Inferno
Canto XVIII
The Eighth Circle is divided into ten concentric rings forming deep chasms called Malebolge or Evil Pockets; in each of them a separate kind of Fraud has its own punishment. From the circumference of the circle to the central pit (leading to the Ninth Circle) run “spokes” of rock which bridge the chasms. In the first, or outermost, chasm are two processions of sinners going opposite ways; the first are panders, the second seducers. By means of one of the bridges Dante passes to the cliff above the next chasm or bolgia where are flatterers immersed in filth. The description of the ten chasms of the Eighth Circle occupies this and the succeeding cantos as far as the end of Canto XXX.
HELL hath a region, Malebolge called.
All stone and iron-coloured is the place,
Like the round barrier wherewith it is walled.
Right in the middle of the baleful space
There yawns a well exceeding deep and wide,
Whose structure hereinafter I shall trace.
The margin therefore that remains beside,
Between the well and the cliff’s root, is round;
And ten ravines the floor of it divide.
As is the form presented by the ground, [10]
Where for defence of tower and bastion
Moat after moat is round a castle wound,
Here a like image to the eye was shown;
And as the thresholds of the fortress send
Their several bridges to the far bank thrown,
So from the bottom of the rock extend
Bridges, upon the dykes and fosses based,
Down to the well that knits them at their end.
In this place, shaken off from Geryon’s waist,
We found ourselves now, and the poet still [20]
Kept to the left and I behind him paced.
On the right hand I saw new sights of ill—
New torments, new tormentors multiplied—
Which, deep within it, the first pocket fill.
There were the naked sinners; on our side
Of the middle of it they came, so that we met;[i]26. On the nearer side of the bottom of the ditch, the sinners, in their circling course, were coming towards us; on the further side, they were going with us, but faster than we walked.
On the other, went with us, at larger stride.
The Romans thus, by the great throngs beset[ii]28-34. In describing the double march of the lost souls, Dante recalls a scene witnessed by many thousands in Rome in the Jubilee year of 1299-1300. A barrier was erected lengthwise along the Bridge of Sant’Angelo, in order that the crowd going to and coming from St. Peter’s might pass in opposite directions without interference.—“The castle”: Castel Sant’Angelo.—“The Mount”: Monte Giordano, a slight eminence on the left of the river.
In the year of Jubilee, found the people a mode
To pass the bridge unjostled without let, [30]
So that on one side they are all bestowed
Facing the Castle, and to St. Peter’s fare;
On the other toward the Mount they keep the road
Along the dingy stone, now here, now there,
I saw horned demons each with a great whip
Who from behind smote on those sinners bare.
With what alacrity they made them skip
At the first strokes! Ah, truly there was none
Who waited for the third, nay second, stripe.
As I went on, my eyes encountered one; [40]
And “Before now” immediately I said
“This face I have not lacked to look upon.”
To scrutinise him, in my steps I stayed.
And the most gentle Guide suffered me go
Backward a space, and with me himself delayed.
And that scourged spirit thought to have hidden, so low
He hung his head; but little did it avail.
For “Thou,” said I, “who the eyes dost downward throw,
Unless thou wear false features for a veil,
Art Venedico Caccianemico, but [50][iii]50. “Venedico Caccianemico,” was Podesta of Milan in 1275, Pistoia in 1283.
What brings thee in the stinging brine to quail?”
And he to me: “My lips were liefer shut.
But these thy words that bring me back so true
The world that was, forbid me to be mute.
'Twas I who made Ghisolabella do[iv]55-56: “Ghisolabella” was Venedico’s sister. “The Marquis”: Obizzo da Este of Ferrara.
The Marquis’ will, however it may please
Rumour the shameful story to construe.
Nor wail I here the only Bolognese.
Nay, with us is the place so full, that not
So many to say sipa (as our way is) [60][v]60-61. “Sipa” is an old Bolognese word for sia, often used for “yes.” Bologna lies between the two rivers, Savena and Reno. The number of Bolognese panders in this ditch exceeds the number of all the living people who speak Bolognese.
