L ' I N F E R N O

VIRGIL (VOICE): & VIRGIL (VOICE):
INF C21 22-24 / DANTE INF C21 22-24 / KLINE
Mentr' io là giù fisamente mirava, While I was gazing fixedly at it, my guide said:
lo duca mio, dicendo Guarda, guarda! Take care. Take care!
mi trasse a sé del loco dov' io stava. and drew me towards him, from where I stood.
INF C21 25-27 / KLINE
Then I turned round, like one who has to see what he must run from, and who is attacked by sudden fear,
DANTE LOOKS DOWN THE STEPS AND TURNS BACK TO THE AUDIENCE.
DANTE:
INF C21 28-30 / DANTE INF C21 28-30 / KLINE
che, per veder, non indugia 'l partire: so that he dare not stop to look:
e vidi dietro a noi un diavol nero and behind us I saw Un diavol nero…
correndo su per lo scoglio venire. a black Demon, come running up the cliff!
DEVILS AGE : *-- ? DEVILS AGE : *-- ?
DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION
*VOICES ONLY. MALES EXCEPT FOR GRAFFIACANE.
HE TAKES ANOTHER GLANCE.
DANTE:
INF C21 31-33 / DANTE INF C21 31-33 / KLINE
Ahi quant' elli era ne l'aspetto fero! Ah, how How fierce his aspect was is,
e quanto mi parea ne l'atto acerbo, And how cruel he seemed in action,
con l'ali aperte e sovra i piè leggero! with his outspread wings, and nimble legs!
INF C21 34-36 / DANTE
L'omero suo, ch'era aguto e superbo, His high-pointed shoulders carried carry
carcava un peccator con ambo l'anche, a sinner’s two haunches, and he held holds
e quei tenea de' piè ghermito 'l nerbo. the sinews of each foot tight.
153
BLACK DEMON (VOICE):
INF C21 37-39 / DANTE INF C21 37-39 / KLINE
Del nostro ponte disse: Malebranche, He cried: You, Malebranche…the Evilclawed…
ecco un de li anzïan di Santa Zita! see here is one of Lucca’s elders, that city whose
Mettetel sotto, ch'i' torno per anche patron is Santa Zita. Push him under while I go
back for the rest.,
INF C21 40-42 / DANTE
a quella terra, che n'è ben fornita: back to that That city well provided with
ogn' uom v'è barattier, fuor che Bonturo; them: every one there is a barrator, except Bont.;
del no, per li denar, vi si fa ita». there they make ‘Yes’ of ‘No’ for money.
BONTURO DE’ DATI: HEAD OF THE POPULAR PARTY IN LUCCA & THE WORST BARRATOR OR ABUSER OF OFFICE IN THE CITY.
DANTE’S COMMENT IS IRONIC, PRESUMABLY SINCE BONTURO WAS LOUDEST TO DENY THE OFFENCE.
INF C21 43-48 / KLINE
He threw him down, then wheeled back along the stony cliff, and never was a mastiff loosed so readily to catch a
thief. The sinner plunged in, and rose again writhing, but the demons under cover of the bridge, shouted: ‘Here the
face of Christ, carved in your cathedral, is of no avail:
DANTE versifies:
INF C21 31-33 / DANTE INF C21 31-33 / KLINE
Ahi quant' elli era ne l'aspetto fero! Ah, how fierce his aspect was!
e quanto mi parea ne l'atto acerbo, And how cruel he seemed in action,
con l'ali aperte e sovra i piè leggero! with his outspread wings, and nimble legs!