutti i roncigli ; 

Ma ei giidf) : Nessun di voi sia fello. 
Innanzi che 1' uncin voalro mi pi^ 

Tra^asi avanti l' on di voi che m' oda, 

E poi di ronc^Iiarmi si consigli. 75 

Tutti gridaron : Vada Malacoda ; 



' " Once before I was down [ ' Or; " Evil tail," their CliieE 

here Well do I know the Smooth at &Et like Fraud (canto 

ay." See oantD ii. £2-30. | xyiiL), and ending badly. 



.vGooglc 



S5S INFERNO. cuiTO ui. 

moved himself, the others standing firm, and came 
to him, saying : " What will this avail liiTn V 

" Dost thou expect, Malaeoda," said my Master, 
" to find I have come here, secure already against 
all your weaponB,^ without will Divine and fete pro- 
pitious ? Let me pass on ; for it is willed in Heaven 
that I shew another this savage way."* 

Then was his pride so fallen, that he let the 
hook drop at his feet, and said : " Now let him not 
be struck 1" And my Guide to me : " O thou that 
sitteet cowering, cowering amongst the great splinters 
of the bridge, securely now return to me !" Whereat 
I moved, and qxdckly came to him ; and the Devils 

Perch' un si mosse, e gli altri stetter fermi ; 

E venne a loi clicendo : Che gli approda? 
Credi tu, Malacoda, qui vedermi 

Esser venuto, disse il mio Maestro, 80 

SecuTO gi& da tatti i vostri schermi, 
Senza voler divino e fato destro ? 

Lasciami andar, cb^ nel Cielo h voiuto 

Ch' io moetri sltroi qaesto cammin silTeBtro. 
Allor gli fa 1' oi^glio si caduto, 85 

Che si lascib cascar 1' uncino ai piedi, 

E disse agli altri : Omai nou sia femto. 
E il Duca mio a me : in, che siedi 

Tra g^ scbe^ou del ponte qnatto quatto, 

Sicuramente omai a me ti riedi. 90 

Perch' io mi mossi, ed a lui venni ratto ; 



.vGooglc 



CAaro Ml, INFERNO. 253 

all pressed forward, bo that I feaied they might not 
hold the compact. And thus once I saw the footmen, 
who marched out under treaty from Caprona,' fear 
at seeing themselves among so many enemies. 

I drew near my Guide with my whole body, and 
turned not away my eyes from the look of them, 
which was not good. They lowered their drag-hooks, 
and kept saying to one another : " Shall I touch him 
on the rump ?" and answering : *' Yes, see thou nick 
him."* But that Demon, who had spoken with my 

E i DiATOli si fecer tntti avanti, 

S) cb' io temetti non teaesser patto. 
E cosi vid' io glk temer li fanti 

Ch' usciTan patteggiad di Caprona, 95 

Ve^endo ah tra nemici cotanti, 
Io m' accostai con tntta la persona 

Lungo il mio Duca, e non torceva gli occhi 

Dalla sembianzB lor, ch' era non boona. 
Ei chinaT&n gli raffi, e : Tuoi ch' io '1 tocchi 100 

Dicera 1' un con 1' altro, in sul groppone ? 

E rispondean ; S), & cbe gliele accocchi. 
Ma quel Demonio, cbe tenea sermone 

' The fortreia of CsproD^ on come to see the gurison mucb 

the Arao, belonging Co the F'aaita out, and temfied them by ihoat- 

(Ghibellmes), »u taken by the ing i Appieca, appicca! "Hang, 

Ouelphi of Laeca and Florence huig 1" See Com. of Benv. ila 

in Aaguit 1389. FUI. ^iL 137. ImoU, Ottimo, &c. 
Dimte, at that time 24 years of ' Properly, "nick it to hinL" 

age, VHS present (probably aa one GSelt, in all the older authors, 

at the "4O0 gentlemen troopers is indecUcable, standing equally 

from Florence") during the hriri' for glUla (sb here), glitla, gliell. 

and futioos siege. CrondsoFthe Cinon. /'orfic c. 119. Compare 

common people, it is aaid, had cantos i. M i xcdii 149, &c. 



.vGooglc 



S64 INFERNO. UNTD ui. 

Guide, turned instant round, and 8aid : " Quiet, 
quiet, ScaramigUone !"^ 

Then he said to us : " To go farther hy this cliff 
will not be possible ; for the sixth arch lies all in frag- 
ments at the bottom. And if it please you still to go 
onward, go along this cavern :^ near at hand is another 
cliff which forms a path. Yesterday, five hours later 
than this hour, a thousand two hundred and sizty-sLz 
years were fulfilled since the way here was broken.* 

Col Duca mio, ai volse tutto presto 

E disse : Posa, posa, Scanniglione. 105 

Poi disse a noi : Piil oltre andar per queato 

Scoglio nan a potri; peroccU^ giace 

Tutto spezzato al fondo 1' arco eesto : 
E se r andare avanti pur vi piace, 

Andfltevene su per quests grotta ; 1 10 

PiesBO h nn altro scoglio che via face, 
ler, pib oltre cinqu' ore che quest' otta, 

MiUe dugento con sessanta sei 

Anni compi^, che qui la via fu rotta. 

112. Ollafbiora: atiU used in Tuecui;. 



I "Great Unkempt,"or"Tow- 
ler" {scarmigUare) ; shwlavy re- 
pceBeDtatite of the disorder sod 
foul practice of barter;. 

* " Grotto," chaam of (he pitch. 

* This passage (lilic verse 1st, 
canto i.) indicates the time of 
Dante's descent. The " way here 
was broken" alter the Crucifixion 
(canto lit. 40), when " the earth 
did quake and the rocks rent." 



To 1266 add 34 (the nuinber at 
years ttoia the Nativity to the 

Crucifixion), and it ^Te« ISOO. 

Hell "trembled in every part' 
at the great event, nhereby " Death 
was swallowed up in Victoiy;" 
but the shock was most felt in 
the circles of the Violent (canto 
xii.) and of the Hypocrites (canto 
ziiiL) — hateful accusers and cru- 
oifiets of the Meek and Spotless. 



.vGooglc 



ciirro m, IKFERNO. 355 

Thitherrrard' I send some of theee iny men, to look 
if any sinner be out airing himself. Go with them ; 
for they will not he treacherous, 

" Draw forward, Alichino® and Calcabrina," he 
then hegan to say, " and thou, Cagnazzo ; and let 
Barbariccia lead the ten. Let Libicocco come be- 
sides, and Draghignazzo, tusked Ciriatto, and Graf- 
artd Far^ello, and furious Huhicante. 



lo mando verso ]h di qnesti miei 
A rigoBTclar s' alcnn ae ne sciorinA : 
Git« con lor, eh' ei non sanuiDO rei. 

Tratd avanti, Alichino e Calcabrina, 
Cominci6 egli a dire, e tu, Cagnazzo, 
E Barbariccia guidi la decina. • 

Libicocco Tegna oltre, e Draghignazzo, 
Ciriatto sannuto, e Graffiacane, 
B Forfarello, e Rubicante pazzo. 



' Toward that" other cliffwhich 
forma a path," vene 111. 

' In the names of tlieie ten 
Fienda tbiu mustered bj Mala- 
coda, Landino and ollien tni 
that Dante " expresses the pas- 
sions, habits, and deeds of Pecula- 
tors." The derivations aie parti; 
fanciful, yet not without some sha- 
dow of real significance. Thus : 
Alichino {ali china), "benda his 
ningB," read; to " atoop," and 
pounce. Calcabrina is " Tram- 
plegrace," or Peculation doing 
its woiki Cagnazzo {cane, canto 
lutiL 70), " Dogface," Barba- 



riccia {iaria atricnata), "Crisp- 
beard;" for, "according to phy- 
siognomists, the crisped or curled 
beard denotes frauduleney." Libi- 
cocco {Libia cocoo), "Blaekred" 
or " Scarletmoori" wearing the 
liyery of Hell. Dragbignazio 
{drago), "Dragonfaee;" Ciriatto 
(Xoi)k)i, eiro BtiU Tulgarly used 
for poreo), " Swiny ;" GrafEacane, 
" Dogacratcher ;" Farfarello (Jar- 
folia, butterfly, or farfarme), 
•• Hellbal^' or " Babbler ;" Rabi- 
cante, " Ruby" or " Bla2er,'' 
ledhot and mad with bartery. See 
them in ac^on, canto xiii. 



.vGooglc 



256 INFERNO. ctmo ai. 

Search around the boiling glue. Be these two 
guided safe to the other ciag, which all imbroken 
goes acroHB the dens."' 

" Oh me ! Master, what is this that I see ?" said I : 
" Ah, without escort let us go alone, if thoa knowest 
the way ; for as to me, I seek it not ! If thou beest 
so wary, as thou art wont, dost thou not see how 
they grin their teeth, and with their brows threaten 
mischief to us ?" 

And he to me : "I would not have thee be 
a&aid. Let them grin on at their will ; for they do 
it at the boiled wretches."* 

Cercate intorno le bollenti pane ; 

CoBlor sien Shlvi icsiDo all' altro scheggio, 125 

Che tutto intero va sovra le tane. 
me ! Maestro, che ^ quel che io veggio 1 

Diss' io : deh senza scorta audiamci soli, 

Se tu sa' ir, ch' io per me noa la cheg^^. 
Se tu sei si accorto come suoli, 130 

Non Tedi tu ch' ei digrignan 11 denti, 

E con le c^lia ne rainacdau dnoh ? 
Ed egli a me : Non to' che tu paventi : 

Lasciali digrignor pure a lor senno, 

Ch' ei fanno ci& per li lessi dolenti. 135 

124. P4me, panie, bird-lime, pitch. 

' Other cliff (verse 111) or line » Lit.; "They do thia for the 

of bridges, which oroBses the boiled doleful," i.e. for the linnera 
boiled in the pitch. Some good 
editions read Itii, inatead oC Icui, 



.vGooglc 



uEiw HI. INFEENO, 267 

By the sinister bank they turned ;' but first, each 
of them had pressed his tongue between the teeth,' 

toward their Captain ae a signal ; and he of his 

had made a trumpet' 

Per t' argine Bimstro Tolla dienno ; 

Ma prima avea ciucun la lingua stretta 

Co' deDti verso lor dues per ceano : 
Ed egli avea del col &tto trombetta. 



136. Diana, djedero ; ufeme, fecero. 



' Along the part of the bank 
■hicb lies on the left hand in 
dncmdiDg from the bridge. 

' The DemoDB think that Vit- 
gil nod Dante are caught \>y 
the liea of Malacoda ; and here 
among Barterers they make the 
ume base aignal, with their 
lo]igueB, as the Uaurer in canto 
Mii, 7*. 

The Poet menlioDS th«se thingi, 
Uf) PieCio di Danle, »t oitndat 



turjKi morel et actui honm laUum, 
" in order to shew the »ile habits 
and acta of such people." The 
Avuiciouf and Prodigal (canto 
yil), the Usurers (canto ivii.), 
and the Baiterera, deacead in re- 
gular degradation. All of them 
have "loslthe bright life" through 
worship of Money, which ia with 
Dante the basest of idols. 

' ScUiriyi i TfxiKTifi iffrir, &c. 
Aristoph. Nttbei, 165. 



.yCOOgIC 



.yCOOgIC 



AKGUMENT. 



The Demoni, under tlieir " great Macahal" Baibuiccia, lead tbe way, 
iloDg Uie edge at the boiling Pitcb ; and Dante, wbo keeps looking 
aharply, relates how he saw the Barterera lying in it, like frogt in 
ditch-water, with nothing hut their " muixles" out, and inatanllj 
yaniBhing at sight of Barbariccia; and how Graffiacane hooked 
one of them and hauled him up like a tresh-apeared otter, all the 
other DemoQS gathering round and setting on Rubicante to man- 
gle the unluck; wretch. At Dante'a request, Virg^ goes forwiiid, 
and asks him who he is ; and no sooner does the pitch; thief men- 
tion how he took to bartering in the service of worthy King Thi- 
bault of NaTarre, than he ia made to feel the bitter fiitce of Ciriatto'a 
tuaka. BarbaTiecia now clasps him with both arms, and orders the 
rest to be quiet, tiil Virgil has done with queBtioning. Bat " Scsr- 
letmoor" loses patience ; " Dngonface" too will have a clutch at 
the legs; Farfarella, "wicked Heil-bird" that he is, glares ready 
to strike I and their " Decurion" has dilficully in keeping them 
olE At last the cunning barterer, though Cagnazio raises hia 
dog-face in acomfiil opposition, plays offa trick h; which he con- 
triTea to escape. Thereupon Caleabiina and Alichino &11 to quar- 
relling, seize each odier like two mad Tultures, and drop into Ihe 
burning pitch ; and the whale troop ia left in fitting disorder. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO XXII. 

I HATE ere now seen horsemen moving camp, 
and commencing the assault, and holding l^eii mas- 
ter, and at times retiring to escape : coursers have 
I seen upon your land, AretinesP and seen the 
march of foragers, the shock of tournaments and 
race of jousts, now with trumpets, and now with 
bells,* with drums and castle-signals, and with na- 

lo Tidi gi& cavalier muover campo, 

E CDminciu'e stormo, e far lor mostra, 

E talvnlta partir per loro Bcuupo : 
Corridor vidi per la terra voatra, 

Aretini ; e vidi gir gualdane, 5 

Ferir tomeamenti, e correr giostra, 
Quando con trombe, e quando con campane. 

Con tamburi e con cenni di castella, 



' The people of Arezzo, chiefly 
G1iib«Uine, were almoBt coatinu- 
slly st nsi with the Florentines. 
They uid their allies were aorely 
defeated in the memorable battle 
of Campaldino, on Saturday, 1st 
June, 12S9. VULnllSl. Dante 
was there, as he aays, " no child 
in arma (iwn foKtutb) nell arm) ; 
and had much dread, and in the 
end great joy, through the TflrioUH 
chancei of that battle." See ex- 
tract trota B Iietter (written in his 
exile). L. Aielino, VUa di Dante, 



* Such aa the " Mutinella," 
the bell "to aoimd of which the 
Florentines used to march" in 
Dante'a boyhood ; and which they 
haughtily "rung day and night" 
before marching, in order " to 
give the enemy due warning to 
prepare." See the curious deacrip- 
tion of their old Canoccio, "all 
punted vermilion, and drawn by 
a large pair of oxen, deatined 
solely for that purpose," Ac. Ma- 
lupini, c. 1S4; copied by VUI. 
vi.75. 



.vGooglc 



tive thingB and foreign ; but neTer yet to eo uncouth 
a comet bslw I cavalierB nor footmen more, noi ship 
by mark of land or star. 

We Trent -with the ten Demons : Ah, hideous 
company ! but, ' In church with saints, and with 
guzzlers in the tavern.'* Yet my intent was on the 
pitch, to see each habit of the chasm and of the 
people that were burning m it. 

As dolphins, when mtii the arch of the back 
they make sign' to mariners that they may prepare 
to save their ship ; so now and then, to ease the 



E con cose uoslrali, e eon istrane ; 

N^ gik con Bi diverBa cennamella 
Cavalier vidi mover, n6 pedoni, 
N6 nave a segno di terra o di stella. 

Noi andavam con li dieci Dimoni : 
Abi fiera compagnia I ma nella chiesa 
Co' santi, ed in tavema co' ghiottoni. 

Pare alia pegola era la mia intesa, 
Per veder della bolgia ogni coutegno, 
£ della gente cb' entro t* era incesa. 

Come i deifini, qnando fanno segno 
Ai marinar con 1' srco della Bchiena, 
Che b' argomentin di campar lor l^^o : 

Talor coal ad alleggiar la pena 



•'i And, in this ehasm of the 
Feculat^, with lotF aaiage De- 
mons ; wboae company, though 
extremely detestable, must be ea- 
duted foi a time. 
' When the dolphins (" bended 



dolpbins" of Milton) rise iboie 
the water with their uched bscki, 
it ii a aiga of approaching stiinn. 
Plin; says : Delpftui tnm^nilla 
nwri (otdDieB/u jbtsn pramgiuat, 
&c. Hilt Nat. niii. 35. 



.vGooglc 



panishmect, Bome eiimer shewed liis back and hid 
in leBB tifite than it lightens. And as at the edge 
of the water of a ditch, die frogs stand only with 
their nosea out, and so conceal their feet and other 
bulk ; thus stood on every hand the sinners. But 
as Barbariccia approached, so they retired beneath 
the seething.^ I saw, and my heart still shudders 
thereat, one linger so, as it will happen that one 
fr(^ remains while the other spouts away. And 
Graffiacane, who was nearest to him,^ hooked his 
pitchy locks and haled him up, bo that to me he 
Beemed an otter.' 

I already knew the name of every one, so well 

Mostraya alcun de' peccatori il dosso, 
B SHScondeva in men cbe nou baleua. 

E come all' orlo dell' acqua d' iin fosso 25 

Stan li ronocchi pur col muso fiiori, 
81 cbe celano i piedi e 1' altro groaso ; 

Si stavan d' ogni parte i peccatori : 
Ma come a' appressava Barbariccia, 
Cos! si ritraean sotto i bollori. 30 

lo vidi, ed anche il caor mi s' accapricda, 
Uno aspettar cosi, com' egli incontra 
Che uua rana rimane, e l' altra spiccia. 

B GrafiBacan, cbe gli era piil di contra, 

Gli arroncigli6 le impegolate chiome, 35 

£ trassel su, cbe mi parve ana loatra. 

lo sapea gi& di tutti quanti il nome, 

' "Boilings" of the pitch. i * Oliltering with pitch, and 

' Iiit: " Wai most oppoeite to nrithing, like an otter nnrljr 

him," and therefore neareit | sprared and drafted out of water. 



.vGooglc 



UHTOXUi. IXFERNO. XOS 

I noted them as they were chosen, and when they 
called each other, listened how. " O Ilubicaiit«, 
see thou plant thy clutches on him, and flay him I" 
shouted together all the accursed crew. 

And I : " Master, learn if thou canst, who is 
that piteous wight^ fallen into the hand of his ad- 
Tersaries." My Guide drew close to him, and asked 
him whence he came ; and he replied : " I was bom 
in the kingdom of Kavarre. My mother placed me 
as eerrant of a lord ; for she had bore me to a ribald 
waster of himself and of his substance. Then I was 
domestic* with the good king Thibault:^ here I set 

8) li natai qaando fbrono eletti, 

E poi che si chiamaro, atted come. 
Rubicante, fa che tu gli metti 40 

Gli unghioni addosao ai che tu lo scuoj, 

OridaTan tutti insieme i maladetti. 
Ed io : Maestro mio, fa, se tu puoi, 

Che tu aappi chi h lo sciagurato 

Vennto a man degli STversarj Booi. 45 

Lo Daca mio gli s* accostd a iato, 

Domandollo ond' ei fosse ; e quel riepose : 

lo fui del regno di Navsrra nato. 
Mia madre a servo d' un signor mi pose, 

Ch6 m' avea generato d' un rlbaldo 50 

Distruggltor di s^ e di sue cose. 
Poi fui famiglia del baon re Tebaldo ; 

' The comiaentitOTt call this hold of." FimigUa meuis all the 

borterer Ciampolo or OUmpolo, seiranlB of s houie, or one oolf. 
ut. John PauL ' Thibault II. of Naiane, bom 

* Or: "SerraDt Id the bouw- in 1210,anilmadelcingst13 yean 



.vGooglc 



264 INFERNO. cano iixl 

myself to bartering, of which I render reckoning in 
thw heat" 

And Ciriatto, from whose mouth on either side 
came forth a tusk as &om a swine, made him feel 
how one of them did rip. Among wicked cats the 
mouse had come ; but Barbariccia locked him in 
his arms, and said : " Stand off whilst I enfork 
him!"' And turning to my Master: "Ask on," 
he said, "if thou wouldst learn more of him, before 
some other undo him." 

The Guide therefore : " Now say, of the other 
sinners knowest thou any that is a Latian,' beneath 
the pitch ?'* 

Quivi mi misi a far baratteria, 

Di cfae rendo ragione in qaeato caldo. 

B Ciriatto, a cut di bocca uada 55 

D' (^i parte una sanDa, come a porco, 
Gli fe' aentir come 1' una sdrucia. 

IVa male gatte era venuto il soteo ; 
Ma Barbariccia il cbiuse cod le bracda, 
E diase: State in lit, mentr' io lo inforco. 60 

E al Maestro mio volse la faccia : 
Dimanda, disse, ancor, ae piii disii 
Saper da lui, pnma ch' altri il diafaccia. 

Lo Duca dunque : Or di', degli altri rii 
CoDoad tu alcun che sia Latino, 65 



of age; was at Tunis with SL ' Hold him secureljr, clasp him 

Louis, and saw Mm die. San of with arms and legs, 

the Thibault whose verses Dante ' An Italian, Lat™> being used 

qootea in Oie Treatise De Valg. b; Viigril in this sense, as canto* 

flag. \.9; ii. S, 6. xiiii. 33, xxiz. S8, &c. 



.vGooglc 



ONTO lui. INFERNO. 26S 

And he : "I parted just now from one who was 
a neighbour of theira.^ Would I etiU were covered 
with him, for I should not fear claw nor hook !" 

And Libicocco cried: "Too much have we en- 
dured 1" and with the hook seized his arm, and 
mangling carried off the forepart. Draghignazzo, 
he too, wished to hare a catch at the legs below; 
whereat their Decurion* wheeled around around with 
evil aspect. 

When they were somewhat pacified, my Guide 
without delay asked bim that still kept gazing on 
his wound: " Who was he, from whom thou sayest 
that thou madest an ill departure to come ashore ?" 

Sotto Is pece ? E qaegli : lo mi partii 
Poco ^, da on che f u di li vicino : 

Cosi foss' io aucor con lui coverto, 

Cb' io UOD temerei ougbia, n^ uacino. 
E Libicocco ; Troppo avem sofferto, 70 

Disae ; e presegli il braccio coL ronciglio, 

SI che, stracciando, ne portd mi lacerto. 
Draghignazzo anch' ei voile dar dl pigUo 

Gift dalle gambe ; onde il decmio loro 

Si volse intomo intomo con mal pigUo. 7» 

Quand' elli nn poco rappaciati foro, 

A lui cb* ancor mirava sua ferita, 

Dimand6 il Duca mio senza dimoro : 
Chi 61 cclui, da cui mala partita 

Di' che facesti per venire a proda? 80 



' Lii ! " Neighbour beyond" I ' B«tbarieci«, capuin of Ten ; 
em, or in Sirdinia. See vet. 82, | " proTosl" or marshal, nnv 94. 



.vGooglc 



And he answered : " It was Friar Gomita, he of 
Gallnra,' Teasel of every fraud, who had hie master's 
enemies in hand, and did so to them that they all 
praise him fi>r it. Money took he for himself, and 
dismissed them smoothly,* as he says ; and in his 
other offices besides, he was no petty hat a soTereign 
barrator. With him keeps company Don Michel 
Zanche of Ix^odoro;* and in speaking of Sardinia 
the tongaes of them do not feel weary. Oh me I 
see that other grinning : I wonld say more ; but 
fear he is preparing to daw my scuif" 

And their great Marshal, turning to Farfarello 

Gd ei rispoBe i Fu frate GSomitA, 
Qoel di GJallura, vasel d' ogni froda, 

Ch' ebbe i nimici di sao domio in mano, 

G fe' lor b), che cisscnn se ne loda : 
Denar si tolse, e UscioUi di piano, 85 

8i com' ei dice : e neg^ altri nflcj ancbe 

Barattier fa non picciol, ma sovrano. 
Usa con esso donno Micbel Zanche 

Di Logodoro ; e a dir di Sardigna 

Le lingae lor non d aentono atanche. 90 

me ! vedete F altro cbe digtigna : 

lo direi ancbe ; ma io temo ch' ello 

NoQ B* apparecchi a graltarmi la tigna. 
E il gran propoato, Tolto a Farfarello 



' The govemoient of Qallura, go. Di piam, {Lit, de piano, 

one of the four Jurisdictions of Span, de llano), then s legal, or 

Sardinia, wan given to thia Gomita perhaps Saidinian phrase, 

by Nino de' Visconti of Piss. * I^odoro, anotlier of the Jd- 

' Took ■ bribe, and let tliem risdictions of Sardinia. 



.vGooglc 



ctHTO mi. INFERNO. 267 

•who rolled Ilia eyes to strike, said : " Gret thee hence, 
wicked bird I" 

" If you Trish to see or hear Toscane or Lom- 
bards," the firightened sinner then resumed, " I will 
make them come. Bat let the Malebranche stand a 
little back, that they may not fear their vengeance ;' 
and I, sitting ia this same place, for one that I am, 
will make seven come, on whistling as is our wont 
to do when any of ua gets out." 

Cagnazzo at these words raised his snout, shaking 
his head, and said : " Hear the malice, which he 
has contriTed, to throw himself under." 

Whereat he, who had artifices in great store, 

Che stralanavB gh occhi per ferire, 95 

Disse ! Fatti in costs, malvagio uccello, 
Se Toi Tolete vedere o udire, 

Bicomincid lo apaurato appreaso, 

ToBchi o Lombardi, io ne fiir6 venire. 
Ma stieu le Malebranche an poco in cesso, 100 

Si che Don teman delle lor vendette ; 

Ed io, aeggendo in qneato luogo atesao. 
Per un ch' io son, ne fftr6 venir sette, 

Qnaudo anfoler6, com' h nostr' uso 

Di fore allor che fdori alcun ai mette. 105 

Csgoeizzo a cotal motto lerb il muso, 

Grollando 11 capo, e disae : Odl malizia 

Ch' egli ha pensato per gittarai gimo. 
Ond' ei, ch' avea lacciuoli a gran divizia, 



' Let the Demona with tiieir I tlut my fellowi na.y not Snr theii 
" evil clutehes giw wiq' > little," { vengeoDce. 



.vGooglc 



258 INFBBNO. CiMM mi. 

repKed : " Too malicious indeed 1 wlieii I contrive 
for my companions greater sorrow." 

Alichino held in no longer, and in oppoeition 
to the others said to him : " If thou descend, I will 
not follow thee at gallop,' but beat my wings above 
the pitch. Ivet the height be left, and be the bank 
a screen f to see if thou alone prevailest over ub." 

O Reader, thou shalt hear new sport. All turned 
their eyes toward the other side, he first who had 
been most unripe^ for doing it. The Nayarrese chose 
well hie time ; planted his soles upon the ground, 
and in an instant leapt and &om their purpose &eed 



mspose : Malizioso son io troppo, 
Quondo procDTO a' mlei maggior tristizia ! 

Alichin Don ai tenne, e di rintoppo 
Ag1i altri, disse a Ini : Se tn ti cali, 
Io Don ti venb dietro di galoppo. 

Ma batterf) sovra la pece 1' all : 
Lascisi il colle, e sia la ripa ecudo, 
A veder se tu sol piil di noi vali, 

O tn, cbe le^, udinu naovo ludo : 

Ciascun dall' altra costa gli occhi volse ; 
Quel prima, ch' a ci6 fare era piil crude. 

Lo Navarrese ben euo tempo colse ; 
Fermft le piante a terra, e in un punto 
Saltjt, e dal propoato lor ai sciolae : 



110 



' Will not run, bul fly after 
thee ; hare wings as nell as teet. 

' Banka high in the middle, 
md capable of being B acreen OT 
" shield" to hide the demons. 



* Cagnazzo (Teise 106), who 
had been hardest to persuade, vho 
turned up his snout, smelling the 
trick at once. Crudo li-am LsL 



.vGooglc 



timaelt Thereat each Bnddenly was stui^ with rage,- 
bat he most who had been cause of the mistake.' 
He therefore started forth, and shouted : " Thou'rt 
caught !" But little it availed ; for the wings could 
not outspeed the terror. The sinner went under ; 
and he, flying, raised up his breast.' Not otherwise 
the duck suddenly dives down, when the Mcon ap- 
proaches ; and he returns up angry and defeated. 

Calcabrina, furious at the trick, kept flying after 
him, desiroua that the sinner might escape, to have 
a quarrel : and, when the barterer had disappeared, 
he turned his talone on his fellow, and was clutched 
with h 'm above the ditch. But the other was in- 

Di che daecun di colpo fti compunto. 

Ma quel piil, che cagion fu del difetto. 125 

PeW) si mosBe, e gnA6 : Tu ee' ginnto. 
Ma poco valse ; chh 1' ale al sospetto 

Non potero avanzar : quegli ando sotto, 

E qud drizzi, volando, bubo il petto. 
Non altrimenti I' anitra di hotto, 130 

Qnando il &lcon ^ appressa, gib a' attnfia, 

Ed ei ritorna en crucciato e rotto. 
Irato Calcabrina della bufTa, 

Volando dietro gh teuDe, invaghito 

Che quel campaeae, per aver la zufla. 135 

E come il barattier fu disparitOj 

Cos} volse gli artigli al sno compagno, 

E fu con Ini sovra il fusao ghermito. 

■ AlichiaaCseefene 112,&c.), I * Wheeled upwards again, like 
who nude the rest retire. | an angr; fdcon. 

aa2 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



870 INFERNO. ciMTO «ii. 

deed a sparrovhawk to clav him veil ; and both 
dropt doTFn into the middle of the boiling marsh. 
The heat at once unclutched' them ; but rise they 
could not, their wings were ao beglued. Barbariccia 
with the rest lamenting, made four of them fly over 
to the other coast with all their drags : and most 
rapidly, on this side, on that, they descended to 
the stand. They stretched theii hooks towards the 
limed pair, who were already scalded within the 
crust.* And we left them thus embroiled.^ 

Ma 1' altro fa bene sparrier grifagno 

Ad ortdgliar ben loi; e ambedae 140 

Csdder nei mezzo del boUente staguo. 
Lo caldo Bghermitor subito fue : 

Ma per6 di levarei era niente, 

Si aveano iuviscate 1' ale sne. 
Barbariccia con gli altri snoi doiente, 145 

Quattro ne fe' volar dall' altra costa 

Con tutti i raffi : e aasai prestamente 
Di qu& di \k discesero alia poata ; 

Porser gU uncioi verso gl' impanjati, 

Ch' eran gift cotd dentro dalla crosta. 150 

E noi lasciammo lor cost impacciati. 



■ The noid ightrmilor (irn- 
clutcher, Eepaiator) camei from 
ghermire, to gripe, clutch. Some 
editiane have KhermilBr, instead 
of ighermlcir, in rene 142. 

* Of boilhig pilch (hat was 
clinging to them. Venei 141-4. 



■ The simile of the frog and 
mouse, in next canto, will be 
Dante's last parCiog atrote. He 
himself was exiled, as we know, 
onder a miserable charge of " Ihu'- 
tery" which he never took the 
trouble of denying. 



.yCOOgIC 



AEGUMENT. 



Danle keeps following his Guide in eilence, with head bent down, 
meditating on the things he hu had to witneaa in that chiam of 
the pitch. The &ble of the ftog and the mouaa cornea into Ms 
niind ; then fear that the ugly Demoni may aeek Tengeance foe 
their misfortune. He aeea them coming with outstretched wings, 
when Virgil takes him in liia arma, and rapidly glides down with 
him into the next chasm. Here they find the Hypocrites walking 
along the narrow bottom in alow procession, heavy-laden with 
cloaks of lead, vhich are gilded and of dazzling brightness on 
the outside. Dante speaks with Catalono and Loderingo, two 
Friars of Bologna, who had been appointed chief magistratea of 
Florence under trying circumstances, and brought memorable 
diaaaters on that city by their hypocrisy and barterj ; and has 
just begun to tell them what he thinks of their eiil deeds, when 
he observes Caiaphaa stretched across the narrow road, and fixed 
to it, ia such a way that all the other Hypocrites have to trample 
on him as they pass. The sight of that High Priest and bis igno- 
minious punishment is enough. Hypocrisy did ita very utmost 
in him and " the others of that Council," for which the Jews still 
suffer. The Poets hasten away to another class of sinners. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XXIII. 

Silent, apart, aud without escort we went on, 
the one before and the other after ; as the Minor 
Friars' go their way. My thought was turned, by 
the present strife, to ^sop's fable where he speaks 
of the &og and mouse ^ for Ay and Yea pair not 
better,^ than does the one case with the other, if 
with attentive mind liie beginning and end of each 
be well accoupledJ And as one thought from the 

Taciti, Boli, e senza compagnia 

N' andavam L'un dioanzi e 1' altro dopo. 

Come i frati Minor vanao per via. 
Volto era in au la faTola d' Isopo 

Lo mio penaier per la preaente risaa, 5 

Dot' ei parlfi della rana e del topo : 
Cb& piil non si par^gia mo ed iasa, 

Che r mi coU' altro fa, se ben s' accoppia 

Frincipio e fine con la mente fiasa : 
E come 1' un pensier dell' altro scoppia, 10 



■ Silent and bent like bumble 
Friars ; Ihougbtftil. 

' In the table (bere attributed 
to ^sop), a cauntiy mouse makes 
friendship witb a lieacberous frog. 
They spend some time pleasantl.v 
and dine together, and the frog 
gets the foot of the mouse tied lo 
bis own : then, coming to a 1 
and croaking jojliilly, he takea 
the water with his fiiend ; but a 



kiU s 



s the n 



face, pounces on him, pulls out 
the ftog too, and deTouie both. 

* Or ; "are not more alike," 
&£. The words in the original 
both mean "now," and they olten 
occur in Dante. Ma (Lat moto) 
is still used in Lombardy, and 
fsM (hSo iptd horS) in TuEcany. 

* " Brought together and eom- 
pared." The one Demon gladly 
seeks to injure the olher, and 
both tall into the pitch. 



.vGooglc 



cuno nin. IITFERKO, S78 

Other bursts, so rose from that another then, which 
made my first fear double. I thus bethought me : 
" These through us axe put to scorn, and with hurt 
and mockery of such sort, as I believe must greatly 
Tex them. If rage be added to their malice, they 
will pursue us, fiercer than a dog the leveret that 
he snaps !" 

Already I felt my hair all rise with fear ; and 
stood looking back intently,' as I said: "Master, if 
thou do not hide thyself and me speedily, I dread 
the Malebranche : they are already after us. I so 
imagine them that I hear them now." 

And he : " If I were of leaded glass,* I should 
not draw thy outward image more quickly to me, 

Cos! nacqne di qaetio un altro poi, 

Che la prima paura mi fe' doppia, 
* lo pensava coal : Questi per nol 

Sono Bchemiti, e con danno e con beSa 

81 &tta, ch' aesai credo che tor ndi. 13 

Se r ira sovra il mal voler a' agguefia, 

Ei ne verramio dietro pift crudeli, 

Che cane a quella lewe ch' egli acceffii. 
Oik mi sentia tutto arricciar U pell 

Delia paura, e stava indietio intento, 20 

Quanda io dissi : Maestro, se non cell 
Te e me tostameute, io parento 

Di Malebranche : noi gli avem gi^ dietro : 

lo gli imma^o s), che ^ gll eento. 
E quel : S' io fossi d' impiombato vetro, 25 

L' immagine di itior toa non trarrei 

■ " Wu backwards intenC." | * If I were il mirroi-glaES. 



.vGooglc 



274 INFERNO. oiHio mil, 

thaa I impress' that £rom witliiii. Even now tiij 
thoughts have entered among mine, with similai act 
and similar face; so that of hoth I have made one 
xesolye. In case the right coast so slopes, that we 
may descend into the other chasm, we shall escape 
the imagined chase." 

He had not ended giving this resolve, when I 
saw them come with wings extended, not far off, in 
will to seize us. My Guide suddenly took me ; as 
a mother, that is awakened by the noise, and near 
her sees the burning flames, who takes her child 
and flies, and caring more for him than for herself, 
pauses not so long as even to cast a shift aboat her. 

Piti tosto a me, che qnella dentro impetro. 
Pur mo venieno i tuoi peDsier tia i miei 

Con simile atto e con simile facda. 

Si che d' entrambi on sol cousiglio (a. 30 

S' egli i, che si la destra costa giacda, 

Che Doi poBsiam nell' altra bolgia scendeie, 

Noi fnggirem 1' immaginata cacda. 
Gi& non compjo di tal con^lio rendere, 

Ch' io gli Tidi renir con 1' ale tese, 35 

Non molto limgi, per Toleme prendere. 
Lo Duca mio di subito mi prese. 

Come la madre ch' al romore b desta, 

E Tede presao a b£ le fin-mmp acceae, 
Che prende il figUo, e fugge, e non s' arresta, 40 

Avendo piii di lui che di sh coxa, 

Tanto che solo ana camicia vesta : 



.vGooglc 



cuno lua. INFEBNO. S75 

And down from the ridge of the hard bank, supine 
he gave himself to the pendent rock,' which shuts 
one side of the other chasm. 

Never did water ran so fast through spout to 
turn a land-mill's' wheel, when it approaches nearest 
to the ladles, as my Master down that bank, carry- 
ii^ me away upon his breast, as his son and not as 
his companion. Scarcely had his feet reached the 
bed of the depdi below, when they reached the 
height above ns: but no fear it gave him; for the 
high Providence, that willed to place them ministers 
of the &fii ditch, takes the power of leaving it firom all. 

E gift dal collo della ripa dan 

Sapin si diede alia pendente rocdo, 

Che r mi de' lati sU' altra bolgia tura. 45 

Non corse mai b) tosto acqua per docda 

A volger mota di mulin terragno, 

Qnand' ella piil verso le pale approccia, 
Come il MaeBtro mio per quel rivagu o, " 

Portandosene me sovra il aao petto, 50 

Come Buo figlio, e nou come compagno. 
Appena furo i pi^ eaoi giasd al letto 

Del fondo giii, ch' ei giunsero in sul colle 

SovresBo noi : ma non gli era aospetto ; 
Chh V alta Proridenza, che lor voile 55 

Porre miniatri della fossa quiuta, 

Potere indi partirBi a tntti tolle. 

' Placed himself supine, and a trough or spouL Dante here 

ahat down the sleep rock, or takes hia image from the poorest 

outer boundat; of next chasm. kind of mills ; ■■ he took that 

* Mill on land i where water ia of the mother from some humble 

scarce, and led to the wheel in Italian cottage od file. 

U.,.VK.yG00glc 



276 INFBKNO. canoitiu. 

There beneath we found a painted people, who 
were going round with Bteps exceeding slow, weep- 
ing, and in their look tired and overcome. They 
had cloaks on, with deep hoods before tiieir eyes, 
made in the shape' that they make for the monks 
at Cologne. Outward they are gilded,* so that it 
dazzles ; but within all lead, and so heavy, that Fre- 
derick's compared to them were straw.' O Vfeaif 
mantle for eternity I 

We turned again to the left hand,* along with 
them, intent upon their dreary weeping. But that 



Laggiii trovammo una gente dipinta, 
Che giva intoEDo assai con lenti passi, 
I^angendo, e nel semblante stanca e vinta. 

