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INFERNO CANTO 31
Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr. Notes Ann.

The very tongue that first had wounded me, sending the color up in both my cheeks, was then to cure me with its medicine- ONE and the selfsame tongue first wounded me, So that it tinged the one cheek and the other, And then held out to me the medicine;

31.001 31.003

as did Achilles' and his father's lance, even as I have heard, when it dispensed a sad stroke first and then a healing one. Thus do I hear that once Achilles' spear, His and his father's, used to be the cause First of a sad and then a gracious boon.

31.004 31.006

We turned our backs upon that dismal valley by climbing up the bank that girdles it; we made our way across without a word. We turned our backs upon the wretched valley, Upon the bank that girds it round about, Going across it without any speech.

31.009

Here it was less than night and less than day, so that my sight could only move ahead slightly, but then I heard a bugle blast There it was less than night, and less than day, So that my sight went little in advance; But I could hear the blare of a loud horn,

31.012

so strong, it would have made a thunder clap seem faint; at this, my eyes-which doubled back upon their path-turned fully toward one place. So loud it would have made each thunder faint, Which, counter to it following its way, Mine eyes directed wholly to one place.

31.015

Not even Roland's horn, which followed on the sad defeat when Charlemagne had lost his holy army, was as dread as this. After the dolorous discomfiture When Charlemagne the holy emprise lost, So terribly Orlando sounded not.

31.016 31.018

I'd only turned my head there briefly when I seemed to make out many high towers; then I asked him: "Master, tell me, what's this city?" Short while my head turned thitherward I held When many lofty towers I seemed to see, Whereat I: "Master, say, what town is this ?

31.021

And he to me: "It is because you try to penetrate from far into these shadows that you have formed such faulty images. And he to me: "Because thou peerest forth Athwart the darkness at too great a distance, It happens that thou errest in thy fancy.

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When you have reached that place, you shall see clearly how much the distance has deceived your sense; and, therefore, let this spur you on your way." Well shalt thou see, if thou arrivest there, How much the sense deceives itself by distance; Therefore a little faster spur thee on."

31.027

Then lovingly he took me by the hand and said: "Before we have moved farther on, so that the fact may seem less strange to you, Then tenderly he took me by the hand, And said: "Before we farther have advanced, That the reality may seem to thee

31.030

I'd have you know they are not towers, but giants, and from the navel downward, all of them are in the central pit, at the embankment." Less strange, know that these are not towers, but giants, And they are in the well, around the bank, From navel downward, one and all of them."

31.033

Just as, whenever mists begin to thin, when, gradually, vision finds the form that in the vapor-thickened air was hidden, As, when the fog is vanishing away, Little by little doth the sight refigure Whate'er the mist that crowds the air conceals,

31.036

so I pierced through the dense and darkened fog; as I drew always nearer to the shore, my error fled from me, my terror grew; So, piercing through the dense and darksome air, More and more near approaching tow'rd the verge, My error fled, and fear came over me;

31.039

for as, on its round wall, Montereggioni is crowned with towers, so there towered here, above the bank that runs around the pit, Because as on its circular parapets Montereggione crowns itself with towers, E'en thus the margin which surrounds the well

31.041 31.042

with half their bulk, the terrifying giants, whom Jove still menaces from Heaven when he sends his bolts of thunder down upon them. With one half of their bodies turreted The horrible giants, whom Jove menaces E'en now from out the heavens when he thunders.

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And I could now make out the face of one, his shoulders and his chest, much of his belly, and both his arms that hung along his sides. And I of one already saw the face, Shoulders, and breast, and great part of the belly, And down along his sides both of the arms.

31.048

Surely when she gave up the art of making such creatures, Nature acted well indeed, depriving Mars of instruments like these. Certainly Nature, when she left the making Of animals like these, did well indeed, By taking such executors from Mars;

31.051

And if she still produces elephants and whales, whoever sees with subtlety holds her-for this- to be more just and prudent; And if of elephants and whales she doth not Repent her, whosoever looketh subtly More just and more discreet will hold her for it;

31.054

for where the mind's acutest reasoning is joined to evil will and evil power, there human beings can't defend themselves. For where the argument of intellect Is added unto evil will and power, No rampart can the people make against it.

