La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XXI The song of the devils Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): seven o’clock in the morning Place: Circle VIII (Malebolge): fraudulents Ditch V: barrators People: Dante, Virgilio, il lucchese “anzian di Santa Zita”, Malebranche: Malacoda, Scarmiglione, Alichino, Calcabrina, Cagnazzo, Barbariccia, Libicocco, Graffia- cane, Draghignazzo, Ciriatto, Farfarello, Rubicante © 2021 Dr. M. Junker: Fonetics, metrics, accents colored, protected by Namirial SpA © 1994 Le Lettere: Critical Edition of the Divine Comedy (by Giorgio Petrocchi) English Translation by Charles Eliot Norton: 1901/1952 (Encyclopædia Britannica)
1 Co ì di p nte in p nte, altro parlando 2 4 6 7 che la mia comedìa cantar non cura, (3) 6 8 3 venimmo; e tenavamo ’l c lmo, quando 2 (6) 8 restammo per ved r l’altra fessura 2 6 7 di Maleb lge e li altri pianti vani; 4 6 8 6 e v dila mirabilm nte oscura. 2 8 Quale ne l’arzanà d ’ Viniziani 1 6 b lle l’inv rno la tenace p ce 1 4 8 9 a rimpalmare i l gni l r non sani, 4 6 8 ché navicar non p nno – in qu lla v ce 4 6 (8) chi fa suo l gno n vo e chi rist ppa 2 4 6 8 12 le c ste a qu l che più vïaggi f!ce; 2 4 (6) 8 chi ribatte da pr"da#e chi da p$ppa; (1) 3 6 (8) altri fa r%mi&e'altri v(lge sarte; 1 4 6 (8) 15 chi terzeru)lo*e+artim,n rint-ppa – : 1 4 8 tal, non per f.co ma per divin’ arte, 1 2 4 (9) boll/a là giu0o1una p2gola sp3ssa, 2 (3) 4 7 18 che ’nviscava la ripa d’4gne parte. 3 6 8 I’ ved5a l6i, ma non vedéa7in 8ssa (1.3) 4 6 (8) mai che le b9lle che ’l boll:r levava, 1 4 8 21 e gonfiar tutta,;e rised<r compr=ssa. 3 4 8 M>ntr’ io là giù fi?am@nte mirava, 2 4 7 lo duca mio, dicAndo «Guarda, guarda!», 2 4 6 8 24 mi trasseBa sé del lCco dDv’ io stava. (2) 4 6 (9) AllEr mi vFlsi come l’uGm cui tarda 2 4 6 8 di vedHr quIl che li conviJn fuggire 3 (4) 8 27 e cui paKura sùbita sgagliarda, 2 4 6
2 Thus from bridge to bridge, talking of other things, which my Comedy cares not to sing, 3 we went, and were holding the summit, when we stopped to see the next cleft of Malebolge and the next vain lamentations; 6 and I saw it wonderfully dark. As in the Arsenal of the Venetians, is boling in winter, the sticky pitch 9 for paying their unsound vessels, because they cannot sail the sea, and, instead thereof, one builds him a new bark, and one caulks 12 the ribs of that which has made many a voyage; one hammers at the prow, and one at the stern; another makes oars, and another twists cordage; 15 and one patches the foresail and the mainsail — so, not by fire, but by divine art, a thick pitch was boiling there below, 18 which belimed the bank on every side. I saw it, but saw not in it aught but the bubbles which the boiling raised, and 21 all of it swelling up and again settling down compressed. While I was gazing down there fixedly, my Leader, saying: “Beware! beware!” 24 drew me to himself from the place where I was standing. Then I turned as one who is in haste to see that from which it behoves him to fly, 27 and whom a sudden fear dismays,