Egli avean cappe cod cappncci bassi 
Biuanzi agli occhi, fatte della taglia 
Che per li monaci in Cologna fasai. 

Di fuor dorate son, st cb' egli abbaglia ; 
Ma dentro tutte piombo, e gravi tanto, 
Che Federigo le mettea di paglia. 

in etemo fatJcoso manto ! 

Noi ci Tolgemmo ancor pnre a man manca 
Con loro insieme, intenti al triato pianto : 



Bitlll 



.^et 



' " Woe unto you, Scribes and 
PhariBeea, hypocrites 1 for ye are 
like unto whited sepulchrea, which 
indeed appear beautiful outward, 
but are within full of dead mea'a 
boDGB and all uncleanneu." Hall. 
xxiii. 27. " Ood shall amite thee, 
thou whited wiE" Aett xxiiL 3. 



' Lit, ! " That Frederick put 
tliem of straw," light as straw. 
Frederick II. ia aaid to have burnt 
in leaden cloaks thoae who were 
guilty of high treaaon ; and some 
of the Popes are aaid to hare fol- 
lowed his example. See Ducange, 
GUa. V. Capa Or cappa ptuabea. 

* As before. Canto JxL 137. 



.vGooglc 



c*Mio nm. IHFEBNO. 277 

people, wearied by their borden, came so slowly 
tliat our company was new at every moTement of 
the hip. Wterefore I to my Guide : " See that 
thou find some one who may by deed or name be 
known ; and more thy eyes around as we go on." 

And one, who understood the Tuscan word, 
cried after us : " Stay your feet, ye who run so hst 
throi^h the brown air. Perhaps thou shalt obtain 
from me that which thou askest." Whereat my 
Guide turned round, and said : " "Wait, and then 
at bis pace proceed." 

I stood still, and saw two, shewing by their, look 
great haste of mind to be with me ; but the load and 
the narrow way retarded them. When they came 
up, long with eye askance they viewed me, without 

Ma per la peso qnella gente stanca 70 

Venia si pian, che uoi eraTun nnovi 

Di compagDiB ad ogni muover d' anca. 
Per ch' io al Dnca mio : Fa che tu trovi 

AlcuD, ch' al &tto o al nome si conoBca ; 

E gli occhi, b1 andando, intomo muori. 75 

Ed mi, che intese la parola Tosca, 

Dirietro a noi grid6 : Tenete i piedi, 

Voi, che corrate s) per 1' aura fosca i 
Forse ch' ayrai da me quel che tu chiedi. 

Onde il Duca ei volse, e diase : Aspetta, 60 

E poi secondo il sno passo procedi. 
Riatetti, e vidi duo mostrar gran &etta 

Dell' animo, col nso, d' eaaer meco ; 

Ma tardavagli il carco e la ria stretta. 
QoaDdo fur gionti, assai con 1' occhio bleco 85 



.vGooglc 



278 ' IKFESNO. cahto iuil 

uttering a word. Then they turned to one another, 
and said between them: "That one seems alive by 
the action of his throat ! And if they are dead, by 
what privilege go they divested of the heavy stole ?" 
Theti they said to me : " O Tuscan, that art come 
to the college' of the sad hypocrites! to tell ns 
who thou art disdain not." 

And I to them : " On Amo's beauteous river, 
in th^ great city^ I was bom and grew ; and I am 
with the body that I have always had. But you, 
who are ye from whom distils such sorrow as I see, 
down your cheeks ? And what pain is on ye that 
glitters 80 V 

Mi rimiraron senza far parola ; 

Poi si volsero in sfe, e dicean eeco t 
CoBtui par vivo all' atto della gola. 

E s' d son morti, per qual privile^ 

Vanno scoverti dellA grave stola? 90 

Poi diBsermi : Tosco, ch' al collegio 

Degl' ipocriti tristi se' vennto, 

Dir chi tu se' non avere in dispregio. 
Ed io a lore : I' fill nalo e creaciuto 

Sovra il bel fiume d' Amo alia gran villa, 95 

E son col corpo ch' i' bo sempre avulo. 
Ma voi chi siete, a cui tanto distilla, 

Quanf io veggio, dolor giil per le guance ? 

E che pena fe in voi, che si sfa^lla? 



' " Congregation ofhjpocrileB." 
JoiCT. 34. " Hjpocritea, ofa sad 
oouBtBEanoe" {kypocrita triitei 
Vulg.). MBll-ii. 16. 

> " The ^leat (md moit bmou« 



daughter of Rome, Florence .... 
in which I was barn, uid nourished 
even to the summit of my life," 
&e. See CmmtB (Tr. i S), where 
he speaks of his exile. 



.vGooglc 



cuno mil. INFBSNO. 279 

And one of them replied to me : " Our orange^ 
mandes are of lead so tMck, that the weights thus 
cause their scales to creak. We were Jovial Friare,* 
and Bolognese : I named Catalano, and Loderingo he ; 
and by thy city chosen together, as usually one solitary 
man is choseu, to maintain its peace. And ve were 
such, that it yet appears' round the Gardingo." 



E r un rispose a me : Le cappe ranee 

Son di piombo si grosse, che 11 peai 
Fan cost cigolar le lor bilancc. 

Fiati Godenti fummo, e Bologneei, 
lo Catalaoo, e costui Loderingo 
Nomati ; e da tua terra inaieme presi. 

Come socle esser tolto ud nom solingo 
Per conservar sua pace : e fanuno tali, 
Ch' ancor si pare intomo dal Gardingo. 



100 



' " Gilded" (ver. 61) i an< 
a weight to make us tremble like 
an orerchuged bsiance. 

' Friaca or " Knighls of St 
Marj," instituted bj Urban IV. ; 
and allowed to retain their worldl; 
goods, under a solemn tow of be- 
coming " Feacemakers, defenders 
of all orphans and widows," &c. 
Nicknamed Frali Godenti (jovial 
friais) from their actual life. See 
Benv. da Imola Com. 

In 1266, the news of the defeat 
and death ofManfced caused gieat 
agitation in Florence ; and the 
Ghibellinea (at that lime masters 
of the city), "io order lo satisfy 
the people," chose both Catalano 
and Loderingo (one a Ouelph and 



(he other a Ghibelline) to be chief 
magistrates, instead of choosing 
in the usual way only one chief 
magistrate or Podesta — one stran- 
ger (" solitary" or party-free), as 



the 1 



require 



" Thesi 



under cover of false hypo- 
crisy were in concord, more for 
their own gain than for the public 
good." MotejptBi, c. 183 ; Fit, 

' " It yet appears uihat wt 
leere." Bailereia and hypocrites 
at the same time, we took a bribe 
&om the Guelphs who burnt and 
laid waste the houses of the 
Uberti &c. in the street called 
Gardingo. Ben>. da Imola, Can- 
See also note, p. 108. 



.vGooglc 



^0 INFERNO. ouno mu. 

I begab ; " FriarSj your eTil" — But said no 
more, for to my eyes came one, cross-fixed in the. 
ground with three EtakeB. When he saw me, he 
writhed all over, blowing into his beard with sighs. 
And Friar Catalano, who perceived this, said to me ; 
" That confixed spirit, on whom thou lookest, coun- 
selled the Pharisees that it was expedient to put 
one man to tortures for the people.' Traverse and 
naked he is upon the road, as thou seest; and has 
to feel the weight of every one that passes.' And 
after the like fashion his father-in-law' is racked in 

lo coroinciai : Prati, i vostri mali .... 

Ma pit noQ dissi, ch' agli occhi ml corse 1 10 

Un crocifisBO in terra con tre pali. 
Quando mi vide, tatto si distorse, 

SofBando nella barba co' sospiri. 

£ il fntte Catalan, ch' a dd s' accorse. 
Mi diase : Qael confitto, che tu miri, 115 

Gonsigli6 i Farisei, che convenia 

Porre nn uom per lo popolo a' martiri. 
AttraveTeato e nudo h per la via. 

Come ta Tcdi ; ed h mcstier che senta, 

Qualnnqne passa, com' ei pesa pria. 120 

£! a tal modo il suocero si stenta 

121. Si itenta is stretched ot tacked. StetUan 
now means to toll, »ufler, lack, be stiated ot, &o. 



' Caiaplua, nho Baid; "It ii 
expedient for us that one man 
should die for the people." Jidm, 
xi. SO. 

' Lit.: " It ia necessary that he 



feel hov vhoever paaaea weighs 
before" passing. The hypocrites, 
with their heaij loads and short 
steps, have all to trample on him. 
'' Annas. Jeln zriii. 13, 24. 



.vGooglc 



ciHTO xan. INFERKO. 381 

this ditch, and the others of that Council, which was 
a seed of evil for the Jews." 

Then I saw Virgil wonder over him that was 
distended on the cross so ignominiouHly in the eter- 
nal exile. He afterwards addressed the Friar thus : 
" Let it not displease you, so it be lawful for you, 
to tcU us if on the right hand lies any gap hy which 
we both may go out hence, without constraining the 
Black Angels to come and extricate us from this 
depth," 

So he answered : " Nearer than thou dost hope, 
there is a stone that moves from the Great Barrier,^ 
and hridges all the cruel valleys, save that in this 
'tis broken and covers it not. Ye may mount up 

In qnesta fossa, e gli altri del Concilio, 

Che fu per li Giadei mala semeuta, 
Allor vid' io maniTigliar Virgiljo 

Sopra colui, ch' era disteso in croce 125 

Tanto vilmente nell* etemo esilio. 
Poscia drizz6 al Frate cotal voce -. 

Non dispiaccia, se n lece, dirci 

Se alia man destra giace alcuaa foce, 
Onde noi ambedue possiamo uscirci 130 

Senza costringer degU angeli neri, 

Che vegnan d' esto fondo a dipartirci. 
Rispose adunque : Pitl cfae to uoa speri 

S' appressa nn ^asso, che dalla gran cerchia 

Si muove, e varca tnttl i vallon feri, 135 

Salvo ch' a qneato 6 rotto, e nolcoperchia. 

' Or circular vail of the great i vhete Oeijon had landed the 

shift; the iion-coloored toc\ \ Fo«ts. Cuito xviii. 3. 
BBS . 



.vGooglc 



by its niinB, which slope down Uie side, and oh the 
bottom make a heap."^ 

The Guide stood still a while with head bent 
down, ^en said : " Falsely did he* tell the way, who 
hooks the sinners yonder." 

And the Friar : " At Bologna^ once I heard many 
of the Devil's vices told ; amongst which, I heard 
that he is a liar and the father of lies." 

Then with large steps my Guide went on, some- 
what disturbed with anger in his look : whereat I 
from the laden spirits departed, following the prints 
of his beloved feet. 

Moutar potrete au per la mina, 

Cli^gwce in costa, e nel foudo soperchia. 
Lo Baca stette un poco a testa china, 

Poi disse : Mai contava la bisogna 140 

Colui, che i peccator di 14 ondna. 
E il Frate ; lo ndi' g^k dire a Bologna 

Del Diavol vizj ami, tra i qoali udi', 

Ch' egli 6 bugiardo e padre di menzt^na. 
Appreaso il Daca a gran passi sen g), 145 

Tnrbato on poco d' ira nel sembiante : 

Ond' io dagl' incaccati mi parti' 
Dietro alle paste delle care piante. 



' Fragmenta of ibt btiige, 
which Itill " lie on the tide, and 
rise above the bottom" of tlie 
ehsBm, as when they fell. 

' Lit: "Badly told h« the mat- 
ter." Malacoda, canto ziL 106. 



e noted (i>r teU- 



• Bologna m 
ing the Devil'i vicea than 
avoiding; them 1 " College" o 
hypocriteB (rene 91), with theii 
aeriptural phrases. Compare eanti 
x'i>. SS, &o. 



Ibr 



.yCOOgIC 



ABGUMENT. 



II this canto, the vehement despair of the poor Italian peaauit, who 
bu DO food for hia ihcep, and thinks he is going to lose them, 
gives a lively imsge of Dante'a depeodence on his mystic Guide ; 
vhUe the Sun with fresheoe*! hair (Criniiai ApoUo, J£n. bt. 638) 
pointa to the real Viigil, Here too on the shattered bridge, as at 
the foot of the Hill in canto first, belp in many senses is necessary; 
and Dante, put quite out of breath by climbing from the den of 
the Hypocrites, uts down eihsueted, Virgil reminds him of their 
Mission — of the great things vhich lie beyond this painful journey 
through Hell — and he rises inatanlly; and "keeps speaking," as 
(hey go on, " that he may not seem faint" la the Seventh Chum, 
vhioh is veiy dark and tilled with hideous serpents, they find the 
Thieves ; and gel speech of Vanni Fucci, who pillaged the sacristy 
of St Janies in Piatoia, though another was hanged for it He is 
ashamed at being found amongst the Thieves, and reeogniaed by 
Dante, who bad "seen him a man of blood and brutal passions i" 
and he foretels the disasters that will lead to the Poet's exile. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO XXIV. 

Ik that part of the yoatlifal year,' when the Sun 
tempers his locks beneath Aqoarim, and the nights 
already wane towards half the day ; when the hoar- 
frost counterfeits his white sister's image, but short 
while lasts the fashion of his plumes ^ the peasant, 
whose stock of fodder fails, rises, and looks, and 
sees the fields all white ; vhereat he snutes his 
thigh,' goes back into the house, and to and &o 
laments like a poor wight who knows not what to 



In qnella parte del giovinetto anno, 
Che il Sole i criu sotto 1' Aqnario tempra, 
E giii le notti al mezzo dl sea vanno ; 

Qnando la brina in sn la terra assempra 
L' immagine di sua sorella tuanca, 
Ma poco dura aUa sua penna tempra ( 

liO liUanello, a cni la niba numca. 
Si leva e gnarda, e vede la campagca 
BiB]iGhe^;iar tutta, ond' ei si batte 1' ancs ; 

Bitoma a casa, e qua e li si lagna. 

Come il tapin che nan sa che si faccia ; 



' In February, when the Sun 
''freBhena his hjur^ (gives varmer 
TBjs) uoderthe sign of AquariuBj 
when the nights " go away," grow 
•horter towards the equinoi ; and 
the btwi-froslA look like uiow, 
bat are soon melted. In Italy 
the day u leckoned fjrom anntet 



to Bunsel ; so that the maxe i 
is twelve hours after nmiet 

* " Cut or make oThis pen." 

• " Cry and howl .... snu 
(hereTore upon thy thigh." Ba 
Ud. 12. A4 ^ rir' 4iuiiir 
ml ft mw\-fnrTO fni(>^- "■'' 
iiil62. 



Iliad. 



.vGooglc 



do ; then comes out again, and recovers hope, ob- 
serving how the world has changed its face in little 
time ; and ta^ea his staff, and chases forth his lambs 
to feed. Thus the Master made me despond, when 
I saw his brow so troubled j* and thus quickly^ to the 
sore the planter came. For when we reached the 
scattered bridge, my Guide turned to me_ with that 
sweet aspect which I saw before at the foot of the 
mountain.' He opened his arms after haTing chosen 
some plan within himself, first looking well at the 
roin, and took hold of me. And as one who works, 
and calculates, always seeming to provide before- 
hand ; so, lifting me up towards the summit of one 

Poi riede, e la speranza ringavagna, 
Veggendo il mondo aver cangiata faccia 

In poco d' era ; e prende auo Tincastro, 

E ^or le pecorelle a pascer caccia : 15 

Cos) mi fece abigottir lo Mastro, 

Qiund' io gli vidi st hubar la fronte, 

B coal toato al mal giunse lo impiastro. 
Ch& come noi venimmo al guaato ponte, 

Lo Duca a me ai volse con qael piglio 20 

Dolce, ch' io vidi in prima a pi£ del mout«. 
Le braccia aperse, dopo alcnn consigho 

Eletto aeco, riguardando prima 

Ben la mina, e diedemi di piglio. 
E come quei che adopera ed istima, 25 

Che aempre par che isnanzi si provveg^ ; 

Cost, levando me an v^r la cima 

> See CBnio xxiii. 146. | ■ Becalli ouita i. 64, &c. 



.vGooglc 



blodt, he viewed another splinter, saying : " Now 
clamber over that, but try first if it will carry thee." 

It was no way for one clad with cloak of lead s 
for Bcarcely we, he light and I pushed on, could 
mount up from hold to hold. And were it not that 
on that precinct' the ascent was shorter than on the 
other, I know not about him, hut I certainly had 
been defeated. But as Malebo^e all hangs towards 
the entrance of the lowest well, the site of every 
valley imports that one side rises and the other de- 
scends.^ We, however, cajue at lei^th to the point 
from which the last stone' breaks off. The breath was 

D' un ronchione, awiaavB un' altra Bcheg$;ia, 

Dicendo : Sovra quella poi t' a^^appa ; 

Ma tenta pria b' ^ tal ch' ella ti reggia. 30 

Noil era via da vestito di cappa, 

Chg noi a pena, ei lieve ed io sospiutOi 

Pot«Tam Bu montar di chiappa in chiiqppa. 
E se non fosse, che da quel precinto, 

Pitl che dall' altro, era la costa corta, 35 

Non Bo di lui, ma io sarei ben vinto. 
Ma perch^ Malebolge in v€r la porta 

Del bassisBimo pozzo tatta pende, 

Lo sito di ciascona voUe porta, 
Che r una coBta surge e 1' altra scende : 40 

Noi pur venimmo al fine in bu la punta 

Onde r uldma pietra si scoscende. 



' Tbal inneT boundary. 

' The whole place tends down- 
wsrds to Satan ; and tbe lalle; a, 
lying like sncceBBive ringa on the 



Bteep hanging ground, hare the 
outer aide high and the inner low. 
Compare oanto zviiL 
' LiBt ttaoe of the ruin. 



.vGooglc 



(UNTO xa". INFERNO. 287 

SO exhausted firom my lungs,^ when I was up, that 
I could no &rther; nay, seated me at my first ar- 
riTal, 

" Now must thou free thee thus^ from sloth," 
said the Master ; " for sitting on down, or under 
coverlet, men come not into feme ; without which 
whoso consumes his life, leaves such vestige of him- 
self on earth, as smoke in air or foam in water. And 
therefore rise I Conquer thy panting with the soul, 
that conquers every battle, if with its heavy body it 
sinks not down.^ A longer ladder must be climbed.* 

La lena m' era del polmon si mnnta 

Qiimido foi Bn, ch' io non potea piil oltre, 

Anzi m' assiei nella prims giunta. 45 

Omai convien che tu cost ti spoltre, 

Disse il Maestro ; cbg, seggendo in piuma. 
In foma non si vien, nh sotto coltre : 

Saoza la qiul chi sua vita cOBsuma, 
Cotal vesligio in terra di b6 lascia, 50 

Qual fununo in aere, o in acqoa la Bchinma ; 

E per6 lera su, vind 1' ambascia 

CoQ r animo che vince ogni battaglia, 
8e col sue grave corpo non s* accascia. 

Pii) lunga Bcala coovien che u saglia : 55 



' Lit; "So milked bom m; 

' Thiu, by this bird and toil- 
some jcmme;, hast thau to roiue 
thyself, to cast off dl slolh and 
all poltroonery for erer. Spollre 
(jpottrora or ipollrire) from pol- 
Irirc, " to lie idle, inert." Hence 



also polirmt, " a do-notliitig, an 
idler or poltroon." 

■ " The corruptible body press- 
eth down the aoul, uid the earthly 
taberaacle ireigheth down the 
mind that museth upon many 
things." tfitd. it. 15. 

* Compare cauto L 118, &c. 



.vGooglc 



To have quitted these is not enough. If thou un- 
deistandeet me, now act ao that it may profit thee." 

I then rose, shewing myself better AimiBhed with 
breath than I felt, and said : " Go ; for I am strong 
Rnd confident." We took our way up the cliff, which 
was rugged, narrow, and difficult, and greatly steeper 
than the former. Speaking I went,' that I might not 
seem faint ; whereat a voice came from the other foss, 
unsuitable for forming words.^ I know not what it 
said, though I already was on the ridge of the arch 
which crosses &ere ; but he who spake seemed 
moved to anger. I bad turned myself downwards ; 
but the living eyes could not reach the bottom for 

Non basta da costoro esser pBrdto : 

Se ta m' inteudi, or fa st che ti Taglia. 
Levitmi allor, moetrandomi fomito 

Meglio di lena ch' io non mi sentiB ; 

E dissi : Va, ch' io son forte e ardito. 60 

Su per Io scoglio prendemmo la via, 

Ch' era ronchioao, stretto e malagevole, 

Bd eito piit assai che quel di pria. 
Farlando andava per non parer fievole, 

Onde m)a voce ubcIo dall' altro fosso, 65 

A parole formar disconvenevole. 
Non 80 che disse, ancor che sovra il dosso 

Fosri dell' arco g^ che varca quivi ; 

Ma chi parlava ad ira parea mosso. 
Io era rolto in giil ; ma gh occhi vivi 70 

Non potean ire al fbndo per 1' oecoro : 

' Spoke u 1 went on. | ' Conftwed with rage. 



.vGooglc 



die darkness. Wherefore I : " Master, see thou get 
to the other boundary,^ and let us dismount the wall ; 
for as I hear from hence and do not imderstandj so I 
see down and distinguish nothing." 

" Other answer I give thee not," he said, " than 
the deed : for a fit request should be followed with 
the work^ in silence." 

We went down the bridge, by the head where it 
joins with the eighth bank j and then the chasm was 
manifest to me. And I saw within it a fearful throng 
of serpents, and of so strange a look, that even now 
the recollection scares^ my blood. Let Libya boast 
no longer with its sand; for, though it engenders 
Chelydri, Jaculi and Parese, and Cenchres with Am- 

Ferch' io ; Maestro, fa che tu arrivi 
Dall' altro cinghio, e dismontiam lo mure ; 

Chg com' io odo qnind, e non inteado, 

CobI gill veggio, e niente affiguro. 75 

Altm risposta, disse, non ti rendo, 

Se non lo far : cli£ la dimanda oneafa 

Si dee seguir con 1' opera tacendo. 
Noi discendemmo il ponte dalla testa, 

Ove a' aggiunge con 1' ottava ripa, 80 

E poi mi fu la bolgia manifesta : 
B yidivi entro tembile Btipa 

Di serpentj, e di si diversa mena, 

Che la memoria il sangne ancor mi scipa. 
Piil non si vonti Libia eon sua rena ; 85 

Ch& se Chelidri, lacoli e Fatee 



.vGooglc 



S90 IVTBKSO. CAKTO HIT. 

phisbsena,! plagaes so nmneroiis or so dire it never 
shewed, with all Ethio|Ha, nor with the land that lies 
by the Red Sea.* 

Amid this crael and most dismal swarm were 
people nmning, naked and terrified, without hope 
of hacking hole or heliotrope.' They had their hands 
tied behind with serpents ; these through their loins 
fixed the tail and the head, and were coiled in knots 
before. And lo I at one, who was near our shore, 
sprang up a serpent, which transfixed him there 



Prodnce, e Cencri con Anfeaibena, 

Nou tante pestileuEe, n^ st ree 
Mo8tr6 giammu con tatte I' Etiapia, 
NK con d6 che di sopra il mar Rosso ht. 

Tra quests crnda e tiistisnma copia 
Correvan genti nude e spsTentate, 
Seuza sperar pertugio o elitropia. 

Con serpi le man dietro STean legate : 
Quelle ficcaTsn per le ren la coda 
E il capo, ed eran dinanzi a^ropp^te. 

Ed ecco ad un, ch' era da nostra proda, 
S' aTVentb UD serpentc, che il trafisse 



' Some of Lucan'a eerpeaU. 
Phars. is. 711, &c Chelydna 
(X^KvSpo!), a water -Ensle, that 
leaves a hideous Binell on its 
track. Jacatue, iait-serpeat " two 
CTibita in length," and so called 
because it throws itself on its prey 
stretched out, like a dart. Pareaa 
(«op(i«i), copper - snake, " that 
QiarehcB on its tail;" or cobra 
de capello. CenchrU {xiyxp")' 



stiff speckled snake; and " Am- 
phiBbteDa dire" [i^ufA and fiafm), 
which " has a head at each end," 
and goes either way. 

> Lit ; " With that which is 
{ie for e) on the R«d Seai" Ihe 
land of Egypt with its mud-rirer 
and " Serbonian bog." 

■ A green stone or gem with 
red spots, "said to render ita bearer 
Invisible." 



.vGooglc 



cuto xxir. INFERNO. @91 

where the neck is bound upon the Bhoulders. Nei- 
ther ' O' nor ' I' was ever written so quickly as he 
took fire, and burnt, and dropt down all changed to 
ashes.* And after he was thus dissolved upon the 
ground, the ashes reunited, and of themselTes at 
once resumed the former shape.* Thus by great 
sages 'tis confest the Pluenix dies, and is then re- 
born, when it approaches the five-hundredth year. 
In its life it eats no herb or grain, but only tears 
of incense and of spice : and nard and myrrh are its 
last swatMngs.^ 

And as one who falls, and knows not how, 
through force of Demon which drags h im to the 

Lit dove U coUo alle epalle ■' annoda. 
Nh s) toBto mai, ng I si scriBae, 100 

Com' ei s' acceee, e arae, e cener tutto 

Convenne che cascando direnisse. 
E poi che fa a terra al diBtrutto, 

La cener si raccolae, e per a& atessa 

Id quel medesmo ritomt di bntto. 105 

Cos) per li gran e&n ai confessa, 

Che la Fenice muore, e poi rinasce, 

Quando al dnqnjeceutesimo anno appressa. 
Erba n6 biada in sua vita non pasce, 

Ma Bol d' incenao lagrime e d' amomo i 1 10 

E nardo e tuirra son 1' ultime fsisce. 
E quale h quel eJie cade, e nan sa como. 

Per forza di Demon ch' a terra il tira, 

> Lit.: " And all ubei it be- I out (verse 97} at a blow," or in- 
hoved him bUiog to become." Btantly. SalUi tot bntto. 

' Lit :" Betumed to that same I ' Compare itfrtfln-iy. 392, &d. 



.vGooglc 



29ft IKPERNO, euro mr. 

ground, or of other oppilation^ that fetters men ; 
vho, when he rises, looks fixtly round him, all be- 
irildered by the great anguish he has nndei^one, 
and looking sighs : sach was the sinner when he 
rose. Justice of God ! O how serere, that showers 
such blows of vengeance ! 

The Guide then asked h\m who he was. Where- 
upon he answered : " I rained from Tuscany, short 
while ago, into this wild gullet. Bestial life, not 
human, pleased me, mole that I was. I am Vanni 
Facci,' earage beaet ; and Fistoia was a fitting den 
for me." 

d' altra oppilazion che legs V nomo, 
Qonndo si leva, che Intomo si mira, 115 

Tutto smarrib) dalla gr&nde uigoacia 

Cli' egli ha aofferta, e guardaudo sospira ; 
Tal era il peccator levato poBcia. 

OiuBtizia di Dio, quant* ^ aerera 1 

Che cotai colpi per vendetta croBCia. 120 

Lo Dnca il dimand6 poi chi egli era : 

Perch' ei rispose : lo piowi di ToHcana. 

Foco tempo k, In questa gola fera. 
'^ta besdal mi piacqne, e non nmana, 

S) come a mul ch' io fui; son Vamii Fncci 125 

Beatia, e Hstoia mi fu d^a tana. 



' " Otntruction" of the rital 
ipiriU, " tlul binds a man" in 
fiU, like those of Epilepsy or 
" poaaeuion of a deril." 

* Vanni {Oiovanni) Pooai, tna- 
Urd son of M. Fucci de' Luari 
of Pistois. " A moat villaDous 



nan," says Bcdt. da Imola, " and 
roost daring in ever; kind of 
wickedness. And because he was 
of noble bmily, be oAen coin- 
nutted roan; exeeaae* iritb im- 
puni^. And though frequently 



.vGooglc 



o*iiTO luv, IHFBRSO. 293 

And I to the Guide : " Tell hiin not to flee ; and 
ask what crime thrust him down here, for I saw him 
once a man of rage and blood."' 

And the sinner who heard, feigned not ; but di- 
rected towards me his mind and face, with a look of 
dismal shame.^ Then he said ; " It pains me more 
that thou bast caught me in the misery wherein 
thou seest me, than when I was taken &om the 
other life. I cannot deny thee what Uiou askest : 
I am put down so far, because I robbed the sacristy 
of its goodly furniture ; and falsely once it was im- 

Ed io al Dnca ; Dilli cbe non macci, 

E dimanda qual colpa qoaggiil il pinse ; 

Ch' io il vidi nom g^ di sangiie e di comicci. 
E il peccator, che intese, non s' infinse, 130 

Ma drizzjt veno me 1' anlmo e il volto, 

E di trista vergog:na si dipinse. 
Poi disse : Piti mi duol che tn m' bai colto 

Nella miseria, dove ta ml vedi, 

Che qoand' io fai dell' altra vita tolto. 135 

lo non posBO negar quel cbe tu chledi : 

In giil son messo tanto, perch' io fui 

Ladro alls sagrestia de' belli arredi ; 
E falsameste gik fu apposto oltmi. 

&c., he »lw«y» contrived to re- ' Hi* " bestial rage" might 

turn. He was of the Neri be- have brought him to the marsh 

' tioD, at the time when Dante with Filippo Argend, or down to 

toolc pan with the Bianchi (see Pblegethon aa "■ murdeier and 

canto vL) ; but do injustice is assassin ;" but he robbed the Ca- 

here done to hiin or his " den." thedral besideB. 

SeeLandino,VelIut.,Otdino,&c.; ■ Lit: "And painted himself 

and Murat Ber. luU. ttoa. ll with dismal shame." 



.yCOOgIC 



SM IKFEBNO. o*mo nir, 

puted to another.' But that thoa mayest not joy 
in this sight, if ever thou escape the dark abodes, 
open thy ears and hear what I annoimce. Pistoia 
first is thinned of Neri ;* then Florence renovates 
her people and her laws.' Mars brings from Val- 
dimagra a fiery vapour/ which is wrapt in turbid 
clouds, aod on Ficeno's field shall be assailed with 
angry and impetuous storm ; wbence it suddenly shall 
rend the mist, so that every Bianco shall be wounded 
by it. And I bave said this, that it may afflict thee." 

Ma perch^ di tal vista tu non godi, 140 

Se mai sand di faor de' luog^ bui, 
Apri gli orecchi al xoio annmirio, e odi : 

Pbtoia in pria di Neri d dimagra, 

Foi Firenze rinnova genti e modi. 
Tragge Marte vapor di val di Magra, 145 

Ch' ^ di torbidi nnroli involnto, 

E con tempeata impetuoaa ed sgra 
Sopra campo Picen fia combattnto : 

Ond' ei repeate spezzerb la uebbia, 

S) ch' ogni Bianco ne sark fenito : 150 

E detto r ho, perch^ doler ten debbia. 



' To Runpino who was put to 
the torture, and to Vumi della 
Nods nhn hbb liBCgGd for it 

' '■ In May 1301, the Bianchi 
party of Pisloia, with aid and 
favour of the Biancti who ruled 
Florence, drove out the Neri, and 
destroyed their houaea, palaces," 
&,c. Fia. yiii. 45. 

' The Bianchi will lose their 
power in Florence when Charles 



de Valoie comes (Nov. 1301), 
and be expelled in April 1302. 
niA*iiL49. 

' The lightning-TBpouT which 
Mars brings, is Horello Mala> 
spina, who ahall come (in 13(H) 
&om his Magra valley, gather- 
ing the Neri ("turbid cloud*"); 
and utterly defeat the angry 
Bianchi ou Campo Piceno near 
Pistoia. 



.vGooglc 



AEGUMENT. 



At the end of his angi? prophecy, Fucci riaei into a boundlesa pale 
rage, such u is hardly known in northern countries ; and like the 
Bacrilc^ous thief and brute that he is, giTea leat to it in the wildest 
bluphemf. The serpents iiutanUy aet npon him, and inflict auch 
punishment, that Dante r^ards them as friends ever after. Cicua, 
too, with a load of eerpente on hia haunch and a fiery dragon on 
his shoulders, cornea shouting in pursuit of him. Dante afterwards 
finds five of his own coimtiyin en— first three in human shape, then 
two changed into reptiles — -and by dint of great attention learns 
the names of them all, and very accurately sees the unheard of 
transformations they have to undergo. The reptiles are Ciania 
de' Donati and Guerfio de' CavalcanU ; the three in human ahape 
are Agnello de* Bnmelleschi, Buoso degli Ahati, and Puccio de' 
Ooligsi — all five of very noble kindred, and " great thieies in 
their dme" (nagni furet mo tempert. Pietro). Ciania, and Ag- 
nello whom he attacks, are of lamilies that sided with (he Neii ; 
Ouercio and Buoso, who exchange shapes, are of bmilies (hat be- 
longed to the Bianchi, or opposite party, VUl. viii 89. Our 
Poet equally recognises the base materials of both bctions. The 
party of Puccio is unknown, and he is the only one of the (hree 
that remains imchanged. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO XXV. 

At the conclosion of his words, the thief raised 
ap his hands vith hoth the figs,^ shooting : " Take 
them, God, for at thee I aim them !" 

From that time forth the serpents were my 
friends ; for one of them then coiled itself about his 
neck, as if saying, ' Thoa shalt speak no &rther i"^ 
and another about his arms ; and it tied him again,^ 
rivetting itself in front so firmly, tiiat he could not 
give a jog with them. Ah, Fistoia! FistoiaJ why 

Al fine delle sue parole il l&dro 
Le numi alzb con ambedno le fiche, 
Giidando : Togli, Dio, ch% a te le squadro. 

Ba indi in qoa mi Air le aerpi amlche. 

Perch' tma gli a' avrolse allora al collo, 5 

Come diceBse ; lo non to' che piit dicbe ; 

£ un' sltra alle braccia, e rilegollo 
Bibadendo sS stessa si dinanzi, 
Cbe non potea con esse dare nn croUo. 

Ah Fistoia, Pistoia 1 chi non stanzi IQ 



' Clenchiug both Iub fists, and 
thrusting the thombs between the 
fore and middle fingers; 'oul 
the fig' wilh both, like the atby 
senseless mule that he hbs. His 
townunen (in 1228) hsd "a tower 
seyentj cubita high, on the root 
of Carmignanoi and at the top 
of it nere two arms of marble 



with hands that made the Ggs at 
Florence." Matetp-cUS; Vitt. 
vis. 

' Lit : " I will not that Ihon 
Ba; more." Dkhe for ifim. 

* With head and tail through 
his bod;, tied his arms agun ao 
that be could not stir Uiem. Com- 



.vGooglc 



ciHTO IXT. INFERNO. S97 

doHt thou not decree to bum thyself outright,' Uiat 
thou mayest endure no longer, since thou outgoest 
thy seed' in eril-doing ? Through all the dark cir- 
cles of Hell, I saw no spirit so proud towards God, 
not even him' who fell down firom the walls of 
Thebes. 

He fled, speaking not another word. And I 
saw a Centaur, ftdl of rage, come crying : " Where 
is, where is the surly* thief f" Maremma,^ I do 
believe, has not so many snakes as he had on his 
haunch, to where our human form* begins. Oyer his 
shoulders, behind the head, a dragon lay with out- 

D' incenerarta, si che piii non dmi, 
Poi che in mal far lo seme tuo aTSOzi ? 

Per tatti i cerchi dello Inferno oscnii 
Spirto uon vidi is Dio tanto superbo, 
Non quel che cadde a Tebe gift de' mnri. 15 

Ei si Aiggi, clie non parli^ piil verba : 
Ed io vidi un Centanro pien di rabbia 
Venir gridando : Ov* h, ov* 6 1' acerbo ? 

Uareinma non cred' io che tante n' abbia, 

Quante bisce egli area an per la groppa, 20 

Infino ove comincia nostra labbia. 

Sopra le spalle, dietro dalla coppa. 
Con I' ale aperte gli giaceva un draco, 

< To bun tlijaelf to laliea at ' The heatbeniBh bluphemer 

once. The faclioDS of Pietoia, aa Capaneus. Canto liv. 
Ihej alternately prevailed, used Co * LiL; "The acerb j" aour, 

bum each □tbei'B houses. and uiuipe like Capaneua. 

* Th7 ancestors, the " backed ' A lenn; tract in Tuxiany, 

and maimed" refuse of Catiline's awarming with reptiles. 
follorerB. See Till i. 32. ■ Compare Mn. viiL 194. 



.vGooglc 



stretched wings ; and it sets on fire every one he 
meets.' My Master said : " That is Cacus, who, be- 
neath the rock of Mount Aventine, full often made 
a lake of blood. He goes not with his brethien on 
one same road/ because of the cunning theft he 
made from the great herd that lay near him : whence 
his crooked actions ceased beneath the club of Her- 
cules, who gave him perhaps a hundred blows with 
it ; and he felt not theirs* ten." 

Whilst he thus spake, the Centaur ran past; and 
under us there came three spirits, whom neither I 
nor my Guide perceived, until they cried: "Who 

E qoello affaoca qoalonqne s' intoppa. 
Lo mio Maestro disse ; Qaegli & Caco, 25 

Che Botto il sasBO di monte Avenlino 

Dl eangne fece spesse volte laco. 
Non va co' snoi fratei per nn cammino. 

Per lo ftirar &odolente ch' ei fece 

Del grande anuento ch' egli ebbe a nciuo ; 30 

Onde ceBSar le sue opere bieee 

Sotto la mazza d' Ercole, che foree 

Ghene dah cento, e non sent) le diece. 
Mentre che ai parlava, ed ei trascorae, 

E tre spiriti venner sotto no), 3J 

De' quai nh io, ak il Baca mio a' accorBe, 
Se non qoando gridar : Chi siete vol ? 

31. Biece for bieche ; Lat obHgiia. 

' Lit; "And Hboerer is met, Wood (csnto lii 55) whl it* 

him iquello) it seU on flie." See othei CenUnn ; because, lib 

.^B. YiiL 199, &e. Tauni Fueci, he waa » HiW l*- 

* Goea not along tlie river of aidea being nlut thej were. 



.vGooglc 



are ye ?" Oui story therefore paused, and we then 
gave heed to them alone. I knew them not ; but 
it happened, as usually it happens by some chance, 
that one had to name another, saying : " "Wliere has 
Cianfa' stopt ?" Wliereat I, in " order that my Guide 
might stand attentive, placed my finger upwards 
from the chin to the nose.* 

If thou art now, O ^Reader, slow to credit what 
I have to tell, it will be no wonder ; for I who saw 
it, scarce allow it to myself. Whilst I kept gazing 
on them, lo 1^ a serpent with six feet darts up in 
front of one, and fastens itself all upon him. With 

Per che nostra novella u rietette, 
£ intendemmo pure ad eed poi. 

lo nan gli conoscea -, ma ei eeguette, 40 

Come auol seguitar per alcun caao, 
Che r un nomare all' altro convenette, 

Dicendo: Cianfa doTefiarimasa? 

