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INFERNO CANTO 19
Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr. Notes Ann.

O Simon Magus! O his sad disciples! Rapacious ones, who take the things of God, that ought to be the brides of Righteousness, O SIMON MAGUS, O forlorn disciples, Ye who the things of God, which ought to be The brides of holiness, rapaciously

19.001 19.003

and make them fornicate for gold and silver! The time has come to let the trumpet sound for you; your place is here in this third pouch. For silver and for gold do prostitute, Now it behoves for you the trumpet sound, Because in this third Bolgia ye abide.

19.005 19.006

We had already reached the tomb beyond and climbed onto the ridge, where its high point hangs just above the middle of the ditch. We had already on the following tomb Ascended to that portion of the crag Which o er the middle of the moat hangs plumb.

19.009

O Highest Wisdom, how much art you show in heaven, earth, and this sad world below, how just your power is when it allots! Wisdom supreme, O how great art thou showest In heaven, in earth, and in the evil world, And with what justice doth thy power distribute !

19.012

Along the sides and down along the bottom, I saw that livid rock was perforated: the openings were all one width and round. I saw upon the sides and on the bottom The livid stone with perforations filled, All of one size, and every one was round.

19.015

They did not seem to me less broad or more than those that in my handsome San Giovanni were made to serve as basins for baptizing; To me less ample seemed they not, nor greater Than those that in my beautiful Saint John Are fashioned for the place of the baptisers,

19.018

and one of these, not many years ago, I broke for someone who was drowning in it: and let this be my seal to set men straight. And one of which, not many years ago, I broke for some one, who was drowning in it; Be this a seal all men to undeceive.

19.019 19.020 19.021

Out from the mouth of each hole there emerged a sinner's feet and so much of his legs up to the thigh; the rest remained within. Out of the mouth of each one there protruded The feet of a transgressor, and the legs Up to the calf, the rest within remained.

19.024

Both soles of every sinner were on fire; their joints were writhing with such violence, they would have severed withes and ropes of grass. In all of them the soles were both on fire; Wherefore the joints so violently quivered, They would have snapped asunder withes and bands.

19.027

As flame on oily things will only stir along the outer surface, so there, too, that fire made its way from heels to toes. Even as the flame of unctuous things is wont To move upon the outer surface only, So likewise was it there from heel to point.

19.030

"Master," I said, "who is that shade who suffers and quivers more than all his other comrades, that sinner who is licked by redder flames?" "Master, who is that one who writhes himself, More than his other comrades quivering," I said, "and whom a redder flame is sucking ?"

19.033

And he to me: "If you would have me lead you down along the steepest of the banks, from him you'll learn about his self and sins." And he to me: "If thou wilt have me bear thee Down there along that bank which lowest lies, From him thou'lt know his errors and himself."

19.036

And I: "What pleases you will please me too: you are my lord; you know I do not swerve from what you will, you know what is unspoken." And I: "What pleases thee, to me is pleasing; Thou art my Lord, and knowest that I depart not From thy desire, and knowest what is not spoken."

19.039

At this we came upon the fourth embankment; we turned and, keeping to the left, descended into the narrow, perforated bottom. Straightway upon the fourth dike we arrived; We turned, and on the left-hand side descended Down to the bottom full of holes and narrow.

19.042

My good lord did not let me leave his side until he'd brought me to the hole that held that sinner who lamented with his legs. And the good Master yet from off his haunch Deposed me not, till to the hole he brought me Of him who so lamented with his shanks.

19.045

"Whoever you may be, dejected soul, whose head is downward, planted like a pole," my words began, "do speak if you are able." "Whoe'er thou art, that standest upside down, O doleful soul, implanted like a stake," To say began I, "if thou canst, speak out."

19.048

I stood as does the friar who confesses the foul assassin who, fixed fast, head down, calls back the friar, and so delays his death; I stood even as the friar who is confessing The false assassin, who, when he is fixed, Recalls him, so that death may be delayed.

