L ' I N F E R N O

133
INF C17 13-15 / DANTE
due branche avea pilose insin l'ascelle; Both arms were covered with hair to the armpits;
lo dosso e 'l petto e ambedue le coste the back and chest and both flanks
dipinti avea di nodi e di rotelle. were adorned with knots and circles.
INF C17 16-18 / DANTE
Con più color, sommesse e sovraposte Tartars or Turks never made cloths with more
colour,
non fer mai drappi Tartari né Turchi, background and embroidery:
né fuor tai tele per Aragne imposte. nor did Arachne spread such webs on her loom.
ARACHNE: A LYDIAN GIRL, THE DAUGHTER OF IDMON, FAMOUS FOR HER WEAVING, WHO CHALLENGED PALLAS ATHENE TO A
CONTEST, WAS DEFEATED & CHANGED INTO A SPIDER. (OVID’S METAMORPHOSES 6 42 ETC.)
DANTE READS./.SPEAKS TO THE AUDIENCE. VIRGIL INTERPRETS A VERSE OR SO BEHIND.
DANTE: & VIRGIL:
INF C17 19-21 / DANTE INF C17 19-21 / KLINE
Come talvolta stanno a riva i burchi, As the boats rest on the shore, part in water
che parte sono in acqua e parte in terra, and part on land,
e come là tra li Tedeschi lurchi and as the beaver, among the guzzling Germans,
INF C17 22-24 / DANTE
lo bivero s'assetta a far sua guerra, readies himself for a fight,
così la fiera pessima si stava so that worst of savage creatures lay on the cliff
su l'orlo ch'è di pietra e 'l sabbion serra. that surrounds the great sand with stone.
INF C17 25-27 / DANTE
Nel vano tutta sua coda guizzava, The whole of his tail glanced into space,
torcendo in sù la venenosa forca twisting the venomous fork upwards,
ch'a guisa di scorpion la punta armava. that armed the tip, like a scorpion.
INF C17 28-51 / KLINE
My guide said: ‘Now we must direct our path, somewhat, towards the malevolent beast that rests there.’ Then we
went down, on the right, and took ten steps towards the edge, so that we could fully avoid the sand and flame, and
when we reached him, I saw people sitting near the empty space, a little further away, on the ground. Here my
Master said: ‘Go and see the state of them, so that you may take away a complete knowledge of this round. Talk
briefly with them: I will speak with this creature, until you return, so that he might carry us on his strong shoulders.’
So, still on the extreme edge of the seventh circle, I went, all alone, to where the sad crew were seated. Their grief
was gushing from their eyes: they kept flicking away the flames and sometimes the burning dust, on this side, or on
that, with their hands, no differently than dogs do in summer, now with their muzzle, now with their paws, when
they are bitten by fleas, or gnats, or horse-flies.
INF C17 52-78 / KLINE
When I set my eyes on the faces of several of them, on whom the grievous fire falls, I did not recognise any, but I
saw that a pouch hung from the neck of each, that had a certain colour, and a certain seal, and it seemed their eye
was feeding on it. And as I came among them, looking, I saw, on a golden-yellow purse, an azure seal that had the
look and attitude of a lion. Then my gaze continuing on its track, I saw another, red as blood, showing a goose
whiter than butter. And one who had his white purse stamped with an azure, pregnant sow, said to me: ‘What are
you doing in this pit? Now go away, and since you are still alive, know that my neighbour, Vitaliano, will come to
sit here on my left. I, a Paduan, am with these Florentines. Many a time they deafen my hearing, shouting: ‘Let the
noble knight come, who will carry the purse with three eagles’ beaks.’ Then he distorted his mouth, and thrust his
tongue out, like an ox licking its nose, and I, dreading lest a longer stay might anger him, who had warned me to
make a brief stay, turned back from those weary spirits.
DANTE AND VIRGIL TELL AND ACT OUT THE DESCENT THEY HAVE MADE ON GERYON.
DANTE:
INF C17 79-81 / DANTE INF C17 79-81 / KLINE
Trova' il duca mio ch'era salito I found my guide, who had already mounted
già su la groppa del fiero animale, the flank of the savage creature
e disse a me: «Or sie forte e ardito. and he said to me: Be firm and brave.
VIRGIL :
INF C17 81 / DANTE INF C17 81 / KLINE
e disse a me: «Or sie forte e ardito. and he said to me: Be firm and brave.