And let no insult fill thee with dismay
That may be offer'd me-prepared I go-
Aforetime have I been in like affray.”
Beyond the bridge's head he then proceeded;

And when he reach'd the sixth embankment-lo!
A calm and dauntless countenance he needed:

For with such
As dogs rush forth on one of squalid looks,
Who begs a pittance at some rich man's door;
So from beneath the bridge-enraged and hot-

anger and tempestuous roar,

Rush'd on my guide the demons with their hooks; But he exclaim'd: "I charge you, touch me not:

Before ye cast your hooks my flesh to tear,

Let one come forth to hear what I shall say,

And then consider if to strike ye dare."

"Let Malacoda go"-exclaim'd they all;

61

67

73

Whereat one moved, (meanwhile the rest did stay,) And coming to him said; "What means your call?” "Believ❜st thou, Malacoda, I had made

My way so far," to him my master said,

"Safe from the hellish wrath ye have display'd,

Unless the Will Divine had sanction given ?
Let me proceed;-for through this region dread

To guide another is ordain'd in heaven."

79

Then in a moment fell his crest of pride,

Down dropt the grappling iron at his feet;

And to the others : "Strike him not," he cried.
To me my lord: "Thou who art squatting there,
Beneath the broken bridge,quit thy retreat,
For safely now to me may'st thou repair.”
Him then with speed I strove to overtake;

When came the fiends with such precipitation,

I trembled lest their compact they should break. So once I saw the infantry alarm'd,

Who left Caprona on capitulation,

Seeing so many foes around them arm'd. Close to my guide attaching me, I stood

Much terrified-nor from their faces black

Turn'd I my eyes, - they boded nothing good. Lowering their hooks, one to the other said, "What think you if I touch him on the back?" "Be sure you hit him," was the answer made. The demon, who the while address'd my guide, All in an instant turn'd himself around :"Peace, Scarmiglion, I say-be still," he cried: Then spake to us : "Ye travellers-be it known

No further road may o'er this bridge be found;

The sixth arch hence is wholly overthrown.

85

91

97

103

But if it please you onward to proceed,

Along this rock securely may ye hie;

Another bridge that's near will serve your need. Just five hours later yesterday than this,

Twelve hundred three score years and six gone by,

The road was broken which leads down th' abyss ; And thither will I send some scouts of mine

To watch if any show themselves above : Depart with them-they will not prove malign. Come, Alichino-come!" exclaim'd he then,

66

Cagnazzo, Calcabrina, quickly move;

And Barbarriccia, thou conduct the ten.
Come Libicocco, Draghinazzo fell,

Ciriatto with thy tusks, and Graffiacan,
Thou furious Rubicant, and Farfarell,
Make good your search around the boiling pitch,
And lead these safely to that bridge, whose span
Unbroken runs o'er all the adjoining ditch."
"Master," I said, "O what is this I see?

Our way without an escort let us find ;

Thou know'st it well-I ask no guide but thee:

If, as is wont, thou art quick sighted now,

109

115

121

127

Canst thou not see how fierce their teeth they grind,

And scowl upon us with a threatening brow ?"

And he to me: "I charge thee not to fear;
E'en let them grind their savage teeth accurst,-
They do it at the suffering spirits here."
O'er the left bank their steps they then incline,
But every demon put his tongue out first,
Eyeing their Captain as they made the sign,—
When from behind, the sound of trumpet burst,

133

139

NOTES.

Page 185. (Line 37.) The Malebranchë were demons, who had the care of that bridge, or of the compartments under it. (38.) Santa Zita was held in reverence at Lucca, where this sinner was an elder or magistrate. His name is supposed to have been Martino Botaio. (41.) "This is ironically spoken of Bonturo de' Dati, the greatest peculator in Lucca."Venturi. (48.) In the Duomo at Lucca is an image of our Sa. vour, called the Santo Volto. The shrine which encloses this celebrated relic is the work of Matteo Civitali. Serchio runs close to Lucca.

(49.) The

Page 186. (Line 67.) See Ariosto, Orl. Fur. v. 82. (76.) "Malacoda was the name of one of the demons, corresponding

to the name of the place, Malebolgë; and signifies the fiend of the evil tail, or most deceitful."-Rosetti.

Page 187. (Line 95.) The castle of Caprona surrendered to the combined forces of Florence and Lucca, on condition that the garrison should march out in safety. This event, to which Dante was a witness, took place in 1290. See Villani, vii. 136.

Page 188. (Line 111.) This is an instance of Malacoda's treachery. See canto xxiii. 133. (113.) To 1266 add 34 (the age of our Saviour at the time of his death) and it will give 1300, the date of Dante's descent into hell. "And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent."-St. Matthem, xxvii. 51. This convulsion Dante supposes was felt even in the depths of hell.