L ' I N F E R N O

♫PROPHECY MOTIF * * * * * * * * * *
INF C24 141
VANNI FUCCI (VOICE): & VANNI FUCCI (VOICE):
INF C24 142-144 / DANTE INF C24 142-144 / KLINE
apri li orecchi al mio annunzio, e odi. open your ears, and hear what I declare:
Pistoia in pria d'i Neri si dimagra; Pistoia first is thinned of Blacks:
poi Fiorenza rinova gente e modi. then Florence changes her people and her laws.
171
VANNI FUCCI PROPHESIES THE DEFEAT OF THE GHIBELLINE WHITES (BIANCHI) BY THE BLACK GUELPH (NERI) FACTION. THE
BLACKS WERE EXPELLED FROM PISTOIA IN MAY 1301. DANTE WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO VOTED FOR THE EXPULSIONS. IN
NOVEMBER 1301 THE BLACKS ENTERED FLORENCE, AIDED BY CHARLES DEVALOIS & IN APRIL 1302 MADE THE CITY DRIVE
OUT THE WHITES (CHANGING THE PEOPLE & ITS LAWS). PISTOIA BECAME A RALLYING POINT FOR THE WHITES IN TUSCANY,
UNTIL THEIR DEFEAT BY THE FLORENTINE & LUCCHESE GUELPHS, UNDER MOROELLO MALASPINA, MARQUIS OF
GIOVAGALLO IN VALDIMAGRA (THE EXTREMITY OF LUNIGIANA). PICENO’S FIELD IS THE AREA BETWEEN SERRAVALLE &
MONTECATINI. MALASPINA TOOK SERRAVALLE IN 1302 & REDUCED PISTOIA IN 1306. PISTOIA WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN
FOUNDED BY THE REMNANTS OF CATILINE’S ARMY, LEADING TO DANTE’S COMMENT IN THE NEXT CANTO (‘YOU OUTDO YOUR
SEED IN EVIL-DOING’)
INF C24 145-147 / DANTE INF C24 145-147 / KLINE
Tragge Marte vapor di Val di Magra Mars brings a vapour,
ch'è di torbidi nuvoli involuto; from Valdimagra cloaked in turbid cloud,
e con tempesta impetüosa e agra and a battle will be fought
INF C24 148-150 / DANTE
sovra Campo Picen fia combattuto; on the field of Piceno, in an angry and eager
ond' ei repente spezzerà la nebbia, tempest, that will suddenly tear the mist open,
sì ch'ogne Bianco ne sarà feruto. so that every White is wounded by it.
VANNI FUCCI SHOUTS.
VANNI FUCCI (VOICE):
INF C24 151 / DANTE INF C24 151 / KLINE
E detto l'ho perché doler ti debbia! And I have said this to give you pain.
VANNI FUCCI HURLS HIS BOOK OR SHEAF OF POEMS AT DANTE. IT BOUNCES ABOVE THE WALL,
DISINTEGRATES AND FALLS BACK BEHIND THE WALL.
DANTE CLOSES THE CANTO.
DANTE
INF C24 151 / DANTE INF C24 151 / KLINE
E detto l'ho perché doler ti debbia! And I have said this to give you pain.
CANTO 25
VANNI FUCCI REACHES HIS ARMS THROUGH CHINKS IN THE WALL AND MAKES ‘THE FIG, THE OBSCENE
GESTURE WITH THUMB BETWEEN FINGERS, SHOUTING’.