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INFERNO CANTO 21
Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr. Notes Ann.

We came along from one bridge to another, talking ef things my Comedy is not concerned to sing. We held fast to the summit, FROM bridge to bridge thus, speaking other things Of which my Comedy cares not to sing, We came along, and held the summit, when

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then stayed our steps to spy the other cleft of Malebolge and other vain laments. I saw that it was wonderfully dark. We halted to behold another fissure Of Malebolge and other vain laments; And I beheld it marvellously dark.

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As in the arsenal of the Venetians, all winter long a stew of sticky pitch boils up to patch their sick and tattered ships As in the Arsenal of the Venetians Boils in the winter the tenacious pitch To smear their unsound vessels o'er again,

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that cannot sail (instead of voyaging, some build new keels, some tow and tar the ribs of hulls worn out by too much journeying; For sail they cannot; and instead thereof One makes his vessel new, and one recaulks The ribs of that which many a voyage has made;

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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); One hammers at the prow, one at the stern, This one makes oars, and that one cordage twists, Another mends the mainsail and the mizzen;

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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. Thus, not by fire, but by the art divine, Was boiling down below there a dense pitch Which upon every side the bank belimed.

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I saw it, but I could not see within it; no thing was visible but boiling bubbles, the swelling of the pitch; and then it settled. I saw it, but I did not see within it Aught but the bubbles that the boiling raised, And all swell up and resubside compressed.

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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. The while below there fixedly I gazed, My Leader, crying out: "Beware, beware !" Drew me unto himself from where I stood.

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I turned around as one who is impatient to see what he should shun but is dashed down beneath the terror he has undergone, Then I turned round, as one who is impatient To see what it behoves him to escape, And whom a sudden terror doth unman.

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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. Who, while he looks, delays not his departure; And I beheld behind us a black devil, Running along upon the crag, approach.

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Ah, he was surely barbarous to see! And how relentless seemed to me his acts! His wings were open and his feet were lithe; Ah, how ferocious was he in his aspect ! And how he seemed to me in action ruthless, With open wings and light upon his feet !

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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. His shoulders, which sharp-pointed were and high, A sinner did encumber with both haunches, And he held clutched the sinews of the feet.

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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- From off our bridge, he said: "O Malebranche, Behold one of the elders of Saint Zita; Plunge him beneath, for I return for others

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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." Unto that town, which is well furnished with them. All there are barrators, except Bonturo; No into Yes for money there is changed."

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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. He hurled him down, and over the hard crag Turned round, and never was a mastiff loosened In so much hurry to pursue a thief.

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The sinner plunged, then surfaced, black with pitch; but now the demons, from beneath the bridge, shouted: "The Sacred Face has no place here; The other sank, and rose again face downward; But the demons, under cover of the bridge, Cried: "Here the Santo Volto has no place !

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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." Here swims one otherwise than in the Serchio; Therefore, if for our gaffs thou wishest not, Do not uplift thyself above the pitch."

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They pricked him with a hundred prongs and more, then taunted: "Here one dances under cover, so try to grab your secret graft below." They seized him then with more than a hundred rakes; They said: "It here behoves thee to dance covered, That, if thou canst, thou secretly mayest pilfer."

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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. Not otherwise the cooks their scullions make Immerse into the middle of the caldron The meat with hooks, so that it may not float.

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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. Said the good Master to me: "That it be not Apparent thou art here, crouch thyself down Behind a jag, that thou mayest have some screen;

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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." And for no outrage that is done to me Be thou afraid, because these things I know, For once before was I in such a scuffle."

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When this was said, he moved beyond the bridgehead. And on the sixth embankment, he had need to show his imperturbability. Then he passed on beyond the bridge's head, And as upon the sixth bank he arrived, Need was for him to have a steadfast front.

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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, With the same fury, and the same uproar, As dogs leap out upon a mendicant, Who on a sudden begs, where'er he stops,

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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! They issued from beneath the little bridge, And turned against him all their grappling-irons; But he cried out: "Be none of you malignant !

