Inferno: Canto XVII

"Behold the beast with sharpen'd tail acute.
Who pierces mountain, wall, and armed host;
Behold the beast who doth the world pollute:"

Me in these words my faithful guide bespake;
Then beckon'd him to land upon the coast.
And where the causeway ends, his station take.

Nor did Fraud's base and filthy image fail
To raise upon the bank his head and breast.
But on the shore he drew not forth his tail.

The features of an honest man he wore.
So outwardly benignant: — all the rest
The semblance of a wily serpent bore:

Two branching arms he had all rough with hair;
And either flank, his back and ample chest,
Emboss'd with knots and traced with circles were.

Not richer hues, embroider'd or inlaid
By Turks or Tartars, e'er adorn'd a vest;
Nor such the gorgeous web Arachne made.

As oft light vessels stand upon the shore —
Part in the water, part upon the land; —
And as, where dwells the greedy German boor.

The beaver sits, intent to watch his prey; —
So on the edge of stone that fenced the sand.
Crouching — this beast most execrable lay:

High o'er the void his tail through every joint
He vibrated; quick writhing to and fro
The scorpion fork which arm'd th' envenom'd point.

Exclaim'd my sage conductor: "Now 'tis meet
To turn awhile, and on the margin go.
Until we reach that monster of deceit."

We then descended, bearing to the right,
And walk'd ten paces onward o'er the strand.
To shun the flames and burning marie in sight.

Arriving near the beast — not far beyond
I view a party seated on the sand.
Near to the margin of the gulf profound.

Then Virgil: "That experience thou may'st learn,
And of this round the horrors comprehend.
Go — and thyself their sad estate discern;

But have a care lest thou thy speech prolong; —
I will entreat the beast his aid to lend.
And bear us down upon his shoulders strong."

Alone I thus proceeded to the place,
Still coasting the seventh circle's boundary.
Where seated I beheld this woeful race.

Grief gushing through their eyes a passage found;
And each applied his hands alternately
Against the vapour and the torrid ground, —

Like dogs — who basking in the summer's heat,
When gadflies fierce and busy gnats torment.
Now frequent ply the mouth, and now the feet.

I gazed on many of these spirits grieved.
O'er whom falls down the fiery element.
But none of them I knew, — yet I perceived

That from the neck of each a purse was swung,
With certain sign and certain colour deck'd;
On this, it seem'd, their sight with fondness hung.

And when I came among them — looking round,
I saw a lion's semblance and aspect.
Painted in azure on a yellow ground.

Extending then mine eyes amid the herd,
Another purse I saw as red as blood.
On which was wrought a goose more white than curd.

And one, upon whose purse of argent hue
A lusty swine in azure colours stood,
Exclaimed: "In this abyss what doest thou?"

Begone — and since of life thou art not reft,
Know — Vitaliano, my rich neighbour there.
Shall take his seat with me upon my left.

A Paduan I, 'mid Florentines am here.
And oftentimes they thunder in my ear:
'Let him arrive — the mighty cavalier —

Who with three beaks a satchel shall disclose.' "
Thereat he writh'd his mouth, and show'd his tongue.
E'en like unto an ox that licks his nose.

I, who now fear'd that my protracted stay
Might anger him who bade me not be long.
Back from the weary spirits took my way.

On the fierce monster's haunches I behold,
Already seated high, my faithful guide.
Who thus enjoin'd me: "Now be firm and bold:

Such are the stairs by which we must descend;
Climb thou in front, and I behind will ride.
Lest any mischief from the tail impend."

As he who's threatened with an ague fit,
His nails already blue — all shivering cold
Looks on the shade — unable to retreat;

Such I became; — but by his threats restored,
I felt that shame which makes the servant bold.
When in the presence of a gracious lord.

High on his shoulders wide I took my seat,
And would have said: "Beware and hold me fast;"
But words came not, my wishes to complete.

Then he, who oft before had lent me aid
In arduous enterprize, flung round my waist
His friendly arms — upholding me; and said:

"Now, Geryon, may you take your downward way;
Large be your circles — slow be your descent; —
Think what unusual burden you convey."

Then, as a little vessel out of port
Backs by degrees — e'en so the monster went;
And when he was at liberty to sport.

His tail he turn'd to where his breast had been,
Moving it, thus extended, like an eel.
While with his arms the air he gather'd in.

Nor erst, I ween, existed greater fears
When Phaeton from his chariot headlong fell.
Whereby the heavens took fire, as still appears:

Nor when the wretched Icarus in dismay
Felt the wax melting and the feathers fall.
His father crying, "Dangerous is thy way" —

Than I experienced, high upborne in air —
Air all around: — how did the void appall! —
For nought except the dreaded beast was there.

Onward by slow degrees he swam; and slow —
Wheeling — descended; unperceived by me.
Save that a vapour fann'd me from below.

Now on the right I heard the vortex dread
Roaring beneath, whereat full eagerly
I downward cast mine eye with bending head.

Still more was I dismay'd to view it near;
For flames were seen, and lamentations heard.
Wherefore I gather'd up my limbs for fear.

And by the woes which burst upon my sight
From every side, now plainly first appear'd
The circling motion, and our downward flight.

E'en as a falcon, which, upborne in air
Longtime, without descrying lure or bird
(Making the falconer utter in despair,

"Alas, thou stoop'st!") fatigued descends from high;
Then whirling swiftly round in many a ring,
Far from his master sits — disdainfully;

Thus lighting, Geryon placed us on our feet
Beneath the rock, and then again took wing,
Soon as he felt disburdened of our weight.

Like to an arrow starting from the string.