3 che, per vedLr, non indugia ’l partire: 1 4 7 e vidi diMtroNa nOiPun diavol nQro 2 4 6 8 30 corrRndo su per lo scSglio venire. 2 4 7 Ahi quant’ TlliUVra ne l’aspWtto fXro! 1 3 4 8 e quanto mi parYa ne l’attoZac[rbo, 2 6 8 33 con l’ali\ap]rte^e s_vra`i piè leggaro! 2 4 6 8 L’bmero suo, ch’cradagutoee supfrbo, 1 4 7 carcavagun peccathr con ambo l’anche, 2 6 8 36 e quii tenja dk’ piè ghermito ’l nlrbo. 2 4 6 8 Del nmstro pnnte disse:o«p Malebranche, 2 4 6 qccorun de lisanzïan di Santa tita! 1 2 6 8 39 Mettutel svtto, ch’i’ twrno per anche (2) 4 7 a quxlla tyrra, che n’è bzn fornita: 2 4 8 {gn’ u|m v’è baratti}r, fu~r che Bonturo; 1 2 6 7 42 del n, per li denar, vi si fa ta». 2 6 Là giù ’l buttò,e per lo scglio duro 2 4 8 si vlse;e mai non fu mastino sci lto 2 4 6 8 45 con tanta frttaa seguitar lo furo. 2 4 8 Qul s’attuffò,e tornò sù convlto; 1 4 (7) 8 mai demn che del pnteavan coprchio, 3 6 8 48 gridar: «Qui non ha lcoil Santo Vlto! 2 3 (5) 6 8 qui si nutaaltrimnti che nel Srchio! 1 3 6 Però, se tu non vu’ di nstri graffi, 2 4 6 8 51 non far spra la pgola sovrchio». 2 3 6 Pi l’addentar con più di cnto raffi, 1 4 6 8 disser: «Covrto convi n che qui balli, 1 4 7 9 54 sì che, se pu¡i, nasco¢am£nte¤accaffi». 1/2 4 8
4 and who for seeing delays not to depart, and I saw behind us a black devil 30 come running up along the crag. Ah! how fell he was in aspect, and how bitter he seemed to me in act, 33 with his wings open, and light upon his feet! His shoulder, which was sharp and high, was laden by a sinner with both haunches, 36 the sinews of whose feet he held clutched. “O Malebranche of our bridge,” he said, “lo here, one of the Ancients of Saint Zita! 39 put him under, for I am returning for still others to that city, which I have furnished well with them; every man there is a barrator, except Bonturo: 42 there, for money, out of Nay is made Ay.” Down he hurled him and along the hard crag turned back, and never mastiff loosed was 45 in such haste to follow a thief. That one sank under, and rose again doubled up, but the demons that had cover of the bridge 48 cried out: “Here the Holy Face’ has no place; here one swims otherwise than in the Serchio; therefore, if thou dost not want our grapples, 51 make no show above the pitch.” Then they pricked him with more than a hundred prongs, and said: “Here thou must dance under cover, 54 so that, if thou canst, thou mayst swindle secretly.”
5 Non altrim¥nti¦i cu§ci¨a’ l©r vassalli 4 6 (8) fannoªattuffare«in m¬®o la calda¯ia 1 4 6 57 la carne con li°uncin, perché non galli. 2 6 8 Lo bu±n ma²³stro´«Acciò che non si paµia 2 4 6 (8) che tu ci sia», mi disse, «giù t’acquatta 2 4 6 8 60 d¶po·uno sch¸ggio, ch’alcun sch¹rmo t’aºia; (1) 4 7 8 e per nulla»offensi¼n che mi sia fatta, 3 6 non tem½r tu, ch’i’¾h¿ le cÀÁe cÂnte, 1 4 6 8 63 per ch’altra vÃlta fuiÄa tal baratta». 2 4 6 8 PÅscia passò di là dal cÆ del pÇnte; 1 4 6 8 e cÈm’ Él giunseÊin su la ripa sËsta, 4 8 66 mestiÌr li fu d’avÍr sicura frÎnte. 2 4 6 8 Con quÏl furÐreÑe con quÒlla tempÓsta 2 4 7 ch’ÔsconoÕi caniÖa d×ssoØal poverÙllo 1 4 6 69 che di sùbito chiÚdeÛÜve s’arrÝsta, 3 6 7 usciron quÞi di sßttoàal ponticállo, 2 4 6 e vâlser cãntra lui tutt’ i runcigli; 2 4 6 7 72 maäel gridò: «Nessun di våi sia fællo! 2 4 6 8 Innanzi che l’uncin vçstro mi pigli, 2 6 7 trèggasiéavante l’un di vêi che m’ëda, 1 4 6 8 75 e pìi d’arruncigliarmi si consigli». 2 6 Tutti gridaron: «Vada Malacída!»; 1 4 6 per ch’un si mîsseï – e liðaltri stñtter fòrmi – 2 4 6 8 78 e vónneôa lui dicõndo: «Che liöappr÷da?». 2 4 6 (8) «Crødi tu, Malacùda, qui vedúrmi (1) 3 6 8 ûsser venuto», disse ’l mio maüýstro, 1 4 6 81 «sicuro già da tutti vþstri sch rmi, 2 4 6 8
