The Divine Comedy Of Dante Alighieri Part 34

[766] _Myrrha_: This is a striking example of Dante's detestation of what may be called heartless sins. It is covered by the cla.s.sification of Canto xi. Yet it is almost with a shock that we find Myrrha here for personation, and not rather condemned to some other circle for another sin.

[767] _Buoso Donati_: Introduced as a thief in the Seventh Bolgia (_Inf._ xxv. 140). Buoso was possessed of a peerless mare, known as the Lady of the herd. To make some amends for his unscrupulous acquisition of wealth, he made a will bequeathing legacies to various religious communities. When he died his nephew Simon kept the fact concealed long enough to procure a personation of him as if on his death-bed by Gianni Schicchi, who had great powers of mimicry. Acting in the character of Buoso, the rogue professed his wish to make a new disposition of his means, and after specifying some trifling charitable bequests the better to maintain his a.s.sumed character, named Simon as general legatee, and bequeathed Buoso's mare to himself.

[768] _O ye, etc._: The speaker has heard and noted Virgil's words of explanation given in the previous Canto, line 94.

[769] _Master Adam_: Adam of Brescia, an accomplished worker in metals, was induced by the Counts Guidi of Romena in the Casentino, the upland district of the upper Arno, to counterfeit the gold coin of Florence.

This false coin is mentioned in a Chronicle as having been in circulation in 1281. It must therefore have been somewhat later that Master Adam was burned, as he was by sentence of the Republic, upon the road which led from Romena to Florence. A cairn still existing near the ruined castle bears the name of the 'dead man's cairn.'

[770] _The money coined, etc._: The gold florin, afterwards adopted in so many countries, was first struck in 1252; 'which florins weighed eight to the ounce, and bore the lily on the one side, and on the other Saint John.'--(Villani, vi. 54.) The piece was thus of about the weight of our half-sovereign. The gold was of twenty-four carats; that is, it had no alloy. The coin soon pa.s.sed into wide circulation, and to maintain its purity became for the Florentines a matter of the first importance. Villani, in the chapter above cited, tells how the King of Tunis finding the florin to be of pure gold sent for some of the Pisans, then the chief traders in his ports, and asked who were the Florentines that they coined such money. 'Only our Arabs,' was the answer; meaning that they were rough country folk, dependent on Pisa. 'Then what is your coin like?' he asked. A Florentine of Oltrarno named Pera Balducci, who was present, took the opportunity of informing him how great Florence was compared with Pisa, as was shown by that city having no gold coinage of its own; whereupon the King made the Florentines free of Tunis, and allowed them to have a factory there. 'And this,' adds Villani, who had himself been agent abroad for a great Florentine house of business, 'we had at first hand from the aforesaid Pera, a man worthy of credit, and with whom we were a.s.sociated in the Priorate.'

[771] _Guido, etc._: The Guidi of Romena were a branch of the great family of the Counts Guidi. The father of the three brothers in the text was grandson of the old Guido that married the Good Gualdrada, and cousin of the Guidoguerra met by Dante in the Seventh Circle (_Inf._ xvi. 38). How the third brother was called is not settled, nor which of the three was already dead in the beginning of 1300. The Alexander of Romena, who for some time was captain of the banished Florentine Whites, was, most probably, he of the text. A letter is extant professing to be written by Dante to two of Alexander's nephews on the occasion of his death, in which the poet excuses himself for absence from the funeral on the plea of poverty. By the time he wrote the _Inferno_ he may, owing to their shifty politics, have lost all liking for the family, yet it seems harsh measure that is here dealt to former friends and patrons.

[772] _Fonte Branda_: A celebrated fountain in the city of Siena. Near Romena is a spring which is also named Fonte Branda; and this, according to the view now most in favour, was meant by Master Adam. But was it so named in Dante's time? Or was it not so called only when the _Comedy_ had begun to awaken a natural interest in the old coiner, which local ingenuity did its best to meet? The early commentators know nothing of the Casentino Fonte Branda, and, though it is found mentioned under the date of 1539, that does not take us far enough back. In favour of the Sienese fountain is the consideration that it was the richest of any in the Tuscan cities; that it was a great architectural as well as engineering work; and that, although now more than half a century old, it was still the subject of curiosity with people far and near. Besides, Adam has already recalled the brooks of Casentino, and so the mention of the paltry spring at Romena would introduce no fresh idea like that of the abundant waters of the great fountain which daily quenched the thirst of thousands.

[773] _Eleven miles_: It will be remembered that the previous Bolgia was twenty-two miles in circ.u.mference.

[774] _Three carats_: Three carats in twenty-four being of some foreign substance.

[775] _Who smoke, etc._: This description of sufferers from high fever, like that of Master Adam with his tympanitis, has the merit, such as it is, of being true to the life.