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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." Before those hooks of yours lay hold of me, Let one of you step forward, who may hear me, And then take counsel as to grappling me."

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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?" They all cried out: "Let Malacoda go;" Whereat one started, and the rest stood still, And he came to him, saying: "What avails it ?"

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"O Malacoda, do you think I've come," my master answered him, "already armed- as you can see-against your obstacles, "Thinkest thou, Malacoda, to behold me Advanced into this place," my Master said, "Safe hitherto from all your skill of fence,

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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." Without the will divine, and fate auspicious ? Let me go on, for it in Heaven is willed That I another show this savage road."

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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." Then was his arrogance so humbled in him, That he let fall his grapnel at his feet, And to the others said: "Now strike him not."

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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." And unto me my Guide: "O thou, who sittest Among the splinters of the bridge crouched down, Securely now return to me again."

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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: Wherefore I started and came swiftly to him; And all the devils forward thrust themselves, So that I feared they would not keep their compact.

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just so, I saw the infantry when they marched out, under safe conduct, from Caprona; they trembled when they passed their enemies. And thus beheld I once afraid the soldiers Who issued under safeguard from Caprona, Seeing themselves among so many foes.

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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. Close did I press myself with all my person Beside my Leader, and turned not mine eyes From off their countenance, which was not good.

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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!" They lowered their rakes, and "Wilt thou have me hit him," They said to one another, "on the rump ?" And answered: "Yes; see that thou nick him with it."

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But Malacoda, still in conversation with my good guide, turned quickly to his squadron and said: "Be still, Scarmiglione, still!" But the same demon who was holding parley With my Conductor turned him very quickly, And said: "Be quiet, be quiet, Scarmiglione ;"

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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. Then said to us: "You can no farther go Forward upon this crag, because is lying All shattered, at the bottom, the sixth arch.

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Yet if you two still want to go ahead, move up and walk along this rocky edge; nearby, another ridge will form a path. And if it still doth please you to go onward, Pursue your way along upon this rock; Near is another crag that yields a path.

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Five hours from this hour yesterday, one thousand and two hundred sixty-six years passed since that roadway was shattered here. Yesterday, five hours later than this hour, One thousand and two hundred sixty-six Years were complete, that here the way was broken.

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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." I send in that direction some of mine To see if any one doth air himself; Go ye with them; for they will not be vicious.

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"Step forward, Alichino and Calcabrina," he then began to say, "and you, Cagnazzo; and Barbariccia, who can lead the ten. Step forward, Alichino and Calcabrina," Began he to cry out,"and thou, Cagnazzo; And Barbariccia, do thou guide the ten.

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Let Libicocco go, and Draghignazzo and tusky Ciriatto and Graffiacane and Farfarello and mad Rubicante. Come forward, Libicocco and Draghignazzo, And tusked Ciriatto and Graffiacane, And Farfarello and mad Rubicante;

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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." Search ye all round about the boiling pitch; Let these be safe as far as the next crag, That all unbroken passes o'er the dens."

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"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. "O me ! what is it, Master, that I see ? Pray let us go," I said, "without an escort, If thou knowest how, since for myself I ask none.

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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." If thou art as observant as thy wont is, Dost thou not see that they do gnash their teeth, And with their brows are threatening woe to us ?"

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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." And he to me: "I will not have thee fear; Let them gnash on, according to their fancy, Because they do it for those boiling wretches."

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They turned around along the left hand bank: but first each pressed his tongue between his teeth as signal for their leader, Barbariccia. Along the left-hand dike they wheeled about; But first had each one thrust his tongue between His teeth towards their leader for a signal;

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And he had made a trumpet of his ass. And he had made a trumpet of his rump.