Perch' io, acciocch^ il Duca Btease attento. 

Mi posi il dito eu dal mento al naso. 45 

Se tn sei or, Lettore, a creder lento 
Ci6 ch' io dirb, non saHk maraviglia, 
Chh io, che il vidi, appena il mi coosento. 

Com' io tenea levate in lor le dgUe, 

Ed an serpeute cos sei pih si lancia 50 

Dinanzi all' uno, e tutto a lui a' appiglia. 



40. Segtutte.BtgoL *2. ComieneUe, 

■ CUnb de' Donati, wlio has i ' Signal for silence, 

been coming with the otb«i three ) * Lit.: "Kept luj eyebroi 

and is bere transfonoed, as we raised at them, lo 1" Ed fbr ea 

shall Bee, into a Mi-footed serpent. | dium. ParlkeUe. 



.vGooglc 



800 IN FEBNO. cun nr. 

its middle feet it clasped his belly, with the antericn 
it seized his arms ; then fixed its teeth m both his 
cheeks. The hinder feet it stretched along his 
thighs; and put its tail betveen the two, and bent 
it upwards on his loins behind. Ivy was never so 
rooted to a tree, as round the other's limbs the hi- 
deous monster entwined its own. Then they stack 
together, as if they had been of heated wax, and 
mingled their colours : nei&er the one, nor the 
other,' now seemed what it was at first; as up, be- 
fore the flame, on paper goes a brown colour, which 
is not yet black, and the white dies away. 

Co' pi^ di mezzo gli awinse la paucia, 

E COD gli antmor le braccia prese ; 

Foi gli addentd e 1' una e I' altra goauda. 
Gli diretani alle cosce distese, ^^ 

E miseli la coda tr* ameudne, 

E dietro per le ren au la ritese. 
Ellem abbarbicata mai nou fue 

Ad ftlber si, come I' orribil fiera 

Per r altrui membra aTriticchift le sue. ^ , 

Poi s' appiccar, come di calda cera 

Foasero stati, e miecbiar lor colore ; . 

N^ 1' un, n^ 1' altro gi& parea quel ch' en ; 
Come precede innanzi dall* ardore I 

Fer lo papiro suso un color bruno, ^ ' 

Che Qou h aero ancora, e il bianco muore. I 



' Nnthei the one colour (the 
msn'B) nor the other (the rep- 
die's) lemaioedwhatithsd been; 
u when jou tiitdle a piece of 



wHte paper, the brom ilu*' 
that goes before the BAine, m '^■■ 
the white rapidly 'milk i" 
ttui»tion to bluk. 



^vGooi^lc* 



CANTO uv. INFERNO. 301 

The other two looked on, and each cried : " O 
me ! Agnello,^ how thou changest ! Lo, thou art 
already neither two nor one !" The two heads had 
now become one, when two shapes appeared to us 
mixed in one face, where both were lost. Two arms 
were made of the four lists.' The thighs with the 
legs, the beliy, and the chest, became such members 
as were never seen. The former shape was all ex- 
tinct in them :^ both, and neither, the perverse image 
seemed J and such it went away with languid step. 

As the lizard, beneath the mighty scourge of the 
canicular days, going from hedge to hedge,* appears 

Oh altii doo r^nardavano, e ciascnno 

Oridara : me, Agn^l, come ti muti ! 

Yedi che giik non bb' nh duo n& uno. 
Gii eran li duo capi un divenuti, 70 

QuBudo n' apparrer duo figure miste 

In una faccia, ov* eran duo perduti. 
Fersi le braccia duo di quattro liste ; 

Le coace con le gambe, il ventre, e U casso 

Divenner membra che non fur mai viste. 75 

Ogni primaio aspetto ivi era casso : 

Due e nesBun 1' immagioe perreraa 

Parea, e tal sen gia con lento passo. 
Come il ramarro, sotto la gran fersa 

Dei d) canicular, caogiando siepe, SO 

< Agnello Brunei] eschj. ' Lit :" All fbrmer aspect here 

•Lit: " The anns, from ieiiig (in them) was qu«sliedL" 

four lists, were made two." Litie '" Chang;ing hedge," liL The 

(lista, bands, or fillets) ia (he image will be a lively one to those 

name here given to the serpent's who have seen Italian lizards thus 

forefeet and the sioner's arms. moving under the hot scourge 

D D 



.vGooglc 



SOS INFERNO. CAttTO xiT. 

a flash of ligbtmng, if it croas the vaj ; so, coming 
towards the howels of the other two, appeared a lit- 
tle reptile' boming witA rage, lind and black as pep- 
per com. And it pierced that part,^ in one of them, 
at wbici we first receive our nouriahment ; then fell 
down stretched out before him. The pierced thief 
gazed on it, but said nothing ; nay, with his feet mo- 
tionlesa, yawned only as if sleep or fever had come 
upon him. He eyed the reptile, the reptile him : 
the one firom his wound, the other &om its mouth, 
smoked violently, and their smoke met. Let Lucan 
uow be silent, where he tells of poor Sabellus and 

Folgore par, ae la via attraversa : 
Cosi parea Tcnendo vereo 1' epe 

Degli altri dae ua serpentello acceso, 

Livido e nero come gran di pepe. 
E qnella parte, donde prima h preso 85 

Nostro alimento, all' un di lor trafiase ; 

Poi cadde §^aao innanzi Ini diBteso. 
Lo trafitto il mir6, ma nulla disae ; 

And co' pi& fermati abadigliava. 

Fur come sanao o febbre 1' assaliBse. 90 

Egli il serpente, e quel lui rlguardava : 

L' un per la piaga, e 1' altro per la bocca 

Fumavan forte, e il fumo a' incontrava. 
Taccia Lucano omai, )k dove tocca 

Del misero Sabella e di Nassidio, 95 

of the sun in July and Augual. ' Guerdo Cavalcuile. 

" The living creatures ran and ' The navel i which here gela 

returned aa the appearance of a a mystic nouriahment — " poiaon 

flash of lightning" (Jstgurit co- of conacioua Theft, that tnakei 

ruscaatu Vu!g.). Exek.i. ii. the man a aerpent." 



.vGooglc 



Nasidius ;' and wait to hear that wMch is now sent 
forth. Of Cadmus and of Arethuaa* be Ovid silent ; 
for if he, poetizing, converts the one into a serpent 
and the other into a fount, I envy him not. For never 
did he so transmute two natures front to front, that 
both forms* were ready to exchange their substance. 
They mutually responded in such a way,* that the 
reptile cleft its tail into a fork, and the wounded 
tpirit drew his steps together. The tegs and the 
thighs along with them so stuck to one another, 
that soon their juncture left no mark that was dis- 

B attends a udir quel ch' or si scocca. 

Taccia di Gadmo e d' Aretusa Ovidio : 
Chh se queUo in eerpente, e qaella in fante 
CouTerte poetando, io non 1' invidio : 

Chk duo nature mai a &onte a fironte 100 

Non trasmut^ st ch' amendne le forme 
A cambiar lor materie fosser pronte. 

Inmeme si risposero a tai norme, 
Che 11 serpeute la coda m forca fesse, 
E il femto ristiinse insieme 1' orme. 105 

Le gambe con le cosce seco stesse 

S' appiccar s), che in poco la giuntura 
Non &cea segno alcun che si paresse. 



■ SaWlus, who melliawa; like 
" anoT under a hot south-wind ;" 
and Nasidius, vho swells so as 
to bunt bis snnour, on being 
stung b; serpentl in the Libyan 



Phar: 



3, &c. 



^ See Melara. i\. fiS2 ; t. 572. 

* Or foTmatiTC powers. "Eteiy 

essential Fonn prooeeda from its 



firat cause, which ia God." Com. 
Tr, iii, 2, &c. " The humsn soul, 
which is the noblest of all Forms 
that are made under heaven." 
Ibid. 

' Lit.: " The; correaponded to 
each other by such rules or mo- 
dels," that they exchanged their 
parts aa follows in rerse 104, &•:. 



.vGooglc 



304 INFERNO. CANTO IXT. 

cemible. The cloven tail assumed the figure that 
was lost in the other ; and its skin grew soft, the 
other's hard. I saw the arms enter at the armpits, 
and the two feet of the brute, which were short, 
lengthen themselves as much as those arms were 
shortened. Then the ttco hinder feet, twisted to- 
gether, became the member which man conceals ; 
and the wretch from his had two^ thrust forth. 

Whilst the smoke with a new colour veils them 
both,* and generates on one part hair, and strips it 
from another ; the one rose upright, and prostrate the 
other fell, not therefore turning the impious lights,* 



Togliea la cods fessa la figura, 
Che si perdeva I& ; e la sna pelle 
Si facea moUe, e quella di Ih, dura. 

lo vidi entrar le braccia per 1' ascelle, 
E i duo pi6 della fieni, ch' eran corti, 
Tanto allutgar, quauto accorciavau quelle. 

PoBcia li pi& dirietro insieme attorti 
Diventaron lo membro che 1' aom cela, 
E il misero del suo n' avea duo port!. 

Mentre che il fummo 1' uno e 1' altro vela 
Di color nnovo, e genera il pel snso 
Per ]' una parte, e dall' altra il dipela, 

L* nn si levii, e 1' altro cadde glaao. 
Nod torcendo per6 le laceme empie. 



I Two hinder feet. Porti from 
pergere, LaL porrecti. 

' The angry smoke apeedil; 
gi=es the man a reptile'* colour, 
the reptile a man's. 

" " The light [lucerna) of the 



body ia the eye." flfall. vi. 22. 
They did not shift their glsring 
eyes^pr^nant with thierishiieu 
— from one another, for that 
change of posture, till the tnuig- 
fomiation nas completed. 



.vGooglc 



CASTO ai. INFEBNO. 305 

under wHich they mutually exchanged visages :' lie 
that was erect, drew his towards the temples ; and 
from tlie too much matter that went thither, ears 
came out of the smooth' cheeks. That which went 
not back, bat was retained, of its superfluity formed 
a nose, and enlarged the lips to a flt size. He that 
lay prone, thrusts forward hia sharpened visage, and 
draws b&ck his ears into the head, as the sn^ does 
its horns; and his tongue, which was before united 
and apt for speech, cleaves itself; and in the other the 
forked tongue recloses : anQ the smoke now rests. 

The sold that had become a brute, flies hissing 
along the valley, and after it the other talking and 

Sotto le qnai ciascnn cambiava muso. 
Quel ch' era diitto, il trasse in v^r le tempie ; 

B di troppa materia, che in Ik venne, 125 

Uscir gli orecchi deUe gote scempie : 
Cii) che non corse in dietro, e si riteune, 

Di quel aoverchio fe' naso alia fkcdo, 

E le labbra ingrosso qnanto coavenne. 
Quel, cbe gioceva, il mnso innanzi caccia, 130 

E gli orecchi ritira per la testa. 

Come face le coma la Inmacda : 
E la lingua, che aveva uuita e presta 

Prima a parlar, si fende ; e la forcuta 

Nell' altro ei ricliiude, e il fammo resta. 135 

L' anima, ch' era fiera divenata. 

Si fiigge sufolaudo per la valle, 

G r altro dietro a Ini parlaudo aputa. 

I Lit: "Each exchanged muz- I '" Smooth" (icengilt, L&t liia- 
t\e or visage with the other." \ pUcei), or seipent cheeks. 

dd2 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



806 INFERNO. CAHTO HT. 

sputtering. Then he turned hia novel shonlderB 
towards it, and said to the other : " I wish Buoso* 
to run crawling, as I have done, along this path." 

Thus I beheld the seventh sink^ change and re- 
change ; and here let the novelty excuse me, if my 
tongue goes aught astray.^ And though my eyes 
were aoraewhat perplexed, and my mind depressed, 
they could not flee so covertly, but that 1 well dis- 
tinguished Puccio^ Sciancato : and it was he alone, 
of the three companions that first came, who was not 
changed. The other^ was he whom thou, Gaville, 



Foscia gli vohe le novelle apalle, 

E disse all' altro : I' vo' che Buoso corm, 140 

Com' bo fatt" io, carpon per questo calle. 
Cosi vid' io la settima zaTorra 

Mutaire e trasmutare ; e qui mi acusi 

La novitil, se fior la lingua abborra. 
E avvegnacbg gli occhi miei confusi 145 

Foasero alquanto, e 1' auimo smagato, 

Non poter quei fuggirsi tanto chiuai, 
Ch' io non scorgesBi ben Pacdo Sciancato : 

Ed era quei che aol, de' tre compagni 

Che venner prima, uon era mutato : 150 

L' altro era quel che tu, Gaville, piagui. 

I Buoso degli Abati. /'iiirorjdwe, adierb; idiborra {LuL 

' Lit: "The seventh ballast;" aberrars), "awerres, deviates." 

perhaps meaning " sink ;■' or the ' Puccio de' GaligaL 

off-acourings, the despicable coil ' Gueroiode' C aval can d, killed 

of thieves and serpents at the bot- at the village of Gaville in Val- 

lom. darno, wtioh laments for che sote 
' Or goes into too great details. | vengeance that pas taken. 



.vGooglc 



AKGUMENT. 



Dante, after having aeen and recogntaed the Ave noble thieTes, ad- 
dreuea hia native city in bilter aoncentrated sorron and tliame, 
mingled nilh heart-felt longing) and affection. The calimiciea 
which miagovemmeiit, faction, and crime had heen preparing for 
many years before the data of his mystic Vision, and which he 
himself as Chief Magistrate in 1300 had done his utmost to pre- 
vent, are notified in form of prophecy. His own eiile, though 
not directly alluded to, and his hopes of "morning" — of deliver- 
ance for Florence and himself and of justice on their enemiei — 
were nearly connected with those calamities. And when he sees the 
bte of Evil CounseUors in the Eighth Cbssm, to which his Guide 
nov leads him, he " curbs his genius," and deeply feels he has not 
to seek that deliverance and justice by fraud. The arts of the fox, 
on however great a scale, ue extremely hateful to him. To em- 
ploy that superior wisdom, which is the good gift of the Almighty, 
in deceiving others, for any purpose, is a Spiritual Theft of the most 
fearful kind; and the sinners, who have heen guilty of it, are run- 
ning along the narrow chasm, each " stolen" from view, wrapt in 
the Flame of hia own Consciousness, and tormented by its burn- 
ing. Ulysses and Diomed, who went together by night, cheated 
and slew Dolon, and stole the mythic Palladium of Troy, are also 
here united in punishment. The former, speaking through the 
Flame, relates the manner and place of his death. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XXVI. 

Joy, Florence, since thou art so great that over 
land and aea thou beatest th^ winga, and thy name 
through Hell expands itself!' Among the thieves I 
found five such, thy citizens; whereat shame comes 
on me, and thou to great honour mountest not 
thereby. But if the truth ia dreamed of near the 
morning,' thou shalt feel ere long what Frato, not 
to speak of others, craves for thee.' And if it were 

GoDi, Firenze, poi che sei si grande, 
Che per mare e per terra bsttl 1' ali, 
E per lo Inferno il tuo nome si spande. 

Tra U ladroQ trovai cinque cotali 

Tuoi cittadini, onde mi vien vergogna, 5 

£ tu in grande onranza non ne sali. 

Ma se presso al mattin del ver ai sogna, 
Tu sendiai di qua da picciol tempo 
Di quel che Prato, non ch' idtri, t' agogna. 



' True, th; ene^ea, arta, snd 
wealth cany thee triumphant far 
and wide ; but mark (he fame thou 
hast in Hell too I 



tempore tera toient. Ovid. Heroid. 
xix. The Bame ancient belief ia 
apoken of, Furg. ii. 13. 

' " What, not only othera, but 
ntH Pralo," Ihe nearest town, 
" eagerly wishes thee." The Poet 



here aanouncea, with manifold 
emotion and breiity, the evil that 
awaits hia natiie city — due al- 
ready, aa the inevitabte conse- 
quence of folly and crime— and 
wishes it were come, as Time will 
make him leas able la bear it than 
DOW (in ISOO), "at the siuamit of 
his life-arch." See note lat, p. 2. 
The diaastera of 1304, in gome 
of which Prato waa conoenied, 
are more espeeially alluded to. 
In February of that year, the long 



.vGooglc 



already come, it would not be too. early. So were 
it ! since indeed it must be ; for it will weigh the 
heavier on me aa I grow older. 

We departed thence ; and, by the stairs which 
the rocky bouma' had given ns to descend before, 
my Guide remounted and drew me up. And pur- 
suing our BoKtary way among the ja^e and branches 
of the clifi','^ the foot without the hand eped not. 



E se gi& fosse, nou saris per tempo. 
Cos! foas' ei, da che pnie esser dee ! 
Ch6 pid mi graverii com' piii m' attempo. 

Noi ci partimmo ; e sa per le scalee, 

Che n' aveau fatte i borai a scender pria, 
Rimont^ il Duca mio, e trasse mee. 

G proseguendo la Eolinga via 
Tra le schegge e tra' rocchi dello scogUo, 
Lo pi£ senza la man non si spedia. 



10 



and bloody coDt«Ms of the Neii 
ind Bianchi had brought Flo- 
rence to a aUte of anarchy; and 
the Cardinal da Pralo was seal 
by Benedict XI., and remained 
till the 4th of June (gee note 2d, 
p. 112], Tainly trying to mabe 
peace between the adherents of 
Che two (actiona. On the lOtli of 
June, a £re, lighted by a prieet 
of noble family and of the Ncii 
factioD, destroyed more than 1700 









LB Vil- 



" burnt all the marrow, 
and yolk, and costly places of the 
city." The same historian tails 



how, In that year, on the first of 
May, a festive representation of 
Hell and its torments was given 
OD the Amo ; and hon the Car- 
raia bridge (then of wood) broke 
down under Ihe throng of specta- 
tors, "solhatroanyweredrowned, 
and tJie sport became a reality." 
nil. yiii. 68-72. 

' Or, " curbstones" (bomi, Fr. 
boTTiea) ; jagged rocks that formed 
the inner boundary of the chasm, 
and made " stairs" far the Poets 
lo descend in canto -triv. 79. 

' "Cliff," ornext bridge; which 
is so steep that it requires both 
bands and feet. 



.yCOOgIC 



810 INFERNO. arm uti. 

I sorrowed then,* and Borrow now again when 
I direct my memory to what I saw; and curb my 
genius more than I am wont, lest it run where Vir- 
tue guides it not ; so that, if kindly star or something 
better have given to me the good, I may not grudge 
myself that gift.* 

As many fire-flies' as the peasant who is resting 
on the hill, at the time that he who brightens the 
world least bides his fece from ub, when as die fly 
yields to the gnat — sees down along the Tslley, 
diere perchance where he gathers grapes and tills : 

Allor mi dolsi, e ore mi ridogUo, 

Quando drizzo U mente a ci6 ch' io vidi; 20 

£ piii lo ingegno afireno ch' io non si^o, 
Ferch^ non corra, che virtil nol gnidi ; 

SI che, se stella baona o mi^ior cosa 

M' ba dato il bea, cb' io stesso nol m' invidi. 
Quante il villau cb' al poggio si riposa, 25 

Nel tempo cbe colai, cbe il mondo schiara, 

La foccia sua a noi tden meno ascosa, 
Come la mosca cede alia zanzara, 

Vede lucciole gift per la vallea, 

Forse col& dove veudemmia ed ara : 30 

■ At sight of the Evil Coon- his bet leut hidilec bom ni" is 

aellore sod tlieir late. aumnier. Tlie Italian gotta nrann 

* Lit: "I ia*y not myself enT7 forth in the eTsnings witli br more 

me it," may not envioualj with- Tigour than oui own; and tlie 

hold from myself the good of that peasant "ceats on the hiU"— Ibe 

geniuB or talent, which happ; itai air of his Talleya heing dangerons 

or Providence hal given me. after sunset — and aees the fire- 

' Lit : " How many fire-flies flies down in tlie vineyard* and 

(quanle lueciole) the peasant seee," fields wber« he has been Isboor- 

&c. The time when (he son "keeps ing. 



.yCoOgIc 



-with flames thus numerous the eighth chasm vas all 
gleaming, as I perceived, so soon as I came to where 
the bottom shewed itself. And as he,' who was 
avenged by the bears, saw Elijah's chariot at its de- 
parture, when the horses rose erect to heaven; for 
he could not so follow it with his eyes as to see 
other than the flame alone, like a little cloud, as- 
cending up : thus moved each of those Jlames along 
the gullet of the foss, for none of ^em shews the 
theft,* and every flame steals a sinner. 

I stood upon the bridge, having risen so^ to look, 
that, if I had not caught a rock, I should have iaUeu 

Di taute fiamme tutta risplendea 

L' ottava bolgia, si com' io m' accorsi, 

Tosto che fiti Ik 've il fondo parea. 
E qual colui, che si vengi6 con gli orsi. 

Vide il carro d' Elia al dipartire, 35 

Quasdo i cavalli al Cido erti levorsi ; 
Ch^ nol potea si con gli occhi seguire, 

Che vedesse altro che la fiamma sola, 

SI come uuToletta, in sa salire : 
Tid si movea ciascuua per la gola 40 

Del fosse, ch6 nesauna mostra il furto, 

Ed ogni fiamma un peceatore invola. 
Io stava soyra il pontt a veder surto, 

SI che b' io non ayessi un roachion preBo, 

Cadnto sarei giti senza esser urto. 45 

36. Ltvirra, si levoro, or levaronsi. 

> Eliaha. 2 Kisgi u. 9-24. nith both hands uid feet (v. 18), 

' The Binnet it steals. »nd now rises and eagerly leuis 

' Lit : " Stood so risen {surto forward to Bee Troni the bridge, as 

li), that," &o. Had scrambleil up in lerae 69. 



.vGooglc 



SIS INFERNO. UNTO iioi. 

down without being pushed. And the Guide, who 
saw me thus intent, said : " Within those fires are 
the spirits : each swathes himself with that which 
burns him." 

" Master," I repKed, " from hearing thee I feel 
more certain ; but had already discerned it to be so, 
and already wished to say to thee : Who is in that 
fire, which comes bo parted at the top, as if it rose 
from the pile^ where Eteodes was put with his bro- 
ther T 

He answered me; "Within it there, XJlyBseB is 
tortured, and Diomed ; and thus they run together 
in punishments, as erst in wrath. And in their flame 

E il Duca, rhe mi Tide tanto att«Bo, 

Disse : Dentro da' fuochi son g)i spirti i 

Giascun si fascia di quel ch' egU b inceso. 
Maestro mio, risposi, per udiiti 

Son io piil certo ; ma gt& m' era awiso 50 

Che cosi fuHse, e gi£t voleva dirti : 
Chi h in quel fuoco, che Tien 8i diviso 

Di Bopra, che par aurger delk pira. 

Or' Ete6cle col fratel fii miso ? 
Risposemi : Lk entro si martira 5$ 

Ulisae e Diomede, e cosi insleme 

Alia Tendetta eorron, com' all' ira: 
E dentro dalla lor fiamma si geme 



' The flKme of the funeral pile, I have divided itself in token of 
on which Eteocles was laid with their enmity. Lucaa. L 145 ; 
hig brotber Polynices, is said to | St£t Tkeb. xa. 431. 



.vGooglc 



euro ixTi. IHFBBNO. 313 

they groan for the ambush of the horse,' that made 
the door by ■which the noble seed of the Romans 
came forth. Within it they lament the artifice,* 
whereby Deidamia in death still sorrows for Achil- 
les ; and there they suffer penalty for the Palla- 
dium."' 

" If they within those sparks can speak," said 
I, " Master ! I pray thee much, and repray that my 
prayer may equal a thousajid, deny me not to wait 
until the homed flame comes hither. Thou seest 
how with desire I bend me towards it." 

And he to me : " Thy request is worthy of much 
praise, and therefore I accept it. But do thou re- 

L' agnate del csval, che fe' ia porta 

Ond' uscl de' Romani il gentil seme. 60 

Kai^Tisi entro 1' arte, per che morta 

Deidamia ancor &i duol d' Achille ; 

E del Falladio peua vi si porta. 
S' ei posson dentro da quelle farille 

Parlar, diss' io. Maestro, assoi ten priego, 65 

E ripriego che il priego vaglia mille, 
Che nan mi fitcci dell' attender oiego, 

Finch^ la fiamma comuta qua vegna ; 

Yedi che del disio vSr lei mi piego. 
Ed egli a me ; La tua preghiera 6 degna 70 

Di molta lode ; ed io per6 1' accetto : 

' The wooden horae, by means forsake Deidamia ; telling him 

of which Trof w«a taken, and that Ttoy could not he taken 

j^neai, the founder of Rome, dri- without him, but deceitfully con' 

TOD forth to Italy. cealiag the prediction of hii death. 

' Ulyaaea induced Achillea to * Which they carried off 



.vGooglc 



314 INFERNO. c»»TO xm. 

frain thy tongue. Let me speak, for I have con- 
ceived what thou wishest j and they, perhaps, he- 
cause they were Greeks, might disdain thy words."' 

AAer the flame had come where time and place 
seemed fitting to my Guide, I heard him speak in 
this manner : " ye, two in one fire 1 If I merited 
of you whilst I lived, if I merited of you much or 
little, when on earth I wrote the High Verses,' move 
ye not ; bnt let the one of you tell where he wan- 
dering^ went to die." 

The greater horn of the ajicient flame began to 



Ma fa che la tna lingua si sostegna. 

Laacia parlttre a me, ch' io ho concetto 
Ci6 che ta vuoi ; ch' ei sarebbero schiyi. 
Perch' ei fiir Gred, forse del tuo detto. 

Foich^ la fiamma fu venuta quivi, 
Ove parve al mio Duca tempo e loco. 
In questa forma lui parlare audivi ; 

O 7oi, che siete duo deutro ad mn ftioco, 
S' io meritai di voi mentre ch' io vissi, 
S' io meritai di voi aasai o poco, 

Quando nel mondo gh alti vera, acriasi, 
Non vi movete ; ma 1' un di voi dica 
Dove per lui perduto a morir gisai. 

Lo maggior corao della fiamma autica 
Comiiici6 a croUarsi, mormorando. 



' Or : " Might be shy of speak- 
ing to thee ;" but why their having 
been Greeks could make them bo, 
u not BatisfacCorily explained by 
an^ofthe 



' The £neid (in nhieh inyuei 
and Diamed are oiten spoken oO : 
written in the high or tiigic style. 
Compare note lat, p. 241. 

* Or ! " Having lost himeelt" 



.vGooglc 



CAKto ixv[. IMFBRMO. 3 15 

shake iteelf, murmmiog, just like a flame tliat strug- 
gles with the wind.' Then carrying to and &o the 
top, as if it were the tongue that spake,^ threw forth 
a Toice, and said : " When I departed 6:0m Circe, 
who beyond a year detained me there* near Gaeta, 
ere .^jieaa thus had named it, neither fondness for 
my son, nor reverence for my aged father, nor the 
due love that should have cheered Penelope, could 
conquer in me the ardour that I had to gain expe- 
rience of the world, and of human vice and worth : I 
ventured into the deep open sea, with but one ship, 

Fur come quella cui vento affatica. 
Indi la cima qua e Ik menando. 

Come foaae la lingua che parUsK, 

Qittb voce di fuori, e disse : Quando 90 

Mi diparti' da Circe, che Bottrasae 

Me piti d' uu anno \ii preeso a Gaeta, 

Prima che b) Bdcb la nomiuasse ; 
N6 dolcezza di figho, n& la pi^ta 

Del vecchio padre, n^ il debito amore, 9i 

Lo qual dovea Penelope fitr lieta, 
Vincer potero dentro a me 1' ardore 

Ch' io ebbi a divenir del mondo esperto, 

E degli Tizj umani, c del valore : 
Ma miai me per 1' alto mare aperto tOO 

Sol con un legno, e con quella compagna 



' Lit. ; " Just like that fiame of iniqui^ ; .... it ia set on fire 

which wind wearies," or lashes to of hell." James iii. 6. 

And f^. The words have no out- ' At Monte Cireello, or Circe's 

let at first Promontor;: near Gseta, which 

' "The tongue is a fire, ■ world in named after JEneas' nurse. 



.vGooglc 



316 IMFBRNO. CAHTO nti. 

aad with tliat small company, which had not deserted 
me. Both the shores' I saw as far as Spain, far as 
Morocco ; and saw Sardinia and the other isles which 
that sea hathes round. 

" I and my companions were old and slow, when 
we came to that narrow pass,' where Hercules as- 
signed his landmarks to hinder man from venturing 
farther. On the right hand, I left Seville; on the 
other, had already left Ceuta. * brothers I' I said, 
• who through a hundred thoijsand dangers have 
reached the West, deny not, to this the brief vigU 
of your senses that remains, experience of the un- 



Picciola, dalla quel non fui deserto. 

L' un Uto e 1' altro vidi infin la Spagoa, 
Fin nel Manocco, e 1' isola de' Sardi, 
E r altre che quel mare intorao bagna. 

lo e i compagni eravam vecchi e tardi, 
Quando yenimmo a quella foce stietta, 
Or* Ercole Begn6 li aaoi rignardi, 

Acciocchg r uom piil oltre non si metta : 
Dalla man destra ml liwdni Sibilia, 
Dall' altra g>it m' avea liuciata Setta. 

&ati, dissi, che per cento milia 
Perigli siete gtonti all' Occident*, 
A questa tanto picciola Tigilia 

De' Tostri sensi, ch' £ del rimanente, 
Non vogliate negar I' eBperienza, 



I European snd ArriCHD, 
< Strut of OibralUr, with its 
;olmnn« of Hercules : " Marks 
r narniogs, that man maj not 



ventuK befond." In RomagDS 
the landnurkg and the raad-pdei 

are still called H^tiordt. Hereuied 
in the lenw of Sacred Limili. 



.vGooglc 



peopled world behind the Sun.' Consider your ori- 
gin : ye were not formed to live like brutes, but to 
ibUow virtue and knowledge,' With this brief speech 
I made my companions so eager for the voyage, that 
I could hardly then have checked them. And, turn- 
ing the poop towards morning, we of our oars made 
wings for the foolish flight, always gaining on the 
left.* Night already saw the other pole, with all its 
stars ; and ours so low, that it rose not from the ocean 
floor,' Five times the light beneath the Moon* had 
been rekindled and quenched as oft, since we had 

Diretro al Sol, del mondo seuza gente. 
Considerate la vostra aemenza : 

Fatti non foste a viver come bruti. 

Ma per segiiir virtute e conoscenza. 1 20 

Li miei compagui fee' io si acuti, 

Con questa orazion picciola, al cammiuo, 

Che appena poscia gli avrei ritenuli. 
G, volta nostra poppa nel mattino, 

De' remi faeemmo ale al foUe volo, 125 

Sempre acqnistando del lato mancino. 
Tatte le Btelle gi^ dell' altro polo 

Vedea la notte, e il nostro tanto basso, 

Che non surgeva faor dd mariu suolo. 
Cinque volte racceso, e tante casso 130 

Lo lume era di sotto dalla Luna, 



' Or weBlxard. The Western Ihe fMp<' ipitfiil rd t« TT«pa 

Hemispheie, in Dante'B time, was mvirf, &c. (Myjj. \L 124. 
luppoBed to be all covered with ' Thej had now reached the 

water. Conv. Tt. ili. 5. Equator. 

' Eowed weit by "outh. See * Five changes of the Moon, 



.vGooglc 



318 INFEBirO. CaHTO XXVI. 

entered on the arduous passage, when tiiere appeared 
to us a Mountain,^ dim with distance ; and to me it 
seemed the highest I had ever seen.' We joyed, 
and soon our joy was turned to grief; for a tem- 
pest rose from the new land, and struck the fore- 
part of our ship. Three times it made her whirl 
round with all the waves ; at the fourth, made the 
poop rise and the prow go down, as pleased Another,^ 
till the sea was closed above us." 

Poi ch' entrati eravam nell' alto passo, 
Quando n' apparve una montagna, bmna 

Per la distanza, e parvemi alta tanto, 

Quanto vednta non a' avcva alcona. 135 

Noi ci aUegrammo, e tosto tom6 in pianto ; 

Chh dalla nnova terra un turbo nacque, 

E percosse del legno il primo canto. 
Tre volte il fe' girar con tntte 1' acque. 

Alia qnarta levar la poppa in buso, 140 

E la prora ire in giil, com' altmi piacqne, 
Infin che il mar fn sopra noi richiuso. 

' Mountain of PutgatOTj; silu- xiiiv. 125; wid Purg. canto i. 

ated, according to Dante, on tbe 24, &1. 

otIieT side of the globe, in the * LiL; " Seemed so high, u I 

Southern Hemiaphere, and exactly had not aeen any." 
opposite to Jerusalem. Canto ■ God. Compare note, p. S4. 



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ARGUMENT. 



The PUtne of Ulysaea, hutiag told iti story, depuM with permisiion 
of Virgil i and ia immeiiiatcl; followed b; another, which contsina 
the apirit of Count Guido da Moatefeltro, a Ghlbelline of high 
fame in war and counael. It comei moaniiig at tlie top, and senda 
fiiTth eager inquiries ahont the people of Romagna, Ouido's coim- 
tTTmen. Dtwte describea their condition, under various petty Ty- 
rants, in 1300. Hia words are brief, preciae, and beautiful ; and ■ 
hare a tone of large and deep aadueaa. Guido, at his request, re- 
lates who he ii, and why condemned to such torment ; after which, 
the Poeti paea onwards to the bridge of the Ninth Chaam. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XXVII. 

The flame was now erect and quiet,^ haTing 
ceased to speak, and now went away from as with 
license of the sweet Poetj when another, that came 
behind it, made ua turn our eyes to its top, for a 
confused sound that issued therefrom. As the Si- 
ciliaji bull^ (which bellowed first with the lament of 
him — and that was right — who had tuned it with 
his file) kept bellowing with the sufi'erer's voice ; so 
that, although it was of brass, it seemed transfixed 

Gil era dritta iusit la fiamma, e queta 

Per non dir pitl ; e giEi da noi sen gia 

Con la licenzia del dolce Poeta : 
Quando un' altra, che dietro a lei venia, 

Ne fece volger gli occhi alia sua cima, 5 

Per un confuao auon che faor n' usda. 
Come il bue CicUiau, che mugghi& prima 

Col pianto di colui, e ci6 fu dritto, 

Che 1' avea temperate con sua Uma, 
Mugghiava con la voce dell' afflitto, 10 

S! che, con tutto ch' e' fosse di rame, 






' No loDger mi: 
point to and fro 1 
Canto jcxvi. S5. 

' The brazen buli which Pe- 
rillus invented for the Sicilian 
tyrant Phalaris. It was con- 
atructecl witli such art, that the 
cries of those burning within 



resembled the bellowing of a real 
bull ; and Phalaria, very justly, 
made the first experiment on the 
artiat himself. The sinners here 
too are tortured within the flames 
they have prepared for tbemseliei 
by applying their (alents to wicked 
counsels. 



.yCOOgIC 



with pain : thua, having at theii commencement no 
way nor outlet from the fire, the dismal words were 
changed into its language.' But after they had found 
their road up through the point, giving to it that vi- 
bration which the tongue had given in their passage, 
we heard it say : " O thou, to whom I address my 
voice ! who spakest just now in Lombard,* saying, 
' Now go, no more I urge thee ;'^ though I have 
come perhaps a little late, let it not irk thee to 
pause and speak with me : thou seest it irks not me, 
although I burn. K thou art but now fallen into 
this blind world from that sweet Latian land, whence 

Pure el pareva dal dolor trafitto j 
Coai, per non aver ria n6 foraine 

Dal prindpio del fuoco, in suo linguaggio 

Si GouvertiTan te parole grame. 15 

Ma poada eh' ebber colto lor viaggio 

Su per la puuta, dandole quel guizzo 

Che date avea la lingua in lor paasaggio, 
Udimmo dire : tu, a cui io drizzo 

La voce, e che parlavi mo Lombardo, 20 

Dicendo : lasa ten va, ptii uon t' aizzo ; 
Perch' io sia gionto forse alquanto tardo, 

Non t' incresca reetare a parlar meco : 

Vedi che non incresce a me, e ardo. 
Se tu pur mo in qnesto mondo cieco 25 

Caduto se' di quella dolce terra 



' Into a painful murmuring 
lound tX first, till they got way. 



" JjOmbud" for Italian; 
■pa because iiia (now) ai 



oixTO were Lombard worda, and 
Virgil himself of Lombardy. 



thy flame i"aak no 
of thee, Ulysses. 



.vGooglc 



I bring all my guilt, tell me if the Bomagnaols hare 
peace or war ; for I was of the mountains there,' be- 
tween XIrbino and the chain from which the Tiber 
springs." 

I still was eager downwards and hent, when my 
Leader touched me on the side, sayii^ : " Speak 
thou ; this is a Latian." 

And I, who had my answer ready then, began 
without delay to speak : " O soul, that there bedow 
art hidden' Thy Boma^a is not, and never was, 
without war in the hearts of her tyrants ; but open 
war just now I diere left none.' Itavenna stands, as 

Latina, onde mia colpa tutta reco ; 
Dimmi ae i Somagnuoli han pace o guerra ; 

Ch' io fui de' mooti Ik intra Urbino 

E il giogo di che Tever si disscrra. 30 

Io era ing^uso anconi atteuto e chino, 

Quando il mio Duca mi tent^ di costa, 

Dicendo : Faria tu, questi & Latino. 
Ed io ch' avea gi& pronta la risposta, 

Senza iadugio a parlare incominciai ; 35 

anima, che sei laggiil nascosta, 
Romagna tua non h, e non fu mai 

Senza guerra ne' cuor de' auoi tiranni ; 

Ma palese aessima or tcd lasciai. 
Bavenna sta, come stata h molti anni : 40 



' Of Montefeltrg, between Ur- 


year of Jubilee and of Dante'a 


bino and that part of the Apen- 


vision, there was no open war in 


nine chain from which "Tiber un- 


Romagna, but sbundaDt materi- 


locks hiiDBelt" 


als for it in the hearts of many 



' In the spring of 1300, the | wretched Tyrants. 



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it has stood for many years. The Eagle' of Folenta 
broods over it, bo that he covers Cervia with his pin- 
ions. The town,^ which made erewhile the long pro- 
bation and the bloody heap of Frenchmen, finds itself 
again under the Green Clutches. And the old Mas- 
tiff of Verrucchio and the young,' that marred Mon- 
tagna, there where they are wont do ply their teeth. 

L' aquila da Polenta la si cova, 

SI che Cervia ricuopre co' suoi vannt. 

La terra che fe' gifi la lunga prova, 
E di Frauceachi Banguinoso mucchio, 
Sotto le branche verdi si ritrova. 45 

E il Mastin vecchio, e il rniovo da Verrucchio, 
Che fecer di Montagna il mai govemo, 
L^ dove BOglion, fan de' denti succhio. 



