Classic Poem

CANTO XVIII

Hell hath a region, Malebolge called.
All stone and iron-coloured is the place,
Like the round barrier wherewith it is walled.
Right in the middle of the malignant space
There yawns a well exceeding deep and wide,
Whose structure hereinafter I shall trace.
The margin therefore that remains beside,
Between the well and the cliff's root, is round;
And ten ravines the floor of it divide.
As is the form presented by the ground,
Where for defence of tower and bastion
Moat after moat is round a castle wound,
Here a like image to the eye was shown;
And as the thresholds of the fortress send
Their several bridges to the far bank thrown,
So from the bottom of the rock extend
Bridges, upon the dykes and fosses based,
Down to the well that knits them at their end.
In this place, shaken off from Geryon's waist,
We found ourselves now, and the poet still
Kept to the left and I behind him paced.
On the right hand I saw new sights of ill, —
New torments, new tormentors multiplied, —
Which, deep within it, the first valley fill.
There were the naked sinners; on our side
Of the middle of it they came, so that we met;
On the other, went with us, at larger stride
The Romans thus, by the great throngs beset
In the year of Jubilee, found the people a mode
To pass the bridge unjostled without let,
So that on one ledge they are all bestowed
Facing the Castle, and to St. Peter's fare;
On the other toward the Mount they keep the road.
Along the dingy stone, now here, now there,
I saw horned demons each with a great whip
Who from behind smote on those sinners bare.
With what alacrity they made them skip
At the first strokes! Ah, truly there was none
Who waited for the third, nay second, stripe.
As I went on, my eyes encountered one;
And " Before now " immediately I said
" This face I have not lacked to look upon. "
To scrutinize him, in my steps I stayed.
And the most gentle Guide suffered me go
Backward a space, and with me himself delayed.
And that scourged spirit thought to have hidden, so low
He hung his head; but little it did avail.
For " Thou, " said I, " who the eyes dost downward throw,
Unless thou wear false features for a veil,
Art Venedico Caccianemico, but
What brings thee in the stinging brine to quail? "
And he to me: " My lips were liefer shut.
But these thy words that bring me back so true
The world that was, forbid me to be mute.
'Twas I who Ghisolabella did subdue
To do the Marquis' will, howe'er it please
Rumour the sorry story to construe.
Nor wail I here the only Bolognese.
Nay, with us is the place so full, that not
So many to say sipa (as our way is)
Twixt Reno and Savena now are taught.
If thou wouldst proof and confirmation join
Recall how greed of money on us hath wrought. "
As he spoke thus, the demon at his loin
Smote with his lifted lash: " Away, " he cried,
" Pandar! there are no women here for coin. "
My Escort then I re-accompanied;
And after some few steps we came anon
To where a cliff projected from the side.
This without effort soon we climbed upon,
And on the rough ridge, turning to the right,
From those eternal circles we passed on.
When we were at that place where for the flight
Of the scourged spirits it thereunder gapes,
" Now, " said the Master, " wait and let the sight
Strike on thee of the mis-begotten shapes
Whose faces heretofore have been withheld,
For they have gone with us and in our steps. "
From the ancient bridge the train we then beheld
Of those who now facing to us-ward sped,
Whom likewise the pursuing scourge compelled.
The kind Master, without my asking, said:
" Look on that great one who advances now
And seems in all his pain no tear to shed.
How regal still is the aspect of his brow!
He is Jason, who by courage and by guile
Bore off the Ram's fleece from the Colchian bough.
Upon that quest he passed by Lemnos isle,
After the women, pitilessly bold,
Had given the males all unto slaughter vile.
There with fair pledges and with words of gold
Did he cajole the young Hypsipyle,
Who theretofore had all the rest cajoled.
Pregnant and lorn he left her by that sea.
Such guilt so heavy a punishment endures;
And also for Medea is paid the fee.
With him go all who practise the like lures.
Be this sufficient for thee to have known
Of the first valley and all whom it devours. "
We had come to where the pathway, narrower grown,
Crosses the second ridge, whereof the rock
Is buttress to another arch of stone.
Here in the other chasm whining of folk
We heard, that puffed and snorted as they rolled,
While with their palms upon themselves they knock.
The banks were crusted over with a mould
Thickening upon them from the mounting fume
Which eyes and nose assaulted and befouled.
The bottom was so deep that through the gloom
We could see nought, until we found a road
To the cliff's summit and upon it clomb.
Thereon we stood, and in the hollow showed
Down there a people dipt in excrement
As if from human privies it had flowed.
And while I searched them with my eyes intent,
A head, whether clerk's or layman's none could tell,
I saw, with ordure it was so besprent.
He cried to me: " Why does thy look so dwell
On me more than the others in this sty? "
And I: " Because, if I remember well,
I have seen thee before now with thy hair dry.
Thou art Alessio Interminei
Of Lucca; of all then thee I keenest eye. "
And he, beating his pumpkin-pate, said: " See!
Down to this dirt the flatteries without end,
Which my tongue revelled in, have sunken me! "
Thereon my Guide: " Stretch forth thy face and bend
A little forward, that thine eyes may meet
The form, and features fully comprehend,
Of that dishevelled harlot soiled with sweat
Who with her filthy nails scratches her side,
Now crouching and now standing on her feet.
Thais is she, the whore who thus replied
To her lover when " Dost thank me much?" he said:
" Ay, more than much, marvellously," she cried.
And herewith let our sight be surfeited. "