DANTE'S INFERNO
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A Picture of the Demons Threatening Virgil
The Inferno is the first part of Dante Alighieri's poem, the Divine Comedy, which chronicles Dante's journey to God, and is made up of the Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise). In the Inferno, Dante starts on ground level and works his way downward; he goes all the way through the earth and Hell and ends up at the base of the mountain of Purgatory on the other side. On the top of Purgatory there is the terrestrial paradise (the garden of Eden), and after that he works his way through the celestial spheres. Dante is guided by the spirit of the Roman epic poet Virgil.
Initially, there is a space outside Hell, where the neutral spirits, who were neither good nor bad, are left. The first circle of Hell starts with the Limbo, for virtuous non-Christians: ancient Greek and Roman heroes, philosophers, and so forth. In the second circle, the demon Minos judged the sinners and assigned them their place in Hell; the lustful were punished here. In the third circle, the gluttons were punished. Then, they came to the Styx, where the wrathful and the sullen were tormented. The sixth circle held heretics, who were imprisoned in red-hot sepulchres.
They were now in Dis city, were they would see the punishments of the violent, the fraudulent, and traitors. The first ring of this city was made up of the violent against others: tyrants and murderers. In the second ring they found a black forest full of twisted trees; these were suicides. In the third ring there were the violent against God: blasphemers, sodomites, and usurers.
Then, Dante and Virgil arrived to the eight circle, Malebolge, formed of ten different enclosures in which different kinds of fraud were punished. In this new circle, first there were panders and seducers: people who used fraud in matters of love. In the second, flatterers were punished; in the third, the simonists; in the fourth enclosure, diviners, astrologers, and magicians. In the fifth, barrators were flung into a lake of hot pitch, and were guarded by devils, the Malebranche. In the sixth pouch of Malebolge, hypocrites were made to wear heavy lead robes. In the seventh enclosure, thieves were bitten by serpents, and then transformed into serpents themselves. In the eighth pouch, fraudulent counsellors were aflame. In the ninth pouch, sewers of scandal and schism were maimed by a devil with a sword. In the tenth pouch there were groups of falsifiers.
Then, there was the ninth circle. In the first ring of this new circle, were traitors against their kin. The second ring, held those who betrayed their parties and their homelands. Dante spoke with some other sinners in the third ring, who had assassinated their guests. In the fourth ring, traitors against their benefactors were totally covered in ice.
Finally, at the bottom of Hell, Dante saw the gigantic figure of Lucifer, who ground up Judas, Brutus, and Cassius in his three mouths. Virgil and Dante climbed on Lucifer all the way through the centre of the earth and to the other side, where they finally emerged in the southern hemisphere.
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came along from one bridge to another, talking of things my Comedy is not concerned to sing. We held fast to the summit, 3 then stayed our steps to spy the other cleft of Malebolge and other vain laments. I saw that it was wonderfully dark. 6 As in the arsenal of the Venetians, all winter long a stew of sticky pitch boils up to patch their sick and tattered ships 9 that cannot sail (instead of voyaging, some build new keels, some tow and tar the ribs of hulls worn out by too much journeying; 12 some hammer at the prow, some at the stern, and some make oars, and some braid ropes and cords; one mends the jib, another, the mainsail); 15 so, not by fire but by the art of God, below there boiled a thick and tarry mass that covered all the banks with clamminess. 18 I saw it, but l could not see within it; no thing was visible but boiling bubbles, the swelling of the pitch; and then it settled. 21 And while I watched below attentively, my guide called out to me: "Take care! Take care!" And then, from where I stood, he drew me near. 24 I turned around as one who is impatient to see what he should shun but is dashed down beneath the terror he has undergone, 27 who does not stop his flight and yet would look. And then in back of us I saw a black demon as he came racing up the crags. 30 Ah, he was surely barbarous to see! And how relentless seemed to me his acts! His wings were open and his feet were lithe; 33 across his shoulder, which was sharp and high, he had slung a sinner, upward from the thighs; in front, the demon gripped him by the ankles. 36 Then from our bridge, he called: "O Malebranche, I've got an elder of Saint Zita for you! Shove this one under I'll go back for more- 39 his city is well furnished with such stores; there, everyone's a grafter but Bonturo; and there-for cash-they'll change a no to yes." 42 He threw the sinner down, then wheeled along The stony cliff: no mastiff's ever been unleashed with so much haste to chase a thief. 45 The sinner plunged, then surfaced, black with pitch: but now the demons, from beneath the bridge, shouted: "the Sacred Face has no place here; 48 here we swim differently than in the Serchio; if you don't want to feel our grappling hooks, don't try to lift yourself above that ditch." 