Inferno: Canto XXII

I HAVE seen knights break up their camp for war,
Begin the attack, and march in full array,
And sometimes seek a safe retreat afar;

I've seen the vanguard o'er your fair fields stray,
Ye Aretines; yea, seen the squadrons wheel,
And now in jousts and now in tourneys play.

Now with bell's chime and now with trumpet's peal,
With drums and beacons on the castle wall.
Our use, or that of alien commonweal;

But never at so strange a bagpipe call
Saw I or horsemen move or infantry.
Or, at earth's signs or star's, a good ship tall.

With those ten demons we our course did ply;
Fierce company were they, but "in the church
With saints, with gluttons to the hostelry."

Then to the pitch did I direct my search.
The fashion of that Bolgia dark to see,
And of the crew whom that fierce fire did scorch.

As dolphins, when they signal give at sea
To sailors, with their backs all arched amain,
So that they plan how best the storm to flee.

So then, to seek some respite from his pain,
One of those sinners did his back upraise.
And quick as lightning hid himself again.

And as along a ditch's watery ways
Are seen the frogs with muzzles all thrust out.
So that their feet and bulk are hid from gaze;

So stood the sinners everywhere about.
But soon as Barbariccia near them drew,
Beneath the boiling pitch they fled in rout.

I saw, and still the horror thrills me through.
One waiting so, as sometimes it doth chance
One frog remains while others dive from view.

And Graffiacan, who nearest did advance.
Seized him by locks all pitch-besmeared behind,
And dragged him, otter-like, before my glance.

Well did I know the names to each assigned.
So at the time when they were chosen, I
Did note, and as they called them, bore in mind.

"Ho, Rubicante, see that thou apply
Thy talons sharp behind, his back to flay,"
Then all those cursed ones aloud did cry.

And I: " My Master, bid them, if thou may.
To let thee know that wretch unfortunate,
Thus fallen 'neath his adversaries' sway."

My Leader then drew near him where he sate.
And asked him who he was, and he replied,
"My birth was in Navarra's kingly state;

To serve a lord I left my mother's side,
For she had borne me to a ribald vile,
Who flung himself and his estate aside.

Then served I in good Thibault's court awhile;
There to deceit's foul sin did I descend,
And in this hot pitch pay for that my guile."

And Ciriatto, whose huge mouth did end
On either side, in tusks like those of swine,
Soon made him feel how they could fiercely rend.

Among wild cats the mouse came," runs the line,
But Barbariccia while he him embraced.
Said "Back, till with my fork I him entwine."

Then thus, as turning, he my Master faced,
"Ask him," he said, "if more thou seek'st to know,
Ere yet his form by others be defaced."

My Guide: " Of that vile crew I pray thee show
If thou dost know of any Latian there,
Beneath the pitch." And he: "Yea, there below

I left but now one born that region near;
Would I were with him, covered by the tar!
For then nor claw nor grapnel would I fear."

And Libicocco, "We have borne too far,"
Spake, and then seized his arms with curved crook.
And gave a wrench that did his tendons mar;

And Draghinazzo sought to seize with hook
His legs; but then their chief, Decurion,
Turned himself round and round with angry look.

And when they were to peace a little won,
Of him, who still was gazing at his wound,
My Guide without delay made question:

"Who then was he, whom leaving, thou hast found
Such ill-success in coming to the shore?"
And he made answer, " Of Gallura's ground.

The friar Gomita, filled with fraud's base lore.
For he his lord's foes had beneath his hand,
Yet acted so that each exults the more.

Money he took, and easy judgment planned"
(So speaks he), and in other functions too
Sovereign, not subject, in corruption's band.

And Signor Michael Zanche joins his crew.
Of Logodoro: no fatigue can bind
Their talk of all they in Sardinia knew.

Ah! see how that one there his teeth doth grind!
I would say more, but fear that demon fell
To flay my hide should be too well inclined."

And then their Provost turned to Farfarell,
Whose eyes as if he meant to strike did glare,
And said, "Stand off, thou spiteful bird of Hell!"

"If more ye seek or to behold or hear,"
Then spoke once more the poor wretch terrified,
"Tuscans or Lombards, I will bring them near;

But let those fierce-clawed demons stand aside,
So that these may not fear their vengeance stern;
And I, while I upon this spot abide,

Although but one, will make seven hither turn,
When I shall whistle, as we're wont to do
When we a time to issue forth discern."

At this Cagnazzo raised his jowl to view,
Wagging his head, and said, "His cunning hear,
Which he has planned to plunge away from you!"

And he, who had of tricks full plenteous share,
Answered, " In sooth, too cunning far am I,"
When to my friends a greater ill I bear."

And Alichin gave way, against the cry
Of all the rest, and said, 'If thou dost leap,
Not at full gallop will I on thee fly.

But o'er the pitch my wings in motion keep."
Leave we the heights and let the bank be screen,
To see if thou the victory shalt reap."

Now, Reader, hear how frolic new was seen.
Each turned his eyes towards the other side;
He first who most unwilling erst had been.

He of Navarre chose well the fitting tide,
Set his feet firm on earth, and in a trice
Plunged, and so left their wish ungratified.

Then in each fiend did sense of guilt arise.
In him most who was cause of that defeat;
Wherefore he moves, and "Now thou'rt taken" cries.

But little gained he; wings were not so fleet
As fear; and one his downward course did take,
And one his wings in upward flight did beat.

Not otherwise than this the duck doth make
Her sudden plunge when nears the falcon's flight.
And he flies up, much vexed, with wings that ache.

Then Calcabrina, mocked and full of spite,
Went flying on behind him, not displeased
By that escape to have a ground for fight.

And when the great corrupter's presence ceased,
He turned his claws his comrade fiend to hold,
And o'er the moat upon his carcase seized;

But he too was a falcon keen and bold,
And grappled with him, and together they"
Fell, and within the seething pool both rolled.

The burning heat disparted them straightway.
But all their power to raise themselves was gone.
Such thick cement upon their pinions lay.

Then Barbariccia and his troop made moan,"
And bade four hasten from the farther coast
With all their prongs, and nimbly they sped on,

This side and that they went down to their post:
They thrust their hooks towards the birdlimed pair.
Whom that hot scurf-crust did already roast;

And so we left them both entangled there.