31.057

His face appeared to me as broad and long as Rome can claim for its St. Peter's pine cone; his other bones shared in that same proportion; His face appeared to me as long and large As is at Rome the pine-cone of Saint Peter's, And in proportion were the other bones;

31.059 31.060

so that the bank, which served him as an apron down from his middle, showed so much of him above, that three Frieslanders would in vain So that the margin, which an apron was Down from the middle, showed so much of him Above it, that to reach up to his hair

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have boasted of their reaching to his hair; for downward from the place where one would buckle a mantle, I saw thirty spans of him. Three Frieslanders in vain had vaunted them; For I beheld thirty great palms of him Down from the place where man his mantle buckles.

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"Raphel mai amecche zabi almi," began to bellow that brute mouth, for which no sweeter psalms would be appropriate. "Raphael mai amech izabi almi," Began to clamour the ferocious mouth, To which were not befitting sweeter psalms.

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And my guide turned to him: "O stupid soul, keep to your horn and use that as an outlet when rage or other passion touches you! And unto him my Guide: "Soul idiotic, Keep to thy horn, and vent thyself with that, When wrath or other passion touches thee.

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Look at your neck, and you will find the strap that holds it fast; and see, bewildered spirit, how it lies straight across your massive chest." Search round thy neck, and thou wilt find the belt Which keeps it fastened, O bewildered soul And see it, where it bars thy mighty breast."

31.075

And then to me: "He is his own accuser; for this is Nimrod, through whose wicked thought one single language cannot serve the world. Then said to me: "He doth himself accuse; This one is Nimrod, by whose evil thought One language in the world is not still used.

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Leave him alone-let's not waste time in talk; for every language is to him the same as his to others-no one knows his tongue." Here let us leave him and not speak in vain; For even such to him is every language As his to others, which to none is known."

31.081

So, turning to the left, we journeyed on and, at the distance of a bow-shot, found another giant, far more huge and fierce. Therefore a longer journey did we make, Turned to the left, and a crossbow-shot oft We found another far more fierce and large.

31.084

Who was the master who had tied him so, I cannot say, but his left arm was bent behind him and his right was bent in front, In binding him, who might the master be I cannot say; but he had pinioned close Behind the right arm, and in front the other,

31.087

both pinioned by a chain that held him tight down from the neck; and round the part of him that was exposed, it had been wound five times. With chains, that held him so begirt about From the neck down, that on the part uncovered It wound itself as far as the fifth gyre. go

31.090

"This giant in his arrogance had tested his force against the force of highest Jove," my guide said, "so he merits this reward. "This proud one wished to make experiment Of his own power against the Supreme Jove," My Leader said,"whence he has such a guerdon.

31.093

His name is Ephialtes; and he showed tremendous power when the giants frightened the gods; the arms he moved now move no more." Ephialtes is his name; he showed great prowess. What time the giants terrified the gods; The arms he wielded never more he moves."

31.094 31.096

And I to him: "If it is possible, I'd like my eyes to have experience of the enormous one, Briareus." And I to him: "If possible, I should wish That of the measureless Briareus These eyes of mine might have experience."

31.098 31.099

At which he answered: "You shall see Antaeus nearby. He is unfettered and can speak; he'll take us to the bottom of all evil. Whence he replied: "Thou shalt behold Antaeus Close by here, who can speak and is unbound, Who at the bottom of all crime shall place us.

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The one you wish to see lies far beyond and is bound up and just as huge as this one, and even more ferocious in his gaze." Much farther yon is he whom thou wouldst see, And he is bound, and fashioned like to this one, Save that he seems in aspect more ferocious."

31.105

No earthquake ever was so violent when called to shake a tower so robust, as Ephialtes quick to shake himself. There never was an earthquake of such might That it could shake a tower so violently, As Ephialtes suddenly shook himself

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Then I was more afraid of death than ever; that fear would have been quite enough to kill me, had I not seen how he was held by chains. Then was I more afraid of death than ever, For nothing more was needful than the fear, If I had not beheld the manacles.

31.111

And we continued on until we reached Antaeus, who, not reckoning his head, stood out out above the rock wall full five ells. Then we proceeded farther in advance, And to Antaeus came, who, full five ells Without the head, forth issued from the cavern.