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INFERNO CANTO 21 Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.	*Notes*	*Ann.*
We came along from one bridge to another, talking ef things my Comedy is not concerned to sing. We held fast to the summit, FROM bridge to bridge thus, speaking other things Of which my Comedy cares not to sing, We came along, and held the summit, when	21.001 21.002 21.003
then stayed our steps to spy the other cleft of Malebolge and other vain laments. I saw that it was wonderfully dark. We halted to behold another fissure Of Malebolge and other vain laments; And I beheld it marvellously dark.	21.006
As in the arsenal of the Venetians, all winter long a stew of sticky pitch boils up to patch their sick and tattered ships As in the Arsenal of the Venetians Boils in the winter the tenacious pitch To smear their unsound vessels o'er again,	21.007 21.009
that cannot sail (instead of voyaging, some build new keels, some tow and tar the ribs of hulls worn out by too much journeying; For sail they cannot; and instead thereof One makes his vessel new, and one recaulks The ribs of that which many a voyage has made;	21.012
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); One hammers at the prow, one at the stern, This one makes oars, and that one cordage twists, Another mends the mainsail and the mizzen;	21.015
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. Thus, not by fire, but by the art divine, Was boiling down below there a dense pitch Which upon every side the bank belimed.	21.018
I saw it, but I could not see within it; no thing was visible but boiling bubbles, the swelling of the pitch; and then it settled. I saw it, but I did not see within it Aught but the bubbles that the boiling raised, And all swell up and resubside compressed.	21.021
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. The while below there fixedly I gazed, My Leader, crying out: "Beware, beware !" Drew me unto himself from where I stood.	21.024
I turned around as one who is impatient to see what he should shun but is dashed down beneath the terror he has undergone, Then I turned round, as one who is impatient To see what it behoves him to escape, And whom a sudden terror doth unman.	21.027
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. Who, while he looks, delays not his departure; And I beheld behind us a black devil, Running along upon the crag, approach.	21.030
Ah, he was surely barbarous to see! And how relentless seemed to me his acts! His wings were open and his feet were lithe; Ah, how ferocious was he in his aspect ! And how he seemed to me in action ruthless, With open wings and light upon his feet !	21.033
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. His shoulders, which sharp-pointed were and high, A sinner did encumber with both haunches, And he held clutched the sinews of the feet.	21.036
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- From off our bridge, he said: "O Malebranche, Behold one of the elders of Saint Zita; Plunge him beneath, for I return for others	21.037 21.038 21.039
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." Unto that town, which is well furnished with them. All there are barrators, except Bonturo; No into Yes for money there is changed."	21.041 21.042
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. He hurled him down, and over the hard crag Turned round, and never was a mastiff loosened In so much hurry to pursue a thief.	21.045
The sinner plunged, then surfaced, black with pitch; but now the demons, from beneath the bridge, shouted: "The Sacred Face has no place here; The other sank, and rose again face downward; But the demons, under cover of the bridge, Cried: "Here the Santo Volto has no place !	21.046 21.048
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." Here swims one otherwise than in the Serchio; Therefore, if for our gaffs thou wishest not, Do not uplift thyself above the pitch."	21.049 21.051
They pricked him with a hundred prongs and more, then taunted: "Here one dances under cover, so try to grab your secret graft below." They seized him then with more than a hundred rakes; They said: "It here behoves thee to dance covered, That, if thou canst, thou secretly mayest pilfer."	21.054
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. Not otherwise the cooks their scullions make Immerse into the middle of the caldron The meat with hooks, so that it may not float.	21.057
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. Said the good Master to me: "That it be not Apparent thou art here, crouch thyself down Behind a jag, that thou mayest have some screen;	21.060
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." And for no outrage that is done to me Be thou afraid, because these things I know, For once before was I in such a scuffle."	21.063
When this was said, he moved beyond the bridgehead. And on the sixth embankment, he had need to show his imperturbability. Then he passed on beyond the bridge's head, And as upon the sixth bank he arrived, Need was for him to have a steadfast front.	21.066
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, With the same fury, and the same uproar, As dogs leap out upon a mendicant, Who on a sudden begs, where'er he stops,	21.069
