Inferno: Canto XVII

"See there the monster with the pointed tail,
Which passeth mountains, walls and arms doth break;
See him who fills the whole wide world with bale."

So unto me my Guide began and spake,
And signalled to him to approach the shore,
Near the paved path where we our way did take;

And that foul type of guileful fraud came o'er.
And to the bank its head and breast it brought,
But not upon that bank its tail it bore.

Its face was of a man of righteous thought,
"So kindly did its outward aspect show,
And all the trunk in serpent's form was wrought.

Two hairy paws did from the armpits grow,
And on its back and breast and either side
Were many a coil and many a knotted bow:

Nor woof nor warp that with its colours vied
Did Turks or Tartars e'er in clothwork weave,
Nor tissues such as these Arachne plied.

As boats that oft the river's banks receive,
And half is in the water, half on land,
And as in clime where full-fed Germans live.

The beaver for his foray takes his stand;
So in like manner lay that monster low
On the stone margin that shuts in the sand.

In the void space its tail played to and fro,
Curling on high the forked and venomed sting,
Which, like a scorpion's, armed it 'gainst its foe.

Then my guide spake: " 'Tis meet we now should bring
Our steps a little from the path astray.
Where that fierce monster all his length doth fling."

Then on the right we took our downward way,
And ten steps took upon the margin's rim,
Beyond the sands and falling flames to stay.

And when we had full nigh approached to him,
A little farther on the sand I see
A new tribe sitting near the hollow's brim;

And then my Master: "That complete may be
Thy knowledge of this circle where we tread.
Go thou and note well what their destiny.

Brief let thy words be that shall there be said;
And till thou turn, with him converse will I,
That he for us his shoulders broad may spread."

So was it on the farthest boundary
Of that seventh circle went I all alone,
Where sat a people bowed with misery;

Out of their eyes their piteous woes were shown,
Now here, now there, their hands they made a screen,
Now 'gainst the smoke, now 'gainst the hot sand thrown;

Not otherwise in summer dogs are seen
Moving or head or foot, when they by bite
Of fleas, or flies, or gadflies vexed have been.

And when on some I gazed with all my might,
On whom the dolorous fire was ever flung,
I knew not one, but soon there met my sight

A bag that on the neck of each was hung,
Each with a certain badge on certain ground.
Which from their eyes keen hungry glances wrung;

And as I went among them looking round.
Upon a yellow purse I saw azure.
In which a lion's face and form were found.

Then going farther on my gazing tour,
I saw another full as red as blood,
Bearing a goose more white than butter pure;

And one, who bore an azure sow in brood
Emblazoned on his little wallet white,"
Said, " Why dost thou on this drear pit intrude?

Now get thee gone; and since thou see'st life's light,
Know that Vitalian, who dwells near my home.
Will on my left hand sit in this sad plight.

With these of Florence I from Padua come,
And many a time they thunder in mine ear,
Lo! for the sovran cavalier make room.

Who'll bring the bag where three he-goats appear! '"
Then twisted he his mouth, and tongue out-thrust
Like ox that licks its nose; and I, in fear

Lest longer stay should vex him who had just
Warned me I should but little while abide,
Turned from those souls all weary and adust.

I found my Master even then astride
Upon the curved back of the monster fiend,
And then he said, " Be brave; cast fear aside;

Now upon steps thus made must we descend;
Mount thou in front, and I will sit between.
So that the tail be powerless to offend."

As one who waits, with nails all pale and lean,
The near approach of quartan ague cold.
Shivers, if but a passing shade be seen,

So was I when to me those words were told.
But his strong warnings wrought in me the shame
Which for good master makes a servant bold."

Then on those shoulders wide I riding came,
And wished to say, " Take heed thou me embrace,"
But my voice could not what I meant proclaim;

But he who oft had helped me of his grace
Elsewhere, when I was mounted, clasped me round
With his strong arms and stood me in good case.

And said, " O Geryon, now get o'er the ground;
Wide be thy circuit, gradual thy descent:
Think of the burden new that thou hast found."

E'en as a little boat from harbour sent
Goes backward, backward, so he went his way;
And when his huge form for full play found vent.

His tail he turned where erst his breast did stay,
And, like an eel, that tail outstretched did shake.
And with his arms the air before him fray.

No greater fear, I trow, made men to quake
What time that" Phaethon let slip the rein,
And, as we still see, heaven ablaze did make;

Nor yet when wretched Icarus felt the pain
Of the hot wax that left him stripped and bare,"
And his sire cried, " Thou hast an ill path ta'en,"

Than mine was, when around me everywhere
I looked, and nothing saw but empty space,
All vanished, save that monster in the air.

Onward he swims along with slow, slow pace,
Wheeling, descending, yet I know his flight
Only by wind that upward meets my face.

Already, from the whirlpool on the right,
I hear the dread wild tumult that it made.
And therefore stretch my head to see the sight;

Then was I of the abyss yet more afraid,
For flames I saw, and heard a bitter wail;
So, trembling, round its flanks my limbs I laid,

And saw, what I to see till then did fail.
Our wheeling and descent through each dread sight
That now on all sides did the sense assail;

And as the falcon after lengthened flight,
Who, seeing neither bird, nor lure, finds blame,
And makes his master cry, " What! dost alight?"

Whence quick he started, wheels his weary frame
A hundred times, and settles far apart
From where his master stands, in sullen shame,

So Geryon in the depth our course did stay
Just at the base whence that sheer rock did spring;
And, from the burden freed that on him lay,

Went off as speeds an arrow from the string.