[776] _One, etc._: Potiphar's wife.

[777] _Sinon_: Called of Troy, as being known through his conduct at the siege. He pretended to have deserted from the Greeks, and by a false story persuaded the Trojans to admit the fatal wooden horse.

[778] _When Trojans, etc._: When King Priam sought to know for what purpose the wooden horse was really constructed.

[779] _Narcissus' mirror_: The pool in which Narcissus saw his form reflected.

[780] _'Tis shame_: Dante knows that Virgil would have scorned to portray such a scene of low life as this, but he must allow himself a wider licence and here as elsewhere refuses nothing, even in the way of mean detail, calculated to convey to his readers 'a full experience of the Inferno' as he conceived of it--the place 'where all the vileness of the world is cast.'

CANTO x.x.xI.

The very tongue that first had caused me pain, Biting till both my cheeks were crimsoned o'er, With healing medicine me restored again.

So have I heard, the lance Achilles[781] bore, Which earlier was his father's, first would wound And then to health the wounded part restore.

From that sad valley[782] we our backs turned round, Up the encircling rampart making way Nor uttering, as we crossed it, any sound.

Here was it less than night and less than day, 10 And scarce I saw at all what lay ahead; But of a trumpet the sonorous bray-- No thunder-peal were heard beside it--led Mine eyes along the line by which it pa.s.sed, Till on one spot their gaze concentrated.

When by the dolorous rout was overcast The sacred enterprise of Charlemagne Roland[783] blew not so terrible a blast.

Short time my head was that way turned, when plain I many lofty towers appeared to see. 20 'Master, what town is this?' I asked. 'Since fain Thou art,' he said, 'to pierce the obscurity While yet through distance 'tis inscrutable, Thou must of error needs the victim be.

Arriving there thou shalt distinguish well How much by distance was thy sense betrayed; Therefore to swifter course thyself compel.'

Then tenderly[784] he took my hand, and said: 'Ere we pa.s.s further I would have thee know, That at the fact thou mayst be less dismayed, 30 These are not towers but giants; in a row Set round the brink each in the pit abides, His navel hidden and the parts below.'

And even as when the veil of mist divides Little by little dawns upon the sight What the obscuring vapour earlier hides; So, piercing the gross air uncheered by light, As I step after step drew near the bound My error fled, but I was filled with fright.

As Montereggion[785] with towers is crowned 40 Which from the walls encircling it arise; So, rising from the pit's encircling mound, Half of their bodies towered before mine eyes-- Dread giants, still by Jupiter defied From Heaven whene'er it thunders in the skies.

The face of one already I descried, His shoulders, breast, and down his belly far, And both his arms dependent by his side.

When Nature ceased such creatures as these are To form, she of a surety wisely wrought 50 Wresting from Mars such ministers of war.

And though she rue not that to life she brought The whale and elephant, who deep shall read Will justify her wisdom in his thought; For when the powers of intellect are wed To strength and evil will, with them made one, The race of man is helpless left indeed.

As large and long as is St. Peter's cone[786]

At Rome, the face appeared; of every limb On scale like this was fashioned every bone. 60 So that the bank, which covered half of him As might a tunic, left uncovered yet So much that if to his hair they sought to climb Three Frisians[787] end on end their match had met; For thirty great palms I of him could see, Counting from where a man's cloak-clasp is set.

_Rafel[788] mai amech zabi almi!_ Out of the b.e.s.t.i.a.l mouth began to roll, Which scarce would suit more dulcet psalmody.

And then my Leader charged him: 'Stupid soul, 70 Stick to thy horn. With it relieve thy mind When rage or other pa.s.sions pa.s.s control.

Feel at thy neck, round which the thong is twined O puzzle-headed wretch! from which 'tis slung; Clipping thy monstrous breast thou shalt it find.'

And then to me: 'From his own mouth is wrung Proof of his guilt. 'Tis Nimrod, whose insane Whim hindered men from speaking in one tongue.

Leave we him here nor spend our speech in vain; For words to him in any language said, 80 As unto others his, no sense contain.'

Turned to the left, we on our journey sped, And at the distance of an arrow's flight We found another huger and more dread.

By what artificer thus pinioned tight I cannot tell, but his left arm was bound In front, as at his back was bound the right, By a chain which girt him firmly round and round; About what of his frame there was displayed Below the neck, in fivefold gyre 'twas wound. 90 'Incited by ambition this one made Trial of prowess 'gainst Almighty Jove,'

My Leader told, 'and he is thus repaid.

'Tis Ephialtes,[789] mightily who strove What time the giants to the G.o.ds caused fright: The arms he wielded then no more will move.'

And I to him: 'Fain would I, if I might, On the enormous Briareus set eye, And know the truth by holding him in sight.'