' Guido Novella da Polentii, 
Lard of Ravenna, and tlien of 
Cervia too, vho hai! an eagle on 






itofar 



ma. Hei 
1 Poet h 



best friend 
Nephew of Francesca (see canto 
V.) ; and ruled his little territory 
well and peacefullj for manj 
years. " Ab an eagle stirrelh up 
her nest, fiuttereth over her young, 
spreadeth abroad her wings," Sic. 
Deul. ixziL 13. 

' Forli, which stood a long 
siege in 12S2. The Ouido vho 
is here listening was at that time 
its ruler ; and hy means of a 
stratagem, he made great slaugh- 
ter of the beueging army, which 
cooEiBted mainlj' of Frenchmen. 



Dsnte tells him that Fori! Is now 
" again under the green clutches," 
or the Ordelalfi family, whose coat 

■ Malatesta Vecchio, and Mai- 
testino del!" Occhio (one-eyed) his 
son, "mastiSs ofVermechio" (a 
castle of theirs) ; who imprieoned 
and then murdered Montagna de' 
Parcitati, leader of the Ohihellines 
at Rimini, where they atlll exercise 
ferocious tyranny: or lit. " make 
a borer, auger, or gimlet of theii 
teeth." Maltestjno was the bro- 
ther of Giovanni and Faolo (canto 
v.) ; and is sgaia alluded to in 
canto xxviiL SS. See Benr. da 
Imola Com. ; and Murab Ser, luU. 



.vGooglc 



The cities of Lamone and Santemo' guides the little 
Lion of the argent den, yrho changes faction from the 
summer to the winter. And that dt^ ■whose flank 
the Savio bathes, as it lies between the plain and 
mountain, eo lives it between tyranny and freedom, 

" Now I pray thee, tell us who thou art. Be 
not more hard than one has been^ to thee: so may 
thy name on earth maintain its front." 

Afrer the flame had roared awhile as usual, it 
moved the sharp point to and fro, and then gave 
forth this breath : * " If I thought my answer were 

Le citt& di Lamone e di Sautemo 

Conduce il leoncel dal nido bianco, 50 

Che muta parte dalla state al vemo ! 
E quelle, a cui il Savio bagna il fiauco. 

Cob! com' ella s' & tra il piano e il monte, 

Tra tirannia si vive e state franco. 
Ora chi sei ti prego che ne conte : 55 

Nou easer dnro piii ch' altri sia stato, 

8e il nome tuo uel mondo tegna fronte. 
Poscia che il fuoco alqnanto ebbe ru§^hiata 

Al modo Buo, r Bguta punta mosse 

Di qua, di 1^ e poi dig cotal fiato : 60 

S' io credessi cbe mia risposta fosse 



' FaeDza, near the livei La- 
mone, and Imola near the San- 
terno : under the rule of Machi- 
nardo Pagani, aurnamed " II Dia- 
Tolo," vhoae arms nere a lioncel 
on a field argent, and who kept 
changing party. " facing bath 
. wajiB," all hii Lfe. 



' Ceiena on the Sario; new 
ruled b; tjranCa, now by the citi- 
lens themselres. 

Lit.; "Than other haa been," 
meaning, " than I have been to 
thee." He apeaka to Qnido with 
a cbild-like kindnesa and pity. 

* Fonnd this utterance. 



.vGooglc 



to one who ever could return to the world, this flame 
should shake no more.' But since none ever did re- 
turn alire &om this depth, if what I hear be truej 
without fear of infamy I answer thee. 

" I was a man of annH j and then became a Cor- 
delier,^ hoping, thus girt, to make amends. And 
certainly my hope were come in fiill,^ but for tlie 
Great Priest,* may ill befall him I who brought me 
back to my first sins : and how and why, I wish 
thee to hear itoia me. Whilst 1 was a form of bones 
and pulp, which my mother gave me, my deeds were 
not those of the lion, but of the fox. All wHes and 



A perpoDB che mai tomasse al mondo, 
Questa fiamma staria seuza piii scosee : 

Ma perdocchg giammai di questo fondo 
Nod tomb vivo alcun, a' to odo U vero, 
SeDZB tema d' infamia ti rispondo, 

lo fiii uom d' anne, e poi M Cordigliero, 
Credeudomi, ai aato, fare ammenda : 
E certo il creder mio veniva intero, 

Se non foaae il Gran Prete, a cui mal preada, 
Che mi rimiae neUe prime colpe : 
E come, e qiiare voglio che m' iutenda. 

Mentre ch' io forma ixd d' ossa e di polpe, 
Che la madre mi di^, 1' opere mie 
Non furou leonine, ma di Tolpe. 



■ Lit.: "Should Btuidnithout ■ Or, "had been fulfilled:" I 

mare (hakes," or apeaV no more. should have been in Heaven in- 

• " Cordelier ;" or monk, girt atead of here, 

with the Cord of SI. Frsucia. * Pope Boniface VIII, 



.vGooglc 



covert ways I knew ; and used the art of them bo 
ieell, that to the ends of the earth the sound went 
forth. When I saw myself come to that period of 
my age at which every one should lower sails and 
gather in bis ropes,' that which before had pleased 
me, grieved me then ; and widi repentance and con- 
fession I yielded myself,^ ah woe alas I and it would 
have availed me. The Prince of the new Phariaees' 

Gli accoi^menti e le coperte rie 

lo aeppi tutt« ; e si menai lor arte, 

Cb* al fine della terra il snono oscie. 
Qnando mi vidi giunto in qnella parte 

Di mia etii, dove ciascmi dovrebbe 80 

Calar le vele e laccoglier le sarte, 
Ci6 cbe pria mi piacera, aUor m' increbbe ; 

£ pentuto e confesso mi rendei, 

Ahi miaer lasso ! e giovato ssrebbe. 
Lo Principe de' nuovi Farisei 85 



' In Ihe Convito (Trat. ii. 28) 
Dante, speaking of Old Age, and 
the "aea of this life" on whioh 
our Soul hai iU loyage of trial, 
says : " Natural death is as it were 
a haven and a relt to ua after long 
navigation. And the noble Soul 
is like a good mariner ; for he, 
when he draws near the port, 
loRers his sails, and enters it 
softly with feeble steerage; even 
ID ought we to lower the sails 
of our worldly operations, and 
turn to Ood with ail our under- 
standing and heart, that we may 
reach this haven with all suavity 



and with all peace. And bereia 
we have from our own nature a 
great leaaon of snavity ; (or in 
such a death as this there ia do 

a ripe apple ia lightly and without 
violence loosened from its branch, 
so our soul without grieving de- 
parts from the body in which il 
hath been," &c. 

The rest of this paisage is stilt 
higher. Guido is praised in it 

> " Yield yourselvea unto God, 
as those that are alive from the 
dead," &c. Jion. vi. 13. 

' Bonibce VIII., al <vu with 



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ciKTo uni. INFERNO. 327 

— waging war near to the Lateran, and not with 
Saracens or Jews ; for every enemy of his was a 
Christiaii, and none had been to cocqaer Acre,' noi 
been a merchant in the Soldan's land — regarded not 
the Highest Office nor Holy Orders in himself, nor 
in me that Cord which used to make those whom 
it girded leaner ; but as Constantine called Silvestro 
out of Soracte^ to cure his leprosy, so this man called 
me as an adept to cure the fever of his pride. He 



Avendo gserra preiso a Laterano, 
E noa con Saradn, nh con Gindei ; 

Chh ciaacuD sao nemico era Cristiano, 
E nessuno era atato a vincer Arri, 
N^ mercatante in terra di Soldano : 

Jih sommo uficio, ah ordini sacri 

Guatdo in s£, n^ in me quel capestro 
Che solea far 11 Bnot nnti pitt macri. 

Ma come CoatoDtin chieae Silveatro 
Deatro Siratd a gnarir della lebbre, 
C<»i mi chiese questl per maestro 

A gnarir della eua euperba febbre. 



the Colonlut family in Rome, nho 
lud opposed hie election. He laid 
wuta their palaeei " near the La- 
teran," in May 1297 ; and then, 
in September 1298, demotished 
their fortress of Penestrino (Pa- 
leatrina), which he h»d been un- 
able to take by foroe, and gained 
possession of by " promising much 
and performing nothing," aa Guido 
advised. fJK. viiL 21, 23{ Benv. 
da Imola Can. 



' Acre, the last alionghold of 
the Christians aAer all (heir cru- 
sades, was in April 1291 retaken 
by the Sultan, who received ad- 
vice and aid from tbe renegades 
and Christian merehanla here al- 
luded to. Fill. vii. 145. 

' " Called SiJveetTO from within" 
the cave where he lay hid in Mount 
Saracte, according to the old tra- 
dition ; and made hlm.lhe "first 
rich Father." Canto xix. 117. 



.vGooglc 



demanded counBel of me; and I kept silent, for his 
words seemed drunken.' And then he said to me : 
' lyct not thy heart misdoubt : even now I do absolye 
thee, and do thoa teach me so to act, that I may 
cast Penestrino to the ground. Heaven I can shut 
and open, as thou knovest ; for two are the keys that 
my predecessor* held not dear,' Then the weighty 
arguments impelled me to think silence worst ;^ and 
I said : ' Father ! since thou cleansest me &om that 
guilt into which I now must fall, large promise, with 
small observance of it, will make thee triumph in thy 
High Seat.' 

Domandommi cousigUo j ed io tacetti, 

Perch^ le sue parole parrero ebbre. 
E poi mi disse : Tao cor non aospetti: 100 

Fin or td assolvo, e tu m' ins^aa fare 

S) come Penestnno in terra getti. 
Lo Ciel poBs' Id serrare e disaerrare. 

Come tu sai ; per6 eon duo le chiavi, 

Che il mio anteceasor non ebbe care. 105 

AUor mi pinser gh ai^menti gravi 

Lk 've il tacer mi fii avriao il peggio, 

E disu : Padre, da cbe ta mi lari 
Di quel peccato, ove mo cader deg^o, 

Lunga promeasa con 1' attender corto 1 10 

Ti faHt trioniar nell' alto seggio. 



' With faigh rage and pride. 

' Celestine V, wbo resigned the 
Kejrs : which no tltreata or Tio- 
lence could make Bonifaoe him- 
self reaign. ViU.tm. 63. 

' Liu : " DroTe me there where 



keeping silence seemed to me the 
vorat" plan; i.e. by hia dnmken 
words, haogh^ rage, and sodden 
sbaolutiOD, made me think it aafett 
to tpeak. Compare FiU. liiL 23 ; 
Benv. da Imola Com., Sec. 



.vGooglc 



" Saint Francis aAerwards, wlien I was dead, 
came for lae ; but one of the Black Cherubim^ said 
to him : ' Do not take him ; wrong me not. He 
must come down amongst my menials; because he 
gave the firaadulent counsel, since which I hare kept 
fast by his hair. For he who repents not, cannot be 
abaolved ; nor is it possible to repent and will a thing 
at the same time, the contradiction not permitting it.' 

wretched me I how I started when he seized me, 
saying to me : ' May be thou didst not consider that 

1 was a logician !' 

" To Minos he bore me, who twined his tail eight 
times round his fearful back, and then biting it in 
Am great la^e, said : ' This is a sinner for the thievish 

Fnmceeco venue poi, com' io fu' morto, 

Per Bie ; ma uu de' neri Cherubini 

Gli disse ; Nol poriar ; non mt far torto. 
Yenir se ue dee giil tra' miei mescbini, 115 

Perohfe diede il consiglio frodolente, 

Dal quale in qua atato gU sono a* crini : 
Ch' asaolver non si ■pah chi uon ai pente ; 

N6 pentere e volere insieme puossi. 

Per la contraddizioD che nd consente. 120 

me dolente ! come mi riscossi 

Qnando mi prese, diceudoml : Forae 

Tu non pensavi ch' io loico fossi I 
A Uinos mi portjt : e quegli attorse 

Otto volte la coda al dosso duro ; 125 

E poi che per gran rabbia la si morse, 
DisBe : Quest! h de' rei del fuoco furo : 



' Compare canto xiiii. 131 ; uid Mali, x 



.yCOOgIC 



fire.'* Therefore I, where thou eeest, am lost; and 
going thus clothed, I bum my heart with pain." 

When he his words had ended thus, the flame, 
sorrowing, departed, writhing and tossing its sharp 
horn. We passed on, I and my Guide, along l^e 
cliff up to die other arch that covere the fosa, wherein 
due fee is paid to those who, sowing discord, gather 
guilt.» 

Per cW io Ih, dove vedi, eon perdnto ; 

E s} Testito andondo mi rancnro. 
Quand' egli ebbe il sue dir cos) compinto, 130 

La fiamma dolorsndo si partio, 

Torcendo e dibattendo il como agnto. 
Noi passammo oltre, ed io e il Daca mio, 

Su per Io scoglio infino in au 1' altr* arco 

Che copre il fosao, in che si paga il fio 135 

A quel che, Bcommettendo, acquistan carco. 



■ The fice that "steals the ein- 
nere." Canto xivi. 42. 

' Lit: "Who, bg diqoiuing ot 
unbinding;" those whom Nature 



ties together with her " bond ( 
love" (oanto xi. SO), " aocumu 
Ute B burden or lo>d" of guilt fo 
themseWea. 



.yCOOgIC 



AEGTJMENT. 



Oiu Pilgrim — more and more heivy-laden, jet rapid Uld unoonqutr- 
able — is now with his Guide looking down into the Ninth Chum ; 
and briefly dcacribes t!te hideous conditioii of the " aonera of Scan- 
dal and SchiBm" that ire puiuBhed in it. Fiiat cornea Mahomet: 
in Dante's view, a mere Sectarian who had taken up Christiuiity 
and penerted its meaning. The ahadon of him, rent asunder from 
the chin dowawarda, dijplaya the conscious sileneaa and corTuptioD 
of hia doctrine*. He tells how Ali — hia nephew, hia earliest and 
bravest disciple and son-in-law ; who, as Caliph, had battles with 
the Prophet's own faithfiil foUowera, in which more than seventj 
thooaand bil ; and who waa himself assaaaiiiBted b; one of them 
— "goes weeping before him, eletl from chin to forelock." He 
then asks what Dante is doing there ; and on learning hia errand 
and the likelihood of his return to earth, bids him give due warning 
to " Brother Doleino," a Sehiamatic and Communist, who is 
stirring up stitle in Piedmont and Lombardy. Next oomea Pier 
da Medicina, who, with a fair face and shew of friendship, fo- 
mented diasenaioHa amongst the small Princea of Romagna ; Curio, 
who urged Ciesar to croas the Rubicon and tiegin the civil «ari 
MoBca de* I.amberti of Florence, who counselled and took part in 
the murder of Buondelmonti, by which the factiona of Guelphs and 
Ohibellinea were inliodueed ; and lastly, Bertrand de Bom, who 
divided father and son. All of them have punishmenta representing 
their crimei. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XXVIII. 

Who, even with words set free,' could ever fully 
tell, by oft relating, the blood and the wounds that I 
now saw? Every tongue assuredly would feil, be- 
cause of our speech and oui memory* that have small 
capacity to comprehend so much. 

If all the people too were gathered, who of old 
upon Apulia's fateful^ land wailed for their blood, 

Chi poria mai, par con parole sciolte. 
Dicer del sangue e delle piaghe appieno, 
Ch' i' ora vidi, per narror piil volte t 

Ogni lingua per certo verria meno 

Per lo DOatro sermone e per la mente, 5 

Ch' hanno a tanto compiender poco seno. 

Se s' adunosse ancor tulta la gente, 
Che gi& in su ta fortnnate terra 
Di Puglia fa del sno sangue dolenle 






' Free from Ten 
Fena mioUo, blank 
tcieite, proie. 

' lHaUa namqut per intillectum 
mdama, qtUbia Signa Vocalia de~ 
tunt, &c, InleSectut kmaaaut in 
hae vita .... qvondo elecatar, in 
tantum etevaiur ut Menunia patl 
rediAm ductal. Dsnte (Epiat. 
ii 28, 27) to Can Grande. 

• Lit: "Fortuned," or eyent- 
fal land; loene of many changea. 
The Poet firat alludes to the thou- 
■anda of Apuliana slain bj the 



Roman* under P. Deoiua (LIt. 
X. IS, &e.)i then to the second 
Funic war, which lasted upnardi 
of IS years, and gaie Hannibal 
the boo^'of " more Chan three 
bushels and a halT' of rings at 
Canne, in- Apulia. See IJ¥. xxiiL 
12 i and Convito (Tr. ix. 4, S), 
where this war is spoken of, as 
well as the other sore trials which 
the "aacred people," who came 
from Troy, bad to go thiongb in 
eatablishuig their Mcaiatchy. 
IT we read TV^mt with the 



.vGooglc 



CASH. iirm. IHFERNO. 333 

ihed by the Somans ; and in that long var which 
made so vast a spoil of rings, as Liry writes, who 
errs not; with those* who, by withstanding Robert 
Guiscard, felt the pains of blows ; and the rest? whose 
bones still lie in heaps at Ceperano, where each 
Apulian proved false ; and there at Tagliacozzo,* 
where old Alardo conquered without weapons: and 

Per li Romani, e per la lunga guerra 10 

Che dell' anella fe' si alte spogUe, 

Come li™ scrlTe, che non erra ; 
Con qoella, che sentto di colpi doglie 

Per contrastare a Euherto Ouiscardo ; 

£ r altra, 11 cui Desame uteor s' accoglie 15 

A Ceperan, & dove fu bugiardo 

Ciascim Pagliese ; e 1& da Tagliacozzo, 

Ore senz' anne vinae il yeccbio Alatdo : 



old edition^, instead of ifssuni in 
Terse 10, we must adopt the com- 
ment (geographicBlly incorrect) 
of Pietro di Dante j and make 
the pusage refer, as he doea, to 
the people alain by ^neaa and 
the Trojans in ea parte jfpulitc 
qmg dieilar Lasrentla. The ex- 
aggerations of Foscolo certaiol; 
cBonot help ub. 

' " The lebiamatic Greets and 
unbelieving Saracens" (Gibbon 
HUt. cap. Ivi.), with their ad- 
herent* in Apulia ; aa rapidly de- 
feated by the tamoua Guiscard, 
son of Tancred de HiutaTille, and 
Duke of Apulia, Ac. They got 
Qothing; but "painfiil blowi" by 



resisting him. He is again wuned 
in Parad. niii. 48. 

' Man&ed, with bia Germana 
and Tuscans, thiough treachery 
of the ApuliaDG at Ceperano and 
Benerento, defeated sod slain by 
Charlea of Anjou, in February 
1265-6. FUL TiL 5-10. 

» At TaglUcozzo, in August 
1268, Charles gained an eaay and 
■udden vicUitj over Conradin'a 
superior forces, by the stratagem 
of Alardo (Ebrhsid) deVaUeiy— 
lying in wait till the Germans 
bad defeated part of his army, 
and then falling upon them when 
they were scattered ibr pliinder. 
VUt. lii 26-7. 



.vGooglc 



3S4 INFERNO. CANTO UVIK. 

one should shew his limbs transpierced, and another 
his cut off; it were nought to equal the hideoiw mode 
of tlie ninti chasm. 

Even a cask, through loss of middle-piece or 
cant, yawns not so wide' as one I saw, ripped from 
the chin down to the part that utters vileet sound. 
Between his legs the entrails hung ; the pluck ap- 
peared, and the wretched sack that makes excrement 
of what is swallowed. Whilst I stood all intent* on 
seeing him, he looked at me, and with his hands 
opened his breast, saying : " Now see how I dila- 
cerate myself ! See how Mahomet? is mangled ! 

E qn&l foiato bqo membro, e qnal mozzo 
Mostrasse, d' aggoagliar stuvbbe nulla 20 

II modo della nona bolgia sozzo. 

Giik veggia, per mezzal perdere o luUa, 
Com' io vidi uu, coat uon si pertugia, 
Botto dal mento iusin dove si tnilla. 

Tra le gambe pendevan le minugia ; 25 

La coiata pareva, e 11 tristo aacco 
Che merda fa di quel cbe si tiEingugia. 

Mentre che tutto in lui veder m' attacco, 
Guardommi, e con le man s' aperse il petto, 
Dicendo : Or vedi come io mi dilacco : 30 

Yedi come storpiato h Maometto. 



I LiU: "la not so holed." The 
stBTM o{ a cask Ml open vhen 
it loses the middle ot the side- 
piece (" cant") of its bottom. 
Lulta perhaps &am Uoulta, the 
cant having the shape of n half or 
" little moon." 



' Lit ; " Whilst I fa myself 
all on seeing him." 

■ Dante's son Pietro lells hoc 
Maliotnet " went with hia mss- 
tei's camels, alwsTs inquiriiig and 
learning aliout the Old and the 
New Testament," &c. 



.vGooglc 



tiHto Mvin, INFERNO, 885 

Before me AM ■weeping goes, cleft in the face from 
chin to forelock. And all the othere, whom thon 
seest here, were in their lifetime sowers of scandal 
and of schism ; and therefore are they thus cleft. 
A Devil is here behind, who splits us thus cruelly, 
reapplying each of this throng to hia sword's edge, 
when we have wandered round the dolorous road; 
for our wounds heal up ere any of us goes again 
before him. But thou, who art thou that musest 
on the cliff, perhaps in order to delay thy going to 
the punishment, adjudged upon thy accusations?"' 
" Not yet has death come to him ; nor does guilt 

Dinanzi a me sen va piangenda All 

Fesao nel volto dal mento al ciufietto. 
£ tutti gli altri, cbe tu vedi qui, 

Seminator di scandalo e di scisma 35 

Fnr viri ; e perfi son fessi cost. 
Un Diavola k qoa dietro, che n' accisma 

Si crudelmeute, al taglio della spada 

Rtmettendo ciascuu dl questa risma, 
Quando avem volta la doleute strada ; 40 

Perocchg le ferite son richiuse 

Prima ch' altri dinanzi li rivada. 
Ma tu chi sei, che in su lo scoglio mnse, 

Foree per indng^ d' ire alia pena, 

Ch' k giudicata in so le tue accuse ? 45 

N6 morte il giunse ancor, nb colpa il mens, 

ST. Atcitma (uiaina) apliti, divides. 

' lo presence of Minos. Canto | menta the sinners. Vl Ktml 
V. 7, Sic It is their own guilt quia per qutt ptccat quit, per hoe 
that iKcuees, condemna, and tor> I el terquetw. Sapientiie xL 17. 



.vGooglc 



3S6 INFERNO. ciHTO unii. 

lead him," replied my Master, "to torment him. 
But to give him full experience, I who am dead 
have to conduct him through the Hell down here, 
from round to round : and this is true, as that I 
speak to t3iee." 

More than a hundred, when they heard him, 
stopped in the ditch to look at me, through won- 
der forgetting Uieir torment. " Wellj then, thou 
who perhaps shalt see the Sun ere long, tell Fra 
Dolcino,' if he wish not speedily to follow me ^awn 

Rispose il mio Maestro, a tortnentarlo ; 

Ma per dar lui esperienza plena, 
A me, che morto son, convien menarlo 

Per lo Inferno quaggiil di giro in giro : 50 

£ questo ^ ver cos), com' io ti parlo. 
Piii fur di cento, che quando 1' udiro, 

S' arreBtaron nel fosao a riguardarmi, 

Per maraviglio obliando il marliro. 
Or di' a Fra Dolcin dunque che s' armi, 55 

Tu che forse vedrai il Sole in brere, 

S' egli non vnol qui tosto Begnitarmi, 



' Fra Dolcino (Dufcisui), "a 
roan of great ulenl, and leam- 
ing, and singular eloquence," who 
preached Communis of goods and 
(aa ii aaid) of wives, at the time 
of Dante's vision ; and"cenBured 
the Pope, Cardinals, and other 
Dignitaries of the Holy Church, 
for not doing theii du^, nor li 
ing the angelic life," &c. In 1305 
he had several thousands of fol- 
lowers, " some of whom were 



noble and wealth;;" and, heing 
pursued and attacked by the In- 
quisition, stoutly defended him- 
seie "the women fighting too," 
on Monte Sebello, near Novant 
in Piedmont; and could not be 
taken till his provisions were cut 
off (in 1307} by a snow-storm. 
He and " Sister Msrgaiet" of 
Trent, his wife, were mangled 
with red-hot pincers, and then 
burnt with what remains of life 



.vGooglc 



here, to arm himself with victuals, lest etresH of snow 
bring victory to the Novareae, which otherwise would 
not be easy to attain." After lifting up one foot to go 
away, Mahomet said this to me ; then on the ground 
he stretched it to depart. 

Another, who had his throat pierced through, 
and nose cut off up to the eyebrows, and had bat 
one single ear, standing to gaze in wonder with the 
rest, before the rest opened his weasand, which out- 
wardly was red on every part, and said : " O thou ! 
whom guilt condemns not, and whom I have seen 
above on Latlan ground ere now, unless too much 

SI di vivanda, che stretta di nere 

Non rechi la vittoria al Noarese, 

Ch' altrimenti acquistar non saria liere. 60 

Poi che r on pi& per g^rsene aospeae, 

Maometto mi disse eata parola ; 

Indi a partirsi in terra lo disteae. 
Un altro, che forata avea la gola 

E tronco U naso infin sotto le ciglia, 65 

£ non area ma* ch' an' orecchia sola, 
Bestato a riguardar per maTaT^;tia 

Con gli altri, innanzi agli altii aprl la canna, 

Ch' era di faor d' ogni parte venniglia ; 
E disse : tn, cui colpa non condauna, 70 

E cui g^ vidi bu in terra Latino, 

66. Jfn' ch', more than. Lit magiM jtiam. 

tbej hid ID them, entirelj refus- very putial account of then is 

ing to abjuie theii doctrines. See given, in which the; are oalled 

Benv. da Imola, uid Land. Cem. ; Oaxxari (nilgu for Cathari, Pu- 

Vitt, viii 84 ; and Murat Rer. litans), like the AlbigecKS and 

/(a), torn, ii., where a fiiller but Waldenses. 



,"iooglc 



338 INFEKNO. (umo utui. 

resemblance do mislead me ; temembet Pier da Me- 
dicina,' if ever thou retumest to see the gentle plain* 
that &om Vercelli slopes to Marcab6 ; and make 
known to the worthiest two' of Fano, to Messer 
Gruido and to Angiolello likewise, that, unless our 
foresight here be vain, they shall be cast out of their 
ship, and drowned near the CattoUca, by a fell ty- 

Se troppa simigliania non m' inganua, 
Rimembtiti di Pier da Medima, 

8e mai tomi a veder lo dolce piano, 

Che da Yercello a Marcabc) dichiiu ; 75 

E fa saper a' duo miglior di Fano, 

A messer Guido, e ancbe ad Angiolello, 

Cbe, ae 1' antiveder qui non 6 vano, 
Gittati saran fnor di lor Taaello, 

E mazzerati prcsao alia Cattolica, 80 



< OfMedicina, a little town be- 
tween Bolognii and Imola. Pieio, 
amongst other Chinga, hindered 
Guido of RiTenna and MalateEta 
of Rimini from "cootraeting af- 
finitf and alliance," and set them 
at variance, by «eerel]y and of- 
ficiouil; inrorming each, that the 
other was going to eheal him ; 
and got large preaenta from hath 
for hia eonfidentiil falsehoods. 

Dante is said to hare hem a 
frequent visitor in the house of 
the Capitani or Cattani at Medi- 
ciiiB, andPiero might have aeen 
him there. Benv. da Tmola Com. 

' Plain of Lombardf, gentlj 
dcBcending for more than 200 
miiea, fii>m Vercelli to Maroaba, 



a eastle huilt by the Yenetiana on 
the southmost hranch of the Po, 
□ear Ravenna, to obstruct its na- 
Ytgation; and entirely demolished 
aftsT their defeat at Ferrara, in 
ISOS. Ibid. 

' Guido del Casaero and An- 
giolello da Cagnsno, two noble 
citizens of Fano: incited by Mai- 
testino, the " One-eyed Traitor," 
to friendly parley or dinner with 
him on an appointed day, at Cat- 
tolica, a seaport betireen Fano and 
Rimini ; and there, by his Orders, 
"thrown into the 



round their necka." Ibid, and 
Vellut Cum. Happily we have no 
notd in English for m 



.vGooglc 



rant's treachery. Between the isles of Cyprus and 
Majorca, Neptune never saw so great a trespass 
done — not even by Pirates, not by Argivee, That 
traitor who sees with but one eye, and holds the 
land which one who is here with me would wish 
that he had never seen, will make them come to 
parley with him; then act so, that they shall need 
no vow nor prayer against Focara's^ wind." 

And I to him : " Shew me and explain, so thou 
wouldst have me carry tidings up of thee, who he 
is that rues that sight." * 

Then he laid his hand upon the Jaw of one of 

Per tradimeuto d' an tiranno fello. 
Tra r isola di Cipri e di Maiolica 

Non vide mai si gran fallo Nettuno, 

Koa da Pirati, non da gente Argolica. 
Quel traditor che vede pur con 1' uno, 85 

£ tien la terra, che td k qui meco 

Vorrebhe di Tedere esser diginno, 
Faii YeniTli a parlamento scco ; 

Foi fiu^ s), che al vento di Focara 

Non faii lor mestier voto nfc preco. 90 

Ed io a loi : Dimostrami e dichiara, 

Se vuoi ch' io port! au di te novella, 

Chi h colui dalla veduta amara. 
Allor pose In mono alia mascella 



t<^ca ; BO noted for its periloiu 
ujiuIIb, that ' Ood keep thee &oin 



' Lit;"Heofthebitletsight;" 
the one who wishes that he were 
" fasting: (canto xiiii. 42) froni 
sight 0^" ot had nerer seen, the 
YoDHK Msgdff'a land of iUinini. 



.vGooglc 



S40 INFERNO. c^to ixvui. 

bis companionB ; and opened the mouth of him, say- 
ing: "This is he, tmd he speaks not. This outcast' 
quenched the doubt in Csesai, offinning that to men 
prepared delay is always hurtful."* Oh, hov dis- 
mayed, with tongue slit in bis gorge, seemed Curio 
to me, who was so daring in bis speech ! 

And one who had both hands cut off, raising the 
stumps through the dim air so that their blood de- 
filed bis &ce, said : " Tbou wilt recoUect the Mosca^ 



D' un Buo Gompagno, e la bocca gli aperae, 
Oridando : Quest! h desso, e non favella : 

Qnesti scacdato U dubitar sommerae 
In Cesare, affermando che il fomito 
Sempre con danno 1' attender sogerse. 

quanto mi pareva sbigottito. 
Con la lingua tagUata nella strozsa. 
Curio, ch' a dicer fu cosi ardito ! 

Ed nn, ch' avea 1' una e I' altre man mozsa, 
Levando i moncbexin per 1' aura foaca, 
SI cbe il saugue facea la facda sozza, 

Grid6 : Ricorderaiti anche del Moaca, 



95 



I Curio, buiiihed from Borne ; 
who found Csbu at Eimini <Ari- 
minum) heBiUting to paes the Ru- 
bicon, and daringl; with " venal 
tongue" iaeensed him to it LHam. 
I 269, &c. 

' LiL; ■' That the mn prepared 
always with injury endured delay." 
Sengier tuKall differre paratit, lb. 
i. 231. 

* IntheyeBtl21S,lheBuondel- 
monte iParad. ni 140, &o.) who 



was engaged to wed a lady of the 
Amidei Gimfly, brake hia pMmi*«, 
and betrothed hiingelf to one of 
the DonatL The relationa of the 
fonner met to ooiuult bow they 
might avenge the afiont ; and by 
advice of thia Moaca, a noble and 
Ikmous Ohibelline of that time, 
who aaaiated them with Us Own 
hands, they dragged the young 
bridegroom &tnii his bone in open 
day, and slew him at the foot of 



.vGooglc 



cuno nTiiT. INFERNO. 341 

too, ah me I yrho said, 'A thing done has an end;' 
which was the seed of evil to the Tuscan people." 

" And death to thy kindred !"' I added here. 

Wherefore he, accumnlating pain on pain, went 
away as one distressed and mad. But I remained to 
view the troop, and saw a thing which I should be 
afraid to tell alone, without more proof; but that 
conscience makes me sure, the good companion that 
fortifies a man beneatJi the hauberk of his self-felt 
parity.' Certainly I saw, and still seem to see a 



Che disai, laaao ! Capo ha cosa &tta : 
Che fo il mal seme della gente Tosca. 

Ed io v' aggiuusi : E morte di tua schiatta i 
Per eh' e^ accumolando dnol con duolo, 
Sen gjo come persona trista e matta. 

Ma io rimasi a riguardar lo stuolo, 
E vidi COBE eh' io a^rei paura, 
Senza piil provB, di contarla solo ; 

Se non che conscienzia m' assicura. 
La buona compagnia che 1' nom fhincheggia 
Sotto r osbergo del sentirsi pura. 

Io vidi certo, ed ancor par ch' io il veggia. 



the " ominoiu" statue of Mara. 
" This murder wai the eaiiae and 
commencement of the »cour«ed 
Guelph and Ohibelline partiM in 
Florence." Maieip. c. 104; Fill. 
V. 38. 

The " Cota fatia, capo *o," as 
all the old Chroniclers hare it, 
is Btili in use as a proverb ; and 
here meaiia ' Kill him fint, and 
then consult.' Tt might be ren- 



dered, ' Done deed nil) speed ;' 
will contrive to aisert and justjf; 
itself; or, ■ A thing done is soon 
settled.' 

' Or: "Thy race:" the great 
Lamberti fainilf. Parad.xn. 110. 

■ Lit.: " Conseienoe .... the 
good compaiiioQ that emboldens 
or frees a roan from fear, under 
the hauberk of his feeling him- 
self pure." 



Liinn;.--, Google 



3*8 INFXKNO. cutTO nTiit 

tronk going vithoot a head, as the others of that 
dismal herd were going- And it was holding the 
severed head, hy the hair, swii^ing hke a lantern 
in its hand ; and that looked at us, and said : " O 
me !" Of itself it made for itself a lamp : ' and thej 
irere two in one, and one in two. How this can be, 
he knows who so ord&ins. 

When it was right bensath ttg, at the bottom of 
&e Imdge, it raised the arm high up, with all the 
head,' to bring near to us its words, which were ; 
" Now see the grievous penalty, thou, who breathing 
goest to view the dead : see if any else be great as 
this ! And that thou mayest carry tidings of me, 

Un busto senza capo andar, ai come 

Andavan gli sltri della trilta greggia. 120 

E il capo tronco tenea per le chiome 

Pesol con mano, a guisa di lautema ; 

E quel mirava noi, e dices : me ! 
Bi se faceva a Be ateaao lucema ; 

Ed erau due in ono, ed nno in due : 125 

Com' easer pub, quei sa che e\ governs. 
Quando diritto sppi^ del poute fae, 

Levj) iL braccio alto con totta la testa 

Per appresBame le parole aue, 
Che furo : Or vedi la pena molests 130 

Tu che, spirando, vai ve^endo i morti ; 

Vedi s' slcuua & grande come questa. 
, E perch^ tu di me novella parti, 



.vGooglc 



ciHTO OTUi. INFEBNO. 343 

know that I am Bertran' de Bom, he who to the 
Young King gave the evil counsels. I made the 
father and the son rebels to each other. Ahithophel 
did not do more with Absalom and David by his 
malicious inst^tions. Because I parted persons 
thus united, I carry my brain, ah me ! parted (iom 
its source' which is in this trunk. Thus the law of 
retribution' is observed in me," 

Sappi ch' io son Bertram dal Bornio, quelli 

Che al Re Oiorane diedi i mal conforti. 135 

Io feci il padre e il figlio in b& ribelli : 
Achitofel Don fe' pib d' Absalone 
E di David co' malvagi pungelli. 

Perch' io partii cosi glunte persone, 

Partito porto il mio cerebro, lasso ! 1 40 

Dai suo principio cb' fe in qnesto troncone. 

Cos! «' oaserva in me Io contrappasao. 



' Lord Bertnnd de Bom (" En 

BtrtroK," Sec), the great Trou- 
badour, turbuleot staCegman and 
wurior, of Hautefort in Ouienne : 
be who made the Young King 
("e/ reijeie"). Prince Henrj, re- 
bel i^^aiiut his own lather Henry 



II., and 1< 



n that n 



bellion till the Prince waa killed. 
See lUynouard, Poena det Trou- 
badouri, tom. y. 76, &e. 

The old reading of line 135 U 
At Giaiami, " £iDg John;" and 
certainly, after the murder of 
Becket, all the Bona of Henry 
Bucceiaiiely rebelled agtuDst him, 



John among the teat. But even 
Villani himself (v. 4.) looaely 
writea "ilre Giouant," ao [hat the 
error ia easily accounted for : and 
Dante, who knew the Poema of 
Bertnnd (>ee Vulg. Eloq. u. 2, 3, 
o.),' 






any of the hisi 
make such a mistake. Foacalo 
reads Re Giovine for Gioeaw ; but 
without aoy authority. 

■ Or from its root or germ, the 
apinal cord, which is in this head- 
less trunk or stock. 

* The irriF^TOtflei (cmtfro-po*- 
nu) of Aristotle. 



.vGooglc 



.yCOOgIC 



AEGUMENT. 



The numbectns Shadowg of discord and bloody itrife have flUed the 
Poet's eyes with tean ; and be keeps still gazing down, eipecWng 
to find bis ovn father's couain, Get! del Bello, among Ihera. Viigil 
makea him quit the miBerabie spei^cle ; and tells, as the; go on, 
how he had seen Geri, at the foot of the bridge, pointing with 
angry gestuie, and then depardng in the crowd. Fiom the arch 
of the Tenth Cbasm, Dante now hears tlie wsilings afs new class 
of aimiera, the last in Malebolge. They are Ihe Falaifiers pf every 
sort : punished with innumerable diseases, in impure air and dark- 
ness. Pietro di Dante enumerates three classes of Falsifiers : in 
things, in deeds, and in words. Of the first claas are the Alche- 
mists, Forgers, &c., such aa Gtiffolino of Arezzo, and Capocchio 
of Siena, in the present canto, and AdaiDO da Brescia in the next, 
— where we iliatl also find the other two classes. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XXIX. 

Tbe many people and the diverse wounds bad 
made my eyes so drunken,^ that they longed to stay 
and weep. Bat Virgil said to me : " Why art thou 
gazing still? Wherefore does thy sight still rest, 
down there, among the dismal mutilated shadows ? 
Thou hast not done bo at the other chasms. Con- 
sider, if thou thinkest to number them, that the val- 
1^ goes round two and twenty miles ;^ and the Moon 



La molta gente e U diverse piaghe 
Avean le lad mie st inebriate, 
Che dello Btare s piangere eran vaghe. 

