The Divine Comedy (Illustrated Edition). Dante Alighieri

      With flesh-hooks, that it float not on the top.

      Me then my guide bespake: “Lest they descry,

      That thou art here, behind a craggy rock

      Bend low and screen thee; and whate’er of force

      Be offer’d me, or insult, fear thou not:

      For I am well advis’d, who have been erst

      In the like fray.” Beyond the bridge’s head

      Therewith he pass’d, and reaching the sixth pier,

      Behov’d him then a forehead terror-proof.

      With storm and fury, as when dogs rush forth

      Upon the poor man’s back, who suddenly

      From whence he standeth makes his suit; so rush’d

      Those from beneath the arch, and against him

      Their weapons all they pointed. He aloud:

      “Be none of you outrageous: ere your time

      Dare seize me, come forth from amongst you one,

      Who having heard my words, decide he then

      If he shall tear these limbs.” They shouted loud,

      “Go, Malacoda!” Whereat one advanc’d,

      The others standing firm, and as he came,

      “What may this turn avail him?” he exclaim’d.

      “Believ’st thou, Malacoda! I had come

      Thus far from all your skirmishing secure,”

      My teacher answered, “without will divine

      And destiny propitious? Pass we then

      For so Heaven’s pleasure is, that I should lead

      Another through this savage wilderness.”

      Forthwith so fell his pride, that he let drop

      The instrument of torture at his feet,

      And to the rest exclaim’d: “We have no power

      To strike him.” Then to me my guide: “O thou!

      Who on the bridge among the crags dost sit

      Low crouching, safely now to me return.”

      I rose, and towards him moved with speed: the fiends

      Meantime all forward drew: me terror seiz’d

      Lest they should break the compact they had made.

Thus issuing from Caprona,1 once I saw

      Th’ infantry dreading, lest his covenant

      The foe should break; so close he hemm’d them round.

      I to my leader’s side adher’d, mine eyes

      With fixt and motionless observance bent

      On their unkindly visage. They their hooks

      Protruding, one the other thus bespake:

      “Wilt thou I touch him on the hip?” To whom

      Was answer’d: “Even so; nor miss thy aim.”

      But he, who was in conf’rence with my guide,

      Turn’d rapid round, and thus the demon spake:

      “Stay, stay thee, Scarmiglione!” Then to us

      He added: “Further footing to your step

      This rock affords not, shiver’d to the base

      Of the sixth arch. But would you still proceed,

      Up by this cavern go: not distant far,

      Another rock will yield you passage safe.

Yesterday,2 later by five hours than now,

      Twelve hundred threescore years and six had fill’d

      The circuit of their course, since here the way

      Was broken. Thitherward I straight dispatch

      Certain of these my scouts, who shall espy

      If any on the surface bask. With them

      Go ye: for ye shall find them nothing fell.

      Come Alichino forth,” with that he cried,

      “And Calcabrina, and Cagnazzo thou!

      The troop of ten let Barbariccia lead.

      With Libicocco Draghinazzo haste,

      Fang’d Ciriatto, Grafflacane fierce,

      And Farfarello, and mad Rubicant.

      Search ye around the bubbling tar. For these,

      In safety lead them, where the other crag

      Uninterrupted traverses the dens.”

      I then: “O master! what a sight is there!

      Ah! without escort, journey we alone,

      Which, if thou know the way, I covet not.

      Unless thy prudence fail thee, dost not mark

      How they do gnarl upon us, and their scowl

      Threatens us present tortures?” He replied:

      “I charge thee fear not: let them, as they will,

      Gnarl on: ’t is but in token of their spite

      Against the souls, who mourn in torment steep’d.”

      To leftward o’er the pier they turn’d; but each

      Had first between his teeth prest close the tongue,

      Toward their leader for a signal looking,

      Which he with sound obscene triumphant gave.

      Footnotes

1 “From Caprona.” The surrender of the castle of Caprona to the combined forces of Florence and Lucca, on condition that the garrison should march out in safety, to which event Dante was a witness, took place in 1290. See G. Villani, Hist. lib. vii. c. cxxxvi

2 “Yesterday.” This passage fixes the era of Dante’s descent at Good Friday, in the year 1300 (thirty-four years from our blessed Lord’s incarnation being added to 1266), and at the thirty-fifth year of our Poet’s age. See Canto i. v. I. The awful event alluded to, the Evangelists inform us, happened “at the ninth hour,” that is, our sixth, when “the rocks were rent,” and the convulsion, according to Dante, was felt even in the depths of Hell. See Canto xii. v. 38.