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"O you, who lived within the famous valley (where Scipio became the heir of glory when Hannibal retreated with his men), "O thou, who in the valley fortunate, Which Scipio the heir of glory made, When Hannibal turned back with all his hosts,

31.115 31.117

who took a thousand lions as your prey- and had you been together with your brothers in their high war, it seems some still believe Once brought'st a thousand lions for thy prey, And who, hadst thou been at the mighty war Among thy brothers, some it seems still think

31.120

the sons of earth would have become the victors- do set us down below, where cold shuts in Cocytus, and do not disdain that task. The sons of Earth the victory would have gained: Place us below, nor be disdainful of it, There where the cold doth lock Cocytus up.

31.123

Don't send us on to Tityus or Typhon; this man can give you what is longed for here; therefore bend down and do not curl your lip. Make us not go to Tityus nor Typhoeus; This one can give of that which here is longed for; Therefore stoop down, and do not curl thy lip.

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He still can bring you fame within the world, for he's alive and still expects long life, unless grace summon him before his time." Still in the world can he restore thy fame; Because he lives, and still expects long life, If to itself Grace call him not untimely."

31.129

So said my master; and in haste Antaeus stretched out his hands, whose massive grip had once been felt by Hercules, and grasped my guide. So said the Master; and in haste the other His hands extended and took up my Guide, -- Hands whose great pressure Hercules once felt.

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And Virgil, when he felt himself caught up, called out to me: "Come here, so l can hold you," then made one bundle of himself and me. Virgilius, when he felt himself embraced, Said unto me: "Draw nigh, that I may take thee;" Then of himself and me one bundle made.

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Just as the Garisenda seems when seen beneath the leaning side, when clouds run past and it hangs down as if about to crash, As seems the Carisenda, to behold Beneath the leaning side, when goes a cloud Above it so that opposite it hangs;

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so did Antaeus seem to me as I watched him bend over me-a moment when I'd have preferred to take some other road. Such did Antaeus seem to me, who stood Watching to see him stoop, and then it was I could have wished to go some other way.

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But gently-on the deep that swallows up both Lucifer and Judas-he placed us; nor did he, so bent over, stay there long, But lightly in the abyss, which swallows up Judas with Lucifer, he put us down; Nor thus bowed downward made he there delay,

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but, like a mast above a ship, he rose. But, as a mast does in a ship, uprose.

