ARGUMENT.

DESCRIPTION of the eighth circle, divided into ten gulfs. This canto treats only of the two first, in which are punished those who have been guilty of seduction and flattery. The first are scourged by demons; the second immersed in filth.

THERE is in hell a place, stone-built throughout,

Call'd Malebolge-of an iron hue,

Like to the wall that circles it about.
Full in the middle of this land of pain

Yawns a deep gulf, of ample size to view,
Whose form in proper place will I explain.
The circling boundary that remains beside,
"Twixt the rock's basis and the gulf profound,
Ten bastions to its lowest depth divide.

As is the form presented to the eye
By fortresses, whose massive walls around

Run numerous trenches for security;

Such was the semblance which these dykes display'd:

And from the threshold of such castles strong,

As bridges to the outer bank are laid;

So from the rock's low base did piers extend
That cross'd the moles and vallies all along,
Far as the ample gulf in which they end.
Here was it, that, released from Geryon's back,

We found ourselves; and then the poet drew
On tow'rds the left, and I pursued his track.
Upon the right new punishments I meet,

New pains, and ministers of vengeance new,
With which the first compartment was replete.
Down in the gulf were naked souls descried;
Some from the middle were advancing-some
Were journeying with us, but with greater stride.
So o'er the bridge, the concourse to convey,
Which flocks, the year of Jubilee, to Rome,
Means are devised to form a double way,-
That on the one side, all may keep in front

The castle, to St, Peter's as they throng,―
All on the other journey to the Mount.
Now here, now there, upon the ramparts high

I saw horn'd demons, who with many a thong
Lash'd these poor souls behind most cruelly.

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Ah! how they bounded up, excoriate,

At the first stripe; and this inspired such dread,

A second or a third none dare await!

As we pursued our way, mine eyesight fell
On one, whom seeing, instantly I said:
"Surely I know that countenance full well."
Wherefore I paused, to call him to my mind:

My gracious guide too, lingering on the spot,
Gave me permission to remain behind.

The suffering wretch, who thought his face to hide,
Bent down his head; but it avail'd him not;
"Thou-who art looking on the ground," I cried,
"Unless thy features do thy name belie,

Caccianimico surely must thou be:

But to such torture say who bids thee hie?"
He answer'd me anon, "Thou shalt be told
What thy clear speech draws forth reluctantly,
Recalling to my mind the days of old.
Know I am he, who urged fair Ghisola

To yield obedience to the Marquis' will;

This is the truth-whatever fame may say.

We Bolognese so greatly here abound,

That not 'twixt Reno and Savena's rill

So many tongues, I deem, could now be found,

Who utter Sipa in their country's phrase.

If proof of my assertion thou wouldst have,
Recall to mind our avaricious ways."

Him as he spake, a demon in his ire

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Smote with his lash, and said: "Begone, vile slave, Here are no women to be let for hire."

I hasten'd to rejoin my faithful guide:

Then quickly came we, where appear'd in sight
A bridge, projecting from the rocky side:
O'er this full easily our steps we drew,

And, mounting its high ridges on the right,
To those eternal circles bade adieu.
Arriving where the opening arch supplies

A passage to the tortured souls, my guide

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Exclaim'd: "Now pause awhile, and fix thine eyes

Upon the rest of this ill-fated race;

For as they've journey'd hither by our side,

Thou can'st not clearly have discern'd their face."
From the old bridge we then survey'd the band

That tow'rds us from the other coast drew near,
Forced onward in like manner by the brand.
To me unask'd my gracious master said:
"Behold that mighty one approaching here,
Who in his sorrow deigns no tear to shed.

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The golden fleece from ancient Colchis bare: Through Lemnos' isle he pass'd upon his way

What time th' inexorable females rude Consign'd their males to cruel death a prey. There, with smooth words and winning flattery, Beguiled he her who first had practised guile On her companions-young Hypsipyle.

He left the damsel pregnant and forlorn,

And here is punish'd for his treachery vile.
Here too Medea's wrongs he's doomed to mourn:

Deceivers like to him like sufferings share.

This much suffice it to have heard of those
Who, pent in this first dungeon, penance bear."
Now came we where the narrow causeway ran
Across the second mole, and thence arose
From its strong shoulders to another span.

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There in th' ensuing vault a tribe were seen,

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Snorting, and muttering loud amid their woe,

Who smote themselves the while with hands unclean.

The banks were crusted o'er with scum, that rose

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In clouds of steam from the abyss below,

Much to the annoyance of the eyes and nose.