51 They pricked him with a hundred prongs and more, then taunted: "Here one dances under cover, so try to grab your secret graft below." 54 The demons did the same as any cook who has his urchins force the meat with hooks deep down into the pot, that it not float. 57 Then my good master said to me: "Don't let those demons see that you are here; take care to crouch behind the cover of a crag. 60 No matter what offense they offer me, don't be afraid; I know how these things go- I've had to face such fracases before." 63 When this was said, he moved beyond the bridgehead. And on the sixth embankment, he had need to show his imperturbability. 66 With the same frenzy, with the brouhaha of dogs, when they beset a poor wretch who then stops dead in his tracks as if to beg, 69 so, from beneath the bridge, the demons rushed against my guide with all their prongs, but he called out: "Can't you forget your savagery! 72 Before you try to maul me, just let one of all your troop step forward. Hear me out, and then decide if I am to be hooked." 75 |
At
this they howled, "Let Malacoda go!" And one of them moved up-the others stayed- and as he came, he asked: "How can he win?" 78 "O Malacoda, do you think I've come," my master answered him, "already armed- as you can see -against your obstacles, 81 without the will of God and helpful fate? Let us move on; it is the will of Heaven for me to show this wild way to another." 84 At this the pride of Malacoda fell; his prong dropped to his feet. He told his fellows: "Since that's the way things stand, let us not wound him." 87 My guide then spoke to me: "O you, who crouch, bent low among the bridge's splintered rocks, you can feel safe-and now return to me." 90 At this I moved and quickly came to him. The devils had edged forward, all of them; I feared that they might fail to keep their word: 93 just so, I saw the infantry when they marched out, under safe conduct, from Caprona; they trembled when they passed their enemies. 96 My body huddled closer to my guide; I did not let the demons out of sight; the looks they cast at us were less than kind. 99 They bent their hooks and shouted to each other: "And shall I give it to him on the rump?" And all of them replied, "Yes, let him have it!" 102 But Malacoda, still in conversation with my good guide, turned quickly to his squadron and said: "Be still, Scarmiglione, still!" 105 To us he said: "There is no use in going much farther on this ridge, because the sixth bridge-at the bottom-there is smashed to bits. 108 Yet if you two still want to go ahead, move up and walk along this rocky edge; nearby, another ridge will form a path. 111 Five hours from this hour yesterday, one thousand and two hundred sixty-six years passed since that roadway was shattered here. 114 I'm sending ten of mine out there to see if any sinner lifts his head for air; go with my men there is no malice in them." 117 "Step forward, Alichino and Calcabrina," he then began to say, "and you, Cagnazzo; and Barbariccia, who can lead the ten. 120 Let Libicocco go, and Draghignazzo and tusky Ciriatto and Graffiacane and Farfarello and mad Rubicante. 123 Search all around the clammy stew of pitch; keep these two safe and sound till the next ridge that rises without break across the dens." 126 "Ah me! What is this, master, that I see?" I said. "Can't we do without company? If you know how to go, I want no escort. 129 If you are just as keen as usual, can't you see how those demons grind their teeth? Their brows are menacing, they promise trouble." 132 And he to me: "I do not want you frightened: just let them gnash away as they may wish; they do it for the wretches boiled in pitch." 135 They turned around along the left hand bank: but first each pressed his tongue between his teeth as signal for their leader, Barbariccia. 138 And he had made a trumpet of his ass. 139 |
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Before this I've seen horsemen start to march and open the assault and muster ranks and seen them, too, at times beat their retreat; 3 and on your land, o Aretines, I've seen rangers and raiding parties galloping, the clash of tournaments, the rush of jousts, 6 now done with trumpets, now with bells, and now with drums, and now with signs from castle walls, with native things and with imported ware; 9 but never yet have I seen horsemen or seen infantry or ship that sails by signal of land or star move to so strange a bugle! 12 We made our way together with ten demons: ah, what ferocious company! And yet "in church with saints, with rotters in the tavern." 15 But I was all intent upon the pitch, to seek out every feature of the pouch and of the people who were burning in it. 18 Just as the dolphins do, when with arched back, they signal to the seamen to prepare for tempest, that their vessel may be spared, 21 so here from time to time, to ease his torment, some sinner showed his back above the surface, then hid more quickly than a lightning flash. 24 And just as on the margin of a ditch, frogs crouch, their snouts alone above the water, so as to hide their feet and their plump flesh, 27 so here on every side these sinners crouched; but faster than a flash, when Barbariccia drew near, they plunged beneath the boiling pitch. 