Ma Virgilio mi disse : Che pnr gnate ? 
Perchfe la viata taa par si sofiblge 
La^it tra 1' ombre triste emouicate ? 

Tn nan hai fotto si all' altre bolge : 
Pensa, se ta anaoverar le credi, 
Che miglia Tendduo la valle volge ; 



' " And their land shall be 
drunken {imbriabitiir) with blood." 
Iiaiali xidiT. 7. Reuler 1 n 
the true pathoa, dignity, and , 
tice of this scene, nheie the Poet 
has to ipeali of ■ worthlega rel»- 

* Dante heregives tbe measure- 
ment of this Ninth ring of Male- 
holge-^lut hut one, with sbadow$ 
not to be numbered — and, in neit 
canto, that of the innermost or 



Gmalleat ring, nhich is eleien 
miles round ; and so leaves ns to 
ima^ne th« Tist dimenaiona and 
population of all tbe Hell above. 

The ingenioua Dialogo di An- 
toRioJlfaiKlti(Oiunta,Flor.lJOG}, 
with curious plitea and calcula- 
tions, uow before me, attempts — 
not very poetically or auccessfiiU; 
—to reduce the " Site, Form, and 
Size of the Hell" to a hind of 
arcbitectunl reality. 



.vGooglc 



OABW Hit IMFBBNO. 347 

already is beneath our feet^ The time is nov short, 
that is conceded to us; and far other things are to 
be seen than thou dost see." 

" Hadst thouj" I thereupon replied, " attended 
to the cause for which I looked, perhaps thou might- 
est have vouchsafed me yet to stay."^ Meantime t3ie 
Guide was going on ; and I went behind him, now 
making my reply, and adding : " Within that cavern 
where I kept my eyes so fixed,^ I believe that a 
spirit, of my own blood, laments the gxiilt which 
costs so much down there." 

Then the Master said : " Let not thy thought 
henceforth distract itself on him.* Attend to some- 

£ gik la Laua fe sotto i nostri piedl ; 10 

Lo tempo h poco omai, che n' ^ concesso ; 
Ed altro i da veder, che tu non vedi. 

Se tu avEHsi, riapos' io appreaso, 
Atteso alia cagiou per ch' io guardava, 
Forse m' aTreeti ancor lo star dimesBO. 15 

Parte sen glo, ed io retro gU andava, 
Lo Duca, gi& facendo la risposta, 
E aoggiungendo : Dentro a quella cava. 

Dot" io teneva gli occhi si a posta, 

Credo ch' un spirto del mio sangae pianga 20 

La colpa, che laggib cotanto casta. 

Allor disse il Maestro : Non si franga 
Lo tno pensier da qui innanzi sovr' ello : 

' It is piBt mid-da;: six hours i * LiL : " So at stand :" m 

later than the dme given b; tlie eagerly and painfolly loolung for 

Moon in oanto ii. 124, &o. one of nij own kindred. 

' Or ; "To slay yet longer." \ * Virgil or mere Human Wis- 



.vGooglc 



S48 INFEBNO. aarto no. 

what else, and let him stay there ; for I saw him, at 
the foot of the little bridge, point to thee, and ve- 
hemently threaten with hia finger ; and heard thsm 
call him Geri del Bello.' Thou wast then so totally 
entangled upon him who once held Altaforte,^ that 
thou didst not look that way; so he departed."' 

" my Guide ! his violent death, which is not 
yet avenged for him," said I, " hy any that is a 
partner of his shame, made him indignant : there- 



Attendi ad altro, ed ei lik si rimanga ; 

Ch' io Tidi lui a pi^ del ponticella 
MoBtrarti, e minacciar forte col dito, 
Ed udn nominar Gen del Bello. 

Tq eri alloT si del tatto impedito 
Sovra colui che giik teune Altttforte, 
Che non gnardasti in Ik ; si fii partito. 

Duca mio I la violenta mofte 

Che noD gli h vendicata ancor, dies' io. 
Per alcim che dell' onta sia conaorte, 

Fece lui diedegooao ; onde sen gio 



dom, not to apeak of Divine, bids 
Dante wmte no farther thought 
on that mieereble kinsman of hia, 
who eren in Hell lliinka of nothing 
but vengeance and bloodshed. 



' This Geri 



a the f 



L of 



Dsnte'e granduncle (Allighieri i] 
Bello, "Ihe Fsir") ; and, being s 
stirrer up of strife, was slain by 
one of the Saccheiti in some 
metched equabble. The Ottime 
Cam. says he " naa a coiner too ; 
but as his death was caused By 
sowing of lares" (strife), "he is 



placed in (be Ninth Budget; and 
for having been a forger, he U 
spoken of in the present cbaptei," 
&c. The forgery was probably 
a mere partial report, known to 
Daute and this writer; for we 
find no hint of it in other com- 
menta. 

» Or : " So wholly occupied 
Kith him," i.e. with Bertrand of 
Hautefort, or " Altaforte." 

' Or perhspa: "Till he de- 
parted :" n for linche, as in canto 



.vGooglc 



INPBRKU. 



349 



fore, as I suppose, he went avay mthout speaking 
to me ; and in that has made me pi^ him the 
more."' Thos we spake, up to the first place of the 
cliff, which shews the other valley, if mote light were 
there, quite to the bottom. 

When we were above tte last cloister of Male- 
bolge, BO that its lay-brethren^ could appear to our 
view, lamentations pierced me, manifold, that had 
their arrows shod with pity ; whereat I covered my 
ears with my hands. 



Seuza parlarmi, s) cam' io stimo ; 

E in ci6 m' ha liktto egli a ak piil pio. 
Cosi parlammQ insino al luogo primo, 

Che deUo scogUo 1' altra valle mostra, 

Se pid lume ri fosse, tutto ad imo. 
Quaudo noi fummo in sii 1' ultima chiostra 

Di Mslebolge, si che i suoi conversi 

Fotean parere alia veduta nostra. 
Lament! saettaron me diverei, 

Che di pieljl ferrati avean gli strali ; 

Ond' io gli orecchi con le man coperai. 



35 



> Thatcige fbrTeDgeu>ce,Tmd 
im^e of bis former life, vhich 
■Ull adds to his toimeDta in Hell, 
makes me pity him the more. 

" Here the Author reprehenda 



the wickedneBi of Oeri end of his 
■ssocistes" (nephews who took 
lengeuice on the Sscchetd thirty 
yearssfleihisdeath), "sndtacitly 
blames the pestilential spirit of 
the Florentines, who never ibrg;el 
an iiyuiy, nor without vengeance 



Ibrgive any oOencB : whence there 
is amongst us a saying (hat 'Ven- 
geance a htmdred years old has 
milk-teeth' (is only cutting its 
teeth), Fejuietta di centa armi tieae 
lalUauUi!" Ottimo Com. See 
also Benv. da Imola, who gives the 
same eiplanatioa of this passage. 
" The sinners are " lay-bro- 
thers" in these cloiatera, or en- 
closed linga, nliere Demons are 
the Monk& 



.vGooglc 



Such grief as there wonld be^ if die diseases in 
the hospitals of Taldichiana,' between July and Sep- 
tember, and of Marenuna and Sardinia, were all 
together in one ditch : such was there here ; and 
such stench issued (hence, as is wont to issue &oni 
putrid limbs. 

We descended on the hst bank of the long^ clifT, 
again to the left hand ;' and then my sight was more 
vivid, down towards the depth in which the Minister 
of the Great Sire, in&llible Justice, punishes the falsi- 

Qiial dolor fbra, se degli epedali 

Di Yaldichiana tra il loglio e il settembre, 

E di Marenuna, e ili Sardigna i mali 
Fossero in una fbaaa tatti insembr^ 

Tai era quivi i e tal pnzzo n' usdvs, 50 

Qnal Buole nsdr dalle mardte membre. 
Noi discendemmo in bu t' ultima riva 

Del Imigo BGo^o, pur da roan Binistra, 

Ed allor fu la mia vista piil viva 
Giit T&r lo fondo, dove la ministra 55 

DelT alto Sire, in&llibil Oiustizia, 



49. Imembre (Fr. enaemble), i: 



' In the Ville; of the sluggish 
river ChianAf near Arezzo, vhich 
a DOW thorough!; drained, deadly 
■nanh -fevers were frequent, espe- 
cially during the hot months of 
Jul;, Augtist, and September. 
The drainage of the Maremnii, 
or marab; <ea-coact south of the 
Amo, vaa also undertaken b; the 
Tuscan Govenunenl aome twentj' 



years agO! and much ezcelleat 
land has already been gained for 
cultivation, and rendered quite 
healthy. Compare canto zxv. 19. 
' " Long," for it crosses all the 
chasms of Malebolge, from the 
Qteat Bttrrier downwards. Canto 
[. 16, &c. 



• Asim 
izL 136, &c. 



0.21,1 



l41, 



.vGooglc 



CAKTO xia. INFEKHO. 851 

fiers that she here registers,^ I do not think it waa 
a greater sorrow to see the people in ^gina all 
infirm ;^ when the air was so malignant, that every 
animal, even to the httle worm, dropt down— and 
afterwards, as Foete hold for sure, the ancient peo- 
ples were restored from seed of ants — than it was 
to see, through that dim valley, the spirits languish- 
ing in diverse heaps. This upon the belly, and 
that upon the shoulders of the other lay ; and 
some were crawling on^ along the dismal path. 
Step by step we went, without speech, looking at 

Poniace i falsator cbe qui registra. 
Non credo ch' a veder ma^or tristizia 

Fosse in Egina il popol tutto iufermo, 

Qaando fu 1' aer b1 pien di malizia, 60 

Cbe gli animali, infino al picciol vermo, 

Cascaron tutti, e poi le genti eutiche, 

Secondo cbe i poeti banno per fenno. 
Si ristorar di seme di formiche ; 

Cb' era a veder per qnella oscura yalle 65 

LangQtr gli spirti per diverse bicbe. 
Qual Bovra il ventre, e qoal sovra le spalle 

L' un dell' altio ^acea ; e qiud carpoue 

Si trasmutava per lo tristo calle, 
PasBO paaso audavam senza sermone, 70 



' Here on eartli regiaten. As Mpn^ uid mjthio re-peopling 

in the hTinn Oiti h-a, diet ilia ; of it by the ant-bota Mfimidoiui 

LliiTKr^lupro/trttT, Olid. Mel. viL £23-SS7. 

In que Malt canUncttr, • Lit ; " This, M aome, cnwl- 

P.d.-.«Jwj«d(c<l«r. i„g cbnagEd from place to place 

* AlluaioQ to ihe pestilence of slang the dismal path." 



.vGooglc 



SSS INFERNO. OAino iiu. 

and liBtening to the sick who could not raise their 
bodies. 

I saw two sit leaning on each other, as pan is 
leant on pan' to warm : &om head to foot spotted 
with scabs. And never did I see cunycomb plied 
by stable-boy for whom his master waits, nor by one 
who stays unwillingly awake ;^ as each of these plied 
thick the clawing of his nails upon himself, for the 
great fury of the itch, which has no other succour. 
And so the nails drew down the scurf, as does a 



Gnardando ed ascoltando gli ammalati, 
Che noa patean levar le lor persone. 

lo vidi duo sedeie a b^ appo^jiati. 

Come a scaldar s' appoggia te^hia a tegghia, 
Dal capo ai pi^ di achianze maculati : 

E non vidi giammai menare atreggfaia 
A ragazzo aapettato dal signorso, 
N& a colni cbe mal Toleotier vegghia ; 

Come ciaacun meuava apesao il morso 
Dell' nnghie aovra a^ per la gran rabbia 
Del pizzicor, cbe non ha piil aoccorao : 

E at traevan giii 1' ungbie la scabbia. 



' " Pan or coTei" for 
uses, says the Vocab. della Crusca. 
The warming of which, before 
hearth - fires without leaders or 
other Bpparatua, in those old days, 



would give B familiar homely D- 
lustration of the attitude, back to 
back, of these two helpless sinoeri 
leaning againat each other. 
* Who is eager for bed. 



.vGooglc 



CANTO no. INFERKO. 358 

knife the scales from bream or otter fish that has 
them larger. 

" O thou !" began my Guide to one of them, 
" who with thy fingers dismailest' thyself, and some- 
times makest pincers of them ; tell me if there be 
any Latian among these who are here widiin : so 
may thy nails eternally suffice thee for that work." 

" Latians are we, whom thou seest so disfigured 
here, both of us," replied the one weeping ; " but 
thou, who art thou that hast inquired of us ?" 

And the Guide said : " I am one, who with this 
living man descend from steep to steep, and mean 
to shew him Hell." ITien they sprang asunder,' 

Come coltel di scardova le acaglie, 

d' altro pesce che pid larghe 1' abbia. 
tu, cbe colle dita ti dismaglie, 85 

Cominci6 il Daca mio a un di loro, 

E che fai d' esse tal volta tanngHe ; 
Dimmi s' alcua Latino 6 tra coatoro « 

Che son quiuc' entro, ee 1' onghia ti basti 

EtemalnieDte a coteato laToro. 90 

Latin sem noi, che tu vedi ei guasti 

Qui ambodue, rigpose 1' un piangendo ; 

Ma tu chi sei, che di uoi dimandastiT 
E il Daca diase : lo son nn, che discendo 

Con qnesto tito giii di bako in balzo, 95 

E di moatrar 1' Inferno a lui intendo, 
Mor si rappe lo comun rincalzo, 



' Keepeit lendiDg and some- I ' Lit i " Then the mutual prop- 
UnMB^okingofitbyDuilofaeurf. | ping broke,'' &0' They censed to 



.vGooglc 



364 INPERNO. oum. nil. 

and each turned trembling towards me, -with others 
that by echo heard him. 

The kiad Master to me directed himself wholly,* 
saying : " TeU them what thou wishest" 

And I began, aa he desired : " So may your 
memory not fade* away from human minds in the 
first world, but may it live for many circling suns: 
tell me who ye are, and of what nation. Let not 
your i^ly and disgusting punishment fright ye from 
revealing yourselTes to me." 

" I was of Arezzo,"^ replied the one, " and Al- 

E tremando ciascuno a me si yolse 

Con altri, che 1' udiroa di rimbalzo. 
Lo buon Maestro a me tutto s' accolse, 100 

Dicendo ; Di' a lor cifi clie tu vuoli. 

Ed io incominciai, poscia ch' ei volse : 
Se la Tostra memoria non s' imboli 

Nel primo mondo dall' umane menti. 

Ma s' eUa viva sotto molti Soli ; 105 

Ditemi c1£ vol siete, e di che genti : 

La TOBtra sconcia e fastidiosa pens 

Di palesarri a me non yi spayenti. 
Io fui d' Arezzo, e Albero da Siena, 



lean on one another, and turned 
to me, " the living man," trem- 
bling in their weaknesa and sur- 
prise : along with othen, nho in- 
direetlj ("by rebound") heard the 
words ofVirgil. 

■ Or : " Gathered himieir all 
to me ;" bent his head, arms, &,c. 
tonards me : as a kind Italian 
noutd still do. 



Lit. : " Not steal itaelf away," 
; but live " under many sons," 
for majiy years. Soli (aolar 
years) as in canto vi. 6S. 

' "MaaterGriffolinoof Areizo, 
a great Alchemisl," Sic, who, 
under pretence of teaching Al- 
bero — real or adopted son oftlie 
Biahop or Inquisitor of Siena — 
the art of Aying, got much money 



.vGooglc 



curra lui. INFERNO. 355 

bero da Siena got me burnt; but that for which I 
died, does not bring me here. 'Tia true, I said to 
him, speaking in jest : ' I could raise myself through 
the air in flight.' And he, who had a fond desire 
and little wit, willed that I should shew hi n the 
art ; and only because I made him not a Dsdalus, 
he made me be burnt by one who had him for a 
son. But to the last budget of the ten, for the al- 
chemy that I practised in the world, Minos, who 
may not err, condemned me," 

And I said to the Poet : " Now were there ever 
people vain aa the Sienese? Certainly the French* 
are not so vain by fer." 



Rispose I'uu, mi fe' mettere al fuoco ; 

Ma quel, per ch' io mori', qui non mi mena. 

Ter h, ch' io diasi a iui, parlando a gluoco : 
Io mi saprei lerar per 1' acre a volo : 
E quel che avea vaghezza e senno poco, 

Voile ch' io gll mostrasBi 1' arte ; e solo 
Perch' io nol feci Dedalo, mi fece 
Ardere a tal, che 1' avea per figliuolo. 

Ma nell' ultima bolgia delle diece 

Me per alchimia, che nel mondo nsai, 
Danii6 Minos, a cui fallir non lece. 

Ed io diasi al Poeta : Or fn giammai 
Gente si vana come la Sanese 7 
Certo non la Fianeesca si d' assai. 



110 



from the witless youth ; and then 
waa deuDunced and biunt alive aa 
a dealer iu the Black An. BenT. 
da Imola, Pietro, &c. The OUimo 
bida UB note, that "almoet none 



of the Alchemista dared to prac- 
tise in tiieir own country, more 
especially In public." 

' Boocaocio, speaking of this 
pBBBBge, aays, " The whole notld 



.vGooglc 



356 INFEBNO. UNTO nil. 

Whereat tlic other leper,* who heard me, re- 
sponded to my words : " Except the Stricca who 
cMjntriTed to spend so moderately ; and Niccolft, who 
first discovered the costly usage of the clove, in the 
garden* where such seed takes root ; and except the 
company in which Caccia of Asciano^ equandered 
his vineyard and his great forest, and the Abba- 

Onde r altro lebbroso, che m' intese, 

Bispose al detto mio ; Truine to Stricca, 125 

Che seppe far le temperate spese ; 
B I4iccol6, che la costnina ricca 

Del garoffino piima diacoperse 

Nell' orto, dove tal seme a' appicca ; 
B ttaane la brigata, in cbe disperse 130 

Cacda d' Ascian la vigna e la gran frouda. 



125. Trame 

ia xmm that there i> no Tainet 
people Ihaa the French," &c. ; 
and then goea dd Co shew that 
the Sienese are descended from 
them — apparent]; confounding 
Siena vith Sma GiUtka or Sini- 
gaglia, whicli wai indeed founded 
by the Gauls. The Sienese agam 
called "genie Bona," Purg. xiii. 
ISl. 

1 The other acabbed teper is 
Capocchio, a Florentine who is 
said to hste studied natural phi- 
losophy along with Dante i and 
was burnt at Siena for Alchemy. 
He ironically bids Dante " except 
the Stricca," Tuneit of all the 
Sienese, who apent his whole 



fortune in folliea ; and Nieeolo 
de' Bonsignori of Siena, who 
invented the " costly mode of 
roasting pheasants and capons at 
fires made with cloies" (Benv. 
da Imola, and Pietro) ; and the 
company or club, called " brigata 
apendereeciat or goderecda," con- 
aisting of twelve young noblemen 
who squandered more than two 
hundred thousand florens is ten 
months. See Benv. da Imola ; 
Landino, Sec. 

' In Siena, where such fblUea 
take root or " fasten." 

' Caeeia sold his rineyards and 
(bresta of Aaciano, near Siena ; 
and spent them in hit club. 



.vGooglc 



ciMio im. INFERNO. 357 

gliatoi shewed his wit. But that thou ma^est know 
who thus seconds thee against the Sienese, sharpen 
thine eye upon me, that my iace may give thee 
light reaponse ;' so shalt thou see I am the shadow 
of Capocchio, who &lEified the metals by alchemy. 
And thou must recollect, if I rightly eye thee,* how 
good an ape I was of Nature." 

E r Abbagliato il buo senno proferM. 

Ma perch^ aappi chi si ti seconda 
Contra i Sanesi, aguzza Yte me 1' occhio, 
8) che la facda mia ben ti risponda ; 135 

81 vedrai ch' io son 1' ombra di Capoccbio, 
Che lalsai 11 metalli ecu alchimia, 
E ten dee ricordar, se ben f adoccbio. 

Com' io fui di natura bnona scimia. 



' Who " wa» poor" {OtHma), 
and coDtributed his nit, inatead 
of lh« " twenty thonsuid floieni" 
that esch of the others contri- 
buted. Same few commentators, 
ai Benv. da Imola and Lombardi, 



make abbagliaio an adjeotive, and 
epithet of Asciana, or oftenui; 
but without neceiai^ or profit 

* May enable thee to dlstin- 
guiah me throu^^h the scurf. 

' Rightlj' recogniae thee. 



.yCoOgIc 



.yCOOgIC 



AKGUMENT. 



till on the brim of the Tenth Chasm, in nhich aen horrors await 
us. " Here," mjb the Ottimo Cbto., " all the seaaes are assailed i 
the sight, b; murk}' sir (le pi& lame vi fine. Sic.) ; the ear, hy 
laanentations that 'have arrows shod with pity ;' the smell, by stench 
of ' putrid limbs ;' the toucli, by hideous scurf, and by the siDiiers 
lying on DUG another; and l:lie taste, by thirst that 'craves one 
little drop of water,'" &c. Here Gianni Schiechi of Florence, and 
Myrrha, who eounterfeited the persona of others for wicked pur- 
poies, represent the Falsifiers " in deeds j" Sinon and Potiphar's 
wife, the Falsifiers " in words." The canto ends with a dialogue 
between Master Adam of Brescia and Sinon, who strike and abiise 
each other with a grim scorn and zeal. Dante gels a sharp and 
memorable reproof from Virgil, for listening too eagerly to their 
base conversation. 



.yCOOgIC 



CANTO XXX. 

At the time that Juno was incensed for Semele 
against the Theban blood, as ahe already more than 
once had shewn, Atham&s' grew so inaane, that he, 
seeing his wife, with the two sons, come laden on 
either hand, med : " Spread* we the nets, that I 
may take the Uoness and her young lions at the 
pass;" and then stretched out his pitiless talons, 
grasping the one that had the name Learchus ; and 
whirled him, and dashed him on a rock: and she 



Nei. tempo che Giunoae era cnicdata 
Per Semele contra il sangue Tebano, 
Come mostrfi gik una ed altra fiata, 

Atamante divemte tanlo insano, 

Che veggendo la moglie co' duo figU 
Venir carcata di ciascona mano, 

Grid6 ! Tendiam le reti, a! ch' io pigli 
La lioneaaa e i IJoncdni al varco ; 
£ poi distese i diapielati artigli, 

Frendendo 1' un che area nome Learco, 
E rotollo, e percosBelo ad un sasso ; 



' Compare Ovid. Metam. n. 
416-561 ; and note the btevilf of 
DanU, and the tiesh touches by 
nhich lie shews the Tet? heart of 
the story, here as elsewhere. 

' Hh retto tendile ailvia ; Hie 
notUt cum gemina vim e$t mihi 
prole lama .... Dejue (inn matru 



ridenUm, et parva Learehan Bra- 
ckia tendenlfm, ropif, et bit terqm 
per oBfflj More rotat fimda, rjgi- 
doque infmiia taxo Ditcutit otta 
firox, &o. And then Ino, the 
mother : Stque mper pontsm, mU- 
U tardata timore, Afitlil, onaique 
iHum.&e. Ibid. JT. 512, see. 



.vGooglc 



cxBTO III. INFEBNO. 861 

with her other burden drowned herself. And when 
Fortune brought low the all-daring' pride of the 
Trojans, bo that their King together with his king- 
dom waa blotted out ; Hecuba, sad, miserable, and 
captive, after she had seen Poljxena her daughter 
slain, and on the sea-strand, forlorn,* discerned the 
mangled body of her Polydorus : she, out of her 
senses, barked like a dog ; to such a degree had 
^sorrow wrung her soul. But neither Theban Furies 
nor Trojan were ever seen in aught so cmeP — not 
in stinging brutes, and much less human limbs ; as 

E quella a' anneg6 con 1' altro iucarco. 
£ qoando la fbrtuna volse in basso 

L' altezzB de' Troian, che tntto ardira, 

8i che inueme col regno il Be fa casso ; 15 

Ecuba trista, misera e cattiva, 

Poscia che vide Polisena morta, 

B del Buo Polidoro, in su la riva 
Del mar, si fu la dolorosa accorta, 

Forsennata latrA al come cane ; 20 

Tanto dolor le fe' la mente torta. 
Ma ah di Tebe furie, n& Troiane 

Si vider mai in aicim taato crude, 

Non poDger bestie, non che membra amane, 



' Lit.: "The highness, ot pride, 
of the Trojans, which dared alL" 

• Lit ! " And ihe lie dotefiil, 
on the se» - straod discerned." 
Ttt^<t ^hih' Priavnuque cadurtt; 

it aurat, &e. Hetam. 



■ Or, " eier aeea so fierce or 
cruel in any per$m or thing : not 
to emel in atinging even brutes 
to rage — not to speak of bumui 
limbi," or huioan bodies — "ai 
I nw too Bludows," &c. Some 
good editions read, in verae 2S, 
Qmnf' it vidi n due, &c. (" ■> I 



.vGodglc 



abX INFEKNO. ciHTO III. 

I saw two shadows, pale and naked, whicli ran biting 
in the manner that a hungfy swine^ does when he is 
thmst out from his sty. The one came to Capoc- 
chio, and fixed its tusks on his neck-joint, so that, 
dragging him, it made the solid bottom claw his 
belly. And the Aretine,' who remained trembling, 
said to me: "That goblin is Gianni Schicchi;^ and, 
rabid, he g^es thus mangling others." 

*' Oh !" said I to him, " so may the other not 



Quant' io vidi due ombre smorte e nude, 
Che mordendo correvan di quel modo 
Che il porco, qoando del porcil si schiude. 

L' una gionse a Capocchio, ed in buI nodo 
Del Gollo r B8sami6, si che tirando 
Orattar gli fece il Tentre al fondo sodo. 

B r AreUn, che limase tremando. 
Mi disse : Quel fbUetto h Gianni Schicchi, 
E Ta rabbioBo altrui cos) condando. 

Ob, disa* io toi, se 1' altro nou ti ficcbi 



25 



saw them, tht Fatiet, fierct or crael 
in two shadows," &c.)- Th"* 
reading is adopled by Foscolo, 
who does not mention that the 
Aldine, CruBCui, GiunU, &c arc 
against it. 

' He compares those fierce un- 
clean spirits to Bwine, deuil-poa- 



' Griffolino of Arezzo. 

' Gianni (Johnny) Schicchi de' 
Carslcanti of Florence, akinaoian 
of Dante's ftiend Guido, and a 
soldier. Simon Sonati, having 
privately amothered his liok unole 



Bnoao Donati, who oieant to leafe 
" his ill-got iDone; for chuitable 
purposes," persuaded this Gianni 
to put himself in the uncle'i 



e the 7 



m of 



a dying man, and dictale a will 
in due form. Gianni made OTer 
the whole property (o Simon, re- 
serving for himself the uncle's 
best mare — " Lady, or Queen of 
the troop" — worth 1000 gold flo- 
rens. See PieCro di Dante, Bern. 
da ImolB, and Ottimo. The two 



last do not n 
of Buoso. 



9 the n 



.vGooglc 



plant its teeth on thee, grudge not to tell me who 
it is, ere it snatch itself from hence." 

And he to me : *' That is the ancient spirit of 
flagitiouH Myrrha, who loved her father wiUi more 
than rightfid love. She came to sin with him dis- 
guised in alien form;' even as the other who there 
is going away, undertook, that he might gain the 
Lady of the troop, to disguise himself a^Buoso Do- 
nati, making a testament and giving to it legal form." 

And when the furious two,' on whom I had kept 
my eye, were passed, I turned it to observe the other 
ill-bom spirits. I saw one shapen like a lute, if he 



111 denti addoHo, non ti eia &tica 
A dir chi h, pria che di qui si spicchi. 

Ed egli a me : Quell' h Y anima antica 
Di Mirra acellerata, che direnne 
Al padre faor del dritto amore amica. 

Qaeeta a peccar con esso coal veane, 
Falsificaodo s^ in altrai forma, 
Come r altro, che ia lit sen Ta, 

Per giiadagnar la donna della torma, 
Falsificare in eh BuoBO Donati, 
Testando, e dando al testamento non 

E poi che i duo rabbiosi fur pasaati, 
Sovra i qnali io avea 1' occhio tenuto, 
Rivolsilo a gaardai gU altri mal nati. 

Io ridi UQ &tto a guisa di lluto. 



35 



' Lit : " Palsiiyinj; henelf into 
other'a form," into the form of 
a stranger {jttietia potentior, &c. 
MetaiD. it. 340) ; as Qianni an- 
dertook "to falaiPr Buoao into 



himself :" 
his own penon. Some sa; it is 
the same Buoao vrho ia put among 
the thieres id canto xxv. 
* Gianni and Myrrha. 



.yCOOgIC 



IKFBRKO. 



had bat had his groin cut short at the part where 
man is forked. The heavy dropsy, which with ite 
ill-digested humour so disproportions the limbs, that 
the Tisage corresponds not to the paunch, made >»i»n 
hold his lips apart, as does the hectic patient, who 
for thirst curls the one lip towards his chin, and 
the other upwards. 

" O ye !awho are exempt from every punishment, 
and why I know iLot, in this grim world," said he to 
us, " look ajid attend to the misery of Master Adam.' 
When alive, I had enough of what I wished ; and 
now, alas ! I crave one little drop of water. The 



For ch' egli avewe avata 1' aagninaia 
Tronca dal lato cbe 1' uomo ha forcnto. 

La grave idropisia, che a) dispaia 

Le membra con I' umor, che mal converte, 
Che Q vIbo non risponde alia ve&trais, 

Faceva lui tener le labbra aperte. 
Come r etico fa, che per la sete 
L' nn verso il mento, e 1' altro in su riverte. 

voi, che senza alcana pena mete, 

E Hon BO io perchfe, nel mondo gramo. 
Diss' egU a noi, gnard&te e attendete 

Alia miseria del nueBtro Adamo : 

Io ebbi viTO aaaai di quel ch' io volli, 
E onk, lasBO ! an gocdol d' acqna bramo. 



' Adim of Bmcia, " a coiner 
and perfect master in Ma art;" 
ricli, and extremely greedy of 
gain, mja Landino. " Bj desiie 
of Guido, Ateasandro, and Aghi- 
nolfo, brotheiB, and Counts of 



Romena, he coined and made 
blae florena of gold ; for wbicb 
crime he nas at laat burnt in 
Florence. In him i> aet forth 
co«etousneai and thirst ofmaney." 
Ottimo. 



.vGooglc 



rivulets that from the verdant hills of CaseDtino' de- 
scead into the Arno, making their channels cool and 
moist, stand constantly before me, and not in vain; 
for the image of them dries me up far more, than 
does the malady which from my visage wears the 
flesh.^ The rigid Justice, that searches me, takes 
occasion from the place at vhich I sinned, to give 
my sighs a quicker flight.' There is Bonena where 
I felsified the alloy, sealed with the Baptist's tmage;^ 

I 

Li ruBcelletti, che de' verdi coUi 

Del Casentin discendon ginso in Arno, 65 

Fac«ndo i lor canah e freddi e molli, 
Sempre mi stanno inuanzi, e non indamo ; 

Ch^ r imagine lor via piit m' asdugjs, 

Che 11 male, ond' io nel Tolto mi discamo. 
La ngida gioatizia, che mi fruga, 70 

Tra§^ cagion del luogo, ov* io peccai, 

A metter piii gli miei sospiri in fuga. 
Ivi h Romena, Ik dov' io falsai 

La lega eu^^llata del Batista, 



' Casentino, the upper Valley 
of the Amo aboie Aieizo, ia 
noted for its beaut; anit the 
cleameia of itfl mountain streanlB. 
"There is Romena," seat of the 
Goidos, a few miles below the 
sourcei of the Amo, and a little 
to the weat of the Camaldoli 

Lit. : " Whereby I grow teui 
inlheboe." 

* Lit. : " To put my ligha 
more to fl^ht," make them more 
quick and frequent. 

' The floieos, with the Lily 



(giglh) on one side and St John 
on the other, were first coined in 
the year 1262, and each of ihem 
contained 24 carats of pure gold 
{FiKoRi, TL 54), like the modem 
ZecchJQo. They soon circulated 
evety where ; and " Genuine as 
the yellow floren" became a pro- 
Tcrb. " For that the Flotaines 
been ao taXr and bright," saya our 
own Chancer in his Pardonere's 
Tale. Ouido stamped the Bsp- 
tiaf s image on hia own baae coin, 
which " had three carats of alloy." 



.vGooglc 



for which on earth I left my body burnt. But if I 
could see the miserable soul of Guido here, or of 
Alessandro, or their brother, for Branda's fount' I 
would not give the sight. One is within already, if 
the mad shadows that go around speak true. But 
what avEuls it me whose limbs are tied? Were I 
only still so light, that I could move one inch ia 
a hundred years, I shoidd already have put myself 
upon the road to seek him amid this disfigured^ peo- 
ple, though it winds round eleven miles, and is not 
less than half a mile across. Through them am I 
in such a crew : they induced me to stamp the flo- 
rens that had three carats of alloy." 

Per cV io il corpo snao arao lasciai. JH 

Ma s' io yedesai qui 1' anima trista 

Di Goido, o d' Alessandro, o di lor &ate, 

Per fonte Branda nos darei la visls. 
Dentro ee 1' nna gii, se 1' arrabbiste 

Ombre, cbe vanno mtorijo, dicon vero : 80 

Ma cbe mi val, ch' bo le membra legate ? 
S' io fossi pur di tanto ancor le^ero, 

Ch' io potessi in cent' anni andnre un' oucia, 

Io sarei raesso giSi per Io sestiero, 
Cercando lui tra qucsta geate sconcia, 85 

Cod tutto cb' ella volge undid miglia, 

B men d' un mezzo di traverso noD d ha. 
Io son per lor tra el fatta famiglia : 

Ei m' isdusaero a battere i fiorinl, 

Ch' avevan tie carati di moDdiglia. 90 

' Dislli^ied by dUeases. The 



.vGooglc 



curao ax. INFBRNO. 367 

And I to him ; " Who are the abject' two, lying 
close to thy right confines,' and smoking like a hand 
bathed in winter-time V 

" Here I found them, when I rained into ttis 
riven pot," he answered j " and since then they 
have not given a turn, and will not give, I think, 
to all eternity. One is the felse w^^ who accused 
Joseph ; the other is false Sinon, the Greek from 
Troy. Burning fever makes them reek so strongly."* 

And one of them, who took offence .perhaps at 
being named thus darkly,* smot« the rigid belly of 

Ed io a lui : Chi son li duo tapini, 
Che faman come man bagnata il verno, 
Qiacendo stretti a' tuoi deatri confini 7 

Qui )i trovai, e poi volta non diemo, 

Kispose, quando piovvi in questo greppo, 95 

E non credo che dieno in eempitemo. 

L' una ^ la falsa, che accas6 Giuseppo ; 
L' altro h il fabo Sinon Greco da Troia : 
Per febbre acuta gittan tanto leppo. 

E r un dj lor, che ei rec6 a noia 100 

Forse d* eeser nomato si oscoro. 



whole of lliis la^ cliBam, which Trojsn Greek, lie roasting toge- 

ia elereo milee in ciicumfeience, ther. 

and not less than half a mile in * Lit. : " Because of acute fever 
breadth. tbcj throw out such a erauking 
■ Of low, humble, Tariiyol, sleiich." Leppo properly aignifies 
' Right side : "confiuea" ofhia the atifling emoke of greasy mat- 
wide dropsy. ter burning without flame. 

' Patiphar'a wife, and the false * " Named ao obscurely ;" and 



.vGooglc 



him with Ms fist : it soonded like a drum ; and Mas- 
ter Adam smote him in the fece with his arm, that 
did not seem less hard,^ saying to him : " Though 
I am kept from moving by my weighty limbs,' I 
have an arm free for such necessity." Thereat he 
answered : " Wben thou wast gtnng to the fire, thou 
hadst it not so ready ; bat as ready, and more, when 
thoa wast ctnning."' 

And he of &e dropsy : " In this thou sayest 
true ; bnt thou wast not so true a witness there, 
when questioned of Uie truth at Troy." 

" If I spoke faise, thou too didst fidsiiy the coin," 

Col pugno gli percoBse 1' apa crota. 
Qnella souA, come fosse im tamburo : 

E mastro Adamo gli percosse il volto 

Col braccio sao, che aon parve men doro, 105 

Dicendo a lui : Aucor che mi eia tolto 

Lo muorer, per le membra che son gravi. 

Ho io il braccio a tal mesticr disciolto. 
Ond' d rispoee : Qoando ta andavi 

Al fdoco, Don 1' ayei ta cosl presto ; 110 

Ma si e piil 1' arei quando conisTi. 
E r idropico : Tn di* Tcr di questo j 

Ma tn non fosti si Ter tesdmonio, 

lA *Te del tct foeti a Trois ricbiesto. 
S' io disei falso, e ta falsBsti 11 conio, 1 15 



that, too, by such i deipicable Uken aw«y from me, by the ]imb« 

hireling coiner. that are heavy," &c. 

' " Not less hajd" and awolleD * Thou h&dat a ready wan for 

than his rigid paonch. coining, indeed ; and waat hoond 

' Lit : " Though to more ia and burnt for it. 



.vGooglc 



CAMTO lU. IMFEimO. 369 

said Sinoa ; " and I am here for one crime, and thou 
for more than any other Demon.'" 

" Recollect thee, perjurer, of the horse," answered 
he who had the inflated paunch ; " and be it a pun- 
ishment to thee that all the world knows thereof,"* 

" To thee be punishment the thirst that cracks thy 
tongue," replied the Greek, " and the putrid water 
which makes that belly such a hed^e before thy eyes." 

Then the coiner : *' Thus tiiy jaw gapes wide, as 
usual, to speak iU ; for if I have thirst, and moisture 
stuffs me, thou hast the burning, ajid the head that 
pains thee : and to make thee lick the mirror of Nar- 
cissus thou wouldst not require many words of in- 
vitation."' 

Disse Sinone ; e son qui per nn fallo, 
E to per piji che alcun altro Dimonio. 

Ricorditd, speipuro, del cartdlo, 
Rispose quel ch' aveva enfiata 1' epa : 
E sieti reo che tntto il mondo sallo. 120 

A te sia rea la aete onde ti crepa, 
Disse il Oreco, la lingua, e 1' acqua marcia 
Che il ventre innauzi agli occhi si t' assiepa. 

Allora il monetier : Cost si squarcia 

La bocca tna per dir mal come suole ; 125 

Ch6 s' i' ho sete, ed umor mi rinfarda, 

Tu hai 1' arsuro, e il capo che ti duole : 
E per leccar lo specchio di Narcisao, 
Non vorresd a invitar molte parole. 

