Inferno: Canto XII

Rough was the stair we came to, and there lay
Upon the brink such object terrible
As every eye would shudder to survey.

Like to the cliff, which, or by earthquake riven.
Or wanting prop, on this side Trento fell,
Down into Adice with ruin driven.

So that, dissever'd by the mighty shock.
E'en from the summit to the bottom, it
Affords no road to one upon the rock, —

So rough and rugged was this dread descent:
And prostrate lay before the broken pit.
The shame of Crete, in all his foul extent.

Who in the fictious heifer was conceived:
And when he saw us come, himself he bit.
Like one whose breast with inward rage is heaved.

Him in these words my sapient guide address'd:
"The Duke of Athens here thou think'st, I trow.
Who erst on earth thy violence laid to rest:

Begone, foul beast — for he before thy sight
Comes not instructed by thy sister now.
But hither wends to view thy wretched plight."

E'en as a bull springs up in wild despair
The instant he receives the mortal blow, —
Nor yet moves on, but staggers here and there;

So did the Minotaur impetuous leap.
My guide aware, cried: "To the pass retreat;
And while he storms, do thou descend the steep."

Thus we proceeded down the rocky height
O'er broken fragments, which beneath my feet
Ofttimes gave way at such unusual weight.

Musing I went; then said he: "Haply thou
Art pondering on the ruin, guarded well
By that brute rage which I have vanquished now.

Know that when heretofore I made descent
Hence downward to the lower depth of hell,
This rock was not from its foundation rent.

It fell, if right I judge, but just before
His coming dread, who from the round above.
Despoiling Dis, the mighty booty bore.

Trembling throughout — the infernal valley heaved
So fearfully, that I supposed with love
The universe was seized; which, 'tis believed.

Hath oftentimes to chaos turned the world:
Then was this aged rock with that turmoil.
Both here and elsewhere, into ruins hurl'd.

But fix thine eyes below; for near us run
Those bloody waves, in which the spirits boil
Who harm to others have by violence done."

O blind desire! O foolish wrath, that so
Dost spur us onward in our short-lived race.
And then for ever plungest us in woe!

An ample trench, capacious, I surveyed.
Curved in a bow, that so it might embrace
The plain around, e'en as my guide had said.

Betwixt the bank and it (a narrow space)
Ran Centaurs, one by one, with shafts in hand.
As erst on earth they issued to the chase.

Perceiving us, they all their course restrained.
While three advanced, dividing from the band.
With bows and winged arrows first obtained.

And one cried out from far: "Ye who descend —
What penance come ye hither to receive?
Tell me, — but stir not, or the bow I bend."

My master said: "The answer you desire,
From whence we are, to Chiron will we give:
Your mind was ever ready to take fire."

He touch'd me then, and spake: "Lo Nessus, who
For beautiful Deianira died.
And in his death took vengeance on his foe.

He in the centre, looking on his breast.
Is Chiron, of Achilles' youth the guide:
The other Pholus, by such wrath possessed.

Thousands by thousands round the foss they flit,
And dart their arrows at each soul they watch
Emerging higher than his crimes admit."

Then to those rapid beasts we nearer drew:
Chiron an arrow took, and with the notch
His shaggy beard behind the cheekbone threw:

And when his mouth enormous thus was shown,
His comrades he address'd: "Are ye aware
That he behind, moves what he treads upon? —

Not this the case, I ween, with spirits' feet."
Then said my faithful guide (who now was near
His ample breast, where both the natures meet):

"He lives indeed, but in such lonely plight,
I needs must lead him through the valley blind;
Necessity compels him — not delight.

She ceased awhile her hallow'd songs on high.
Who to my care this new employ consigned:
No robber he — nor felon soul am I.

But by that virtue, at whose high command
I make my journey o'er so rough a track —
Assign, I pray thee, one from out thy band

To show the ford across this bloody tide.
And carry o'er my comrade on his back: —
He is no spirit through the air to ride."

Then, to the right inclining, Chiron spake:
"Nessus, turn backward to conduct them o'er,
And drive away each troop that makes attack."

Led by the trusty guide, we took our way
That scarlet stream beside; whence rent the shore
Their cries who in the boiling current lay.

Here shades immersed up to the eyebrow stood;
And the great Centaur said: "Tyrants are here.
Who gave themselves to plunder and to blood.

Here they bewail their guilt and cruelty;
Here Alexander, — Dionysius there.
Who years of sorrow wrought for Sicily:

That forehead cover'd with so black a hair
Is Ezzelino; and that other shade
Obizzo d'Este, with flaxen locks and fair.

Whom erst on earth his cruel step-son slew."
Then to the bard I turn'd, and thus he said:
"Let him go first to guide us— I pursue."

A little way beyond, the Centaur stood,
Viewing a tribe, who, to the throat immersed,
Displayed their heads alone above the flood.

He pointed out one solitary shade:
"'Twas he in God's own fane, with hand accurst.
Who pierced the heart o'er Thames revered," he said.

Now saw I others, who above the tide
Held up their heads, and likewise all the breast; -
And many known to me I here descried.

Then by degrees more shallow was the blood.
So that it merely reach'd the feet at last;
And here we went across the gory flood.

"As you may see, on this side of the strand
The boiling torrent is decreasing still,"
The Centaur said, — "so may you understand.

That on the other side, yet lower down
The bottom sinketh by degrees, until
It reach th' appointed place where tyrants groan.

Justice divine inflicteth there its wrath
On Attila — earth's scourge; on Pyrrhus too;
On Sestus; and for ever draweth forth

The tears, by that hot boiling stream distilled.
From Rinier Pazzo, and Corneto, who
The public roads with devastation fill'd."

Then back he turn'd, and cross'd the ford anew.