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Previous or Next Canto

INFERNO CANTO 31 Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.	*Notes*	*Ann.*
The very tongue that first had wounded me, sending the color up in both my cheeks, was then to cure me with its medicine- ONE and the selfsame tongue first wounded me, So that it tinged the one cheek and the other, And then held out to me the medicine;	31.001 31.003
as did Achilles' and his father's lance, even as I have heard, when it dispensed a sad stroke first and then a healing one. Thus do I hear that once Achilles' spear, His and his father's, used to be the cause First of a sad and then a gracious boon.	31.004 31.006
We turned our backs upon that dismal valley by climbing up the bank that girdles it; we made our way across without a word. We turned our backs upon the wretched valley, Upon the bank that girds it round about, Going across it without any speech.	31.009
Here it was less than night and less than day, so that my sight could only move ahead slightly, but then I heard a bugle blast There it was less than night, and less than day, So that my sight went little in advance; But I could hear the blare of a loud horn,	31.012
so strong, it would have made a thunder clap seem faint; at this, my eyes-which doubled back upon their path-turned fully toward one place. So loud it would have made each thunder faint, Which, counter to it following its way, Mine eyes directed wholly to one place.	31.015
Not even Roland's horn, which followed on the sad defeat when Charlemagne had lost his holy army, was as dread as this. After the dolorous discomfiture When Charlemagne the holy emprise lost, So terribly Orlando sounded not.	31.016 31.018
I'd only turned my head there briefly when I seemed to make out many high towers; then I asked him: "Master, tell me, what's this city?" Short while my head turned thitherward I held When many lofty towers I seemed to see, Whereat I: "Master, say, what town is this ?	31.021
And he to me: "It is because you try to penetrate from far into these shadows that you have formed such faulty images. And he to me: "Because thou peerest forth Athwart the darkness at too great a distance, It happens that thou errest in thy fancy.	31.024
When you have reached that place, you shall see clearly how much the distance has deceived your sense; and, therefore, let this spur you on your way." Well shalt thou see, if thou arrivest there, How much the sense deceives itself by distance; Therefore a little faster spur thee on."	31.027
Then lovingly he took me by the hand and said: "Before we have moved farther on, so that the fact may seem less strange to you, Then tenderly he took me by the hand, And said: "Before we farther have advanced, That the reality may seem to thee	31.030
I'd have you know they are not towers, but giants, and from the navel downward, all of them are in the central pit, at the embankment." Less strange, know that these are not towers, but giants, And they are in the well, around the bank, From navel downward, one and all of them."	31.033
Just as, whenever mists begin to thin, when, gradually, vision finds the form that in the vapor-thickened air was hidden, As, when the fog is vanishing away, Little by little doth the sight refigure Whate'er the mist that crowds the air conceals,	31.036
so I pierced through the dense and darkened fog; as I drew always nearer to the shore, my error fled from me, my terror grew; So, piercing through the dense and darksome air, More and more near approaching tow'rd the verge, My error fled, and fear came over me;	31.039
for as, on its round wall, Montereggioni is crowned with towers, so there towered here, above the bank that runs around the pit, Because as on its circular parapets Montereggione crowns itself with towers, E'en thus the margin which surrounds the well	31.041 31.042
with half their bulk, the terrifying giants, whom Jove still menaces from Heaven when he sends his bolts of thunder down upon them. With one half of their bodies turreted The horrible giants, whom Jove menaces E'en now from out the heavens when he thunders.	31.045
And I could now make out the face of one, his shoulders and his chest, much of his belly, and both his arms that hung along his sides. And I of one already saw the face, Shoulders, and breast, and great part of the belly, And down along his sides both of the arms.	31.048
Surely when she gave up the art of making such creatures, Nature acted well indeed, depriving Mars of instruments like these. Certainly Nature, when she left the making Of animals like these, did well indeed, By taking such executors from Mars;	31.051
And if she still produces elephants and whales, whoever sees with subtlety holds her-for this- to be more just and prudent; And if of elephants and whales she doth not Repent her, whosoever looketh subtly More just and more discreet will hold her for it;	31.054
for where the mind's acutest reasoning is joined to evil will and evil power, there human beings can't defend themselves. For where the argument of intellect Is added unto evil will and power, No rampart can the people make against it.	31.057
His face appeared to me as broad and long as Rome can claim for its St. Peter's pine cone; his other bones shared in that same proportion; His face appeared to me as long and large As is at Rome the pine-cone of Saint Peter's, And in proportion were the other bones;	31.059 31.060
so that the bank, which served him as an apron down from his middle, showed so much of him above, that three Frieslanders would in vain So that the margin, which an apron was Down from the middle, showed so much of him Above it, that to reach up to his hair	31.063
have boasted of their reaching to his hair; for downward from the place where one would buckle a mantle, I saw thirty spans of him. Three Frieslanders in vain had vaunted them; For I beheld thirty great palms of him Down from the place where man his mantle buckles.	31.066
"Raphel mai amecche zabi almi," began to bellow that brute mouth, for which no sweeter psalms would be appropriate. "Raphael mai amech izabi almi," Began to clamour the ferocious mouth, To which were not befitting sweeter psalms.	31.067 31.069
And my guide turned to him: "O stupid soul, keep to your horn and use that as an outlet when rage or other passion touches you! And unto him my Guide: "Soul idiotic, Keep to thy horn, and vent thyself with that, When wrath or other passion touches thee.	31.072