30 I saw-my heart still shudders in recall- one who delayed, just as at times a frog is left behind while others dive below; 33 and Graffiacane, who was closest to him, then hooked him by his pitch entangled locks and hauled him up; he seemed to me an otter. 36 By now I knew the names of all those demons- I'd paid attention when the fiends were chosen; I'd watched as they stepped forward one by one. 39 "O Rubicante, see you set your talons right into him, so you can flay his flesh!" So did those cursed ones cry out together. 42 And I: "My master, if you can, find out what is the name of that unfortunate who's fallen victim to his enemies." 45 My guide, who then drew near that sinner's side, asked him to tell his birthplace. He replied: "My homeland was the kingdom of Navarre. 48 My mother, who had had me by a wastrel, destroyer of himself and his possessions, had placed me in the service of a lord. 51 Then I was in the household of the worthy King Thibault; there I started taking graft; with this heat I pay reckoning for that." 54 And Ciriatto, from whose mouth there bulged to right and left two tusks like a wild hog's, then let him feel how one of them could mangle. 57 The mouse had fallen in with evil cats; but Barbariccia clasped him in his arms and said: "Stand off there, while I fork him fast." 60 And turning toward my master then, he said: "Ask on, if you would learn some more from him before one of the others does him in." 63 At which my guide: "Now tell: among the sinners who hide beneath the pitch, are any others Italian?" And he: "I have just left 66 one who was nearby there; and would I were still covered by the pitch as he is hidden, for then I'd have no fear of hook or talon." 69 And Libicocco said, "We've been too patient!" and, with his grapple, grabbed him by the arm and, ripping, carried off a hunk of flesh. 72 But Draghignazzo also looked as if to grab his legs; at which, their captain wheeled and threatened all of them with raging looks. 75 When they'd grown somewhat less tumultuous, without delay my guide asked of that one who had his eyes still fixed upon his wound: 78 "Who was the one you left to come ashore- unluckily-as you just said before?" |
He answered: "Fra Gomita of Gallura, 81 who was a vessel fit for every fraud; he had his master's enemies in hand, but handled them in ways that pleased them all. 84 He took their gold and smoothly let them off, as he himself says; and in other matters, he was a sovereign, not a petty, swindler. 87 His comrade there is Don Michele Zanche of Logodoro; and their tongues are never too tired to talk of their Sardinia. 90 Ah me, see that one there who grinds his teeth! If I were not afraid, I'd speak some more, but he is getting set to scratch my scurf." 93 And their great marshal, facing Farfarello- who was so hot to strike he rolled his eyes, said: "Get away from there, you filthy bird!" 96 "If you perhaps would like to see or hear," that sinner, terrified, began again, "Lombards or Tuscans, I can fetch you some; 99 but let the Malebranche stand aside so that my comrades need not fear their vengeance. Remaining in this very spot, I shall, 102 although alone, make seven more appear when I have whistled, as has been our custom when one of us has managed to get out." 105 At that, Cagnazzo lifted up his snout and shook his head, and said: "Just listen to that trick by which he thinks he can dive back!" 108 To this, he who was rich in artifice replied: "Then I must have too many tricks, if I bring greater torment to my friends." 111 This was too much for Alichino and, despite the others, he cried out: "If you dive back, I shall not gallop after you 114 but beat my wings above the pitch; we'll leave this height; with the embankment as a screen, we'll see if you-alone-can handle us." 117 O you who read, hear now of this new sport: each turned his eyes upon the other shore, he first who'd been most hesitant before. 120 The Navarrese, in nick of time, had planted his feet upon the ground; then in an instant he jumped and freed himself from their commander. 123 At this each demon felt the prick of guilt, and most, he who had led his band to blunder; so he took off and shouted: "You are caught!" 126 But this could help him little; wings were not more fast than fear; the sinner plunged right under; the other, flying up, lifted his chest: 129 not otherwise the wild duck when it plunges precipitously, when the falcon nears and then-exhausted, thwarted-flies back up. 132 But Calcabrina, raging at the trick, flew after Alichino; he was keen to see the sinner free and have a brawl; 135 and once the Navarrese had disappeared, he turned his talons on his fellow demon and tangled with him just above the ditch. 138 But Alichino clawed him well-he was indeed a full-grown kestrel; and both fell into the middle of the boiling pond. 141 The heat was quick to disentangle them, but still there was no way they could get out; their wings were stuck, enmeshed in glue-like pitch. 144 And Barbariccia, grieving with the rest, sent four to fly out toward the other shore with all their forks, and speedily enough 147 on this side and on that they took their posts; and toward those two-stuck fast, already cooked beneath that crust-they stretched their grappling hooks. 150 We left them still contending with that mess. 151 |
The escort of ten demons.
