Inferno: Canto XXII

Oft squadrons have I seen their station change,
Rush to the charge, or suddenly retreat.
And swift advancing o'er the country range.

Thy plains, Arezzo, oft have I survey'd
Hastily swept by light-arm'd horsemen fleet;
Oft been, where tilts and tournaments were play'd; —

(Now bells, now trumpets sounding forth alarms,
Now drums and signals with tremendous din.
Native or foreign, summoning to arms;)

But ne'er to such strange instrument of war
Or horse or foot advancing have I seen;
Or vessel tack by sign from land or star.

With the ten demons onward then we pass'd;
Ah! what a fierce and savage company!
But saints at church, and gluttons at a feast.

Still on the boiling pitch I gazed with care.
Desirous all that it contain'd to see.
And watch the spirits who were burning there.

As dolphins heave their backs above the wave
Prognosticating angry tempests black —
Signal to mariners their ship to save;

So, to alleviate th' excessive pain.
From time to time each sinner raised his back.
But swift as lightning 'twas conceal'd again.

As, in a trench, frogs at the water's side
Sit squatting — with their noses raised on high.
So that their feet and all their bulk they hide;

Thus upon either hand the sinners stood:
But Barbariccia now approaching nigh.
Quick they withdrew beneath the boiling flood.

I saw — and still my heart is thrill'd with fear —
One spirit linger, as beside a ditch
One frog remains, the others disappear; —

And Graffiacan, who nearest chanced to be.
With grapple seized his hair all stiff with pitch;
Thus pendent, like an otter eke was he.

(I knew the names of all the demons now,
For I had mark'd them when they chosen were.
And, as they call'd each other, listen'd how.)

"O Rubicant, look well, and see you place
Your hooks aright, that they his back may tear,"
Cried all at once th' inexorable race.

"Master," I said, "persuade them to disclose,
If so thou canst, who is that ill-starr'd shade
Thus fall'n within the clutches of his foes."

My guide accordingly approach'd him, and
Enquiry of his birth and country made.
"Navarre," he answer'd, "was my native land.

My mother placed me servant to a lord;
(For she had borne me to a desperate man.
Who spent his goods, then closed his life abhorr'd.)

King Thibault good I served in aftertime.
And there the trade of bartering I began.
Which now I pay for in this scalding slime."

Ciriatto, whose fell mouth, e'en like a boar,
A savage tusk on either side displayed.
Soon let him feel how cleverly they tore.

To wicked cats the mouse had fall'n a prey; —
But Barbariccia caught him up, and said,
"While I transfix him, stand ye all away."

Then to my master turn'd he round his face:
Exclaiming: "Ask whatever pleaseth thee.
Before another doth his form deface."

"Now, 'mid the other sinners," quoth my guide,
"Say, know'st thou any one from Italy
Beneath the pitch?" "But lately," he replied,

"I quitted one who lived that country near:
Could I rejoin him in yon sheltering flood,
Nor piercing hook nor talon should I fear."

Quoth Libicocco: "Not so much delay:"
An arm then seizing in his pincers rude,
He maul'd it, till he rent a part away.

And Draghignazzo would have lent a hook,
And torn his leg; but lo! their chief turn'd round.
And check'd his malice with a threatening look.

When somewhat was their vehemence restrain'd; —
To him who still was looking at his wound.
My guide without delay made this demand:

"Who was that other spirit, from whose side
Hither thou lately cam'st in evil hour?"
"The friar Gomita was it," he replied, —

"He of Gallura, vessel of all fraud,
Who, when his master's foes were in his power.
So treated them, that all his name applaud:

Gold he received, and let his prisoners free;
In each employ where he could use deceit
The very prince of barterers was he.

With him too Michael Zanche doth reside;
For them Sardinia is a subject sweet.
With which their tongues are never satisfied.

Ah me! — behold how grins the other fiend!
'More would I say; but fear my tongue hath bound.
Lest he prepare his irons to extend."

To Farfarello turn'd their savage lord,
Who roll'd, in act to strike, his eyes around.
And said: "Go, get thee gone, ill bird abhorr'd."

"Tuscans or Lombards would'st thou wish to see,"
Again resumed the spirit thrill'd with fear,
"Tell me, and I will make them come to thee:

But for a season let these fiends retreat.
That thus the timorous souls may reappear, —
I where I am remaining in my seat:

For in my stead, seven will I make to rise,
When I shall whistle, as a sign to them
To venture forth, — for such our custom is."

Turn'd up his nose Cagnazzo, and exclaim'd.
Shaking his head: "Hear what malicious scheme
To cast himself below, the cheat hath framed."

Whence he, who had at hand a precious store
Of wiles, replied: "Malicious sure am I,
To make my own companions smart the more."

Then burst forth Alichin, inflamed with heat
Against the rest: "Plunge, if thou dare to try; —
I shall not follow thee with speed of feet.

But wings shall bear me o'er the boiling pitch:
Let's hie behind the bank, and we shall see
If thou alone canst all of us overreach."

Now for fresh sport, O ye who read, prepare.
Each from the bank his eyes withdrew; — first he
Who offer'd chief resistance to the snare.

Well chose his time the sinner of Navarre;
Fixt firm his feet— leapt down — and in a trice
Forth from their chieftain's hands escaped afar.

Each demon instantly with rage was fraught.
He most, who had encouraged this device;
Wherefore he flew, exclaiming: "Thou art caught."

But futile his attempt, — the speed of fear
E'en wings could not o'ertake: — one dived below.
Up came the other from his vain career.

Thus, when the falcon swoops his wings in air.
The duck dives instant, and eludes the blow;
Back turns the weary falcon in despair.

Him Calcabrina followed, in despite
Thus to be duped, yet still so fair a cause
Of quarreling afforded vast delight;

And since no more the barterer there he view'd.
On his companion straight he turn'd his claws:
A mighty struggle o'er the trench ensued.

But Alichino was a hawk well tried,
And proved himself superior: — fell the twain
Down to the middle of the boiling tide.

The heat soon parted them within the ditch,
But all attempt to raise themselves was vain;
Like birdlime glued their wings th' adhesive pitch.

Now Barbariccia, grieving with his band,
Sent four across the stream, their aid to bear
With many a hook; and they at his command

Full rapidly proceeded to their post.
They stretch'd their hooks to aid the entangled pair.
Who now were burning in the glowing crust;

And we advancing, left them floundering there.