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! They issued from beneath the little bridge, And turned against him all their grappling-irons; But he cried out: "Be none of you malignant !	21.072
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." Before those hooks of yours lay hold of me, Let one of you step forward, who may hear me, And then take counsel as to grappling me."	21.075
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?" They all cried out: "Let Malacoda go;" Whereat one started, and the rest stood still, And he came to him, saying: "What avails it ?"	21.078
"O Malacoda, do you think I've come," my master answered him, "already armed- as you can see-against your obstacles, "Thinkest thou, Malacoda, to behold me Advanced into this place," my Master said, "Safe hitherto from all your skill of fence,	21.081
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." Without the will divine, and fate auspicious ? Let me go on, for it in Heaven is willed That I another show this savage road."	21.084
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." Then was his arrogance so humbled in him, That he let fall his grapnel at his feet, And to the others said: "Now strike him not."	21.087
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." And unto me my Guide: "O thou, who sittest Among the splinters of the bridge crouched down, Securely now return to me again."	21.090
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: Wherefore I started and came swiftly to him; And all the devils forward thrust themselves, So that I feared they would not keep their compact.	21.093
just so, I saw the infantry when they marched out, under safe conduct, from Caprona; they trembled when they passed their enemies. And thus beheld I once afraid the soldiers Who issued under safeguard from Caprona, Seeing themselves among so many foes.	21.095 21.096
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. Close did I press myself with all my person Beside my Leader, and turned not mine eyes From off their countenance, which was not good.	21.099
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!" They lowered their rakes, and "Wilt thou have me hit him," They said to one another, "on the rump ?" And answered: "Yes; see that thou nick him with it."	21.102
But Malacoda, still in conversation with my good guide, turned quickly to his squadron and said: "Be still, Scarmiglione, still!" But the same demon who was holding parley With my Conductor turned him very quickly, And said: "Be quiet, be quiet, Scarmiglione ;"	21.105
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. Then said to us: "You can no farther go Forward upon this crag, because is lying All shattered, at the bottom, the sixth arch.	21.108
Yet if you two still want to go ahead, move up and walk along this rocky edge; nearby, another ridge will form a path. And if it still doth please you to go onward, Pursue your way along upon this rock; Near is another crag that yields a path.	21.110 21.111
Five hours from this hour yesterday, one thousand and two hundred sixty-six years passed since that roadway was shattered here. Yesterday, five hours later than this hour, One thousand and two hundred sixty-six Years were complete, that here the way was broken.	21.112 21.114
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." I send in that direction some of mine To see if any one doth air himself; Go ye with them; for they will not be vicious.	21.117
"Step forward, Alichino and Calcabrina," he then began to say, "and you, Cagnazzo; and Barbariccia, who can lead the ten. Step forward, Alichino and Calcabrina," Began he to cry out,"and thou, Cagnazzo; And Barbariccia, do thou guide the ten.	21.120
Let Libicocco go, and Draghignazzo and tusky Ciriatto and Graffiacane and Farfarello and mad Rubicante. Come forward, Libicocco and Draghignazzo, And tusked Ciriatto and Graffiacane, And Farfarello and mad Rubicante;	21.123
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." Search ye all round about the boiling pitch; Let these be safe as far as the next crag, That all unbroken passes o'er the dens."	21.125 21.126
"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. "O me ! what is it, Master, that I see ? Pray let us go," I said, "without an escort, If thou knowest how, since for myself I ask none.	21.129
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." If thou art as observant as thy wont is, Dost thou not see that they do gnash their teeth, And with their brows are threatening woe to us ?"	21.132
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." And he to me: "I will not have thee fear; Let them gnash on, according to their fancy, Because they do it for those boiling wretches."	21.135
They turned around along the left hand bank: but first each pressed his tongue between his teeth as signal for their leader, Barbariccia. Along the left-hand dike they wheeled about; But first had each one thrust his tongue between His teeth towards their leader for a signal;	21.137 21.138
And he had made a trumpet of his ass. And he had made a trumpet of his rump.	21.139