' Couiiti erei7 coin a crime. I hov thou didst lie about tbe 
wooden hone. 
I ' Thou htiBt the parching fever 



-.Google 



370 



I wss Btsndin^ all intent to hear them, when the 
Master said to me : " Now keep on lookii^ ! A 
Httle longer, and I quarrel with thee 1" When I 
heard him speak to me in anger, I turned towards 
him with such shame, (hat it comes over me again 
as Ibntthinkofit.1 

And as one who dreams of something hurtful to 
him, and dreaming wishes it a dream, so that he 
longs for that which is, as if it were not ; such grew 
I, who, without power to speak, wished to excuse 
myself and aU the while excused, and never thought 
that I was doing it.' 



Ad ascoltarli er* io del tatto fisso, 

Quando il Maestro mi disae : Or pur inira, 
Che per poco h che teco non mi risso I 

Qoand' io il send' a me parlar con ira, 
Volsiini veno loi con tal Tergogns, 
Gh' ancor per la metnoria mi si gira. 

E quale i quei, che sno dannaggio sogna, 
Che sognaudo desidera sognare, 
S) che quel cb' fe, come non fosse, agc^a ; 

Tal mi fee' io, non potendo parlare, 
Che dlBlava scusarmi, e scosara 
Me tuttam, e nol mi credea t&ie. 



130 



uid the heodAche ^ and, ugly ta 
thoo ut, vouMat lull etgeily ap- 
. ply thyself to the clear mirror- 
fountain of Narciasua. 

' Or ; " Orenpteada, eociiclei 
me again, or even yet, when I 
but think of iL" Boccaccio haa; 
" S' egli vi venisae, ella gli fwebbe 
si latta Teigogna, che, lempre eh' 



egli alcuna donna vedesae, gli >i 
girerebbe per capo." 

' lu another leiy beautiful p»«- 
aage {Purg. f. 10-SI), Dante, 
blushing at a gentler reproof of 
the same sort, ia again "aome- 
whit tinged with the colour which 
at times makes a man worthy of 



.vGooglc 



CAHTO 111. INFERNO. 371 

" Less sliame washes off a greater fault than 
thine has been," said the Master : " therefore unldad 
thee of all sorrow. And count that I' am always at 
thy side, should it again Ml out that Fortune brii^s 
thee where people are in similar contest ; for tlie 
wish to hear it is a vulgar wish." 

Ma^or difetto men vei^gna lava, 

Disse il Maestro, che il tuo non ^ stato ; 

Per6 d' i^i tristizia ti disgrara : 
E fa ragion cb' io ti sia sempre allato, 145 

Se piit avrien cbe fortuna t' accoglia, 

Dore sien genti in dmigliante piato ; 
Chh Toler ci6 adire h bassa Toglia. 



' I, the Poet Virgil and em- 
blem of Wiadom ; to whom dike 
such contest, Buch mean jingling, 
is foreign. " Thou ail m; maeter 
and mj author. Thou alone," 



&G. Canto i. 85. Hmar eit ko- 
mirti qui leparat te a conlentioni- 

contumtliia, Prov. x)^ 3. Quoted 
by Pietro di Dante. 



.yCOOgIC 



.yCOOgIC 



AKGUMENT. 



The Poeta now mount up, and eroaa the bink which aepuates the lait 
chaim of Milebolge fram the Central Pit, or Ninth Circle, wherein 
Satan himaelf is placed. The ait is thick and gloom; [Zech. iIt. 
6, 7 i Rev- ii. 2) ; ao that Dante can see but little way before him. 
The aound of a horn, lender than an; thunder, suddenl; attracts 
all his attention ; and, looking in the direc^on from nhich it cornea, 
he dim); discema the Egurea of huge Giants atanding round the 
edge of the Fit. Theae aie the proud rebelliaoa Nephilim and 
"might; men which were of old," &c, [Genei. iL 4); "giants 
which still groan nnder the waters" (Jab iiiL 5) ; "aona of earth" 
who made open war againit Heaven. The firat of them ia Nimrod 
of Babel, who ahonta in perplexed unintelligible apeech, and is 
himself a mats of stupidity and confiuion : for Dante elsewhere 
(fiiig- Eloq. i. 7) tells how "man, mider perauaaion of the Giant, 
took upon him to snrpaaa Nature and the Author of Nature" on 
the plain of Shinar, and was baffled and confounded. After seeing 
him, the Poeta turn to the left hand, and go along the brim of 
the Pit till the; come to Ephialles ; and then to Antteus, who 
takes them in bis arms and sets them down " into the bottom of 
all guilt," or lowest part of Hell, where eternal cold freeze* and 
loclu up Coe;lu9, the marih (canto ziv. 119) that reaeiTcs all its 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO XXXI. 

One and the same tongue first wounded me so that 
it tinged tcith blushes both m^ cheeks, and then held 
forth the medicine to me. Thus I have heatd that 
the lance of Achilles, and of his,.&ther, used to the 
occasion first of aad and then ofhealing gift.^ _^ 

We turned our back to tBfe wretched valley, up 
by the bank that girds it round, crossing wi^out 
any speech. Here was less than n%ht and less 
than day, so that my eye went little toay before 
me ; but I heard a high* bom sound so loudly, that 

Una medesma lingua pria mi morse, 

St che mi tinse 1' una e 1' altra gnancia, 

E poi la medicina mi riporae. 
CobI od' io che solera la tauda 

D' Achille, e del suo padre, esser cagione 5 

Prima di trista e poi di buona maiicia. 
Noi demmo il dosso al miaero vaUone, 

8u per la ripa che il cinge dintomo, 

Attraversando senza alcnn sermoue. 
Qnivi era men che notte e men che giomo, 10 

81 che il Tiao m' andava innand poco : 

Ma io senti' sonare un alto como 



' Al the nist of Achilles' spear 
alone could heal the vouads that 
weapon had in&icled, to Vir^'s 
tongue in Isat canto, 131, &c. 
Thua Chaucer in bis Squier's 
Tale : " And fell in speech of 



Telephua the king, And ofAcbilles 
for his queint spere ; For he couth 
with it both heale and dere." And 
Shakspeai, 2 Hen. VI. act v. sc. 1. 
' " High up," y. 19, ftc. Or 
" lai^e, niightj," t. 76. 



.vGooglc 



Uino mi. INFBKNO. 375 

it would have made any thunder weak : which, 
towards it following its way,^ directed my eyes all 
to one place. After the dolorous rout, when Charle- 
main had lost the holy emprise,' Orlando did not 
sound wiih his so terribly. Short while had I kept 
looking up^ in that direction, when I seemed to see 
many lofty towers ; whereat I : " Master ! say, what 
town LB this ?" 

And he to me : " Because thou traversest the 
darkness too &t off,* it follows that thou err^t in 



Tanto, ch' avrebbe ogni tuou fatto fioco ; 
Che, contra b6 la sua Tia aeguitando, 
Dirizzb gU occhi miei tntd ad un loco. 

Dopo la dolorosa rotta, qnando 
Carlo Me^o perdt la aanta geata, 
Non 8on6 si terribilmente Orlando. 

Poco portal in 1& alta la testa, 

Che mi parre veder molte alte torri ; 
Oad' io : Maestro, di', che terra k queata ? 

Ed egli a me : Fer6 che ta trascorri 
Per le teuebre troppo dalla lungi, 
Avriea cbe poi nel maginare aborri. 



24. Aborri, aberrl, e 



' The Bound msde m; eyes fol- 
low ito course " sgiinat or towaida 
Itself," or up meeling it 

' FdledintheeDterpTiaeagainBt 
the Saracens "whom Biserta Bent 
from Aftic ihore," at Roncea- 
lalles: when Orlando, in deapair, 
blew to terrible a blast (hat he 
rent his hom and the vein* and 
unews of his neck \ and Chariee, 



who heard it eight milei off, ac- 
cording lo Turpin (Fila Carali 
Magni, c. siiii.), waa hindered by 
the traitor Ganellon from coming 



* Lit. : " Carried my head higih 
thitherward," &c. 

* Thou art walking, or looking, 
through the darkneas at too great 
a distance from them. 



.vGooglc 



376 INPERNO. CAHTO nn. 

tky imagining. Thou shalt aee indeed, ■when thou 
arriveBt there, how much the sense at dUtance is 
deceived : therefore spur thee somewhat more." 
Then lovingly^ he took me by the hand, and said : 
" Ere we go farther, that the reality may seem less 
strange to thee, know, they are not towers, but 
Giants; and are in the pit,' around its bank, from 
the middle downwards all of them." 

As when a mist is vanishing, the eye by little 
and little reshapea* that which the air-crowding va- 
pour hides ; so whilst piercing through that gross and 
darksome air, more and more approaching towards 

Ta Tedrai ben, se tu ]k ti coDgiungi, 25 

Qoaato il senso s' inganoa di lontano ; 
Verb alquanto piit te stesso pungi. 

Poi caramente mi prese per mano, 
B diase : Pria che noi aiam piil avautl, 
Acciocchfe il fatto men ti paia strano, 30 

Sappi che non son torri, ma giganti, 
E son nel pozzo, intomo dalla ripa, 
Dall' ombelico in giuso tntti qnanti. 

Come qnando la nebbia si diasipa, 
Lo sguardo a poco a poco rafBgura 35 

Ci^ che cela il vapor, che 1' aere atipa ; 

Cosi forando 1' anra grossa e scura, 
Fiii e piil appressando in v^* la sponda, 



' MiodtuI ofhii sharp t«buke, 
and its effect on me. 

» Pit or Well of canto iriiL 5, 

Et aperuit puleitm abyiti et 

Bbicuraiui eil <dJ et aer de famo 
putet. Rev. ii. 2. Quod ibi aint 



Gigaalti 



in pri^itHiUi infimi 
eoniAva ejut. Ftot. ix. 13. GJ- 
ganiei «m renrgiBtt, &c. la. xxri. 
1*. 

* Qiaduan; gets the Teal Out- 
lines of things fVom the lapour. 



,,Googlc 



ciino n«. inTsaso. 377 

the brinkj error flees from me, and fear comes on 
me. For as Montereggione,^ on its circular wall, is 
crowned with towers ; so with half their bodies'* the 
horrible giants, whom Jove &om heaven still threat- 
ens when he thunders, towered the brow which com- 
passes the pit: and already I discerned the face of 
one, the shoulders and the breast, and great part of 
the belly, and down along hia sides both arms. Na- 
ture certainly, when she lefl off the art of making 
anim al a like these, did very well, in taking away 
Bach executioners &om Mars. And if she repents 
her not of Glephante and Whales, he who subtly 

Foggcmi errore, e giuEgemi paura ; 
Peroccb^ come in su la cerchia tonda W 

Montereggion di torn si corona ; 

Coai la proda, die il pozzo circonda, 
Torreggiaran di mezza la peraoua 

Gli orribili giganti, cui minaccia 

Oiove del cielo ancora, quaudo tuona : 45 

Ed io scorgeva gift d' alcun la facda, 

Le spalle, e 11 petto, e del ventre gran parte, 

E per le coste giil ambo le bracda. 
Natuia certo, qnando lasd6 1' arte 

Di st fatti asimali, asaai fe' bene, 50 

Per tor cotali esecntori a Marte. 
B s' dia d' elefanti e di baleue 

Non ai peste, cbi guarda sottilmente, 

' A castle near Siena; "which centre of the fortress. The ruins 

on the circuit of its nslla," Bajs of theiD are still liaible. 

the Otiimo, "has about one tower • The giants, standing half out 

for every 50 Jroceio (or 9* feet), of the pit, were as lowers on its 

having none in the middle," or brim. 



.yCOOgIC 



S78 mFBRNO. ouno no. 

looks, therein regards her aa more just and prodent; 
for when the argument' of mind is joined to evil 
win and power, men can make no defence against it. 
His visage seemed to me loi^ and large as the 
pine' of St. Peter's at Rome, and his other bones 
were in proportion to it; so that the bank, which 
was an apron' from his middle downwards, shewed 
us certfdnly so much of him above, that three Frieze- 
landers* had vainly boasted to have reached his hair : 
for downwards from the place where a man buckles 
on his mantle, I saw thirty large spans of him. 
" Baafsl haaee aahech zaabee alhee,"^ began 

Fiii g^Qsta e piii discreta la ne tiene ; 
Chh dove 1' argamento della mente S5 

8' Bgginnge ri mal volere ed alia possa, 

Nessua liparo vi pa<S &r la gente. 
La faccia sua mi parea Innga e grosBB, 

Come la pina di San Pletro a Boma ; 

E a sua proporzione eran le altr* ossa ; 60 

SI che la ripa, ch' era peiizoma 

Dal niezza in giii, ne mostrava ben tanto 

Di sopra, che di gjungere alia chioma 
Tre Prison s' averian dato mal vanto ; 

Perocch' io ne vedea trenta gran palmi 6S 

Dal luogo in giil, doT* uom s* affibbia il masto. 
Rafel mal amech zabt almi. 



' Poice of mind : arna raiiimii. 
Sre Aristotle, PoUI. I 2. 

' The colossal pine of bronze, 
flora the moaument of Hadrian, 
vhich now stands in the garden 
of the Belvedere. In Dante's 



time it stood in &ont of the old 
Church of St. Petei. 

' CtiaueritKt fiUa Jktu, tifia- 
rant ribi perixomala. Oeii.iii.7. 

' Standing one upon another. 

' Shadowy worda from hi« oH 



.vGooglc 



to shout tbe savage month, for which no sweeter 
psalmody is fit. And towards him my Guide : 
" Dull spirit ! keep to thy horn ; and vent thyself 
with that, if rage or other passion touches thee. 
Search on thy neck, and thou shalt find the belt 
that holds it tied, spirit confused; and see itself 
that girdles' thy huge breast." Then he said to me; 
" He accuses himself.' This is Nimiod, through 
whose ill device one tongue is not now used in the 
world. Let ua leave him standing, and not speak 



Cominci6 a gridar la fiera bocca, 
Cui non si convenien pitl doici sidmi. 

E il Duca mio v6r lui : Anima sciocca, 
Tienti col como, e cod quel ti disfoga, 
Quand' ira o altra pasaion ti tocca. 

Cercati al collo, e troverai la soga 
Che il tien legato, o anima cosfusa, 
E vedi lui che il giran petto ti doga. 

Poi disse a me : Bgli steseo s' accuaa. 
Questi h Nembrotto, per lo cui mal coto 
Pure nn linguaggio ncl moudo non a' nsa. 

Losdamlo stare, e non pariiamo a voto j 



Bnbel. See t. 76-81, Sect gi- 
gania gtnaail tub aquit, el qui 
habttant cum eit. Nudut eit is. 
femuM coram illo. Job. mi. Vir- 
gil ipeata " toward*" not to him. 

' Or lies acroii the vhole of 
thy large breast. Doga, " atiTe" 
of B ciBk, u in Putg. xii. lOS ; 
then "itripe" of colour, as " doghi 
biiVKhe ■ bigi^' in VilL viL 109. 
~ Wbence dagarc, to gird, tee. 



* Hit ownjargon tells hi! ^ilt 
It is the migh^ Nimrod ; "and 
the beginning of hia kingdom wu 
Babel," Sec. Oen. i. 10. Bra. 
netto Latin! (IVeior, Lit. L c. 22) 
saTs ; " Nembrot ediffla b lour 
Babel en BaJiylonie, oil advint Is 
diveniU dea lengaiges et la can- 
fiiaioD del parleures. Nembrot 
mesmea mua >a langue Hebreu 
en Caldeu," &c. 



.vGooglc 



in vain; for every language is to him, as to others 
hia which no one underatands." 

We dierefore journeyed on, turning to the left; 
aad at a crossbow-shot from, him we found another, 
much fiercer and larger. What the artiat^i to gird 
him could he, I cannot tell ; but he had his right 
arm pinioned down behind, and the other before, 
with a chain which held him clasped from the neck 
downwards, and on the uncovered part went round 
to the fifth turn,' " This proud spirit willed to 
try his power against high Jove," said my Guide; 
" whence he has such reward. Ephialtes is his 
name ; and he made the great endeavours,* when 

Ch^ cosi ^ a Ini ciascua Unguaggio, 80 

Come il sue ad altrui, ch' a nullo h nolo. 

Facemmo adanque piil lungo v'ia^o 

Volti a sinistra ; ed al trar d' un balestro 
Trovammo 1' altro aasai pii fiero e maggio. 

A cinger lui, qual che fosse il maestro, 85 

Non so io dir ; ma ei tenea succinto 
Dioanzi 1' altro, e dietro il braccio dcstro, 

p' una catena, che il teneva ayyinto 
Dal coUo in giii, si che in su lo scoperto 
Si rovvolgera infino al giro quinto. 90 

Questo supeibo voil' essere esperto 
Di sua potenza contra il sommo Giofe, 
Disse il mio Duca, ond' egli ba cotal merto. 

Kalte ba nome ; e fece le gran prove, 

' Made Ave tunis on tJie lisibte I awn iBnatuere Ol^T/tfrnm. Georg. 
part of hiB body. i. 2S1. The size of Epbialtes coi- 

* T^ oat conali inqxisere Pelh responds nith that vhich Homfr 
OaaiH SciUcel, atqiu Oaia fiandO' gives him. Orfyu. xi. 307, Sic. 



.vGooglc 



uKio iHj. INFERNO. 881 

the giants made tlie gods a&aid : the arms, which 
he then played, he never moves." 

And I to him : " If it were possible, I should 
wish my eyes m^ht have experience of the huge 
Briareus." Whereat he answered : " Thou shalt 
see Antseus near at hand, who speaks and is unfet- 
tered,* who will put us into the bottom of all guilt. 
He whom thou desirest to see is &r beyond ; and 
is tied and made like this, save that he appears in 
visage more ferocious." No mighty earthquake ever 
shook a tower so violently, as Ephialtes forthwith 
shook himself.^ Then more than ever I dreaded 



Qnando i gigand fer panra ai Dei : 

Le braccia, ch' ei menfi, g^ammai non maove. 
Ed io a lui : S' easer puote, io vorrei 

Che dello smianrato Briareo 

Esperienta avesser gli occhi nuei. 
Ond' ei rispose : Ta vednu Anteo 

Presso di qui, che paria, ed 6 disdolto, 

Che ne ponk nel fondo d' ogni reo. 
Quel che ta vnoi veder, piil \k i molto, 

Ed 6 legato, e fatto come questo, 

Salvo che piil feroce par nel volto. 
Non fii tremoato g^ tanto rubeato, 

Che scotesae una torre cosl forte. 

Come Fialte a scuotersi fli presto. 
AUor temetti piit che mai la morte, 



95 



' For Antaeus did not join hia 
brothers in wu against the godt, 
verse 119, &c. 

» Lit; "Not yet has Uiere been 
an earthquake so mighty or im- 



petuous (rubiala, 'robuatioui,' and 
like it antiquated) that it could 
ahalte a tower so liolently, as 
Ephialtes was ready or quick to 
ahake himself." 



.vGooglc 



death; and nothing else 'was wanting for it but the 
fear, had I not seen his bands. 

We then proceeded farther on, and reached An- 
tsuB, who fnll fire ells, besides the head, forth issued 
from the caTem. " thou ! who in the fateliil val- 
ley,' which made Scipio heir of glory when Hannibal 
retreated with his hosts, didst take of old a thousand 
lions for thy prey; and through whom,^ hadst thou 
been at the high war of thy brethren, it eeenw yet 
to be believed that the sons of earth had conquered : 
set us down — and be not shy to do it — where the 



E non T* era mcBtier pii che la dotta, 
S' io non avenu riste le ritorte. 

Noi procedemmo pi& avanti allotta, 

E venimmo ad Anteo, che ben cinqu' alle, 
Senza la testa, ascia faor delln grotta. 

ta, che nella fortunata valle, 
Che fece Scipion di gloria ereda, 
Qaando Annlbal co' suoi diede le spaOe, 

Recasti gi^ miUe lion per preda, 
E che se fossi stato all' alta guerra 
De' tuoi fratelli, ancor par ch' ei ai creda, 

Che avrebber vinto i figli della terra ; 
Mettine ginso, e non ten venga schifo. 
Dove Cocito la freddnra serra. 



110 



' Near Carthage, where " more 
than 20,000 Carthaginians were 
slain ;" and the tale of Cailhage 
and R«ine, and "all the world," 
waa decided. Liv. ixx S2, Sle. 
— Valley of the Bagrada, where 
AnUeua had his cave and prey of 



lions and combat with Hereules ; 
quA se Bagrada ienCus agil sicue 
aalcator arme, &c. Lacan. if. 568. 
' Lit. : " And if who hadat 
been," Ac. Ceeloqat peptrcil.guid 
BOB Phlegrteii Aniavitt sustnlit or- 
DJ>. Ibid. S96. 



.vGooglc 



883 

cold locks up Cocytus. Do not make us go to Ti- 
tyos nor Typhon :' Uub man can give of that which 
here is longed for. Therefore bend thee, and curl 
not thy lip in scorn : he can restore thy fame on 
earth] for he Uvea, and still awaits long life,^ so 
Grace before the time call him not unto herself." 
Thus spake the Master ; and he in haste stretched 
forth the hands, whence Hercules of old did feel 
great stress, and took my Guide. Virgil, when he 
felt their grasp, said to me : " Come here, that I 
may take thee." Then of himself and me he made 
one bundle. Such as the Carisenda' seems to view, 

Non ci for ire a Tizio, nh a Tifo : 

Questi pQ6 dar di quel che qui si brama ; 1 25 

Per6 ti. chiaa, e non torcer lo grifo. 
Ancar ti pu6 nel mondo render fama ; 

Ch' ei vive, e lunga vita ancor aspetta, 

Se innanzi tempo grazia a s^ nol cluama. 
Cost diase il Maestro : e qnegli in fretta 130 

Le man distese, e prese il Duca mio, 

Ond' Ercole sentt gik graude stretta. 
Tii^plio, quando prender n sentio, 

Siase a me: Fatti in qua, b) ch' io ti prenda. 

Poi fece s), che un.faado er' egli ed io. 135 

Qual pare a riguardai la Cariaenda 



' Two otlier giimti, " ronl of 
Earth," in Lucan. Ibid, 

' Still hai to deieend the whole 
"arch of hi» life." See note, p. 2. 

■ The thick leaning tower of 
Bologna ; which, to one who is 
beneath, »eema itself to stoop 



when a cloud, against which it 
hangi, is pasting over iL The 
other (Asioelli) towec is higher, 
but leana br leai than the Cari- 
■enda, and not so strikingly with 
comer Ibremost. The Carisenda 
hu ita name from the Garigeodi 



.vGooglc 



384 INFEBNO. UNTO nu. 

benea^ the leaning side, when a doud is going over 
it 80j tliat it hangs opposed; such Antieus seemed 
to me who stood attent to see him bend ; and at the 
time' I Bhould have wished to go by other road. 
But gently on the deep, which swallows' Lucifer 
with Judas, he placed us ; nor lingered there thus 
bent, but raised himself as in a ship the mast. 

Sotto il chinato, quando im nnvol T«da * 

Sovr' easa si, ch' ella in contrario penda ; 

Tal paire Anteo a me che stava a bada 
Di yederlo cUnsre, e fo tal ora 140 

Ch' io avrei Tolnto ir per altra strada ; 

Ma lievemente al fondo, che divora 
Ludfero con Oinda, ci posb : 
THh at chioato U fece ditnora, 

E come albero in nave si leT6. 145 



family i anil wbb amdh Ligher 
in Dante'i time than it is now. 
BeuT. da Imola. 

' LIL ; " It wai such hour," 
or moment theo, that I should 
have wiahed to get down by some 
other waj. 



' . . . " Neither let the deep 
swallow me up, and let not the 
pit shut faec month opou me." 
Pi. lili. IB, " Swallow them up 
aliTe, as the graTe ; and whole, 
u those that go down into the 
piL" Pm. I 12. 



.yCOOgIC 



ABGUMENT. 



Tbia Niulh and Last, or frozen Circle, lowest part of Che UniTeiae, wd 
taitheit remote fraai the Source of all light and heat, dindee itaelf 
into four concentric Kin^. The Gist or outennoat is the Caifas, 
which hsa its name from Cain who slew his brother Abel, and con- 
taina the simiera who bave done liolence to tbeic own kindred. 
The BGCond or Antenora, so called "fiom Antenoi the Trojan, be- 
tr^er of his country" (Pietro di Dante, &c.), ia filled with those 
who have heeE guiltj of treachery against their native laud. Dante 
finda many of his own countrymen, both Gruelpha and Ghibellinea, 
in these two rings ; and leama the namea of those in the First Irom 
Camiccion de' Fazzi, and of thoae in the Second from Bocca d^li 
AbatL He has a Teiy special detestation of Bocca, through whose 
treachery so many of the Guelpba were alaughteied, and " every 
fiunily in Florence thrown into mourning ;" and, as the OIHnto re- 
marks, "taUs into a very rude method, that he hss used to no 
other spirit" The canto leaves him in the Antenora beside two 
sinners that are frozen close together in the same hole. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO XXXII. 

If I had rhymes both rough and hoarse, as 
would befit the dismal hole, on which all the other 
rocky steeps converge and weigh,^ I should press 
out the joice of my conception more fully : but 
since I have them not, not without fear I hring 
najraelf to tell (hereof; for to describe the bottom 
of all the Universe is not an enterprise for being 
taken up in sport, nor for a ttmgue that cries mamma 
and papa. But may those Ladies^ help my verse, who 
helped Amphion v>%& walls to close in Thebes; so 
that my words may not be diverse from the fiict. 

O ye, beyond aU others, miscreated rabble, that 

S' lo aveau le rime e aspre e chiocce. 
Come si converrebbe al tristo buco, 
Sovra il qnal pontan tutte 1' altre rocce, 

lo premerei di mio concetto U snco 
Fill pienamente ; ma perch' io non 1' abbo, 5 

Nan seuza tema a dicer mi conduce : 

Ch& non i impresa da pigliare a gabbo, 
DeHcriver fondo a tutto 1' universo, 
N6 da lingua che cbiami mamma e babbo. 

Ma quelle Donne aintino 11 mio verso, 10 

Cb' aintaro Anfione a cbiuder Tebe, 
SI che dal &tto il dir non sia diverso. 

Oh soTra tutte mal creata plebe, 

' Meeting u It the keyMoDe of I ' Mubcs, liy wliose aid Ampbion 
ibridgeorTaulL Rwxe Sm raccie. \ reared the walla of TbebeB. 



.vGooglc 



cuiK> HID. IN FEBNO. 387 

are in the place, to Bpeak of whidi is hard, better 
had ye here on earth been sheep ot goats ! 

When we were down in the dark pit, under 
the Giant's feet, much lower,' and I still was gazing 
at the high wall, I heard a voice aay to me : " Look 
how thou passeat : take care that with thy soles thou 
tread not on the heads of the weary wretched bro- 
thers."' Whereat I turned myself, and saw before 
me and beneath my feet a lake, which through frost 
had the semblance of glass and not of water. Never 
did the Danube in Austria make so thick a veil for 
his course in winter, nor the Don afer beneath the 
fir^d sky,' as there was here ; for if Tabemicch* 

Che stai nel loco, onde parlare ^ doro ! 

Me' foste state qui pecore o zebe. 15 

Come Qoi fiimmo g^it nel pozzo scuro 

Sotto i pi6 del Gigante, aseai piit bassi, 

Ed io miTava aucora all' alto muro, 
Dicere ndimmi : Gaarda come passi ; 

Pa SI, che tu Qon calchi con le piante 20 

Le teste de' fratei miaeri lassi. 
Per ch' io ml volsi, e vidimi davante 

E sotto i piedi un lago, che per gielo 

Area di vetro, e non d' acqua sembiante. 
Non fbce al corso soo s) grosso velo 25 

Di Temo la Danoia in Anatericch, 

Hi il Tamd Ik sotto il freddo delo, 
Com' era qniri ; che ae Tabemicch 

■ TUb lut circle, like Male- I ' Hgperboreaj gtacki, ronaViH- 
bolge, alopea tonudi SaUn. que nJoofem. Gearg. It. SIT. 

' Two brotheiB of Terse SSj&o. 1 * Froljablythe Fnuta Gore, a 



.vGooglc 



bad &llen on it, or Fietrapana, it would not even 
at the edge ha.Ye girea a creak. And as tiie frog 
to croak, dtB with his fcce out of the water,' when 
the villager oft dreams tha£ she is gleaning ; so, livid, 
up to where the hue of shame appears,' the doleiiil 
shades were in the ice, sounding widi their teeth 
like Btorks." Each held his iace turned downwards : 
by the mouth their cold, and by the eyes the sorrow 
of dieir hearts is testified amongst t^em.* 

When I had looked round awhile, I tamed 

Vi fosse Bu cadato, o Fietrapana, 

Nod avria par dall' orlo &tto cricch. 30 

E come a grscidar si sta la rana 

Col mnao fuor dell' acqus, qnmdo sogna 

Di apigolar Bovente la villana ; 
• Liride inmn lik, dove appar vergogna, 

Eran 1' ombre dolenti nella gbiacda, 35 

Mettendo i denti in nota di dcogna, 
OgnoBB in ^il tenea Tolta la fiiccia : 

Da bocca il freddo, e dagU occM il cor triato 

Tra lor teslimoniansa si procaccna. 
Qnand' io ebbi d' intomo alqoanto visto, 40 



lolituy moimtain, the onlj' one 
io the district of Tovsniich in 
SdnoniB. Pietrapuia is inotbei 
b^h mountain neu Lucc4. 

* In the warm lunmier nights, 
during the Italian harreal, when 
the rillage gleuiei dreama of tier 
daf-work. Image of heat, con- 
truting with the etemal winter ; 
like the peaceful toacbea in Ho- 
mer'a wildeM batUe-acenes. 



* Up to their necks in ice. 

' Lit. : " Putting their teeth 
into the note of Ihe stork ■;' rat- 
tling with them, a« the stork does 
with her bill fyta riM pbadal 
crepilanle ciamia rmtm. Uetam. 
vi.97. 

* By their ehattering teeth and 
ejtt glazed with teara, "testimony 
ia given" of their cold and the aad- 
necaoftheit hearts. 



.vGooglc 



ctma mn. TSTSRVO. OoV 

towards my feet ; and eaw two so pressed agtanat 
each other, that they had the hairs of their head 
intermixed. " Tell me, ye who thus tog^her press 
your bosoms/' said I, " who are ye ?" 

And they bended their necka; and when they 
had raised theix feces towards me, their eyes, which 
only inwardly were moist before,^ gushed at the lids, 
and the frost bound &st the tears between them, 
and dosed them up agaiu : wood with wood no iron 
cramp did ever gird so strongly. Wherefore they, 
like two he-goats, butted one another ; such rage 
came over them. 

And one, who had lost both ears by the cold, 
with his fiice still downwards said : " Why art thou 

Volaimi a' piedi, e vidi doe s) stretti, 

Che il pel del capo aveano insieme misto. 
Dil«mi Toi, che b1 stringete i petti. 

Dibs' io, chi siete T B que! pi^;aro li colli ; 

G poi ch' ebber li risi a me erettl, 45 

Qli oochi br, ch' eran pria par dentro moUi, 

Gocciar eu per le labbra, e il gielo strinse 

Le lagrime tra essi, e riaeirolli. 
LegDO con legno apranga mai non cinse 

Forte cosl : oud' ei, come duo becchi, 50 

CoEzaro inueme, tant' ira li vinse. 
Ed on, ch' BTca perdati ambo gU orecchi 

Per U feeddura, pmr col liso in gine 

Dime : Perchi cotanto in noi ti specchi 7 



' ThebbrotliertjrloTeall frozen I their hatred fbr an mstant, and 
I. When apoken to, they fo^t | bond Ihehr neck* with effiiFt. 
LLg 



.vGooglc 



looking BO much at ub?' If thou desirest to know 
who are these two,' the valley whence the Biaenzio 
deacends was their &ther Albert's and theirs. They 
issued from one body;^ and thou mayest search the 
whole Caina, and shalt not find a shade more worthy 
to be fixed in gelatine :* not him," whose breast and 
shadow at one blow were pierced by Arthur's hand ; 
not Focaccia;' not this, who so obstructs me with 



8e Tuoi aaper chi son coteeti dne. 
La valle, onde Bisenzio si dlchinn, 
Del padre loro Alberto e di lor iue. 

D' un corpo nsciro : e tatta la Caina 
Potrai cercare, e non troverai ombta 
Degna piil d' esser fitta in gelatina ; 

Non qnelli a cui fu rotto il petto, e 1' orobra 
Con esao nn colpo per la man d' Arttl ; 
Non Focaccia ; non qnesti, che m' ingombra 



55 



' Or, etating 01 



rioyfo 



' Napoleone and AlessiDdro, 
sons of Count Alberto, whose 
powcuiona Ixf in the upper val- 
ley of the Biaeniio, a nnall lilei 
thit flows ioto the Amo some 
■ix milei helow Florence. Atiel 
many other nets of tresoherj, 
they betrayed and murdered each 

' They were sons of one mother. 

* Fixed in this frozen marsh. 

' Mordrec or Modred, bastard 
•on of King Arthur. By hia 
treachery many Knights of the 
Round Table were slain. Arthur 
pierced Che traitor with auch a 



Blrole of his Unce, that the aun 
ahone through the wound r and 
alterwards died of a blow tbac 
Modred gaie him in filing, be 
is related in the old Boinance of 
Laactht dtt Lac (Paria, 1513 1 
P. iii foL 197, &c) : " Et dlt 
I'hiBtoire qu'apria I'ouiettDie de 
la lance pawa parmi la plaie ung 
ray de soleil," &c. 

' Focaccia de' Cancellieri of 
Rstoia, who, for a silly boyiah 
ollence, cut off hia young cooun'i 
hand, and murdered hia uncle : 
thereby giving riae to the bctiona 
of the Bianchi and Neri in Pia- 
toia and Florence. Bme.daliaiila; 
VUL viii. S8. 



.vGooglc 



CAHTO xtin. INFEENO. 391 

his head that I see no iarthei, and toko vas named 
SassoU Mascherom : if thou beeat a Tuscan, well 
knovest thou now who he was. And that thou 
mayest not put me to further speech, know that I 
was Camicdon' de' Fazzi, and am waiting for Car- 
lino to excuse me." 

Afterwards I saw a thousand yisages, made dog- 
gish by the cold ; whence shuddering comes over 
me, and always will come, tchen I think of the 
frozen fords.' And as we were going towards Uie 

Col capo fl}, ch' io non vegg^o oltre piti, 

E Ai nomato Sassol Mascheroui; 65 

Se Toaco sei, ben sa' omai chi fu. 
E perchfe non mi metti in pii sermoni, 

Sqipi ch' io fa' il Camicion de' Pazzi, 

Ed aspetto Carlin che mi scagioni. 
Posda Tid' io mUle viai cagDazzi 70 

Fatti per freddo : onde mi rien ribrezzo, 

E yeni aempre, de' gelati guazzi. 
E mentre ch' andavamo in v£r Io mezzo, 

70. Cagtumi, cagaeschi, paonazzt. 

' SasBo) de' Toscbi of Florence, still liriug, will be great enough 

guardian of his brother's only aon, to " eicu8e," or make hia own 

whom he murdered (or the sake of seem trifling. Carlino (in 1302) 

his inheritance ; sDd was noto- betrayed the easlle of Piantre- 

riously carried, " nailed in a vigne in Valdanio for money, to 

cask" (ciomdu in una vegete), the Florentines, after the exiled 

through the whole aity ; and then Whites and Ghibellines had de- 

heheaded. Benv. da Imola, &c. fended it twenty - nine days : 

' Of Valdamo : who treaoher- " whence many, even of the best 

ously slew his kinsman Ubcrtino eiiles of Florence, were ilain or 

de' Pazzi. He says, the treach- taken," &c. ViU. TiJL 63, 

eries of Carlino de' Pazzi, who is ' Those ice-fords of the PiL 



.vGooglc 



middle* at which all weight mutes, and I was shiver- 
ing in the eternal shade, whether it was will, or des- 
tiny or chance, I know not ; bnt, walking amid the 
heads, I hit my foot violently against the face of one. 
Weejring it cried out to me : " Why tramplest thou 
on me ? If thou comest not to increase the ven- 
geance for Montaperti,' why dost diou molest me V 

And I : " My Master I now wait me here, that 
I may rid me of a doubt respecting him : then sh^t 
thou, however mnch thou pleasest, make me haste." 
The Master stood. And to that shade, which still 
kept bitterly reviling, I swd : " What art thou, who 
thus reproacheat others ?" 

Al quale ogni gravezza si rauna, 

Ed io tremara nell' etemo rezzo, 75 

Se Toler fu, o deatino, o fortuna. 

Nod so ; ma passeggiando tra le teste. 

Forte percoBsi il pid nel tibo ad una. 
Fiangendo mi sgridfi : Perchfe mi peste ? 

Se tn non Tieni a crescer la vendetta 80 

Di Mont' Aperti, perch^ mi moleste ? 
Ed io : Maestro mio, or qtu m' aspetta, 

Si ch' io esca d'un dubblo per costni ; 

Poi mi farai, qnantunque vorrai, fretta. 
Lo Daca stette ; ed io disBi a colui, 85 

Che bestemmiaTa dnramente ancora : 

Qual sei tu, che cosi rampogni altrui ? 

1 "Midd1e"of Hetl, andoftlie l > Thegleat defeat of Che Onelphs' 

Barth, uid»II theUnivene; een- at MoDtiperti (see cuita x. 86) 

tre of all gravity, pl^ncal and was completed bj tbe treacheir 

moral. Cbnrits, Tr. iL c. 3, &c. | of Bocca degli Abati, who here 



.vGooglc 



" Nay, ■who art thou," he answered, " that Uirotigh 
the Antenora goest, smitmg the cheeks of others ; so 
that, if thou wert alive, it were too much V 

" I am alive," was my reply ; " and if thou seek- 
est ^me, it may be precious to thee, that I put thy 
name among the other notes." 

And he to me : " The contrary is what I long for. 
Take thyself away ! and pester me no more ; for thoa 
ill knowest how to flatter on this icy slope." 

Then I seized him by the afterscalp, and said : 
" It will be necessary that thou name thyself, or 
that not a hair remain upon thee herel" Whence 
he to me : " Even if thou unhair me, I will not tell 

Or ta chi sei, cbe tbI per 1' Antenora 

Percotendo, rUpose, altmi le gate. 

Si che, se rivo fossi, troppo fora? 90 

Vivo son io ; e caro esser ti paote, 

Fa mia risposta, ae domandi fiima, 

Ch' io metta il nome tuo tra 1' altre note. 
Ed egli a me : Del contrario ho io brama i 

Levati quinci, e non mi dar piil lagna ; 95 

Chh mal sai luBingar per qnesta lama. 
AUor Io pred per la cuticagna, 

£ disn; E' couTerrk che tu ti nomi, 

che capel qni an non ti HmBgDa. 
Ond' egli a me : Percb^ tw mi diachioml, 100 

N6 ti dirt ch' io aia, ah mostrerolti, 

9S. Lagna, cause of complaint 

gpeika ; who cut off the hand of | valiy, who wax near hinj, during 
Jacopo delVRdeade' Paizi, itwi- tlie "minoui" uaaultof FarinaU'i 
dard-bearer of the Florentine ea- | German troops. ViU. vi. 78, 79. 