19.050 19.051

and he cried out: "Are you already standing, already standing there, o Boniface? The book has lied to me by several years. And he cried out: "Dost thou stand there already, Dost thou stand there already, Boniface ? By many years the record lied to me.

19.053 19.054

Are you so quickly sated with the riches for which you did not fear to take by guile the Lovely Lady, then to violate her?" Art thou so early satiate with that wealth, For which thou didst not fear to take by fraud The beautiful Lady, and then work her woe ?"

19.057

And I became like those who stand as if they have been mocked, who cannot understand what has been said to them and can't respond. Such I became, as people are who stand, Not comprehending what is answered them, As if bemocked, and know not how to answer.

19.060

But Virgil said: "Tell this to him at once: 'I am not he-not whom you think I am.'" And I replied as I was told to do. Then said Virgilius: "Say to him straightway, ' I am not he, I am not he thou thinkest."' And I replied as was imposed on me.

19.063

At this the spirit twisted both his feet, and sighing and with a despairing voice, he said: "What is it, then, you want of me? Whereat the spirit writhed with both his feet, Then, sighing, with a voice of lamentation Said to me: "Then what wantest thou of me ?

19.066

If you have crossed the bank and climbed so far to find out who I am, then know that I was one of those who wore the mighty mantle, If who I am thou carest so much to know, That thou on that account hast crossed the bank, Know that I vested was with the great mantle;

19.069

and surely was a son of the she-bear, so eager to advance the cubs that I pursed wealth above while here I purse myself. And truly was I son of the She-bear, So eager to advance the cubs, that wealth Above, and here myself, I pocketed.

19.070 19.072

Below my head there is the place of those who took the way of simony before me; and they are stuffed within the clefts of stone. Beneath my head the others are dragged down Who have preceded me in simony, Flattened along the fissure of the rock.

19.075

I, too, shall yield my place and fall below when he arrives, the one for whom I had mistaken you when I was quick to question. Below there I shall likewise fall, whenever That one shall come who I believed thou wast, What time the sudden question I proposed.

19.078

But I have baked my feet a longer time, have stood like this, upon my head, than he is to stand planted here with scarlet feet: But longer I my feet already toast, And here have been in this way upside down. Than he will planted stay with reddened feet;

19.081

for after him, one uglier in deeds will come, a lawless shepherd from the west, worthy to cover him and cover me. For after him shall come of fouler deed From tow'rds the west a Pastor without law, Such as befits to cover him and me.

19.083 19.084

He'll be a second Jason, of whom we read in Maccabees; and just as Jason's king was soft to him, so shall the king of France New Jason will he be, of whom we read In Maccabees ; and as his king was pliant, So he who governs France shall be to this one."

19.085 19.087

be soft to this one." And I do not know if I was too rash here-I answered so: "Then tell me now, how much gold did our Lord I do not know if I were here too bold, That him I answered only in this metre: "I pray thee tell me now how great a treasure

19.090

ask that Saint Peter give to him before he placed the keys within his care? Surely the only thing he said was: 'Follow me.' Our Lord demanded of Saint Peter first, Before he put the keys into his keeping? Truly he nothing asked but ' Follow me.'

19.093

And Peter and the others never asked for gold or silver when they chose Matthias to take the place of the transgressing soul. Nor Peter nor the rest asked of Matthias Silver or gold, when he by lot was chosen Unto the place the guilty soul had lost.

19.094 19.096

Stay as you are, for you are rightly punished; and guard with care the money got by evil that made you so audacious against Charles. Therefore stay here, for thou art justly punished, And keep safe guard o'er the ill-gotten money, Which caused thee to be valiant against Charles.

19.099

And were it not that I am still prevented by reverence for those exalted keys that you had held within the happy life, And were it not that still forbids it me The reverence for the keys superlative Thou hadst in keeping in the gladsome life,

19.102

I'd utter words much heavier than these, because your avarice afflicts the world: it tramples on the good, lifts up the wicked. I would make use of words more grievous still; Because your avarice afflicts the world, Trampling the good and lifting the depraved.

