Canto XII
CANTO XII
The Poets come to a place where they descend a slope of shattered rocks from the sixth to the seventh circle; it is guarded by the Minotaur, a symbol of violence and unnatural lust. Seeing Dante and his Guide, he gnaws himself in savage rage, but Virgil reduces him to impotent fury by recalling how Theseus, aided by his half-sister Ariadne, slew him (1–27). The two of them seize the moment and brave the declivity of loose stones, which spill beneath the crunch of the Pilgrim’s living body as his Master recounts how the earth was convulsed and the boulders there rent at the Crucifixion (28–45). Below them lies a river of boiling blood that scalds the violent. Around its banks thousands of centaurs patrol, armed with bows and arrows to snipe at those who emerge above the seething gore more than their guilt allows. Nessus, Chiron, and Pholus come forth from among them, demanding an account of the Wayfarers’ presence. Having detailed the nature of their mission, Virgil requests an escort to assist Dante in fording the river. Chiron then delegates Nessus for the task, and they set out (46–102). Soon they find tyrants steeped to the brow (103–114), murderers submerged to the neck (115–120), and highwaymen and others immersed in varying degrees from chest to feet according to the severity of their sins. Once Nessus has accompanied the Travelers across, he leaves them there and returns (121–139).
1 The place we reached to climb down from the brink
Was alpine and, for one who there was sent,[190]
A spot from which the eyes of all would shrink.
4 And like the ruins on this side of Trent,[191]
Where in the flank the Ádige was lashed
When want of prop or earthquakes caused a rent
7 And, from the mountain top from which it dashed
Down to the plain, there plunged the rocky sheet
So that some way for those above was slashed,
10 So to that gorge this downward path was beat;
And where a chasm’s border had been cleaved
There lay outstretched the infamy of Crete,
13 Who in a pseudo-cow had been conceived.[192]
And seeing us he bit himself, distraught,
Like one whom wrath had inwardly aggrieved.
16 My Sage cried out to him: “Perhaps you thought
The Duke of Athens stands upon this spot,[193]
By whom your death up in the world was wrought.
19 Depart, you beast! For he who comes is not
A man instructed by your sister—no,
He goes to see what punishments you’ve got.”
22 As when a bull that takes a mortal blow
Will break loose in that moment and rampage,
Yet cannot charge but plunges to and fro,
25 Just so the Minotaur appeared. That Sage
Cried out, attentive: “To the pass! Make haste!
You’d best descend while he is in a rage.”
28 We took the downward pathway by that waste
Of stones amassed, which, moving, often spilled
Beneath my feet from burdens newly placed.
31 “Perhaps you think,” he said, as I went filled
With thoughts, “upon the ruins guarded by
The beastly wrath that I just now have stilled.
34 I’d have you know, the other time that I
Descended down here to this nether Hell,
This rock had not yet fallen from up high.
37 But certainly, if I distinguish well,
A bit before He came who took from Dis[194]
Great plunder from the highest circle’s cell,[195]
40 On every side this deep and foul abyss
So shook, I thought the universe had churned
From feeling love—some fancy that by this
43 The world itself has many times been turned
To chaos—and, both here and elsewhere too, [196]
The ancient boulders all were overturned.
46 But fix your eyes below upon the view:
A stream of blood draws near where boils the train[197]
Of all who injured men by force.” (O you!
49 O blind cupidity and rage insane!
For by your spurs in this short life we’re sped,
But in eternal life we’re steeped in pain!)
52 I saw a broad ditch bend to arc ahead
So that it held the plain in its embrace,
According as my Escort once had said.
55 Between it and the bank’s foot centaurs race[198]
In file, all armed with arrows as of yore,
When up on earth they followed on the chase.
58 Each one had stopped, and three among the corps
Came forth, on seeing us descend below,
With bows and arrows they had picked before.
61 And still afar, one shouted: “What great throe
Do you approach who so descend the coast?
But speak from there; if not, I draw my bow.”
64 At that my Master told him: “Our riposte
We make to Chiron standing at your side;[199]
Your will was always rash, which hurt you most.”
67 He nudged me, saying: “That one, Nessus, died
Because of Dejanira, who was fair;
But by himself his own revenge was plied.[200]
70 Great Chiron eyes his breast between that pair;
He brought Achilles up. The other spilt
The wrath that filled him—he is Pholus there.”[201]
73 And thousands went around the ditch there built
To shoot at any soul that might withdraw
Above the blood more than allowed by guilt.
76 We neared those agile animals and saw
That Chiron took a shaft, and with its nock
He brushed aside the beard upon his jaw.
79 And he observed to his companion flock,
When he had bared his giant mouth: “Mark you,
The one behind moves all his foot may knock;
82 And that a dead man’s feet would never do!”
And my good Guide, now standing at that breast
Whose natures are conjoined, though they are two,
85 Replied: “Indeed he lives; and it is best
That I alone should show him this dark hole,
For need has led him here, not pleasant jest.
88 From singing ‘Alleluia’ someone stole[202]
Away to give this novel task to me;
For he’s no thief, nor I a thieving soul.
91 So, therefore, by that Power whose decree
Has moved my steps on this wild thoroughfare,
Please give us one of yours for company.
94 And on his haunches may he also bear
This man, and show us where to cross the ford,
For he’s no sprite who walks upon the air.”
97 So Chiron, bent towards his right breast, implored:
“O Nessus, be their guide, and turn about;
Fend off all others, should you meet some horde.”
100 Now with our trusty escort we set out
Along the crimson, boiling ditch’s strand,
In which the boiled all raised a piercing shout.
103 I saw where, sunk up to their brows, they stand;
“Here tyrants dwell,” the mighty centaur said,
“Those who in blood and plunder dipped their hand.
106 And here for ruthless crimes their tears are shed:
Here’s Alexander; Dionysius there,[203]
So fierce, gave Sicily its years of dread.
109 And next the forehead with such raven hair
Is Azzolino; and the blond you face[204]
Opizzo d’Esti, who—let truth declare—[205]
112 On earth was murdered by a son so base.”
I turned then to the Poet, and he pled:
“Give him the first and me the second place.”
115 The centaur stopped a little bit ahead
By people who, up to the throat bemired,
Appeared to issue from the boiling red.
118 He showed a shade alone, a bit retired
And said: “That spirit cleft within God’s breast
A heart that on the Thames is still admired.”[206]
121 I then saw some with head and even chest
Out well above the river and recall
I recognized a lot among the rest.
124 Thus more and more the streams of blood there fall,
So that they only cook the feet below;
Here from the ditch was passage for us all.
127 “As on this side you see the boiling flow,
Which to continuous decrease is prone,”
The centaur said, “so I would have you know
130 That on the other side its bed has grown
In deepness bit by bit until its ring
Has reached the place where tyranny must moan.
133 Attila there will godly justice sting,[207]
That scourge of earth, with Pyrrhus there in store,[208]
And Sextus too; and it will ever wring[209]
136 The tears, unlocked by boiling in that gore,
From Rinier Pazzo, who, with highwaymen
Like Rinier da Corneto, made such war.”[210]
139 He then turned back and crossed the ford again.