The Divine Comedy. Данте Алигьери

he appear'd to me an otter. Each

      Already by their names I knew, so well

      When they were chosen, I observ'd, and mark'd

      How one the other call'd. “O Rubicant!

      See that his hide thou with thy talons flay,”

      Shouted together all the cursed crew.

      Then I: “Inform thee, master! if thou may,

      What wretched soul is this, on whom their hand

      His foes have laid.” My leader to his side

      Approach'd, and whence he came inquir'd, to whom

      Was answer'd thus: “Born in Navarre's domain

      My mother plac'd me in a lord's retinue,

      For she had borne me to a losel vile,

      A spendthrift of his substance and himself.

      The good king Thibault after that I serv'd,

      To peculating here my thoughts were turn'd,

      Whereof I give account in this dire heat.”

      Straight Ciriatto, from whose mouth a tusk

      Issued on either side, as from a boar,

      Ript him with one of these. 'Twixt evil claws

      The mouse had fall'n: but Barbariccia cried,

      Seizing him with both arms: “Stand thou apart,

      While I do fix him on my prong transpierc'd.”

      Then added, turning to my guide his face,

      “Inquire of him, if more thou wish to learn,

      Ere he again be rent.” My leader thus:

      “Then tell us of the partners in thy guilt;

      Knowest thou any sprung of Latian land

      Under the tar?” – “I parted,” he replied,

      “But now from one, who sojourn'd not far thence;

      So were I under shelter now with him!

      Nor hook nor talon then should scare me more.” – .

      “Too long we suffer,” Libicocco cried,

      Then, darting forth a prong, seiz'd on his arm,

      And mangled bore away the sinewy part.

      Him Draghinazzo by his thighs beneath

      Would next have caught, whence angrily their chief,

      Turning on all sides round, with threat'ning brow

      Restrain'd them. When their strife a little ceas'd,

      Of him, who yet was gazing on his wound,

      My teacher thus without delay inquir'd:

      “Who was the spirit, from whom by evil hap

      Parting, as thou has told, thou cam'st to shore?” -

      “It was the friar Gomita,” he rejoin'd,

      “He of Gallura, vessel of all guile,

      Who had his master's enemies in hand,

      And us'd them so that they commend him well.

      Money he took, and them at large dismiss'd.

      So he reports: and in each other charge

      Committed to his keeping, play'd the part

      Of barterer to the height: with him doth herd

      The chief of Logodoro, Michel Zanche.

      Sardinia is a theme, whereof their tongue

      Is never weary. Out! alas! behold

      That other, how he grins! More would I say,

      But tremble lest he mean to maul me sore.”

      Their captain then to Farfarello turning,

      Who roll'd his moony eyes in act to strike,

      Rebuk'd him thus: “Off! cursed bird! Avaunt!” -

      “If ye desire to see or hear,” he thus

      Quaking with dread resum'd, “or Tuscan spirits

      Or Lombard, I will cause them to appear.

      Meantime let these ill talons bate their fury,

      So that no vengeance they may fear from them,

      And I, remaining in this self-same place,

      Will for myself but one, make sev'n appear,

      When my shrill whistle shall be heard; for so

      Our custom is to call each other up.”

      Cagnazzo at that word deriding grinn'd,

      Then wagg'd the head and spake: “Hear his device,

      Mischievous as he is, to plunge him down.”

      Whereto he thus, who fail'd not in rich store

      Of nice-wove toils; “Mischief forsooth extreme,

      Meant only to procure myself more woe!”

      No longer Alichino then refrain'd,

      But thus, the rest gainsaying, him bespake:

      “If thou do cast thee down, I not on foot

      Will chase thee, but above the pitch will beat

      My plumes. Quit we the vantage ground, and let

      The bank be as a shield, that we may see

      If singly thou prevail against us all.”

      Now, reader, of new sport expect to hear!

      They each one turn'd his eyes to the other shore,

      He first, who was the hardest to persuade.

      The spirit of Navarre chose well his time,

      Planted his feet on land, and at one leap

      Escaping disappointed their resolve.

      Them quick resentment stung, but him the most,

      Who was the cause of failure; in pursuit

      He therefore sped, exclaiming: “Thou art caught.”

      But little it avail'd: terror outstripp'd

      His following flight: the other plung'd beneath,

      And he with upward pinion rais'd his breast:

      E'en thus the water-fowl, when she perceives

      The falcon near, dives instant down, while he

      Enrag'd and spent retires. That mockery

      In Calcabrina fury stirr'd, who flew

      After him, with desire of strife inflam'd;

      And, for the barterer had 'scap'd, so turn'd

      His talons on his comrade. O'er the dyke

      In grapple close they join'd; but the other prov'd

      A goshawk able to rend well his foe;

      And in the boiling lake both fell. The heat

      Was umpire soon between them, but in vain

      To lift themselves they strove, so fast were glued

      Their pennons. Barbariccia, as the rest,

      That chance lamenting, four in flight dispatch'd

      From the other coast, with all their weapons arm'd.

      They, to their post on each side speedily

      Descending, stretch'd their hooks toward the fiends,

      Who flounder'd, inly burning from their scars:

      And we departing left them to that broil.

      Canto