6 Not otherwise do the cooks make their scullions plunge into the middle of the cauldron 57 the meat with their hooks, so that it may not float. The good Master said to me: “In order that it be not apparent that thou art here, squat down 60 behind a jag, that thou mayst have some screen for thyself, and at any offence that may be done to me be not afraid, for I have knowledge of these things, 63 because once before I was in such a wrangle.” Then he passed on beyond the head of the bridge, and when he arrived upon the sixth bank, 66 he had need to have a steadfast front. With that fury and with that storm with which dogs run out upon the poor wretch 69 who, where he stops, suddenly asks alms, they came forth from under the little bridge, and turned against him all their grapples. 72 But he cried out: “Let no one of you be savage; before your hook take hold of me, let one of you come forward that he may hear me, 75 and then take counsel as to grappling me.” All cried out: “Let Malacoda go”; whereon, while the rest stood still, one moved 78 and came to him, saying: “What does this profit him?” “Thinkest thou, Malacoda, to see me come here,” said my Master, 81 “safe hitherto from all your hindrances,
7 sanza vol r divino e fato d stro? 1 4 6 8 L scian’ andar, ché nel ci lo è voluto 1 4 7 84 ch’i’ m stri altrui qu sto cammin silv stro». 2 4 5 8 All r li fu l’org glio sì caduto, 2 4 6 8 ch’ ’ si lasciò cascar l’uncino a’ pi di, 4 6 8 87 e disse a li altri: «Omai non sia feruto». 2 4 6 (8) E ’l duca mio a me: « tu che si di 2 4 6 8 tra li scheggi n del p nte quatto quatto, 4 6 8 90 sicuram nte omai a me ti ri di». 4 6 8 Per ch’io mi m ssi e a lui v!nni ratto; 2 4 7 8 e"i diavoli si f#cer tutti$avanti, 2 6 8 93 sì ch’io tem%tti ch’&i ten'sser patto; (1/2) 4 6 8 co(ì vid’ ïo già tem)r li fanti 2 4 6 8 ch’uscivan patteggiati di Capr*na, 2 6 96 vegg+ndo sé tra nemici cotanti. 2 4 7 I’ m’accostai con tutta la pers,na 4 6 lungo ’l mio duca,-e non torc.va li/0cchi 1 4 (6) 8 99 da la sembianza l1r ch’2ra non bu3na. 4 6 7 4i chinavan li raffi5e «Vu6’ che ’l t7cchi», 1 3 6 8 dic8va l’un con l’altro,9«in sul gropp:ne?». (2) 4 6 102 E rispond;en: «Si, fa che gliel’ acc<cchi». 4 5 6 Ma quel dem=nio che ten>a serm?ne (2) 4 8 col duca mio, si v@lse tutto prAsto 2 4 6 8 105 e disse: «PBCa, pDEa, ScarmigliFne!». 2 4 6 PGi disseHa nIi: «PiùJKltreLandar per quMsto (1.2) 4 6 8 iscNglio non si può, però che giace 2 (4) 6 8 108 tutto spezzatoOal fPndo l’arco sQsto. 1 4 6 8
8 except by Divine Will and propitious fate? Let me go on, for in Heaven it is willed 84 that I show to another this wild road.” Then was his arrogance so fallen that he let the hook drop at his feet, 87 and said to the others: “Now he may not be struck.” And my Leader to me: “O thou that sittest asquat among the splinters of the bridge, 90 return now securely to me.” Wherefore I moved and came swiftly to him; and the devils all pressed forward, 93 so that I feared they would not keep compact. And thus I once saw the foot-soldiers afraid, who were coming out from Caprona under pledge, 96 seeing themselves among so many enemies. I drew close with my whole body to my Leader’s side, and did not turn my eyes 99 from their look, which was not good. They were lowering their forks, and one was saying to the other: “Wilt thou that I touch him on the rump?” and 102 they were answering: “Yes, see that thou nick it for him.” But that demon who was holding speech with my Leader turned round with all haste 105 and said: “Quiet, quiet. Scarmiglione!” Then he said to us: “Further advance along this crag is not possible, because the sixth arch 108 lies all shattered at the bottom.