Look at your neck, and you will find the strap that holds it fast; and see, bewildered spirit, how it lies straight across your massive chest." Search round thy neck, and thou wilt find the belt Which keeps it fastened, O bewildered soul And see it, where it bars thy mighty breast."	31.075
And then to me: "He is his own accuser; for this is Nimrod, through whose wicked thought one single language cannot serve the world. Then said to me: "He doth himself accuse; This one is Nimrod, by whose evil thought One language in the world is not still used.	31.077 31.078
Leave him alone-let's not waste time in talk; for every language is to him the same as his to others-no one knows his tongue." Here let us leave him and not speak in vain; For even such to him is every language As his to others, which to none is known."	31.081
So, turning to the left, we journeyed on and, at the distance of a bow-shot, found another giant, far more huge and fierce. Therefore a longer journey did we make, Turned to the left, and a crossbow-shot oft We found another far more fierce and large.	31.084
Who was the master who had tied him so, I cannot say, but his left arm was bent behind him and his right was bent in front, In binding him, who might the master be I cannot say; but he had pinioned close Behind the right arm, and in front the other,	31.087
both pinioned by a chain that held him tight down from the neck; and round the part of him that was exposed, it had been wound five times. With chains, that held him so begirt about From the neck down, that on the part uncovered It wound itself as far as the fifth gyre. go	31.090
"This giant in his arrogance had tested his force against the force of highest Jove," my guide said, "so he merits this reward. "This proud one wished to make experiment Of his own power against the Supreme Jove," My Leader said,"whence he has such a guerdon.	31.093
His name is Ephialtes; and he showed tremendous power when the giants frightened the gods; the arms he moved now move no more." Ephialtes is his name; he showed great prowess. What time the giants terrified the gods; The arms he wielded never more he moves."	31.094 31.096
And I to him: "If it is possible, I'd like my eyes to have experience of the enormous one, Briareus." And I to him: "If possible, I should wish That of the measureless Briareus These eyes of mine might have experience."	31.098 31.099
At which he answered: "You shall see Antaeus nearby. He is unfettered and can speak; he'll take us to the bottom of all evil. Whence he replied: "Thou shalt behold Antaeus Close by here, who can speak and is unbound, Who at the bottom of all crime shall place us.	31.100 31.102
The one you wish to see lies far beyond and is bound up and just as huge as this one, and even more ferocious in his gaze." Much farther yon is he whom thou wouldst see, And he is bound, and fashioned like to this one, Save that he seems in aspect more ferocious."	31.105
No earthquake ever was so violent when called to shake a tower so robust, as Ephialtes quick to shake himself. There never was an earthquake of such might That it could shake a tower so violently, As Ephialtes suddenly shook himself	31.108
Then I was more afraid of death than ever; that fear would have been quite enough to kill me, had I not seen how he was held by chains. Then was I more afraid of death than ever, For nothing more was needful than the fear, If I had not beheld the manacles.	31.111
And we continued on until we reached Antaeus, who, not reckoning his head, stood out out above the rock wall full five ells. Then we proceeded farther in advance, And to Antaeus came, who, full five ells Without the head, forth issued from the cavern.	31.114
"O you, who lived within the famous valley (where Scipio became the heir of glory when Hannibal retreated with his men), "O thou, who in the valley fortunate, Which Scipio the heir of glory made, When Hannibal turned back with all his hosts,	31.115 31.117
who took a thousand lions as your prey- and had you been together with your brothers in their high war, it seems some still believe Once brought'st a thousand lions for thy prey, And who, hadst thou been at the mighty war Among thy brothers, some it seems still think	31.120
the sons of earth would have become the victors- do set us down below, where cold shuts in Cocytus, and do not disdain that task. The sons of Earth the victory would have gained: Place us below, nor be disdainful of it, There where the cold doth lock Cocytus up.	31.123
Don't send us on to Tityus or Typhon; this man can give you what is longed for here; therefore bend down and do not curl your lip. Make us not go to Tityus nor Typhoeus; This one can give of that which here is longed for; Therefore stoop down, and do not curl thy lip.	31.124 31.126
He still can bring you fame within the world, for he's alive and still expects long life, unless grace summon him before his time." Still in the world can he restore thy fame; Because he lives, and still expects long life, If to itself Grace call him not untimely."	31.129
So said my master; and in haste Antaeus stretched out his hands, whose massive grip had once been felt by Hercules, and grasped my guide. So said the Master; and in haste the other His hands extended and took up my Guide, -- Hands whose great pressure Hercules once felt.	31.132
And Virgil, when he felt himself caught up, called out to me: "Come here, so l can hold you," then made one bundle of himself and me. Virgilius, when he felt himself embraced, Said unto me: "Draw nigh, that I may take thee;" Then of himself and me one bundle made.	31.135
Just as the Garisenda seems when seen beneath the leaning side, when clouds run past and it hangs down as if about to crash, As seems the Carisenda, to behold Beneath the leaning side, when goes a cloud Above it so that opposite it hangs;	31.136 31.138
so did Antaeus seem to me as I watched him bend over me-a moment when I'd have preferred to take some other road. Such did Antaeus seem to me, who stood Watching to see him stoop, and then it was I could have wished to go some other way.	31.141
But gently-on the deep that swallows up both Lucifer and Judas-he placed us; nor did he, so bent over, stay there long, But lightly in the abyss, which swallows up Judas with Lucifer, he put us down; Nor thus bowed downward made he there delay,	31.144
but, like a mast above a ship, he rose. But, as a mast does in a ship, uprose.	31.145