19.105

You, shepherds, the Evangelist had noticed when he saw her who sits upon the waters and realized she fornicates with kings, The Evangelist you Pastors had in mind, When she who sitteth upon many waters To fornicate with kings by him was seen;

19.107 19.108

she who was born with seven heads and had the power and support of the ten horns, as long as virtue was her husband's pleasure. The same who with the seven heads was born, And power and strength from the ten horns received, So long as virtue to her spouse was pleasing.

19.110 19.111

You've made yourselves a god of gold and silver; how are you different from idolaters, save that they worship one and you a hundred? Ye have made yourselves a god of gold and silver; And from the idolater how differ ye, Save that he one, and ye a hundred worship?

19.114

Ah, Constantine, what wickedness was born- and not from your conversion-from the dower that you bestowed upon the first rich father!" Ah, Constantine ! of how much ill was mother, Not thy conversion, but that marriage dower Which the first wealthy Father took from thee !"

19.117

And while I sang such notes to him-whether it was his indignation or his conscience that bit him-he kicked hard with both his soles. And while I sang to him such notes as these. Either that anger or that conscience stung him, He struggled violently with both his feet.

19.120

I do indeed believe it pleased my guide: he listened always with such satisfied expression to the sound of those true words. I think in sooth that it my Leader pleased, With such contented lip he listened ever Unto the sound of the true words expressed.

19.123

And then he gathered me in both his arms and, when he had me fast against his chest, where he climbed down before, climbed upward now; Therefore with both his arms he took me up, And when he had me all upon his breast, Remounted by the way where he descended.

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nor did he tire of clasping me until he brought me to the summit of the arch that crosses from the fourth to the fifth rampart. Nor did he tire to have me clasped to him; But bore me to the summit of the arch Which from the fourth dike to the fifth is passage.

19.129

And here he gently set his burden down- gently because the ridge was rough and steep, and would have been a rugged pass for goats. There tenderly he laid his burden down, Tenderly on the crag uneven and steep, That would have been hard passage for the goats:

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From there another valley lay before me. Thence was unveiled to me another valley.