9 E se l’andareRavante pur vi piace, (4) 6 8 andatevene su per quSsta grTtta; (2) 6 8 111 prUssoVèWun altro scXglio che via face. 1 4 6 (9) IYr, piùZ[ltre cinqu’ \re che qu]st’ ^tta, 1 3 6 mille dug_nto con sessanta s`i 1 4 8 114 anni compié che qui la via fu ratta. 1 4 6 8 Io mando vbrso là di qucsti midi 2 4 6 8 a riguardar s’alcun se ne sciorina; 4 6 117 gite con ler, che non saranno rfi». 1 4 (6) 8 «Tra’tigavante,hAlichino,ie Calcabrina», (1) 3 6 cominciòjkllila dire,m«e tu, Cagnazzo; (3) 4 6 8 120 e Barbariccia guidi la decina. 4 6 Libicncco vogn’ pltreqe Draghignazzo, 3 6 Cirïatto sannutore Graffiacane 3 6 123 e Farfarsllote Rubicante pazzo. 4 8 Cercate ’nturno le boglivnti pane; 2 4 8 costwr sxan salviyinfinoza l’altro sch{ggio 2 4 6 8 126 che tutto|int}ro va s~vra le tane». 2 4 6.7 «Omè, mastro, cheè qul ch’i’ vggio?», 2 4 6 8 diss’ io, «dh, sanza sc rtaandinci sli, 2 3 (4) 6 8 129 se tu sa’ir; ch’i’ per me non la chggio. 2 4 (5) 7 Se tu s’ sìaccrto cme suli, 2 (4) 6 non vdi tu ch’’ digrignan li dnti (2) 4 7 132 e con le ciglia ne minaccian duli?». 4 8 Ed llia me: «Non v’ che tu pavnti; 2 4 6 8 lasciali digrignar pur a lr snno, 1 6 7 135 ch’’ fanno ciò per li lssi dolnti». 2 4 7
10 And if it be still your pleasure to go forward, go on along this ridge; 111 near by is another crag that affords a way. Yesterday, five hours later than this, completed one thousand two hundred and sixty-six 114 years since the way was broken here. I am sending thitherward some of these of mine, to see if any one is airing himself; 117 go ye with them, for they will not be wicked.” “Come forward. Alichino and Calcabrina,” he began to say, “and thou, Cagnazzo; 120 and Barbariccia, do thou guide the ten. Let Libicocco go also, and Draghignazzo, tusked Ciriatto, and Graffiacane, 123 and Farfarello, and mad Rubicante. Search round about the boiling pitch; let these be safe far as the next crag, 126 which all unbroken goes over these dens.” “O me! Master, what is this that I see?” said I; “pray, let us go alone without escort, 129 if thou knowest the way, for as for myself I crave it not. If thou art as wary as thou art wont, does thou not see that they grin, 132 and with their brows threaten harm to us?” And he to me: “I would not have thee afraid; let them grin on at their will, 135 for they are doing it at the boiled sufferers.”
11 Per l’argine sinistro vlta dinno; 2 6 8 ma primaav a ciascun la lingua str¡tta 2 4 6 8 138 coi d¢nti, v£rso l¤r duca, per c¥nno; 2 4 (6) 7 ed ¦lli§av¨a del cul fatto tromb©tta. 2 4 6 7
12 Upon the left bank they took a turn, but first each had pressed his tongue 138 with his teeth toward their leader as a signal, and he had made a trumpet of his rump.
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