Inferno: Canto XVIII

There is a place in Hell called Malebolge, all of stone, and of an iron colour, like the barrier which winds round it.

Right in the middle of the malignant field yawns a well exceeding wide and deep, whose structure [I] shall tell [in] its own place.

The border therefore that remains, between the well and the foot of the high rocky bank, is round; and it has its bottom divided into ten valleys.

As is the form that ground presents, where to defend the walls successive ditches begird a castle:

such image these made here; and as, from the thresholds of the fortress, there are bridges to the outward bank;

so from the basis of the rock proceeded cliffs that crossed the embankments and the ditches, down to the well which truncates and collects them.

In this place, shaken from the back of Geryon, we found ourselves; and the Poet kept to the left, and I moved behind.

On the right hand I saw new misery, new torments, and new tormenters, wherewith the first chasm was filled.

In its bottom the sinners were naked; [on our side of the middle] they came facing us; and, on the other side, along with us, but with larger steps:

thus the Romans, because of the great throng, in the year of Jubilee, upon the bridge have taken means to pass the people over;

so that, on the one side, all have their faces towards the Castle, and go to St Peter’s; at the other ledge, they go towards the Mount.

On this side, on that, along the hideous stone, I saw horned Demons with large scourges, who smote them fiercely from behind.

Ah! how they made them lift their legs at the first strokes! truly none waited for the second or the third.

As I went on, my eyes were met by one, and instantly I said: “This one I have seen before.”

I therefore stayed my feet to recognize him; and the kind Guide stood still with me, and allowed me to go back a little.

And that scourged spirit thought to hide himself, lowering his face; but little it availed him, for I said: “Thou, that dost cast thy eye upon the ground!

if the features which thou wearest be not false, thou art Venedico Caccianimico; but what brings thee to such a biting pickle?”

And he to me, “Unwillingly I tell it; but thy clear speech, that makes me recollect the former world, compels me.

It was I who led the fair Ghisola to do the Marquis’ will, however the unseemly tale may sound.

And I am not the only Bolognese that weeps here: nay, this place is so filled with us, that as many tongues are not now taught

to say sipa between Savena and Reno; and if thou desirest assurance and testimony thereof, recall to thy memory our avaricious heart.”

And as he thus spake, a Demon smote him with his lash, and said: “Away! [pandar] there are no women here to coin.”

I rejoined my Escort; then, with a few steps, we came to where a cliff proceeded from the bank.

This we very easily ascended; and, turning to the right upon its jagged ridge, we quitted those eternal circles.

When we reached the part where it yawns beneath to leave a passage for the scourged, my Guide said: “Stay, and let the look strike on thee of these other ill-born spirits,

whose faces thou hast not yet seen, for they have gone along with us.”

From the ancient bridge we viewed the train, who were coming towards us, on the other side, chased likewise by the scourge.

The kind Master, without my asking, said to me: “Look at that great soul who comes, and seems to shed no tear for pain:

what a regal aspect he yet retains! That is Jason, who, by courage and by counsel, bereft the Colchians of the ram.

He passed, by the isle of Lemnos, after the bold merciless women had given all their males to death.

There, with tokens and fair words, did he deceive the young Hypsipyle, who had before deceived all the rest.

He left her there pregnant and forlorn: such guilt condemns him to such torment; and also for Medea vengeance is taken.

With him go all who practise the like deceit; and let this suffice to know respecting the first valley, and those whom it devours.”

We had already come to where the narrow pathway crosses the second bank, and makes of it a buttress for another arch.

Here we heard people whining in the other chasm, and puffing with mouth and nostrils, and knocking on themselves with their palms.

The banks were crusted over with a mould from the vapour below, which concretes upon them, which did battle with the eyes and with the nose.

The bottom is so deep, that we could see it nowhere without mounting to the ridge of the arch, where the cliff stands highest.

We got upon it; and [thence] in the ditch beneath, I saw a people dipped in excrement, that seemed as it flowed from human privies.

And whilst I was searching with my eyes, down amongst it, I beheld one with a head so smeared in filth, that it did not appear whether he was layman or clerk.

He bawled to me: “Why art thou so eager in gazing at me, more than the others in their nastiness?” And I to him: “Because, if I rightly recollect,

I have seen thee before with thy hair dry; and thou art Alessio Interminei of Lucca: therefore do I eye thee more than all the rest.”

And he then, beating his pate: “Down to this, the flatteries wherewith my tongue was never weary have sunk me!”

Thereupon my Guide said to me: “Stretch thy face a little forwards, that thy eyes may fully reach the visage

of that unclean and dishevelled strumpet, who yonder with her filthy nails scratches herself, now cowering low, now standing on her feet.

It is Thais, the harlot, who answered her paramour, when he said: ‘Dost thou thank me much?’

‘Nay, wondrously.’ And herewith let our view rest sated.”