'Antaeus[790] thou shalt see,' he made reply, 100 'Ere long, and he can speak, nor is in chains.

Us to the depth of all iniquity He shall let down. The one thou'dst see[791] remains Far off, like this one bound and like in make, But in his face far more of fierceness reigns.'

Never when earth most terribly did quake Shook any tower so much as what all o'er And suddenly did Ephialtes shake.

Terror of death possessed me more and more; The fear alone had served my turn indeed, 110 But that I marked the ligatures he wore.

Then did we somewhat further on proceed, Reaching Antaeus who for good five ell,[792]

His head not counted, from the pit was freed.

'O thou who from the fortune-haunted dell[793]-- Where Scipio of glory was made heir When with his host to flight turned Hannibal-- A thousand lions didst for booty bear Away, and who, hadst thou but joined the host And like thy brethren fought, some even aver 120 The victory to earth's sons had not been lost, Lower us now, nor disobliging show, To where Cocytus[794] fettered is by frost.

To t.i.tyus[795] nor to Typhon make us go.

To grant what here is longed for he hath power, Cease them to curl thy snout, but bend thee low.

He can for wage thy name on earth restore; He lives, and still expecteth to live long, If Grace recall him not before his hour.'

So spake my Master. Then his hands he swung 130 Downward and seized my Leader in all haste-- Hands in whose grip even Hercules once was wrung.

And Virgil when he felt them round him cast Said: 'That I may embrace thee, hither tend,'

And in one bundle with him made me fast.

And as to him that under Carisend[796]

Stands on the side it leans to, while clouds fly Counter its slope, the tower appears to bend; Even so to me who stood attentive by Antaeus seemed to stoop, and I, dismayed, 140 Had gladly sought another road to try.

But us in the abyss he gently laid, Where Lucifer and Judas gulfed remain; Nor to it thus bent downward long time stayed, But like a ship's mast raised himself again.

FOOTNOTES:

[781] _Achilles_: The rust upon his lance had virtue to heal the wound.

[782] _From that sad valley_: Leaving the Tenth and last Bolgia they climb the inner bank of it and approach the Ninth and last Circle, which consists of the pit of the Inferno.

[783] _Roland_: Charles the Great, on his march north after defeating the Saracens at Saragossa, left Roland to bring up his rear-guard. The enemy fell on this in superior strength, and slew the Christians almost to a man. Then Roland, mortally wounded, sat down under a tree in Roncesvalles and blew upon his famous horn a blast so loud that it was heard by Charles at a distance of several miles.--The _Chansons de Geste_ were familiarly known to Italians of all cla.s.ses.

[784] _Then tenderly, etc._: The wound inflicted by his reproof has been already healed, but Virgil still behaves to Dante with more than his wonted gentleness. He will have him a.s.sured of his sympathy now that they are about to descend into the 'lowest depth of all wickedness.'

[785] _Montereggioni_: A fortress about six miles from Siena, of which ample ruins still exist. It had no central keep, but twelve towers rose from its circular wall like spikes from the rim of a coronet. They had been added by the Sienese in 1260, and so were comparatively new in Dante's time.--As the towers stood round Montereggioni so the giants at regular intervals stand round the central pit. They have their foothold within the enclosing mound; and thus, to one looking at them from without, they are hidden by it up to their middle. As the embodiment of superhuman impious strength and pride they stand for warders of the utmost reach of h.e.l.l.

[786] _St. Peter's cone_: The great pine cone of bronze, supposed to have originally crowned the mausoleum of Hadrian, lay in Dante's time in the forecourt of St Peter's. When the new church was built it was removed to the gardens of the Vatican, where it still remains. Its size, it will be seen, is of importance as helping us to a notion of the stature of the giants; and, though the accounts of its height are strangely at variance with one another, I think the measurement made specially for Philalethes may be accepted as substantially correct.

According to that, the cone is ten palms long--about six feet. Allowing something for the neck, down to 'where a man clasps his cloak' (line 66), and taking the thirty palms as eighteen feet, we get twenty-six feet or so for half his height. The giants vary in bulk; whether they do so in height is not clear. We cannot be far mistaken if we a.s.sume them to stand from fifty to sixty feet high. Virgil and Dante must throw their heads well back to look up into the giant's face; and Virgil must raise his voice as he speaks.--With regard to the height of the cone it may be remarked that Murray's Handbook for Rome makes it eleven feet high; Gsell-Fels two and a half metres, or eight feet and three inches.

It is so placed as to be difficult of measurement.

[787] _Three Frisians_: Three very tall men, as Dante took Frisians to be, if standing one on the head of the other would not have reached his hair.

[788] _Rafel, etc._: These words, like the opening line of the Seventh Canto, have, to no result, greatly exercised the ingenuity of scholars.