.vGooglc 



894 INFEBKO. cunomn. 

thee -who I am ; nor shev it thee, though thou &I1 
finil upon mj head a thousand times." I already^ 
had hia hair coiled on my hand, and had plucked 
off more than one tuft of it, he barkii^ and keeping 
down his eyes, -when another cried : " What ails thee, 
Bocca? Is it not enough for thee to chatter with 
thy jam, hut thou must bark too ? What Devil is 
upon diee V 

" Nov," said I, " accursed traitor I I do not 
irant thee to speak ; for to thy ehame I will bear 
true tidings of thee." 

" Go away !" he answered ; " and tell what pleases 
thee. But be not silent, if thou gettest out from 
hence, respecting him,' who now had his tongue so 

Se mille fiate in sul capo mi tomi. 
lo area gi& i capelli in mano avrolti, 

E tratto glien area piil d' una ciocca, 

Latraudo lui con gli occhi in giii raccoM ; 105 

Qnando mi altro gridb : Che hai tu, BoccaT 

Non ti besta sonar con le mSBcelle, 

Se tu tLOQ latrif qaal Diavol ti tocca? 
Omai, diss' io, non yo' che ta favelle, 

Malragio traditor ; ch' alia tua onta 1 10 

Io porterb di te vere novelle. 
Va via, rispose, e ci6 che ta Tiioi, conta ; 

Ma son tacer, se ta di qua eutro eschi, 

Di qnel ch' ebbe or cost la lingua pronta. 

■ Buoio da Duera of CteiDoiiB, I French umy of ChirlM of Anjoa, 

who fbi mane; betnjed the Qhi- in 12SS ; at which the people of 

bellines, allooriDg Giq' de Mont- Cremona wen to eniaged, tbtt 

foTt to pus the Oglio, with the | the; extirpated hii whole raoe. 



U.g.VK.yCiOOglc 



ready. Here he lamentB the Frenchmen's sUver. 
' Him of Doers,' thou canst say, ' I saw theie, where 
ike Burners stand pinched in ice.'' Shouldst thoa be 
asked who else was there, thou hast beaide thee the 
Beccaria' whose goi^ was slit by Florence. Gianni 
del Soldanier,' I think, is farther on, with Ganel- 
tone,* and TribaldeUo" who oped Faenza when it 
slept." 



Ei piange qui 1' ai^ento de' Francesclii ; 
lo vidi, potrai dir, qael da Dnera 
lik, dove i peccatoh Btaimo freschi. 

8e fosu dimandato, altri chi t* era ; 
Ta hai da lato qnel di Beccaria, 
Di eni segb Fiorenza la gorgiera. 

Gianni del Soldanier credo che sia 
Rii lik con Ganellone, e TribaldeUo 
Ch' apri Faenza qoando ai dormia. 



115 



Baoio himself " curied off much 

moDe;," but died at lut in miser- 
able poverty and exile. Beta, da 
Imola: FiU. Tii. 4; Mural. Her. 
Hal. L Lt p. 709. 

' The phrase tiar frtKo, " to 
be in a fix OF pucker," ia aoA to 
be derived from t. 117- 

* Teuuro Beccaria of FaTia, 
Abbot of Tillombrosa and Legate 
of Pope Alesander IV. at Flo- 
rence, was accused of tieacher' 
oualj plotting to bring bock the 
exiled Ghibellinea, and beheaded 
in \25i. Bene, da Ivuia; FiU. 



the defeat of Manfred, " put him- 
aelf at the head of the popuUoe 
in order to rise into poner, not 
regarding the isaue, which was 
to hurt the Ghibellines and ruin 
himself" &c. nU. Tii. H. 

' Ganellone or Gano, the trai- 
tor at BoDceBTallea : celebrated 
in the old poets. " O new Scariot 
and new Ganillion," &c. Chau- 
cer, Ntnme'a Prieile'a Tale. 

■ Tribaldello de' Manfred! of 
Paenza, who ibr money opened 
his native city at dead of night 
to the French in 1282; and that 
same year was alain with them, 
in the "blood; beap" (canto xiviL 
44) at Forli. KiU. vii. 80, 81. 



.vGooglc 



We had akeady left him, when I sav two frozen 
in one hole so closely, that the one head was a cap 
to the other. And as bread ia chewed for hunger, 
so the uppermost put his teeth into the other there 
where the hrain joins with the nape. Not otherwise 
did Tydens* gnaw the temples of Menalippus for 
rage, than he the sloJl and the other parts. 

" thou ! who by such brutal token shewest thy 
hate on him whom thou derourest, tell me why," I 
said : " on this condition, that if thou with reason 
complainest of him, I, knowing who ye are and his 
offence, may yet repay thee in the world above, if 
that, wherewith I epeak, be not dried up." 

Noi eravun pardti gi& da ello, 

Ch' io vidi duo ghiscdati in una bnca 125 

SI, che r on capo all' altro era cqipello : 
E come il pan per fame si mandnca, 

Co^ il BOTian U denti all' altro poae 

Uk, 've il cerrel s' a^nnge con la naca. 
Non ahrimenti Tideo u rose 130 

Le tempie a MeDalq>po per disdegno, 

Che qaei facera il teschio e 1' altre cose. 
to, che moatri per al bestiBl segno 

Odio aovra colui che tu ti man^ 

Dimmi il perchfe, diss' io : per tal conv^no, 135 
Che ae tn a ragion di lui ti piangi, 

Sappiendo chi voi siete, e la sua pecca, 

Nel mondo euso ancor io te ne cangi, 
Se qnella, con ch' io pailo, qoq d eecca. 

■ S« Statiua, Theb. < 
Sic. ! Ci^Mt, ! captt, J 



.vGooglc 



ARGUMENT. 



" wherewithal a man sinnetli, by the e&me lieo shall he be punished" 
(fuia per gua peccal quit, per hac el torqatlur) ia the uaallerable 
law vUch Dante lees written — not only in the ancient Hehrew 
reeorda, hut in every part of the Universe. The sinners whom he 
here finda frozen ti^ether in one hole, are Count Ugolino and 
Acchhiahop Ruggierl (Roger) of Piaa, traitora both ; and Rug- 
gieri has the Shadow of Ugolino'a hunger gnawing upon him in 
the eternal ice, while Ugolino has the image of Ilia own base 
treachery and hideous death continually before him. He liils up 
his head from the honid meal, and pauaea, when Dante recalls 
to him hia earthly lif^, in the same way as the storm paused for 
FrancesCB ; and the Archbiahop is aleat aa Paolo. See canto T. 

The two tragedies occurred about the very same time— when Dante 
was nearly twenty-lbur years of age; and, so far aa we have the 
meana of ascertaining, be seems to hare been accurately acquainted 
with the circunutancea of both, and to hare taken them exactly 
aa tbey occurred. The Archbishop was summoned to Rome, to 
accoont for the murder of Ugolino — with what result is not known : 
perhaps because the Romish clergy, when found guilty of great 
crimes, are usually suppressed and taken out of sighL The Pisans 
never recovered their ancient state and power, after the disasters 
and crimes of 1284-9 { but lost their islands of Sardinia and Cor- 
■ica; were seized with cowardice (" villA" in Fill, vii. 154), so that 
Ouido di Uontef^ltro, the best general of the time, whom they had 
appointed Lord of their city, "durst not shew himself" with them 
when the Florentines were laying waste and buimog its suburbs. 
Tbey and it rapidly became quite insignificant in the afiain of 
Italy. Via. vii. 137 ; viiL 2, 30, &e. 

After leaving Ugolino, the Poets go on to the Third Ring or Ftolo- 
mtea, which takea its name trom the Ptolomseua (1 Maccab. ivL 
11, &c.) who "had abundance of silver and gold," and " made a 
great banquet," for bis father-in-law Simon the high priest and 
his two sons ; and, " when Simon and hia sons had drunk largely," 
treacherously slew them " in the banqueting place." Priai Al- 
berigo and Branca d' Ona are found in it. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO xxsin. 

Fboh die fell repast ttutt smner laised his mouth, 
wiping it upon &e hair of the head he had laid waste 
behind. Then he began : " Thou wiliest that I re- 
new desperate grief> which wrings my heart, even 
at the very thought, before I tell thereof. But if 
my words are to be a seed, that may bear fruit of 
iniamy to the traitor whom I gnaw, thou shalt see 
me speak and weep at the same time. I know not 
who thou mayest be, nor by what mode thou hast 
come down here; but, when I hear thee, in truth 
thou seemest to me a Plorentine. Thou hast to 
know that I was Count XJgolino, and this the Arch- 

La boGCR sollerb dal fiero pasto 

Quel peccator, forbendola a' capeUi 

Bel capo ch' eg^ avea diretra gnasto. 
Pol comindi : Tu Tuoi ch' io rinnovelli 

Disperato dolor, che 11 cor mi preme, 5 

GilL pur peusando, pria ch* io ne favelli. 
Ma Be le mie parole esser den seme, 

Che frutti iniamia al traditor ch' io rodo, 

Parlate e lagrimar vedrai indeme. 
Iq non so chi tu sie, n^ per che modo 10 

Yennto sei i^oaggiii ; ma Fiorentdiio 

Mi sembri veramente, qnsnd' io f odo. 
Tu dei aaper ch' io fui il Confe Ugolino, 

E queati 1' ArdvescoTO Buggieri ; 



.yCOOgIC 



CAiraa mm. INFEBNO. 899 

bieliop Ruggieri:^ now I mil tell thee why I am 
Buch a neighbour to him. That \>j the effect of 
his ill devices I, confiding in him, was taken and 

Or ti dirji perch' io son tal Tidno. 15 

Che per 1* effetto de' anoi mal pensieii, 
Fidandomi di lui, io fossi preao 



* Count Ugolino de' Oheiai- 
detchi, chief of the Gnelphs in 
Piu I and Archbishop Ruggieri 
degli Ubsldini, chief of the Ohi - 
bellineg. In the ;ear 12S4, Piu 
wu the only city of Tiuctui; that 
adhered to the Ghihelline party ; 
■nd Ugolino himself wu of* Qhi- 
belline bmily, but quite umcrn- 
poloui, and eager fbr poirar. In 
that laniB year, after the diaas- 
tiwu ae»-Bght with the G«noeia, 
on Sunday, 6th August, in vhicll 
the Piiuu loit many of Iheir gal- 
leya, and had 16,000 of their beat 
men killed or taken prisonera, 
" the Floreotinei (in September) 
fonned a league with the Luc- 
cheie, Sienese, tte, together with 
the Qena«w to make war on Fiaa : 
the Florentine! and other Tub- 
cana by land, and the Qenoeae 
by lea." Ugolino, who had fled 
from the battle before it wai fully 
decided, now by bribery and other 
un&iT meana induced the Florea- 
tinel to withdraw aecretly from 
the league ; and by their aid " ei' 
pelted the Ghibelline* &om Piaa, 
Mid made himself maater of it 
with the Ouelpha." FiU. nL 92, 
S8. See also A»tial. OtHaau. 



p. 587; OonicB i« I>iHi, in Tartin. 
Sopp, Rer. lUl. L i. p. S64. 

Again, in July 1288, when 
three parties were competing for 
the mastery in Pisa, liz. Nino de* 
Visconti, Judge of Osllura, with 
certain Guelphs ; Ugolino, with 
the rest of the Ouelpha ; and, in 
opposition to both, " Archbiihop . 
Rug^eri degli Ubsldini, with tba 
Lanfranohi, and Oualandi, and 
Sismondi and other Qhibellina 
houses : the aaid Count Ugolino, 
in Older to make himself master, 
united with the Archbishop and 
his party, and betrayed Judge 
Nino, not considering that he 
waa his own grandson, son of his 
own daughter ; and they arranged 
that he should be expelled fiom 
Pin with his foUowera, or seized 
in person. Nino hearing this, 
and not Gliding himself able to 
make defence, left the city and 
went to Caloi, his eastle ; and 
leagued with the Florentines and 
Lucehese, to make war on the 
Pisans. The Count, before Nino 
waa gone, tn order the better to 
conceal his treachery, when every 
thing was arrsnged for the ex- 
pulsion of the Judge, went out of 



.vGooglc 



400 INFEENO. UKTO nun. 

thereafter put to death, it is not seceseary to say : 
but that which thou canet not have leamt, that ie, 
how cruel was my death, thou shalt hear— and know 
if he has offended me, 

E poada morto, dir non h raettien. 
Per6 quel che non pnoi avere int«80, 
Ciob, come la morte mia fd cnida, 20 

Udiru ; e saprai Be m' ha ofieao. 



I%s to K muior of his oilled Set- 
timo. As soon u he naa iofbrmed 
of Nino's departure, lie returned 
to Piu with great jo;, and was 
made Lard of the city amid great 
rejoicing and featitit}r. But his 
lordliness was of bTief diuation. 
Fortune turned aguaat him, as 
it pleased God, because of his 
treacheries and ains ; fbr with 
truth it wss said he had caused 
Anselma da Capr^, hia aister'i 
son, to be poisoned, oat of raivj 
and fetz, lesl Anselma, who was 
much esteemed in Pisa, might 
take his place. .... The force of 
the Quelphs being thus impaired, 
the Archbishop took means to 
hetraj' Count Ugolina, snd caused 
him to be suddenly attacked in 
his palace by tbe fury of the peo- 
ple, telling them that he had be- 
trayed Pisa, and giren up their 
Castles to the Floreotines and 
Lucchese ; and the people having 
come upon him without any de- 
fence, lie surrendered. And in 
ihia assault, a bastard son and a 
grandson of Count Ugoliao's were 
killed j and he himself taken, with 



two ofhia aona and three (or two! 
aa below) of his grandchildren, 
sons of bis son, and put in pri- 



Paj-Ti 



121. 



" In the following March, the 
Fisans, who had imprisoned Count 
Ugolino with two of his sons, and 
two sons of his son Count Ouelfb 
(as we hare mentioned aboye), in 
a tower on the Piaica degli An. 
ziani, caused the door of tbal 
tower to be looked up, the keys 
to be thrown into the Ama, and 
all food withheld from the (aid 
prisonen, who died of hunger in 
a few days. But the Count had 
prciiously kept demanding peni- 
tence with loud cries, and yet they 
permitted no friar or prieat (o oon- 
tess him. AU (he fiye, when dead, 
were dragged together &om the 
tower and meanly interred j and 
from thenceforward the said prison 
was called the Tower of Famine, 
and alm^ will be. For this 
cruelty the Fisans throughout the 
whole world, whererer it became 
known, were greatly blamed ; nM 
so much fbr the Count himself 
who b; reaaon of hii crimes and 



.vGooglc 



•uiiTo mnL INITBRKO. 401 

" A narrow hole within the mew, which from 
me has the title of Famine, and in which others 
yet mast be shnt up, had through its opening already 
Bhewu me Beveial moons,' when I slept the evil sleep 
that rent for me the curtain of the tuture. This man 
seemed to me lord and master, chasing the wolf and 
his whelps, upon the mountain' for which the Fisans 
cannot see Lucca. With hounds meagre, keen, and 
dextrous, he had put in front of him Gualandi with 
Sismondi, and with Lanfranchi.^ After short coiirse. 



Breve pertugio dentro dalla mnda. 
La qnal per me ha il titol della fame, 
E in che conviene ancor ch' altri si chiuda, 

AT avea mostrato per lo sno for&me 
Pi& lone giSi, qoand' lo feci il mal sonno, 
Che del ^tnro mi sqaardb U velame. 

Questi pareva a me maestro e douno, 
Cacciando il lapo e i lapidni al monte, 
Per che i Fisan veder Lucca nan ponno. 

Con c^ne magre, stodiose e conte, 

Gualandi con Sismondi, e con Lanfranchi 
S' avea mesai dinanzi d&Ua fironte. 



tre«chetj was perhspa worthy of 
auch a death, but for his sons and 
grandsons who were joung boja 
uid innocent, eh' trane giovani 
garzimi e iatwcenti." Fill. »ii. 128. 
For iiuther details tee Cronica 
diPita, in Murat. Rei. Ital t n. 
p. 979, Sec; Anaalei Geymea. ihii. 
t li p. 608, &c.; Fragta. Hit. 
Pii. ibid. t. xxir. p. 648, &c.; and 
the otlieT Craa. di Pita, in Tartin. 



Supplem. Rer. ItsL tip. Ki, 
&c. 

' From July to March. 

• Monte St. Giuliano between 
Piaa and Lucca, which are some 
twelve milee apart. 

' Ruggieri, Lord and Master 
of the chase ; the Ghibelline no- 
bles, leaders of the keen Hounds 
or populace; Ugolino, the &thei 
Wolf with sons. 



,,Cooglc 



the father and his sons Beemed to me weary ; and 
methonght I sav their flanlce torn by the sharp teeth. 
When I awoke before tlie dawn, I heard my sons 
who were with me, weeping amid their sleep, and 
asking for bread. Thou art r%ht cruel, if thou dost 
not grieve already at the thought of what my heart 
foreboded; and if thou weepest not, at what art 
thou used to weep ? They were now awake, and 
the hour approaching at which our food used to be 
brought us, and each was anxious &om his dream, 
and below I beard the outlet of the horrible tower 
locked up : whereat I looked into the faces of my 
sons, without uttering a word. I did not weep : so 
stony grew I within. They wept; and my little 

In picdol corsfl mi pareano stanchi 

Lojfiadre e i figli, e con 1' agut« scane 35 

Mi pares lor veder fender li fianchi. 
Qnaado fui desto innaDzi la dima&e, 

Pianger senti' fra '1 sonno i mid fi^uoli, 

Ch' erano meco, e dimaodar del pane. 
Ben sei cmdel, se ta gift non ti duoli, 40 

Fenundo ci6 ch' il mio cor s' annnuziaTa : 

E ee non piangi, di che pianger anoli? 
Giik eran deati, e 1' ora b' appressava 

Che il cibo ne solera essere addotto, 

G per sue sogao ciascnn dubitava, 45 

Ed io sentii (juarar 1' usdo di eotto 

AH' orribile torre : ond' io guards! 

Nel riso a' miei figliuoi senza far motto. 
Io non piangeva, si dentro impietrai ; 

I^angevau elli ; e Anaelmnccio mio SO 



.vGooglc 



EUno nnn, INFERNO. 408 

Anselm said : ' Thoa lookest bo I Father, wliat ails 
tliee V But I shed no tear, nor answered all that 
day, nor the next night, till another Sun came forth 
upon the world. When a amall ray waa sent into 
the dolefiil prieon, and I di§cemed in their four faces 
the aspect of my own, I bit on both my hands for 
grief; and they, thinking that I did it &om desire of 
eatii^, of a sudden rose up, and said : ' Father, it will 
giTe us much less pain, if thou wilt eat of us : thou 
didst put upon us this miserable flesh, and do thou 
strip it off.' Then I calmed myself, in order not to 
make them more unhappy. That day and the next 
we all were mute. Ah, hard earth I why didst thou 
not open ? When we had come to the fourth day, 

Diaae : Ta g^oardi st I Padre, che liai? 
Fer& non lagrimai, n& rispoa' io ^ 

Tutto quel g^mo, nh la notte appresso, 

Infin che 1' altro Sol nel moudo lucfo. 
Come on poco di ra^o si fu meuo 55 

Nel dolorosa carcere, ed io scorsi 

Per qoattra visi il mio aspetto stesso, 
Ambo le mani per dolor mi tnorsi ; 

fi quei, pensando ch' io il fessi per vogha 

K manicar, di subito levorsi, GO 

E disser ; Padre, assai ci fia men doglia, 

Se ta mangi di Doi : tn ue vestiati 

Qoeate mlsere canii, e tu le spuria. 
Qoetaimi allor, per non taiii piU trisd : 

Quel d), e 1' altro stemmo tntti mud ; 65 

Ahi dura l«rra, perch^ non t* apriati ? 
PoBcia che tanaao al qoarto dl venati, 

U.g.VK.yC00glc 



404 INFERNO. oahto inui. 

Gaddo threw liimself stretched out at my feet, eay- 
ii^ : ' My father I why don't you help me ?' There 
he died ; and even as thou seest me, saw I the three 
fall one hy one, between the fiftii day and the sixth, 
whence I betook me, already blind, to groping over 
each; and for three days called them, after they were 
dead. Then fasting had more power than grief." ^ 

When he had spoken this, with eyes distorted 
he seized the miserable skull again with his teeth, 
which as a dog's were strong upon the bone. Ah, 
Pisa ! scandal to the people of the beauteous land 
where " Si" is heard I' Since thy neighbours are 

Oaddo mi ri gittJt disteso &' piedi, 
Dicendo : Padre mio, che non m' aintiT 

Qnivi mor) ; e come tu mi vedi, TO 

Tid' io caacar li tre ad nuo ad nno, 
TrM qninto dl e il sesto, ond' io mi diedi 

Gi& cieco a btancolar sovra dascuno j 
E tre d) li cliiaiiiai, poi ch' ei for morti : 
PoBcia, piti che il dolor, poti il digiuno. 75 

Qnand' ebbe detto citS, cod gU occhi torti 
Kprese il teschio mlBero co' denti, 
Che fiuo all' obbo, come d' nn can, ftnti. 

AM Pisa, Titnperio delle genti 
Del bd paese ]i dove il si snona ; 80 



1 So that TTgolino died dd the 
ninth day : and the old Piun com- 
mentalor, Buti, u;s the towei wu 
opened after eight daya, " dapo 
II ollii giaryd," Many lolumes 
have heeo written about verse 75. 
Doee the pH pati {"wu mote { 



poverfhl") indicate onl; that huiF- 
ger killed Ugolino t Oithatlaal- 
ing oreroame hia Bensea, and nude 
him die ea^g as his poor cbil- 
iiea bad invited! The WMda ad- 
mit of dlhei meanings 
' Italy, iriieTe £i ia the wotd 



.vGooglc 



euro nim. IKFEKNO. 405 

alow to punish thee, let the Capraia and Gorgona' 
move, and hedge up the Arno at its mouth, that it 
may drown in thee, every living soul. For if Count 
Ugolino had the &me of having betrayed thee in 
thy castles, thou oughtest not to have put hia sons 
into such torture. Their youth&l i^, thou modern 
Thebes I made innocent Uguccione and Brigata, and 
the other two whom my song above has named.^ 

We went Either on, where the frost ruggedly 



Pol che i vidni a te ponir eon lend, 

Mnovasi la Capraia e la Gorgona, 

E faccian siepe ad Arno in au la foce, 
S) ch' egli auuieghi in te ogai persona. 

Ch6 se il Conte Ugolino aveva voce 
D' BTcr tradita te delle caatella, 
Non doTei tu i figliaoi porre a tal croce, 

Innocenti facea 1' etii noveUa, • 

Novella Tebe ! Uguccione e il Brigata, 
E gli altri duo che il canto auso appella. 

Noi passamm' oltre, dove la gelata 



(or yet. Dante ( Vulg. Elaq. i 
gives Ji oij'a ta chUBoterutic of 
the Qemuna, Saxons, &c. ; Oc 

of lie " SpMiiarda" (the Langue 
d-Oc, oied at the Court of Csadle ; 
as well as in Proience, to part of 
nhich it gave name) ; Oil at oui of 
the FiBDch, and Si of the Italians. 

' Small islands, not br from 
tlie mouth of the Amo. 

• Troya in his Feltra AlUgBrico 
(Flor. 1826, p. 2S, &c) userts, 
in opposition to Tillanl and other 



contemporai; historiaos, that Ugo- 
lino's sons snd grandsons were 
not innocent, the Archbishop not 
guiltf, &c. ; but the Feltn still 

than apiece of sober history. One 
is led to expect speedy proofs of 
manj hizudoua Bssertions in it, 
and the; haie now been due for 
twenty-two yesrs. Such hooks 
dailieii every part of the aubjects 
on which they treat, and are in- 
excuaable among serious men. 



.vGooglc 



406 INFEBNO. curia mm. 

inwrapB anotlier people, not bent forwards, but all 
reversed.^ The very weeping there allows them not 
to weep ; and the grief, which finds impediment 
upon their eyes, turns inward to increase the agony : 
for their first t«ars form a knot, and, like crystal 
vizors, fill up all the cavity beneath their eyebrows. 
And although, as &om a callous, throi^h the cold all 
feeling had departed from my fece,® it now seemed 
to me as if I felt some wind. Whereat I : " Master, 
who moves tiiis ? Is not all heat extinguished here 
below?" Whence he to me: "Soon shalt thou be 

Buvidamente nn' altra gente fascia, 

Non Tolta in gih, ma tntta riversata, 
Lo piaato stesao 1) pianger non lascia, 

E il duel, che tnio<ra in bu g^ occhi rintoppo, 95 
* Si volve in entro a far crescer 1' ambaacia ; 
Gh^ le laciime prime fanuo groppo, 

E, si come visiere di cristallo, 

Biempion sotto il ci^o tntto il coppo. 
E avregna che, si come d' on callo, 100 

Per la freddura dascun sentimento 

CeBsato avease del mio viao stallo, 
C^ mi parea sentire alqnanto vento ; 

Per ch' io : Maestro mio, queato chi muove f 

Non h qnaggiuBO ogni vapore apento f 1 05 

Ond' egli a me ; Avacdo sand dove 



> The Poets hive now come to 
the Third Ring, or Ptolomsea. 
The spirits in il have their heade 
turned backwardB, and Dot down, 
like those in the Csina and An- 



tenoto. The; shew do feeling of 
shame, or desire to conceal tben- 
selies : " sll hest is extinguished" 
among them. 
' " Left the abode of my dee." 



.vGooglc 



CiMTo luiu. IKFE&KO. 407 

where thine eye itself, seeing the cause which rains 
the blast,* shall answer thee in this." And one of 
the wretched shadows of the icy crust cried out to 
ufl : " O souIb, bo cruel that the last post of all is 
giTen to you ! RemoTe the hard veils from my &ce, 
that I may rent the grief, which stuffs my heart, a 
little ere the weeping &eeze again." Wherefore I 
to him : " If tiiou wouldst have me aid thee, tell 
me who thou art; and if I do not extricate thee, 
' may I have to go to the bottom of the ice." 

He answered : " Then I am Friai Alberigo,' I 

Di d6 ti tiak ¥ occhio la rispasta, 
Veggendo la cagion che il fiato piove. 

E on de' tristi deUa fredda crosta 

Grid6anoii anime crudeli 110 

Tanto, cbe data v* 6 1' ultima posta, 

Leratemi dal viso 1 duri veli, 

St ch' io sft^bi il dolor che il cor m' impregna, 
Ud poco pria che il pionto si ra^eli. 

Per ch' io a lui ; Se vnoi ch' io ti sow^na, 1 15 

Dimmi chi sei, e b' io non ti disbrigo, 
Al fondo della gluaccia ir mi convegna. 

Biapoae : Adouiine io son Prate Alberigo, 



' The wind Iiere comeB down. 
See next canto, verKi S, 50, &c. 

' Old Alberigo de' Mtrnfredi, 
snother of the Joriil Friars (see 
their pioleedon, canto Kiiii. 103). 
Hia kindred were Guelphs and 
Lords of Faenza ; and one of 
thFin, the " ^oung and Sktj" 
ManCredo de' Man&edi, in s fit of 



passion, gave him a alap on the 
face. Alberic " diaaembled and 
quietly bore tbe aflront for a 
long time. And at laaC, when 
be thought the other might have 
forgotten it, pretended that he 
wished to be reconciled. Then 
Man&ed begged pardon for hii 
youthful heat ; and, the peace 



.vGooglc 



am lie of the fruits from the ill garden, who here 
receive dates for my figs."' 

" Hah !" said I to him, " then art thou dead too V 
And he to me : " How my hody stands in the 
world above, I have no knowledge. Such privilege 
has this Ptolonuea, that oflentimeB the soul faUs down 
hither, ere Atropos impels it.^ And that thou more 
willingly mayest rid the glazen tears from off my 
£ice, know that forthwith, when the soul betrays, 



lo aon quel delle &utte del mal orto, 
Clie qui riprendo dattero per figo. 

Ob, disei Ini, or sei tu ancor morto T 
Ed egli h me : Come il mio corpo stea 
Nel mondo su, nulla scienzia porto. 

Gotal vautaggio ha queeta Tolomea, 
Che spcsse volte V anlma ci cade 
Innanzi ch' Atrop6s mossa le dea. 

E perch^ to piii voleutier mi rade 
Le invetriate lagrime dal Tolto, 
Sappi, che toato che 1' anima trade. 



being made up between them, 
Alberic gave a banquet, to which 
Manfred and hii son (Alber- 
ghetto, or "little Alberic") wert 
invited. The supper over, with 
great alacrity old Alberic cried, 
' Now bring the fruit 1' And aud- 
denl; his servants, who had been 
concealed behind a screen, rushed 
ToTth anned, and slew both the 
fiilher and the son, Alberic mean- 
while looking on and rejoicing." 
Beuv. da Imala, See also Fittro 
di DmU. The " Fruit of Friai 



Alberic" thenceforth became ■ 
proverb. The "ill garden" is 
Faenza, from which Tribaldello 
(canto Jj^f" . 122), a GhibeUine 
of the same Man&edi bmilj, also 
come- Ibidt 
' Or, get full repayment 
* Ere Atropos outs the iilc- 
thread, or " gives signal to more." 
Feniat mora mper illm : el de- 
uxiidant in l^femum viveniei, " let 
them go down qmck (or living) 
into Hell." Pa. Ut. 16 ; Iv. 16. 
Quoted by PieCro, &c. 



.vGooglc 



cuno mm. IMFBKHO. 409 

as I did, her body is taken from her by a Demon 
who thereafter rnles it> till its time has all revblTed. 
She Iklls ruehing to this cistern ; and perhaps the 
body of this shade, which winters here behind me, 
is still apparent on the earth above. Thou must 
know, if thou art but now come down : it is S^ 
Sranca d' Oria ;^ and many years have passed since 
he was thus shut upj' 

" I believe," said I to him, " that thou deceivest 
me ; for Branca d' Oria never died : and eats, and 
drinks, and sleepH, and puts on clothes." 

" In the ditch above, of the Malebranche," said 
he, "there where the tenacious pitch' is boiling, 

Gome fee' io, U corpo suo 1' ^ tolto 130 

Da on Dimonio, che poscia il gorema, 
Meutre che il tempo sac totto »a volto. 

Ella ruina in si ^ta ciBtema ; 
S forae pare aucor Io corpo soso 
Dell* ombra, che di qoa dietro mi v«ma. 135 

Tn il dei saper, se tn vien pox mo ginso : 
EgU ^ Ser Branca d' Oria, e son pii^ anoi 
Poada passali ch' ei fa at racchiuso. 

Io credo, diesi a lui, che ta m' iuganui ; 

Gh& Branca d' Oria non marl nnquancbe, HO 

£ mangla, e bee, e dorme, e veste panni. 

Nel fosBO Bu, diss* ei, di Malebranche, 
\A. dove bolle la tenace pece, 

■ Of the gteat Doris Gmiil;, I rather-m-kw, Michel Zuiche of 
OhibelliiMS of Genoa. Id eon- L<^doro, " in oidei to gel pot- 
junction witfa hii nephew, he in- union of Ilia irotnense wealth." 
Tited to a banquet, and there Bern, da Imola ; Pkiro. 
tieaobejtnialj nniideted, bit own | ' See euilo zzL 7, ftc. 



.vGooglc 



410 INFBBNO. cucTO xxim. 

MicKel Zanche' had not yet arrived, when this man 
left a Devil in his stead in the hody of himself, and 
of one of his kindred who did the treacheiy along 
with him. Sut reach hither thy hand : open my 
eyes." And I opened them not for him : and to 
be rude to him was courtesy.* 

Ah, Genoese I men estranged from all moralitf, 
and full of all corruption,' why ^e ye not scattered 
from the earth ? For with the worst spirit* of Bo- 
magna, found I one of ye, who for his deeds even 
now in soul hathes in Cocytus, and ahove on earih 
stUl seems alive in body. 

Non era giunto ancora Michel Zanclie, 

Che queiti lascif) nn Diavolo in ana vece 145 

Nel corpo sno, e d' im buo proBdmano, 
Che il tradimento iosieme con Ini fece. 

Ma distendi oramai in qaa la maso, 
Aprimi gli occhi ; ed io non gliele spend : 
E coTt«sia fa Ini easer yiUano. 150 

Ahi Genovesi, uomini diversi 

D' ogui costume, e pien d' ogni magagna, 
FerGhg non siete voi del mondo spersi ? 

Cbh col pe^ore spirto di Bomagna 

Trovai nn tal di vol, che per sua opm 155 

In anima in Cocito pi si bagna, 

E in corpo par -vivo ancor di sopra. 



' The buterer of canto Xlrii. 

* Sa Ariosto {OrL Fur, Jivii. 
77): GU i leco corteiia F aier 
nUoBo, " 'tia s charity to be rude 
to thee." 

• CuTctga.'K Annal. Cm. {Murat 



Rer. lUL it 603) for 1S94, written 
at the time b; Jacopo Doria (Jir- 
cobiii de Aaria), in whicb quite 
la bad an account ia giTen of (be 
Oenoeae. 
» Wilh the Friar Alberigo. 



.vGooglc 



ARGUMENT. 



The Judeccs, or Laat Circlet of Cooytui, tak«i itt aune from Judu 
Iscuiat, and ogntaini the souli of those ' who betrayed their mai- 
tsra and bmelactora.' The Areh Traitor Satan, " Emperot of 
the Realm of Sorrov," Btanda fixed in the Centre of it i and he 
too ia punished by hii own Sin. All the atreami of Onilt keep 
flowing back to him, as their lource ; and from beneath hi* three 
Facet (Shadows of hii conBciooinen) iuue forth the mighty wingi 
with which he Btrugglea, aa it were, to raiae himaelf; and lendi 
out windi that freeze bim only the more firmly in his eier-iwelling 
Manh. Dante has to take a full view of him too; and then ii 
carried through the Centre by bia Myado Guide — " grappling on 
the hail of Satan," not without aigniScancej and set down on 
"the other face of the Judecca." And now the bitter journey of 
our Pilgrim ia over ; and a tone of gladneaa goes tlirough the re- 
maining Teraei, Hell is now behind him, and the Stan of UeaTcn 
abore : he has got beyond the ' Everlasting No,' and is " sore tta- 
laiJIed," and the "way ia long and difficult," but it leads from 
Darkness to the "bright world." After some brief inquiries, 
"without caring for any repass," by aid of the heiven-aent Wia- 
dom he "plucks himaelf from the Abyss j" and follows climbmg, 
till they tee the Stars in the opposile hemispheie. 



.yCoOgIc 



CANTO xxxrv. 



" The banners of the King' of Hell now iaeue 
forth towards ua : tlierefore look before," said the 
Master, " look if thon discern him." As, when a 
thick miBt breathes, or when the night comes on 
our hemisphere, a mill, turning with the wind, ap- 
pears at distance : such an engine did I now seem 
to see J and, for the wind,^ shrunk back behind my 
Guide, because no other shed was there. Already 
I had come (and with fear I put it Into verse) where 
all the souls were covered/ and shone through like 



VsiiLLA Regu prodevnl Infeni 
Terso di noi ; perJ> dinanii mire, 
Disss il Maestro mio, se tn il diacemi. 

Come quando una grossa nebbia spire, 
quaudo 1' emiaperio nostra annotta 
Par da lungi un muUn che al vento gira j 

Veder mi parre mi tal dificio allotta ; 
Poi per lo vento mi riatrinsi retro 
Al Duca mio ; ch6 non t" era altnt grotta. 

G^ era (e con paura il metto in metro) 
lA, do»e r ombre tutte eran covert^ 
E traBparean come festuca in vetro. 



' Tlie Veiiila StgU prodeant, 
which Duite here biinge to bear 
upon the h&teful btmoers of Satan, 
ia the Rrst vene of a aicred hjinii 
of triumph, in praiae of (he Crow. 



It il chanted in the aenice of tha 
Holy Week. 

» " The wind." See t, 51, fte. 

■ In the laat or central ling of 

Coeytu*. 



.vGooglc 



cuiTO iniT. IHFEBKO. 413 

straw in glass. Some keep lying ; some stand up- 
right, this on its head, and that upon its soles ; ano- 
ther, like a bow, bendg iace to feet. 

When we had proceeded on bo fer, that it pleased 
my Guide to shew to me the Creature which was 
once so &iT,' he took himself &om before me, and 
made me stop, saying : " Lo Dis ! and lo the^lace 
where it behoves thee arm thyself with fortitude." 

How icy chill and hoarse I then became, ask 
not, O Header ! for I write it not, because all speech 
would fell to tell.* I did not die, and did not re- 
main alive: now think for thyself, if thou hast any 

Altre stanuo a giacere, altre stanno erte, 

Quella col capo, e quella con le piante ; 

Altra, com' arco, il rolto a' piedi inverte. 15 

Qnando noi fommo fatti tanto avante, 

Ch' al mio Maestro piacque di moBtranni 

La creatara ch' ebbe il bel sembiante, 
Dinanzi mi ai tolse, e fe' reetarmi, 

Ecco Dite, dicendo, ed ecco il loco 20 

Ore conrien che di fortezza f armi. 
Com' io diTeniii alior gelato e fioco, 

Nol dimandar, Letter, ch' io non lo scrivo, 

Perb ch' ogni parlar sarebbe poco. 
Io non morii, e non rimasi vivo : 25 

Fensa oramai per te, s' hai fior d' ingegno, 

26. Fior, aprinMing, ti&ce, &c. 

' Lit; "Which h»d the beau- rides of the pit" (_ad iiffiimvm, in 

teoui lemblBnce:" fureat of the prqfitndum loci), lauahxiv. IZ 
Angel* onoe. " How ui thou ' Lit. : " Would be little ;" 

fkllen from heaTcn, O LuoUerl would go short waj to tell the atate 

.... brought down to hell, to tbe in which I wu at right of Die. 