Twixt Savena and Reno now are taught.
If thou wouldst have confirming proof of it
Recall how greed of money on us hath wrought.”
As he spoke thus, a demon at him beat
With lifted lash: “Pandar away,” he cried,
“Here are no women thou canst use to cheat.”
My Escort then I re-accompanied;
And after some few steps we came anon
To where a cliff projected from the side.
This without effort soon we climbed upon, [70]
And on the rough ridge, turning to the right,
From those eternal circles we passed on.
When we were at that place where for the flight
Of the scourged spirits it thereunder gapes,
“Now,” said the Master, “wait and let the sight[vi]75-77. Dante is now to look down, at the right, on the seducers, whose faces he has not been able to see from the bank.
Strike on thee of the misbegotten shapes
Whose faces heretofore have been withheld,
For they have gone with us and in our steps.”
From the ancient bridge the train we then beheld
Of those who now facing to us-ward sped, [80]
Whom likewise the pursuing scourge compelled.
The kind Master, without my asking, said:
“Look on that great one who advances now
And seems in all his pain no tear to shed.
How regal still is the aspect of his brow!
He is Jason, who by courage and by guile[vii]86. “Jason” despoiled the Colchians of the golden fleece,
Bore off the Ram’s fleece from the Colchian bough.
Upon that quest he passed by Lemnos isle,
After the women, pitilessly bold,[viii]89. The women of Lemnos, forsaken by their husbands on account of a curse put upon them by Venus, agreed to murder all the males on the island.
Had given the males all unto slaughter vile. [90]
There with fair pledges and with words of gold
Did he cajole the young Hypsipyle,
Who theretofore had all the rest cajoled.[ix]93. “Hypsipyle” had saved her father, King Thoas, by pretending to have killed him.
Pregnant and lorn he left her by that sea.
Such guilt so heavy a punishment endures;
And also for Medea is paid the fee.[x]96. “Medea” was beguiled by Jason.
With him go all who practise the like lures.
Be this sufficient for thee to have known
Of the first valley and all whom it devours.”
We had come to where the pathway, narrower grown, [100]
Crosses the second ridge, whereof the rock
Is buttress to another arch of stone.
Here in the other chasm whining of folk
We heard, who with a gobbling muzzle growled,
While with their palms upon themselves they struck.
The banks were crusted over with a mould
Clotted upon them from the mounting fume
Which eyes and nose assaulted and befouled.
The bottom was so deep that through the gloom
We saw nought, till by keeping on the road [110]
To the arch’s summit we were on it come.
Thereon we stood, and in the hollow showed
Down there a people slopt in excrement
As if from human privies it had flowed.
And while I searched them with my eyes intent,
A head, if clerk’s or layman’s none could tell,
I saw, with ordure it was so besprent.
He cried to me: “Why does thy look so dwell
On me more than the others in this sty?”
And I: “Because, if I remember well, [120]
I have seen thee before now with thy hair dry.
Thou art Alessio Interminei[xi]122. “Alessio Interminei” belonged to a noble family of Lucca; we know nothing in particular about him.
Of Lucca; of all, then, thee I keenest eye.”
And he, beating his pumpkin-pate, said: “See!
Down to this dirt the flatteries without end,
Which my tongue revelled in, have sunken me!”
Thereon my Guide: “Stretch forth thy face and bend
A little forward, that thine eyes may meet
The form, and features fully comprehend,
Of that dishevelled harlot soiled with sweat [130]
Who with her filthy nails scratches her side,
Now crouching and now standing on her feet.
Thais is she, the whore who thus replied[xii]133. “Thais,” the harlot, is a character in Terence’s Eunuchus, to whom her lover Thraso has sent a present.
To her lover when ‘Dost thank me much?’ he said:
“Ay, more than much, marvellously,’ she cried.
And herewith let our sight be surfeited.”