Classic Poem

CANTO XVII.

Argument.

End of the Seventh Circle; the usurers — Descent, upon the shoulders of Geryon, to the Eighth Circle, that of the fraudulent; which is divided into ten valleys, according to the ten different kinds of fraud.

B EHOLD the monster with sharp-pointed tail,
Who hills doth pass, and walls and armies break,
The beast whose evil odour doth prevail
O'er all the earth. " Thus Virgil 'gan to speak;
Then bade the creature which did upwards soar
Come to the margin of the dreadful lake.
And the foul image of deceit, which wore
Such filthy aspect, raised his head and bust;
But yet his tail he drew not to the shore.
His face was as the features of the just,
Such soft benignity it seem'd to wear,
But like a crawling serpent was the rest.
Two hideous arms he had, all grim with hair;
His back, and breast, and sides, with many a knot
And shield were painted, which strange hues did bear.
Nor with such curious tints the robes are fraught,
By Turk or Tartar woven in varied pride,
Nor e'er such web was by Arachne wrought.
Most like the skiff anear the river side,
Part in the water, part upon the land;
As, where the greedy Teuton hordes abide,
The beaver at his warlike trade doth stand:
Thus in like manner did the monster cling
Upon the stony verge that bounds the sand.
Down from the bank, in many a snake-like ring
His tail was wreath'd, with point upturn'd on high,
And, like a scorpion, wore a venom'd sting
My Leader said: " Our journey now must lie
A little space toward yon being strange,
Whom crouching on the brink we there descry. "
And thus descending, did we somewhat change
Our course, and went ten paces on the strand,
In safety from the fiery arrows' range.
And when we had drawn near him, on the sand
A little further onward we beheld,
Seated by the abyss, a mournful band
Here spake my Master: " That there be reveal'd
To thee more full experience of this spot,
Go learn the manner of this dismal field.
But quickly be thy wish'd-for knowledge sought,
The while I with yon creature speak, that now
We by his strength be on our journey brought. "
Thus by the seventh sad circle did I go,
And on its verge I wander'd all alone,
Unto those souls who sat with mournful brow.
Their tears burst forth with wailing and with moan;
Now here, now there, their hands they fain would bring
As shelter from the fire; yet found they none:
Even as, when summer days succeed to spring,
The dogs with snout and paw would drive away
The fleas and gnats, and the fierce gadfly's sting.
And when I fix'd mine eyes on those who lay
Constrain'd the fiery tempest to abide,
I knew not any; but I saw that they
Had each a money-bag around him tied,
Hung from the neck: of divers form and hue
Its manner, and each look'd thereon with pride
As, gazing still, anear to them I drew,
I saw a purse of golden tint, whereon
An azure lion broiderid I knew.
A little further when my glance had gone,
Another I beheld, of blood-red glow,
And on its field a milk-white goose was drawn.
And one, who with a huge and azure sow
Had sign'd his sack whose proper hue was white,
Said: " Wherefore through this valley dost thou go?
Depart; and since unto the sunny light
Of life thou dost return, I tell thee, soon
My neighbour Vitaliano in my sight
On the left hand shall sit. A Paduan
Am I, among these Florentines: and me
Oft with their cries and wailing shrieks they stun,
Calling the knight whose purse hath wild goats three. "
Then thrust he forth his tongue, in such foul way
As ox who licks his muzzle. Hastily,
In fear lest I might grieve with longer stay
Him who to make good speed had erst me told,
I from those weary spirits turn'd away:
Then my good Master did I now behold
Upon the back of the fierce monster spring,
And unto me he said: " Be strong and bold;
Us on our journey this strange stair shall bring.
Mount thou before me: in the midst I sit;
Lest ill befall thee from the venom'd sting. "
Like him who is anear the ague fit,
And when its first approach his hands doth numb,
He shudders, looking tow'rd the shade, ere yet
He enter it; even thus did I become,
Hearing these words. But, being menacid
By shame (which brings good service oft to some
Reverid master), quickly on the dread
And hideous shoulder did I mount, and fain,
" With thy strong arm embrace me, " I had said;
But words came not unto my will again.
Yet he who oft had been my succour, there
Did with his arm surround me and sustain;
And said: " Now, Geryon, move thee through the air;
Let thy descent be soft, thy circles wide:
Remember the new burden thou dost bear. "
As doth the bark with backward motion glide
Out from the port, even thus the shore he left:
Then, when he wholly from the rocky side
Was free, he turn'd him round with motion deft;
His tail he moved as doth the slimy eel,
And with his arms the air he swiftly cleft.
I think that greater terror none did feel,
When Phaiton no more the reins could hold
Whence heaven doth still his scorchid path reveal;
Nor when the wretched Icarus, of old,
Felt his frail waxen plumage melt away,
While with loud voice his father cried: " Too bold
Thy flight! " no greater was that dread, I'd say,
Than mine, perceiving all around me spent
View, save of that fierce beast, and dimness gray.
And slowly, slowly, on his course he went;
Turns and descends, but motion seem'd there none,
Saving the breeze that from the deep was sent.
Already on the right I heard the moan
Of gurgling waters in the dread abyss;
Then gazed I on the forward path unknown.
And all the greater was my fear, I wis;
Flames I perceived, and sounds of wailing sore:
Trembling, I cower'd before those agonies.
Then saw I what was all unseen before;
The steep descent, and the wide-circling gyre,
Which us to divers scenes of torment bore.
Even as the hawk whom flight begins to tire,
No longer tarrying for lure or prey,
Though his descent arouse the falconer's ire,
Yet, weary, seeks the earth; and thus his way
He winds in wheeling curve, until at last
Far from his master's wrath his flight doth stay:
Thus we were placed by that foul monster vast
On foot at foot of the sharp rocky steep;
And, from our weight set free, away he pass'd,
Swift as the speed of dart, which from the bow doth leap.