L ' I N F E R N O

CAPOCCHIO *---- ? - 1293
PLACE./.LANGUAGE ETC
BORN IN FLORENCE BUT MAY HAVE PICKED UP THE SIENESE DIALECT.
DESCRIPTION
MUSE EUTERPE
CAPOCCHIO: FLORENTINE ALCHEMIST KNOWN TO DANTE, BURNT ALIVE AT SIENA IN 1293.
STRICCA: WITH NICCOLO, CACCIA & THE ABBAGLIATO (‘THE FOOLISH’) A MEMBER OF THE BRIGATA SPENDERECCIA, THE
SPENDTHRIFT BRIGADE, A CLUB FOUNDED BY TWELVE WEALTHY SIENESE, IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE THIRTEENTH
CENTURY, WHO VIED WITH EACH OTHER IN SQUANDERING THEIR MONEY ON RIOTOUS LIVING.
CAPOCCHIO / EUTERPE (VOICE):
INF C29 127-129 / DANTE INF C29 127-129 / KLINE
e Niccolò che la costuma ricca and Niccolo who first discovered the costly use
del garofano prima discoverse of cloves, in that garden, Siena,
ne l'orto dove tal seme s'appicca; where such seed takes root:
INF C29 130-132 / DANTE
e tra'ne la brigata in che disperse and that company in which Caccia of Aciano
Caccia d'Ascian la vigna e la gran fonda, threw away his vineyard, and his vast forest,
e l'Abbagliato suo sen no proferse. and Abbagliato the fool showed his wit.
INF C29 133-135 / DANTE
Ma perché sappi chi sì ti seconda But so So that you may know who seconds you
contra i Sanesi, aguzza ver' me l'occhio, like this against the Sienese, sharpen your eye
sì che la faccia mia ben ti risponda: on me, so that my face may reply to you:
INF C29 136-138 / DANTE
sì vedrai ch'io son l'ombra di Capocchio, so you will see I am Capocchio’s shadow shade,
che falsai li metalli con l'alchìmia; who made false metals, by alchemy,
e te dee ricordar, se ben t'adocchio, and you must remember, if I know you rightly,
INF C29 139 / DANTE
com' io fui di natura buona scimia. how well I aped nature.
CAPOCCHIO / EUTERPE (VOICE):
DE VULGARI ELOQUENTIA dialect / DANTE DE VULGARI ELOQUENTIA / SOC. DANT. tr?
Onche renegata avess’io Siena If only Id left Siena for good.
THIS REMARK COULD INSTEAD BE MADE BY GRIFFOLINO OF AREZZO.
DANTE PEERS AT THE UNSEEN FACE AND CLOSES THE CANTO.
DANTE:
INF C29 136-138 / DANTE INF C29 136-138 / KLINE
sì vedrai ch'io son l'ombra di Capocchio, so you will see I am Capocchio’s shadow,
che falsai li metalli con l'alchìmia; who made false metals, by alchemy,
e te dee ricordar, se ben t'adocchio, and you must remember, if I know you rightly,
INF C29 139 / DANTE
com' io fui di natura buona scimia. how well I aped nature.
CANTO 30
194
DANTE RETURNS TO WHAT HE HAS ALREADY SEEN. HE SPEAKS./.READS TO THE AUDIENCE,
BREATHLESS IN HIGH FIGURATIVE FLIGHT. VIRGIL WAITS ELSEWHERE FOR DANTE TO
COME BACK TO EARTH. THIS SEGMENT COULD BE ENTIRELY OMITTED.