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Previous or Next Canto

INFERNO CANTO 19 Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.	*Notes*	*Ann.*
O Simon Magus! O his sad disciples! Rapacious ones, who take the things of God, that ought to be the brides of Righteousness, O SIMON MAGUS, O forlorn disciples, Ye who the things of God, which ought to be The brides of holiness, rapaciously	19.001 19.003
and make them fornicate for gold and silver! The time has come to let the trumpet sound for you; your place is here in this third pouch. For silver and for gold do prostitute, Now it behoves for you the trumpet sound, Because in this third Bolgia ye abide.	19.005 19.006
We had already reached the tomb beyond and climbed onto the ridge, where its high point hangs just above the middle of the ditch. We had already on the following tomb Ascended to that portion of the crag Which o er the middle of the moat hangs plumb.	19.009
O Highest Wisdom, how much art you show in heaven, earth, and this sad world below, how just your power is when it allots! Wisdom supreme, O how great art thou showest In heaven, in earth, and in the evil world, And with what justice doth thy power distribute !	19.012
Along the sides and down along the bottom, I saw that livid rock was perforated: the openings were all one width and round. I saw upon the sides and on the bottom The livid stone with perforations filled, All of one size, and every one was round.	19.015
They did not seem to me less broad or more than those that in my handsome San Giovanni were made to serve as basins for baptizing; To me less ample seemed they not, nor greater Than those that in my beautiful Saint John Are fashioned for the place of the baptisers,	19.018
and one of these, not many years ago, I broke for someone who was drowning in it: and let this be my seal to set men straight. And one of which, not many years ago, I broke for some one, who was drowning in it; Be this a seal all men to undeceive.	19.019 19.020 19.021
Out from the mouth of each hole there emerged a sinner's feet and so much of his legs up to the thigh; the rest remained within. Out of the mouth of each one there protruded The feet of a transgressor, and the legs Up to the calf, the rest within remained.	19.024
Both soles of every sinner were on fire; their joints were writhing with such violence, they would have severed withes and ropes of grass. In all of them the soles were both on fire; Wherefore the joints so violently quivered, They would have snapped asunder withes and bands.	19.027
As flame on oily things will only stir along the outer surface, so there, too, that fire made its way from heels to toes. Even as the flame of unctuous things is wont To move upon the outer surface only, So likewise was it there from heel to point.	19.030
"Master," I said, "who is that shade who suffers and quivers more than all his other comrades, that sinner who is licked by redder flames?" "Master, who is that one who writhes himself, More than his other comrades quivering," I said, "and whom a redder flame is sucking ?"	19.033
And he to me: "If you would have me lead you down along the steepest of the banks, from him you'll learn about his self and sins." And he to me: "If thou wilt have me bear thee Down there along that bank which lowest lies, From him thou'lt know his errors and himself."	19.036
And I: "What pleases you will please me too: you are my lord; you know I do not swerve from what you will, you know what is unspoken." And I: "What pleases thee, to me is pleasing; Thou art my Lord, and knowest that I depart not From thy desire, and knowest what is not spoken."	19.039
At this we came upon the fourth embankment; we turned and, keeping to the left, descended into the narrow, perforated bottom. Straightway upon the fourth dike we arrived; We turned, and on the left-hand side descended Down to the bottom full of holes and narrow.	19.042
My good lord did not let me leave his side until he'd brought me to the hole that held that sinner who lamented with his legs. And the good Master yet from off his haunch Deposed me not, till to the hole he brought me Of him who so lamented with his shanks.	19.045
"Whoever you may be, dejected soul, whose head is downward, planted like a pole," my words began, "do speak if you are able." "Whoe'er thou art, that standest upside down, O doleful soul, implanted like a stake," To say began I, "if thou canst, speak out."	19.048
I stood as does the friar who confesses the foul assassin who, fixed fast, head down, calls back the friar, and so delays his death; I stood even as the friar who is confessing The false assassin, who, when he is fixed, Recalls him, so that death may be delayed.	19.050 19.051
and he cried out: "Are you already standing, already standing there, o Boniface? The book has lied to me by several years. And he cried out: "Dost thou stand there already, Dost thou stand there already, Boniface ? By many years the record lied to me.	19.053 19.054
Are you so quickly sated with the riches for which you did not fear to take by guile the Lovely Lady, then to violate her?" Art thou so early satiate with that wealth, For which thou didst not fear to take by fraud The beautiful Lady, and then work her woe ?"	19.057
And I became like those who stand as if they have been mocked, who cannot understand what has been said to them and can't respond. Such I became, as people are who stand, Not comprehending what is answered them, As if bemocked, and know not how to answer.	19.060
But Virgil said: "Tell this to him at once: 'I am not he-not whom you think I am.'" And I replied as I was told to do. Then said Virgilius: "Say to him straightway, ' I am not he, I am not he thou thinkest."' And I replied as was imposed on me.	19.063
At this the spirit twisted both his feet, and sighing and with a despairing voice, he said: "What is it, then, you want of me? Whereat the spirit writhed with both his feet, Then, sighing, with a voice of lamentation Said to me: "Then what wantest thou of me ?	19.066