We followed the ten demons. During
our journey, I managed to have a better view of the valley and the burning
pitch. I noticed that, like dolphins that show their backs above water,
eventually some sinner would show his to alleviate his suffering, and
dive immediately. Others remained at the cesspool border, but they would
submerge as soon as Barbariccia would appear.
I've seen a hesitant sinner that took some more time to return to the
burning pond. Before the poor man could submerge, Graffiacane grabbed
him by his hair. The devils screamed:
- Oh Rubicante! Stick your claws in his back! Tear the skin!!
While the demons scream, I turned to the master and asked:
- Master, can you find out who the unfortunate one who feel on the hands
of his adversaries.
My guide got closer to the sinner, and asked him where he came from. The
sinner answered:
- I was born and raised in the Navarra kingdom. I was then a servant the
kind Tabeldo, and there I learned the art of cheapness. Now I'm paying
for it in this hot pool.
Ciriatto, that had two fangs like the ones of a boar, showed him how only
one of them could tear him apart. But Barbariccia interfered, grabbing
him.
- Take your chance while I'm holding him! - Barbariccia told Virgilio
- If you want him to speak more, interrogate him before the others dilacerate
him.
- So tell me - continued Virgilio - do you know any Latin down there?
- I was with one just know. I wish I could be with them down there, so
I wouldn't receive these fork stabs.
- We waited to long! - Libicocco screamed, ripping a peace of his arm
with his fork. Draghinazzo was also going at it, but gave up when he understood
the decurion Barbariccia was staring at him with an irritated look.
- But who were you with down there? - asked the master.
- It was Frei Gomita de Gallura, great speculator. - the condemned one
answered - He spends his time talking with Dom Michel Zanche about the
Sardinia. Ah! But look how the devil is laughing! I could talk more to
you, but I fear this demons will get mad and torture me!
But Barbaraccia turned to Farfarello, that got nearer, and screamed:
- Retreat, you disgusting bird of prey.
- If you wish to see Toscains and Lombards - the sinner kept saying -,
I can make piles of them show up! But I need the Malebranche to get away,
for they fear them. I alone, without leaving this place, can make seven
of them arise, with a simple whistle. Its our sign to tell one of us is
out.
- Take a look at the trick he came up with to escape! - said Cagnazzo,
laughing and shaking his head.
- Tricky I am - said the sinner -, specially to bring my mates to disaster.
But Alichino wanted to see it happen and he challenged:
- If you dive I will not go after you, for I have the wings to catch you.
We will let you go free and we will stand behind the valley. We'll see
if you're quicker then us.
And so, they all headed to the valley, starting with the one that opposed
to the game. Cunning, the corrupt man jumped and managed to run. Alichino
couldn't reach him. Calcabrina, furious, also run after him, wanting for
the sinner to escape, so he could get in to a fight with Alchino. As soon
as the sinner submerged, he jumped over his brother, and both of them
twisted in the air above the tar. They both started to mutilate themselves
with there claws until they fell on the burning pitch. The heat was enough
to separate them, but they were unable to leave the well, because their
wings were soaked. So all the devils ran out the help them.
And so we left them, in that confusion, and we continued alone.
Malacoda: "evil-tail."
Alichino: same root as "harlequin." : "low wing"
Calcabrina: "he who can walk on brine."
Cagnazzo: "big dog" : "dog's snout"
Libicocco: "winds," from the two winds libeccio and sirocco.
Barbariccia: "curly beard."
Draghignazzo: "big dragon." : "ugly dragon"
Circiatto: "hog."
Farfarello: "evil ghost." : "elf"
Rubicante: "he who grows red."
Graffiacane: "he who scratches dogs."
A Picture of the Demons Threatening Virgil
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