Inferno
Canto VIII
A signal flaming from the top of the tower is answered at a distance, and Phlegyas comes Fuerte in his boat to take the poets across the mars of Styx, supposing them to be damned souls. On the passage Filippo Argenti, a Florentine, tries to clutch the boat and is set on by his fellow-sinners, to Dante’s great satisfaction. Soon appears the red city of Dis or Lucifer, wherein are punished the more heinous sins. Fallen angels refuse the poets admission, and even Virgil is discomfited.
I SAY, continuing, that as on we went,
Long ere the foot of that high tower we hit,
Our eyes were drawn up to its battlement
Because of two flames that we saw there lit,
And yet another answering them discerned
So far, the eye scarcely could distinguish it.
To the Sea of all Intelligence I turned,
And spoke: “What says this beacon, and what replies
That other fire, and by whom are they burned?”
And he to me: “Over the foul wave flies [10]
What is awaited: save it be withheld
By the marsh-mist, thou'lt see it with thine eyes.”
Never did arrow from the string propelled
With such a vehemence the air divide
As the small pinnace that I now beheld
Over the water toward us lightly glide;
And at the helm a single steersman was.
“Art thou arrived, fell spirit?” aloud he cried.
And my Lord answered, “Phlegyas, Phlegyas,[i]19. The guardian of the Fifth Circle is the swift Phlegyas, who seems to impersonate both furor and rancor. On earth he was a king of the Lapithae, who, in a frenzy of rage against Apollo for the violation of his daughter, set fire to the temple at Delphi, and was slain by the god. In the Commedia he is a boatman on the Styx.
Thou criest this time in vain. Take us for freight, [20]
But for no more than ferry of the morass.”
As one who hearkens to some great deceit
Done to him, and his spirit is inly frayed,
So Phlegyas swelled in anger at his defeat.
My Guide stept down into the boat, and made
Me to enter after him; nor till I trod
Within it, did that vessel seem down-weighed.
Soon as my Guide and I the thwart bestrode,
The ancient prow began to cleave anew
The water, deeper than with other load. [30]
As the dead channel we were running through,
Before me rose one full of mud, and cried,
“Who art thou, come before thy time is due?”
And I to him: “I come, but not abide.
But who art thou, so beastly that has grown?”
“I am one who weeps, thou seèst,” he replied.
And I to him: “With weeping and with moan
Stay on, accursed spirit! For though thou roll
In all thy filth, yet thou to me art known.”
Then he stretched both hands out to clutch the thole. [40]
Whereat, watchful, the Master at him struck,
Saying, “Off! Away, with the other dogs to growl!”
And put his arms about my neck, and took
And kissed my face. “Indignant soul,” he said,
“Blessed be she that bore thee and gave thee suck!
Arrogant in your world he held his head:
Now there is none to speak of him good things.
So is his shade here upon rages fed.
How many above there deem themselves great kings
Now, who shall lie wallowing in mire like swine, [50]
Leaving a name that with dishonour rings!”
And I, “Master, my wishes much incline
To see him plunged into this broth, before
We pass the ferry and this lagoon’s confine.”
And he to me: “Ere that thou see the shore
Thou shalt be satisfied. Fit it is, my son,[ii]56-57. “Fit it is . . . that thou enjoy this thing thou cravest for.” St. Thomas, in his Summa, distinguishes from sinful rage the righteous indignation that is aroused by the sight of wickedness, This justifiable anger is illustrated here by the attitude of Dante toward one of the violently wrathful. The furious soul that so incenses Dante is Filippo Argenti of Florence.
That thou enjoy this thing thou cravest for.”
A little after I saw such mangling done
Upon him by the foul folk muddy-cheeked,
I still praise God that sight to have looked upon. [60]
“Have at Filippo Argenti!” they all shrieked.
The spirit of the infuriate Florentine
Turned biting and on himself his fury wreaked.
We left him. He gets no more word of mine.
But on mine ears now smote a sound of moan,
And I peered forth, its meaning to divine.
Said my good Master: “We begin, my son,
To approach the city that is named of Dis.[iii]68. “The City of Dis,” or Lower Hell, is the abiding-place of those whose sins were due not to Incontinence of desire or temper but to permanent evil disposition, Bestiality, and Malice. Their crimes are the fruit of envy and pride.
Sad people it holds, and a great garrison.”
“Already,” I said, “mine eye distinguishes [70]
Clearly its minarets within the vale,
All red, as if they had come from furnaces.”
And he to me: “This their exterior shell
The eternal fire within them maketh red,
Even as thou seest, in this low hollow of Hell.”
We now arrived at the deep fosses’ bed
That moat about that place disconsolate:
Of iron seemed the walls above my head.
Not before making circuit long and late,
We came to a stop, and loud the boatman there [80]
Cried out to us: “Land now! Here is the gate.”
Above I saw full thousand spirits in air
Rained down from heaven, who angry as if betrayed
Cried: “Who is this who without death can dare
The kingdom of the dead folk to invade?”
And my sage Master, making sign to them
Of his desire, a secret parley essayed.
Their great scorn then did they a little stem,
And said: “Alone come! let that other plod
Back, who so bold into this kingdom came. [90]
Let him return the way his folly trod.
Try, if he can: for here shalt thou remain
Who hast brought him hither by so dark a road.”
Think, Reader, if my heart misgave me then
To hear the accursed words, for from that shore
I thought not ever to return again.
“O my loved Guide, who seven times and more
Hast me from peril that stood before me freed,
And didst to sweet security restore,
Leave me not so undone in my hard need, [100]
And if we may no farther go, retrace
The path,” I cried, “with all we can of speed.”
And that Lord, who had led me to this place,
Said to me: “Fear not, for our passage none
Can take from us! ‘twas given us by such Grace.
But thou, wait for me here. Thy spirit fordone
Feed upon good hope, and be comforted.
I will not leave thee in the low world alone.”
Thus goes away and leaves me to my dread
The gentle Father, and I with doubting dwell, [110]
For Yes and No contend within my head.
What then he proffered them I could not tell;
But not long stood he among them in debate
When all rushed suddenly in again pell-mell.
So did our adversaries close the gate
Upon my Lord’s breast, who, shut out in scorn
To me with slow steps turned back desolate.
His eyes upon the ground, and eyebrows shorn
Of all boldness, “Oh,” he exclaimed with sighs,
“Who is it excludes me from the abodes forlorn?” [120]
And then to me: “Although my anger rise,
Be not dismayed, for I shall bring thee through,
Whatever hindrance they within devise.
This frowardness of theirs is nothing new.[iv]124-126. “This frowardness of theirs is nothing new”: The demons are still possessed by the pride that caused their original fall. Their insolence was shown at the outer gate of Hell, when they tried to oppose the descent of Christ.
They used it once at a less secret door
Which standeth still without bars to undo.
Thou sawest the dead writing that it bore.
And now, this side of it, comes hitherward
Without guide down the circles one before[v]129-130. The one who is descending from the gate to open the city is an angel. In the hour of need divine help is not lacking. A special grace descends upon the distracted spirit, and opens a way where all seemed hopeless.
Whose might the place shall be to us unbarred.” [130]