If you have crossed the bank and climbed so far to find out who I am, then know that I was one of those who wore the mighty mantle, If who I am thou carest so much to know, That thou on that account hast crossed the bank, Know that I vested was with the great mantle;	19.069
and surely was a son of the she-bear, so eager to advance the cubs that I pursed wealth above while here I purse myself. And truly was I son of the She-bear, So eager to advance the cubs, that wealth Above, and here myself, I pocketed.	19.070 19.072
Below my head there is the place of those who took the way of simony before me; and they are stuffed within the clefts of stone. Beneath my head the others are dragged down Who have preceded me in simony, Flattened along the fissure of the rock.	19.075
I, too, shall yield my place and fall below when he arrives, the one for whom I had mistaken you when I was quick to question. Below there I shall likewise fall, whenever That one shall come who I believed thou wast, What time the sudden question I proposed.	19.078
But I have baked my feet a longer time, have stood like this, upon my head, than he is to stand planted here with scarlet feet: But longer I my feet already toast, And here have been in this way upside down. Than he will planted stay with reddened feet;	19.081
for after him, one uglier in deeds will come, a lawless shepherd from the west, worthy to cover him and cover me. For after him shall come of fouler deed From tow'rds the west a Pastor without law, Such as befits to cover him and me.	19.083 19.084
He'll be a second Jason, of whom we read in Maccabees; and just as Jason's king was soft to him, so shall the king of France New Jason will he be, of whom we read In Maccabees ; and as his king was pliant, So he who governs France shall be to this one."	19.085 19.087
be soft to this one." And I do not know if I was too rash here-I answered so: "Then tell me now, how much gold did our Lord I do not know if I were here too bold, That him I answered only in this metre: "I pray thee tell me now how great a treasure	19.090
ask that Saint Peter give to him before he placed the keys within his care? Surely the only thing he said was: 'Follow me.' Our Lord demanded of Saint Peter first, Before he put the keys into his keeping? Truly he nothing asked but ' Follow me.'	19.093
And Peter and the others never asked for gold or silver when they chose Matthias to take the place of the transgressing soul. Nor Peter nor the rest asked of Matthias Silver or gold, when he by lot was chosen Unto the place the guilty soul had lost.	19.094 19.096
Stay as you are, for you are rightly punished; and guard with care the money got by evil that made you so audacious against Charles. Therefore stay here, for thou art justly punished, And keep safe guard o'er the ill-gotten money, Which caused thee to be valiant against Charles.	19.099
And were it not that I am still prevented by reverence for those exalted keys that you had held within the happy life, And were it not that still forbids it me The reverence for the keys superlative Thou hadst in keeping in the gladsome life,	19.102
I'd utter words much heavier than these, because your avarice afflicts the world: it tramples on the good, lifts up the wicked. I would make use of words more grievous still; Because your avarice afflicts the world, Trampling the good and lifting the depraved.	19.105
You, shepherds, the Evangelist had noticed when he saw her who sits upon the waters and realized she fornicates with kings, The Evangelist you Pastors had in mind, When she who sitteth upon many waters To fornicate with kings by him was seen;	19.107 19.108
she who was born with seven heads and had the power and support of the ten horns, as long as virtue was her husband's pleasure. The same who with the seven heads was born, And power and strength from the ten horns received, So long as virtue to her spouse was pleasing.	19.110 19.111
You've made yourselves a god of gold and silver; how are you different from idolaters, save that they worship one and you a hundred? Ye have made yourselves a god of gold and silver; And from the idolater how differ ye, Save that he one, and ye a hundred worship?	19.114
Ah, Constantine, what wickedness was born- and not from your conversion-from the dower that you bestowed upon the first rich father!" Ah, Constantine ! of how much ill was mother, Not thy conversion, but that marriage dower Which the first wealthy Father took from thee !"	19.117
And while I sang such notes to him-whether it was his indignation or his conscience that bit him-he kicked hard with both his soles. And while I sang to him such notes as these. Either that anger or that conscience stung him, He struggled violently with both his feet.	19.120
I do indeed believe it pleased my guide: he listened always with such satisfied expression to the sound of those true words. I think in sooth that it my Leader pleased, With such contented lip he listened ever Unto the sound of the true words expressed.	19.123
And then he gathered me in both his arms and, when he had me fast against his chest, where he climbed down before, climbed upward now; Therefore with both his arms he took me up, And when he had me all upon his breast, Remounted by the way where he descended.	19.126
nor did he tire of clasping me until he brought me to the summit of the arch that crosses from the fourth to the fifth rampart. Nor did he tire to have me clasped to him; But bore me to the summit of the arch Which from the fourth dike to the fifth is passage.	19.129
And here he gently set his burden down- gently because the ridge was rough and steep, and would have been a rugged pass for goats. There tenderly he laid his burden down, Tenderly on the crag uneven and steep, That would have been hard passage for the goats:	19.132
From there another valley lay before me. Thence was unveiled to me another valley.	19.133