Inferno: Canto Viii
INFERNO: CANTO VIII
I will say that long before
We came to the foot of that high tower,
Our eyes were drawn to the top of it,
That is because we saw two flames flickering there,
And in the distance, a third seemed to answer them.
It was so far away, that we could barely see it.
And, turning to Virgil, I said:
"What is this signal, and what is the answer from
That other fire? And who made each of them?"
And he said to me: "Across the turbulent waves
You should be able to see what is there,
Unless the horrid marshy mist conceals it from you."
A bow never shot an arrow
That sped through the air as fast as
A small boat that was moving in the marsh.
It came towards us, over the water,
Under the guidance of a single pilot,
Who shouted, "You have finally arrived, you wretched soul."
"Phlegyas, Phlegyas, you cry out in vain
This time," my Lord said; "You will not have us
Any longer than it takes to pass through the slough."
Like a man who listens to some great deceit
That has been done to him, and then resents it,
So became Phlegyas, seething in anger.
My Guide descended down into the boat,
And then he made me enter after him,
And only when I entered did the boat feel heavier.
As soon as the Guide and I were safely in,
The ancient boat began its journey, displacing
More water than it had done when it carried others.
While we were running through the dead canal,
A person, covered in slime, rose up from the murky water,
And said, "Who are you that comes here before your time?"
And I said to him: "Although I come, I will not stay;
But who are you that has become so repulsive?"
"You see that I am the one who weeps," He answered.
And I said to him: "With weeping and with wailing,
You cursed spirit, you will remain forever;
Even though you are filthy, I recognize you now."
Then he stretched both of his hands to the boat;
And my wary Master thrust him back,
Saying, "Get away. Go be with the other dogs!"
Then Virgil clasped my neck;
Kissed my forehead, and said: "Pitiful soul,
Blessed is she who bore you in her bosom.
That was an arrogant person in the world;
And there is no memory of him ever doing good;
So likewise here his ghost is furious.
So many are seen as great kings up there,
Who, when they come down here, will be like pigs in mud,
Leaving behind only horrible memories!"
And I said: "Master, it would please me a great deal,
If I could see him dunked deep in this swill,
Before we leave the lake."
And he said to me: "Before we reach the other shore,
Your wish will be granted;
And your desire will be satisfied."
A little after that, I saw a fight
With him by the people of the mire,
And I still praise and thank my God for it.
They were all shouting, "Get Filippo Argenti!"
And that cursed spirit of Florentine turned around and Began to tear his own flesh with his teeth.
We left him there, and I will say no more about him;
Though I did hear a loud wailing afterward,
I kept my eyes staring forward.
And the good Master said: "Even now, my Son,
We draw near to the city of Dis,
With its savage residents and great walls."
And I said: "I can already see its mosques, Master,
Within the valley, burning bright red,
As if they had just risen from the fire."
And he said to me: "The eternal fire
That kindles inside of them makes them look red,
As you can see in this portion of Hell."
Then we arrived within the massive moats,
That circle that sorrowful city;
The walls appeared to me to be of iron.
We made a large arc around the tower until
We came to rest on the shore. Out pilot then cried out
To us, "Get off the boat. Here is the entrance."
I saw more than a thousand fiendish angels
Sat on the gates, cursing and screaming,
They angrily called down.
"Who is this person who has not known death who dares
To go through the kingdom of the dead?" And my Master Signaled that he wanted to speak to them secretly.
Their disdain calmed a little and they called to him,
"You can come, but only alone. He must leave now
Though he boldly entered these dominions.
With his boldness, let him return alone;
Try, if he can; but you will remain here,
You who have escorted him through these dark regions."
I became very concerned
When I heard those accursed words;
For I believed that I would never be able to return.
"O my dear Guide, over and over again
You have brought me here safely, and kept me
From imminent peril each time we faced it,
Do not desert me now" I pleaded,
"And if we cannot go forward,
We can swiftly retrace our steps together."
And that Lord, who had led me here,
Said to me: "Do not worry; because our passage
Cannot be blocked. Heaven has sent us on this journey.
But wait for me here, and take comfort
And remain ever hopeful;
For while we are down here, I will never leave you."
So he stepped forward and abandoned me there.
I stood there, filled with doubt,
For I could not tell if he would be allowed to return.
I could not hear what he proposed to them;
But he did not linger long with them,
Then suddenly, they all fled back into the city.
Those wretched angels slammed the gates,
In my Lord's face, locking him out.
He quickly turned and slowly came back to me.
His eyes were cast down, and he had lost
Of all of his boldness. He sighed and said to me,
"Who are they to deny me entry into this miserable city?"
And then said: "I know I am angry now,
But do not fear, for I will conquer them,
No matter what defense they have planned inside.
This arrogance of theirs is nothing new;
For they used it at a less secret gate, when they tried
To deny Christ entry. And that gate is still open.
It is the gate that we came through, with its inscription;
And, as you see, we are now on this side of that gate,
Passing across the circles of Hell, without escort,
Because Heaven wants this city open to us."