U.g.VK.yG00glc 



414 INFERKO. sum uur. 

grain of ingenuity, irkat I became, deprived of both 
deaA and life. The Empeior of the doloroua realm> 
&om mid breast stood forth out of the ice ; and X 
itt tize am liter to a giant, than the giants are to 
his arms.^ Mark now \ow great that whole must 
be, which corresponds to such a part. If he was 
once*as beautiful as he is ugly now, and lifted up 
his brows against his Maker, weU may all affliction 
come from him. Oh how great a marrel seemed it 
to me, when I saw three faces' on his head ! The 

Qoal io diveooi, d' uno e d' altro priro. 
Lo Imperador del dcdoroso regno 

Da meizo U petto nada faor della ghiacda ; 

E piil con nn g^gtnte io mi coavegno, 30 

Che i gigauti non fan con le sae braccia : 

Vedi oggimai qoanf eeaer dee quel tatto, 

Ch' a cost fotta parte ai con&ccia. 
S' d fd si bel, com' ^^ h ore bmtto, 

E contra il ano Fattore alz6 le dglia, 35 

Ben dee da lui pracedere ogni lutto. 
qnanto parre a me gran merayiglia, 

Quando vidi tre facce alia sua testa I 



' Or, I "agree better," in aize 
d itoture, with one of tlie gianta, 
an they do with one of Satin's 



Prane on Ihs fload, Eilmdnl long 

Lijr floulug muT ■ n»d. . . . 
Fnthwith upright hfl mm Cnun 

Hit mlgbc; ttiitan." 



atical of conscious oppMiCion to 
the Power, and Wiidom, md 
Iiove, in oanto iii. 5, &a. : hope- 
]eM Impotence, glowing with r*ge, 
in the scarlet or Termilion ; dark- 
ett Igaonnoe in the bUok ; and 
enrious Hatred in the paJe-;ell<nr 
face. Hence Milton (Par. Loit, 



* The three faces are emblcra- 



.vGooglc 



VAKTO OUT. IM?EBNO. 415 

one in front, and it vas fiery red : the others were 
two, that were adjoined to this, above the very nud- 
die of each shoulder ; and they were joined up to 
his crest;* and the right seemed between white and 
yellow; the left was such to look on, as they who 
come from where the Nile begins his valley.' Un- 
der each there issued forth two mighty wings, of 
Bise befitting sach a bird : sea-sails I never saw so 
broad.' No plumes had they; but were in form and 
texture Hke a bat's :* and he was flapping them, so 
that three winds went forth from him, whereby Co- 

Ij' Txna. i<inBn«i, e qadla era vermiglia ; 
L' altre eran due, che s' oggiungeano a qoesta 40 

Sovr* eeso 11 mezzo di ciascona spalla, 

E si ginngeano si loogo della cresta. 
E la destra parea tia bianca e ^sUa ; 

La sinistra a vedere era tal, quail 

Vengon di ik, ove il Nilo s' awalla. 49 

Sotto dascnna osdran duo grand' ali, 

Qoanto si conremva a tanto uccello : 

Vele di mar nou Tid' lo mal cotali. 
Non avean penne, ma di vispistrello 

Era lor modo : e quelle svolaizava, 50 

Si, che tre veQtl si morean da ello. 



1 Lit.: " Up to the place oFhis 
cieat" The three fkoei unite 
their qoalitie* to form the Cieit 

of liim, emblem of hia Pride. 
'...." Undn tbe Ethlop line 
Bf Nlliui hwd.- 



Has wings like a, liuge Tampire ; 
■nd, flipping them, aendi forth 
the bleste of Impotenoji, Igno- 
Tuice, snd Hatred, <rhioh freeie 
■11 the Manh of Sin — therehj 
fixing himself only the more 
■tnmgt; in it 

* Lit : " But M a bat's <nu 
their mode," ol btbioib 



.vGooglc 



416 HtPBRNO. cuno iiur. 

cytus all was frozen. With six eyes he wept; and 
down three chins gashed tears aad bloody foam. 
Ibi every mouth he champed a sinner with his teeth, 
like a brake ; so that he thas lept three of them in 
torment To the one in &ont, the bidng was nonght, 
compared with the tearing ; for at times the back of 
him remained quite stript of skin. 

" That soul up there, which suffers greatest pun- 
ishment," said the Master, " is Judas Iscariot, he 
who haa his head within, and outside plies his legs. 
Of die other two, who have their heads beneath, 
that one, who hangs from the black visage, is Bru- 
tus:* lol how he writhes himself, and utters not a 

Qoindi Cocito tntto a' ag^eleya. 

Con sei occhi piangeva, e per tre menti 

GocdaTa il pianto e BangainasB bara. 
Da ogni bocca dirompea co' deati 55 

Un peccatore, a gnisa di mainnlla ; 

81 che tre ue facea cobI dolenti. 
A quel dinanzi il mordere era nulla 

Terse il grafSar, che tal Tolta la schiena 

Kimanea della pelle tutta bruUa. 60 

Quell' anima lassi), ch' ha ma^or pena, 

Disse U Maestro, i Giuda Scariotto, 

Che il capo ha dentro, e l^or le gambe mena. 
De gli altii duo, ch' haono il capo di aotto, 

Qnei, che pende dal nero ceffo, h Brato : 65 

Vedi come si storce, e non fii motlo ; 

' Id (he Mcmarchia tai CmviU, I alludei to Cesn u the ■ppointad 
and also in nuny pauages of the I Founder of that UniTmal Mon- 
Fuigatnio and Paradiao, Dante I tdbj V wUoh the tempond go- 



.vGooglc 



cuno lun. INFERNO, 417 

Tord. And tlmt other is Cassius, who seems so 
stark of limb. But night is reascending : ' and nov 
most we depart; for we hare seen the whole." 

As he deeired, I clasped his neck : and be took 
opportunity of time and place ; and when the wings 
were opened ^, applied him to the shaggy sides, 
and tiien &om shag to shag descended down, be- 
tween the tangled hair and frozen cniats. 

Wlien we had come to where the thigh reTolveo 
just on the swelling of the haunch,' my Guide with 

E r altro i Cassio, che par ■! membruto. 

Ma la notte rum^ ; ed ocamai 

£ da partir, chh tutto avim veduto. 
Come a lui piacqne, il collo f^ aTrisgluai ; 70 

Ed ei prese di tempo e Inogo poste : 

E, qnando 1' ale fiiro aperte taau, 
AppigliJi si alle vellute coite. 

Di vello in yello gA discese posda, 

Tia il folto pelo e le g^te croste. 75 

Quando noi fammo lil dove la coscia 

Si Tolge appooto in sol groMO dell' anche. 



lenimeDt of the vhole woild was 
to be provided foi ; and Brutua ia 
regarded aa the treacheroiu tqui- 
derer of Cnaai: hia g:ood quali- 
tiea, and the fortitude which he 

hia guilt teem blacker. The Knl 
irb, T^KHW (5uefon. Vil. ati.i.82), 
and the 'Era^t, if' f tripfi ; 
(JUati. xxri SO), might be cod- 
oseted in Dante's mind, 
t Nightiieoming(it"uoeiida" 



with Dante, for to him onr Earth 
il Sled in the centre, and the 
HeBTena Fevolve, Conn. Tr. iii. e. 
5); and here the oil uommento- 
tora And mystic allusion to the 
" Night of Sin." The Foeta have 
DOW been twen(;-lbur hours, or 
one night and one day, in Hell. 
See cantos ii. 1 ; vii. 9S ; xi. 113; 
11.124; nLlia, &c.! JUtll. 10. 
' Come to the hip-joint of him, 
which ia exactly at the middle. 



.vGooglc 



418 IMFERMO. UKTOixxir. 

labour and with diiEcultj turned Mb Head where 
he had had his feet before, and grappled on the 
hair, as one who mounts ; bo that I thought we were 
returning into Hell again. " Hold thee fast I for 
by such stairs," said my Guide, panting like a man 
forespent, " must we depart firom so much ill." 
Thereafter throngh llie opening of a rock he issued 
forth, and put me on its brim to sit; then towards 
me he stretched his wary step. 

I raised my eyes, and thought to see Lucifer as 
I had left him ; and saw him with the legs turned 
upwards.* And the gross people, who see not what 
a points it was that I had passed, even tkey may 

Lo Daca con iktdca e con angoBcia 
Tolse la testa or' egli avea le xanche, 

Ed a^^irapposu al pel, come uom che sale, 80 

S) che in Inferno io credea tomar anche. 
Attienti ben, ch.k per cotali scale, 

DiBse il Maestro, ansando com' uom lasso, 

Conviensi dipartir da tanto male, 
Poi nsc) fuor per lo foro d' nn sasso, 85 

E pose me in su I' orlo a Bedere ; 

Appresso porse a me 1' accorto pasBo. 
Io leTBi gli occhi, e credetti Tedere 

Ludfero, com' i' I' area lasciato, 

fi vidili le gambe in an tenere. 90 

fi s* io diTCuni allara traTagliato, 

La geute grossa il pensi, che non vede 

Qual era il panto ch' io avea passato. 

I Lit.; "Saw him holding the I ' Centre of the Unitene and 
legi upward*," ■» in verse lOt. | oral! gravity. 



.vGooglc 



cttno mm. INFBBNO. 419 

judge if I grew toil-worn then. " Rbe up t" eaid 
the Master, "upon thy feet: the way is long, and 
difficult the road;^ and noir to middle tierce^ the 
Sun returns." 

It was no palace-hall, there where we stood, but 
nadve dungeon with an evil floor and want of light. 
" Before I pluck niyaelf &om the Abyss," said I 
when risen up, " O Master ! speak to me a little, 
to draw me out of error. Where is the ice ? And 
this, how is he fixed thus upside down ? And how, 
in so short a time, has the Sun from eve to mom 
made transit 1" 

Levati su, diwe il Maestro, in piede ; 

La via h langB, e il cammino 6 malragio, 95 

E gik il Sole a mezza terza riede. 
Nan era camminata di palagio 

lA ot' erav^m, ma natural bnreltB 

Cb' avea mal suolo, e di lume diaagio. 
Prima ch' io dell' AbisBo roi dlTclla, ]00 

Maestro mio, diss' io qnaudo fui dritto, 

A trarmi d' erro nu poco mi fsvella. 
Ov* i la ghiacda ? e qnesti com' h fitto 

Si sottosopra 7 e come in s! poc' ora 

Da sera a mane ha fatto il Sol tiagitto t 105 



Par. £hJ, II. 431. 

■ The suxea Terxa or " middle 
neroe" of Dante, as explained 
b7 himielf (Comrita, Tr. iv. 23), 
meui) the time immediately be- 



fore the atroke of three, the Third 
marniDg-honi : or with ua nine 
o'clock, at the •eaaon wben daya 
and nights are of equal length. 
The PoetB have now got into the 
opposite hemiaphere ; and left the 
niglit (t. 68) od thia side of the 



.vGooglc 



And he to me : " Thou imagineBt that thon art 
still upon the other side of the centre, where I caught 
hold on the hair of the evil Worm' whidi pierces 
through the world. Thon wast on that side, so 
long as I descended : when I turned myself, thou 
then didst pass the point? to which all gravitjes &om 
every part are drawn ; and now thon art arriTed be- 
neath the hemisphere opposed to that* which cano- 
pies the great dry Umd, and underneath whose sum- 
mit* was consumed the Man, who without sin was 

Ed e^ a me ; Ta immagiiii ancora 
D* eeaer di lii dal centro, ot* io mi presi 
Al pel del vermo reo che il mondo fora. 

Di ]k fosia cotanto, qnan^ io aceai : 

Quando mi volu, ta passasti il punto 1 1 

Al qnal si traggon d' ogni parte i pesi ; 

& sei or eotto 1' emisperio giimto, 

Che ^ opposto a quel, che la gran secca 
Goverchia, e aotto il cai colmo consunto 

Fn r nom che nacque e TiBse senza pecca : 1 15 



' " The [nGniiDg Serpent, eyen 
Leriathan that croaked Serpent" 
Itaiah xnii. 1. " And he Itdd 
hold on the Dregon, that old Sei' 
pent, which is the Devil and Sr- 
Un • . . ■ and cait him into the 
hottoiuleu Pit." Rm.ix-i. Ouc 
euth gnaved through by Satan, 
aa an apple b; b wonii. 

* Loweat ptaot of the UniTerse, 
Centre of all Graii^. 

* The Foeti aie now in (he 
Hemisphere, placed oppoiite to 



our Northern Hemiaphere which 
cBDopiea the "drj Joad" (Gtneat i. 
9,10), or standi oTer that northern 
part of the )(lobe which, in Dante's 
time, viae supposed to be tlie only 
part uncorered by sea. The North 
Pole " is manifeHt to nearly dl 
the uncoiered part of the Earth;" 
and the South Pole " is hidden 
from nearly all the uncorered 
part." Comita, Tr. uL c fi. 

* The highest or cnlminatiiig 
point, aboTe Jomaalem where the 



.vGooglc 



catio mnr. INFBfiNO, 431 

■ born and lived. Thou hast thy feet upon a little 
sphere, which forms the Other face' of the Judecca. 
Here it is morn, when it is evening there: and 
this Fiend, who made a ladder for us with his hair, 
is still fixed as he was before. On this side fell 
he down from Heaven ; and here the land, which 
erst stood out, through fear of him veiled itself with 
sea, and came to our hemisphere: and perhaps, in 
order to escape from him, that which on this side 
appears," left here the empty space, and upwards 
rushed." 

Down there, from Beelzebub as far removed as 
his tomb extends, is a space,^ not known by sight 



Tn hai i piedi in so piccioJa spera, 
Che i' altra faccia fa della Giudecca. 

Qni ^ da man, qunndo di Ut 6 sera : 
E questi, che ne fe' scala col pelo, 
Fitto & ancora, s) come prima era. 

Da questa parte cadde gi^ dal Cielo : 
B la terra, che prla di qua si sporse. 
Per paura di Itti fe' del mar velo, 

E venne all' emisperio noetro ; e forse 
Per fug^lr lui lasci6 qui il luogo voto 
QueUa che appar di qua, e sn ricorse. 

Luogo h hg^ii da Beliebi rimoto 
Tanto, quanto la tomba si diatende. 



Diyine Man " waa oonaumed" or 
diedfoiouitranGgteasioDS. "This 

niidit of the nations," &c. Iila 
eit Jenaakm ; in medio Gentium 
potui earn, &i:. Ezefc. t. 5. 



' The face nhich looks towards 
Heaven and not (owards Hell, x 

' Or the Mount of Purgaloiy : 
antipodes of Jerusalem. 

' An open space, which goes 
from Beelzebub, "Princo ofDe- 



.vGooglc 



42£ IlfFERNO. cAina lan. 

but by the sotuid of a rivolet descending in it, along * 
the hollow of a rock which it has eaten out with 
tortuous course and bIow dediyity.' The Guide and 
I entered by that hidden road, to return into the 
bright world : and, without caring for any rest, we 
mounted up, he first and I second, so far that I dis- 
tinguished ^ux>ngh a round opening the beauteous 
things which Heaven bears ; and thence we issued 
out, again to see the Stars. 

Che non per vista, ma per snono 6 noto 
D' nn ruBCelletto, che qnivi discende 130 

Per la buca d' iin Bamo, ch' egli ha roso 

Col coTso ch' egli awolge e poco pende. 
Lo Duca ed io per quel cunmino ascoso 

Eatrammo a ritomar nel chiaro mondo ; 

E eenza cura aver d' alcim riposo 135 

Salimmo an, ei prime ed io Kcondo, 

Tanto ch' io ridi delle cose belle 

Che porta il Ciel, per un pertngio tondo : 
E qnindi nscimmo a riveder le stelle. 



•ila," to the opposite ■uilace of bendslittIe,"orgently donmrudi. 

the earth : or u ^ u his tomb It flows in s spiral direction and 

of Hell goes on the otber side. b; alow degrees. It is the Ebeun- 

' Lit.: " Has gnawed out with let of Sin from PurgatoiJ, which 

the course which it winds and also flovs back to Satan. 



.yCOOgIC 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



.yCOOgIC 



.yCOOgIC 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Abati degli, Bocci, uuiL 106. 


Ali, xxTiiL 32. 


Buoso, 111. 110. 


Alichino. iod.ll8i ixa 1 


AbbaglUto, uit 132. 


Alps, XX, 62. 


Abel, iv. 56. 


Pennine, xx. 65. 


Abraham, iv. 58. 


AlWorte (Haulefort), ixii 


AbiJlom, xxviii. 137. 




Accorao, Friooeseo, xi. 110. 


Amphion, xxxiL 11, 


Acheron, iiL 7S : liv. 116. 




Achilles, Y. 65 ; xiL 7 1 ; ixvl S2 ; 


Anaiagoras, iy. 137- 


mi. 5. 


Anchisea, i. 74. 


Acquscheta, ivL 97. 


Andrea St., Jacopa da, xiii 


Acre, uvii. 89, 


Angiolello, Cagnano, xxviiL 


Adam, iiL US; iy. 55. 


Annas, xxiii. 121. 


M«ter, XXI. 61, &c. 


Anaelmuccio, xxiiii. SO. 


AdiBC, ii.Br, lit 6. 


Antona, xxxi. 100, 


^giu», iiix. 59, 


Antenora, xxxii. 88. 


S:iieaa,ii, 32; iv. 122 ; is»i. 93. 


Antiochua, xix. 87, 


/Esop, fable of, Jlsiii. 4. 


Apennines, xvL 96 ; xxviL 


^tna (Mongibello), xiy. 56. 


Apuglia, iiriii, 9, 


Aghinolfb de' Guidi, xxx. 77- 


Arachne, xvU. 18. 




Arbia, riier, x. 86. 


Alardo, xnUi. 18. 


Aretines, xxil 5 i xxi. 31. 


i>tit>iAts)ifii WVI11 mT 


Arethuia, xxv. 97. 
Arezza, xiix. 109. 


Alberigo, Friar, xxiiii, 118. 


Alberto da Siena, xiix. 109. 


Argenti, Filippo, viii. 61. 


degli Albert!, xxxiL 57. 


Ai^ivea, ixviii. 84, 


Aldobrandi, Tegghiuo, vi. 79; 


Ariadne, xii. 20. 


ivi. 41, 


Aristotle,!*. 131; xi. 101. 


Aleisandro de' Guidi, xxx. 77, 


Aries, ix. 112. 


degli Albert!, xxiii. 55. 


Amo, xiiL 146; xv. 113; 


Alexander, xii. 107 -, xiv. 31. 


95; XIX. 65; xxxiii. 8S, 


Ales.io Intenninei, xviii. 122. 


Arrigo de' Fifanti, vL 80. 


Alecto, ix. 47. 


Arthur. King, xiiiL 62. 


O t 


2 



.vGooglc 



INDEX OF FBOFER NAMES. 



Aruii^ii.46. 


Brunetto Latini, it. 30, Stc. 


AKiww, CmoU (T, Mix. 131. 


BmhuK Locio. JoniuB, i.. 127. 


AadnteofPuina,xx.llS. 


Haiciu JoDiui, mil. 65. 


Athimu, XII. 4. 




AtkeiH, lii. IT. 


BuUeame, iIt. 79- 


Alnipo*, izziii. 126. 




AttiKuim; iiJL:«. 


Buonluro de' Dati, iiL 41. 


A»g«rt»^ L n. 


Buoao di Doera, mil 116. 


ADlil, II. 111. 


degli Aliiti, ht. 140. 


ATcntiDf, m<MlD^ iiv. 2S. 


de- Donati, in. 44. 


ATCcriioei, iv. 144. 


Caccia d' Aidano, nil. 131. 


AriceDU, ir. 143. 


Caeoianemieo, iriii 60. 


AuolinodaEite, xiLllO. 


Caeua, ur. 25. 


Bucliiglione,riTer,it. 113. 


Cadmiu, zxr. 97. 


Buehui, oit; of, ix. 59. 


Cadauid, IT. 4. 


BMbrice, U.70; z. 131 1 liL S8, 


CiEMir, Julina, i 70 , ix. 123 


IT. M. 


UTiiL 98. 


Beccui^ inii. 119. 






Gabon, iL 50. 


BeUo, Geri del, nix. 27. 


Caiaphai.iniillS. 


Benicuih kke, ix. 63 Ao. 


Caia, IX. 126. 


Benedict 8l, Abbej of, it! 100. 


Cuna,T.107; nxii. 68. 






Bertnnd de Bon, nviii. 134. 


Calcbaa, xx. 110. 


BUnohi, iiiT. 150. 


Camiecion de' Paiii, xuiL 68. 


BiMniio, ri.er, miL 56. 


Camilla, i. 107 ; it. 124. 


Bocca degli Aba^ mil 10«. 


C.niomca,Val,xx.65. 


Bologoa, niii. 142. 


Cincellieri, uiiL 63. 


BolognHK, zi. 83; XTiii. 5S ; 


Capaneu>,iii. 62; ixy. 15. 


niil 103. 


Capocchio, nix. 136 ; iix. 28. 


Bonwti, Guido,ix.ll8. 


Capraia, i-le, xxxiiL 82. 


Bonibce VIII., lix. 53 j iiriL 


Caprona, iii. 96. 


70, 85. 


Cardinal di^U Ubaldini, i. 120. 




Cacisenda, tower, ixxi. 136. 


Bnno Dorii, luiii. 137, 140. 


CacliDO de' Fazii, ixi^ 69. 


Brandi, Fount, m. 78. 


Cairaceae, XX. 48. 


Brenti, river, iy: 5. 


Cawlodi, II. 96. 


Brewii, u. 68. 


CasGDtiDO, Tatlef , xxx. 65. 


BTesciiDS, n. 71. 


CaaMTO, Guido del, xnilL 77. 


BHunu, xuL 98. 


Caaiiua, xiet. 67. 


Brigata, uxiiL 89. 


Cuilel 8L Angelo, xriii. 32. 


Bnigea, «.. 4. 


Catalaoo, Friar, xiiiL 104, 114. 




Cato, liv. 15. 



.vGooglc 



INDEX OF PEOPER NAMES. 



Ciinolica, iiriiL 80. 
Cavslcanti de', C»alcBnte, z. 60. 

Francesco, ut. 151. 

Gianni, sxx. 32, 44. 

Qoido, X. 63. 

Caurus, xi. 114. 

Cecina, rivei, xiii. 9. 

CeUatiiie V., iii. 59 1 xxvii. 

105. 
Centaurs, xii. 56 ke.; ixr. 17. 
Ceperano, xxiiiL 16. 
Cerberus, vi. 13; ii. 98. 
Cervia, .jEiiii. 42. 
Cescna, xivii. 52. 
Ceuta, IZTL 11. 
Chaos, xii. 43. 
Charlemain, «T.i . 17. 
Charon, iii. 94, 109, 128. 
Chaiybdis, yii 22. 
Chiana, Val di, xxii. 47. 
ChisrentuDs, xv. 9. 
Chiron, iii. flS tec. 
Cbristiule, ixni. 88. 
CUcco, Ti. 52, 58, &c. 
Ciampolo, TTij , 4S. 
Cianb de' Donati, izr. 43. 
Ciroe, ixiL 91. 
Ciriatto, xiL 122; xiU. 55. 
Clement V., xix. 83. 
Cleopatii, T. 63. 
Cocflua, ziv. 119; xxxi. 123 ! 

xxxiiL 156; xxiit. 5Z 
Colchis, xviiL 87- 
Cologae, monks of, ziiiL 63. 
Colonna, (amily, ixvii. 88. 
Constantine, xix. 115; xxvii. 94. 
Cornelia, i». 128. 
Cameto, cit7, xiii. 9. 



^da.! 



. 137. 



Crete, liL 12 ; liv. 95. 
Curia, xxviii. 93, 102. 
Cyclopes, xix. 55. 
Cyprus, xxviii SZ 



155. 



L27. 



Danube, xxxiL 27. 

David, iv. 58 ; xxriii. 13S. 

Deidamia, xxri. 62. 

Dejaniis, xii. 68. 

DemocriCus, iv. 136. 

Dido, T. 61, 85. 

Dic^nea, iv. 187. 

Diomede, xxvi. 56. 

Dionyiius, tyrant, xii. 107. 

Dioacoridea, iv. 140. 

DIb (Satan), viii 66 ; x. 6S ; i 

39; xxiiv. 20. 
Dolcino, Fra', : 
Don, river, xix 
DonaU de', Buoso, 1 

Cian&, xxT. 43. 

Doria, Branca, xxxiLL 137, 140. 

Duera, Buoso da, ixxii. 116. 

Electra,ii. 121, 

Blijali, xxvL 35. 

Eliiha, iivi. 34. 

Empedocles, iv. 138. 

Ephialtes, xixi. 84. 

Epicurua, X. 14. 

Erichtbo, ix. 23. 

Eiynnia, ix. 45. 

Este, Azzolino da, xii 110. 

Obizzo, xii. 1 11 ; iriii. 56. 

EtaDcles, iivi. 5*. 

Ethiopia, iiiv. 89 ; xxiiv. 45. 

Euclid, ix. 142. 

EuryaluB, i. 108. 

Euiypylus, IX. 112. 

Faenia, iivii 49; xxxiL 123. 

Fano, xxviii, 76. 

Farinata, vi. 79 ; i. 82. 

Feltro, L 105. 

Fiesole, brutas o^ xv. 62. 

Filippo Argenti, viii. 61. 

Fishes, sign o( xL 113. 

Fleminf^, zxv. 4. 



.vGooglc 



INDBX OF- FBOPEIl NAMES. 



7Si I 



IL 95 ; xziT. 144 ; 
1120. 



FloceDtines, viiL 62 ; if. 61; itL 
73r iTii.70i xoiii. 12. 

FociccU CuicelliEri, xu:ii.63. 

Focm, mount, miii. 89. 

ForU. XTi. 99 ; ixvii. 43. 

Fortuoe, vii. 78, &c. 

Fiance, xix. 87. 

Fr»noe«c», v. 74 &e, 

Francesco d' AccotBO, x». 110. 

Francis, Saint, ixrii. 112. 

French, xxvii. 44 ; iiix. 123 j 
XKjii. 115, 

Frederick II., Emperor, x. 121 ; 



», 68: I 



i. 66. 



FricKlaaders, : 

Fucei, Vanni, iiiv. 12S. 

Furies, ii. 38 4c. 

Gaddo, Diiii. 68. 

Oaeta, xxiL 92. 

Galen, iv. 14«. 

Gallura, xxii. 82. 

Ganclione, xxxiL 122. 

Garda, lake, xx. 65. 

Gardingo, ixiii. 108. 

GavUl*, xnv. 151. 

Genoese, xxxiii. 151. 

Geri del Bello, x^k. 27. 

Gennsns, xiii. 21. 

Geryon, xvii, 97 &o. 

Ghisola, xriiL 55. 

Gianfigliasii, irii. 5ff. 

Gianni del Soldanier, xxxii. 121. 

G[anni Schicchi, xxi. 32, 44. 

Oioianni St., eburch, lix. 17. 

Godenti, Frati, isiil 103. 

Gomita, Fis', xxii. 81. 

Gorgon, ix. 58. 

Gorgona, isle, xxxiii. 82. 

GoTcmo, XI. 78. 

GiEcce, XX. 88, 108. 



Greeka, xxvi. 75 ; xxx. 98, 122. 
Griffi>lino, xiix. 109 ; xlx, 31. 
Giulandi, xxxiiL 32. 
Gualdrada, svi 37. 
Guidi, Counts, ixx. 77. 
Ouido Bonatti, xx. 118. 

Cavalcante, X. 63. 

del Cassero, xxriiL 77. 

de" Guidi, xii, 77. 

d« Montefcltro, xxviL 67 &c. 

Goidoguerra, iri. 38. 

Guglielmo Bonieri, ivL 70. 

Guiscard, Robert, xxviii. 1*. 

Hannibal, uxi. 117. 

Harpies, xiii 10 &c. 

Hector, iv. 122. 

Hecuba, nx. 16. 

Helena, t. 64. 

HeraclitoG, iv. 138. 

Hercules, xxt. 32 j xiii, 108; 

xxxL 132. 
Hippocrates, iv. 143. 
Homer, iv. 88. 
Horace, iv. 89. 
Hypiipile, xviiL 92. 
Jacob, Patriarch, iv. 59. 
Jacopo da SL Andrea, xiii. 133. 

Rusticucci, vL 80 i xvi. 14. 

Jaton, Argonaut, xviiL 86. 

Hebrew, xix. 85. 

IcaniB, xviL 109. 
Ida, mount, xiv. 98. 
Jchosaphat, valley of, x. 11. 

Jecus Christ alluded to, iv. 53 ; 

xxxiv. 115. 
Jews, xxiii. 123 ; xsvU. 87. 
Ilium, i. 75. 
India, xiv. 83. 

Interminei, Alessio, jcviii. 122. 
Joha, Evangelist, xlx. 106. 

Baptist, xiii. 1*3 ; xxx. 74, 

Joseph, XXX. 97. 



.vGooglc 



IHDEX I 



P FROPEIL NA.HE3. 



Joie, xi<. 52; uxi.4S, 92. 
I»»«c, Pitriarch, iv. 59. 
Italy, L lOSi U. 114; xx. Bl. 
Jud«8 IgcBliot, a. 21 ; xix. 96 : 

ixiL 143 ; iziiv. 62. 
Judeccs, xnai. 117. 
JulU, iv. 12S. 
Judo. xix. 1. 

LaDiberti de", Mosca, xiviii. 106. 
Limone, river, xxvii. 49. 
Lsncelot, t. 128. 
Laofranchi, xiziiL 32. 
LiSD, liiL 120. 
Latenn, luviL S6. 
Latiaiu (Italian*), ixii. 65 ; xxiii. 

33 ; ixix. SS, 91. 
Latini, Brunetto, ly. 30 &c. 
Latisua, King, iv. 125. 
Lalium, uvil 27 i luttiii. 71. 
Laviiiia, iv. 126. 
LearchuB, xxx. 5, 10. 
Lemnoa, isle, Kviii. 88. 
Lethe, xtT. 131, 136. 
Libicocoo, xxL 121 1 xiiL 70. 
Libya, xxiv. 8S. 
Limbo, iv. 4i5, &c. 
Livy, iv. 141 1 xiviiL 12. 
Loderingo, Friar, ixiiL 104. 
Logodoro, zzii. 89. 
Lombardi, i. 68 ; xxa. 99. 
Lombardy, Plain, uviiL 74. 
Lotto degli Agli, liii. Ul. 



IV. 94. 



LI22i ] 



Luca 

30. 

Lucia, ii 97, 100. 
Lucifer, zdi. 143 ; xxxiv. 89. 
Lucretia, iv. 128. 
Luiu Mountaina, xji. 47. 
Maccabeei, xii. 86. 
Machinordo Pagani, xXvii. SO. 
Magia, Val di, iiiv. 14S. 
Mahomet, ixviiL 31 Sid. 



Majorca, iiviii. S2. 

Malacoda, xiL 70 See. 
MalateiU di Rimini, iivij. 46 

GiancioClo and Paolo, v. 

Mallestino, iiviu. 85. 



Malebolge, 



, I; I 



[.41. 



122. 



Malebranche, iiiii. 23 &c. 
Man&edi, Albeiigo, 

Tribaldello, z: 

Maato, XI. 56 &B. 
Mantua, xi. 93. 
Mantuans, i. 69 ; iL 58. 
Marcabi, ca»tte, xxviiL 75. 
Maremma, ixv. 19 { xxix. 41 
Mara, xiii. 144; iiiv. 145; i 

51. 
Martia, iv. 128. 
Maacheroni, Sasaolc, xxxii. I 
Mattkeir, ApOBtle, zii. 94. 
Medea, xviii. 96. 
Medicina, Piero da, ixviii. 7 
Mednaa, ix. S2. 
Mt^sra, ix. 46. 
Meoalippus, xixii 131, 
Anchael, Archangel, vii 11. 
Michael Scot, XI. 116. 
Miohele Zanche, xxii. 88 ; c 

144. 
Mincio, river, xx. 77. 
MinoB, V. 4; xiiL 96 1 xx. 

nviL 124; iiix. 120. 
Minotaur.iii. 12. 25. 
Mongibello, xiv. 56. 
Montagna Parcitali, ixviL 4' 
MonUperd, iiiii. SI. 
Montereggione, xixi. 41. 
Montone, river, ivi. 94. 
Mordreo, Iiiii. 61. 
Moaca de' Lamberti, xiviil 1 
Moses, iv. 57. 

Moizi de', Andrea, iv. 1 12. 
Bocco, xiii. 143. 



.vGooglc 



IMDSX OF FEOFEB KAHES. 



MTTTtu, xiz. 38. 

Napoleone degli Alberd.zxxil S5. 

Nuciuus, xis. 128. 

Haaidiiu, ixr. 95. 

Navarre, xiiL *8. 

Neptune, xiiiil S3. 

Neri, iiii. 143. 

NeuuB, CenUor, zii. 67 &c. 

Kicholu III., Pope, xiz. 31 &e. 

Nile, xjxn. 4S. 

Nirarod, wai. 77. 

Ninus, V. S9. 

Niros, i. 108. 



Not 



LSQ. 



Obizzo d' E»te, lu. 1 17 ! iTiii. 5 
Ordelaffl, iirii. «5. 
Orlando, mi. 17. 
Orpheus, ii. 140. 
Orsini, lii. 70. 
Ovid, iv. 90 ; HT, 97. 
Paduans, xv. 7 ; iiiiJ. 67. 
Fagaoo, MacUcardo, xxtu. 50. 
Palladium, xxii. S3. 
Paris, «. 67. 
Pasiphae, xiL 13. 
Paul, Apostle, ii. SZ. 
Pazzi, xii. 137 ; xxxii. 68. 
Peleus, xxxi. 5. 
Penelope, zxvi. 96. 
Peaestiino, xxvil 102. 
PentheaiUa, iv. 124. 
PerilluE, xxvii. 7. 
Peschiera, xx. 70. 
Peter, Staint, i. 134; ii. 24i x 

91, 94. 
Phaeton, xjiviL 107. 



vii. 7. 



i. lie i 



Phalar 

Philip the Fair, lix. 85. 
Phlegethon, xiv. 116. 
Plilegyas, viii. 19, 24, 
PhcEni». xxiv. 107. 
PboluB, Centaur, xii. 72. 



1.83. 



Photinus, ix. 8- 
Piceno'a field, niv. 128. 
Pier da Medicina, xsyiil 73. 

deile Vigne, xiii. 128. 

Pietnpaaa, mount, xxxii. 29. 

Pinamonte, n. 96. 

Pisa, raiii. 79. 

Pisaiis, xxxiii. 30. 

Pistoia, xxiv. 126, 143i xn. 10. 

Plato, iv. 13*. 

PlutnSjvL 115; vii. 2. 

Po, V. 98 1 XX. 78. 

Pola, citj, ii. lis. 

Polenla,v. 116; xxvii 41. 

Foljdonu, ixx. 17. 

Polynioea, xxvL 54, 

Polyiena, iix. 17. 

Prato, town, ivL 9. 

Priam, xxx. IS. 

Priscian, iv. 109. 

Proserpine, it 44 ; x. 80. 

Ptolomaa, xxxiii. 124. 

PtolomieuB, Claudiua, iv. U2. 

Pyrrhus, xii. 136. 

Quamaro, gull^ ii. 113. 

Raehel, ii. 102 ; iv. 60. 

Ravenna, v. 97 i xxviL 40. 

Red Sea, xxiv. 90. 

Reno, river, iriii 61. 

Rbei, xiv. 100. 

Rhone, xiviii. 86. 

Rjniec da Cometo, liL 137. 

Pazio, siL 137. 

Robert Ouiicard, xiviiL 114. 

Ramagna, iiviL 37 ; xxxiii. 15*. . 

RomagnuoU, xxvii 28. 

Romans, xv. 77 ; s'iii 28 i xivi 



60i X 



L 10. 



Rome, i 71 ; ii 20 ; x 

xxxi. 59. 
Romena, castle, xxx. 73. 

Ruggieri, Archbishap, x 
RuBticueci, vi 80 ; ivi. 



. iOS; 



,,.Goog[c 



INDEX OF FHOPEK NAMES. 



Subellus, iiv. 95. 


Thales, iv. 137. 


SaUdiii, iv. 129. 


Thamet, lii. 120. 


Salimbeni, Niccolo, nix. 127. 


Thebao»,xx. 32i xxx. 2. 


Santerao, river, iniL 49. 


Thebes, xiv. 69 ; xx. 39 ; xxv. 


Saracens, nvii. 8T. 


I5;xxx.22i ixxii. 11 1 xxxiii. 


SardinlanB, «ii. 89 ; nil. 48. 


89. 




Theieus, ix. 54. 


S«Un, yii. 1. See Di.. 


Thibadt, King, xxii. 52. 


Sstum, liv. 96. 


Tiber, iiriL 30. 


Sivena, river, xviiL 61. 


rireaiaa, xx. 40. 


Savio. ti.er, ixviL 52. 


TiBiphone, ix. 48. 




TityoB, ixxL 124. 


Scbicchi, Giumi, iw. 32, «. 


Toppo,jonataof, xiiL 121. 


Seipio,iiii.ll6. 


Trent, xiu S ; xx. 67. 


Scot, Michael, zx. 116. 


Tribaldello, xxxiL 122. 


SemeU, xix. 2. 


Tristan, v. 67. 


Semiramis, v. 68. 


Troy, i. 74 : xix. 98, Sec. 


Seneca, i>. HI. 


Tully, iv. 141. 


Serchio, river, ixi. 49. 


Turia, xvii. 17. 


Seville, It 126; xxvi. 110. 


Turnua, L 109. 


Sichffiu., V. 62. 


Tuscan, xiii. 99; xxiiL 76, 91 ; 


SicilUn fiull, xxvii. 7. 


xiviii. 108 ; xxxiL 66. 


Sicily, xil 108. 


Tuscany, ixiv. 122. 


Siena, nix. 109, 129. 


Tydeiu, xxxii. 130. 


Sieneae, iiii. 122. 


Typhon,xixi. 124. 


Silvestto, Pope, xix. 117i ixvii. 


Tyrol, XX. 63. 


94. 


Ubaldini degli, Otlaviano, x. 120. 


Simon Magwi, xix. I. 


Huggieri, xxxiii 14. 


Sinon, IXI. 98 &o. 


Ubbriachi, xviL 62. 


Siamondi, ixxiii 82. 


Uberti, xxiiL 108. 


Socrates, iv. 134. 


FarinaU, vi. 79 ; i. 32. 


Sodom, iL 50. 


Ugolino, xxxii. 12B ; iii. 1 &c. 


Soldanier, Gianni del, xxxiL 121. 


Uguccione, xxxiii. 89. 


Soracte, mount, xxvii. 95. 


UlySMs, xxvL 56, Sic. 


Stricca, xxii. 125. 


Urbino, xiviL 29. 




Val Cainonica, xx. 65. 


Styx. vii. 106 ; ix.81j xiv. 116. 


Valdichiana, xxix. 47. 


Tabernicch, xxxii 28. 




Tagliacoizo, xxviii. 18. 


Vanni della Nona, xxiv. 139. 


Tarquin, iv. 127. 


Vanni Fueei. xxiv. 125. 


Tartars, xvii. 17. 


Veoetian., xxi. 7. 


Tegghtaio, vi. 79 ; xvl 41. 


Vercelli, iiviii. 75. 


Thais, xxriiL 133. 


Verona, XV. 122. 



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Verucchio, cutle, x: 
VUo, mount, xvL SJ 
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Zinche, Michele, i 



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